Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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PLATFORM FOR HANDLING PLANT-BASED PRODUCTS
IN CHILD RESISTANT CONTAINERS
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application
Serial No. 62/405,436,
filed on October 7, 2016, entitled Jar with Cap; U.S. Provisional Application
Serial No.
62/419,209, filed on November 8, 2016, entitled Squeeze to Open Container;
U.S. Provisional
Application Serial No. 62/422,256, filed on November 15, 2016, entitled
Lockable Bag and
Platform for Handling Plant-Based Products; U.S. Provisional Application
Serial No. 62/439,357,
filed on November 15, 2016, entitled Platform for Handling Plant-Based
Products in Child
Resistant Containers; and U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 62/490,345,
filed on April 26,
2017, entitled Platform for Handling Plant-Based Products in Child Resistant
Containers. Each
of the above-identified applications is hereby incorporated by reference in
its entirety as if fully
set forth herein.
FIELD
[0002] The present disclosure relates to child-resistant containers including
a platform for
handling of plant-based products.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Plant-based products, such as produce, herbs, nutritional supplements,
and the like have
historically been produced at farms in other production environments, such as
using hydroponics
and shipped in crates, barrels, or similar containers by trucks, trains,
boats, ships, and other
shipping facilities. Mechanisms, such as inventory tracking systems using
readers that interrogate
chips that are placed on containers, have been used for tracking such products
from production
environments through transportation and warehousing to points of sale. A
number of recent
changes in the business ecosystem for certain products, including regulatory
changes, have led to
increased demand for such products, but have also created complications for
owners and operators,
including farmers and other producers, shippers, warehousing companies, and
vendors, as well as
for regulators and end consumers. For example, some products, such as
cannabis, are legal only
in certain jurisdictions and for certain purposes, such as medical uses, that
may vary jurisdiction-
to-jurisdiction. As a result, owners and operators are challenged to ensure
that the facilities they
control are secure and are in compliance with applicable regulations.
Similarly, vendors need to
be sure that they are supplying such goods in a way that is consistent with
regulations. Consumers
may also wish to ensure that products are safe and secure, in part because
some of these products
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have historically been the subject of a black market (possibly making them
targets for theft), and
even the legal use of the products may need to be controlled, such as to avoid
allowing access by
children. Consumers also want to make sure products are of high quality, as
most of such products
are perishable and are quite vulnerable to adverse environmental conditions,
such as high or low
temperatures. Meanwhile, regulators and enforcement agencies need to ensure
compliance with
regulations and law, which may not be possible given traditional supply chain
infrastructure and
tracking systems. Accordingly, Applicant has identified a need for improved
methods, systems,
products, and components, including improved packages and containers, for
enabling packaging,
security, safety, tracking, compliance, and high quality in the ecosystem for
plant-based products.
SUMMARY
[0004] Provided herein are improved methods, systems, products, and components
(all of these
collectively referred to in the alternative as a "platform" or a "solution,"
except where context
indicates otherwise), including improved packages and containers and a host
system for various
information technology capabilities, for enabling packaging, security, safety,
tracking,
compliance, and high quality in the ecosystem for plant-based products. Plant-
based products,
such as herbal supplements, fruits, vegetables, tobacco, cannabis, and the
like, may be placed in a
range of secure, airtight, tamper-proof, childproof packages or containers
having various
improved shapes, materials, form factors and the like as described and
depicted throughout this
disclosure.
[0005] In embodiments, the packages or containers may include one or more
processors, chips,
sensors, or the like, including the capability to store information (such as
identifying information
and information about time and place of origin, exposure to environmental
conditions, permitted
uses, and many other types), the ability to report information (such as by
pushing information over
a communications interface, such as BluetoothTM or Wi-Fi, or to have
information pulled, such as
upon interrogation by a reader or similar device), and the ability to perform
processing functions,
such as parsing data and applying one or more rules to one or more inputs in
order to provide an
output or determine an action.
[0006] In embodiments, the platform may include a host system, such as
enabling or containing a
set of services, programs, applications, processes, or the like, which may be
deployed on premises
of a host or an owner or operator or on cloud infrastructure, such as web
services infrastructure,
or a combination thereof The host system may include one or more servers, data
storage facilities,
processing facilities, and the like. In embodiments, the infrastructure may be
multi-tenant
infrastructure, such as for handling processing of information relating to the
supply chain of
multiple owners and operators, regulators, and/or consumers.
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[0007] Further areas of applicability of the present disclosure will become
apparent from the
detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the
detailed description
and specific examples are intended for purposes of illustration only and are
not intended to limit
the scope of the disclosure.
[0008] In embodiments, the methods and systems disclosed herein include a
packaging system
for perishable consumables including a container having a body and a top. The
top is configured
to cooperate with the body to provide a re-sealable closure to a cavity formed
in the body. The
container is odor-resistant and child resistant when the top is sealed to the
body. The container is
configured to be stackable with another container when the top is sealed to
the body of the
container.
[0009] In embodiments, the methods and systems disclosed herein include a
chain of custody and
freshness indication on an exterior of the container that is configured to
show whether the
container was opened after sealing and before retail purchase.
[0010] In embodiments, the top is hingedly connected to the body of the
container.
[0011] In embodiments, the top is configured to be rotated relative to the
body to secure the top
to the body.
[0012] In embodiments, the container is configured to be squeezed to remove
the top from the
body of the container.
[0013] In embodiments, the top of the container is configured to permit
another container to
releasably connect to and stack with the top of the container.
[0014] In embodiments, the top of the container is configured to permit
another container to
releasably connect to and stack with the container whether the top is sealed
to or released from
the body of the container.
[0015] In embodiments, the body of the container is configured to permit
another container to
releasably connect to and nest within a portion of the body of the container
when the top of the
container is not sealed to the body.
[0016] In embodiments, the top is configured to be rotated relative to the
body to secure the top
to the body and to be rotated in an opposite direction to remove the top from
the body. The top is
configured to only unseal from the body when the top is rotated relative to
the body in the opposite
direction in combination with the top also being urged toward a bottom of the
body of the
container.
[0017] In embodiments, the container includes a raised bottom portion
containing an electronic
device that is sealed from the cavity of the container. The electronic device
is configured to store,
report and process data including applying rules to determine a portion of
freshness and chain of
custody conditions descriptive of what is contained in the cavity.
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[0018] In embodiments, the container includes an electronic device sealed from
the cavity. The
electronic device is configured to detect a presence or an absence of an
access parameter upon at
least one of movement of the container and an attempt to access the cavity of
the container by
removing the top from the body. The electronic device is configured to report
on at least one of
an unauthorized movement and an unauthorized access to the cavity based on the
presence or the
absence of the access parameter.
[0019] In embodiments, the container includes an electronic device sealed from
the cavity that is
configured to monitor and alert a user when measurements of at least one of a
temperature
condition and a humidity condition do not fit within predetermined ranges.
[0020] In embodiments, the container includes an electronic device sealed from
a cavity. The
electronic device is configured to communicate with a platform to indicate
compliance with at
least a portion of regulations governing what is contained in the cavity of
the container.
[0021] In embodiments, the container includes an electronic device sealed from
a cavity. The
electronic device is configured to communicate with a platform to provide
details of at least a
portion of a chain of custody of the container.
[0022] In embodiments, the body of the container is made of glass. In
embodiments, the top of
the container is opaque. In embodiments, at least a portion of the top of the
container is made
from a material selected from a group consisting of glass, plastic, wood, and
metal.
[0023] In embodiments, the body and the top of the container are made of the
same material. In
embodiments, the body of the container is made of plastic. In embodiments, the
body of the
container is made of recyclable plastic. In embodiments, the body of the
container is made of
plastic containing recycled material.
[0024] In embodiments, the methods and systems disclosed herein include a
packaging system
for perishable consumables including a container having a body and a top. The
top is configured
to cooperate with the body to provide a re-sealable closure to a cavity formed
in the body. The
container is odor-resistant and child resistant when the top is sealed to the
body. A portion of the
container is configured to be squeezed to unseal the top from the body of the
container.
[0025] In embodiments, the methods and systems disclosed herein include a
chain of custody and
freshness indication on an exterior of the container that is configured to
show whether the
container was opened after sealing and before retail purchase.
[0026] In embodiments, the top is hingedly connected to the body of the
container.
[0027] In embodiments, the container is configured to permit at least one of
other containers to
releasably connect to and stack with the container.
[0028] In embodiments, the top of the container is configured to permit at
least one of other
containers to releasably connect to and stack with the top of the container.
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[0029] In embodiments, the top of the container is configured to permit the at
least one of the
other containers to releasably connect to and stack with the top of the
container whether the top is
sealed to or released from the body of the container.
[0030] In embodiments, the body of the container is configured to permit the
at least one of the
other containers to releasably connect to and nest within a portion of the
body of the container
when the top of the container is not sealed to the body.
[0031] In embodiments, the container includes an electronic device that is
sealed from the cavity
of the container. The electronic device is configured to store, report and
process data including
applying rules to determine a portion of freshness and chain of custody
conditions descriptive of
what is contained in the cavity.
[0032] In embodiments, the container includes an electronic device sealed from
the cavity. The
electronic device is configured to detect a presence or an absence of an
access parameter upon at
least one of movement of the container and an attempt to access the cavity of
the container by
removing the top from the body. The electronic device is configured to report
on at least one of
an unauthorized movement and an unauthorized access to the cavity based on the
presence or the
absence of the access parameter.
[0033] In embodiments, the container includes an electronic device sealed from
the cavity that is
configured to monitor and alert a user when measurements of at least one of a
temperature
condition and a humidity condition do not fit within predetermined ranges.
[0034] In embodiments, the portion of the container that is configured to be
squeezed includes a
first tab and a second tab that extend from the top and through a portion of
the body and are
configured to be squeezed together to unseal the top from the body of the
container.
[0035] In embodiments, the portion of the container that is configured to be
squeezed to unseal
the top from the body of the container is also configured to slidingly couple
the body to the top.
[0036] In embodiments, the top and the body of the container are the same
color.
[0037] In embodiments, at least a portion of the body of the container is made
from a material
selected from a group consisting of paper, plastic, wood, and metal. In
embodiments, the body
and the top of the container are made of the same material.
[0038] In embodiments, the container is made of plastic. In embodiments, the
container is made
of recyclable plastic. In embodiments, the container is made of plastic
containing recycled
material.
[0039] In embodiments, the methods and systems disclosed herein include
packaging system for
perishable consumables including a flexible container having a front face
defining an opening in
the container and a sliding sealing mechanism on the front face configured to
provide an odor-
resistant and a child-resistant seal for the flexible container when the
sliding sealing mechanism
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is in a locked condition and a portion of the sliding sealing mechanism is
positioned to extend
beyond a rear face of the flexible container opposite the front face of the
container.
[0040] In embodiments, the sliding sealing mechanism includes a lockable
slider movable
between an open condition and a locked condition. The lockable slider is
configured to connect
to a sealing mechanism body in the locked condition. The sealing mechanism
body is coupled to
the front face and the rear face and includes at least one aperture through
which the portion of the
lockable slider extends beyond the rear face.
