Abstract: A computer-implemented method includes: obtaining ideal delivery conditions associated with one or more food products; accumulating sensor data associated with a first food product, wherein the sensor data is obtained by at least one sensor which is coupled to a product container containing the first food product; analyzing the sensor data obtained by the at least one sensor associated with the first food product; identifying condition data associated with conditions in the product container containing the first food product; generating a food product history for the first food product including the condition data; comparing the food product history to the ideal delivery conditions for analyzing performance of entities involved in delivery of the first food product from an origin to a destination using at least the food product history, the condition data, and the ideal delivery conditions; and generating a report of results of the analysis.

Abstract: A system is disclosed that comprises a processor, and logic executable by the processor. The logic is configured to cause the processor to perform a method comprising receiving at least one attribute of a condition of a good, and using the at least one attribute to calculate an actual Intelligent Routing (IR) code for the good. Further, the method comprises calculating and storing a target IR code for each of at least two receivers, and comparing the actual IR code for the good to the target IR codes for each of the at least two receivers. Finally, the method comprises determining, based on the comparison of the actual IR code for the good to the target IR codes for each of the at least two receivers, which receiver of the at least two receivers will receive the good.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for managing a product delivery process, according to one embodiment, includes receiving an actual Intelligent Routing (IR) code for a good, the good being a perishable food product. A target IR code for each of at least two receivers is also received. The actual IR code for the good is compared to the target IR codes for each of the at least two receivers. Based on the comparison of the actual IR code for the good to the target IR codes for each of the at least two receivers, a determination as to which receiver of the at least two receivers will receive the good, and the result is output. The actual IR code is updated based on sensor data received from a sensor coupled to the good, and recompared to the target IR codes for each of the at least two receivers.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for managing a product delivery process, according to one embodiment, includes receiving an actual Intelligent Routing (IR) code for each good of a plurality of goods of the same type. A target IR code for each of at least two receivers is also received. The actual IR code for each of the goods is compared to the target IR codes for each of the at least two receivers. Based on the comparison of the actual IR codes for the plurality of goods to the target IR codes for each of the at least two receivers, a determination is made as to which receiver of the at least two receivers will receive which good of the plurality of goods. A result of the determination is output.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for managing a product delivery process, according to one embodiment, includes receiving an actual Intelligent Routing (IR) code for a good, the actual IR code being a single string of alphanumeric characters representing a remaining life of the good. A target IR code for a receiver is also received, the target IR code being a single string of alphanumeric characters representing a minimum remaining shelf life of the good at the date of delivery. The actual IR code is compared to the target IR code. Based on the comparison, a determination is made as to whether the good is compliant with predefined requirements of the receiver. A result of the determination is output in response to determining that the good is non-compliant with the predefined requirements of the receiver.

Abstract: A method for coordinating reader transmissions, according to one embodiment, includes: at a first reader, receiving from a second reader a request to transmit to a RFID tag; determining whether the first reader is transmitting; and sending a denial of the request from the first reader to the second reader in response to determining that the first reader is transmitting. A method, according to another embodiment, includes: from a first reader, sending to a plurality of readers a request to transmit to a RFID tag; waiting for responses from the plurality of readers; not transmitting to the RFID tag in response to the first reader receiving a denial of the request from any of the readers; and transmitting to the RFID tag in response to the first reader not receiving a denial of the request from any of the readers. Additional systems, methods and computer program products are presented.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for managing a product delivery process, according to one embodiment, includes receiving status information about a product container that contains a food product. The status information includes sensor-derived conditions of the product container including at least a temperature in the product container. Preferred ranges for the conditions of the product container are determined based on a profile associated with the food product stored therein. A determination is also made as to whether the received conditions from the product container are within the preferred ranges. A command is sent in response to determining that at least one of the received conditions is and/or has been outside the preferred range associated therewith for a predetermined amount of time.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for generating a report about a food product delivery process, according to one embodiment, includes receiving status information about a product container that contains a food product at different times as the product container travels from an origin to a destination. The status information includes sensor-derived conditions in the product container including at least temperature. The status information is stored. The performance of entities involved in delivery of the food product are analyzed relative to ideal handling or process conditions for the type of food product from the origin to the destination using the status information. A report of results of the analysis is output.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for managing a food delivery process, according to one embodiment, includes receiving a food product history for each type of food product stored in each of a plurality of product containers. At least one of the food products is predestined for a first destination that is different than a second destination of another of the food products. Each food product history includes: an expiration date of the associated food product, storage time information, storage condition information, and temperature history. The food product history is used to determine a prioritized delivery scheme for the product containers. The prioritized delivery scheme is sent to an individual transporting the product containers and/or to a dispatcher.

