Methods for electronic tracking of units originating from a common source

A method for electronic identification of meat units originating from a common animal carcass, comprising:

• physically associating a first transponder with an animal carcass, the first transponder sending a code which is electrically associated with an identifier of the animal carcass;
• splitting the animal carcass into two or more units and physically associating a second transponder with one of the two or more units, the second transponder being joined to a meat spike, the physically associating the second transponder with said one of the units comprising inserting the meat spike into said one of the units, the second transponder sending a code;
• and
• electrically associating the code of the second transponder with the identifier of the animal carcass.

A method for electronic identification of meat units originating from a common animal carcass, comprising:

• providing an animal carcass on a conveyer and conveying the carcass through a meat processing plant, the animal carcass being no more than half of an animal body and initially having a first transponder physically associated therewith, the first transponder sending a code which is electrically associated with an identifier of the animal carcass;
• first splitting the animal carcass into at least two first units, one or more of the first units being physically separated from the first transponder after the first splitting;
• physically associating one or more second transponders with at least one of the first units which are physically separated from the first transponder after the first splitting, the second transponders sending codes;
• and
• electrically associating the codes of the second transponders with the identifier of the animal carcass.

A method for electronic identification of an originating animal carcass for packaged meat units, comprising:

• providing a first animal carcass on a conveyer and conveying the first animal carcass through a meat processing plant, the first animal carcass initially having a first transponder physically associated therewith, the first transponder sending a code which is electrically associated with an identifier of the first animal carcass;
• first splitting the first animal carcass into at least two first units, one or more of the first units being physically separated from the first transponder after the first splitting;
• physically associating one or more second transponders with at least one of the first units which are physically separated from the first transponder after the first splitting, the second transponders sending codes;
• electrically associating the codes of the second transponders with the identifier of the first animal carcass;
• providing a second animal carcass on a conveyer and conveying the second animal carcass through the meat processing plant, the second animal carcass initially having a third transponder physically associated therewith, the third transponder sending a code which is electrically associated with an identifier of the second animal carcass;
• second splitting the second animal carcass into at least two second units, one or more of the second units being physically separated from the third transponder after the second splitting;
• physically associating one or more fourth transponders with at least one of the second units which are physically separated from the third transponder after the second splitting, the fourth transponders sending codes;
• electrically associating the codes of the fourth transponders with the identifier of the second animal carcass;
• packaging a collection of units comprising one or more packaged units selected from the group consisting of first units, second units and mixtures thereof;
• removing transponders from the units of the collection before the packaging;
• providing a package identifier associated with the package in a database;
• and
• electrically associating an identifier of the packaged units with the identifiers of the first and second animal carcasses in the database, the identifiers of the first and animal carcasses being ascertained by interrogating the transponders physically associated with the units of the collection before the packaging.

An identification assembly comprising:

• a housing having an outer periphery;
• a transponder entirely contained within the housing;
• and
• at least one spike removably secured to the housing.

A meat identification assembly comprising a radio frequency identification device (RFID) attached to a meat spike, and wherein:

• the meat spike comprises:
• a rod having a pair of opposing ends;
• a point at one of the opposing ends of the rod;
• and
• a holder at an other of the opposing ends of the rod;
• and
• the RFID is attached to a substrate configured to slide over the rod and be retained by the holder.

A meat identification assembly comprising a transponder attached to a meat spike, the meat spike comprising:

• a rod having a pair of opposing ends;
• a point at one of the opposing ends of the rod;
• and
• a holder at an other of the opposing ends of the rod;
• and
• the transponder is attached to a substrate configured to slide over the rod and be retained by the holder.

A meat identification assembly comprising a transponder attached to a meat spike, the meat spike comprising:

• a rod having a pair of opposing ends;
• a point at one of the opposing ends of the rod;
• and
• a loop at an other of the opposing ends of the rod;
• and
• the transponder is attached to a substrate configured to be retained to the rod by the loop.

A meat identification assembly comprising a radio frequency identification device (RFID) attached to a meat spike, the meat spike comprising:

• a rod having a pair of opposing ends;
• a point at one of the opposing ends of the rod;
• and
• a holder at an other of the opposing ends of the rod;
• and
• the RFID is attached to a substrate configured to slide over the rod and be retained by the holder.

A meat identification assembly comprising a radio frequency identification device (RFID) attached to a meat spike, the meat spike comprising:

• a rod having a pair of opposing ends;
• a point at one of the opposing ends of the rod;
• and
• a loop at an other of the opposing ends of the rod;
• and
• the RFID is attached to a substrate configured to be retained to the rod by the loop.

A meat identification assembly comprising a transponder attached to a meat spike, the meat spike comprising:

• a rod having a pair of opposing ends;
• a point at one of the opposing ends of the rod;
• and
• a holder at an other of the opposing ends of the rod;
• and
• the transponder is attached to a substrate configured to slide over the rod and be retained by the holder.

A meat identification assembly comprising a transponder attached to a meat spike, the meat spike comprising:

• a rod having a pair of opposing ends;
• a point at one of the opposing ends of the rod;
• and
• a loop at an other of the opposing ends of the rod;
• and
• the transponder is attached to a substrate configured to be retained to the rod by the loop.

A meat identification assembly comprising a radio frequency identification device (RFID) attached to a meat spike, and wherein:

• the meat spike comprises:
• a rod having a pair of opposing ends;
• a point at one of the opposing ends of the rod;
• and
• a loop at an other of the opposing ends of the rod;
• and
• the RFID is attached to a substrate configured to be retained to the rod by the loop.

A method for remotely collecting information related to articles comprising:

• disposing articles grouped together in a container;
• associating with the container a radio frequency identification (RFID) device comprising a substrate, one or more antennas disposed on the substrate, a radio frequency transceiver integrated circuit disposed adjacent the substrate and operable for receiving radio frequency signals as operable for communicating radio frequency signals, control logic circuitry and a memory for persistently storing data;
• receiving from an interrogator in remote proximity to the RFID device associated with the container a radio frequency signal comprising a common identification associated with the container in a database, the RFID device storing the common identification in the memory;
• removing an article from the container;
• providing a second RFID device associated with the removed article comprising a substrate, one or more antennas disposed on the substrate, a radio frequency transceiver integrated circuit disposed adjacent the substrate and operable for receiving radio frequency signals and operable for communicating radio frequency signals, and having a memory for persistently storing data;
• receiving in the second RFID device a radio frequency signal from the interrogator comprising a unique identifier and a command to store the unique identifier in the memory of the second RFID device;
• storing the unique identifier in the memory of the second RFID device;
• and
• associating the unique identifier of the second RFID device with the common identifier of the first RFID device in the database.

A method for remotely collecting information related to articles comprising:

• disposing articles grouped together in a container, the articles having a common identification associated with the container in a database;
• affixing to the container, a first radio frequency identification (RFID) device comprising a substrate, one or more antennas disposed on the substrate, a radio frequency transceiver integrated circuit disposed adjacent the substrate and operable for receiving radio frequency signals as operable for communicating radio frequency signals, control logic circuitry and a memory for storing data including the common identification;
• transmitting to the first RFID device, from a radio frequency interrogator in remote proximity to the container, a radio frequency signal including a command interrogating the first RFID device to determine the common identification;
• receiving in response, a radio frequency signal communication from the first RFID device including the common identification;
• removing an article from the container;
• providing a second RFID device associated with the removed article comprising a substrate, one or more antennas disposed on the substrate, a radio frequency transceiver integrated circuit disposed adjacent the substrate and operable for receiving radio frequency signals and operable for communicating radio frequency signals, and having a memory for storing data including a unique identifier;
• receiving in the second RFID device a radio frequency signal from the interrogator comprising a command interrogating the second RFID device to determine the unique identifier in the memory of the second RFID device;
• receiving in response, a radio frequency signal communication from the second RFID device including the unique identification;
• and
• associating the unique identifier of the second RFID device with the common identifier of the first RFID device in the database.

A method for remotely collecting information related to articles comprising:

• receiving articles grouped together in a container having a common identification associated with the container in a database, wherein a first radio frequency identification (RFID) device is affixed to the container and is associated with the group of articles, and at least a second RFID device is affixed to a second article from the group, wherein at least the first and second RFID comprise a substrate, one or more antennas disposed on the substrate, a radio frequency transceiver integrated circuit disposed adjacent the substrate and operable for receiving radio frequency signals as operable for communicating radio frequency signals, control logic circuitry and a memory for storing data including an identification;
• transmitting to the first RFID device, from a radio frequency interrogator in remote proximity to the container, a radio frequency signal including a command interrogating the first RFID device to determine the common identification;
• receiving in response, a radio frequency signal communication from the first RFID device including the common identification;
• accessing the database wherein the common identification is associated with at least the second identification in the database;
• removing the second article from the container;
• transmitting to at least the second RFID device affixed to the second article from the container, from a radio frequency interrogator in remote proximity to the second article, a radio frequency signal including a command interrogating the second RFID device to determine the second identification;
• receiving in response, a radio frequency signal communication from the second RFID device including the second identification;
• accessing the database wherein at least the second identification of the second article from the container is associated with information about the articles of the group;
• and
• redistributing the second article.