Abstract: A system for monitoring the quality of perishable goods including: a storage device (80) to store consumer feedback (84), consumer preferences (86), and parameters (82) associated with the perishable goods (34); and a quality management system (90) coupled to the storage device. The quality management system including: a cold chain evaluation module (92) to determine quality elements in response to the consumer feedback and the parameters; and a consumer suggestion module (94) to determine perishable good recommendations in response to the parameters, the consumer feedback, and the consumer preferences.

Abstract: A system for determining transportation for perishable goods including: a storage device to store vehicle parameters, user parameters, destination parameters, and perishable good requirements; and a route management system coupled to the storage device. The route management system including: a route determination module to determine potential routes in response to at least one of the vehicle parameters, user parameters, destination parameters, and perishable good requirements; a cost module to determine cost parameters of the perishable goods in response to at least one of the potential routes, user parameters, perishable good requirements, and vehicle parameters; a risk analysis module to determine risk parameters in response to at least one of the potential routes, user parameters, perishable good requirements, and vehicle parameters; and a meshing module to determine output parameters in response to at least one of the potential routes, cost parameters, and risk parameters.

Abstract: A method and system for managing a downstream refrigeration system in response to an upstream refrigeration system includes storing upstream data from the upstream refrigeration system, determining a present goods condition corresponding to the upstream data, determining a desired goods condition corresponding to the present goods condition, determining downstream parameters corresponding to the desired goods condition, and providing the downstream parameters to the downstream refrigeration system.

Abstract: A system for monitoring perishable goods including: a storage device to store perishable good requirements, producer inputs, safety alerts, consumer parameters, and historical quality parameters associated with the perishable goods; a risk management system coupled to the storage device. The risk management system including: a quality determination module to determine quality levels of the perishable goods in response to at least one of the historical quality parameters and perishable good requirements; a risk determination module to determine risk levels of the perishable goods in response to at least one of the historical quality parameters, perishable good requirements, producer inputs, consumer parameters, and safety alerts; and a meshing module to determine output parameters in response to at least one of the quality levels and the risk levels.

Abstract: A system for detecting abusive operation of transport refrigeration units (28) is provided. The system includes a storage device (80) to store abuse parameters associated with a transport refrigeration unit (28). Also included is an abuse detection system coupled to the storage device, the abuse detection system including: a diagnostic module (92) to determine the occurrence of abusive operation of the transport refrigeration unit in response to the abuse parameters; a failure probability module (94) to determine a probability of failure for at least one component of the transport refrigeration unit in response to the abuse parameters; and a life extending module (96) to determine adjustments in the operation of at least one component of the transport refrigeration unit in response to the probability of failure.

Abstract: A computer implemented method of operating a product condition system of a cargo transport and/or storage system includes measuring a first condition of a perishable product by a first detector, and measuring a first environment parameter of a containment where the perishable product is located. Once measured, the system compares the first condition to a first pre-programmed threshold, and then determines a first environment parameter target when the first pre-programmed threshold is met.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for cold chain monitoring of perishable goods, including at least one environmental sensor to monitor at least one environmental parameter; at least one event detector to detect at least one of an environmental altering event and a user induced event; and a controller to receive and log a plurality of readings from the at least one environmental sensor at a selected sampling rate. Wherein the sampling rate adjusts depending on at least one of the perishable goods, the environmental altering event, and the user induced event.

Abstract: A system for monitoring goods within a distribution chain is provided. The system includes a storage device to store parameters associated with the goods of a distribution chain, at least one of the parameters being received from a transport refrigeration system. The storage device storing historical parameters for other goods. Also included is a parameter management system coupled to the storage device. The parameter management system including: a predictive module to determine predicted parameters; and a meshing module to determine output parameters by combining the predicted parameters and the parameters.

Abstract: A method and system to provide an estimated shelf life value for a product to a user includes at least one information source to provide at least one product information entry for the product, and a shelf life estimation system, including a processor to receive and analyze the at least one product information entry from the at least one information source, and to provide the estimated shelf life value to the user.

Abstract: A method for auditing a cold chain distribution system is provided. The method includes: collecting, using a receiver, at least one perishable good parameter from the cold chain distribution system; transmitting the at least one perishable good parameter to a computing device; comparing, using a standards matching model and the computing device, the at least one perishable good parameter to compliance criteria; and transmitting at least one compliance criteria comparison output from the computing device to a database.

Abstract: A wireless sensor device for use in a refrigerated container includes a flexible sensor body including at least one sensing element to sense at least one parameter of the refrigerated container, a battery to provide power to the at least one of sensing elements, and a battery housing coupled to an end of the flexible sensor body.

Abstract: A method and system to control a refrigeration unit (104) in response to a cargo load (108) in a refrigerated container includes providing a plurality of sensors disposed within the refrigerated container, providing a cargo load temperature range and a cargo load excursion time limit corresponding to the cargo load, receiving a plurality of temperature readings corresponding to the cargo load via the plurality of sensors, operating the refrigeration unit in a power saving mode in response to the plurality of temperature readings within the cargo load temperature range, and operating the refrigeration unit in a standard mode in response to the plurality of temperature readings outside the cargo load temperature range for longer than the cargo load excursion time limit.

Abstract: A method and system to determine a hot cargo load condition of a cargo load in a refrigerated container includes providing a plurality of sensors disposed within the refrigerated container, operating the refrigeration unit with a set of desired operational parameters corresponding to the cargo load, analyzing a plurality of sensor readings corresponding to the plurality of sensors via a processor, creating a temperature distribution profile of the refrigerated container corresponding to the plurality of sensor readings via the processor, retrieving a historical temperature distribution profile corresponding to the cargo load via a historical database, comparing the temperature distribution profile to the historical temperature distribution profile via the processor, and identifying the hot cargo load condition in response to the temperature distribution profile exceeding the historical temperature distribution profile via the processor.

Abstract: Systems and methods for checking proper airflow within a container (307) having a refrigeration unit (320) are provided. The system includes one or more sensors (358) located within the container configured to measure at least one airflow characteristic, and a controller (360) in communication with the one or more sensors. The controller is configured to store predetermined information related to airflow within the container, wherein the predetermined information includes minimum airflow criteria related to the at least one airflow characteristic, receive data from the one or more sensors, compare the received data with the predetermined information, and provide an indicator when the comparison indicates that the received data does not meet or exceed the minimum airflow criteria.

Abstract: Systems and methods for monitoring power supply of refrigeration units including cargo sensors (358) located within a container (307), a power connector (346) configured to receive power, the power connector operably connected to the refrigeration unit, a power supply sensor connected to the power connector configured to detect a lack of power supplied through the power connector and a controller in communication with the cargo sensors and the power supply sensor, the controller configured to store predetermined information related to power requirements including a maximum time period of a powered-off state, receive data from the cargo sensors, receive data from the power supply sensor, and, when the data from the cargo sensors indicates the presence of cargo within the container and data from the power supply sensor indicates a lack of power for a duration that exceeds the maximum time period, the controller is configured to provide an indicator.