CN112020738A

CN112020738A - Method and apparatus for product monitoring

Info

Publication number: CN112020738A
Application number: CN201980027726.5A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 陈浩能
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2018-04-23
Filing date: 2019-04-23
Publication date: 2020-12-01
Anticipated expiration: 2039-04-23
Also published as: CN112020738B; WO2019206130A1

Abstract

A method of generating a database (801) for product monitoring, comprising: determining at least one parameter indicative of a product status and/or a product storage status; and identifying at least one color change material for each parameter; providing a measurement tag (100) comprising at least one color changing material; the database (801) is generated using the color variations by associating the color of each alterable material with the value of the respective parameter to provide a comparison data set to enable determination of the state of the product and/or determination of the stored state of the product.

Description

Method and apparatus for product monitoring

Technical Field

The present invention relates to the field of measurement and identification, and in particular to a method and apparatus for product monitoring, for example but not limited to, for monitoring the freshness of edible products such as meat, fish, vegetables or fruits.

Background

The physical state or condition of the product may change over time and the environmental conditions to which the product is exposed (e.g., temperature and humidity), and these conditions may affect the quality of the product. The environmental conditions, including the environmental conditions of the product during transport and/or storage (e.g., temperature and humidity) and the time of exposure to these conditions may depend on the mode of transport (e.g., truck and/or airplane) and the time of transport or storage. In the case of consumption of agricultural produce, these environmental conditions may cause the produce to lose freshness, even spoil or rot, damage and become inedible. For non-perishable products such as electronic devices (e.g., cell phones), mechanical shock and harsh environments (e.g., very high or very low temperature and humidity environments) can cause internal damage that is visually imperceptible to inspection, making it difficult to judge, for example, the degree or wear ("aging") experienced by a second-hand phone, which can result in a resale value that is less than necessary.

A person (a person) can use his innate artificial perception ("physical perception") to detect a physical state or condition of a product. The inherent sensations of such artificial perception include, for example, sight, hearing, touch, smell, taste, and the perception of artificial "comfort" to the environment of the product, such as their perception of temperature (i.e., whether the environment is too hot, too cold or just) and/or humidity (whether the environment is too humid, too dry or just) to test the condition of the product. For example, humans may visually inspect the product and, in the case of eating the product, may also taste or smell the product and/or take into account their perception of the storage conditions of the product, such as the product storage temperature and humidity.

However, using only human perception is not particularly accurate and can be very subjective. In addition, people may also rely on human-readable data printed on a label or tag on a product or product packaging that provides information about the characteristics of the product. In particular, the label or tag may indicate the name, weight, volume, purpose, and other information of the article, such as "date of sale" or "date of use". The tag or labels may also carry information useful for inventory or the like, such as one or more keywords and/or one or more codes, such as a barcode or two-dimensional (QR) code. However, the "date of sale" and "expiration date" are often subject to errors in safety to the extent that excessive reliance on the "date of sale" or "expiration date" may result in the edible produce being discarded and wasted.

The person may use the help of a readable sensor, such as a level thermometer, to help them interpret the temperature condition of the product, to help them interpret the condition of the product. However, the accuracy of such readable sensors may depend on the accuracy with which the relevant person reads them.

As in the above case, information sharing on the product condition is not easy. Automated sensors, such as temperature probes, may transmit data (continuously, intermittently or on demand) to a measurement system that analyzes the received sensor data and provides the results of the analysis to a user, or may store the results and share them more widely, for example, over a computer network such as the internet. However, these methods are not easy to use.

Disclosure of Invention

Aspects and examples of the disclosure are set out in the appended claims.

The present invention provides methods and apparatus for product monitoring, such as for monitoring the freshness of edible products (e.g., meat, fish, vegetables, fruits, etc.). The present invention provides a label that can be placed inside a product or its packaging, which, in addition to acting as a product information carrier, carries product monitoring functionality, such as information that can be sensed or about the environment in which the product is currently or has been located. The tag may be readable by an electronic device, such as a smart mobile phone, which has installed an application ("app") for product monitoring, which may be an application that has been downloaded to the device and/or may be accessible to a remote server.

