Computing systems and methods for electronically indicating the acceptability of a product

Abstract

In part, the invention relates to computing systems and methods for electronically indicating the acceptability of a product. An image capture and communication device may analyze a product label that includes one or more monitors, authentication elements, and identification elements. The image capture and communication device may determine the type and features of the monitors, authentication elements, and identification elements. The image capture and communication device may transmit data based on the type and features to a host server, which may transmit data associated with the host product to the image capture and communication device in, inter alia, the form of an acceptability report.

1 - 24 . (canceled) 
     
     
         25 . An automatic processor based system for processing a product provided with a product label, the system comprising:
 a memory;   a processor in communication with the memory;   a camera in communication with the processor and the memory, wherein the memory stores instructions executable by the processor to cause the processor to:
 capture, using the camera, an image of the product label; 
 analyze the image to determine a state of an environmental monitor, wherein the environmental monitor includes environmental history information; 
 correlate the state of the environmental monitor with known historical information for the product label; 
 evaluate credibility of the environmental history information of the environmental monitor, based at least in part on the correlation of the state of the environmental monitory with known historical information for the product label; 
 determine authenticity of the product based, at least in part, on the evaluation of the credibility of the environmental monitor. 
   
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein the processor is further caused to:
 generate a product acceptability report indicating whether the product is acceptable, based, at least in part, on determining the authenticity of the product.   
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein the known historical information for the product label includes an e-pedigree. 
     
     
         28 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein the known the known historical information for the product label includes environmental monitor information from other comparable products. 
     
     
         29 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein the environmental monitor is part of the product label on the product. 
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein the memory, the processor, and the camera are enclosed within a mobile telephone. 
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 25 , wherein the environmental monitor is chosen from the group consisting of cumulative time-temperature indicators, freeze indicators, thaw indicators and threshold temperature indicators. 
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 31 , wherein the environmental monitor includes an active zone on the product label that changes color based on environmental exposure. 
     
     
         33 . A method for determining the authenticity of a product item, the product including an environmental history monitor, the method comprising:
 reading environmental history information from the environmental monitor;   correlating the environmental history information from the environmental monitor with known product item history information;   evaluating credibility of the environmental history information; and   determining authenticity of the product item based, at least in part, on the evaluation of the credibility of the environmental monitor.   
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 33 , further comprising:
 generating a product acceptability report indicating whether the product is acceptable, based, at least in part, on determining the authenticity of the product item.   
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the known product item history information includes an e-pedigree. 
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the known product item history information includes environmental monitor information from other comparable product items. 
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the environmental history monitor is part of a product label on the product item, the method further comprising:
 reading a product label with an image capture and communication device; and   determining the environmental history information based on information read from the product label.   
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein the image capture and communication device is a mobile telephone. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the environmental history monitor is chosen from the group consisting of cumulative time-temperature indicators, freeze indicators, thaw indicators and threshold temperature indicators. 
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 39 , wherein the environmental history monitor includes an active zone on the product label that changes color based on environmental exposure. 
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 33 , further comprising:
 reading environmental history information from the environmental monitor at an earlier point in the supply chain for the product item;   updating the product item history information based on the environmental history information read at the earlier point in the supply chain for the product item;   sending the product item to a point of use for the product item;   carrying out the method of  claim 33  at the point of use for the product item; and   responsive to the product acceptability report indicating the product item is acceptable, using the product at the point of use.