Expiration management method and system

• US 7,889,082 B2
• Filed: 11/10/2008
• Issued: 02/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kyndryl Incorporated
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Truntschka, Carole, Marmigere, Gerard, Clement, Jean-Yves, Bauchot, Frederic
• Primary Examiner(s): Goins; Davetta W
• Application Number:
  US12/267,703
• Publication Number:
  US 20100109852A1
• Time in Patent Office: 827 Days
• Field of Search: 340/572.1, 340/572.8, 340/539.1, 340/10.1, 340/309.16, 235/381, 235/382, 235/383, 235/385
• US Class Current: 340/572.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling

Abstract

An expiration management method and system. The method includes transmitting by an RFID tag reader within an enclosure, a plurality of continuous timing signals. The enclosure comprises a container comprising a product and an RFID tag. The RFID tag comprises data indicating a first state for the RFID tag and a first time period. The RFID tag reader receives the data and generates a first time stamp. The RFID tag reader transmits a first message commanding the RFID tag to enter a second state. The RFID tag reader transmits the first time stamp and generates a second time stamp. The RFID tag reader transmits the second time stamp. The RFID tag reader receives results from a comparing process performed by the RFID tag. The RFID tag reader performs a function indicating the results.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

transmitting, by an RFID tag reader within an enclosure in response to first opening said enclosure, a plurality of continuous timing signals, wherein said enclosure comprises a container comprising a product, wherein said container is internal to said enclosure, wherein said container comprises an RFID tag mechanically attached to said container, and wherein said RFID tag comprises first data indicating a first state for said RFID tag, wherein said first state indicates that said container is new and has never been opened, and wherein said first data comprises a first time period;

receiving, by said RFID tag reader from said RFID tag, said first data;

generating, by said RFID tag reader in response to said container being opened a first time, a first time stamp;

transmitting, by said RFID tag reader to said RFID tag in response to said container being opened said first time, a first message, wherein said first message commands said RFID tag to enter a second state, wherein said second state indicates that said container has been opened said first time;

transmitting, by said RFID tag reader to said RFID tag in response to said container being opened said first time, said first time stamp, wherein said first time stamp is stored in said RFID tag, wherein said first container has been closed;

generating, by said RFID tag reader in response to said container being opened a second time, a second time stamp, wherein said second time stamp indicates a later time than said first time stamp;

transmitting, by said RFID tag reader to said RFID tag in response to said container being opened said second time, said second time stamp, wherein said RFID tag performs a comparing process comprising comparing said second time stamp to a sum of said first time stamp and said first time period;

receiving, by said RFID tag reader from said RFID tag, results of comparing process; and

performing, by said RFID tag reader, a function indicating said results.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

before said transmitting said plurality of continuous timing signals, first enabling said RFID tag reader in response to said first opening, wherein said first enabling comprises receiving by said RFID tag reader a first voltage from a first voltage source.

3. The method of claim 2, said first voltage is received from said first voltage source via a switch enabled during said first opening.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein said results of said comparing process indicate that said second time stamp is less than said sum, and wherein said performing said function comprises:

enabling, by said RFID tag reader, an indicator that indicates that said product is acceptable for use by a user.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said indicator is selected from the group consisting of a visual indicator and an audible indicator.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein said indicator is mechanically attached to said RFID tag reader.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein said indicator is mechanically attached to said RFID tag.

8. The method of claim 2, wherein said results of said comparing process indicate that said second time stamp is greater than said sum, wherein said performing said function comprises enabling an indicator that indicates that said product is not acceptable for use by a user, and wherein said method further comprises:

transmitting, by said RFID tag reader to said RFID tag in response to said results, a second message, wherein said second message commands said RFID tag to enter a third state, wherein said third state indicates that said product is expired, and wherein said first container has been closed after said transmitting said second message.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

after said transmitting said second message, first disabling said RFID tag reader in response to first closing said enclosure, wherein said first disabling comprises removing said first voltage from said RFID tag reader;

