Patent Document

FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    This invention relates to the field of monitoring products as they are processed or transported, and especially to a system for monitoring the environment that goods are subjected to during processing or transport.  
         DISCUSSION OF PRIOR ART  
         [0002]    As is well known, goods that are sensitive to environmental factors, e.g., temperature, are commonly processed within a facility or they are transported, sometimes substantial distances, between locations, especially between the seller and the buyer. Examples of such perishable goods are various types of food, medical materials which are vulnerable to changes in temperature, and also many chemicals which can easily deteriorate when conditions are not optimal.  
           [0003]    Conventionally when goods are perishable or vulnerable to environmental influences, the seller has a transport specification which defines the nature and quality of transport which is appropriate for the goods. The seller provides with the goods that are shipped from his installation a quality certificate that represents that the goods were of acceptable quality when they left his control.  
           [0004]    Subsequently, the buyer receives the goods, relying primarily on the carrier for having transported them appropriately. Unfortunately, even where the workers handling goods, or the carrier transporting them, are very careful, environmental factors such as sudden rises in temperature, physical shocks, leakage, humidity, etc., can harm the goods.  
           [0005]    The prior art offers no way of monitoring what happens to vulnerable goods during their transport, except by fairly uninformative methods, such as the simple physical sealing of a door of a refrigerated railroad car, for instance.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0006]    It is therefore an object of the invention to provide for a system of monitoring the conditions to which objects are subjected, particularly while they are being processed or transported.  
           [0007]    According to the system of the present invention, the environmental conditions to which objects are subjected over a period of time are monitored by placing a sensing device in or near the object which is of concern. This sensing device is movable with the object and senses a relevant environmental parameter (for example heat, humidity, light, radiation, acceleration, etc.) at periodic intervals and records an indication of the magnitude of the environmental parameter sensed. This indication data is stored in a memory log in the sensing device, and then, at some point after processing (e.g., when the buyer receives the product), the sensing device is read by a computer input device, and the logged environmental data is downloaded onto a computer.  
           [0008]    According to an aspect of the invention, the receiving computer is connected with a computer data network having at least one web server. When the log data is received, the computer accesses this web server so as to cause a script to run thereon. The log data from the computer is sent over the data network and the script on the server converts this data file into a suitable format for transmission over the network, preferably, a markup language format data file, such as an XML file. The web server then transmits the markup language format data file of the logged environmental data to a business computer that records or otherwise processes this information for appropriate administration of this object as part of its general data.  
           [0009]    Preferably, the business system that receives the data transmitted from the web server comprises a business communications processor connected with an enterprise management system, e.g., a backend Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) business control system, which can efficiently process and store data for a large number of articles in process, and which can provide display information to a user relating to the type of material in the object, its environmental parameters, and information regarding associated articles, such as those in the same shipment.  
           [0010]    Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the specification herein. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]    [0011]FIG. 1 shows a schematic of the overall system by which the environmental influences on a product can be monitored using the systems and methods of the present invention.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a sensor device as used in the preferred embodiment.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the cooperation of the various parts of the system.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 4 shows a sample display screen for data derived for an object processed according to the invention.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 5 shows a sample HTML display screen mode available from the server according to the present invention.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0016]    Handling and shipment of perishable, vulnerable or fragile goods presents a number of problems with respect to any damage thereto. Potentially, for example, a seller could be blamed for deterioration of goods which were actually damaged in transit by carrier who is responsible for the damage. The present system provides for “aware goods” in an intelligent supply chain which overcomes this potential problem.  
         [0017]    According to the present invention, a number of objects, preferably a very large number of objects, are each to be processed for a respective period of time, and environmental data for these objects is to be monitored during those periods. Ideally, where the product is kept or transported in a box or container such as container  3  in FIG. 1, the box or container is provided with a sensing device  5  therein, or, when this is not practical, attached to the outside of the container or supported nearby so as to be essentially in the same environment as the object being monitored.  
         [0018]    The sensing device  5  is preferably a sensing device such as is sold by ESYS GmbH, a company located in Berlin, Germany.  
         [0019]    As can be seen in FIG. 2, the sensing device  5  of the preferred embodiment has an internal structure which comprises a sensor portion  7  connected with a processing circuit  9 . The sensor  7  may detect any of a variety of environmental parameters. These can include, for example, temperature, motion, vibration or acceleration, light (whether visible or non-visible), radiation, or other types of waves of the environment such as RF signals or even sound waves. In addition, the sensor may detect the presence of one or more chemical substances, or may sense the humidity level in the environment of the sensing device  5 . Most commonly, however, it is believed that this sensor will be a temperature sensor, because temperature is a particularly damaging factor to a large number of chemicals.  
         [0020]    Circuitry  9  preferably runs a duty cycle so that it periodically accesses sensor  7  and determines the magnitude of whatever environmental parameter, such as temperature, is being monitored. The cycle interval may range from about once every second to once every several hours. The determination magnitude may be expressed in any variety of ways, although, a numerical value is particularly preferred.  
         [0021]    Alternatively, other parameter-dependant logging methods might be used. For example, where a large amount of data is expected, the data stored may be a single bit derived by a test of whether the environmental parameter exceeds a preset threshold, e.g., when the temperature has exceeded a threshold temperature value, a “1” is logged, and to indicate that the temperature is below the threshold, a “0” is stored.  
         [0022]    When the sensor data is processed by the circuitry  9 , a record of the indication of magnitude reading of the sensor  7  is logged in data log memory  11  in the sensing device  5 . Memory  11  in the preferred embodiment is a data storage area or cache in the device  5  with approximately 32 KB of usable memory, which is a suitable amount of storage for most applications.  
