Transportation of produce from a source to a destination is usually undertaken using any one or more of a truck, rail or shipping. This is the case for bulk transportation of produce such as that resulting from harvesting of crops, consumable liquids, fuel products and minerals to name a few.

Produce such as grain harvested from farms is stored in silos either at the site of the farm or at a nearby local depot. The amount of produce or grain that comes from any one particular farm is weighed and a cost value is applied based on current commodity prices per unit weight and an amount payable to the produce owner is calculated. Other identical grain types from the same source are collectively stored at one site which is subsequently transported to a port for export or transported within the same country. Inspection of the produce prior to transportation is generally undertaken, but not in all instances.

In the case of on-site storage, produce can be stored in containers specially developed for each product. As an example produce can be stored in cryo-vacuum containers on-site. For grain based products, large plastic bags used to store up to 200 tonnes of grain, can be used as an alternative to storing the grain in a silo. Eventually the product will have to be moved from the farm which is done using a series of trucks which then transport the product to a further destination. RFID (radio frequency identification) tags have been used to track individual products throughout a transportation process, for example across a country from one warehouse to one or more other warehouses at various destinations. The information contained in each tag is generally limited to details about the product and owner in order to distinguish the product from other similar products.

Problems arise with the transportation of produce that is not adequately tracked and monitored. For example, produce required to adhere to criteria pertaining to quality, so that the buyer at the destination has confidence in the produce that they are purchasing, must be made to maintain such adhesion during transportation. With the present system of combining or aggregating produce for transportation, it is not possible to have the confidence that the produce arriving at a destination is the same produce that was packaged or loaded at the source. It is possible that the produce, during transportation, can be tampered with and therefore compromised, without detection. Even if tampering is detected at the destination, the responsibility will rely on documentation that results from any inspections or from the transportation logs. Locating various superintendents to gain an insight as to how such tampering occurred when sorting through the documentation can be a time consuming operation which inherently adds delay to the whole process.

Furthermore, other organisations, such as insurers and financiers, would seek confidence in the produce being as secure as possible between source and destination. They would also seek knowledge of where the product is at any one time on its transportation route and knowledge that the produce has been inspected satisfactorily.

There is therefore a need to provide greater security and monitoring of produce during transportation, so that all the parties involved in the transporting of produce from source to destination can monitor and track the produce and have confidence that that produce has not been tampered with and that the general location of the produce can be accessed at various points en route to the destination. The above references to and descriptions of prior proposals or products are not intended to be, and are not to be construed as, statements or admissions of common general knowledge in the art in Australia.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a system of recording and tracking a product transported from a source site to a destination site, the system comprising:

- a first portable communications device for sending product information to a server over a communications network;

- a first RFID tag secured to a first container storing the product or positioned with the product, the first RFID tag receiving the product information from the first portable communications device and storing the product information;

- a first RFID scanner for scanning the first RFID tag and verifying the product information stored therein;

Wherein the product and product information are able to be monitored and recorded at the source site, destination site or during transit.

The product information scanned by the at least one RFID scanner may be transmitted to the server.

The one or more tags may be secured to the container or containers storing the product at the source site or at the destination site. Where the one or more tags are secured at the source site and product information written to the one or more tags, a further different set of at least one more RFID tags may be secured to corresponding separate container(s) at the destination and product information written to each of the tags using another portable communications device. Product information transmitted to the server from a source portable communications device may be transmitted from the server to the destination portable communications device prior to writing the information to the tags at the destination, provided the product meets inspection criteria at the destination. The system may further include a product location identifier preferably using one or more GPS receivers. A GPS receiver can be used at the source, where the product is packed either as a stand-alone device or incorporated in the portable communications device. In transit a GPS receiver may be connected to a vehicle transporting the product container(s) and linked to the product information. Thus, the location of the product during transportation can be transmitted to the server and subsequently stored in the server. GPS receivers may alternatively be located at the destination and form part of a portable communications device, used for example by a superintendent, in order to confirm the location of the product by transmission of a signal to the server.

