AU2022201384A1

AU2022201384A1 - System and Method for Trace History Generation

Info

Publication number: AU2022201384A1
Application number: AU2022201384A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Yu XIAO; Hong Yuan; Wenjuan Zhang
Original assignee: Livestock Trace & Track Tech Co Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Livestock Trace & Track Technology Co Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2021-02-26
Filing date: 2022-02-28
Publication date: 2022-09-15

Abstract

A system and methods for trace history generation of at least one product undergoing a at least one transaction at at least one location, the system comprising: a host computing platform comprising one or more computers, a trace history generation module comprising computer program instructions executing in the memory of the host computing platform, the instructions constructing a blockchain, at least one data capturing device at the location, the data capturing device adapted to autonomously capture information representative of the product and generated by the product, wherein the at least one data capturing device comprises a processing unit comprising memory means for storing the information captured by the data capturing device and instructions for running an algorithm for processing the information captured by the data capturing device and storing the processed information in the blockchain. Fig 1 10 lob 0 0120 14 EtSI

Description

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SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR TRACE HISTORY GENERATION TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present invention relates to system and methods relating to trace history generation.

[0002] The invention has been devised particularly, although not necessarily solely, in relation to trace history generation for agricultural products including livestock.

BACKGROUND ART

[0003] The following discussion of the background art is intended to facilitate an understanding of the present invention only. The discussion is not an acknowledgement or admission that any of the material referred to is or was part of the common general knowledge as at the priority date of the application.

[0004] Goods such as agricultural products (including livestock), after having been bred, are delivered for processing and packaging with its final destination being distribution of the goods to the retail network for purchase of the goods by the consumers and consumption thereof.

[0005] Most consumers, prior purchasing agricultural products, prefer to gain an understanding of at least the origin of the products and the type of processing the product underwent. This is particularly true due to the relatively large number of false food-labelling that is occurring on a worldwide basis. Another reason that consumers would prefer to gain an understanding of the origin of the products which they are about to purchase and under which conditions these products were processed, is to confirm whether in fact the products have particular characteristics that are being advertised that the products have. Examples of these characteristics are: (1) whether the product is organic, (2) whether the product was kept under particular temperatures to perverse the product's freshness or (3) processed according to a particular cooking technique.

[0006] In fact, fish is often falsely labelled. Other examples of false advertisement include: stating the food is organically grown but in fact it was grown in unapproved "organic" farms; wine which is falsely labelled as being from a region or particular wine maker; baby formula that does not contain what are safe ingredients or a correct indication as to where it was made and what the product was made from. Thus, ideally consumers would like to have the full history of the products they will purchase and ultimately consume.

[0007] Moreover, also processing plants, retailers and wholesalers want to know more about a product they will process and sell. Those responsible for food processing (the processing plants) and salespersons of the product are just as interested than consumers to find out the true origin of the product and any treatment or additive added to the product. Also questions that are typically asked are how a particular product was transported and in what conditions and how long the product remained in storage before being made available for sale or processed.

[0008] For some consumers, processing plants, and retailers and distributors being able to obtain, when purchasing a particular product, a stamp of suitability will enhance their perception of quality, freshness, exclusiveness of the product. This will result in that consumers will pay a premium for products having their life history readily available. Blockchain is a technology that allows provision to the consumers of such a stamp of suitability.

[0009] Blockchain technology is such a stamp of suitability because it provides a permanent and immutable record of transactions that the product, to be purchased by consumers, underwent during its life, from production of the product to the moment when the consumer purchases the product for consumption thereof.

[0010] Blockchains are composed of concatenated blocks being able to contain information representative of a particular product to be offered for sale and consumed by a consumer. The blocks are linked to each other in such a manner that none of the blocks can be altered, making the blockchain immutable; thus, the consumer of the product can be confident that the information stored in the blockchain is accurate.

[0011] In particular, a blockchain is a database stored in multiple locations that can maintain increasing records (or blocks) which are timestamped and linked to previous blocks. These records store information pertinent to all transactions that the product underwent during its life. Examples of transactions are: moving, storing and processing the product.

[0012] The advantage of the blockchain is that these records cannot be altered because the record of transaction that a product underwent, from production to consumption, is stored in such a manner that all these transactions are linked to each other. Thus, the information stored using blockchain technology will always be accurate. This provides the consumers with reliable information about the entire life of the products to be purchased by them. In view of this, the use of blockchain technology provides a reliable (and thus secure) supply chain, as products can be tracked through an audit trail.

[0013] Currently the information provided in the blocks of the blockchain is insufficient to provide an accurate picture to the consumer of the health of the animal and how the animal was bred and processed.

[0014] Furthermore, it has been noted that even when using blockchain technology, the information provided to the consumers in the blockchains at the end of the lifecycle of a particular animal is not necessarily always accurate. For example, it has been noted that, on occasions, more animals have arrived at the destination ports than what was indicated in the blocks of the corresponding blockchain registering the life history of the animals. It is believed that the reason of these discrepancies is mainly due to human error occurring by, for example, omitting reading an ear tag of an animal that has been shipped to a destination port. This discrepancy has relative adverse consequences at the destination port resulting in rejection of the entire livestock of the particular cargo ship.

