Patent ID: 7061831

Claim:
An apparatus for configuring an indicating configuration to be associated with a container wherein each indicating configuration includes an indicator and data stored thereon related to an order associated with the container and at least a sub-set of indicating configurations include an enhanced memory device and enhanced data stored thereon, an enhanced device being a device that cooperates with a data collector to gather information therefrom, at least one descriptor associated with each order that can be used to identify the indicating configuration and the data to be stored via the indicating configuration, the apparatus comprising: a reader for reading each descriptor; a writer for writing data to enhanced devices; and a processor linked to the reader for receiving each descriptor and using the descriptor to identify when enhanced data is associated with an order, the processor, when enhanced data is associated with an order, causing the writer to write enhanced data to an enhanced device and, when enhanced data is not associated with an order, causing another indicating function to be performed.