Method and system for storing, retrieving, and managing data for tags

Abstract

This invention relates generally to a method and system for storing, retrieving, and managing data for tags that are associated in some manner to any type of object. More particularly, the present invention writes data to these tags, reads data from these tags, and manages data that is written to and/or read from these tags.

1 . A system for managing data for one or more objects comprising:
 one or more tags associated with the one or more objects, the one or more tags operative to receive and/or transmit data, said data comprising (1) object data relating to the one or more objects associated with the one or more tags, (2) control data, or (3) both;   one or more components communicating with said one or more tags; and   at least one database for storing at least some of the object data, wherein access to the object data in the database is governed at least in part by said control data;   wherein said data relating to the object comprises one or more of the following: a location of the one or more objects, a time at which the one or more objects was at the location, the identity of people that took or released possession of the one or more objects, the identity of people that came into contact with the one or more objects, at least one measurement of at least one environmental condition to which the one or more objects were exposed, a weight of the one or more objects, a time at which the one or more objects had the weight, dimensions of the one or more objects, and a time at which the one or more objects had the dimensions.   
     
     
         2 . A system for managing data for one or more objects as in  claim 1  wherein said object data comprises one or more members of the set consisting of: the identity of people that came into contact with said object, at least one measurement of at least one environmental condition to which said object was exposed, the academic performance of said object, the athletic performance of said object, at least one measurement of the medical condition of said object, authentication data for said object, the price history of said object, and the movement of said object. 
     
     
         3 . A system for managing data for one or more objects as in  claim 1  wherein said control data specifies at least one of said one or more components from which said one or more tags may receive data. 
     
     
         4 . A system for managing data for one or more objects as in  claim 1  wherein said control data specifies one or more data types that said one or more tags are authorized to receive. 
     
     
         5 . A system for managing data for one or more objects as in  claim 1  wherein said one or more components comprise one or more members of the set consisting of a client computer, a database, a server computer, a handheld computer, a mobile device, an input utility, and a sensor. 
     
     
         6 . A system for managing data for one or more objects as in  claim 1  wherein said one or more tags are micro-devices that transmit and receive radio-frequency signals. 
     
     
         7 . A method for monitoring at least one person using one or more tags that are associated with the at least one person comprising the steps of:
 sensing information data at said one or more tags, said information data comprising one or more of at least one measurement of at least one environmental condition to which the at least one person was exposed or at least one measurement of at least one medical condition of the at least one person;   storing said sensed information data in said one or more tags; and
 transmitting at least a portion of said information data from said one or more tags. 
   
     
     
         8 . A method for monitoring at least one person as in  claim 7  wherein said control data specifies at least one sensor from which said at least one tag may receive data. 
     
     
         9 . A method for monitoring at least one person as in  claim 8  wherein said control data specifies one or more data types that said at least one tag is authorized to receive. 
     
     
         10 . A system for monitoring at least one person comprising:
 one or more tags associated with the at least one person, said one or more tags comprising:
 a sensor sensing data comprising one or more of the following: at least one measurement of at least one environmental condition to which the at least one person was exposed or at least one measurement of at least one medical condition of the at least one person; and 
 an electronic component comprising at least one memory for storing said information data and at least one transmitter for transmitting at least a portion of the data. 
   
     
     
         11 . A system for monitoring at least one person as in  claim 10  further comprising at least one device for receiving said portion of the data transmitted by said electronic component of said one or more tags. 
     
     
         12 . A system for monitoring at least one person as in  claim 10  wherein said one or more tags comprise:
 control data specifying at least one or more devices from which said one or more tags may receive data. 
 
     
     
         13 . A system for monitoring at least one person as in  claim 10  wherein said one or more tags comprise:
 control data specifying one or more data types that said one or more tags are authorized to receive. 
 
     
     
         14 . A system for monitoring at least one person as in  claim 11  wherein said at least one device comprises one or more members of the set consisting of a client computer, a database, a server computer, a handheld computer, a mobile device, an input utility, and a sensor. 
     
     
         15 . A system for monitoring at least one person as in  claim 10  wherein said one or more tags are micro-devices that transmit and receive radio-frequency signals. 
     
     
         16 . A system for managing inventory including one or more objects comprising:
 one or more tags associated with the one or more objects, the one or more tags operative to receive data from one or more components and/or to transmit data to the one or more components, said data comprising: (1) data relating to the object associated with the one or more tags, (2) data controlling the operation of the one or more tags, or (3) both;   wherein said data relating to the object comprises one or more of the following: a location of the one or more objects, a time at which the one or more objects was at the location, the identity of people that took or released possession of the one or more objects, the identity of people that came into contact with the one or more objects, at least one measurement of at least one environmental condition to which the one or more objects were exposed, a weight of the one or more objects, a time at which the one or more objects had the weight, dimensions of the one or more objects, and a time at which the one or more objects had the dimensions; and   wherein said data controlling the operation of the one or more tags comprises one or more of the following: data for governing which of said one or more components can access data from said one or more tags; data for governing which of said one or more components can transmit data to said one or more tags; and data for governing the frequency at which said one or more tags receives said data relating to the object.   
     
     
         17 . A system for managing inventory as in  claim 16  wherein said data controlling the operation of said one or more tags specifies at least one of said components from which said one or more tags may receive data. 
     
     
         18 . A system for managing inventory as in  claim 16  wherein said data controlling the operation of said one or more tags instructs said one or more tags to periodically transmit certain data. 
     
     
         19 . A system for managing inventory as in  claim 16  wherein said components comprise one or more members of the set consisting of a client computer, a database, a server computer, an input utility, and a sensor. 
     
     
         20 . A system for managing one or more objects in a supply chain comprising:
 one or more tags associated with the one or more objects, said one or more or more tags comprising:   a sensor for sensing information about the one or more objects, said information including at least one of the following: a temperature, a humidity, moisture, an orientation, a position, and a location;   a memory for storing data about the one or more objects, said data including at least one of the following: ingredients, said information sensed by the sensor; data identifying at least one manufacturer of the one or more objects; data identifying at least one transporter of the one or more objects; and data certifying one or more of the following: the one or more objects, the at least one manufacturer, and the at least one transporter; and   a communication device for sending and receiving the data about the one or more objects.   
     
     
         21 . A system for managing one or more objects in a supply chain as in  claim 20  further comprising one or more components, at least one of said components communicating with the one or more tags, said components including at least one of the following: a device for reading data from the one or more tags; a device for writing data to the one or more tags, a database for storing data read from or written to the one or more tags, and a computer for reading or writing data from or to the database. 
     
     
         22 . A system for managing one or more objects in a supply chain as in  claim 21  wherein the memory of the tag further comprises data to control the one or more tags, said control data comprising one or more of the following: control data for governing which of said one or more components can read data from said one or more tags, control data for governing which of said one or more components can write data to said one or more tags, control data for governing the frequency at which data is read from the one or more tags, control data for governing the frequency at which data is written to the one or more tags, control data for governing the types of data that can be read from the one or more tags, and control data for governing the types of data that can be written to the one or more tags.