Patent ID: 11861548
Assignee: FARM-LOGIX, LLC
Field: IT methods for management (Electrical engineering)
Classification: CPC G | IPC G

Claim 27:
28. A distributed computing system that practically applies networked computing technology and machine-readable indicia to support traceability of products from providers to clients, the system comprising:
a plurality of distributed computers for connection over a network, the distributed computers including first, second, third, and fourth computers;
wherein the first computer comprises a memory, and wherein the first computer is configured to (1) receive an order for a product with respect to a client and (2) store data about the order in the memory, the client having a plurality of associated client rules;
wherein the first computer is configured to select a provider for the product;
wherein the second computer includes a printer, the printer configured to print a machine-readable indicia to be adhered to the product or a container for the product, wherein the machine-readable indicia comprises a product identifier, wherein the product identifier encodes (1) provider information that identifies the selected provider, (2) location information that identifies a location of the selected provider, and (3) product information that identifies the product, and wherein the second computer is configured to communicate the product identifier over the network to the first computer;
wherein the first computer is further configured to (1) associate the order with the product identifier in the memory and (2) associate the product information from the product identifier with a product type in the memory;
wherein the first computer is further configured to associate the order with a transport identifier, wherein the transport identifier identifies an entity transporting the product from the provider to an aggregation facility;
wherein the third computer, following a receipt of the product by the aggregation facility, is further configured to communicate an aggregation facility identifier for association with the product identifier to the first computer over the network, wherein the aggregation facility identifier identifies the aggregation facility that received from the product;
wherein the first computer is further configured to associate the order with the aggregation facility in the memory;
wherein the fourth computer, following a receipt of the product by a distribution facility, is further configured to communicate a distribution facility identifier for association with the product identifier to the first computer over the network, wherein the distribution facility identifier identifies the distribution facility that received the product;
wherein the first computer is further configured to (1) associate the order with the distribution facility identifier, (2) select a location in the distribution facility from among a plurality of locations in the distribution facility for storing the product in accordance with the client rules, and (3) electronically notify the distribution facility that the product must be stored in the selected location;
wherein the first computer is configured to (1) track the product by reading the product identifier and at least one of the other identifiers during the delivery of the product from the provider to the distribution facility, wherein each identifier is encoded by one of a bar code, QR code, RFID tag, or smart tag, (2) determine based on the tracking whether the client rules have been violated, and (3) in response to a determination that the client rules have been violated, electronically notify the provider that a replacement of the product is required.