[0015] It is against this background that the present invention has been developed.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

[0016] According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a system for trace history generation of at least one product undergoing a at least one transaction at at least one location, the system comprising: a host computing platform comprising one or more computers, a trace history generation module comprising computer program instructions executing in the memory of the host computing platform, the instructions constructing a blockchain, at least one data capturing device at the location, the data capturing device adapted to autonomously capture information representative of the product and generated by the product, wherein the at least one data capturing device comprises a processing unit comprising memory means for storing the information captured by the data capturing device and instructions for running an algorithm for processing the information captured by the data capturing device and storing the processed information in the blockchain.

[0017] Preferably, the data capturing device is adapted to be retrofitted to a particular location where the product is located for registering information related to the product as the product approaches the data capturing device.

[0018] Preferably, the data capturing device comprises sensors and cameras.

[0019] Preferably, the camera includes infrared cameras.

[0020] Preferably, examples of sensors are anemometers (for measuring ventilation), sensor for recording light, gases, sound, temperature and humidity, and dust, accelerometers, gyroscopes and magnetometers.

[0021] Preferably, the data capturing devices comprises RFID reader(s), GPS module and timer module.

[0022] Preferably, the algorithms of the data processing units are adapted to process images taken by the cameras in order to calculate amount of animals and the temperature of each animal.

[0023] Preferably, the algorithms of the data processing units are adapted to process the data captured by the accelerometers, gyroscopes and magnetometers of the data capturing devices in order to establish traveling conditions such as orientation and speed.

[0024] According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a method for trace history generation of at least one product undergoing a plurality of transactions at a plurality of locations, the method comprising the steps of: recoding, using a data capturing device having a processing unit, particular information of the good and of the locations where the product is located processing the information in the processing unit; and storing the information in a block of a blockchain.

[0025] Preferably, the method comprises the step of calculating the number of products by processing images in the processing unit taken of the goods.

[0026] Preferably, the method comprises the step of establishing the temperature of the product by processing in the processing unit images taken by infrared cameras.

[0027] Preferably, the method comprises the step of establishing the travel conditions of transportation means carrying the product by processing data of the accelerometers, gyroscopes and magnetometers using the processing unit

[0028] According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a data capturing device for capturing representative information representative of a transaction undertaken by a product, the data capturing device comprises at least one means for capturing the representative information, the data capturing device comprising memory means for storing software instructions representative of algorithms and the representative information, and a processing unit for running an algorithm for processing the representative information and for storing the processed information in a blockchain, wherein the capturing device is adapted to autonomously capture representative information.

[0029] Preferably, the processing unit is adapted to connect with a processing system comprising a central server adapted for processing software for generating blockchain entries to construct a blockchain.

[0030] Preferably, the means for capturing the representative information comprises, sensors, cameras and infrared cameras.

[0031] Preferably, the data capturing device further comprises algorithms for processing images of the cameras for determining the quantity of products depicted in the image taken by the camera and conduct health check of the product.

[0032] Preferably, the data capturing device further comprises algorithms for processing images of the infrared cameras for determining the temperature of the product.

[0033] Preferably, the sensors comprise, accelerometers, gyroscopes and magnetometers, light detectors, anemometers, sensors being adapted to detect humidity and gases at the location where the product is located, and gases emitted by the product.

[0034] Preferably, the data capturing further comprises algorithms for processing images of the infrared cameras for determining the temperature of the product.

[0035] Preferably, the data capturing device further comprises algorithms for processing the data of accelerometers, gyroscopes and magnetometers for determine location and movement of the product.

[0036] Preferably, the sensors comprise RFID readers for reading ear tags attached to the product.

[0037] Preferably, the product comprises livestock.

[0038] Preferably, the data capturing device is adapted to be attached to surfaces disposed at locations where the product is located

[0039] According to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a system for trace history generation of at least one product undergoing at least one transaction at at least one location, the system comprising:

a host computing platform comprising one or more computers and at least one data capturing device,

a trace history generation module comprising computer program instructions executing in the memory of the host computing platform, the instructions constructing a blockchain, and a

data capturing device in accordance with the first aspect of the invention.

[0040] Preferably, the system further comprises a neural network comprising computer program instructions stored in the memory of the host computing platform, the program instructions when run in the memory of the host computing platform generating an output representative of the health, welfare and quality of the product, and of consumer satisfaction.

[0041] Preferably, the output of the neural network is included as a blockchain entry in the blockchain.

[0042] According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided a method for trace history generation of at least one product undergoing a plurality of transactions at a plurality of locations, the method comprising the steps of:

a. recoding, using a data capturing device having a processing unit, particular information of the good and of the locations where the product is located

b. processing the information in the processing unit; and

c. storing the information in a block of a blockchain, wherein

the data capturing device comprises a data capturing device in accordance with the first aspect of the invention.