[0041] In embodiments, a portion of the lockable slider is configured to be
squeezed and includes
a first tab and a second tab that extend through a pair of apertures in the
sealing mechanism body
and couple thereto. The first tab and the second tab are configured to
uncouple from the sealing
mechanism body when squeezed together.
[0042] In embodiments, the flexible container is made of plastic. In
embodiments, the flexible
container is made of recyclable plastic. In embodiments, the flexible
container is made of plastic
containing recycled material.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0043] The accompanying drawings include:
[0044] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of various components, methods, and
systems of a
platform for management of secure packages and containers for plant-based
products in
accordance with the present disclosure.
[0045] Figures 2 and 3 are perspective views of a container in a form of a
child resistant and odor-
resistant jar in accordance with the present disclosure.
[0046] Figures 4 and 5 are side views of Figure 2.
[0047] Figures 6 and 7 are top and bottom views, respectively, of Figure 2.
[0048] Figures 8 and 9 are perspective views of the top of the container of
Figure 2.
[0049] Figures 10 and 11 are perspective views of the body the container of
Figure 2.
[0050] Figures 12, 13, 14, and 15 are perspective views of containers of
different sizes in form of
ajar having a child resistant and odor-resistant top in accordance with the
present disclosure.
[0051] Figures 16 and 17 are perspective views of a container in a form of a
child resistant and
odor-resistant squeeze to open container in accordance with the present
disclosure.
[0052] Figure 18 is a side view of Figure 16.
[0053] Figures 19 and 20 are perspective views of containers in a form of a
child resistant and
odor-resistant squeeze to open container shown in a stacked condition in
accordance with the
present disclosure.
[0054] Figures 21 and 22 are side views of Figures 19 and 20, respectively.
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[0055] Figure 23 is a perspective view of containers in a form of a child
resistant and odor-
resistant squeeze to open container shown in a nested condition in accordance
with the present
disclosure.
[0056] Figures 24 and 25 are perspective views of a container in a form of a
child resistant and
odor-resistant squeeze to open container with a top in a closed condition in
accordance with the
present disclosure.
[0057] Figures 26-43 are perspective views of a container in a form of a child
resistant and odor-
resistant squeeze to open container depicted in various sizes and shapes in
accordance with the
present disclosure.
[0058] Figures 44, 45, and 46 are a progression of perspective views of a
container in a form of a
child resistant and odor-resistant squeeze to open container depicting
squeezing and opening the
container in accordance with the present disclosure.
[0059] Figures 47 and 48 are perspective views of a container in a form of a
child resistant and
odor-resistant squeeze to open container in which a top slides into a body of
the container in
accordance with the present disclosure.
[0060] Figures 49 and 50 are front and back views of Figure 47.
[0061] Figures 51 and 52 are side views of Figure 47.
[0062] Figure 53 is a top view of Figure 47.
[0063] Figure 54 is a bottom view of Figure 47.
[0064] Figures 55 and 56 are perspective views of the container of Figure 47
in an open condition
in accordance with the present disclosure.
[0065] Figures 57 and 58 are perspective views of a container in a form of a
child resistant and
odor-resistant squeeze to open container in which a top is hinged to a body of
the container in
accordance with the present disclosure.
[0066] Figures 59 and 60 are perspective views of the container of Figure 57
in an open condition
in accordance with the present disclosure.
[0067] Figure 61 is a front view of Figure 57.
[0068] Figure 62 is a back view of Figure 57.
[0069] Figures 63 and 64 are perspective views of a container in a form of a
child resistant and
odor-resistant squeeze to open container in which a top is hinged to a body of
the container in
accordance with the present disclosure.
[0070] Figures 65 and 66 are perspective views of a container in a form of a
child resistant and
odor-resistant squeeze to open container in which a top slides over a body of
the container in
accordance with the present disclosure.
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[0071] Figures 67 and 68 are perspective views of a container in a form of a
child resistant and
odor-resistant squeeze to open container in which a top is hinged to a body of
the container in
accordance with the present disclosure.
[0072] Figures 69 and 70 are perspective views of a container in a form of a
child resistant and
odor-resistant squeeze to open container in which a top slides over a body of
the container in
accordance with further examples of the present disclosure.
[0073] Figures 71 and 72 are perspective views of a bottom of a container in a
form of a child
resistant and odor-resistant squeeze to open container in accordance with the
present disclosure.
[0074] Figures 73 and 74 are perspective views of a top of a container in a
form of a child resistant
and odor-resistant squeeze to open container into which the bottom in Figures
71 and 72 connects
in accordance with the present disclosure.
[0075] Figures 75 and 76 are perspective views of a top of a container in a
form of a child resistant
and odor-resistant squeeze to open container into which the bottom in Figures
69 and 70 connects
in accordance with the present disclosure.
[0076] Figures 77 and 78 are perspective views of a container in a form of a
child resistant and
odor-resistant flexible and lockable bag in accordance with the present
disclosure.
[0077] Figure 79 is a front view of Figure 77.
[0078] Figure 80 is a back view of Figure 77.
[0079] Figures 81 and 82 are perspective views of a container in a form of a
child resistant and
odor-resistant flexible and lockable bag having a lockable slider in an open
condition in
accordance with the present disclosure.
[0080] Figure 83 is a front view of Figure 81.
[0081] Figure 84 is a back view of Figure 81.
[0082] Figures 85 and 86 are perspective views of a container in a form of a
child resistant and
odor-resistant flexible and lockable bag in accordance with further examples
of the present
disclosure.
[0083] Figures 87 and 88 are perspective views of a container in a form of a
child resistant and
odor-resistant flexible and lockable bag having a lockable slider in an open
condition in
accordance with additional examples the present disclosure.
[0084] Figures 89 and 90 are perspective views of a lockable slider and a
sealing mechanism body
of a sliding sealing mechanism associated with a lockable bag and in an open
condition in
accordance with the present disclosure.
[0085] Figures 91 and 92 are perspective views of the lockable slider and the
sealing mechanism
body in a closed condition in accordance with the present disclosure.
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DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0086] FIG. 1 depicts various methods, systems, products, and components for a
platform for
improved handling of plant-based products, including for packaging, securing,
tracking, and
reporting, such as for purposes of maintaining security, compliance, and
quality. These include
various packages 102 and containers 122, as well as a host system 100 having
various information
technology capabilities. Plant-based products, referred to collectively as
produce 104, may
include herbal supplements, fruits, vegetables, tobacco products (including
conventional and
electronic cigarettes, cigars, pipe tobacco, chewing tobacco, gums, products
for vaporizing, and
other products), cannabis products (including raw plant material, cigarettes,
cigars, edible
products, chewable products, creams, salves, gums, products for smoking or
vaporization), and
the like, may be placed in a range of secure, airtight, tamper-proof, child-
resistant, odor-resistant
packages 102 and containers 122 having a various improved shapes, materials,
form factors and
the like as described and depicted throughout this disclosure.
[0087] In embodiments, Packages 102 may include packages for small batches of
material,
packages for larger amounts of material, which may be stored in containers
122, such as secure
containers 122 that may hold multiple packages 102. In embodiments, the
containers 122 may be
configured to provide an airtight seal, including the ability to evacuate
enough air to provide
improved freshness during transportation and storage. The packages 102 and the
containers 122
may be childproof, tamperproof, or the like, such as to allow access by adults
while preventing
(or resisting) access by children. In embodiments, the containers 122 may be
secure, such as being
locked, including electronic locking, such as to require a password, PIN,
fingerprint or other
biometric information, or the like, including remote-controlled locking.
[0088] In embodiments, the packages 102 may be filled at a farm 108 or other
production facility,
loaded onto and transported by one or more transport facilities 110,
optionally stored in one or
more warehouses 152 or storage facilities, sold in a container 122 at one or
more points of sale,
such as a dispensary 114, and consumed at a point of consumption, such as a
home 120.
Throughout this process, packages 102 may be tracked by the host system 100.
In embodiments,
the packages 102 and the containers 122 may include one or more electronic
devices, processors,
chips (e.g., RFID), sensors, or the like, that may include the capability to
store information such
as identifying information and information about time and place of origin, the
producer, owner or
operator, exposure to environmental conditions, information about permitted
uses, and many other
types of data that may be used as inputs to the methods and systems disclosed
herein. In
embodiments, the packages 102 and the containers 122 may include one or more
electronic
devices that may have the ability to report information such as by pushing
information over a
communications interface, such as cellular, BluetoothTM or Wi-Fi, or to have
information pulled,
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such as upon interrogation by a reader or similar device. In embodiments, the
packages 102 and
the containers 122 may include one or more electronic devices that have the
ability to perform
processing functions, such as parsing data and applying one or more rules or
processing steps to
one or more inputs in order to provide an output or determine an action. By
way of these examples,
these capabilities may enable communications and interactions, such as by data
networks,
communications networks, cellular networks, Wi-Fi, or the like, through
various interfaces, such
as gateways, application programming interfaces, readers, access points,
beacons, and the like,
with the host system 100.
[0089] As noted above, one or more packages 102 and/or containers 122
containing produce 104
may be filled at a farm 108 or other production facility, which may include
production
infrastructure 148, including various machinery for production, as well as
information technology,
such as data storage, processing, and communications, such as for tracking
what was produced, at
what time, and what was placed into packages 102. In embodiments, produce 104
may be
packaged into packages 102 and then into the containers 122 and/or into the
containers 122
directly at a separate packaging facility. Packaging events may be reported to
the host system
100, such as by pushing information to the host system 100, or by having the
host system 100 pull
the information, such as by one or more application programming interfaces
(APIs), or a
combination thereof Storage of information may be at the farm 108 or packaging
facility, at the
host system 100, or in an external data storage facility, such as cloud-based
storage.
[0090] In embodiments, the package 102 and/or the container 122 may
subsequently be loaded,
such as by a conveyor or the like, onto a transport facility 110, such as a
truck, train, boat, ship,
or other vehicles. In various embodiments, including on the transport facility
110, at the
warehouse 152, at the point of sale, such as a dispensary 114, and at the
point of consumption,
such as the home 120. The package 102 may be stored in a container 122, which
may be a portable
container 122, such as filled at the farm 108 and placed on the transport
facility 110, or it may be
part of the transport facility 110, such as a secure box that may be
configured to hold, and secure,
the packages 102 (or even smaller containers 122) in a favorable environment,
which may include
an airtight environment, a cooled environment, a humidity-controlled
environment, or the like. In
embodiments described throughout this disclosure, the secure container 122 may
include a lock,
which may include an electronic interface, such as one that may be controlled
based on the identity
of a user and other factors, which may be managed remotely, such as by
centrally managing what
users are allowed to access the container 122, which in turn may be configured
to allow the
container to be opened based on what packages 102 (or products 104) are
contained in it, such as
ones controlled by a particular owner or operator, ones owned by a particular
consumer, or ones
approved by a regulator. These may be managed by a security facility 142 of
the host system 100,
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which may interact with identity information 144, such as managed based on a
secure identity
platform, such as the OktaTM platform, to track identity information,
passwords, credentials, and
other information necessary to authenticate users.
