Patent ID: 7698179

Claim:
A system for tracking at least one product, such as an item, carton or pallet, within a retail supply chain, the system comprising, (a) a supply chain management system which includes at least one database, the at least one database having a first set of electronic data records stored therein, the first set of electronic data records being designated for a first product, (b) a label affixed to the first product, the label comprising, (i) a radio frequency identification (RFID) device that stores a unique product identification code, (ii) a printed barcode configured to represent a link code, the link code having a length that is shorter than the length of the unique product identification code, and (iii) an alphanumeric character string configured to represent the link code, (c) a computer configured to capture the unique product identification code and the link code from the label, the computer being connected to the supply chain management system through a communication path, (d) automated means for capturing the unique product identification code on the computer from the RFID device, (e) automated means for capturing the link code on the computer from the barcode provided on the label, and (f) means for capturing the link code on the computer from the alphanumeric character string provided on the label, (g) wherein the supply chain management system utilizes the unique product identification code to identify the first set of electronic data records stored in the database, (h) wherein the supply chain management system utilizes the link code to locate the unique product identification code which is in turn utilized to identify the first set of electronic data records stored in the at least one database.