[0043] Preferably, the method further comprises determining health, welfare and quality of the product, and of consumer satisfaction.

[0044] Preferably, the information representative of the health, welfare and quality of the product, and of consumer satisfaction is stored in the blockchain.

[0045] Preferably, the method further comprises any one of the steps of:

a. determining the temperature of the product;

b. determining location and movement of the product;

c. determining environmental conditions at the location(s) where the product is located

d. determining quantity and type of gases emitted by the product.

[0046] Preferably, the method further comprises the step of storing as blockchain entries the temperature, location and movement, environmental conditions and quantity and type of gases emitted by the product.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0047] Further features of the present invention are more fully described in the following description of several non-limiting embodiments thereof. This description is included solely for the purposes of exemplifying the present invention. It should not be understood as a restriction on the broad summary, disclosure or description of the invention as set out above. The description will be made with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 shows a particular arrangement of a system in accordance with the present embodiment of the invention for authenticating and tracing goods and their life history;

Figure 2 shows a flowchart illustrating a particular arrangement of a timeline of the life history of a particular agricultural product such as livestock;

Figure 3 shows a flowchart illustrating a particular process for constructing a blockchain of the particular agricultural product undergoing the timeline shown in figure 2;

Figure 4 shows a schematic view of a particular arrangement of a data capturing device in accordance with the present embodiment of the invention;

Figures 5 and 6 show data capturing devices in accordance with the present embodiment of the invention shown in figure 4 mounted in spaces for storing livestock of transportation means such as a truck and ship;

Figure 7 shows particular arrangements of apparatus adapted to receive the livestock comprising RFID readers mounted on the apparatus permitting collection of information of the livestock; and

Figure 8 shows a schematic view of a particular arrangement of a neural network for generating output representative of the livestock's health/welfare, product quality and consumer experience.

[0048] The figures depict embodiments of the present invention for purposes of illustration only. One skilled in the art will readily recognise from the following discussion that alternative embodiments of the structures and methods illustrated herein may be employed without departing from the principles of the invention described herein.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENT(S)

[0049] The present invention relates to control of goods such as an agricultural product (referred to as "the product") including livestock (e.g. cattle or sheep).

[0050] In a particular arrangement of an embodiment of the invention there is provided a system 10 (and method) permitting users 11 to follow up each of the transactions to be undertaken by the product starting at production of the product and ending at consumption of the product by the consumer. The users 11 may follow up each of the transactions by gaining access to information representative (referred to as the representative information) of: (1) the transactions undertaken by the product, and/or (2) the product (for example, the livestock) itself at the time of the transaction occurring. This requires registering all representative information in storage means accessible to users such as blockchains.

[0051] In another particular arrangement of an embodiment of the present invention, the system 10 includes using the representative information for, for example, obtaining information (referred to as welfare information) related to whether the livestock (such as the cattle) and/or the processed product after slaughter of the livestock, for example, was: (1) sick at the time that the livestock was processed for consumption by the final user, (2) improperly bred (for example: the livestock lived in unhealthy environmental conditions) and/or improperly slaughtered, (3) improperly handled and transported, and/or (3) the processed product was improperly handled or transported and stored prior purchase of the processed product by the end user 11f.

[0052] Further, as will be described subsequently herein, the welfare information may be obtained via neural networks trained for outputting information representative of: (1) the health and welfare of the livestock, (2) the quality of the product generated by processing of the livestock, and (3) consumer experience during or after consumption of the product and provision of feedback of the consumer's satisfaction.

[0053] As mentioned, the system in accordance with the present embodiments permits particular users 11 to follow up all of particular transactions that the product undertook. By following up is meant that the users 11 have access to all the representative information to make informed decisions whehter to purchase the product. In this manner, there is provided a system for trace history generation of products (such as meat) permitting providing confidence to the users 11 that the products that are purchasing are from healthy livestock and of high quality.

[0054] Examples of these particular transactions can be birth and breeding of the livestock, gathering and mounting the livestock on transportation means such as trucks and cargo ships, transportation and distribution of the product to the processing facilities (for example, slaughter houses), processing the livestock, processing and storage of the processed product (for example, the meat), wholesaling and retailing of the processed product, and ultimate consumption of the product by the end user 11f being the consumer of the processed product.

[0055] The process of registering the representative information of all the transactions that the product underwent during its life or the processing processes includes registering information being representative of the product (e.g. the livestock) and of the transactions that the product underwent during its life.

[0056] Figure 2 shows a particular example of transactions that livestock may undergo during its life including the processed product after slaughter of the livestock. For each particular transaction, in accordance with the present embodiment of the invention, the representative information of the particular transaction may include:

a. location (where the product was at a particular location and at what date and time),

b. environmental conditions (under what type of environmental conditions was the product subjected to),

c. motion (what type and how often was the product subjected to motion - for example, was the livestock under free range condition (free to move), was the handling and transportation of the product proper to maintain the product's welfare, and d. health condition (whether the animal was alive until it was slaughtered and how were the vital signs of the livestock while alive - for example: temperature, pulse rate, respiration rate, blood pressure, amount and composition of livestock's gas emissions, among others)

[0057] Registration of this information is particularly useful because it will permit the consumer (and any other interested party) of the product review the life history of the product.

