Method and system for storing and retrieving packaging and re-packaging relations

1. A method for storing ( 7 ) and retrieving ( 23 ) packaging and re-packaging hierarchical code relations ( 304 ) of traceable physical items ( 350 ), comprising the steps of:

in a first computer system ( 101 ) in a track and trace system ( 100 ),

generating ( 1 ) a set of unique codes ( 200 ),

each unique code ( 200 ) comprising a first identifier ( 201 ) and a second identifier ( 202 ), and encrypting said unique codes ( 200 );

transferring ( 2 ) said unique codes ( 200 ) from said first computer system ( 101 ) to a packaging computer system ( 301 ) at an item marking location ( 300 );

at said item marking location ( 300 ),

marking ( 3 ) two or more physical items ( 350 ) while establishing a physical packaging hierarchy ( 305 ), each physical item ( 350 ) with a said unique code ( 200 );

registering ( 4 ) packaging relations ( 303 ) in an aggregate data file ( 302 ) in said 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 items ( 350 ), and registering an initial item parameter ( 120 ) comprising time and place for the marking ( 3 );

transferring ( 5 ) said aggregate data file ( 302 ) with said packaging relations ( 303 ) between said codes ( 200 ) of said marked physical items ( 350 ) and said initial item parameters ( 120 ) from said packaging computer system ( 301 ), to said first computer system ( 101 );

in said first computer system ( 101 ),

decrypting said codes ( 200 ) to identify said first and second identifiers ( 201 , 202 );

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 said packaging relations ( 303 ); and

identifying said initial item parameter ( 120 ) for said current code ( 200 ), 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 relations ( 304 ), and said initial item parameter ( 120 ), 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 );

in a re-packaging location ( 400 ),

re-packaging ( 10 ) two or more of said physical items ( 350 ) into updated packaging relations ( 403 ) and registering updated item parameters ( 120 );

transferring ( 12 ) said updated packaging relations ( 403 ) with said updated item parameters ( 120 ) to said first computer system ( 101 ) of said track and trace system ( 100 );

in said track and trace system ( 100 ),

decrypting said codes ( 200 ) to identify said first and second identifiers ( 201 , 202 );

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/or one more child codes ( 200 , C) relative to said current code ( 200 ) based on the updated packaging relations ( 403 ), and identifying said updated item parameter ( 120 ) for said current code ( 200 ); and

adding ( 14 ), for each said code ( 200 ), said parent code ( 200 , P) and/or said one more child codes ( 200 , C) of said updated hierarchical code relations ( 304 ), and said updated item parameter ( 120 ) to said section ( 111 ) of said data storage location ( 110 ) as an appendix to the previously stored sequence of codes ( 200 , P, 200 , C) representing said initial hierarchical code relation ( 304 ) and said initial item parameter ( 120 ),

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 ( 200 ) including both said initial hierarchical code relation ( 304 ), said initial item parameter ( 120 ), said updated hierarchical code relation ( 304 ), and said updated item parameter ( 120 ).

2. The method according to claim 1 , said item parameter ( 120 ) further comprising one or more of

a validity status about said marked physical item ( 350 ) such as not being for sale, said marked physical item ( 350 ) being withdrawn, or static information such as a serial number, or a time stamp, a flag or status such as recalled, rejected, quarantined, quality passed, returned, taxes paid, and

a tracking location ( 500 ) that the code ( 200 ) is at currently.

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

at a tracing location ( 500 );

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

transferring ( 21 ) said codes ( 200 ) from said computer based terminal ( 501 ) to said track and trace system ( 100 );

in said track and trace system ( 100 );

decrypting said codes ( 200 ) to identify said first and second identifiers ( 201 , 202 );

identifying ( 22 ) said first and second identifiers ( 201 , 202 ) of said codes ( 200 )

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

retrieving ( 23 ) said hierarchical code relations ( 304 ), said initial item parameters ( 120 ), said updated hierarchical code relations ( 304 ), and said updated item parameters ( 120 ) stored in said section ( 111 ) for said codes ( 200 ); and

transferring ( 24 ) said hierarchical code relations ( 304 ), said initial item parameters ( 120 ), said updated hierarchical code relations ( 304 ), and said updated item parameters ( 120 ) for said codes ( 200 ) back to said computer based terminal ( 501 ).

4. The method according to claim 3 , said item parameter ( 120 ) further comprising

at said tracing location ( 500 );

while transferring ( 21 ) said codes ( 200 ) from said computer based terminal ( 501 ) to said track and trace system ( 100 ), transferring a current tracking location ( 500 ) that the code ( 200 ) is at;

in said track and trace system ( 100 );

adding said current tracking location ( 500 ) that the code ( 200 ), as part of said item parameter ( 120 ) in said section ( 111 ).

5. The method according to claim 4 , further comprising the step of retrieving ( 23 a ) one or more tracking records ( 130 ) for a parent marked physical item ( 350 ), 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 code ( 200 ) of a parent marked physical item ( 350 ) obtained in said step of retrieving ( 23 ) said packaging relationships ( 303 ) and updated packaging relationships ( 403 ).

