System and method for collecting and analyzing shipment parameter data affecting predicted statistical variables of shipped articles

A method for collecting and analyzing shipment parameter data affecting predicted statistical variables of articles, the method comprising:

• collecting shipment parameter data encountered by articles being shipped using a plurality of respective data collection subsystems, wherein the data collection step comprises:
• providing a container for storing one or more of the articles during shipment;
• collecting the shipment parameter data corresponding to said one or more of the articles in the container using a plurality of respective sensors therein;
• and
• selecting a respective sensor configuration at least based on the type of articles being shipped;
• and
• adjusting the respective predicted statistical variables of the articles using a data analysis subsystem coupled to receive the collected shipment data.

A system for collecting and analyzing shipment parameter data that may influence an article during shipment, the shipment parameter data being associated with and potentially influencing at least one of a set of predicted statistical variables associated with the article, the system comprising:

• a plurality of data collection subsystems for collecting the shipment parameter data, the plurality of data collection subsystems comprising a container for storing the article during shipment and at least one sensor with the container for collecting the respective shipment parameter data during shipment of the article;
• a sensor controller coupled to select a respective sensor configuration at least based on the type of articles being shipped;
• a data analysis subsystem coupled to receive and analyze the collected shipment parameter data;
• and
• a processing module for adjusting the respective predicted statistical variables in response to the influence the collected shipment parameter data had on the respective one of the predicted statistical variables thereby providing a more accurate estimation of the respective predicted statistical variables.