Method and system for storing and retrieving packaging relationships

1. A method for storing and retrieving packaging and re-packaging hierarchy code relations ( 304 ) of traceable physical items ( 350 ), comprising the steps of:

at an item marking location ( 300 ),

marking ( 3 ) two or more physical items ( 350 ) to be packaged in a packaging hierarchy ( 305 ), each with a unique code ( 200 ) comprising at least a first identifier ( 201 ) and a second identifier ( 202 );

registering ( 4 ) packaging relations ( 303 ) in an aggregate data file ( 302 ) in a packaging computer system ( 301 ) during packaging of said marked physical items ( 350 ), said packaging relations ( 303 ) being relations between said code ( 200 ) of each containing marked physical item ( 350 ) and said code ( 200 ) of each contained marked physical item ( 350 );

transferring ( 5 ) said aggregate data file ( 302 ) with said packaging relations ( 303 ) between said codes ( 200 ) of said marked physical items ( 350 ) from said packaging computer system ( 301 ), to a first computer system ( 101 ) of a track and trace system ( 100 );

in said first computer system ( 101 ),

identifying and generating ( 6 ) for each said code ( 200 ) in said packaging relations ( 303 ) in said aggregate data file ( 302 ), an initial hierarchical code relation ( 304 ) expressed as a sequence of codes including a current code ( 200 ), a parent code ( 200 , P) relative to said current code ( 200 ), and one or more child codes ( 200 , C) relative to said current code ( 200 ) based on the packaging relations ( 303 ); and

storing ( 7 ), for each said code ( 200 ), said parent code ( 200 , P) and said one or more child codes ( 200 , C) of said initial hierarchical code relation ( 304 ) in a section ( 111 ) of a data storage location ( 110 ) of said first computer system ( 101 ), wherein a start position ( 112 ) of said section ( 111 ) is determined by a combination of said first and second identifiers ( 201 , 202 ) of said current code ( 200 ) of said marked physical item ( 350 );

in a re-packaging location ( 400 ),

re-packaging ( 10 ) two or more of said physical items ( 350 ) into updated packaging relations ( 403 );

transferring ( 12 ) said updated packaging relations ( 403 ) to said first computer system ( 101 ) of said track and trace system ( 100 );

identifying and generating ( 13 ), in said track and trace system ( 100 ), for each said code ( 200 ) in said updated packaging relations ( 403 ), an updated hierarchical code relation ( 304 ) expressed as a sequence of codes including a current code ( 200 ), a parent code ( 200 , P) relative to said current code ( 200 ), and one or more child codes ( 200 , C) relative to said current code ( 200 ) based on the updated packaging relations ( 403 ); and

adding ( 14 ), for each said code ( 200 ), said parent code ( 200 , P) and said one or more child codes ( 200 , C) of the updated hierarchical code relations ( 304 ) to said section ( 111 ) of said data storage location ( 110 ) as an appendix to the previously stored sequence of codes representing the initial code hierarchical code relation ( 304 ), such that after re-packaging, for each code ( 200 ) of said two or more of said physical items ( 350 ), said section ( 111 ) of said data storage location ( 110 ) stores an updated sequence of codes including both the initial hierarchical code relation ( 304 ) and the updated hierarchical code relation ( 304 ).

2. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:

entering ( 20 ) one or more codes ( 200 ) in a computer based terminal ( 501 ) in a tracing location ( 500 );

transferring ( 21 ) said codes ( 200 ) from said tracing location ( 500 ) to said track and trace system ( 100 );

identifying ( 22 ) said first and second identifiers ( 201 , 202 ) of said codes ( 200 ) in said track and trace system ( 100 );

determining said start position ( 112 ) of said section ( 111 ) of said storage location ( 110 ) in said track and trace system ( 100 );

retrieving ( 23 ) said initial and updated hierarchical code relations ( 304 ) stored in said section ( 111 ) for said codes ( 200 ); and

transferring ( 24 ) said initial and updated hierarchical code relations ( 304 ) back to said computer based terminal ( 501 ).

3. The method according to claim 2 , further comprising the step of retrieving ( 23 a ) one or more tracking records ( 130 ) for a parent marked physical item ( 350 ) relative to said current marked physical item ( 350 ) having said current code ( 200 ), wherein said tracking records ( 130 ) are stored in a second storage location ( 150 ) of said first computer ( 101 ) in said track and trace system ( 100 ), and wherein a position of said tracking records ( 130 ) is determined by a combination of said first and second identifiers ( 201 , 202 ) of a parent code ( 200 , P) of said parent marked physical item ( 350 ) relative to said current marked physical item ( 350 ) having said current code ( 200 ) obtained in said step of retrieving ( 23 ) said packaging relations ( 303 ) and updated packaging relations ( 403 ).

