Patent · US11295256B2 · B2 · US

Methods and devices for decommissioning microclimate sensors

(11) Publication number

US11295256B2

(21) Application number

17/028,498

(22) Filing date

2020-09-22

(30) Priority date

2019-09-18

(43) Publication date

2022-04-05

(45) Date of grant

2022-04-05

(51) IPC

B25J 9/16; G01K 1/024; G06K 9/00; G06N 20/00; G06Q 10/00; G06Q 10/06; G06Q 10/08; G06Q 20/20; G06Q 30/00; G06Q 30/02; G06Q 30/06; G06Q 50/02

(52) CPC

G06Q Information and communication technology [ICT] specially adapted for administrative, commercial, financial, managerial or supervisory purposes; systems or methods specially adapted for administrative, commercial, financial, managerial or supervisory purposes, not otherwise provided for: 10/06315, 10/0633, 10/06393, 10/06395, 10/08, 10/0832, 10/0833, 10/087, 10/30, 20/12, 20/18, 20/202, 20/203, 20/322, 30/0185, 30/0201, 30/0206, 30/0223, 30/0627, 50/02, 50/28
B25J Manipulators; chambers provided with manipulation devices: 9/1697
G01K Measuring temperature; measuring quantity of heat; thermally-sensitive elements not otherwise provided for: 1/024
G06K Graphical data reading; presentation of data; record carriers; handling record carriers: 9/00671
G06N Computing arrangements based on specific computational models: 20/00
G06V Image or video recognition or understanding: 20/20, 20/52
G07F Coin-freed or like apparatus: 9/002
Y02W Climate change mitigation technologies related to wastewater treatment or waste management: 90/00

(73) Assignee

DIVERT INC

(72) Inventors

WHITMAN NICHOLAS L; BEGIN RYAN R

(54) Title

Methods and devices for decommissioning microclimate sensors

(57) Abstract

Methods and devices for decommissioning micro-climate sensors for generating product flow data for each of a plurality of items of sale flowing through a supply chain are disclosed. An example device may include an opening for receiving at least one micro-climate sensor and a space for storing the sensor. The device may further include a plurality of sensors operative to detect a presence of the at least one micro-climate sensor, and a sensor decommission circuit to generate a decommission command value in response to detection of the at least one micro-climate sensor.

Full text

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Claims (21)

A repository device for decommissioning a plurality of micro-climate sensors for generating product flow data for each of a plurality of items of sale flowing through a supply chain, the repository device comprising: an opening for receiving at least one micro-climate sensor of the plurality; at least one space for storing the at least one micro-climate sensor; a plurality of sensors operative to detect a presence of the at least one micro-climate sensor; a sensor decommission circuit structured to generate a decommission command value in response to detection of the at least one micro-climate sensor via the plurality of sensors; a backhaul initiation circuit structured to generate an initiate backhaul command value structured to initiate a pickup of the at least one micro-climate sensor from the repository device; and a backhaul provisioning circuit structured to transmit the initiate backhaul command value.
The repository device of claim 1, further comprising a sensor communication circuit structured to transmit the decommission command value to at least one of: the at least one micro-climate sensor; or a server.
The repository device of claim 1, wherein, in response to the decommission command value, the at least one micro-climate sensor enters a decommissioned mode.
The repository device of claim 1, wherein the decommission command value is structured to insert a marker in the product flow data for the at least one micro-climate sensor.
The repository device of claim 4, wherein the marker denotes an end of valid product flow data.
The repository device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of sensors includes at least one of: magnetic sensors; optical sensors; pressure sensors; or RFID sensors.
The repository device of claim 1 further comprising: a status circuit structured to determine and transmit a status of the repository device.
The repository device of claim 7, wherein the status is full, wherein full indicates the repository device contains a maximum number of micro-climate sensors.
The repository device of claim 7, wherein the status is empty, wherein empty indicates an absence of micro-climate sensors.
The repository device of claim 1 further comprising: a sensor identification circuit structured to determine and transmit an identification value of the at least one micro-climate sensor in response to detection of the at least one micro-climate sensor.
A method of decommissioning a plurality of micro-climate sensors for generating product flow data for each of a plurality items of sale flowing through a supply chain, the method comprising: receiving at an opening of a repository device, at least one micro-climate sensor of the plurality; detecting, via a plurality of sensors, a presence of the at least one micro-climate sensor; generating, in response to detecting the presence of the at least one micro-climate sensor, a decommission command value; and generating and transmitting an initiate backhaul command value structured to initiate a pickup of the at least one micro-climate sensor from the repository device.
The method of claim 11, further comprising transmitting the decommission command value to a server.
The method of claim 11, further comprising decommissioning the at least one micro-climate sensor in response to the decommission command value.
The method of claim 11, further comprising inserting a marker in the product flow data for the at least one micro-climate sensor in response to the decommission command value.
The method of claim 11, further comprising storing the at least one micro-climate sensor in a space of the repository device.
The method of claim 11, wherein the plurality of sensors includes at least one of: magnetic sensors; optical sensors; pressure sensors; or RFID sensors.
The method of claim 11 further comprising: generating and transmitting a status of the repository device.
The method of claim 17, wherein the status is full, wherein full indicates the repository device contains a maximum number of micro-climate sensors.
The method of claim 17, wherein the status is empty, wherein empty indicates an absence of micro-climate sensors.
The method of claim 11 further comprising: identifying and transmitting an identification value of the at least one micro-climate sensor in response to detection of the at least one micro-climate sensor.
The method of claim 11 further comprising: in response to the initiate backhaul command value, removing the at least one micro-climate sensor from the repository device.