[0091] In embodiments, the host system 100 may include a policy engine 134,
such as to allow
an owner, operator, host, or regulator to set policies relating to access to
one or more of the
containers 122 or to one or more packages 102, such as ones contained in a
container 122. In
embodiments, the host system 100 may maintain a directory 154, database or
catalog of secure
containers 122, optionally mapped to one or more owners or operators, one or
more users, one or
more facilities (such as at the farm, in transport, in warehouse, in a point
of sale, such as a
dispensary, or at a point of consumption), and/or one or more geographic
locations. By way of
these examples, this directory 154 may include geographic locations of
containers 122, including
current locations of containers, such as indicated by entry of containers into
one or more geo-
fenced areas, such as indicated by proximity to one or more access points,
beacons, or the like that
are located at farms 108, warehouses 152, dispensaries 114, or points of
consumption 120.
[0092] In embodiments, the directory 154 may allow management of containers
122 at a group
level, such as by having groups of containers 122 be managed by the same
policies (such as ones
owned by a particular owner or operator and/or used for a particular purpose,
such as for holding
particular goods). This management of containers 122 may include setting
policies, such as using
the policy engine 134, that apply to the containers, as well as various rules,
such as specified and
managed by a rules engine 158, which may allow setting various rules that may
be deployed
through and managed in the host system 100, such as rules that indicate what
may be done, by
whom, at what locations, to one or more given packages 102, products 104, or
containers 122.
Rules may be triggered by inputs, such as data that is managed by the host
system 100 or detected
by, at, or about a package 102 or container 122; for example, a rule may
indicate that a container
122 that contains a package 102 containing produce 104 that is illegal in some
jurisdictions and
may only be opened if geo-fencing data indicates that the container 122 is
currently located in a
jurisdiction in which the product 104 is in fact legal. In embodiments, the
rule may be created in
the host system 100, such as in a rules interface, a policy interface, a
dashboard, or the like, then
managed by the host system 100, including by operating on data that is
detected at a container 122
and/or at a package 102. Thus, secure containers 122 and packages 102 may
include necessary
processing components to allow interaction with the host system 100 to help
enforce policies,
rules, and regulations.
[0093] In embodiments, a local tracking system 112 may be deployed on the
transportation facility
110, at the warehouse 152, or at other locations, including the production
facility, such as the farm
108, the point of sale, such as a dispensary 114, or at a point of
consumption, such as a home 120.
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The tracking system 112 may report information about the location of a
container 122, information
about the location of a package 102, and other information, such as obtained
from electronic
devices, IT elements, IoT elements, sensors (including environmental sensors,
such as for
temperature, humidity, air pressure, and the like) and from other systems
(such as inputs from
local IT infrastructure of the various environments in which the containers
122 and packages 102
move or are located), at various points in time, so that information may be
obtained in real time
about any package 102 or container 122, including current conditions and a
complete record of
historical conditions. The tracking system 112 may determine location by
various location
facilities, including GPS, triangulation (such as with cellular infrastructure
locations, known
access point locations, and others), map-based location (such as entering a
known geo-fence or
entering proximity of a reader, a beacon, an access point that is deployed at
a known location, or
the like), by direct reporting (e.g., having an operator enter a location in a
user interface), and
others. The local tracking system 112 may feed a tracking facility 130 of the
host system 100,
which may provide data for various purposes, including reporting, routing,
regulatory compliance,
optimization of the supply chain, security, and many others, regarding a
collection of packages
102, containers 122, or the like.
[0094] In embodiments, the secure container 122 may be part of, or interface
with, a security
system 150, which may be deployed at the production facility, such as the farm
108, in or on the
transport facility 110, at the warehouse 152, at the point of sale, such as a
dispensary 114, or at a
point of consumption, such as a home 120. The security system 150 may connect
to the host
system 100, such as through IT infrastructure of the applicable local
environment, or through
cellular or other channels. The security system 150 may include one or more
cameras, motion
sensors (such IR or laser-based sensors), sound sensors, monitored locks
(including ones that use
electronic codes, ones that are under remote control, and ones that use
biometric identification,
among other capabilities), and the like. In embodiments, the security system
150 may report to
the host system 100, such as to provide one or more reports, alerts, or the
like.
[0095] In embodiments, produce 104 in packages 102 and/or containers 122 may
be transported
to the warehouse 152 by the transport facility 110 for storage, then
subsequently transported to a
point of sale, such as a dispensary 114. The warehouse 152 may have a security
system 150, a
tracking system, and one or more secure containers 122 for storing packages
102. Storage of the
packages 102 and the containers 122 may include storage in areas of controlled
air pressure,
controlled levels of vacuum, controlled temperature, controlled humidity, and
the like, and
conditions may be recorded and stored, either locally on an electronic device
or other data storage
associated with the package 102 and/or the container 122, remotely in the host
system 100, or
both, so that proof of origin, freshness, freedom from tampering, and the like
may be obtained
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from the host system 100 or directly from the package 102. In embodiments, the
methods and
systems disclosed herein include a chain of custody and freshness indication
(such as a manual
bonding strip or an electronic indication) on an exterior of the container 122
that is configured to
show whether the container was opened after sealing and before retail
purchase.
[0096] In embodiments, containers 122 and packages 102 of product 104 may be
sold at one or
more points of sale, such as, in the case of legally restricted products, a
pharmacy or dedicated
dispensary 114, which may have a vending infrastructure 118, which may include
one or more
automated elements, such as a vending machine that requires some form of
authentication, such
as presentation of a prescription or similar authorization to obtain the
product 104. Containers
122 and packages 102 of various types, as described throughout this
disclosure, may be presented
at the dispensary 114, such as through shelves, coolers, vending machines,
kiosks, and other
automated or machine-aided presentation facilities.
[0097] Once purchased, packages 102 of product 104 may be taken to a point of
consumption,
such as a home 120, which may also include a secure container 122, such as one
requiring
authentication, such as a code or biometric authentication, optionally managed
through the host
system 100. In embodiments, the secure container 122 may provide temperature
control, vacuum
control, pressure control, humidity control, and the like, in order to
preserve freshness. The secure
container 122 may include element (manual or electronic) to interface with
data on the packages
102, such as to read and present dates of origin, place of origin, expiration
dates, type of product
104, characteristics of the product 104, indications or warnings related to
the product 104, side
effect information about the product 104, and any other information that may
be relevant regarding
the product 104.
[0098] In embodiments, the secure container 122 may allow for control via the
host system 100,
such as to allow enforcement of rules or policies created and managed by the
policy engine 134
and/or the rules engine 158, such as policies indicating what users within the
home 120 are allowed
to access what packages 102 or products 104 that are disposed in the secure
container 122. By
way of these examples, similar capabilities may be provided at the level of
the individual package
102, such as allowing the package to be opened only by permitted users. In
embodiments, the
secure container 122 may enforce policy, such as requiring a user to present
authentication and to
present authorization to access and open a package 102, such as by presenting
a prescription that
allows medical use, or presenting permission from an owner of the package 102
to open the
container 122 and/or consume the product 104. This may include parsing of data
to allow the
specification and enforcement of rules that are based on parsing information
at the point of
consumption. For example, a rule might allow opening a container 122 or a
package 102 only a
certain number of times per week, opening the container 122 only on weekends,
opening only a
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certain number of individual packages (or small containers) per time period,
opening packages or
containers based on validation that the user has not already consumed too much
(such as based on
an electronic device that could measure proximity, weight, etc.), and the
like.
[0099] In embodiments, the platform may include the host system 100, such as
enabling or
containing a set of services, programs, applications, processes, or the like,
which may be deployed
on premises of a host or an owner or operator or on cloud infrastructure, such
as web services
infrastructure, or a combination thereof The host system 100 may include one
or more servers,
data storage facilities, processing facilities, and the like. In embodiments,
the infrastructure may
be multi-tenant infrastructure, such as for handling processing of information
relating to the supply
chains of multiple owners and operators, regulators, and/or consumers. The
host system 100 may
include, as noted above, services, modules, and/or facilities for tracking
130, such as tracking
elements or other electronic devices that may be reported by the local
tracking systems 112,
including storing all kinds of information that is tracked about products 104,
packages 102,
containers 122, locations, environmental conditions, and the like that are
relevant to the history of
a given package 102 or a container 122. In embodiments, the tracking system
130 may include
storage of such data, such as in a data store or database. In embodiments, the
host system 100
may also include the policy engine 134 and the rules engine 158, providing the
capabilities noted
above, such as the creation, deployment and enforcement of policies and rules
(including laws and
regulations), such as applicable to the placement of products 104 in packages
102, the
transportation of packages 102, the storage of packages 102, the vending of
packages 102, and the
consumption of packages 102, as well as rules and policies related to
security, authentication, and
the like. In embodiments, the host system 100 may include interfaces for
regulators 124, such as
a compliance module 140, such as providing data to a compliance tracking
facility 128, or
providing APIs by which a compliance tracking facility 128 may extract data
and create a record
log from the host system 100, such as evidence of compliance with applicable
law in a given
situation.
[0100] In embodiments, the host system 100 may also include the container
directory 154 for
indicating locations and other information about secure containers 122 and
what packages 102
may be in the containers 122, as well as facilities for managing security 142
and facilities for
handling identity 144 (such as for authentication and access to containers 122
or packages 102).
In embodiments, a reporting facility 138 may provide reporting, such as of
various information
indicated throughout, such as relating to production, packaging,
transportation, environment
conditions, access events, sales, and consumption events, including to owners
and operators of
production facilities, packaging facilities, transportation facilities,
warehouses, and points of sale,
as well as to consumers and regulators. In the many examples, one or more
reports may indicate
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patterns of usage, such as to enable analytics, such as to help with
optimizing packaging, to help
with routing of packages 102, placement of containers 122, and managing other
parameters of the
ecosystem. In embodiments, a routing facility 132 may include machine-based or
machine-aided
routing of packages 102, containers 122, transport facilities 110, and the
like, such as to optimize
operations while remaining in compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
[0101] Taken together, the packages 102, secure containers 122 and the
elements of the host
system 100 allow for the precise tracking of products through a supply chain,
the maintenance of
freshness and quality, and the management of complexity introduced by locally
varying laws and
regulations, including policy-based and rule-based controls that may be
triggered by local data
collection. In the many examples, the platform provides chain of custody
routing through various
trusted hands in a supply chain, from production to end user.
[0102] In embodiments, sealed packages 102 and containers 122 may maintain a
seal from the
farm to the customer, including providing tamper-proof seals as described
below. In
embodiments, packages 102 or containers 122 may include one or more coatings,
shrink-wrap
elements, or odor-control features (as an integral or additional element),
such as to reduce odor
during transport, storage, and vending. This may include additional sealing
elements that are not
contained on conventional tamperproof packages.
[0103] Various embodiments of packages 102 and containers 122 are provided
herein that may
be squeezed to open, that may nest within one another when the cap is removed,
and that may be
stacked when the cap is in place. In embodiments, the container may include a
body and a top.
The top may be configured to cooperate with the body to provide a re-sealable
closure to a cavity
formed in the body. The container may be odor-resistant and child resistant
when the top is sealed
to the body. The container may be configured to be stackable with another
container when the
top is sealed to the body of the container. In embodiments, the top may be
hingedly connected to
the body of the container. In embodiments, the container may be configured to
be squeezed to
remove the top from the body of the container. In embodiments, the top of the
container may be
configured to permit another container to releasably connect to and stack with
the top of the
container. In embodiments, the top of the container may be configured to
permit another container
to releasably connect to and stack with the container whether the top is
sealed to or released from
the body of the container. In embodiments, the body of the container may be
configured to permit
another container to releasably connect to and nest within a portion of the
body of the container
when the top of the container is not sealed to the body.