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the step of transferring ( 5 ) further comprises transferring an item parameter ( 120 ) for each marked physical item ( 350 ) in said aggregate date file ( 302 ) with said packaging relations ( 303 ), and said step of identifying and generating ( 6 ) further comprises identifying said item parameter ( 120 ), and said step of storing ( 7 ) further comprises storing said item parameter ( 120 ) in said section ( 111 ).

5. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising the steps of:

encrypting (E) said codes ( 200 ) with a unique key ( 303 ) before said codes ( 200 ) are marked ( 3 ) on said physical items ( 350 ); and

decrypting (D) said codes ( 200 ) with said unique key ( 303 ).

6. A track and trace system ( 100 ) arranged for storing ( 7 ) and retrieving ( 23 ) hierarchy code relations ( 304 ) during packaging and re-packaging of traceable physical items ( 350 ), comprising:

a first computer system ( 101 ) with one or more data storage locations ( 110 ), each with one or more sections ( 111 );

said first computer system ( 101 ) arranged for:

receiving packaging relations ( 303 ) between unique codes ( 200 ) marked on said physical items ( 350 ) at a packaging location ( 300 ), said packaging relations ( 303 ) being pairwise relations between said code ( 200 ) of each containing marked physical item ( 350 ) and said code ( 200 ) of each contained marked physical item ( 350 ), from a packaging computer system ( 301 ) wherein each code ( 200 ) comprises at least a first identifier ( 201 ) and a second identifier ( 202 );

identifying and generating ( 6 ), for each said code ( 200 ) in said packaging relations ( 303 ), an initial hierarchical code relation ( 304 ) expressed as a sequence of codes including a current code ( 200 ), a parent code ( 200 , P) relative to said current code ( 200 ), and one or more child codes ( 200 , C) relative to said current code ( 200 ), based on the packaging relations ( 303 );

storing ( 7 ), for each said code ( 200 ) in said packaging relations ( 303 ), said parent code ( 200 , P) and said one or more child codes ( 200 , C) of said initial hierarchical code relation ( 304 ) in said section ( 111 )

wherein said first computer system ( 101 ) is arranged for receiving an aggregate data file ( 302 ) comprising said packaging relations ( 303 ) and identifying and generating ( 6 ) said hierarchical code relations ( 304 ) from said aggregate data file ( 302 ),

wherein a start position ( 112 ) of said section ( 111 ) is determined by a combination of said first and second identifiers ( 201 , 202 ) of said current code ( 200 ) of said marked physical item ( 350 ),

said first computer system ( 101 ) further arranged for,

receiving updated packaging relations ( 403 ) being transferred ( 12 ) from a re-packaging location ( 400 ), said updated packaging relations ( 403 ) arising from re-packaging ( 10 ) of two or more of said physical items ( 350 );

identifying and generating ( 13 ), for each said code ( 200 ) in said updated packaging relations ( 403 ), an updated hierarchical code relation ( 304 ) expressed as a sequence of codes including a current code ( 200 ), a parent code ( 200 , P) relative to said current code ( 200 ), and one or more child codes ( 200 , C) relative to said current code ( 200 ), based on said updated packaging relations ( 403 ); and

for each said code ( 200 ), adding ( 14 ) said parent code ( 200 , P) and said one or more child codes ( 200 , C) of said updated hierarchical code relation ( 304 ) to said section ( 111 ) of said data storage location ( 110 ) as an appendix to the previously stored sequence of codes representing the initial hierarchical code relation ( 304 ), such that after re-packaging, for each code ( 200 ) of said two or more of said physical items ( 350 ), said section ( 111 ) of said data storage location ( 110 ) stores an updated sequence of codes including both the initial hierarchical code relation ( 304 ) and the updated hierarchical code relation ( 304 ).

7. The method according to claim 6 ,

wherein the step of transferring ( 5 ) further comprises transferring an item parameter ( 120 ) for each marked physical item ( 350 ) in said packaging relations ( 303 ) in said aggregate data file ( 302 ), and said step of identifying and generating ( 6 ) further comprises identifying said item parameter ( 120 ), and said step of storing ( 7 ) further comprises storing said item parameter ( 120 ) in said section ( 111 ).

8. The method according to claim 6 , further comprising the steps of:

encrypting (E) said codes ( 200 ) with a unique key ( 303 ) before said codes ( 200 ) are marked on said physical items ( 350 ); and

decrypting (D) said codes ( 200 ) with said unique key ( 303 ).