         [0023]    As best seen in FIG. 1, when the product reaches the user, the sensing device  5  is removed from the container or from the vicinity of the object  3  for processing by an input computer generally indicated at  13 . Computer  13  preferably includes an input device  15  which interrogates the sensing device  5 , and the environmental log data from the logged records of the memory component  11  is downloaded to the computer  13 .  
         [0024]    The computer has a communications link  17  to computer data network  20 . The computer data network  20  connects with a number of servers thereon including a web server  21  as well as a business system for data processing relating to the products in question generally indicated at  23 . This business management system preferably comprises a business communications processor  25 , also connected with the computer data network  20 , and a management system such as an ERP back-end system  27  connected with the business communications processor  25  for receiving and processing the data that the communications processor  25  receives.  
         [0025]    The reading device  15  is preferably an infrared reader. This reading device  15  transmits an infrared signal which is received by sensing device  5  and causes the sensing device  5  to send the stored environmental data log by wireless infrared transmission back to the reading device  15 . This may take several seconds, especially if the entire memory of 32 KB or larger is being downloaded.  
         [0026]    The sensing device  5  preferably has a unique respective identification number which is read as part of the downloaded data, or before or after the download, to identify exactly which sensing device  5  is being read, for the purposes of identifying the precise shipment the specific sensing device was assigned to.  
         [0027]    The flow of data among the components of the overall system is illustrated in the schematic flowchart of FIG. 3. Measurements are accumulated in the sensing device  5  (step  31 ) and downloaded wirelessly by infrared to computer  13 . Alternatively, another wireless protocol, such as, e.g., Bluetooth data link, may be used for downloading the environmental data log.  
         [0028]    The data log is downloaded into the computer  13 , which converts the data log into a format which can be efficiently transmitted over network  20 . Particularly preferred for this transmission is a markup language format such as an XML file. In this format, a fairly large file can be more readily transmitted over a local area network or another computer data network. Also, the markup language XML provides a data format that can easily be interpreted by human beings, and also is configured to be readable as a business-to-business (“B2B”) exchange standard by other third-party software. Because markup language files, including XML files, are transferable by the standard internet protocol http, these files can be easily distributed as desired through the network.  
         [0029]    The web server  21  has a script that it runs responsive to being accessed by the computer  13  in step  34 . This script is preferably a CGI script written in Perl, and, when run, it cooperates with computer  13  to receive the data log file which the computer has prepared from the data log downloaded from device  5 , and if the file is not already in such a format, converts or maps it into a more appropriate format for transmission to the business system  23  (step  35 ).  
         [0030]    The format of this file is also preferably a markup language format file, and most preferably a XML file. Again, this allows for flexibility in transmitting the data through a data network to the business processing system  23 . The business processing system  23  translates the open and non-proprietory *ML data formate into ERP specific format and allows full bi-directional communication.  
         [0031]    The web server  21  script also preferably prepares a HTML page containing a summary of the recorded environmental parameters, identifying numbers, business data, and any other information relating to the article. This HTML page can be accessed by any computer with browser on the network  20 , and the user can view the HTML summary on a web page on his or her browser. An example of such a summary that would be expressed in the HTML is shown in FIG. 5.  
         [0032]    When the web server  21  has converted the data to an appropriate XML or *ML data file, the data is transmitted over a network to the business communications processor  25 . Most preferably, the incoming ML file is converted by the business communications processor into parameters of a remote function call which is transmitted to the ERP back-end system  27 .  
         [0033]    The data network connecting the server  21  to the business processing system  23  may be network  20  that connects the computer  13  to server  21 , or it may be a separate network.  
         [0034]    Alternatively, the function of web server  21  and the business connector  25  actions can be contained in a single computer system instead of two systems connected by the network. Where a single system is used, the computer downloads data from the sensor  5  and converts this data directly to a markup language file, preferable an XML file using software internal to the single computer, and consequently, no CGI script is necessary. This file is then sent over the network  20  directly to business connector  25 . The computer  13  can also generate the HTML summary page to be accessed thereon over network  20 . This arrangement increases the computational load on the read-out computer  13 , but also eliminates the delay of communication with separate server  21  over network  20  and the attendant data conversion.  
         [0035]    Preferably, the management system is an ERP backend system  27  such as the R/3 system sold by SAP AG of Walldorf, Germany, and the business communications processor is the Business Connector, also provided by SAP AG as part of the R/3 system.  
         [0036]    The ERP backend system  27  records the data which is transmitted thereto in an appropriate mass storage device. In addition, the ERP system  27  accesses any records relating to the shipment of goods, such as, e.g., other containers shipped at the same time as container  3 , and produces from this data a report, such as the one shown in FIG. 4, which is transmitted back through the system for display on the monitor of computer  13 , or on any other computer monitor communicating with the ERP system.  
         [0037]    The report preferably includes details identifying the product in field  41 , which, in the exemplary display, is the temperature sensitive product Beriglobin. Additional information is also provided in the display relating to the environmental parameter monitored (field  43 ), and the stability and environmental requirements of the given product (field  45 ). The display also preferably shows a summary of results for all related containers of a given group processed or shipped together. In addition, the report contains the actual environmental history in tabular and graph form (fields  48  and  49 ) with respect to the environmental parameter that was detected by the sensor  5 , for review by a human operator where appropriate.  
         [0038]    It will, of course, be understood that a wide range of reports may be configured which disply information of particular interest depending on the specific product and environmental parameter.  
         [0039]    It will also be understood that the data may be used in a number of management contexts, such as inventory control. One of the primary applications of the system of the invention, however, is to allow a shipper and a buyer to assess responsibility for damaged goods, and various verification systems and certificates incorporating data from the sensor may be used.  
         [0040]    The terms used herein should be considered as terms of description, not limitation, as those of skill in the art with this disclosure before then will be able to make changes and modivications therein without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Technology Category: g