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

a first computer system ( 101 ),

said first computer system arranged for generating ( 1 ) a set of unique codes ( 200 ), —each unique code ( 200 ) comprising a first identifier ( 201 ) and a second identifier ( 202 ), and arranged for encrypting said unique codes ( 200 );

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

said first computer system ( 101 ) further arranged for transferring ( 2 ) said unique codes ( 200 ) to a packaging computer system ( 301 ) at an item marking and packaging location ( 300 );

said item marking and packaging location ( 300 ) arranged for

marking ( 3 ) two or more physical items ( 350 ) each physical item ( 350 ) with a said unique code ( 200 ) while packaging said physical items ( 350 ) of various size in a physical packaging hierarchy ( 305 ), and

registering ( 4 ) packaging relations ( 303 ) in an aggregate data file ( 302 ) in said packaging computer system ( 301 ), 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

registering an initial item parameter ( 120 ) comprising time and place for the marking ( 3 ); and

transferring ( 5 ) said aggregate data file ( 302 ) with said packaging relations ( 303 ) between said codes ( 200 ) of said marked physical items ( 350 ) and said initial item parameters ( 120 ) from said packaging computer system ( 301 ), to said first computer system ( 101 );

said first computer system ( 101 ) further arranged for

decrypting said codes ( 200 ) to identify said first and second identifiers ( 201 , 202 );

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 said packaging relations ( 303 ); and

identifying said initial item parameter ( 120 ) for said current code ( 200 ), and

two or more sections ( 111 ) of a data storage location ( 110 ) of said first computer system ( 101 ), said sections arranged for 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 relations ( 304 ), and

said item parameter ( 120 ),

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 );

a re-packaging location ( 400 ) arranged for

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

said re-packaging location ( 400 ) comprising

a re-packaging computer ( 401 ) arranged for registering ( 11 ) updated packaging relationships ( 403 ) with updated item parameters ( 120 ) in a re-packaging aggregate data file ( 402 ), and

transferring ( 12 ) said re-packaging aggregate data file ( 402 ) to said first computer system ( 101 );

said first computer system ( 101 ) arranged for

decrypting said codes ( 200 ) in said re-packaging aggregate data file ( 402 ) to identify said first and second identifiers ( 201 , 202 );

said first computer system ( 101 ) further arranged for

identifying ( 13 ) for each said code ( 200 ) in said updated packaging relationships ( 403 ), updated hierarchical code relations ( 304 ) expressed as parent and/or child codes ( 200 , P, C), and said updated item parameters ( 120 ); and for

for each said code ( 200 ), adding ( 14 ) said updated hierarchical code relations ( 304 ) with said updated item parameters ( 120 ) to said section ( 111 ) of said data storage location ( 110 ).

7. The track and trace system ( 100 ) according to claim 6 , said item parameter ( 120 ) further comprising one or more of

a validity status about said marked physical item ( 350 ) such as not being for sale, said marked physical item ( 350 ) being withdrawn, or static information such as a serial number, or a time stamp, a flag or status such as recalled, rejected, quarantined, quality passed, returned, taxes paid, and

a tracking location ( 500 ) that the code ( 200 ) is at currently.

8. The track and trace system ( 100 ) claim 6 , further comprising the steps of:

a tracing location ( 500 ) comprising;

a computer based terminal for entering ( 20 ) one or more codes ( 200 ) of a said marked physical item ( 350 );

said computer based terminal ( 501 ) arranged for transferring ( 21 ) said codes ( 200 ) to said track and trace system ( 100 );

said track and trace system ( 100 ) further arranged for;

decrypting said codes ( 200 ) to identify said first and second identifiers ( 201 , 202 );

identifying ( 22 ) said first and second identifiers ( 201 , 202 ) of said codes ( 200 );

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

retrieving ( 23 ) said hierarchical code relations ( 304 ), said initial item parameters ( 120 ), said updated hierarchical code relations ( 304 ), and said updated item parameters ( 120 ) stored in said section ( 111 ) for said codes ( 200 ); and

transferring ( 24 ) said hierarchical code relations ( 304 ), said initial item parameters ( 120 ), said updated hierarchical code relations ( 304 ), and said updated item parameters ( 120 ) for said codes ( 200 ) back to said computer based terminal ( 501 ).

9. The track and trace system ( 100 ) according to claim 8 ,

at said tracing location ( 500 );

said item parameter ( 120 ) further comprising a tracking location ( 500 ) that the code ( 200 ) is at currently, for being transferred ( 21 ) with said codes ( 200 ) from said computer based terminal ( 501 ) to said track and trace system ( 100 );

said track and trace system ( 100 ) further arranged for

adding said tracking location ( 500 ) that the code ( 200 ) is at currently, as part of said item parameter ( 120 ), updating said section ( 111 ).

10. The track and trace system according to claim 6 , said first computer system ( 111 ) further arranged for retrieving ( 23 a ) one or more tracking records ( 130 ) for a containing “parent” marked physical item ( 350 ), 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 said code ( 200 , P) of said containing “parent” marked physical item ( 350 ) obtained in said step of retrieving ( 23 ) said packaging relationships ( 303 ) and updated packaging relationships ( 403 ).