US 12,648,504 B2Granted

Secure and verifiable tracking of agricultural products

AssigneeAmvac Chemical Corporation

InventorsRichard L. Rice, Ulrich G. Trogele, Kent W. James

Life of this patent

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Abstract

A computer-implemented system and method to collect and store data related to product stored in a container. In response to filling the container with the product, the following data are stored in at least one first record in an external database (such as a distributed ledger, e.g., blockchain): a product type of the first product; an amount of the first product filled into the first container; a unique identity of the first container; and a unique identity of a first user of the first container at the time of filling the first container with the first product. Data representing a unique identity of a container data module on the container are stored in the container data module. As the container moves, dispenses product, and undergoes changes in possession and ownership, data representing such events are stored in the distributed ledger and/or the container data module. As a result, a verifiable application/consumption record of the product within the container is generated.

Claims31

Dependent claims

A method performed by at least one computer processor executing computer program instructions stored on at least one first non-transitory computer-readable medium, the method comprising:

(A) a first storage module receiving data representing a filling of a first container with a first product;
(B) the first storage module determining whether a network connection exists between the first storage module and an external database to determine that the external database is not accessible over a network;
(C) in response to determining that the external database is not accessible over the network, the first storage module storing, in a second non-transitory computer-readable medium, without accessing the network, data representing:
a product type of the first product;
an amount of the first product filled into the first container;
a unique identity of the first container;
and
a unique identity of a first user of the first container at the time of filling the first container with the first product;
(D) after (B) and (C), the first storage module determining whether a network connection exists between the first storage module and an external database to determine that the external database is accessible over the network;
(E) in response to determining that the external database is accessible over the network, the first storage module storing the data in (C) in at least one first record in the external database;
and
(F) dispensing at least some of the first product from the first container, and storing, in at least one second record in the external database, data representing the dispensing;
wherein the dispensing comprises consuming at least some of the first product at each of a plurality of locations L, and wherein (F) comprises:
for each of the plurality of locations L, storing, in the data representing the dispensing:
(1) data representing an amount of the first product consumed from the first container at location L;
and
(2) data representing the location L,
wherein the external database comprises a distributed ledger.

15 more elements

A system comprising at least one first non-transitory computer-readable medium having computer program instructions stored thereon, the computer program instructions being executable by at least one computer processor to perform a method, the method comprising:

(A) a first storage module receiving data representing a filling of a first container with a first product;
(B) the first storage module determining whether a network connection exists between the first storage module and an external database to determine that the external database is not accessible over a network;
(C) in response to determining that the external database is not accessible over the network, the first storage module storing, in a second non-transitory computer-readable medium, without accessing the network, data representing:
a product type of the first product;
an amount of the first product filled into the first container;
a unique identity of the first container;
and
a unique identity of a first user of the first container at the time of filling the first container with the first product;
(D) after (B) and (C), the first storage module determining whether a network connection exists between the first storage module and an external database to determine that the external database is accessible over the network;
(E) in response to determining that the external database is accessible over the network, the first storage module storing the data in (C) in at least one first record in the external database;
and
(F) dispensing at least some of the first product from the first container, and storing, in at least one second record in the external database, data representing the dispensing;
wherein the dispensing comprises consuming at least some of the first product at each of a plurality of locations L, and wherein (F) comprises:
for each of the plurality of locations L, storing, in the data representing the dispensing:
(1) data representing an amount of the first product consumed from the first container at location L;
and
(2) data representing the location L,
wherein the external database comprises a distributed ledger.

15 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 17/727,482Filed 22 Apr 2022 · continuation in part
Priority: 6 Jun 2016
Published: US 2022/0142037 A14 Aug 2022
Granted: 9 Jun 2026
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification22 codes

A01B 79/005
Methods for working soil: precision agriculture
A01M 7/0089
Special adaptations or arrangements of liquid-spraying apparatus for purposes covered by this subclass: regulating or controlling systems
A01C 7/10
Broadcast seeders; Seeders depositing seeds in rows: devices for adjusting the seed-box ; Regulation of machines for depositing quantities at…
A01C 21/005
Methods of fertilising , sowing or planting: following a specific plan, e.g. pattern

Family

Application62/346,377Us provisional application · filed 6 Jun 2016
Application62/508,145Us provisional application · filed 18 May 2017
Application15/614,547Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 5 Jun 2017
Application15/981,289Parent of this continuation · filed 16 May 2018
US 10,517,206 B2Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 31 Dec 2019
Application16/872,932Parent of this continuation · filed 12 May 2020
US 10,694,655 B2Parent of this continuation · filed 30 Jun 2020
Application17/316,273Parent of this continuation · filed 10 May 2021
Application63/245,184Us provisional application · filed 16 Sep 2021
Application17/580,601Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 20 Jan 2022
US 11,229,155 B2Parent of this continuation · filed 25 Jan 2022
US 2022/0240434 A1Pre-grant publication · published 4 Aug 2022
US 11,793,102 B2Parent of this continuation-in-part
Application17/580,601Parent of this continuation
US 11,330,756 B2Parent of this continuation
Application15/981,289Parent of this continuation-in-part
US 2017/0265374 A1Published application
US 2018/0255696 A1Published application
US 2020/0267889 A1Published application
US 2021/0282311 A1Published application
US 2022/0142037 A1Published application
US 12,648,504 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.