The system may further include a tamper evidence device associated with the container in which the product is stored and sealed or be embedded with at least one of the RFID tags to enable detection of tampering. A signal may. be sent from the tamper evidence device or be detected by one of the RFID scanners and transmitted to the server over the communications network. Alternatively, tamper evidence can be established by visual inspection of the container or tags or by detection of a change in sensed parameters, for example, pressure within the container. Any change in the internal pressure can be sensed and a signal transmitted to the server, to alert personnel of such tampering. The signal can be transmitted upon scanning an RFID tag by an RFI scanner.

One or more sensors may be positioned with the product or embedded with the product or integrated in at least one of the RFID tags to monitor parameters associated with the product. Such parameters may be any one or more of temperature of the product, ambient temperature, ambient pressure, internal container pressure, moisture levels in the product and humidity levels around the product, pH level. The sensors may include respective probes that are inserted into the product or positioned around the product in order to measure the parameters. Any significant change in a measured parameter can indicate tampering with the product or a changed environment. The product information may include any one or more of product owner information, characteristics or criteria of the product, location of the product, container identification, product certifier/superintendent information, product weight and volume, sensor information, tamper evidence information.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of recording and tracking a product transported from a source to a destination using a communications network through which a server and a portable communications device communicate, the method comprising the steps of:

transmitting product information from the portable communications device to the server;

providing at least one RFID tag secured to a container storing the product or positioned with the product;

writing the product information from the portable communications device to the at least one RFID tag;

storing the product information in the at least one RFID tag;

providing at least one RFID scanner for scanning the at least one RFID tag and verifying the product information stored therein;

wherein the product and product information are able to be monitored and recorded at the source site, destination site or during transit.

According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided computer program code for recording and tracking a product transported from a source site to a destination site, the code instructing one or more processors to:

transmit product information from a portable communications device to a server through a communications network;

write the product information from the portable communications device to at least one RFID tag secured to a container storing the product or positioned with the product; receive the product information at the server and store the product information electronically.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Preferred embodiments of the invention will hereinafter be described by way of example only, with reference to the drawings in which:

Figures 1A and 1 B are a single flow diagram showing the process of collecting and storing a product, securing and recording data associated with the product ready for transportation to a destination;

Figures 2A and 2B are a single flow diagram showing the process involved from transporting the product to the final destination including storing and capturing data associated with the product;

Figure 3 is a block diagram of a communication system used to record the data about a product and monitor the transportation of the product storing that data; and

Figure 4 is a block diagram showing a further example of monitoring the location of product as it is transported from its source to a destination.

MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Referring to Figures 1A and 1 B, there is shown a process 100 for recording and tracking a product, for example grain, during transportation from a source, such as a farm, to a destination. At step 102 the grain, after being harvested, is put into a container or containers at the site where it has been harvested. The grain owner at step 104 will then contact the appropriate authorities to describe details of the grain which is available for trade. At step 106 particular details are entered by an operator into a database, such as one associated with a server 308 in Fig. 3. Such details include the farmer's National Growers Register (NGR) identification, their location and identification of the container(s) into which the grain has been placed. At step 107 the system server 308 captures the information about the particular farm, the farmer (owner), including details of the stored grain which is linked to the identification of the container in which the farmer's grain is stored. The entry of the information may be done over the internet 304 through a suitable web browser and entered on a processing device, such as a notebook 314 or PDA 312. At step 108 confirmation of the estimated value that is attributable to the grain is made, after approximate volume/weight of the grain is estimated and agreement is confirmed at step 1 10. At step 1 12, an inspector or superintendent will schedule a visit to the farm site in order to undertake inspections and obtain further details about the grain. After an initial site inspection at steps 1 14 and 1 15, the product is sampled and tested on site at step 1 16 and the site inspection assumes that certification can be performed after the bagging operation to be described shortly. At step 1 18 data including characteristics about the grain is entered into a portable communications device such as PDA 312 by the superintendent or inspector. Such information may include the quality or grade of the grain and the estimated weight of the total grain. At step 120 the farmer's details are confirmed. If the farmer's details have already been entered then at least two passive RFID tags are positioned, one at each end of a bag, being a silo bag, in which the grain is stored and each of the bags are then sealed. Where the farmer's details have not been fully entered into the system, the ID card held by the owner is scanned or otherwise an identification number is entered on the PDA 312 at step 122. The process then moves to step 124 where a pair of passive tags are secured to each silo bag and the bags are sealed, under the supervision of the superintendent. More than two tags can be secured to each bag and the tags can be either passive or active, depending on the specific application and requirements and depending on the size of the bag or container. A separate tamper evidence device may be attached to each bag or otherwise be incorporated in one or both of the RFID tags. Alternatively, tamper evidence can be established by visual inspection of the container or tags or by detection of a change in sensed parameters, for example, pressure within the container. Any change in the internal pressure can be sensed and a signal transmitted to the server 308, to alert personnel of such tampering. The signal can be transmitted upon scanning an RFID tag by an RFI scanner.