[0058] In accordance with the present embodiment of the invention, review of the life history is done by reading a blockchain comprising details of all transactions that the product underwent during its life.

[0059] This gives the consumer valuable and trustworthy information for making a decision whether to purchase and consume the product.

[0060] The valuable information about the product that the users may access is reliable because each transaction, after being validated, is registered into a block forming a blockchain registering all the transactions, in particular information representative of the agricultural products and the transactions applied to the agricultural products.

[0061] When using blockchain technology, as the product undergoes the transactions, a blockchain 30 is gradually constructed as the product undergoes particular transactions during the life of the product, and blockchain entries with information representative of the transactions or the product (for example, livestock and processed product) are added to the blockchain.

[0062] The consumer and any other interested party may, by reviewing the blockchain, confirm the current state of the processed product to be consumed and all transactions that the livestock and processed product underwent prior being purchased by the consumer. Examples of actions for generating the blockchain entries are recording images of the livestock, counting of the livestock, and recording body characteristics (such as vital signs, odour and gas emissions) of the livestock.

[0063] As will be described subsequently herein, a neural network, which has as input the representative information, will provide an output representative of, for example, health/welfare of the livestock, product quality and customer experience. This output may also be included as a blockchain entry. This allows the users 11 to make an informed decision to whether purchase the product associated with the particular blockchain.

[0064] In accordance with the present embodiment of the invention, there is provided a system and method for trace generation of products.

[0065] In particular, the system and method are adapted to record, via data capturing devices 18 having sensors and cameras (including infrared cameras permitting detecting the temperature of each animal), particular information such as the status of the livestock as well as the amount of animals, among other. The data that is recorded can be images of the animals, odour and gases emitted by the animals and located within the space where the animals are stored, among others.

[0066] The system and method in accordance with the present embodiment of the invention is also adapted to process the data recorded via the sensors and cameras to obtain valuable information such as temperature of the animals and amount of animals located in a particular space.

[0067] The system 10 further comprises a host computing platform comprising one or more computers. The system 10 further comprises a processing system 12 (that can be part of one of the computers) comprising a central server 16 computing units for processing software (part of a trace history generation module for, for example, generating blockchain entries to construct the blockchain 30 and running neural networks 48. The processing system 12 also comprises a computing unit 14 of an administrator of the system. The processing system 12 is also adapted to receive and store information representative of the product generated by the data capturing devices 18 located at each location where a particular transaction (involving the product) will occur.

[0068] The recorded and processed information will be stored in a database 16 for future reference. Typically, an administrator 13 of the system has the exclusive access to this information; however, in alternative arrangements, this information may be shared with law enforcement agencies such as customs, and animal welfare agencies in case any product (such as livestock) perishes during transportation.

[0069] Furthermore, as the data is stored in the database 16, a blockchain is constructed to provide trustworthy information representative of the product to the consumers and interested parties.

[0070] The system 10 (in particular the processing system 12) is adapted to access the computers of users 11 and of the data capturing devices 18 or receive the representative information from the users computers 22 for storing the information representative of the product and constructing the blockchain by registering, in each block the information representative of the particular transaction that has occurred, and of the product itself. This permits providing the status (for example, health/welfare and quality of the product) to the users 11.

[0071] Referring to figures 4 to 6, the system 10 comprises data capturing devices 18 for capturing the particular information representative of, for example, the status of the livestock, in particular the health of the animals.

[0072] As shown in figure 4, the data capturing devices 18 comprises a plurality of sensors and cameras for recoding images and elements representative of the animals' welfare and the environmental conditions (including movement and orientation of the location where the livestock is located). The data capturing devices 18 are adapted to be attached to wall structures, ramps and doors of the spaces where the animals are located. By attaching the data capturing devices 18 to areas proximal to the animals, the data capturing devices 18 may read the ear tag of the animals and register any information representative of the animals'welfare and the environmental conditions of the space where the animals are located. For example, as shown in figure 5to 7

, the data capturing devices 18 may be attached to wall structures of the animal quarters of the transportation means (ships or trucks) for recording of the relevant information concerning the livestock in order to know the status of the livestock (i.e. health) and the status of the environmental conditions within the confined space containing the livestock (including speed of travel and orientation of the space).

[0073] The status of the livestock is obtained by, for example, determining temperature, odour and collecting gases emitted by the livestock. The amount of animals (to be mounted on the transportation means for delivery of the animals to other users 11 of the system 10) is another information capable of being captured and stored. The amount of animals to be mounted on a particular livestock transportation means may be obtained, for example, by processing the images that were taken during the process of mounting of the livestock on the transportation means with the objective of determining the amount of animals that are being transported within the confined spaces of the livestock transportation means.