The invention can measure the self state of the object (product) and/or the state of the environment where the object is located more easily, conveniently and effectively.

The present invention provides a measurement tag having a colour change indicator zone containing a material which is sensitive to the factor or parameter to be measured and which is sensitive to the change in colour, the change in colour of the material being sensed being indicative of the value (or range of values) or parameter of the colour in real time, whereby a change in colour of a particular material being sensed is representative of a change in the value (or range of values) of the parameter of that environmental factor. Examples of such environmental factors or parameters include temperature, humidity, concentration of gases such as oxygen or carbon dioxide, etc., and the degree to which these values change over time.

The color-changing material may include, for example, one or more of the following: thermosensitive color-changing materials, humidity-sensitive color-changing materials, specific substance-sensitive color-changing materials, timed color-changing materials or force-sensitive color-changing materials.

The measuring label comprises at least one color-changing indicating area (single-dimensional detection and multi-dimensional detection identification area) for sensing the latitude of the object, and the color-changing indicating area containing the inductive color-changing material is arranged at a preset position on the label. The measurement label may include a positive direction indicator (e.g., indicating a change in a parameter over time) for indicating proper identification of the location of the color indicating area in the measurement label. The measurement tag may include a product information area (i.e., an information identification area) such as a code that may carry information such as product data and/or company profile, such as in the form of a bar code or QR code. A color change indication area may be provided around the product information area, for example, around the two-dimensional code.

In addition to the positive direction indication area, a positive direction indicator (reading direction indicator) placed beside or on the information recognition area may be further used or replaced. Or the positive direction indicating function may be provided by the specific shape of the label.

The measurement tag may include one or more blank reserved areas for future use.

The measurement tag may carry indicia for image adjustment, such as a bias or direction indicator, to enable the actual image to be adjusted to compensate. For example: the distortion of the camera imaging plane and the actual surface of the label is compensated for due to the effect on the resulting image from the distance the image is taken, the magnification of the taken image, and the angle or angles at which the image is taken. This may enable the real image data to be processed such that the adjusted image has the appropriate size and orientation.

The measurement tag may contain a color reference area that can be referenced by the reading device to adjust the color of the resulting image to compensate for color differences due to different reading devices, different captured light fields, and different color sensitivities. The color reference area may employ red, green and blue as reference marks each having a color intended to represent a corresponding one of red, green and blue in an RGB standard color space model, or may use a reference mark in another standard color model, such as a CMYK (cyan yellow, magenta, black) or HSV (hue, saturation, value) standard color space model.

The present invention provides a measurement tag that provides an environmental monitoring function in addition to the traditional tag carrying product data, thereby extending the application range of the tag and thus achieving a low cost and efficient method for data carrying and product measurement.

The measurement tag may be read by taking an image of the measurement tag using a reading device, for example, a digital camera using a smart mobile phone (cell phone). The reading device may be equipped with a corresponding application ("app") that performs image adjustment and/or color compensation, or may be remotely executed by a server accessed by the reading device, for example, via the internet.

The reading device is provided with or connectable to an accessible database containing information of the required reference area for each colour and an associated data set of colours of the reference area (read from the image of the tag) and corresponding values (or ranges of values) of the measured parameter.

The database may contain a first data set (hereinafter: first scale) representing theoretical value data, which may be provided by the manufacturer of the color change material, and which associates different possible colors of the color change material with different parameter values, thereby providing theoretical value calibration data.

The database may contain a second data set (hereafter: a second scale) representing experimental data obtained by placing the actual sample measurement tag in the same or similar environment as the product to be monitored. The experimental calibration data may be obtained by taking readings of their parameter values over a period of time using additional sensors (e.g. thermometer for temperature, humidity sensor for humidity, etc.), and for each sensor reading, an image of the measurement tag should also be taken and stored together with the corresponding data values of the color associated sensor numbers of the color reference areas, thereby providing experimental calibration data. If the experimentally calibrated data is applied to the reading device and the same reading device is used for the actual measurement, color compensation of the read image may not be needed.