9. A method for storing and retrieving packaging and re-packaging hierarchy code relations ( 304 ) of traceable physical items ( 350 ), comprising the steps of:

at an item marking location ( 300 ),

marking ( 3 ) two or more physical items ( 350 ) to be packaged in a packaging hierarchy ( 305 ), each with a unique code ( 200 ) comprising at least a first identifier ( 201 ) and a second identifier ( 202 );

registering ( 4 ) packaging relations ( 303 ) in an aggregate data file ( 302 ) in a packaging computer system ( 301 ) during packaging of said marked physical items ( 350 ), said packaging relations ( 303 ) being relations between said code ( 200 ) of each containing marked physical item ( 350 ) and said code ( 200 ) of each contained marked physical item ( 350 );

transferring ( 5 ) said aggregate data file ( 302 ) with said packaging relations ( 303 ) between said codes ( 200 ) of said marked physical items ( 350 ) from a packaging computer system ( 301 ), to a first computer system ( 101 ) of a track and trace system ( 100 );

in said first computer system ( 101 ),

identifying and generating ( 6 ) for each said code ( 200 ) in said packaging relations ( 303 ) in said aggregate data file ( 302 ), an initial hierarchical code relation ( 304 ) expressed as a sequence of codes including a current code ( 200 ), a parent code ( 200 , P) relative to said current code ( 200 ), and one or more child codes ( 200 , C) relative to said current code ( 200 ) based on the packaging relations ( 303 ); and

storing ( 7 ), for each said code ( 200 ), said parent code ( 200 , P) and said one or more child codes ( 200 , C) of said initial hierarchical code relation ( 304 ) in a section ( 111 ) of a data storage location ( 110 ) of said first computer system ( 101 ), wherein a start position ( 112 ) of said section ( 111 ) is determined by a combination of said first and second identifiers ( 201 , 202 ) of said current code ( 200 ) of said marked physical item ( 350 );

in a re-packaging location ( 400 ),

re-packaging ( 10 ) two or more of said physical items ( 350 ) into updated packaging relations ( 403 );

transferring ( 12 ) said updated packaging relations ( 403 ) to said first computer system ( 101 ) of said track and trace system ( 100 );

in said track and trace system ( 100 ), identifying and generating ( 13 ) for each said code ( 200 ) in said updated packaging relations ( 403 ), an updated hierarchical code relation ( 304 ) expressed as a sequence of codes including a current code ( 200 ), a parent code ( 200 , P) relative to said current code ( 200 ), and one or more child codes ( 200 , C) relative to said current code ( 200 ) based on the updated packaging relations ( 403 ); and

for each said code ( 200 ), adding ( 14 ) said parent code ( 200 , P) and said one or more child codes ( 200 , C) of the updated hierarchical code relation ( 304 ) to said section ( 111 ) of said data storage location ( 110 ) as an appendix to the previously stored sequence of codes representing the initial code hierarchical code relation ( 304 ), such that after re-packaging, for each code ( 200 ) of said two or more of said physical items ( 350 ), said section ( 111 ) of said data storage location ( 110 ) stores an updated sequence of codes including both the initial hierarchical code relation ( 304 ) and the updated hierarchical code relation ( 304 ),

in a tracing location ( 500 ),

entering ( 20 ) one or more codes ( 200 ) in a computer based terminal ( 501 );

transferring ( 21 ) said codes ( 200 ) from said tracing location ( 500 ) to said track and trace system ( 100 );

identifying ( 22 ) said first and second identifiers ( 201 , 202 ) of said codes ( 200 ) in said track and trace system ( 100 );

determining said start position ( 112 ) of said section ( 111 ) of said storage location ( 110 ) in said track and trace system ( 100 );

retrieving ( 23 ) said initial and updated hierarchical code relations ( 304 ) stored in said section ( 111 ) for said codes ( 200 ); and

transferring ( 24 ) said initial and updated hierarchical code relations ( 304 ) back to said computer based terminal ( 501 ).

10. The method according to claim 9 , further comprising the step of retrieving ( 23 a ) one or more tracking records ( 130 ) for a containing parent marked physical item ( 350 ) relative to said current marked physical item ( 350 ) having said current code ( 200 ), wherein said tracking records ( 130 ) are stored in a second storage location ( 150 ) of said first computer ( 101 ) in said track and trace system ( 100 ), and wherein a position of said tracking records ( 130 ) is determined by a combination of said first and second identifiers ( 201 , 202 ) of a parent code ( 200 , P) of said parent marked physical item ( 350 ) relative to said current marked physical item ( 200 ) obtained in said step of retrieving ( 23 ) said packaging relations ( 303 ) and updated packaging relations ( 403 ).