[0104] In embodiments, the packages 102 and/or the containers 122 may include
the capability to
house one or more electronic devices including IT elements or IoT device
elements. These
electronic devices may be included by securing them to glass, plastic, or
other material used in the
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packages 102. In embodiments, one or more of the electronic devices may be
molded in the
material that forms the container 122 and may seal the electronic device in
material of the
container 122. In embodiments, configurations to hold such electronic devices
may be placed in
the bottom of a package 102 or container 122, such as to provide additional
stability or strength
to the package 102 and the container 122. In embodiments, onboard electronic
devices on the
package 102 and the container 122 may account for movement of a package 102
outside a
perimeter and monitor access to packages 102 and containers 122. In
embodiments, physical
locks, one-time sealing mechanisms, bonded closures, and the like may connect
to the electronic
devices to require authentication in order to access a package 102 or
container 122. In
embodiments, onboard electronic devices may monitor and alert a user to
temperature and
humidity conditions, such as ones that are out of a preferred or other
predetermined range.
Onboard electronics may provide RFID functionality, such as to provide
inventory and sales data
at retail locations, during transport, and the like.
[0105] In many embodiments, Figures 2-15 depict a jar 200 having a child
resistant and odor-
resistant restricted access mechanism as one example of the container 122. In
embodiments, the
jar 200 may be a child-resistant threaded glass jar with a top 202 such as a
cap depicted in the
figures. The jar 200 including its top 202 may be cylindrical in shape and,
when secured together
with a bottom 204 of its body 208, may form a unitary cylindrical shape. In
embodiments, the
diameter of the top 202 and the bottom 204 may be about equal so as to provide
a uniform
circumferential exterior over the entire jar 200. The top 202 of the jar 200
may include the
restricted access mechanism configured to permit only authorized users.
[0106] In embodiments, the restricted access mechanism may be mechanical and
thus may require
the user to push or urge the top 202 toward the bottom 204 while rotating the
top 202 relative to
the bottom 204 to remove the top 202. In embodiments, the restricted access
mechanism may be
mechanical and thus may require the user to squeeze the top 202 into the body
208 while rotating
the top 202 relative to the bottom 204 to remove the top. In embodiments, the
restricted access
mechanism may be mechanical and thus may require the user to overcome a one-
time seal,
adhesive, or the like while rotating the top 202 relative to the bottom 204 to
remove the top. In
embodiments, the restricted access mechanism may require the user to unlock
the top 202 so that
onboard electronic devices unlock the top 202 permitting removal of the top
202. In embodiments,
the restricted access mechanism may be mechanical and thus may require the
user to overcome a
one-time seal, adhesive, or the like while rotating the top 202 relative to
the bottom 204 to remove
the top. In further embodiments, the restricted access mechanism may also be
configured to delay
entry into the package 102 for a sufficient amount of time.
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[0107] The bottom 204 of the body 208 may include a recessed area 210. In
embodiments, the
recessed area 210 may be semi-spherical in shape. In the many examples, the
recessed area 210
may be configured to provide a stable base to enable the jar 200 to stand
vertically on a surface
and avoid being knocked over. In embodiments, the recessed area 210 may
contain an electronic
device 212 that may either be fixed to or formed in the material of body 208.
In embodiments,
the recessed area 210 may be configured to provide a stable base to enable the
jar 200 to stand
vertically on a surface and avoid being knocked over. In embodiments, the
recessed area 210 may
be configured to provide stackability so that another container can be
situated below the jar 200
and its top may partially sit in the recessed area 210 and may be shown to
improve stability when
packaging multiple containers together. In embodiments, the top 202 may define
a flat or a
recessed portion 214 that may accept the recessed area 210 on another
container to improve
stability when packaging multiple containers together.
[0108] In embodiments, the top 202 and the bottom 204 may connect at a gap 220
that is
cooperatively defined by the top 202 and the bottom 204. The gap 220 may
permit the top 202 to
secure to the body 208 using threads and a twisting motion to open or close
the jar 200. In the
embodiments, gap 220 may permit the jar 200 to be opened using a pushing and
twisting motion.
The restricted access top mechanism 202 may permit a user to open the jar 200
by first pushing
the top 202 and bottom 204 together, closing gap 220, then using a twisting
motion to open or
close the jar. The gap 220 may provide sufficient space to allow the top 202
and bottom 204 to
be pushed together allowing a user to twist the jar 200 open or closed. The
restricted access top
mechanism 202 may prevent a user from twisting the jar 200 open or closed
without first pushing
together the top 202 and bottom 204.
[0109] As depicted in Figures 8-11, the jar 200 may use threads 230 to allow a
user to twist ajar
200 open or closed. Figures 8 and 9 show examples of the top 202 with a
restricted access
mechanism and threads 232. Figures 10 and 11 show bottoms 204 having various
internal
capacities and each with threads 230 according to the various examples
provided herein. In
embodiments, the top 202 may be universal and fit and therefore may be
configured to be
connectable and may secure to each of the different size bodies and bottoms
204 and their various
capacities depicted in Figures 12-15. In embodiments, a body 250 in Figures 12
and 13 may have
a larger internal cavity than the cavity 240 in body 208 (Figure 11). In
embodiments, a body 260
in Figures 14 and 15 may have a larger internal cavity than a cavity 240 in
body 208 (Figure 11)
and what is in the body 250 (Figure 13).
[0110] In the embodiments, a clockwise twisting motion of the top 202 may
cause the top 202 and
the bottom 204 to connect using threads 230, 232 and a counterclockwise
twisting motion of the
top 202 relative to the bottom 204 may cause their disconnection. The threads
230, 232 may be
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relatively oversized and may be shown to ease the connection between the top
202 and the bottom
204 by making alignment and engagement of the threads 230, 232 easier and
allowing a user to
more easily twist the jar 200 open or closed.
[0111] As depicted in Figures 11, the body 208 may form the cavity 240 so as
to be accessible
when the top 202 is removed but sealed closed when the top 202 is connected to
it (Figure 3).
Dimensions of the cavity 240 may define the capacity of jar 200. Dimensions of
the cavity 240
may be defined by an outside dimension depth, outside dimension width and
outside dimension
height.
[0112] In embodiments and as depicted in Figures 2 and 3, the jar 200 may be
configured to have
about 5 milliliters (m1) capacity. The about 5 ml volume is equivalent to a
capacity of about 1.3
drams, about 0.16 ounces (oz.) or about 5 ml. In embodiments, the 5 ml jar may
have an outside
dimension depth of about 38 millimeters (mm) or about 1.5 inches, an outside
dimension width of
about 38 mm or about 1.5 inches and an outside dimension height of about 38 mm
or about 1.5
inches.
[0113] In embodiments and as depicted in Figures 12 and 13, the jar 200 may be
configured with
the body 250 to have about a 13 dram capacity. The 13 dram volume is
equivalent to a capacity
of about 0.8 ounces (oz.) or about 48 ml. The 13 dram jar 200 may have an
outside dimension
depth of about 52 millimeters (mm) or about 2 inches, an outside dimension
width of about 52
mm or about 2 inches and an outside dimension height of about 60 mm or about
2.5 inches. The
13 dram jar 200 may weigh about 90 grams or about 3 oz.
[0114] In embodiments and as depicted in Figures 14 and 15, the jar 200 may be
configured with
the body 260 to have about a 20 dram capacity. The 20 dram volume is
equivalent to a capacity
of about 1.25 ounces (oz.) or about 74 ml. The 20 dram jar 200 may have an
outside dimension
depth of about 52 millimeters (mm) or about 2 inches, an outside dimension
width of about 52
mm or about 2 inches and an outside dimension height of about 60 mm or about
2.5 inches. The
20 dram jar 200 may weigh about 124 grams or about 4.3 oz. In embodiments, the
jar 200 may
be configured to have about a 30 dram capacity. The 30 dram volume is
equivalent to a capacity
of about 1.8 ounces (oz.) or about 110 ml. The 30 dram jar 200 may have an
outside dimension
depth of about 52 millimeters (mm) or about 2 inches, an outside dimension
width of about 52
mm or about 2 inches and an outside dimension height of about 102 mm or about
4 inches. The
30 dram jar 200 may weigh about 190 grams or about 6.6 oz. In embodiments, the
jar 200 may
be configured to have about a 60 dram capacity. The 60 dram volume is
equivalent to a capacity
of about 60 drams, about 3.75 ounces (oz.) or about 220 ml. The 60 dram jar
200 may have an
outside dimension depth of about 52 millimeters (mm) or about 2 inches, an
outside dimension
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width of about 52 mm or about 2 inches and an outside dimension height of
about 172 mm or
about 6.75 inches. The 60 dram jar 200 may weight about 280 grams or about 10
oz.
[0115] In embodiments, Figures 16-76 depict embodiments of a squeeze to open
container 300 as
further examples of the containers 122. The squeeze to open container 300 may
have a top 302,
a bottom 304 of a body 308. In embodiments, the container 300 may be a child
resistant and odor
resistant. In embodiments, the container 300 may be made from plastic,
recycled plastic, and/or
plastic with recycled content.
[0116] In embodiments, the top 302 of the container 300 may be connected by a
tab connector
310. In embodiments, the container 300 may require a user to apply pressure to
the body 308 of
the container 300 to release top 302. In embodiments, the container 300 may
require a user to
apply pressure at two opposite points 312, 314 and squeeze the body 308 of the
container 300 to
release the top 302. By way of these examples, the pressure applied to the
body 308 of the
container 300 to release the top 302 may be required to exceed a certain
threshold. This threshold
may be set at a level easy for an adult to meet or exceed, yet may be shown to
be difficult for a
child to meet or exceed, or sufficiently delaying the child from meeting or
exceeding such
thresholds. This threshold may be set at such a level so as to provide the
child-resistant
functionality to the container 300. Prior to opening, the top 302 may
establish an odor resistant
seal between the top 302 and an adjacent portion of the body 308 where the top
302 seals to the
body 308 of the bottom 304 of the container 300.
[0117] As depicted in Figures 19-22, the container 300 may be stackable with
the top 302 in a
closed condition. When stacked with the top 302 in the closed condition, the
outer edge of the
bottom 304 of the container 300 may come into contact with an inner edge of
the top of another
container creating a nested stack. In embodiments, the containers 300 may
stack whether the top
302 is open or closed.
[0118] As depicted in Figure 23, the container 300 may be nestable. In
embodiments, the bottom
304 of the container 300 may fit into another container (such as container
340) to allow multiple
containers 300 to nest one within the other. In this condition, the top 302
may be in an open
position and the external surface of a body 308 of the container 300 may come
into contact with
the inner edge of the body 308 of another container and this may be repeated
as needed to create
a nested stack of as many containers as is appropriate.
[0119] The bottom 308 may include a recessed area 320. In embodiments, the
recessed area 320
may be configured to provide a stable base to enable the container 300 to
stand vertically on a
surface and avoid being knocked over. In embodiments, the recessed area 320
may contain an
electronic device 322 that may either be fixed to or formed in the material of
bottom 304, as
depicted in Figures 17 and 25. In embodiments, the recessed area 320 may be
configured to
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provide a stable base to enable the container to stand vertically on a surface
and avoid being
knocked over. In embodiments, the recessed area 320 may be configured to
provide stackability.