after said first disabling, second enabling said RFID tag reader in response to second opening said enclosure, wherein said second enabling comprises receiving by said RFID tag reader said first voltage from said first voltage source;

transmitting, by said RFID tag reader to said RFID tag in response to said second enabling, a signal;

receiving, by said RFID tag reader from said RFID tag in response to said signal, a third message indicating said third state;

enabling, by said RFID tag reader in response to said third message, an indicator that indicates that said product has expired.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said indicator is selected from the group consisting of a visual indicator and an audible indicator.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

enabling, by said RFID tag reader in response to said third message, an actuator attached to a door on said enclosure, wherein said actuator closes said door such that a user is unable to access said container comprising said product.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

enabling, by said RFID tag reader in response to said third message, an actuator attached to a stopper on said container, wherein said actuator locks said stopper such that a user is unable remove said stopper from said container thereby eliminating access to said product.

13. A computer program product, comprising a computer storage medium comprising a computer readable program code embodied therein, said computer readable program code configured to perform the method of claim 1 upon being executed by a processor of said RFID tag reader.

14. A process for supporting computer infrastructure, said process comprising providing at least one support service for at least one of creating, integrating, hosting, maintaining, and deploying computer-readable code in a computing system, wherein the code in combination with the RFID tag reader is capable of performing the method of claim 1.

15. An RFID tag reader comprising a processor coupled to a computer-readable memory unit, said RFID tag reader located within an enclosure, said memory unit comprising instructions that when executed by the processor implements an expiration management method, said method comprising:

transmitting, by said RFID tag reader in response to first opening said enclosure, a plurality of continuous timing signals, wherein said enclosure comprises a container comprising a product, wherein said container is internal to said enclosure, wherein said container comprises an RFID tag mechanically attached to said container, and wherein said RFID tag comprises first data indicating a first state for said RFID tag, wherein said first state indicates that said container is new and has never been opened, and wherein said first data comprises a first time period;

receiving, by said RFID tag reader from said RFID tag, said first data;

generating, by said RFID tag reader in response to said container being opened a first time, a first time stamp;

transmitting, by said RFID tag reader to said RFID tag in response to said container being opened said first time, a first message, wherein said first message commands said RFID tag to enter a second state, wherein said second state indicates that said container has been opened said first time;

transmitting, by said RFID tag reader to said RFID tag in response to said container being opened said first time, said first time stamp, wherein said first time stamp is stored in said RFID tag, wherein said first container has been closed;

generating, by said RFID tag reader in response to said container being opened a second time, a second time stamp, wherein said second time stamp indicates a later time than said first time stamp;

transmitting, by said RFID tag reader to said RFID tag in response to said container being opened said second time, said second time stamp, wherein said RFID tag performs a comparing process comprising comparing said second time stamp to a sum of said first time stamp and said first time period;

receiving, by said RFID tag reader from said RFID tag, results of comparing process; and

performing, by said RFID tag reader, a function indicating said results.

16. The RFID tag reader of claim 15, wherein said method further comprises:

before said transmitting said plurality of continuous timing signals, first enabling said RFID tag reader in response to said first opening, wherein said first enabling comprises receiving by said RFID tag reader a first voltage from a first voltage source.

17. The RFID tag reader of claim 16, said first voltage is received from said first voltage source via a switch enabled during said first opening.

18. The RFID tag reader of claim 16, wherein said results of said comparing process indicate that said second time stamp is less than said sum, and wherein said performing said function comprises:

enabling, by said RFID tag reader, an indicator that indicates that said product is acceptable for use by a user.

19. The RFID tag reader of claim 18, wherein said indicator is selected from the group consisting of a visual indicator and an audible indicator.

20. The RFID tag reader of claim 16, wherein said results of said comparing process indicate that said second time stamp is greater than said sum, wherein said performing said function comprises enabling an indicator that indicates that said product is not acceptable for use by a user, and wherein said method further comprises:

transmitting, by said RFID tag reader to said RFID tag in response to said results, a second message, wherein said second message commands said RFID tag to enter a third state, wherein said third state indicates that said product is expired, and wherein said first container has been closed after said transmitting said second message.