Each RFID tag preferably has integrated therein at least one sensor for sensing various parameters such as ambient pressure, internal container pressure, ambient temperature, the temperature of the product, the moisture levels in the product and, where applicable, the pH levels of the stored product. Each sensor may include a probe for measuring the parameters. As many bags as required to store all the grain are used including as many RFID tags as needed. Alternatively the sensors can be embedded in and around the product.

At step 126 the data stored in PDA 312 is written to each of the RFID tags on every single bag. The information that is written to the tags may include, apart from the owner and grain quality, details of the certification agency or inspection agency, the volume of grain in the bag and the bag ID which is linked to the owner. At step 128 a photograph of each of the bags situated at the site may be taken to provide positive proof that the bags have been packed and tagged with the RFID tags. In Fig. 1 B, at step 130, the tag and inspection data is downloaded to the system server 308 using a communication network 300 seen in Figure 3. The network 300 includes a cellular network 302 connected to the internet 304 through a gateway 306. Server 308 is connected to internet 304 through a further gateway 310. The portable device, being a PDA 312 or notebook 314 (of the superintendent) is linked to the cellular network 302. Each of the devices 312 or 314 may be fitted with a GPS receiver 316 so that, for example, at the source site, the location of where the grain was bagged and tagged can be uploaded to the system server 308. A local base station may be used to provide communications between server 308 and each of the devices 312 or 314 wirelessly or by wireline. The GPS data or location of the bagged and tagged product is uploaded to the system server 308 at step 130.

At step 132 the server 308 receives the data about the product including the farmer identification which is linked to each packed silo bag. Information that is logged and stored includes the location of each bag, the ID of each bag, the owner of the stored product, the quality of that product which has to pass certain criteria, the certifier (superintendent) and the volume of the product in each stored bag. If wireless connection is available at the source site then that information is uploaded to the server 308. Otherwise, where wireless connection is not available then the data is saved in the wireless device 312 or 314 in a temporary storage area until that information is able to be uploaded to the server 308 through network 300. The server at step 133 displays the tag or inspection data to the superintendent for confirmation. At step 134 the superintendent will frequently check that the browser on PDA 312 shows confirmation that the data has been received by server 308 which would ordinarily send a message over internet 304 and cellular network 302 to the PDA 312 or notebook 314. The superintendent is then in a position at step 136 to verify that the data is correct and that there are no errors or inconsistencies with the uploaded data. If there are errors or the details need amending this is done by the superintendent and the updated data is sent to the system server 308 and the data is stored as a permanent record at the server 308 at step 138. At step 140 once the permanent record is made the information is deleted from the portable device 312 or 314 of the superintendent. The grain in each of the silo bags is then stored or supervised until it is transported to the end destination.

Once the grain is stored it is then available for trade such that the wholesaler or farmer can trade in the system. Payment of up to 80% of the value of the grain can be made to the farmer at this stage. Other interested parties involved in the trading of the product apart from the owner, agent, and superintendent are the transport agencies including shipping, trucking companies and rail companies, distributors, financiers, insurers of the product and commodity traders.

