US 2020/0267889 A1 · Tagged Container Tracking

Abstract

A system and method that automatically monitors product use, such as the type and amount of agricultural and/or horticultural product stored in and dispensed from a cartridge over time and/or by geographic location. Monitored data are stored in memory such as a tag on the cartridge and may be transmitted to a server for storage, aggregation, and analysis. The cartridge may be authenticated before being authorized for use for the benefit of a current user in dispensing the product. The cartridge may be refilled after confirmation of authorization codes on the cartridge and refilling equipment tags. The cartridge may be calibrated automatically based on the bulk density or other parameter of the product in the cartridge. Data may be aggregated from a plurality of cartridges automatically. As-applied data from individual cartridges may be used to verify, independent of operator input, treated area coverage and product application rate.

Claims22

Dependent claims

A method performed by at least one computer processor executing computer program instructions stored on at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium to authenticate and track product use by a user, the method comprising:

(A) entering specific user identity data, container identity data and product identity data into memory associated with at least one container;
(B) when the container is in proximity to dispensing equipment operated for the benefit of a current user, (i) reading the container identity data, the specific user identity data and the product identity data from the container and (ii) reading current user identity data in proximity to the dispensing equipment;
and
(C) repeatedly detecting, at least during dispensing of the product, changes in geographic location of the container, and repeatedly entering and updating geographic information for a plurality of geographic locations with as-applied product data at those geographic locations into the memory associated with the container to generate an as-applied map containing as-applied quantities of product dispensed from the container at the geographic locations at a target area.

1 more element

A system to authenticate and track use by a user of product suitable for at least one of agricultural use and horticultural use, the system comprising:

at least one computer processor;
at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium operatively connected to the computer processor;
at least one container suitable to carry product suitable for at least one of agricultural use and horticultural use while isolating the product from a surrounding environment;
memory physically connected to the container;
wherein, responsive to execution of program instructions accessible to the at least one processor, the at least one processor is configured to:
(A) enter specific user identity data, container identity data and product identity data into memory associated with the at least one container;
(B) when the container is in proximity to dispensing equipment operated for the benefit of a current user, (i) read the container identity data, the specific user identity data and the product identity data from the container and (ii) read current user identity data in proximity to the dispensing equipment;
and
(C) repeatedly detecting, at least during dispensing of the product, changes in geographic location of the container, and repeatedly entering and updating geographic information for a plurality of geographic locations with as-applied product data at those geographic locations into the memory associated with the container to generate an as-applied map containing as-applied quantities of product dispensed from the container at the geographic locations at a target area.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Tagged Container Tracking

Life of this patent

Tagged Container Tracking

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims22