Abstract: Third party certification using enhanced claim validation, in which identification information uniquely identifying an item that has moved through a node in a supply chain is received and event data associated with the uniquely identified item is received from the node based on receiving the identification information. The process also includes performing a third party validation of an associated characteristic of the uniquely identified item based on the received event data, and providing a third party certification of the associated characteristic based on performing the third party validation.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for evaluating inter-enterprise ingredient specification compliance. In one aspect, a method includes obtaining one or more normalized values that reflect an extent to which a supplier entity has satisfied an expectation of a receiver entity, populating a global ingredient database that references different ingredients, and different supplier entities and attributes associated with each ingredient, with the normalized values, receiving a user's selection of an ingredient, a supplier entity, or an attribute, aggregating one or more of the normalized values that are associated with the selected ingredient, supplier entity, or attribute in the global ingredient database, and outputting a representation of the aggregated values to the user.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatus, including computer programs encoded on computer storage media, for measuring intra-enterprise ingredient specification compliance. In one aspect, a method includes receiving a document pertaining to particular shipment of an ingredient from a supplier, automatically determining, from the document, a value or a range of values for each of one or more attributes associated with the ingredient, accessing a specification that indicates a value or a range of values for each attribute, comparing, for each attribute, the value or range of values from the document to the specification value or range of values for the attribute, to identify an extent to which the attribute in the particular shipment of the ingredient satisfies the specification; and automatically taking action on the shipment based on the extent to which the shipment satisfies the specification.

Abstract: Enhanced product tracking, in which a data collection interface is established between a first supply management device and a transaction database, the data collection interface providing the transaction database with access to identification data and event data, the identification data uniquely identifying a pharmaceutical, and the event data relating to a supply chain process step for the pharmaceutical. Tracking also includes receiving a tracking request for formatted identification data and/or event data from a second supply management device; and establishing a data conversion interface between the second supply management device and the identification data and/or the event data, the data conversion interface providing the second supply management device with access to the identification data and/or the event data, according to the tracking request.

Abstract: Agricultural data collection and management, such as for tracking a product in a supply chain. A data collection interface is established between a first supply management device and a transaction database, the data collection interface providing the transaction database with access to identification data and event data, the identification data uniquely identifying the product, and the event data relating to a supply chain process step for the product. A product tracking request for formatted identification data and/or event data is received from a second supply management device. A data conversion interface is established between the second supply management device, and the identification data and/or the event data, the data conversion interface providing the second supply management device with access to the identification data and/or the event data, according to the product tracking request.

Abstract: Third party certification using enhanced claim validation, in which identification information uniquely identifying an item that has moved through a node in a supply chain is received and event data associated with the uniquely identified item is received from the node based on receiving the identification information. The process also includes performing a third party validation of an associated characteristic of the uniquely identified item based on the received event data, and providing a third party certification of the associated characteristic based on performing the third party validation.

Abstract: Enhanced brand label validation, in which identification information uniquely identifying items that have moved through one or more nodes of a supply chain is received, and event data associated with the uniquely identified items is received from the one or more nodes, based on the received identification information. The process also includes performing a validation of a characteristic of the uniquely identified items based on applying the received event data to multiple discrete evaluation frameworks, and providing a result of the validation for each of the multiple discrete evaluation frameworks.

Abstract: The enhanced validation of a label claim, in which identification information uniquely identifying an item that has moved through a node in a supply chain is received, the item being marked with a label claim. Event data associated with the uniquely identified item is received from the node, and received event data that validates or invalidates the label claim is output, in real time or near real time to receiving the identification information.

Abstract: Enhanced product tracking, in which a data collection interface is established between a first supply management device and a transaction database, the data collection interface providing the transaction database with access to identification data and event data, the identification data uniquely identifying a pharmaceutical, and the event data relating to a supply chain process step for the pharmaceutical. Tracking also includes receiving a tracking request for formatted identification data and/or event data from a second supply management device; and establishing a data conversion interface between the second supply management device and the identification data and/or the event data, the data conversion interface providing the second supply management device with access to the identification data and/or the event data, according to the tracking request.

Abstract: A system and method for agricultural data collection and management is described to provide quality assurance source verification data and performance tracking for agricultural items throughout the production cycle. Individual item data is efficiently collected, transferred, and shared in a transactional, event-oriented, row-oriented structure with few columns without need for creating relational structures. The system includes software components for data collection and real-time data lookup components; share, switch, route, and interface components; extract, transform, and load components; and report and analyze data components. Embodiments include data acquisition from multiple RFID reader locations; a web-based information system for a beef marketing alliance; value-based procurement, and supply chain management.

