Patent ID: 7693739
Filing Date: 2010-04-06
Classification: G01K,G06Q,G08B

Abstract:
1. A method for performing statistical analysis on at least one monitored aspect of a product supply chain, comprising steps of: physically associating at least one first sensor with at least one first item to monitor changes in at least one aspect of a first shipment comprising at least one physical or environmental condition of the at least one first item, the at least one first sensor being physically associated with the at least one first item such that the at least one first sensor remains physically associated with the at least one first item in the same way before and after the at least one first item is loaded onto or removed from a vehicle carrying the at least one first item during the first shipment; storing, in memory accessible to at least one processor, first data reflecting the at least one physical or environmental condition of the first shipment of the at least one the first item occurring in the supply chain; physically associating at least one second sensor with at least one second item to monitor changes in at least one monitored aspect of a second shipment comprising a physical or environmental condition of the at least one second item, the at least one second sensor being physically associated with the at least one second item such that the at least one second sensor remains physically associated with the at least one second item in the same way before and after the at least one second item is loaded onto or removed from a vehicle carrying the at least one second item during the second shipment; storing, in memory accessible to the at least one processor, second data reflecting the at least one physical or environmental condition of the second shipment of the at least one second item occurring in the supply chain; and using the at least one processor to automatically generate at least one report reflecting a statistical analysis of the first data and the second data.