[0120] In embodiments, the top 302 may be configured to cooperate with the
body 308 to provide
a re-sealable closure to a cavity 330 formed in the body 308. The container
300 may be odor-
resistant and may be child resistant when the top 302 is sealed to the body
308. The container 300
may be configured to be stackable with another container 340 when the top 302
is sealed to the
body 308 of the container 300. In embodiments, the top 302 can define a
circumferential seal 318
that is configured to seal against the body 308 when the top 302 is secured to
the bottom 304 to
provide an odor resistant and child resistant container 300.
[0121] In embodiments, the top 302 may be hingedly connected to the body 308
of the container
300. In embodiments, the container 300 may be configured to be squeezed to
remove the top 302
from the body 308 of the container 300. In embodiments, the top 302 of the
container 300 is
configured to permit another container 340 to releasably connect to and stack
with the top 302 of
the container 300. In embodiments, the top 302 of the container 300 may be
configured to permit
another container 340 to releasably connect to and stack with the container
whether the top 302 is
sealed to or released from the body 308 of the container 300. In embodiments,
the body 308 of
the container 300 may be configured to permit another container 340 to
releasably connect to and
nest within a portion of the body 308 of the container 300 when the top 302 of
the container 300
is not sealed to the body 308.
[0122] In embodiments, the container may include the raised bottom portion 320
containing an
electronic device 322 that may be sealed from the cavity 330 of the container
300. The electronic
device 322 may be configured to store, report and process data including
applying rules to
determine a portion of freshness and chain of custody conditions descriptive
of what is contained
in the cavity. In embodiments, the container 300 may include an electronic
device 322 sealed
from the cavity. The electronic device 322 may be configured to detect a
presence or an absence
of an access parameter upon at least one of movement of the container 300 and
an attempt to
access the cavity 330 of the container by removing the top 302 from the body
308. The electronic
device 322 may be configured to report on at least one of an unauthorized
movement and an
unauthorized access to the cavity 330 based on the presence or the absence of
the access parameter.
[0123] In embodiments, the container 300 may include an electronic device 322
sealed from the
cavity 330 that may be configured to monitor and alert a user when
measurements of at least one
of a temperature condition and a humidity condition do not fit within
predetermined ranges. In
embodiments, the container 300 may include an electronic device 322 that may
be sealed from the
cavity 330. The electronic device 322 may be configured to communicate with a
platform to
indicate compliance with at least a portion of regulations governing what is
contained in the cavity
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330 of the container 300. In embodiments, the container 300 may include an
electronic device
322 sealed from the cavity 330 and the electronic device may be configured to
communicate with
a platform to provide details of at least a portion of a chain of custody of
the container 300.
[0124] In embodiments, the body 308 and the top 302 of the container 300 may
be made of the
same material. In embodiments, the body 308 of the container 300 may be made
of plastic. In
embodiments, the body 308 and/or the top 302 of the container 300 may be made
of recyclable
plastic. In embodiments, the body 308 and/or the top 302 of the container 300
may be made of
plastic containing recycled material. In embodiments, at least a portion of
the body includes one
of a tapered rectangular shape (Figures 16 and 47) and a tapered oval shape
(Figures 36, 38, 40,
42, and 47).
[0125] In embodiments, the container 300 may be configured with various
capacities and shapes.
In many examples, the container 300 may have about a 6 dram capacity. The 6
dram volume is
equivalent to a capacity of about 0.3 ounces (oz.) or about 22 ml. The 6 dram
container 300 may
have an outside dimension depth of about 33 millimeters (mm) or about 1.3
inches, an outside
dimension width of about 33 mm or about 1.33 inches and an outside dimension
height of about
45 mm or about 1.75 inches. The 6 dram container 300 may weigh about 7 grams
or about 0.25
oz.
[0126] In embodiments, the container 300 may be configured with a specific
shape and size such
as container 350 that may have about a 13 dram capacity, as depicted in
Figures 26 and 27. The
13 dram volume is equivalent to a capacity of about 0.8 ounces (oz.) or about
48 ml. The 13 dram
container 350 may have an outside dimension depth of about 37 millimeters (mm)
or about 1.5
inches, an outside dimension width of about 37 mm or about 1.5 inches and an
outside dimension
height of about 65 mm or about 2.5 inches. The 13 dram container 350 may weigh
about 10 grams
or about 0.35 oz.
[0127] In embodiments, the container 300 may be configured with a specific
shape and size such
as container 352 that may have about a 20 dram capacity, as depicted in
Figures 28 and 29. The
20 dram volume is equivalent to a capacity of about 1.25 ounces (oz.) or about
74 ml. The 20
dram container 352 may have an outside dimension depth of about 40 millimeters
(mm) or about
1.625 inches, an outside dimension width of about 40 mm or about 1.625 inches
and an outside
dimension height of about 73 mm or about 2.875 inches. The 20 dram container
352 may weigh
about 13 grams or about 0.5 oz.
[0128] In embodiments, the container 300 may be configured with a specific
shape and size such
as container 354 that may have about a 30 dram capacity. The 30 dram volume is
equivalent to a
capacity of about 1.8 ounces (oz.) or about 110 ml. The 30 dram container 354
may have an
outside dimension depth of about 45 millimeters (mm) or about 1.75 inches, an
outside dimension
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width of about 45 mm or about 1.75 inches and an outside dimension height of
about 94 mm or
about 3.75 inches. The 30 dram container 354 may weigh about 17.5 grams or
about 0.6 oz.
[0129] In embodiments, the container 300 may be configured with a specific
shape and size such
as container 358 that may have about a 60 dram capacity. The 60 dram volume is
equivalent to a
capacity of about 3.75 ounces (oz.) or about 220 ml. The 60 dram container 358
may have an
outside dimension depth of about 53 millimeters (mm) or about 2 inches, an
outside dimension
width of about 53 mm or about 2 inches and an outside dimension height of
about 132 mm or
about 5.5 inches. The 60 dram container 300 may weigh about 27 grams or about
0.95 oz.
[0130] In embodiments, the container 300 may be configured with a specific
shape and size such
as containers 360 and 368. In the many examples, the containers 360 and 368
may have at least
a portion of a tapered rectangular shape. In embodiments, the container 300
may be configured
with a specific shape and size such as containers 362, 364 and 370 that may
have at least a portion
of a tapered oval shape, as depicted in Figures 36-39, 42 and 43.
[0131] Figures 44, 45, and 46 depict a progression of opening the container
300. In embodiments,
the container 300 is squeezed to open the top 302 and release the top 302 from
the body 308, as
depicted in Figure 44. In Figure 45, the top 302 of the container 300 may be
lifted away from the
body 308 and open to access the cavity 330 (Figure 32). In Figure 46, the top
302 may be secured
to the body 308 of the container to close the container and establish the odor
resistant and child
resistant seal.
[0132] In embodiments, the container 300 may be configured with a specific
shape and size such
as container 372 whose top 302 may be configured to slid into out from the
body 308 when the
top 302 is secured to the bottom 304, as depicted in Figures 47-56. In
embodiments, the top 302
may be configured with tabs 374 and 378 (Figure 48) that can extend through
apertures 380 and
382 (Figure 56) on the recessed area 320. In embodiments, squeezing the tabs
374, 378 together
may release them from the body 308 to permit the sliding opening of the top
302 from the bottom
304 to reveal a cavity 330 in the body 308, as depicted in Figures 55 and 56.
[0133] In embodiments, the container 300 may be configured with a specific
shape and size such
as container 384 whose top 302 may be configured to hingedly open from and
close into the body
308 when the top 302 is secured to the bottom 304, as depicted in Figures 57-
62. In embodiments,
the top 302 may be configured with tabs 374 and 378 (Figure 58) that can
extend through apertures
380 and 382 (Figure 59) on the body 308. In embodiments, squeezing the tabs
374, 378 together
may release them from the body 308 to permit the hinged opening of the top 302
from the bottom
304 to reveal a cavity 330 in the body 308, as depicted in Figures 59 and 60.
[0134] In embodiments, the container 300 may be configured with a specific
shape and size such
as container 390 whose top 302 may be configured to similarly hingedly open
from and close into
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the body 308 when the top 302 is secured to the bottom 304, as depicted in
Figures 63 and 64. In
embodiments, the top 302 may be configured with tabs 374 and 378 (Figure 58)
that can extend
through apertures 380 and 382 (Figure 59) on the body 308. In embodiments,
squeezing the tabs
374, 378 together may release them from the body 308 to permit the hinged
opening of the top
302 from the bottom 304 (along a hinge that is opposite the tabs 374 and 378)
to reveal a cavity
in the body 308.
[0135] In embodiments, the container 300 may be configured with a specific
shape and size such
as container 400 whose top 302 may be configured to slide open and closed
relative to the body
308, as depicted in Figures 65 and 66. In embodiments, the top body may be
configured with a
tab 402 that can extend upward to obstruct the sliding movement of the top 302
relative to the
body 308. In embodiments, squeezing the tab 402 together may release the top
302 from the body
308 to permit a groove 404 formed in the top 302 to travel along a lip 408 in
the body to reveal a
cavity in the body 308.
[0136] In embodiments, the container 300 may be configured with a specific
shape and size such
as container 420 whose top 302 may be configured to similarly hingedly open
from and close into
the body 308 when the top 302 is secured to the bottom 304, as depicted in
Figures 67 and 68. In
embodiments, the top 302 may be configured with tabs 374 and 378 that can
extend through
apertures on the body 308. In embodiments, squeezing the tabs 374, 378
together may release
them from the body 308 to permit the hinged opening of the top 302 from the
bottom 304 (along
a hinge that is opposite the tabs 374 and 378) to reveal a cavity in the body
308.
[0137] In embodiments, the container 300 may be configured with a specific
shape and size such
as container 430 whose top 302 may be configured to similarly open and close
by sliding along
the body 308, as depicted in Figures 69 and 70. In embodiments, the top 302
may be configured
with tabs 374 and 378 that can extend through apertures on the body 308. In
embodiments,
squeezing the tabs 374, 378 together may release them from the body 308 to
permit the sliding
opening of the top 302 along the bottom 304 to reveal a cavity in the body
308.
[0138] In embodiments, the container 300 may be configured with a specific
shape and size such
as container 440, as depicted in Figures 71-74, whose top 302 (Figures 73 and
74) may be
configured to secure to the bottom 304 (Figures 71 and 72) and configured to
release from the
bottom 304 when squeezed by the user. In embodiments, squeezing the bottom 304
while
connected to the top 302 may result in the release from the bottom 304 to
reveal a cavity 330
cooperatively formed in the top 302 and the bottom 304. In embodiments,
further examples of
the top 302 such as in container 442, as depicted in Figures 75 and 76, may be
secured to the
bottom 304 interchangeably with the top 302 for the container 440 (Figures 73
and 74).
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[0139] Figures 77-84 depict a lockable flexible container 500 as an example of
another container
122. In embodiments, the flexible container 500 has a front face 502 and a
rear face 504. The
front face 502 defines an opening 508 in the container 500. The container 500
may include a
sliding sealing mechanism 520 on the front face 502 configured to provide an
odor-resistant and
a child-resistant seal for the flexible container 500 when the sliding sealing
mechanism is in a
locked condition and thus sealing the opening 508. In embodiments, the sliding
sealing
mechanism 520 may include a portion of the sliding sealing mechanism 520 that
may be
positioned to extend beyond the rear face 504 of the flexible container 500
opposite the front face
502, as depicted in Figure 78.
[0140] In embodiments, the sliding sealing mechanism 520 includes a lockable
slider 530
movable between an open condition 532 (Figure 81) and a locked condition 534
(Figure 77). The
lockable slider 530 may be configured to connect to a sealing mechanism body
540 in the locked
condition 534. The sealing mechanism body 540 may be coupled to the front face
502 and the
rear face 504 and may include at least one aperture 542 through which the
portion of the lockable
slider 530 extends beyond the rear face 504. In embodiments, the at least one
aperture 542 may
include a pair of apertures 544.
[0141] In embodiments, a portion of the lockable slider 530 is configured to
be squeezed and
includes a first tab 550 and a second tab 552 that may extend through the pair
of apertures 544
that may be formed in the sealing mechanism body 540. The first tab 550 and
the second tab 552
may be configured to uncouple from the sealing mechanism body 540 and move to
the unlocked
condition when squeezed together. When inserted into the sealing mechanism
body 540, the first
tab 550 and the second tab 552 may be configured to couple to the sealing
mechanism body 540
and move to the locked condition.
[0142] In embodiments, the flexible container 500 may be made of plastic. In
embodiments, the
flexible container 500 may be made of recyclable plastic. In embodiments, the
flexible container
is made of plastic containing recycled material.
[0143] In embodiments, the lockable flexible container 500 may include the
sliding sealing
mechanism 520 that may include a securing mechanism 560, seal pull 562, and a
seal 564
associated with the lockable slider 530, as depicted in Figures 89-92. The
seal pull 462 may be
used by a user to open or close the seal 464. The sliding sealing mechanism
520 may seal and
lock the flexible container 500 when the seal pull 462 is moved to its locked
condition and the
tabs 550, 552 on the lockable slider 530 are inserted into the sealing
mechanism body 540, as
shown in Figures 77 and 78. The sliding sealing mechanism 520 may be moved
between an open
condition 532, as depicted in Figure 81, where access to apertures 570 of the
flexible container
500 is available and a locked condition 534 where the apertures 570 have
accepted the tabs 550
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and 552 to seal the flexible bag and provide odor-resistance and child-
resistance in the sealed
closure of the opening 508, as depicted in Figure 79. When the sliding sealing
mechanism 520 is
in the locked condition 534, as depicted in Figure 79, the lockable slider 530
cannot be moved and
thus cannot be positioned in the open condition 532.
[0144] In embodiments, the flexible container 500 may be made of plastic. In
embodiments, the
flexible container 500 may be made of various polymers, relatively thin metal,
or a consumer
recycled material. In many aspects, flexible container 500 may be made of
varying colors of
plastic. In embodiments, the flexible container 500 may be provided in varying
sizes and shapes
and is not limited to the illustrated shape. In embodiments, the container 500
may be configured
with a specific shape and size such as container 580, as depicted in Figures
85-88.
[0145] In embodiments, the container 122, 200, 300, 500 may be configured to
hold many
contents. The contents may include one of acetaminophen, aspirin, controlled
drugs, dibucaine,
diphenhydramine, ibuprofen, iron-containing drugs, dietary supplements,
ketoprofen, lidocaine,
loperamide, methyl salicylate, minoxidil, marijuana, marijuana products,
marijuana consumables,
naproxen. oral prescription drugs, and over-the-counter medications.
[0146] In embodiments, a packaging system for perishable consumables includes
a re-sealable
odor and child-resistant container with a chain of custody and freshness
indication on an exterior
of the container that is configured to show whether the container was opened
after sealing and
before retail purchase. A packaging system for perishable consumables with a
re-sealable odor
and child-resistant container with a chain of custody and freshness indication
on an exterior of the
container that is configured to show whether the container was opened after
sealing and before
retail purchase and having a container with a squeeze-to-open cap that when
closed, permits
another container to stack in an exterior of the cap and when open, permits
another container to
nest in an interior of the container. A packaging system for perishable
consumables with a re-
sealable odor and child-resistant container with a chain of custody and
freshness indication on an
exterior of the container that is configured to show whether the container was
opened after sealing
and before retail purchase and having a container with an electronic device
sealed from a cavity
containing the perishable consumables that detects the presence or absence of
an access parameter
upon movement of the container or an attempt to access the consumables and
reports on
unauthorized movement or access. A packaging system for perishable consumables
with a re-
sealable odor and child-resistant container with a chain of custody and
freshness indication on an
exterior of the container that is configured to show whether the container was
opened after sealing
and before retail purchase and having a container with an electronic device
sealed from a cavity
containing the perishable consumables that monitors and alerts a user when
temperature and
humidity condition measurements do not fit within specified ranges. A
packaging system for
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perishable consumables with a re-sealable odor and child-resistant container
with a chain of
custody and freshness indication on an exterior of the container that is
configured to show whether
the container was opened after sealing and before retail purchase and having a
glass jar container
with an unscrew-to-open cap that is odor and child resistant. A packaging
system for perishable
consumables with a re-sealable odor and child-resistant container with a chain
of custody and
freshness indication on an exterior of the container that is configured to
show whether the
container was opened after sealing and before retail purchase and having a
squeeze-top container
that is odor and child resistant. A packaging system for perishable
consumables with a re-sealable
odor and child-resistant container with a chain of custody and freshness
indication on an exterior
of the container that is configured to show whether the container was opened
after sealing and
before retail purchase and having a flexible container that is odor and child
resistant and includes
a lockable slider movable between an open condition and a closed and locked
condition. A
packaging system for perishable consumables with a re-sealable odor and child-
resistant container
with a chain of custody and freshness indication on an exterior of the
container that is configured
to show whether the container was opened after sealing and before retail
purchase and having a
container with a raised bottom portion containing an electronic device that is
sealed from a cavity
containing the perishable consumables and that may store, report and process
data including
applying rules to determine freshness and chain of custody conditions. A
packaging system for
perishable consumables with a re-sealable odor and child-resistant container
with a chain of
custody and freshness indication on an exterior of the container that is
configured to show whether
the container was opened after sealing and before retail purchase and having a
container with an
electronic device sealed from a cavity containing the perishable consumables
that includes RFID
functionality to provide inventory and sales data at the point of sale,
transport, distribution, etc.
[0147] In embodiments, a packaging system includes a container with a squeeze-
to-open cap that
when closed, permits another container to stack in an exterior of the cap and
when open, permits
another container to nest in an interior of the container. A packaging system
having a container
with a squeeze-to-open cap that when closed, permits another container to
stack in an exterior of
the cap and when open, permits another container to nest in an interior of the
container and having
a container with an electronic device sealed from a cavity containing the
perishable consumables
that detects the presence or absence of an access parameter upon movement of
the container or an
attempt to access the consumables and reports on unauthorized movement or
access. A packaging
system having a container with a squeeze-to-open cap that when closed, permits
another container
to stack in an exterior of the cap and when open, permits another container to
nest in an interior
of the container and having a container with an electronic device sealed from
a cavity containing
the perishable consumables that monitors and alerts a user when temperature
and humidity
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condition measurements do not fit within specified ranges. A packaging system
having a container
with a squeeze-to-open cap that when closed, permits another container to
stack in an exterior of
the cap and when open, permits another container to nest in an interior of the
container and having
a glass jar container with an unscrew-to-open cap that is odor and child
resistant. A packaging
system having a container with a squeeze-to-open cap that when closed, permits
another container
to stack in an exterior of the cap and when open, permits another container to
nest in an interior
of the container and having a squeeze-top container that is odor and child
resistant. A packaging
system having a container with a squeeze-to-open cap that when closed, permits
another container
to stack in an exterior of the cap and when open, permits another container to
nest in an interior
of the container and having a flexible container that is odor and child
resistant and includes a
lockable slider movable between an open condition and a closed and locked
condition. A
packaging system having a container with a squeeze-to-open cap that when
closed, permits
another container to stack in an exterior of the cap and when open, permits
another container to
nest in an interior of the container and having a container with a raised
bottom portion containing
an electronic device that is sealed from a cavity containing the perishable
consumables and that
may store, report and process data including applying rules to determine
freshness and chain of
custody conditions. A packaging system having a container with a squeeze-to-
open cap that when
closed, permits another container to stack in an exterior of the cap and when
open, permits another
container to nest in an interior of the container and having a container with
an electronic device
sealed from a cavity containing the perishable consumables that includes RFID
functionality to
provide inventory and sales data at the point of sale, transport,
distribution, etc.
[0148] In embodiments, a packaging system includes a container with a raised
bottom portion
containing an electronic device that is sealed from a cavity containing the
perishable consumables
and that may store, report and process data including applying rules to
determine freshness and
chain of custody conditions. A packaging system having a container with a
raised bottom portion
containing an electronic device that is sealed from a cavity containing the
perishable consumables
and that may store, report and process data including applying rules to
determine freshness and
chain of custody conditions and having a container with an electronic device
sealed from a cavity
containing the perishable consumables that includes RFID functionality to
provide inventory and
sales data at the point of sale, transport, distribution, etc.
[0149] In embodiments, a packaging system includes a container with an
electronic device sealed
from a cavity containing the perishable consumables that detects the presence
or absence of an
access parameter upon movement of the container or an attempt to access the
consumables and
reports on unauthorized movement or access. A packaging system having a
container with an
electronic device sealed from a cavity containing the perishable consumables
that detects the
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presence or absence of an access parameter upon movement of the container or
an attempt to
access the consumables and reports on unauthorized movement or access and
having a container
with an electronic device sealed from a cavity containing the perishable
consumables that monitors
and alerts a user when temperature and humidity condition measurements do not
fit within
specified ranges. A packaging system having a container with an electronic
device sealed from a
cavity containing the perishable consumables that detects the presence or
absence of an access
parameter upon movement of the container or an attempt to access the
consumables and reports
on unauthorized movement or access and having a glass jar container with an
unscrew-to-open
cap that is odor and child resistant. A packaging system having a container
with an electronic
device sealed from a cavity containing the perishable consumables that detects
the presence or
absence of an access parameter upon movement of the container or an attempt to
access the
consumables and reports on unauthorized movement or access and having a
squeeze-top container
that is odor and child resistant. A packaging system having a container with
an electronic device
sealed from a cavity containing the perishable consumables that detects the
presence or absence
of an access parameter upon movement of the container or an attempt to access
the consumables
and reports on unauthorized movement or access and having a flexible container
that is odor and
child resistant and includes a lockable slider movable between an open
condition and a closed and
locked condition. A packaging system having a container with an electronic
device sealed from
a cavity containing the perishable consumables that detects the presence or
absence of an access
parameter upon movement of the container or an attempt to access the
consumables and reports
on unauthorized movement or access and having a container with a raised bottom
portion
containing an electronic device that is sealed from a cavity containing the
perishable consumables
and that may store, report and process data including applying rules to
determine freshness and
chain of custody conditions. A packaging system having a container with an
electronic device
sealed from a cavity containing the perishable consumables that detects the
presence or absence
of an access parameter upon movement of the container or an attempt to access
the consumables
and reports on unauthorized movement or access and having a container with an
electronic device
sealed from a cavity containing the perishable consumables that includes RFID
functionality to
provide inventory and sales data at the point of sale, transport,
distribution, etc.