Description

Field This system relates to monitoring quality of perishable goods/items throughout the distribution and retail lifecycles. Description of the Related Art Current approaches produce limited data regarding perishable items because all aspects of the item's lifecycle are not monitored, reported, or otherwise analyzed. There is a need for a system to monitor the variable conditions to which items are exposed as they move from a distribution center to a retail location, and then through and after disposition. Further, there remains a need to provide retailers with insight into the quality of goods being received, the quality of goods being disposed of, and assistance in identifying contributory factors related to the quality of the item.

Currently, there is a need to provide retailers with insight and data regarding how foods or goods are being handled and their environment throughout their life cycle, from a point of production, such as a farm, through transportation, and distribution center, to a store display case, including in store handling. Further, a retailer would benefit from being able to link the environmental and handling data to information regarding standard operating procedures (SOPs), human behavior and potential deviations from SOPs. While there are some systems that may provide information at specific points in time, e.g., the temperature of a freezer, or a transport vehicle, this data is not linked with human behavior. There is a need to be able to link the environmental data to SOPs and human behavior to facilitate the ability to take corrective action based on the data.

Citations (147)

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Record as JSON

{
  "publication_number": "US11295256B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Methods and devices for decommissioning microclimate sensors",
  "abstract": "Methods and devices for decommissioning micro-climate sensors for generating product flow data for each of a plurality of items of sale flowing through a supply chain are disclosed. An example device may include an opening for receiving at least one micro-climate sensor and a space for storing the sensor. The device may further include a plurality of sensors operative to detect a presence of the at least one micro-climate sensor, and a sensor decommission circuit to generate a decommission command value in response to detection of the at least one micro-climate sensor.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A repository device for decommissioning a plurality of micro-climate sensors for generating product flow data for each of a plurality of items of sale flowing through a supply chain, the repository device comprising: an opening for receiving at least one micro-climate sensor of the plurality; at least one space for storing the at least one micro-climate sensor; a plurality of sensors operative to detect a presence of the at least one micro-climate sensor; a sensor decommission circuit structured to generate a decommission command value in response to detection of the at least one micro-climate sensor via the plurality of sensors; a backhaul initiation circuit structured to generate an initiate backhaul command value structured to initiate a pickup of the at least one micro-climate sensor from the repository device; and a backhaul provisioning circuit structured to transmit the initiate backhaul command value.",
    "2. The repository device of claim 1, further comprising a sensor communication circuit structured to transmit the decommission command value to at least one of: the at least one micro-climate sensor; or a server.",
    "3. The repository device of claim 1, wherein, in response to the decommission command value, the at least one micro-climate sensor enters a decommissioned mode.",
    "4. The repository device of claim 1, wherein the decommission command value is structured to insert a marker in the product flow data for the at least one micro-climate sensor.",
    "5. The repository device of claim 4, wherein the marker denotes an end of valid product flow data.",
    "6. The repository device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of sensors includes at least one of: magnetic sensors; optical sensors; pressure sensors; or RFID sensors.",
    "7. The repository device of claim 1 further comprising: a status circuit structured to determine and transmit a status of the repository device.",
    "8. The repository device of claim 7, wherein the status is full, wherein full indicates the repository device contains a maximum number of micro-climate sensors.",
    "9. The repository device of claim 7, wherein the status is empty, wherein empty indicates an absence of micro-climate sensors.",
