Tag-based product monitoring and evaluation

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9940662-B2
Application number	US-201715628338-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 20, 2017
Priority date	Nov 25, 2014
Publication date	Apr 10, 2018
Grant date	Apr 10, 2018

Abstract

Aspects of tag-based product monitoring and evaluation are described. In one embodiment, a system directs a tag reader to interrogate an RFID tag provided on a product package for a product. In response, the system receives a unique identifier, product detail data, and product usage data from the RFID tag. In certain cases, the system can place an order for the product on an electronic commerce platform based on the unique identifier, the product detail data, and the product usage data. For example, the system can identify when the product package was opened with reference to the product usage data, determine that the product is expired based on when the product package was opened, and place the order for the product based on the product being expired.

First claim

Therefore, at least the following is claimed:

1. A system, comprising:
at least one computing device; and
computer-readable instructions stored in a memory device that, when executed in the at least one computing device, directs the at least one computing device to at least:
receive a unique identifier and product usage data for a product from at least one RFID tag provided on a product package for the product;
identify the product using the unique identifier;
place an order for the product on an electronic commerce platform based at least in part on the product usage data;
prepare a list of expired products, the list of expired products comprising the product as part of the list of expired products; and
forward the list of expired products for review on a client device.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one computing device is further directed to at least direct a tag reader to interrogate the at least one RFID tag.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one computing device is further directed to at least:
receive product detail data from the at least one RFID tag provided on the product package for the product, the product detail data comprising product expiration information for the product; and
place the order for the product on the electronic commerce platform based at least further in part on the product expiration information.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one computing device is further directed to at least:
receive product detail data from the at least one RFID tag provided on the product package for the product, the product detail data comprising temperature data for the product;
determine that the product is expired based at least in part on the temperature data; and
place the order for the product on the electronic commerce platform based at least further in part on the product being expired.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the temperature data indicates that a temperature of the product has remained outside a recommended storage temperature for a period of time.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one computing device is further directed to at least:
identify when the product package was opened with reference to the product usage data;
determine that the product is expired based at least in part on when the product package was opened; and
place the order for the product on the electronic commerce platform based at least further in part on the product being expired.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the list of expired products comprises a list of expired products stored in at least one of a refrigerator or a pantry.

8. The system of claim 1 , 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.

9. A method, comprising:
receiving, by at least one computing device, product detail data and product usage data for a product from at least one RFID tag provided on a product package for the product;
identifying, by the at least one computing device, when the product package was opened with reference to the product usage data;
determining, by the at least one computing device, that the product is expired based at least in part on when the product package was opened and a product characteristic of the product defined in the product detail data;
placing, by the at least one computing device, an order for the product on an electronic commerce platform based at least in part on the product being expired;
generating, by the at least one computing device, a report for the product, the report comprising an indicator of at least one of when the product package was opened or that the product has expired; and
forwarding, by the at least one computing device, the report for review on a client device.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising directing, by the at least one computing device, a tag reader to interrogate the at least one RFID tag.

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

12. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:
identifying, by the at least one computing device, a number of times that the product package was 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 the number of times that the product package has been opened and a product characteristic of the product defined in the product detail data.

13. The method of claim 9 , wherein:
the product detail data comprises temperature data for the product; and
the method further comprises determining, by the at least one computing device, that the product is expired based at least further in part on the temperature data.

14. The method of claim 9 , further comprising identifying, by the at least one computing device, at least one timing associated with when the product package was opened with reference to the product usage data.

15. A method, comprising:
directing, by at least one computing device, a tag reader to interrogate at least one RFID tag provided on a product package for a product;
receiving, by the at least one computing device, product detail data and product usage data from the at least one RFID tag;
identifying, by the at least one computing device, when the product package was opened with reference to the product usage data;
placing, by the at least one computing device, an order for the product on an electronic commerce platform based at least in part on when the product package was opened;
generating, by the at least one computing device, a report for the product, the report comprising an indicator of when the product package was opened and that the product has expired; and
forwarding, by the at least one computing device, the report for review on a client device.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein:
the product detail data comprises product expiration information for the product; and
placing the order for the product comprises placing, by the at least one computing device, the order for the product based at least further in part on the product expiration information.

17. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:
determining, by the at least one computing device, that the product is expired based at least in part on when the product package was opened and a product characteristic of the product defined in the product detail data, wherein:
placing the order for the product comprises placing, by the at least one computing device, the order for the product based at least further in part on the product being expired.

18. The method of claim 15 , further comprising:
identifying, by the at least one computing device, a number of times that the product package was 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 the number of times that the product package has been opened and a product characteristic of the product defined in the product detail data.

19. The method of claim 15 , wherein:
the product detail data comprises temperature data for the product; and
the method further comprises determining, by the at least one computing device, that the product is expired based at least further in part on the temperature data.

Assignees

• Amazon Tech Inc

Inventors

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

Classifications

• G06Q30/0635 Primary

  replenishment orders; recurring orders · CPC title

• 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

• G06Q10/087

  Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders · CPC title

• G06K7/10128

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

• G06K19/0717

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