Referring to Figure 4, once the product has been bagged and tagged with RFID tags 403, 405 at the source site 402, the bags 404 are transported to a port facility 406 where infrastructure at the port facility 406 has a series of RFID scanners 408, such as affixed to a gantry. The ports used may be airports for transporting meat or other perishable products. The vehicle that contains each of the tagged bags 404 then passes under the gantry so that scanners 408 can read the information from the RFID tags attached to each of the bags 404. This information is automatically up-loaded to the system server 308 via the internet 304 and cellular network 302 so that it can be confirmed that the bags have not been tampered with and that the information recorded is able to be verified with information stored on server 308. Sensor information associated with the product can also be uploaded to server 308. Given the location of the scanners 408 at the port facility, the location of each of the bags is now known and is able to updated on the server 308. However, as an option, the transportation from the source site 402 to the port facility 406 may be tracked such that the vehicle transporting the product has a GPS receiver (which can be indirectly linked to one or more of the RFID tags of at least one of the bags, for example vehicle ID or container ID) so that the exact location of each of the bags is known at any time. This location information can then be transmitted to server 308 at predetermined times where the GPS receiver is able to have its positional information transmitted through a communications network.

At the port facility 406 the grain in each of the bags is decanted into batch containers, such as 412. Each batch container has an ID that is linked to the owner and this information is transmitted to and stored on server 308. Each of the batches can be transported either on a single ship or train and these vehicles may have attached GPS receivers which are linked to the various batch ID and tracked in its transportation to the destination. Once the batch container(s) arrive at the destination port facilities 414 this is confirmed and linked to the owner and updated by communication server 308. Although the location of the destination is known and can be sent to the server 308 over network 300 by a GPS receiver 316 attached to the transport vehicle, it is possible to have one or more of the batch containers applied with an RFID tag with embedded sensors and tamper evident devices and have such information stored in the tags and information from the sensors regularly transmitted to server 308. This would require RFID readers to be conveniently located in order to read the RFID tags. In this manner, any tampering can be detected as well as sensed parameters. The batches relating to each source are then mixed together and bagged and tagged with RFID tags 417, 419 into separate bags 416 and transported to the destination 418.

Referring to Figure 2A, there is shown a process 200 for transporting the product to the final destination including storing and capturing data associated with the product. At the port facility prior to shipping the product the batch and transport details associated with the grain product are entered by a superintendent using device 312 or 314 at step 220. Each of the batches are linked to a batch ID or container ID, for example a shipping container ID, and linked to the owner of the product stored in the container(s) at step 222. The grain is then transported at step 224 and as mentioned previously this can be tracked through a GPS receiver attached to the transport vessel. Once the vessel arrives at its destination, each of the batches linked to the containers on the vessel are matched to the original owner or farmer through a NGR ID or other identifying information at step 226. The confirmation of the batch arrival at the destination is captured and sent to server 308 and this information is linked to the various containers ID and the owner of the product stored therein at step 228. At this stage there may be a change in owner of the product in which case the purchaser details are recorded and linked to the various batches.