[0074] Figure 1 illustrates an example of a typical timeline for a product starting from production of the product to purchase by the consumer for ultimate consumption. The product is produced, transported for processing and distribution to retailers and ultimate purchase by the user. Figure 3 illustrates a particular process for generating the blockchain of tagged agricultural products such as animals. For example, when each animal (comprising a tag such as an ear tag for identification purposes indicating the origin and type of animal among other information) is moved from one stage to the other, its ear tag is scanned and the information saved on the ear tag is recorded in the database 16 and on the blockchain together with information representative of the particular stage and what action was done to the product at that particular stage. This creates a history of transactions of each animal all the way through the supply chain-from its source to the end consumer.

[0075] As shown in figure 1, in the particular arrangement shown in figure 1, each of the users 11 at their premises (in particular, at the location where the product will undertake the particular transaction) comprises data capturing devices 18 for recording all relevant information concerning the product and the action taken and the state of the environment of the space in which the livestock is located. For example, the data capturing devices 18 may include RFID reader(s) 44 with GPS module and timer module, cameras (for providing electronic eyes for, for example, undertaking health checks) including infrared cameras for measuring the temperatures of the animals, and sensors such as gas and humidity sensors.

[0076] In particular, the data capturing devices 18 are configured to capture data representative of the product and of the particular transaction the product will undertake. In particular, the data capturing devices 18 comprise sensors and cameras (including infrared cameras). Some examples of sensors are anemometers 34 (for measuring ventilation), sensor 36 for recording presence of light, accelerometer, gyroscope and magnetometer, cameras 38, sensor 40 for recording sound, temperature and humidity, and presence of dust. GPS may also be included to show location of the product at a particular date and time.

[0077] A RFID reader 44 is also included in the data capturing devices 18 for reading of the animal ear tags containing information representative of the particular animal carrying the ear tag. In this respect, in a particular arrangement, the data capturing device 18 is adapted to be operatively connected (e.g. wirelessly) to conventional ear tag readers.

[0078] Figure 7 shows particular arrangements of apparatus such as gates 50, barriers 54, drinking facilities 52, weight scales 56 comprising RFID readers 44 and data capturing device 18 mounted on the apparatus permitting capturing the particular information representative of the transaction occurring at that location and time as well as of the livestock itself such as vital signs and gases emitted by the livestock and its weight.

[0079] Furthermore, each data capturing device 18 comprise a processing unit 42 having a CPU and storage means for storing data and software instructions for running algorithms for processing the data captured by the data capturing devices 18

[0080] The data captured by the data capturing devices 18 are processed using the processing unit 42. The processing unit 42 is adapted to process this data to obtain information representative of the product to be saved in the database 16 (of the memory orthe third computing platform) and the block 28 (corresponding to a particular transaction) of the blockchain 30. For example, the processing unit 42 may determine the temperature of the product (e.g. the animal) when the product is mounted on the transportation means by processing the image taken by the infrared camera of the animal located within the transportation means.

[0081] Also, the processing unit 42 may determine the amount of animals to be mounted on the transportation means by conducting image processing on the images taken by the camera of the data capturing device 18. Also, the gas sensors may detect particular gases emitted by the animal(s) hopefully, via the processing unit 42, revealing that the animal(s) are in fact healthy or not. The accelerometer, gyroscope and magnetometer may record particular information permitting, using the processing unit 42, how were the traveling conditions.

[0082] Figures 2 and 3 relate to a particular example of a timeline of a particular product. As shown in figure 2, the timeline starts from production of the product and ending in its consumption passing through other transactions including transportation of the product, processing of the product, distribution and retailing of the product for its ultimate consumption. Figure 3 shows a flowchart illustrating the process for creating the blockchain of the particular agricultural product undergoing the timeline shown in figure 2.

[0083] As mentioned before, the system 10 is adapted to record the information representative of the product during a particular transaction (obtained by the data capturing devices 18 and, if applicable, processed by the CPU of the processing unit 42 of the data capturing device 18) in the server 16 (or the memory of the third party computing platform) and in the block corresponding to the particular transaction. In particular, each user 11 has access to a management server 24 at each location where a particular transaction occurs with the objective of recording relevant information representative of the product in a block and in the server 16 (or the memory of the third party computing platform) corresponding to the particular transaction.

[0084] The system 10 according to the present embodiment includes entities that generate livestock product distribution history information (also referred to as information representative of the product). The entities that generate livestock distribution history information include the users 11a that produce the product, users 11b for delivering the product to the processing centres. Users 11c that process the product, users 11d of the distribution centres that store packaged products, and retail stores 11e that sell the packaged product to the consumers 11f.

[0085] The users 11a to 11f comprise administrator terminals 22a to 22f adapted to be operatively connected (e.g. wirelessly) to the processing system 12 or third-party computing platforms.