The database may contain a third data set (hereafter: third scale) comprising the artificial perception data accumulated for the product and associated with the color of the color changing material, i.e. when the label image is taken by a person (the test person or even the perception data uploaded by the tester or customer) in the product supply chain, it is connected to the reading device (and then to the database). These artificial sensory data for the edible product may include notes such as "freshly melted," "seemingly ripe," "seemingly/melted overcooked," "wrinkled," "dried," "contused," "rotten," and the like.

In addition, in the case of a product that itself changes color over time (e.g., after fruit ripening), the first and/or second and/or third data sets may also include the product's own color data (theoretical data for the first data set and experimental data and third data set for the second data set) and the actual color of the product over time may also be used for product monitoring results.

The measurement method may include a requirement (requirement) determination step, a data set (scale) construction step, a data processing step, and an actual measurement step. These steps do not have to be performed one after the other, nor by the same device or means. For example, the actual measurement step may, and indeed will, typically be performed separately from the other steps.

The demand determining step may include: at least one measurement parameter representative of the object (product) to be measured and/or the environment of the product is determined. For example, the parameter may be, among others, the temperature of the product or its environment, the humidity of the product environment, the concentration of gas in the product environment, etc.

The dataset (scale) construction step may comprise one or more of:

1) selecting a color-changing material to be sensed for each parameter to be measured, acquiring color-changing performance parameters provided by the theory or manufacturer of the color-changing material, and forming a first data set (namely a first scale of color relative to the parameter value) with the color change associated with the parameters;

2) for the parameters to be actually measured, the product and the sample measuring label with the color-changing material can be simultaneously placed in a preset environment for testing or experiment. Acquiring a real-time image of the measuring label in the environment change process, acquiring actual measurement data under the test environment condition by using an additional corresponding sensor, acquiring an actual experiment parameter measurement result related to color change data from the sensor measurement data corresponding to the real-time color data in the image of the measuring label, and forming a second data set (a second scale) associated with the actually measured parameter value corresponding to the color change of the actually measured label; and

3) the product and corresponding sample measurement label with color change material are placed in its intended environment, images of the measurement label are obtained under different environmental conditions, while human perception data (for edible product annotation, such as "freshly melted", "seemingly ripe", "seemingly/melt overcooked", "wrinkled", "dry", "bruised", "rotten", etc.) are obtained, real-time color data changes in the measurement label image correspond to the human perception data with the parameter values and form a third data set (third scale).

The actual measuring step may comprise: acquiring a real-time image of a measurement label; and performing the required image adjustment and/or color correction on the image; corresponding color data of the sensitive color-changing material is extracted and compared with a database to obtain a measurement result. The measurement steps need not all be performed by the same device, e.g. a reading device may only acquire images. Image adjustment and/or color correction may be performed by the reading device or may be performed by a server, which may or may not perform database comparison. In some cases, even the database may be located on the reading device.

The embodiment of the invention is beneficial to acquiring accurate product state information. The invention enables the detection of the product itself and of the environmental parameters in which it is located, such as the temperature, the humidity, the concentration of a specific gas (for example oxygen or carbon dioxide) to be determined.

Drawings

Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a product monitoring system;

FIGS. 2A, 2B and 2C are schematic views of portions of a database for product monitoring;

FIG. 3 is a flow chart of a method of generating a measurement tag:

FIG. 4A is a flow chart of a method of obtaining experimental data for a measurement tag;

FIG. 4B is a flowchart of a method for obtaining measurement tag associated artifact data in a database;

FIG. 4C is a flow chart of a method of obtaining product monitoring data using a measurement tag;

FIG. 1X is a flow chart of a measurement method of the present invention;

FIG. 2X is a schematic flow diagram of a scale build-up step of the method of FIG. 1X of the present invention;

FIG. 3X is a schematic flow chart of the actual measurement steps of the present invention;