[0150] In embodiments, a packaging system includes a container with an
electronic device sealed
from a cavity containing the perishable consumables that monitors and alerts a
user when
temperature and humidity condition measurements do not fit within specified
ranges. A packaging
system having a container with an electronic device sealed from a cavity
containing the perishable
consumables that monitors and alerts a user when temperature and humidity
condition
measurements do not fit within specified ranges and having a glass jar
container with an unscrew-
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to-open cap that is odor and child resistant. A packaging system having a
container with an
electronic device sealed from a cavity containing the perishable consumables
that monitors and
alerts a user when temperature and humidity condition measurements do not fit
within specified
ranges and having a squeeze-top container that is odor and child resistant. A
packaging system
having a container with an electronic device sealed from a cavity containing
the perishable
consumables that monitors and alerts a user when temperature and humidity
condition
measurements do not fit within specified ranges and having a flexible
container that is odor and
child resistant and includes a lockable slider movable between an open
condition and a closed and
locked condition. A packaging system having a container with an electronic
device sealed from
a cavity containing the perishable consumables that monitors and alerts a user
when temperature
and humidity condition measurements do not fit within specified ranges and
having a container
with a raised bottom portion containing an electronic device that is sealed
from a cavity containing
the perishable consumables and that may store, report and process data
including applying rules
to determine freshness and chain of custody conditions. A packaging system
having a container
with an electronic device sealed from a cavity containing the perishable
consumables that monitors
and alerts a user when temperature and humidity condition measurements do not
fit within
specified ranges and having a container with an electronic device sealed from
a cavity containing
the perishable consumables that includes RFID functionality to provide
inventory and sales data
at the point of sale, transport, distribution, etc.
[0151] In embodiments, a packaging system includes a container with an
electronic device sealed
from a cavity containing the perishable consumables that includes RFID
functionality to provide
inventory and sales data at the point of sale, transport, distribution, etc.
[0152] In embodiments, a packaging system includes a glass jar container with
an unscrew-to-
open cap that is odor and child resistant. A packaging system having a glass
jar container with an
unscrew-to-open cap that is odor and child resistant and having a squeeze-top
container that is
odor and child resistant. A packaging system having a glass jar container with
an unscrew-to-
open cap that is odor and child resistant and having a flexible container that
is odor and child
resistant and includes a lockable slider movable between an open condition and
a closed and
locked condition. A packaging system having a glass jar container with an
unscrew-to-open cap
that is odor and child resistant and having a container with a raised bottom
portion containing an
electronic device that is sealed from a cavity containing the perishable
consumables and that may
store, report and process data including applying rules to determine freshness
and chain of custody
conditions. A packaging system having a glass jar container with an unscrew-to-
open cap that is
odor and child resistant and having a container with an electronic device
sealed from a cavity
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containing the perishable consumables that includes RFID functionality to
provide inventory and
sales data at the point of sale, transport, distribution, etc.
[0153] In embodiments, a packaging system includes a squeeze-top container
that is odor and
child resistant. A packaging system having a squeeze-top container that is
odor and child resistant
and having a flexible container that is odor and child resistant and includes
a lockable slider
movable between an open condition and a closed and locked condition. A
packaging system
having a squeeze-top container that is odor and child resistant and having a
container with a raised
bottom portion containing an electronic device that is sealed from a cavity
containing the
perishable consumables and that may store, report and process data including
applying rules to
determine freshness and chain of custody conditions. A packaging system having
a squeeze-top
container that is odor and child resistant and having a container with an
electronic device sealed
from a cavity containing the perishable consumables that includes RFID
functionality to provide
inventory and sales data at the point of sale, transport, distribution, etc.
[0154] In embodiments, a packaging system includes a flexible container that
is odor and child
resistant and includes a lockable slider movable between an open condition and
a closed and
locked condition. A packaging system having a flexible container that is odor
and child resistant
and includes a lockable slider movable between an open condition and a closed
and locked
condition and having a container with a raised bottom portion containing an
electronic device that
is sealed from a cavity containing the perishable consumables and that may
store, report and
process data including applying rules to determine freshness and chain of
custody conditions. A
packaging system having a flexible container that is odor and child resistant
and includes a
lockable slider movable between an open condition and a closed and locked
condition and having
a container with an electronic device sealed from a cavity containing the
perishable consumables
that includes RFID functionality to provide inventory and sales data at the
point of sale, transport,
distribution, etc.
[0155] In embodiments, a packaging system includes a container with an
electronic device sealed
from a cavity containing the perishable consumables that is odor and child
resistant and that
communicates with a platform to indicate compliance with regulations and
provides details of
chain of custody. A packaging system having a container with an electronic
device sealed from a
cavity containing the perishable consumables that is odor and child resistant
and that
communicates with a platform to indicate compliance with regulations and
provides details of
chain of custody and a packaging system for perishable consumables with a re-
sealable odor and
child-resistant container with a chain of custody and freshness indication on
an exterior of the
container that is configured to show whether the container was opened after
sealing and before
retail purchase. A packaging system having a container with an electronic
device sealed from a
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cavity containing the perishable consumables that is odor and child resistant
and that
communicates with a platform to indicate compliance with regulations and
provides details of
chain of custody and having a container with a squeeze-to-open cap that when
closed, permits
another container to stack in an exterior of the cap and when open, permits
another container to
nest in an interior of the container. A packaging system having a container
with an electronic
device sealed from a cavity containing the perishable consumables that is odor
and child resistant
and that communicates with a platform to indicate compliance with regulations
and provides
details of chain of custody and having a container with an electronic device
sealed from a cavity
containing the perishable consumables that detects the presence or absence of
an access parameter
upon movement of the container or an attempt to access the consumables and
reports on
unauthorized movement or access. A packaging system having a container with an
electronic
device sealed from a cavity containing the perishable consumables that is odor
and child resistant
and that communicates with a platform to indicate compliance with regulations
and provides
details of chain of custody and having a container with an electronic device
sealed from a cavity
containing the perishable consumables that monitors and alerts a user when
temperature and
humidity condition measurements do not fit within specified ranges. A
packaging system having
a container with an electronic device sealed from a cavity containing the
perishable consumables
that is odor and child resistant and that communicates with a platform to
indicate compliance with
regulations and provides details of chain of custody and having a glass jar
container with an
unscrew-to-open cap that is odor and child resistant. A packaging system
having a container with
an electronic device sealed from a cavity containing the perishable
consumables that is odor and
child resistant and that communicates with a platform to indicate compliance
with regulations and
provides details of chain of custody and having a squeeze-top container that
is odor and child
resistant. A packaging system having a container with an electronic device
sealed from a cavity
containing the perishable consumables that is odor and child resistant and
that communicates with
a platform to indicate compliance with regulations and provides details of
chain of custody and
having a flexible container that is odor and child resistant and includes a
lockable slider movable
between an open condition and a closed and locked condition. A packaging
system having a
container with an electronic device sealed from a cavity containing the
perishable consumables
that is odor and child resistant and that communicates with a platform to
indicate compliance with
regulations and provides details of chain of custody and having a container
with a raised bottom
portion containing an electronic device that is sealed from a cavity
containing the perishable
consumables and that may store, report and process data including applying
rules to determine
freshness and chain of custody conditions. A packaging system having a
container with an
electronic device sealed from a cavity containing the perishable consumables
that is odor and child
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resistant and that communicates with a platform to indicate compliance with
regulations and
provides details of chain of custody and having a container with an electronic
device sealed from
a cavity containing the perishable consumables that includes RFID
functionality to provide
inventory and sales data at the point of sale, transport, distribution, etc.
[0156] While only many aspects of the present disclosure have been shown and
described, it will
be appreciated in light of the disclosure that many changes and modifications
may be made
thereunto without departing from the spirit and scope of the present
disclosure as described in the
following claims. All patent applications and patents, both foreign and
domestic, and all other
publications referenced herein are incorporated herein in their entireties to
the full extent permitted
bylaw.
[0157] The methods and systems described herein may be deployed in part or in
whole through a
machine that executes computer software, program codes, and/or instructions on
a processor. The
present disclosure may be implemented as a method on the machine, as a system
or apparatus as
part of or in relation to the machine, or as a computer program product
embodied in a computer
readable medium executing on one or more of the machines. In many aspects of
the present
teachings, the processor may be part of a server, cloud server, client,
network infrastructure,
mobile computing platform, stationary computing platform, or other computing
platforms. A
processor may be any kind of computational or processing device capable of
executing program
instructions, codes, binary instructions, and the like. The processor may be
or may include a signal
processor, digital processor, embedded processor, microprocessor, or any
variant such as a co-
processor (math co-processor, graphic co-processor, communication co-processor
and the like)
and the like that may directly or indirectly facilitate execution of program
code or program
instructions stored thereon. In addition, the processor may enable execution
of multiple programs,
threads, and codes. The threads may be executed simultaneously to enhance the
performance of
the processor and to facilitate simultaneous operations of the application. By
way of
implementation, methods, program codes, program instructions and the like
described herein may
be implemented in one or more thread. The thread may spawn other threads that
may have
assigned priorities associated with them; the processor may execute these
threads based on priority
or any other order based on instructions provided in the program code. The
processor, or any
machine utilizing one, may include non-transitory memory that stores methods,
codes,
instructions, and programs as described herein and elsewhere. The processor
may access a non-
transitory storage medium through an interface that may store methods, codes,
and instructions as
described herein and elsewhere. The storage medium associated with the
processor for storing
methods, programs, codes, program instructions or other type of instructions
capable of being
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executed by the computing or processing device may include but may not be
limited to one or
more of a CD-ROM, DVD, memory, hard disk, flash drive, RAM, ROM, cache, and
the like.
[0158] A processor may include one or more cores that may enhance speed and
performance of a
multiprocessor. In many aspects of the present teachings, the process may be a
dual core
processor, quad core processors, other chip-level multiprocessor and the like
that combine two or
more independent cores (called a die).
[0159] The methods and systems described herein may be deployed in part or in
whole through a
machine that executes computer software on a server, client, firewall,
gateway, hub, router, or
other such computer and/or networking hardware. The software program may be
associated with
a server that may include a file server, print server, domain server, internet
server, intranet server,
cloud server, and other variants such as secondary server, host server,
distributed server, and the
like. The server may include one or more of memories, processors, computer
readable media,
storage media, ports (physical and virtual), communication devices, and
interfaces capable of
accessing other servers, clients, machines, and devices through a wired or a
wireless medium, and
the like. The methods, programs, or codes as described herein and elsewhere
may be executed by
the server. In addition, other devices required for execution of methods as
described in this
application may be considered as a part of the infrastructure associated with
the server.