[0086] The administrator terminals 22a to 22f are devices such as a smart phone, tablet PC, or personal computer. The administrator terminal 22a to 22f may include memory, one or more processors (CPUs), peripheral interfaces, input/output (1/O) subsystems, display devices, input devices, and communication modules, and these components may communicate through a communication bus or signal line. In addition, the administrator terminal 22a to 22f is also equipped with a program capable of recognising an image code such as a barcode or a QR code. The administrator terminals 22a to 22f can access the processing system 12 (or third-party computing platforms) through a communication module to generate and query, distribution history information in each block 28a to 28f of the blockchain 30, and authenticate the users 11 of the transactions.

[0087] As mentioned before, the system 10 and its method generates record of the transactions that the product underwent. Figure 2 shows a typical timeline of an agricultural product such as livestock.

[0088] At production, the animals (to be sold) are released and delivered to the location where they will be mounted on the transportation means. Delivery of the animals occur through ramps bordered by wall structures for guiding the animals to the location where they will be mounted onto the transportation means.

[0089] Moreover, as mentioned before, the system 10 comprises data capturing devices 18 for capturing information generated during each transaction. Figures 4 to 6 reader(s).

[0090] For example, during release of the animals for mounting on the transportation means, particular information is obtained using the data capturing devices 18 by, for example, reading the ear tags of the animals, taking images of the animals and detecting any gas emitted by the animals. The particular information is captured by the data capturing devices 18 as the livestock passes through the ramp prior being mounted on the transportation means.

[0091] Further, an information that is of interest, is the amount of animals that are being mounted on the transportation means. This is particularly true, because the welfare of the animals is related to the amount of animals that have been located in a confined space. For this the data capturing device 18a comprise a camera for taking images of the animals as they walk through the ramp ending in the transportation means. As mentioned before, the processing unit 42 of each data capturing device 18 in accordance with the present embodiment of the invention is adapted to process images for obtaining information related to the animals such as temperature (by processing infrared images) and amount of animals to be mounted onto the transportation means.

[0092] Furthermore, another information that is relevant to record is the particular vehicle that has been used for transporting a particular group of animals. The user 11 carrying the terminal 22a may select from an internal database a vehicle for transporting the livestock. The terminal 22a accesses the internal database through a communication network and requests and receives, for example, a list of vehicle numbers. The user 11a selects the number of the vehicle on which the animals will be mounted. The number of the vehicle is then recorded in the server

16 of the processing system 12 (or of the computing platform) as well as in the corresponding block 28a of the blockchain. Keeping track of which vehicle transported which animals is particularly useful for tracing of the animals in case of a recall due the any animal(s) within the particular vehicle had been sick and pose a health risk to consumers.

[0093] Once the animals have been mounted on the vehicle, the vehicle is closed leaving the animals in a confined space that needs to have an adequate ventilation, temperature and humidity for the animals to stay healthy and most of them staying alive.

[0094] The vehicle comprises data capturing devices 18b for monitoring, during the trip, for example, the environmental conditions (e.g. temperature, humidity, ventilation, noise pollution, among others) within the confined space of the vehicle carrying the animals. The data capturing devices 18b may also comprise cameras for being able to count the amount of animals in the transportation means that are still alive by processing images using the processing system 12 as well as measuring the temperature of each animal via an infrared camera. The information captured by the data capturing devices 18b is stored (some as processed data and other as unprocessed data) in the server 16 (or the third party computing platform) as well as in the block corresponding to the transportation stage.

[0095] In this respect, it is important to note that the transportation stage may include several trips using different vehicles; this is particularly true in case the livestock is exported from, for example, Australia to China. In this case a first trip takes the livestock from the farm (where the animal was bred) to the port, where a ship receives the livestock for shipping to a Chinese port. At the Chinese port, the livestock is transferred to another vehicle for, for example, transporting the livestock to a processing plant.

[0096] Upon arriving at the processing plants, the animals need to be discharged from the vehicle and located in particular areas of the processing plant.

[0097] At this stage, the user 11c of the processing plant, having the number of the vehicle transporting the products and queries the corresponding block indicating the status of the animals and the environmental conditions within the confined space of the vehicle with which the animals were transported from the Chinese port to the processing plant. This information is displaced in the user interface of the terminal 22c permitting the user 11c to confirm the appropriateness of the animals and authorise dismounting of the animals from the vehicle for processing thereof.

[0098] Further, the transaction occurring in the processing plant as well as the environmental conditions (e.g. temperature and humidity, etc.) in the plant are also recorded (as described earlier) in the server 16 (or third-party computing platform) and the block 28c of the blockchain 30 corresponding to the processing plant. For this, the processing plant also comprises data capturing devices 18c for recording the status of the animals and the environment of the processing plant.

[0099] Upon processing of the animals, the processed product is to be distributed via vehicles to the premises of wholesalers and retailers for offering for sale to the consumers. The vehicles and these premises also comprise data capturing devices 18d and18e for recording the status of the animals while being in the vehicle and the environmental conditions within the vehicles and the wholesalers and retailers' premises.