Referring to Figure 2B each batch is weighed at step 230 and the weight is recorded at step 232. The batches are weighed at step 230 generally with the container passing over a weighbridge. At step 234 each batch is tested by a superintendent to ensure that the product meets with the set quality criteria and the cost of each batched product is confirmed. The batch results are then entered into a PDA browser of a superintendent at the receiving port at step 236. At step 238 this information is uploaded to the server 308 through networks 302 and 304 whereby the batch quantity, quality and cost is stored. At step 240 each of the batches are placed into separate bags, typically silo bags. Batches from the same owner or farmer is mixed together at this stage and at step 242 each of the bags are tagged with active RFID tags, with at least two tags attached to each bag, one at the top and one at the bottom, and then each bag is sealed. Sensors are also integrated in each of the tags, including probes, and optionally tamper evidence devices are installed. Thus each of the bags 416 has a pair of RFID tags 417 and 419 attached thereto. Via the superintendent the data associated with the product, is written to each of the tags from a PDA of the superintendent. At the destination port this information would have already been downloaded from the server 308 to the destination PDA device such as the origin of the product, the owner of the product and the type or quality of the product. All this information is written to each of the tags at step 244 with each bag having a new ID number and certified. At step 246, the ID of each silo bag containing the product is linked to the inspection results and to each of the tags via the system server 308. At step 248 one or more photographs of the bags may be taken on location at the destination port facilities or otherwise at the destination site, where for example the batch containers may have been also transported from the destination port facilities to the final destination. At ^■ step 250, the tag and inspection data and sensed data is downloaded to the system server 308 through a portable device used by the destination superintendent. This is only done for information that has not already been, entered via a browser. Each of the containers are sealed provided they are only silo bags. At step 252 the system server 308 receives the grain data including the farmer identification which is linked to each silo bag. At step 254 the system server 308 displays the tag and bag information together with the inspection data for display to the destination superintendent on a PDA device. This information is transmitted through the internet 304 and a cellular network 302. At step 256 the destination superintendent regularly checks the browser on their PDA and confirms that the data has been received. The data is verified at step 258 and where corrections are needed to that data, this is performed by the destination superintendent. Once the information is corrected and completed, then that information is uploaded to the server 308 and at step 260 the system server 308 is updated with that information and made as a permanent record. The information, once confirmed as a permanent record, is then deleted from the destination inspector PDA device at step 262.

The product described in the preferred embodiment has been solely in relation to grain. However this is one example of many products that can be packaged into containers and have RFID tags applied thereto with security and sensors embedded therein. Such other products include meat products in cryo-vacuum containers, soya based products, crops from farms, food and vegetable products, oils and bio-diesel products.

It is to be understood that in certain sections of the transportation from source to destination of the product, the product may not be completely sealed in containers but left open. In such cases RFID tags and embedded sensors may be provided loosely in amongst the product which for example can be in a bunker rather than a bag. At some point in its journey from source to destination, the product may be bagged and tagged to provide tamper evidence as previously discussed in this embodiment. Furthermore, another embodiment is to retain the product packed in various bags at the source and keep those bags throughout the whole transportation process to the eventual destination. Thus there may be a situation where there is no need to empty the bagged and tagged product into a batch container but instead retain the bags as they were at the source until unloaded at the destination.

The system 300 shown in Figure 3 is underpinned by software used to operate processors installed on portable devices 312 and 314 and also to instruct processors at the server 308. Thus for example software is installed on the portable devices in order to facilitate a superintendent to upload data pertaining to the product and other information such as the owner details, the location of the site of the source, identification numbers associated with the owner and each of the bags storing the product. Typically a browser would be made available on the portable devices 312 or 314 to enter such information in the form of a defined program where data can be entered in tables for example. The software may instruct a processor on the portable devices 312 or 314 to transmit the information over the networks 302 and 304 including all of the protocols that need to used in such transmission. Furthermore at server 308, software is installed to instruct an associated processor to receive the data from the mobile devices 312 and 314 and send signals from server 308 across networks 302 and 304 back to the mobile devices 312 and/or 314. The software also caters for updates on the location of the product through GPS systems, and receive information from sensors and tamper evidence devices associated with the product. Similar software can be provided for superintendents to use on mobile devices at the destination to enable communication between the mobile devices and the server 308. The software will also make provision to enable updates to be regularly sent, such as corrections to the input data, revised locations of the product during its transportation and revised figures that are received from parameters that are sent from the sensors.

It is be understood that various alterations, modifications and/or additions may be made to the features of the preferred embodiment of the invention as herein described without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Where the terms "comprise", "comprises", "comprised" or "comprising" are used in this specification, they are to be interpreted as specifying the presence Of the stated features, integers, steps or components referred to, but not to preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, components to be grouped therewith.