Tracking system and label for use in conjunction therewith

• US 7,698,179 B2
• Filed: 06/27/2006
• Issued: 04/13/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Avery Dennison Retail Information Services LLC (Avery Dennison Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Ali H.O. Clemens, Andy S. Leung, Sanjay Balu
• Inventors: Clemens, Ali Ho, Leung, Andy S., Balu, Sanjay
• Primary Examiner(s): Zeender; F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): ALMATRAHI, FARIS S
• Application Number:
  US11/484,150
• Publication Number:
  US 20070156281A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,386 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 705/28
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0833 Tracking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders

Abstract

A hybrid label is provided with a unique product identification code which can be retrieved using multiple independent processes. In one embodiment, the hybrid label includes an RFID inlay and a printable face sheet which are secured together by a layer of adhesive material. The RFID inlay includes an integrated circuit chip which is programmed with the unique product identification code. The printable face sheet includes a bar code and an alphanumeric character string, each of which is configured to represent the same identification code. A product tracking system designed in accordance with the hybrid label is able to extract the unique identification code from the label and, in turn, associate the identification code with a designated bundle of data records which is located in an external database. The product tracking system can retrieve the identification code through the use of either RFID technology, bar code technology or manual data entry. The ability to monitor an individual article of commerce throughout the retail supply chain provides the system with, among other things, item-level tracking, anti-counterfeit, anti-diversion, security and article return applications.

Claims

1. A system for tracking at least one product, such as an item, carton or pallet, within a retail supply chain, the system comprising,

(a) a supply chain management system which includes at least one database, the at least one database having a first set of electronic data records stored therein, the first set of electronic data records being designated for a first product,

(b) a label affixed to the first product, the label comprising,

(i) a radio frequency identification (RFID) device that stores a unique product identification code,

(ii) a printed barcode configured to represent a link code, the link code having a length that is shorter than the length of the unique product identification code, and

(iii) an alphanumeric character string configured to represent the link code,

(c) a computer configured to capture the unique product identification code and the link code from the label, the computer being connected to the supply chain management system through a communication path,

(d) automated means for capturing the unique product identification code on the computer from the RFID device,

(e) automated means for capturing the link code on the computer from the barcode provided on the label, and

(f) means for capturing the link code on the computer from the alphanumeric character string provided on the label,

(g) wherein the supply chain management system utilizes the unique product identification code to identify the first set of electronic data records stored in the database,

(h) wherein the supply chain management system utilizes the link code to locate the unique product identification code which is in turn utilized to identify the first set of electronic data records stored in the at least one database.

2. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the automated means for capturing the unique product identification code on the computer from the RFID device is through the use of an RFID reader.

3. The system as claimed in claim 2 wherein the label includes an RFID inlay which stores the unique product identification code.

4. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the automated means for capturing the link code on the computer from the barcode is through the use of a barcode scanner.

5. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the means for capturing the link code on the computer from the alphanumeric character string is through manual data entry.

6. The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the at least one database includes additional sets of electronic data reports, each set of electronic data reports being designated for a particular product.

7. The system as claimed in claim 6 wherein the sets of electronic data reports are associated with one another in the database based on the packing hierarchy of the products to which the sets of electronic data reports are designated.