[00100] Moreover, as mentioned in another particular arrangement of an embodiment of the present invention, the system 10 is adapted to generate an information representative of the products (such as the livestock) health and welfare, quality and consumer experience during and/or after consumption of the product. This information representative of the products is referred to as welfare information and it may include health and welfare of the product (such as the livestock), product quality (such as the processed product, e.g. meat) and costumer experience).

[00101] In accordance with the present embodiment of the invention, the welfare information is obtained using a machine learning module included in the processing system 12.

[00102] The machine learning module comprises software to be processed by the processing system 12 for generating the welfare information (the output of the machine learning unit) using the representative information (information representative of the transactions undertaking by the product) being the input of the machine learning unit.

[00103] The software is a set of algorithms representing a neural network. Neural networks are a set of algorithms that are modelled after the human brain, which are linear or non-linear statistical data modeling tools. They can be used to model complex relationships between inputs and outputs or to find patterns in data.

[00104] In a particular arrangement, the datasets of location, motion, environment parameters collected from the sensors and animal health condition/diagnostic historic data were divided into training and validation group. The training group is processed to create a regression formula to provide outputs of animal health &welfare, product/meat quality and customer experience based on neural network models based on the input (the representative information of the transaction and product: such as environmental conditions, location/movement history and health/diagnostic conditions).

[00105] As an example of environmental conditions: Long-term high ammonium exposure is harmful to animal health, so gas concentrations are pre-processed and calculated as Ci value by the integration of gas concentration and time. After integration, the Ci values of environmental sensors will be used as inputs of the neural network algorithms.

[00106] In another example, the neural network algorithms can correlate acceleration and different angular rate measurement ranges (the input) from the accelerometers and gyroscopes to the pattern of motion and movements of the product (such as the livestock) and provide the output being the health and life conditions of the livestock. Furtherer, unchanged readings of accelerometer and gyroscope during relatiovely long periods of time combined with the GPS signal can confirm whehter, for example, the livestock is alive or dead or has been stolen, thus removed from the premisses where the product should be at a particular moment in time.

[00107] Moreover, there is a strong correlation between the quality of the product (such as meat of the livestock) and animal exercise activity. In this respect, the readings of accelerometer and gyroscope combined with the GPS signal can provide the pattern and information of the animal exercise activity (for example, whehter the livestock has been in fact under free range conditions). Thus, the pattern and information of the animal exercise activity can act as the input for the neural network to obtain product quality, which is the driver of customer satisfaction.

[00108] Figure 7 shows as representation of a particular neural network 48 used for modeling the relationship between the inputs (environmental conditions, location/motion data, and health condition and diagnostic condition) and the outputs (animal health/welfare, product quality and customer experience). In order to model complex relationships between the inputs and outputs, the datasets of location, motion, environment parameters collected from the sensors and animal health condition/diagnostic historic data are divided into training and validation group. The training group is processed using the algorithms of the neural network to create a regression formula to provide outputs of animal health &welfare, product/meat quality and customer experience based on neural network models based on the input (the representative information of the transaction and product: such as environmental conditions, location/movement history and health/diagnostic conditions).

[00109] As an example, in real life scenario a situation may occur where it is not possible to decide whether the livestock is sick or not. Fuzzy Logic is applied when the data records have truth values of variables in any real number between 0 and 1 such as the observations of animal health conditions, product quality and customer experience. The fussy logic method imitates the way of decision making in a human which consider all the possibilities between digital values true and false "making" the best possible decision for the given the input. The likelihood that the animal is sick is between 1 and 0, in particular: .1 (very little), .25 (somewhat), .5 (moderately), fairly (.75) and .9 (very much).

[00110] Moreover, the system 10 according to the present embodiment of the invention includes a consumer terminal 22f provided by consumers, a consumer management server 24f communicating with the consumer terminal 22f, and a block 28f on the consumer side. The blockchain node on the consumer side synchronises the block 28f by configuring the blockchain network 30. The consumer terminal 22f comprises a device such as a smart phone, a tablet PC, or a personal computer, and a program capable of scanning an image code such as a barcode or QR code containing packaged product identification information, for example printed on a packaged product of livestock products is installed. It is possible to access the server 16 or the blocks of the blockchain through wired/wireless communication and query the distribution history of the product(s). The consumer terminal 22f may include memory, one or more processors (CPUs), peripheral interfaces, input/output (1/O) subsystems, display devices, input devices, and communication modules. When the consumer management server 24f receives the product identification information from the consumer terminal 22f, the distribution history information corresponding to the product may be transmitted to the consumer terminal 22f.

[00111] The consumer (user 11f) scans the identification information of the product being sold at the retail store with the consumer terminal 22f. The identification information of the product is recorded in an image code such as a barcode or a QR code, and the consumer terminal 22f can extract the identification information of the packaged product by scanning the image code with a scan application program. The consumer terminal 22f transmits the extracted product identification information to the blockchain node 28f through the management server 24f, and the blockchain node 28f uses the received product identification information to identify the corresponding product. The freshness information of the average temperature/humidity information of the storage/transportation/storage process and the distribution input information for each distribution step are searched and transmitted to the consumer terminal 28f for viewing by the consumer.

