IP Library › Granted Patent US 12699949

Granted Patent B2

US 12699949 · App. 18/515,003 · Granted Aug 4, 2026

Automated chain of custody tracking techniques

Inventors: Warren Thomas Roberts (Phoenix, AZ); Michael L. Mahar (Tempe, AZ); Anthony Hopper (Overland Park, KS)

Assignee: Optum, Inc.

G06Q10/0833 G06Q10/087

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Quick Facts

Patent No.: US 12699949
App. No.: 18/515,003
Granted: Aug 4, 2026
Kind: B2

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Abstract

Various embodiments of the present disclosure object provide tracking and monitoring techniques for implementing improved distribution systems in various environments. The techniques may include generating an intake data object including an intake identifier and an object identifier respectively corresponding to a plurality of intake objects. The intake data object is used to generate transitioning data objects corresponding to a subset of the intake objects. The intake data object may be modified with a transition identifier to link the objects. In addition, one or both identifiers may be added to a backstop data object to link the subset of intake objects to a backstop location. In response to a request, the subset of intake objects may be moved from the backstop location to conveyor pallet, and, in response, the transition and intake identifier may be removed from the backstop data object and added to a conveyor pallet data object.

Claims (58)

1 . A computer-implemented method, the computer-implemented method comprising:

generating, by one or more processors, an intake data object comprising an intake identifier and an object identifier respectively corresponding to a plurality of intake objects;

generating, by the one or more processors and using the intake data object, a transitioning data object corresponding to a subset of the plurality of intake objects and comprising the intake identifier and a transition identifier;

modifying, by the one or more processors, the intake data object with the transition identifier;

modifying, by the one or more processors, a backstop data object with the transition identifier and the intake identifier;

in response to a predicted fill request identifying a target object identifier,

(i) identifying, by the one or more processors, the transitioning data object based on the target object identifier, the intake identifier, and the intake data object;

(ii) assigning, by the one or more processors, the intake identifier and the transition identifier to a pallet data object corresponding to a conveyor pallet; and

(iii) removing, by the one or more processors, the intake identifier and the transition identifier from the backstop data object.

2 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein generating the intake data object comprises:

receiving, via one or more scanning operations, scanned indicia data associated with one or more manufacturer object containers; and

in response to the scanned indicia data, generating the intake data object and assigning one or more manufacturing attributes to the intake data object.

3 . The computer-implemented method of claim 2 , wherein the plurality of intake objects is received from the one or more manufacturer object containers.

4 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein modifying the backstop data object comprises:

receiving, via one or more first scanning operations, first scanned indicia data associated with a transitioning container;

receiving, via one or more second scanning operations, second scanned indicia data associated with a backstop location; and

in response to the first scanned indicia data and the second scanned indicia data, modifying the backstop data object with the transition identifier and the intake identifier.

5 . The computer-implemented method of claim 4 , further comprising initiating a movement of the transitioning container from the backstop location to the conveyor pallet in response to the predicted fill request.

6 . The computer-implemented method of claim 4 , further comprising initiating a movement of the transitioning container to the backstop location.

7 . The computer-implemented method of claim 4 , wherein the backstop data object comprises a backstop identifier that corresponds to the backstop location and the computer-implemented method further comprises modifying the transitioning data object and the intake data object with the backstop identifier.

8 . The computer-implemented method of claim 7 , further comprising:

in response to removing the intake identifier and the transition identifier from the backstop data object, storing the transition identifier, the intake identifier, and the backstop identifier as a historical tuple.

9 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein, in response to generating the transitioning data object, the computer-implemented method further comprises:

generating a transitioning container label for a transitioning container based on the transitioning data object, wherein the transitioning container label comprises scanning indicia representing the transition identifier;

initiating a dispensation of the subset of the plurality of intake objects to the transitioning container; and

initiating an application of the transitioning container label to the transitioning data object.

10 . The computer-implemented method of claim 9 , further comprising initiating an application of a container seal to the transitioning container.

11 . The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein the object identifier is a national drug code.

12 . A computing system comprising memory and one or more processors communicatively coupled to the memory, the one or more processors configured to:

generate an intake data object comprising an intake identifier and an object identifier respectively corresponding to a plurality of intake objects;

generate, using the intake data object, a transitioning data object corresponding to a subset of the plurality of intake objects and comprising the intake identifier and a transition identifier;

modify the intake data object with the transition identifier;

modify a backstop data object with the transition identifier and the intake identifier;

in response to a predicted fill request identifying a target object identifier,

(i) identify the transitioning data object based on the target object identifier, the intake identifier, and the intake data object;

(ii) assign the intake identifier and the transition identifier to a pallet data object corresponding to a conveyor pallet; and

(iii) remove the intake identifier and the transition identifier from the backstop data object.

13 . The computing system of claim 12 , wherein to generate the intake data object, the one or more processors are further configured to:

receive, via one or more scanning operations, scanned indicia data associated with one or more manufacturer object containers; and

in response to the scanned indicia data, generate the intake data object and assigning one or more manufacturing attributes to the intake data object.

14 . The computing system of claim 13 , wherein the plurality of intake objects is received from the one or more manufacturer object containers.

15 . The computing system of claim 12 , wherein to modify the backstop data object, the one or more processors are further configured to:

receive, via one or more first scanning operations, first scanned indicia data associated with a transitioning container;

receive, via one or more second scanning operations, second scanned indicia data associated with a backstop location; and

in response to the first scanned indicia data and the second scanned indicia data, modify the backstop data object with the transition identifier and the intake identifier.

16 . The computing system of claim 15 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to initiate a movement of the transitioning container from the backstop location to the conveyor pallet in response to the predicted fill request.

17 . The computing system of claim 15 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to initiate a movement of the transitioning container to the backstop location.

18 . The computing system of claim 15 , wherein the backstop data object comprises a backstop identifier that corresponds to the backstop location and the one or more processors are further configured to modify the transitioning data object and the intake data object with the backstop identifier.

19 . One or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media including instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to: