Patent US6712276B1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6712276B1
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US
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Method and apparatus for automated measurement of properties of perishable consumer products
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1999-01-29
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Granted: 2004-03-30
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Expires: 2019-01-29
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for reporting dynamic properties of a product using radio frequency identification device technology. With this invention, an electronic tag is equipped with a sensor which determines dynamic properties of a product when the tag is activated. The dynamic properties of the product are then either further processed into other dynamic properties. In any event either the former or the latter dynamic properties are then transmitted from the tag. Such dynamic properties could be the temperature of a product or the expiration date of the product derived from periodic measurements of the temperature of the product.
Inventors
- 👤 Bulent Abali
- 👤 Hubertus Franke
- 👤 Mark Edwin Giampapa
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 21:09
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06K; G06K19/00; G06K19/06; G06K19/067; G06K19/07; G06K19/0716; G06K19/0717; G01; G01D; G01D9/00; G01D9/005; G01D9/007; G06K19/0723; G06K7/00; G06K7/0008
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
86 words
An electronic tag for reporting dynamic properties of a product, said tag comprising: at least one sensor, which when activated senses physical data for said product; sensor logic for determining dynamic properties of said product from said physical data, said sensor logic additionally comprising a component for determining an expiration date as a function of dynamic properties and as a function of a fixed start date; and a radio frequency identification device for activating said sensor and for transmitting latter said dynamic properties from said tag.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
86 words
An electronic tag for reporting dynamic properties of a product, said tag comprising: at least one sensor, which when activated senses physical data for said product; sensor logic for determining dynamic properties of said product from said physical data, said sensor logic additionally comprising a component for determining an expiration date as a function of dynamic properties and as a function of a fixed start date; and a radio frequency identification device for activating said sensor and for transmitting latter said dynamic properties from said tag.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
An electronic tag as recited in claim 1 , wherein said dynamic properties are derived based on physical data comprising sensory data.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
An electronic tag as recited claim 1 , wherein said dynamic properties are derived based on physical data comprising comprising at least one of the following: weight, temperature, and expiration date.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
An electronic tag as recited claim 1 , wherein said sensor comprises a device for measuring temperature.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
An electronic tag as recited claim 4 , wherein said device for measuring temperature comprises a thermistor.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
An electronic tag as recited claim 4 , wherein said device for measuring weight comprises a pressure sensitive capacitor.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
An electronic tag as recited claim 1 , wherein said sensor comprises a device for measuring weight.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
14 words
An electronic tag as recited in claim 1 further comprising an internal power source.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
109 words
An electronic tag reporting system for managing the handling of a product using dynamic properties of said product, said system comprising: an electronic tag for reporting said dynamic properties of said product, said tag comprising: at least one sensor for sensing physical data for said product, when said sensor is activated, sensor logic for determining said properties of said product, said sensor logic additionally comprising a component for determining an expiration date as a function of dynamic properties and as a function of a fixed start date, and a radio frequency identification device for activating said sensor; and a digital assistant for processing said status information for product management.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
109 words
An electronic tag reporting system for managing the handling of a product using dynamic properties of said product, said system comprising: an electronic tag for reporting said dynamic properties of said product, said tag comprising: at least one sensor for sensing physical data for said product, when said sensor is activated, sensor logic for determining said properties of said product, said sensor logic additionally comprising a component for determining an expiration date as a function of dynamic properties and as a function of a fixed start date, and a radio frequency identification device for activating said sensor; and a digital assistant for processing said status information for product management.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
40 words
A electronic tag reporting system as recited in claim 9 , wherein said digital assistant comprises: a transmitter and receiver for interrogating said tag for said dynamic product properties, and a control unit for processing said dynamic product status information.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
32 words
An apparatus as recited in claim 10 , wherein said control unit comprises determining an expiration date as a function of dynamic properties and as a function of a fixed start date.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
77 words
A method for reporting dynamic properties of a product, said method comprising: broadcasting an interrogation request; activating a sensor by transmitting an activation signal from a radio frequency identification device, said activation signal being transmitted in response to said interrogation request; determining said dynamic properties of said product by processing sensory data determined by said activated sensor; and determining an expiration date as a function of dynamic properties and as a function of a fixed start date.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
77 words
A method for reporting dynamic properties of a product, said method comprising: broadcasting an interrogation request; activating a sensor by transmitting an activation signal from a radio frequency identification device, said activation signal being transmitted in response to said interrogation request; determining said dynamic properties of said product by processing sensory data determined by said activated sensor; and determining an expiration date as a function of dynamic properties and as a function of a fixed start date.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 12 further comprising storing values of said physical data and said dynamic properties.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 13 further comprising the step of retrieving stored values for use in said determining dynamic properties of said product.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 13 further comprising storing a fixed start date and further comprising retrieving stored values, retrieving said fixed start date and determining an expiration date as a function of dynamic properties, said stored values, and the fixed start date.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
76 words
An electronic tag for determining dynamic properties of a product, said tag comprising: at least one sensor, which when activated, senses physical data for said product; sensor logic for determining dynamic properties of said product from said physical data, said sensor logic additionally comprising a component for determining an expiration date as a function of dynamic properties and as a function of a fixed start date; and a radio frequency identification device for activating said sensor.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
76 words
An electronic tag for determining dynamic properties of a product, said tag comprising: at least one sensor, which when activated, senses physical data for said product; sensor logic for determining dynamic properties of said product from said physical data, said sensor logic additionally comprising a component for determining an expiration date as a function of dynamic properties and as a function of a fixed start date; and a radio frequency identification device for activating said sensor.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
26 words
An electronic tag as recited in claim 16 , further comprising a memory for storing at least one of said physical data and said dynamic properties.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
21 words
An electronic tag as recited in claim 17 , further comprising a transmitter for transmitting said dynamic properties from said tag.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2007-03-30 | 2007-09-29 | 2008-03-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2011-03-30 | 2011-09-29 | 2012-03-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2015-03-30 | 2015-09-29 | 2016-03-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |