Traceability Routing Using Serialized Codes and a Network Director
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing traceability systems face challenges in efficiently marking product items with unique identifiers due to the time-consuming nature of printing extensive QR-codes, and the complexity of integrating with multiple independent traceability applications, leading to slow production speeds and resource-intensive rule maintenance.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that uses a network director to efficiently connect clients with the originating traceability application by sending a unique identifier to a list of potential applications, receiving a positive response, and establishing a connection, without relying on a rules database, allowing for contextual information-based responses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If extensive information is included in QR-codes for product traceability, then the traceability information completeness is improved, but the marking time increases and production speed decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential unique identifier from the product traceability system and places it on the QR-code, while leaving the detailed traceability information to be retrieved from remote databases. This extraction principle resolves the contradiction by minimizing the information stored on the product label, thereby reducing marking time and increasing production speed while still maintaining complete traceability information availability through digital access.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a rules database is used to integrate multiple independent traceability applications, then the integration capability is improved, but the system complexity and resource consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a mediator component that enables direct communication and routing between independent traceability applications without requiring a centralized rules database. This intermediary mechanism allows multiple applications to integrate and share traceability information while maintaining their independence, thereby reducing system complexity and resource consumption while preserving integration capability.
3Measurement precision
If complete resource addresses are used to direct products to the correct traceability application, then the routing accuracy is improved, but the code length increases and marking space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential routing information needed to identify the correct traceability application and stores the complete resource address in remote databases. This allows the QR-code to contain a shortened, manageable unique identifier that provides accurate routing to the correct application while the full address details are retrieved digitally, thereby resolving the contradiction between routing accuracy and code length.
4Adaptability or versatility
If one-to-one integration is implemented between traceability system vendors, then the interoperability is improved, but the integration effort and resource requirements increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal integration mechanism where a single mediator component can handle communication and routing between multiple independent traceability applications from different vendors. This multi-functional approach allows one mediator to serve multiple integration purposes, enabling interoperability between various traceability systems without requiring separate one-to-one integration for each vendor pair, thereby significantly reducing integration effort and resource requirements.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for establishing or facilitating a network connection between a client and an originating traceability application in a network is provided. The method uses a network director that maintains a list of resource addresses for various traceability applications. When a client device sends an initial request with a unique identifier, the network director forwards this request to the applications on its list. The application that recognizes the identifier identifies itself as the originating traceability application. The network director then establishes a direct connection between the client and this originating application. The originating traceability application uses contextual information to prepare and provide a context aware response.