Methods and systems for certifying provenance of alcoholic beverages

• US 8,248,254 B2
• Filed: 08/16/2011
• Issued: 08/21/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: eProvenance LLC
• Original Assignee: eProvenance LLC
• Inventors: Churchill, Ruth, Vogt, Eric
• Primary Examiner(s): Mehmood, Jennifer
• Assistant Examiner(s): BEE, ANDREW W.
• Application Number:
  US13/211,137
• Publication Number:
  US 20120019398A1
• Time in Patent Office: 371 Days
• Field of Search: 340/572.1, 340/584, 340/585, 340/588, 340/601, 340/602, 700/213, 700/214
• US Class Current: 340/588
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders

Abstract

A system for certifying provenance of an alcoholic beverage includes a radio-frequency identification tag and a server. The radio-frequency identification tag, associated with a bottle containing an alcoholic beverage, periodically measures a plurality of values of an environmental condition of the bottle. The radio-frequency identification tag stores the plurality of measured values. The server receives the plurality of measured values for analysis. The server provides, via a user interface, a description of a provenance of the alcoholic beverage, the description generated responsive to an analysis of the plurality of measured values.

Claims

1. A method for certifying provenance of an alcoholic beverage by tracking environmental conditions of a container for the alcoholic beverage during its progress through a distribution channel, the method comprising the steps of:

(a) measuring periodically a plurality of values of a plurality of environmental conditions of the container, wherein one or more of the plurality of environmental conditions are measured at distinct locations during the progression of the container through the distribution channel;

(b) storing the plurality of measured values of the environmental conditions;

(c) receiving, by a server, the plurality of measured values for analysis; and

(d) generating, by the server, based on an analysis of the received plurality of measured values a grading of a provenance of the alcoholic beverage in the container, the grading selected from three or more provenance grades and traceably authenticating the storage history of the container during the progression of the container through the distribution channel.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein step (a) further comprises measuring, upon receipt of the container by a channel member, the values of the environmental conditions of the container.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein step (a) further comprises measuring, during transit to a channel member, the values of the environmental conditions of the container.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein step (a) further comprises measuring, periodically, a value of an environmental condition of the container.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein step (a) further comprises measuring, periodically, by a radio-frequency identification tag attached to a case a value of an environmental condition of the container.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein step (a) further comprises measuring, periodically, a value of an environmental condition of the shipping pallet including the container.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein step (a) further comprises measuring an ambient temperature of the container.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein step (a) further comprises measuring a level of humidity.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein step (a) further comprises measuring a level of vibration of the container.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein step (a) further comprises identifying a location of the container.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein step (a) further comprises identifying, by a global positioning system receiver attached to the container, a location of the container.

12. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of storing a container tag identification number.

13. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of storing an identification number associated with a code imprinted on a seal on the container.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein step (b) further comprises encrypting a plurality of measured values of the environmental conditions.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein step (c) further comprises transmitting the plurality of measured values to the server.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein step (c) further comprises the steps of:

(c-1) transmitting the plurality of measured values, responsive to a received query; and

(c-2) transmitting to a server the received plurality of measured values.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein step (c) further comprises receiving, by a server operated by a facility producing the alcoholic beverage, the plurality of measured values for analysis.

18. The method of claim 1 further comprising transmitting to a client device for display to a user via a user interface, the generated provenance grading.

19. The method of claim 1 wherein transmitting the generated provenance grading is performed by a second server.

20. The method of claim 1 further comprising transmitting to a smart phone for display to a user via a user interface, the generated provenance grading.