FIG. 4X is a schematic flow chart of a second embodiment of the measurement method of the present invention;

FIGS. 5, 6A, 6B, 6C, 6D, and 7 are examples of measurement tags;

FIG. 8 is a schematic flow chart of the actual measurement steps of the measurement tag of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a flow chart of a method of building a performance database of the first scale of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a schematic flow chart of a method of constructing a second scale of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a first schematic flow chart diagram of a method of construction of a third scale of the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a second schematic flow chart diagram of a method of construction of a third scale of the present invention;

FIG. 13 is a schematic flow diagram of a measurement system of the present invention;

FIG. 14 is an example of a measurement tag of the present invention configured to be associated with an edible product, such as a cherry, during transportation of the edible product;

FIG. 15 is an exemplary method for monitoring the freshness of an edible product, such as a cherry.

Detailed Description

Referring to the drawings, FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a product monitoring system.

The system comprises a reading device 700, the reading device 700 being adapted to read a measurement tag 100 associated with a product. The measuring tag 100 is as such carried by a package or container (tag carrier) 1 of a product. The system includes a server device (or other computing device) 800 configured with a stored or accessible database 801 that can be used for data comparison and analysis.

As will be described below, the measurement tag 100 includes, in addition to a product information area: a product information area providing data identifying the product, and a parameter indicator having a color-changing area sensitive to a parameter associated with the product, such that a color displayed on the label can provide information about the status of the product to facilitate product monitoring, such as information about the current or past environment of the product. The reading device 700 has an image sensor, and is utilized to capture an image of a measurement tag, can perform realistic image orientation and size adjustment and color correction, and forward read measurement tag image data to the server 800. The server 800 stores or has access to a database 801 and is configured to receive the real image from the reading device 700, and the database 801 stores therein data relating the condition of the article to the read color data and provides the reading device (or another device) with the data based on the correlation.

The reading device may be any suitable electronic device, preferably a portable device having an image sensor and communication capabilities. As an example, the reading device may be a smart mobile phone (cell phone) or a tablet computer. In the example shown in fig. 1, the reading apparatus 700 has a processor 701, a memory 702 for storing programs and applications ("apps") to be executed by the processor and storing data such as data for use by or generated by the processor 701, an image sensor such as a digital camera 704, a display 705 including a user interface, a network interface 703 for communicating with the server 800 via a network such as a LAN, WAN, local area network or the internet. In addition, there may be a direct connection between the server 800 or the reader device. The memory 800 may be any suitable form of computer program product, such as a tangible, non-transitory storage medium, such as an internal solid state memory and/or a removable memory, such as a memory stick or a USB drive.

The server 800 has a processor 802, a memory 804 for storing programs and applications ("apps") to be executed by the processor 802 and storing data, such as data for use by the processor 802 or generated by the processor 802, and a network interface 803 for communicating with the server 800 via a network, such as a LAN, WAN, local area network, or the internet. In addition, there may be a direct connection between the server 800 or the reader device. The memory may be any suitable form of computer program product, such as a tangible, non-transitory storage medium, such as an internal solid state memory and/or a removable memory, such as a memory stick or a USB drive.

As shown in fig. 1, the measurement tag 100 is carried by a tag carrier 1, which tag carrier 1 may be part of a product or its packaging or may be part of the environment in which the product is placed. Such as the inner walls of a transport container.

As described above, the measurement tag includes a product information area 300 used to provide data identifying the product and has a color change indicator area 200 associated with a product parameter, the monitor indicator area 200 containing a color change indicator cell 201.

The color changing indicator element 201 in the monitoring indicator zone 200 is provided as a sensitive color changing material sensitive to the desired measured parameter such that the real time color of the color changing indicator element is indicative of the value (or range of values) of the parameter.

The product information area 300 of the measurement tag may be a code, such as a bar code or QR code, that carries product data and/or a character identifier for a company profile or product information.

