Patent ID: 9619774
Date: 2017-04-11
CPC Classifications: G06F,G06Q

Claim:
1. A machine-implemented and/or software-implemented method comprising: providing product information related to manufacturing or distribution of a product, said product being sequentially processed by a series of manufacturing or distribution processing entities as said product is being moved through a supply chain, each of said processing entities being operable to perform a respective designated task relative to said product, said product information being contained in a product information database of a single server system accessible from remote computer systems through an interconnection network; receiving public and non-public product information related to said product from each of said processing entities, said public and non-public product information being furnished by each of said respective processing entities in real time to said product information database during or upon completion of each designated task by said respective processing entities; converting said public and non-public product information from all of said processing entities into a single, product tracking code, said product tracking code being comprised of coded public and non-public segments; storing said public product information in a first portion of said product information database; storing said non-public product information in a second portion of said product information database; using said product tracking code for enabling public access to said public product information in said first portion of said product information database; and using said product tracking code for enabling only authorized access to said non-public product information in said second portion of said product information database, said product information data base, including information being furnished by said processing entities, being made available for access during or upon completion of each designated task by said respective processing entities; assigning a password to each of said processing entities for accessing said second portion of said product information database; checking said password submitted by said processing entities against a listing of authorized passwords; and enabling each of said processing entities to access said second portion of said product information database containing said non-public product information only if said password submitted matches with said password assigned to said processing entity accessing said product information database, wherein each of said processing entities is allowed access only to non-public product information of predetermined other ones of said processing entities.