Abstract: In one general embodiment, an article of manufacture includes an objective reference having at least two optical references. The optical references are selected from a group consisting of: a non-human-visible mark, a ruler, a spaced grid, a color calibration area, an area of reflectivity, a texture, and a pattern. In at other general embodiment, a method includes receiving an image of a product and an objective reference having at least two optical references. The optical references are selected from a group consisting of: a non-human-visible mark, a ruler, a spaced grid, a color calibration area, an area of reflectivity, a texture, and a pattern. The product is evaluated by comparing the product in the image to the optical references in the image.

Abstract: A system for routing a food product using an image of the food product, according to one embodiment, includes a processor and logic integrated with and/or executable by the processor. The logic is configured to cause the processor to receive an image of a food product, receive an environmental condition on or near the food product. evaluate the food product using the image and the environmental condition and determine a delivery destination for the food product based at least in part on the evaluation of the food product.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method, according to one embodiment, includes receiving, over a network, one or more sensor-recorded data elements related to information selected from the group consisting of: product identification, condition associated with a consumer product at a particular time and/or place, location associated with the consumer product at the particular time and/or place, and current state associated with a consumer product at a particular time and/or place. The received data elements are used to create or update an entry for the payload of a transaction in a blockchain. The entry is sent for recording as a transaction in a specified blockchain ledger.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for routing a food product using an image of the food product, according to one embodiment, includes receiving an image of a food product, receiving an environmental condition on or near the food product, evaluating the food product using the image and the environmental condition, and determining a delivery destination for the food product based at least in part on the evaluation of the food product.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for routing a food product using images of the food product, according to one embodiment, includes receiving images of a food product taken at different points of a supply chain of the food product. An environmental condition on and/or near the food product at at least some of the different points of the supply chain is also received. The environmental condition includes at least temperature. Photo analytics are performed on the images to interpret the images. The food product is evaluated using interpretations of the image and the environmental conditions for determining a characteristic of the food product selected from the group of characteristics consisting of: a quality of the food product and a shelf life of the food product. A delivery destination for the food product is determined based at least in part on the evaluation of the food product.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for evaluating a food product using images of the food product, according to one embodiment, includes receiving images of a food product taken at different points of a supply chain of the food product. An environmental condition near or on the food product at at least some of the different points of the supply chain is also received. Photo analytics are performed on the images to interpret the images and changes over time of the food product included in the images. The food product is evaluated using the image interpretations and the environmental conditions for determining a characteristic of the food product selected from the group of characteristics consisting of: a quality of the food product and a remaining shelf life of the food product. An action is taken based at least in part on the evaluation of the food product.

Abstract: A method for managing a product delivery process, according to one embodiment, includes: receiving status information from one or more product containers, wherein the status information includes conditions of each of the one or more product containers; determining preferred ranges for the conditions of each of the one or more product containers based on a product stored in each of the one or more product containers; determining whether the received conditions from the one or more product containers are within the preferred ranges; and sending a command in response to determining that at least one of the received conditions is outside the determined preferred range.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method according to one embodiment includes receiving, by the computer, status information about one or more product containers, wherein the status information includes conditions of each of the one or more product containers. Preferred ranges for the conditions of each of the one or more product containers are determined based on food products stored in the one or more product containers, where the preferred ranges change over time by a predefined amount per unit time, and where the predefined amount and the unit time are specified in a profile associated with products stored in the one or more product containers. A determination is made as to whether the received conditions from the one or more product containers are within the preferred ranges. A first command is sent in response to determining that at least one of the received conditions is outside the determined preferred range.

Abstract: A method for coordinating reader transmissions according to one embodiment includes, at a first reader, receiving from a second reader a request to transmit to a radio frequency identification tag; and if the first reader is transmitting, sending a denial of the request from the first reader to the second reader. A method for coordinating reader transmissions according to another embodiment includes from a first reader, sending to a plurality of readers a request to transmit to a radio frequency identification tag; waiting for responses from the plurality of readers; if a denial of the request is received by the first reader from any of the readers, not transmitting to the radio frequency identification tag; and if no denial of the request is received by the first reader from any of the readers, transmitting to the radio frequency identification tag. Additional systems, methods and computer program products are presented.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention includes a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) reader configured to detect radio frequency (RF) interference in and/or outside a band of RFID operation. The RFID reader includes a receive channel for receiving incoming RF signals; and hardware for detecting interference in and/or outside a band of RFID operation. A method for mitigating radio frequency (RF) interference in and/or outside a band of RFID operation, according to one embodiment, includes detecting interference in and/or outside a band of RFID operation; and controlling an aspect of operation of the RFID reader for mitigating the detected interference.