[00112] At this stage, the consumer may make an informed decision, in the light of the information representative of the status of the product and its history, of whether she/he should purchase the product or not.

[00113] All steps described above in connection with the generation of blockchain entries by the data capturing devices 18 are performed autonomously by the processing system 12. Hence, even if not explicitly stated, all of the method steps are performed using software executed by or computing devices of the processing system 12. This is particularly true because the system 10 is blockchain-based; thus, it should and it is not possible to perform the data capturing and the generating the blockchain entry manually, but it requires the use of software-driven computing devices the autonomously (i.e absent of human intervention). In general, communications between the processing system 12, users 11 and data capturing devices 18 are digital and electronic, and also encrypted as required.

[00114] Modifications and variations as would be apparent to a skilled addressee are deemed to be within the scope of the present invention.

[00115] Further, it should be appreciated that the scope of the invention is not limited to the scope of the embodiments disclosed. By way of example, the apparatus and method according to the invention may be suitable.

[00116] The language used in the specification has been principally selected for readability and instructional purposes, and it may not have been selected to delineate or circumscribe the inventive subject matter. It is therefore intended that the scope of the invention be limited not by this detailed description, but rather by any claims that issue on an application based hereon. Accordingly, the disclosure of the embodiments of the invention is intended to be illustrative, but not limiting, of the scope of the invention, which is set forth in the following claims.

[00117] Throughout this specification, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise" or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or group of integers but not the exclusion of any other integer or group of integers.

Claims

1. A data capturing device for capturing representative information representative of a transaction undertaken by a product, the data capturing device comprises at least one means for capturing the representative information, the data capturing device comprising memory means for storing software instructions representative of algorithms and the representative information, and a processing unit for running an algorithm for processing the representative information and for storing the processed information in a blockchain, wherein the capturing device is adapted to autonomously capture representative information.

2. A data capturing device according to claim 1, wherein the processing unit is adapted to connect with a processing system comprising a central server adapted for processing software for generating blockchain entries to construct a blockchain.

3. A data capturing device according to claims 1 or 2, wherein the means for capturing the representative information comprises, sensors, cameras and infrared cameras.

4. A data capturing device according to claim 3 comprising algorithms for processing images of the cameras for determining the quantity of products depicted in the image taken by the camera and conduct health check of the product.

5. A data capturing device according to claims 3 or 4 comprising algorithms for processing images of the infrared cameras for determining the temperature of the product.

6. A data capturing device according to claims 3 or 4, wherein the sensors comprise, accelerometers, gyroscopes and magnetometers, light detectors, anemometers, sensors being adapted to detect humidity and gases at the location where the product is located, and gases emitted by the product.

7. A data capturing device according to any one of claims 3 to 6 comprising algorithms for processing images of the infrared cameras for determining the temperature of the product.

8. A data capturing device according to any one claims 3 to 7, comprising algorithms for processing the data of accelerometers, gyroscopes and magnetometers for determine location and movement of the product.

9. A data capturing device according to claims 3 to 8, wherein the sensors comprise RFID readers for reading ear tags attached to the product.

10.A data capturing device according to claim 9, wherein the product comprises livestock.

11.A data capturing device according to any one of the preceding claims being adapted to be attached to surfaces disposed at locations where the product is located

12.A system for trace history generation of at least one product undergoing at least one transaction at at least one location, the system comprising:

data capturing device defined in any one of claims 1 to 11.

13.A system according to claim 12 further comprising a neural network comprising computer program instructions stored in the memory of the host computing platform, the program instructions when run in the memory of the host computing platform generating an output representative of the health, welfare and quality of the product, and of consumer satisfaction.

14.A system according to claim 13 wherein the output of the neural network is included as a blockchain entry in the blockchain.

15.A method for trace history generation of at least one product undergoing a plurality of transactions at a plurality of locations, the method comprising the steps of:

b. processing the information in the processing unit; and

c. storing the information in a block of a blockchain, wherein

the data capturing device comprises a data capturing device defined in any one of claims 1 to 11.

16. A method according to claim 15 wherein the method further comprises determining health, welfare and quality of the product, and of consumer satisfaction.

17.A method according to claim 16 wherein the information representative of the health, welfare and quality of the product, and of consumer satisfaction is stored in the blockchain.

18.A method according to claim 16 further comprises any one of the steps of:

a. determining the temperature of the product;

b. determining location and movement of the product;

d. determining quantity and type of gases emitted by the product.

19. A method according to claim 18 further comprising the step of storing as blockchain entries the temperature, location and movement, environmental conditions and quantity and type of gases emitted by the product.

20. A method according to claim 19 further comprising the steps of determining health and welfare, product quality and consumer satisfaction using a neural network having as input the temperature, location and movement, environmental conditions and quantity and type of gases emitted by the product.