Temperature tag and system for monitoring, recording, and reporting temperature readings

1. A temperature tag for sensing and recording an internal temperature inside a container, said tag comprising:

a main body of a temperature tag

a pointed shaft connected to the main body, said pointed shaft being constructed of a rigid material and having a pointed end suitable for piercing the container from an outside position, wherein when the pointed shaft pierces the container, the main body remains on the outside of the container while a portion of the pointed shaft extends into the interior of the container;

a temperature sensor mounted in the portion of the pointed shaft proximate to the pointed end for sensing the internal temperature in the container when the pointed shaft pierces the container;

a data memory connected to the temperature sensor for recording the sensed internal temperature; and

means for retrieving the recorded temperature and providing the recorded temperature to a user upon demand.

2. The temperature tag of claim 1 wherein the means for retrieving the recorded temperature and providing the recorded temperature to a user upon demand includes:

a visual display on the main body; and

a microprocessor that retrieves the recorded temperature from the data memory and sends the retrieved temperature to the visual display.

3. The temperature tag of claim 1 wherein the means for retrieving the recorded temperature and providing the recorded temperature to a user includes:

a data output port; and

a microprocessor that retrieves the recorded temperature from the data memory and sends the recorded temperature to the data output port.

4. The temperature tag of claim 3 wherein the microprocessor includes:

means for controlling the temperature sensor to report temperature readings at a predefined sampling rate; and

means for recording in the data memory, a plurality of temperature sensor readings.

5. The temperature tag of claim 4 wherein the microprocessor also includes:

means for analyzing the plurality of temperature sensor readings to determine whether a predefined alarm condition exists; and

means for activating an alarm indicator upon determining that the predefined alarm condition exists.

6. The temperature tag of claim 5 further comprising a trigger input port located on the main body, said trigger input port receiving a request for temperature readings from the user, and sending the request to the microprocessor.

7. A system for sensing and reporting an internal temperature reading inside a container, said system comprising:

a temperature tag comprising:

a main body;

a pointed shaft connected to the main body, said pointed shaft being constructed of a rigid material and having a pointed end suitable for piercing the container from an outside position, wherein when the pointed shaft pierces the container, the main body remains on the outside of the container while a portion of the pointed shaft extends into the interior of the container;

a temperature sensor mounted in the portion of the pointed shaft proximate to the pointed end for sensing the internal temperature in the container when the pointed shaft pierces the container; and

means for sending the sensed internal temperature reading to an external reader device; and

an external reader device that receives the sensed internal temperature reading from the temperature tag and presents the internal temperature reading to a user.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein the temperature tag includes:

a data memory for recording the sensed internal temperature reading;

a trigger input port on the main body for receiving a request for the sensed internal temperature reading from the reader device; and

a data output port on the main body for sending the requested internal temperature reading to the reader device.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein the temperature tag also includes:

means for controlling the temperature sensor to report temperature readings at a predefined sampling rate; and

means for recording in the data memory, a plurality of temperature sensor readings.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the reader device includes:

means for requesting the plurality of temperature sensor readings from the temperature sensor;

means for analyzing the plurality of temperature sensor readings to determine whether a predefined alarm condition exists; and

means for activating an alarm indicator upon determining that the predefined alarm condition exists.

11. The system of claim 9 further comprising a computer interfaced with the reader device, said computer including:

means for analyzing the plurality of temperature sensor readings to determine whether a predefined alarm condition exists; and

means for activating an alarm indicator upon determining that the predefined alarm condition exists.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the temperature tag also includes means for sending a container identification number along with the plurality of temperature readings so that the readings can be correlated to a particular container after the readings are downloaded to the computer.

13. The system of claim 7 wherein the trigger input port of the temperature tag is triggered by a signal of a type selected from a group consisting of:

an infrared signal;

a visible light signal;

a radio frequency signal;

a direct electrical contact signal; and

a direct mechanical contact signal.