[0160] The server may provide an interface to other devices including, without
limitation, clients,
other servers, printers, database servers, print servers, file servers,
communication servers,
distributed servers, social networks, and the like. Additionally, this
coupling and/or connection
may facilitate remote execution of program across the network. The networking
of some or all of
these devices may facilitate parallel processing of a program or method at one
or more location
without deviating from the scope of the disclosure. In addition, any of the
devices attached to the
server through an interface may include at least one storage medium capable of
storing methods,
programs, code and/or instructions. A central repository may provide program
instructions to be
executed on different devices. In this implementation, the remote repository
may act as a storage
medium for program code, instructions, and programs.
[0161] The software program may be associated with a client that may include a
file client, print
client, domain client, interne client, intranet client and other variants such
as secondary client,
host client, distributed client, and the like. The client may include one or
more of memories,
processors, computer readable media, storage media, ports (physical and
virtual), communication
devices, and interfaces capable of accessing other clients, servers, machines,
and devices through
a wired or a wireless medium, and the like. The methods, programs, or codes as
described herein
and elsewhere may be executed by the client. In addition, other devices
required for execution of
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methods as described in this application may be considered as a part of the
infrastructure
associated with the client.
[0162] The client may provide an interface to other devices including, without
limitation, servers,
other clients, printers, database servers, print servers, file servers,
communication servers,
distributed servers, and the like. Additionally, this coupling and/or
connection may facilitate
remote execution of program across the network. The networking of some or all
of these devices
may facilitate parallel processing of a program or method at one or more
location without
deviating from the scope of the disclosure. In addition, any of the devices
attached to the client
through an interface may include at least one storage medium capable of
storing methods,
programs, applications, code and/or instructions. A central repository may
provide program
instructions to be executed on different devices. In this implementation, the
remote repository
may act as a storage medium for program code, instructions, and programs.
[0163] The methods and systems described herein may be deployed in part or in
whole through
network infrastructures. The network infrastructure may include elements such
as computing
devices, servers, routers, hubs, firewalls, clients, personal computers,
communication devices,
routing devices and other active and passive devices, modules and/or
components as known in the
art. The computing and/or non-computing device(s) associated with the network
infrastructure
may include, apart from other components, a storage medium such as flash
memory, buffer, stack,
RAM, ROM, and the like. The processes, methods, program codes, instructions
described herein
and elsewhere may be executed by one or more of the network infrastructural
elements. The
methods and systems described herein may be adapted for use with any kind of
private,
community, or hybrid cloud computing network or cloud computing environment,
including those
which involve features of software as a service (SaaS), platform as a service
(PaaS), and/or
infrastructure as a service (IaaS).
[0164] The methods, program codes, and instructions described herein and
elsewhere may be
implemented on a cellular network having multiple cells. The cellular network
may either be
frequency division multiple access (FDMA) network or code division multiple
access (CDMA)
network. The cellular network may include mobile devices, cell sites, base
stations, repeaters,
antennas, towers, and the like. The cell network may be a GSM, GPRS, 3G, EVDO,
mesh, or
other networks types.
[0165] The methods, program codes, and instructions described herein and
elsewhere may be
implemented on or through mobile devices. The mobile devices may include
navigation devices,
cell phones, mobile phones, mobile personal digital assistants, laptops,
palmtops, netbooks,
pagers, electronic books readers, music players and the like. These devices
may include, apart
from other components, a storage medium such as a flash memory, buffer, RAM,
ROM and one
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or more computing devices. The computing devices associated with mobile
devices may be
enabled to execute program codes, methods, and instructions stored thereon.
Alternatively, the
mobile devices may be configured to execute instructions in collaboration with
other devices. The
mobile devices may communicate with base stations interfaced with servers and
configured to
execute program codes. The mobile devices may communicate on a peer-to-peer
network, mesh
network, or other communications network. The program code may be stored on
the storage
medium associated with the server and executed by a computing device embedded
within the
server. The base station may include a computing device and a storage medium.
The storage
device may store program codes and instructions executed by the computing
devices associated
with the base station.
[0166] The computer software, program codes, and/or instructions may be stored
and/or accessed
on machine readable media that may include: computer components, devices, and
recording media
that retain digital data used for computing for some interval of time;
semiconductor storage known
as random access memory (RAM); mass storage typically for more permanent
storage, such as
optical discs, forms of magnetic storage like hard disks, tapes, drums, cards
and other types;
processor registers, cache memory, volatile memory, non-volatile memory;
optical storage such
as CD, DVD; removable media such as flash memory (e.g., USB sticks or keys),
floppy disks,
magnetic tape, paper tape, punch cards, standalone RAM disks, Zip drives,
removable mass
storage, off-line, and the like; other computer memory such as dynamic memory,
static memory,
read/write storage, mutable storage, read only, random access, sequential
access, location
addressable, file addressable, content addressable, network attached storage,
storage area network,
bar codes, magnetic ink, and the like.
[0167] The methods and systems described herein may transform physical and/or
intangible items
from one state to another. The methods and systems described herein may also
transform data
representing physical and/or intangible items from one state to another.
[0168] The elements described and depicted herein, including in flow charts
and block diagrams
throughout the figures, imply logical boundaries between the elements.
However, according to
software or hardware engineering practices, the depicted elements and the
functions thereof may
be implemented on machines through computer executable media having a
processor capable of
executing program instructions stored thereon as a monolithic software
structure, as standalone
software modules, or as modules that employ external routines, code, services,
and so forth, or
any combination of these, and all such implementations may be within the scope
of the present
disclosure. Examples of such machines may include, but may not be limited to,
personal digital
assistants, laptops, personal computers, mobile phones, other handheld
computing devices,
medical equipment, wired or wireless communication devices, transducers,
chips, calculators,
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satellites, tablet PCs, electronic books, gadgets, electronic devices, devices
having artificial
intelligence, computing devices, networking equipment, servers, routers, and
the like.
Furthermore, the elements depicted in the flow chart and block diagrams or any
other logical
component may be implemented on a machine capable of executing program
instructions. Thus,
while the foregoing drawings and descriptions set forth functional aspects of
the disclosed
systems, no particular arrangement of software for implementing these
functional aspects should
be inferred from these descriptions unless explicitly stated or otherwise
clear from the context.
Similarly, it will be appreciated that the various steps identified and
described above may be
varied, and that the order of steps may be adapted to particular applications
of the techniques
disclosed herein. All such variations and modifications are intended to fall
within the scope of
this disclosure. As such, the depiction and/or description of an order for
various steps should not
be understood to require a particular order of execution for those steps,
unless required by a
particular application, or explicitly stated or otherwise clear from the
context.
[0169] The methods and/or processes described above, and steps associated
therewith, may be
realized in hardware, software or any combination of hardware and software
suitable for a
particular application. The hardware may include a general-purpose computer
and/or dedicated
computing device or specific computing device or particular aspect or
component of a specific
computing device. The processes may be realized in one or more
microprocessors,
microcontrollers, embedded microcontrollers, programmable digital signal
processors or other
programmable devices, along with internal and/or external memory. The
processes may also, or
instead, be embodied in an application specific integrated circuit, a
programmable gate array,
programmable array logic, or any other device or combination of devices that
may be configured
to process electronic signals. It will further be appreciated that one or more
of the processes may
be realized as a computer executable code capable of being executed on a
machine-readable
medium.
[0170] The computer executable code may be created using a structured
programming language
such as C, an object oriented programming language such as C++, or any other
high-level or low-
level programming language (including assembly languages, hardware description
languages, and
database programming languages and technologies) that may be stored, compiled
or interpreted
to run on one of the above devices, as well as heterogeneous combinations of
processors, processor
architectures, or combinations of different hardware and software, or any
other machine capable
of executing program instructions.
[0171] Thus, in one aspect, methods described above and combinations thereof
may be embodied
in computer executable code that, when executing on one or more computing
devices, performs
the steps thereof In another aspect, the methods may be embodied in systems
that perform the
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steps thereof, and may be distributed across devices in a number of ways, or
all of the functionality
may be integrated into a dedicated, standalone device or other hardware. In
another aspect, the
means for performing the steps associated with the processes described above
may include any of
the hardware and/or software described above. All such permutations and
combinations are
intended to fall within the scope of the present disclosure.
[0172] While the disclosure has been disclosed in connection with many
examples shown and
described in detail, various modifications and improvements thereon will
become readily apparent
to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the spirit and scope of the present
disclosure is not to be
limited by the foregoing examples, but is to be understood in the broadest
sense allowable by law.
[0173] The use of the terms "a" and "an" and "the" and similar referents in
the context of
describing the disclosure (especially in the context of the following claims)
is to be construed to
cover both the singular and the plural, unless otherwise indicated herein or
clearly contradicted by
context. The terms "comprising," "having," "including," and "containing" are
to be construed as
open-ended terms (i.e., meaning "including, but not limited to,") unless
otherwise noted.
Recitation of ranges of values herein are merely intended to serve as a
shorthand method of
referring individually to each separate value falling within the range, unless
otherwise indicated
herein, and each separate value is incorporated into the specification as if
it were individually
recited herein. All methods described herein may be performed in any suitable
order unless
otherwise indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context. The
use of any and all
examples, or exemplary language (e.g., "such as") provided herein, is intended
merely to better
illuminate the disclosure and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the
disclosure unless
otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as
indicating any non-
claimed element as essential to the practice of the disclosure.
[0174] While the foregoing written description enables one skilled in the art
to make and use what
is considered presently to be the best mode thereof, those skilled in the art
will appreciate in light
of the disclosure that the existence of variations, combinations, and
equivalents of the specific
aspects, embodiments, structures, modules, methods, and examples herein. The
disclosure should
therefore not be limited by the above-described examples, but by all aspects
of the present
teachings within the scope and spirit of the disclosure.
[0175] Detailed aspects of the present teachings are disclosed herein;
however, it is to be
understood that the disclosed aspects are merely exemplary of the disclosure,
which may be
constructed in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional
details disclosed herein
are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims
and as a representative
basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present
disclosure in virtually any
appropriately detailed structure.
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[0176] The terms "a" or "an," as used herein, are defined as one or more than
one. The term
"another," as used herein, is defined as at least a second or more. The terms
"including" and/or
"having," as used herein, are defined as comprising (i.e., open transition).
The use of the terms
"a" and "an" and "the" and similar referents in the context of describing the
disclosure (especially
in the context of the following claims) is to be construed to cover both the
singular and the plural,
unless otherwise indicated herein or clearly contradicted by context. The
terms "comprising,"
"having," "including," and "containing" are to be construed as open-ended
terms (i.e., meaning
"including, but not limited to,") unless otherwise noted. Recitations of
ranges of values herein are
merely intended to serve as a shorthand method of referring individually to
each separate value
falling within the range, unless otherwise indicated herein, and each separate
value is incorporated
into the specification as if it were individually recited herein. All methods
described herein may
be performed in any suitable order unless otherwise indicated herein or
otherwise clearly
contradicted by context. The use of any and all examples, or exemplary
language (e.g., "such as")
provided herein, is intended merely to better illuminate the disclosure and
does not pose a
limitation on the scope of the disclosure unless otherwise claimed. No
language in the
specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element as
essential to the
practice of the disclosure.
[0177] While the foregoing written description enables one skilled in the art
to make and use what
is considered presently to be the best mode thereof, those skilled in the art
will understand and
appreciate the existence of variations, combinations, and equivalents of the
specific aspects,
method, and examples herein.
38
