Method for Ascertaining a State of a Product

A detection unit associated with a product, the detection unit comprising:

• at least one sensor;
• a communication module;
• a memory;
• and
• a microprocessor operatively connected to the at least one sensor, the communication module, and the memory, the microprocessor configured to ascertain a state of the product in a plurality of time periods by (i) setting a configuration of the detection unit at a beginning of a respective time period of the plurality of time periods, the set configuration different than a configuration available beforehand, and (ii) detecting at least one measured value using the detection unit in the respective time period based on the set configuration.