Abstract: A method and system for maintaining source anonymity while providing food item source verification to substantiate a label claim, such as Country of Origin (COOL) labeling. A database, such as a transactional event database, records a private entity ID including events related to the labeling; and shipping and receiving events. One or more data view, such as a relational database data mart, is constructed from the event data so that a public ID replaces the entity private ID. In an authorized audit, the public ID is decoded to the private ID.

Abstract: An efficient method and apparatus for livestock data collection and management is described to provide quality assurance source verification data and performance tracking for individual animals throughout the production cycle. Individual animal data is efficiently collected, transferred, and shared in a transactional, event-oriented, row-oriented structure with few columns without need for creating relational structures. The BeefLink™ software includes components for data collection and real-time data lookup components; share, switch, route, and interface components; extract, transform, and load components; and report and analyze data components. Embodiments include data acquisition from multiple RFID reader locations; a web-based information system for a beef marketing alliance; value-based procurement, and supply chain management.

Abstract: A system and method for agricultural data collection and management is described to provide quality assurance source verification data and performance tracking for agricultural items throughout the production cycle. Individual item data is efficiently collected, transferred, and shared in a transactional, event-oriented, row-oriented structure with few columns without need for creating relational structures. The system includes software components for data collection and real-time data lookup components; share, switch, route, and interface components; extract, transform, and load components; and report and analyze data components. Embodiments include data acquisition from multiple RFID reader locations; a web-based information system for a beef marketing alliance; value-based procurement, and supply chain management.

Abstract: An efficient method and apparatus for livestock data collection and management is described to provide quality assurance source verification data and performance tracking for individual animals throughout the production cycle. Individual animal data is efficiently collected, transferred, and shared in a transactional, event-oriented, row-oriented structure with few columns without need for creating relational structures. The BeefLink™ software includes components for data collection and real-time data lookup components; share, switch, route, and interface components; extract, transform, and load components; and report and analyze data components. Embodiments include data acquisition from multiple RFID reader locations; a web-based information system for a beef marketing alliance; value-based procurement, and supply chain management.

Abstract: An efficient method and apparatus for livestock data collection and management is described to provide quality assurance source verification data and performance tracking for individual animals throughout the production cycle. The preferred embodiment includes unique radio frequency identification (RFID) transponders for each animal; unique RFID transponders for animal events; default event data capability; a portable and wireless RFID reader to read the animal and event transponders; a multiple input/output device to accept the reader signals and livestock measurement data and to communicate by means of a wireless radio communication to a host computer; a feedback signal from the host computer to acknowledge receipt of data; BeefLink™ software to provide data gathering, storage, and query support, and a protocol converter to facilitate the transfer and sharing of data between different livestock databases.

Abstract: A method for injection molding a transaction terminal case with an integral card slot formed by a knife blade in the female mold section which is supported against twisting during the molding process by a plurality of narrow buttress sections in the male mold section. The male mold section also includes a structural element in the form of a larger central buttress which contacts the knife blade of the female mold section cooperatively to form a read head window in one side of the integral card slot during the molding process. The male mold section further includes structural elements for forming a bracket mounting arrangement which is integrally formed adjacent the read head window during the injection molding process.

Abstract: A system for reading a data record stripe on a credit card which includes an injection molded case including a card guide slot integrally molded into the case near one side thereof and a read head window integrally formed in one sidewall of the card guide slot. A data read head assembly having a read head on a front face thereof is mounted in the read head window and is spring biased toward the wall of the card slot opposite the read head window. A circuit arrangement is coupled to the read head assembly for detecting data signals on a card passing through the slot and converting the data signals to a substantially square wave signal pattern representing binary signal data in the form of positive and negative signal transitions of the square wave signal.

Abstract: A system for reading a data record stripe on a credit card which includes an injection molded case including a card guide slot integrally molded into the case near one side thereof and a read head window integrally formed in one sidewall of the card guide slot. A data read head assembly having a read head on a front face thereof is mounted in the read head window and is spring biased toward the wall of the card slot opposite the read head window. A circuit arrangement is coupled to the read head assembly for detecting data signals on a card passing through the slot and converting the data signals to a substantially square wave signal pattern representing binary signal data in the form of positive and negative signal transitions of the square wave signal.

Abstract: The present invention provides methods for operating a local terminal which includes a programmable computer so that the terminal executes a pre-arranged application program. More specifically, the present invention provides methods for operating a local terminal according to a pre-arranged application program which is created on a remote computer, then communicated by a communication channel to the local terminal where it is stored for execution.