11. The method according to claim 9 , wherein the step of transferring ( 5 ) further comprises transferring an item parameter ( 120 ) for each said code ( 200 ) in said packaging relations ( 303 ) in said aggregate data file ( 302 ), and said step of identifying ( 6 ) further comprises identifying said item parameter ( 120 ), and said step of storing ( 7 ) further comprises storing said item parameter ( 120 ) in said section ( 111 ).

12. The method according to claim 9 , further comprising the steps of:

encrypting (E) said codes ( 200 ) with a unique key ( 303 ) before said codes ( 200 ) are marked ( 3 ) on said physical items ( 350 ); and

decrypting (D) said codes ( 200 ) with said unique key ( 303 ).

13. A track and trace system ( 100 ) arranged for storing and retrieving ( 23 ) packaging code relations ( 304 ) and re-packaging hierarchical code relations ( 304 ) of traceable physical items ( 350 ) in a packaging hierarchy ( 305 ), comprising:

an item marking location ( 300 ) arranged for

marking ( 3 ) two or more physical items ( 350 ) being packaged in said packaging hierarchy ( 305 ), each with a unique code ( 200 ) comprising at least a first identifier ( 201 ) and a second identifier ( 202 ),

registering ( 4 ), in a packaging computer system ( 301 ), packaging relations ( 303 ) in an aggregate data file ( 302 ) during packaging of said marked physical items ( 350 ), said packaging relations ( 303 ) being relations between said code ( 200 ) of each containing marked physical item ( 350 ) and said code ( 200 ) of each contained marked physical items ( 350 ), and for

transferring ( 5 ) said aggregate data file ( 302 ) with said packaging relations ( 303 ) from said packaging computer system ( 301 ), to a first computer system ( 101 ) of the track and trace system ( 100 );

said first computer system ( 101 ) arranged for

identifying and generating ( 6 ) for each said code ( 200 ) in said packaging relations ( 303 ) in said aggregate data file ( 302 ), an initial hierarchical code relation ( 304 ) expressed as a sequence of codes including a current code ( 200 ), a parent code ( 200 , P) relative to said current code ( 200 ), and one or more child codes ( 200 , C) relative to said current code ( 200 ), based on the packaging relations ( 303 ); and

storing ( 7 ), for each said code ( 200 ), said parent code ( 200 , P) and said one or more child codes ( 200 , C) of said initial hierarchical code relation ( 304 ) in a section ( 111 ) of a data storage location ( 110 ) of said first computer system ( 101 ), wherein a start position ( 112 ) of said section ( 111 ) is determined by a combination of said first and second identifiers ( 201 , 202 ) of said code ( 200 ) of said marked physical item ( 350 );

a re-packaging location ( 400 ) arranged for

re-packaging ( 10 ) two or more of said physical items ( 350 ) into updated packaging relations ( 403 ),

transferring ( 12 ) said updated packaging relations ( 403 ) to said first computer system ( 101 );

identifying and generating ( 13 ), in said track and trace system ( 100 ), for each said code ( 200 ) in said updated packaging relations ( 403 ), an updated hierarchical code relation ( 304 ) expressed as a sequence of codes including a current code ( 200 ), a parent code ( 200 , P) relative to said current code ( 200 ), and one or more child codes ( 200 , C) relative to said current code ( 200 ), based on said updated packaging relations ( 403 ); and

for each said code ( 200 ), adding ( 14 ) said parent code ( 200 , P) and said one or more child codes ( 200 , C) of said updated hierarchical code relation ( 304 ) to said section ( 111 ) of said data storage location ( 110 ); and

a tracing location ( 500 ) arranged for

entering ( 20 ) one or more codes ( 200 ) in a computer based terminal ( 501 );

transferring ( 21 ) said codes ( 200 ) from said tracing location ( 500 ) to said track and trace system ( 100 ),

identifying ( 22 ) said first and second identifiers ( 201 , 202 ) of said codes ( 200 ) in said track and trace system ( 100 ),

determining said start position ( 112 ) of said section ( 111 ) of said storage location ( 110 ) in said track and trace system ( 100 ),

retrieving ( 23 ) said initial and updated hierarchical code relations ( 304 ) stored in said section ( 111 ) for said codes ( 200 ); and

transferring ( 24 ) said initial and updated hierarchical code relations ( 304 ) back to said computer based terminal ( 501 ).

14. The track and trace system according to claim 13 , further comprising the steps of:

encrypting (E) said codes ( 200 ) with a unique key ( 303 ) before said codes ( 200 ) are marked on said physical items ( 350 ); and

decrypting (D) said codes ( 200 ) with said unique key ( 303 ).