    "10. The repository device of claim 1 further comprising: a sensor identification circuit structured to determine and transmit an identification value of the at least one micro-climate sensor in response to detection of the at least one micro-climate sensor.",
    "11. A method of decommissioning a plurality of micro-climate sensors for generating product flow data for each of a plurality items of sale flowing through a supply chain, the method comprising: receiving at an opening of a repository device, at least one micro-climate sensor of the plurality; detecting, via a plurality of sensors, a presence of the at least one micro-climate sensor; generating, in response to detecting the presence of the at least one micro-climate sensor, a decommission command value; and generating and transmitting an initiate backhaul command value structured to initiate a pickup of the at least one micro-climate sensor from the repository device.",
    "12. The method of claim 11, further comprising transmitting the decommission command value to a server.",
    "13. The method of claim 11, further comprising decommissioning the at least one micro-climate sensor in response to the decommission command value.",
    "14. The method of claim 11, further comprising inserting a marker in the product flow data for the at least one micro-climate sensor in response to the decommission command value.",
    "15. The method of claim 11, further comprising storing the at least one micro-climate sensor in a space of the repository device.",
    "16. The method of claim 11, wherein the plurality of sensors includes at least one of: magnetic sensors; optical sensors; pressure sensors; or RFID sensors.",
    "17. The method of claim 11 further comprising: generating and transmitting a status of the repository device.",
    "18. The method of claim 17, wherein the status is full, wherein full indicates the repository device contains a maximum number of micro-climate sensors.",
    "19. The method of claim 17, wherein the status is empty, wherein empty indicates an absence of micro-climate sensors.",
    "20. The method of claim 11 further comprising: identifying and transmitting an identification value of the at least one micro-climate sensor in response to detection of the at least one micro-climate sensor.",
    "21. The method of claim 11 further comprising: in response to the initiate backhaul command value, removing the at least one micro-climate sensor from the repository device."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "Field This system relates to monitoring quality of perishable goods/items throughout the distribution and retail lifecycles. Description of the Related Art Current approaches produce limited data regarding perishable items because all aspects of the item's lifecycle are not monitored, reported, or otherwise analyzed. There is a need for a system to monitor the variable conditions to which items are exposed as they move from a distribution center to a retail location, and then through and after disposition. Further, there remains a need to provide retailers with insight into the quality of goods being received, the quality of goods being disposed of, and assistance in identifying contributory factors related to the quality of the item.\n\nCurrently, there is a need to provide retailers with insight and data regarding how foods or goods are being handled and their environment throughout their life cycle, from a point of production, such as a farm, through transportation, and distribution center, to a store display case, including in store handling. Further, a retailer would benefit from being able to link the environmental and handling data to information regarding standard operating procedures (SOPs), human behavior and potential deviations from SOPs. While there are some systems that may provide information at specific points in time, e.g., the temperature of a freezer, or a transport vehicle, this data is not linked with human behavior. There is a need to be able to link the environmental data to SOPs and human behavior to facilitate the ability to take corrective action based on the data.",
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  "assignees": [
    "DIVERT INC"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "WHITMAN NICHOLAS L",
    "BEGIN RYAN R"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2020-09-22",
  "publication_date": "2022-04-05",
  "grant_date": "2022-04-05",
  "priority_date": "2019-09-18",
  "application_number": "US-202017028498-A",
  "family_id": "74868051",
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