Tag-based product monitoring and evaluation

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9715606-B2
Application number	US-201615268757-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 19, 2016
Priority date	Nov 25, 2014
Publication date	Jul 25, 2017
Grant date	Jul 25, 2017

Abstract

Aspects of tag-based product monitoring and evaluation are described. In one embodiment, a system instructs a tag reader to transmit an electromagnetic field and receives a plurality of unique identifiers for a plurality of products from a plurality of tags in response to the electromagnetic field. The plurality of tags may be provided on a plurality of product packages for the plurality of products. The system also identifies the plurality of products using the plurality of unique identifiers and identifies whether a product package of at least one of the plurality of products has been opened based on the plurality of unique identifiers or the product detail data. The system may alert a user as to whether one or more product packages have been opened before purchasing.

First claim

Therefore, at least the following is claimed:

1. A system, comprising:
at least one computing device; and
computer-readable instructions stored in memory that, when executed in the at least one computing device, directs the at least one computing device to at least:
receive at least one unique identifier for a product, product detail data, and product usage data from at least one RFID tag provided on a product package for the product;
identify the product using the at least one unique identifier;
identify a number of times that the product package has been opened with reference to the product usage data; and
determine a remaining amount of product within the product package based at least in part on the number of times that the product package has been opened and a product characteristic of the product defined in the product detail data.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one computing device is further directed to at least:
identify at least one timing associated with when the product package has been opened with reference to the product usage data; and
determine whether the product has expired based at least in part on the at least one timing associated with when the product package has been opened and a product characteristic of the product defined in the product detail data.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the product detail data comprises at least one of product use-by, product sell-by, product expiration, product storage, product volume, or product weight information.

4. The system of claim 2 , wherein the at least one computing device is further directed to at least determine a remaining amount of product within the product package with reference to the product usage data.

5. The system of claim 2 , wherein the at least one computing device is further directed to at least generate a report for the product, the report including an indicator of at least one of the at least one timing associated with when the product package has been opened, the remaining amount of product within the product package, or whether the product has expired.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one computing device is further directed to at least place an order for the product on an electronic commerce platform based at least in part on whether the product has expired.

7. The system of claim 2 , wherein:
the at least one RFID tag comprises at least two RFID tags; and
the at least one computing device is further directed to at least identify the at least one timing associated with when the product package has been opened based at least in part on a number of response signals received from the at least two RFID tags in response to an electromagnetic excitation field.

8. A method, comprising:
receiving, by at least one computing device, product usage data and product detail data from at least one RFID tag provided on a product package for a product;
identifying, by the at least one computing device, a number of times that the product package has been opened with reference to the product usage data;
determining, by the at least one computing device, a remaining amount of product within the product package based at least in part on the number of times that the product package has been opened and a product characteristic of the product defined in the product detail data; and
determining, by the at least one computing device, whether the product has expired based at least in part on the number of times that the product package has been opened and a product characteristic of the product defined in the product detail data.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the product detail data comprises at least one of product use-by, sell-by, expiration, storage, volume, or weight information.

10. The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
identifying, by the at least one computing device, at least one timing associated with when the product package has been opened with reference to the product usage data.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising generating, by the at least one computing device, a report for the product, the report including an indicator of at least one of the at least one timing associated with when the product package has been opened, the remaining amount of product within the product package, or whether the product has expired.

12. The method of claim 8 , further comprising placing, by the at least one computing device, an order for the product on an electronic commerce platform based at least in part on whether the product has expired.

13. The method of claim 10 , further comprising:
receiving, by the at least one computing device, a number of response signals from at least two RFID tags provided on the product package for the product; and
identifying, by the at least one computing device, the at least one timing associated with when the product package has been opened based at least in part on the number of response signals received from the at least two RFID tags.

14. A method, comprising:
receiving, by at least one computing device, a number of unique identifiers from at least two of a plurality of RFID tags provided on a product package for a product;
receiving, by the at least one computing device, product detail data from at least one of the plurality of RFID tags;
determining, by the at least one computing device, whether the product package has been opened with reference to the number of unique identifiers;
determining, by the at least one computing device, whether the product has expired based at least in part on whether the product package has been opened and a product characteristic of the product defined in the product detail data.

15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the product detail data comprises at least one of product use-by, product sell-by, product expiration, product storage, product volume, or product weight information.

16. The method of claim 14 , further comprising:
receiving, by the at least one computing device, product usage data from at least one of the plurality of RFID tags;
identifying, by the at least one computing device, a number of times that the product package has been opened with reference to the product usage data; and
determining, by the at least one computing device, a remaining amount of product within the product package based at least in part on a number of times that the product package has been opened and a product characteristic of the product defined in the product detail data.

17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising generating, by the at least one computing device, a report for the product, the report including an indicator of at least one of whether the product package has been opened, a timing associated with whether the product package has been opened, the remaining amount of product within the product package, or whether the product has expired.

18. The method of claim 14 , further comprising placing, by the at least one computing device, an order for the product on an electronic commerce platform based at least in part on whether the product package has been opened or whether the product has expired.

19. The method of claim 14 , further comprising identifying, by the at least one computing device, a timing associated with whether the product package has been opened based at least in part on the number of unique identifiers.

20. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one computing device is further directed to generate a list including at least the product based at least in part on whether the product has

Assignees

• Amazon Tech Inc

Inventors

• Russell Ryan Scott
• Ryle Thomas Matthew
• Lauka Wesley Scott

Classifications

• G06K7/10415

  the interrogation device being fixed in its position, such as an access control device for reading wireless access cards, or a wireless ATM (banking machines in general G07F19/00) · CPC title

• G06K19/0717

  the sensor being capable of sensing environmental conditions such as temperature history or pressure · CPC title

• G08B13/2448

  Tag with at least dual detection means, e.g. combined inductive and ferromagnetic tags, dual frequencies within a single technology, tampering detection or signalling means on the tag · CPC title

• G06K7/10128 Primary

  the step consisting of detection of the presence of one or more record carriers in the vicinity of the interrogation device · CPC title

• G06Q10/00

  Administration; Management · CPC title