The measurement tag may contain an image correction indication area 21 to enable the image to be adjusted or corrected for, for example: the distance from which the image is taken, the magnification of the image taken, and one or more angles at which the image is taken, i.e. the compensation camera imaging plane and the surface of the label are not parallel to each other. This may enable the read image data to be processed such that the adjusted image has the appropriate size and orientation.

The measurement tag may contain a color reference region 500 to enable the colors read by the reading device to be adjusted to compensate for real image differences resulting from different light field levels or different color sensitivities of different reading devices. The color reference may be red, green and blue reference markers, each having a color intended to represent a respective one of red, green and blue in the RGB standard color space model. Color references in other standard color models may be used (e.g. CMYK (cyan yellow, magenta, black) standard color space model or HSV (hue, saturation, value) standard color space model.

The measurement tag may contain a positive direction indication area 400 for indicating the direction in which data carried by the measurement tag is to be read. In addition to the positive direction indication area 400, the positive direction indication area may also be provided by the product information area 300 or the positive direction indication area 400 is located on the product information area 300. The positive direction indication area may also be replaced by a specific image having an asymmetrical shape.

The measurement tag may comprise one or more blank

reserved areas

600, 601 for future use, e.g. extending the capability of the measurement tag by adding more color reference areas or by adding more color changing indicator elements.

Product information area 300, monitoring indicator area 200, color reference area 500, positive direction indicator area 400, and positive direction indicator area ("fiducial mark") 21 may be located at any suitable location on the measurement label, provided that the particular location may be identified by the reading device and/or server based on the type of measurement label. As an example, information corresponding to the position of the color-changing indication unit and the position on the tag where data can be identified may be contained in the carrying information of the product information area, or the position may be preset for a specific measurement tag type and stored in the database 801.

In the example shown in fig. 1, the product information area 300 includes an information identification area, which may take the form of a code such as a barcode or QR code carrying product data and/or a character identifier for company profile or product information. The information identification area is located in the middle of the measurement tag 100 and is surrounded by a monitoring indication area 200 containing a color changing indication unit 201. The tag has a similar frame or frame. In this example, each corner of the frame includes an image correction indication area 21. Also included in the frame are color reference areas 500 for the R, G and B standard colors, and a positive direction indication area 400 in the form of a set of black areas that approximate an arrow that would be located at the lower edge of the label when the label is properly oriented.

In the example shown in fig. 1, the

regions

21, 201, 400, 500, 600 and 601 are square or rectangular, but they may be any suitable shape, such as circular or oval or a combination. In the case of using different shapes, the shape itself may also serve as a recognition function.

The database 801 contains a set of experimental data enabling identification of product parameters by reading measurement tags, representing experimental data obtained by placing actual sample measurement tags in the same or similar environment as the product to be monitored. The experimental calibration data may be obtained by taking readings of their parameter values over a period of time using additional sensors (e.g. thermometer for temperature, humidity sensor for humidity, etc.), and for each sensor reading, an image of the measurement tag should also be taken and stored together with the corresponding data values of the color associated sensor numbers of the color reference areas, thereby providing experimental calibration data. If the experimentally calibrated data is applied to the reading device and the same reading device is used for the actual measurement, color compensation of the read image may not be needed.

The database 801 may also contain (or the server provides access to) a theoretical data set that includes a list of manufacturers or suppliers' color-changing materials associated with parameters and ranges, which are theoretically applicable ranges and parameter values for which color changes theoretically occur. For example, the theoretical data set may also indicate whether the color change is reversible or irreversible, and whether the color-changing material is suitable for use on or near the edible product.

The database 801 may also contain an artificial perception data set that includes artificial perception data accumulated for the product and is associated with the color of the color changing material, i.e., the label image is connected to a reading device (and then to the database) when it is acquired by a person (the test person or even the perception data uploaded by the test person or customer) in the product supply chain. These artificial sensory data for the edible product may include notes such as "freshly melted," "seemingly ripe," "seemingly/melted overcooked," "wrinkled," "dried," "contused," "rotten," and the like.

The data in the database may be stored in any suitable organizational structure. The data in the database may be linked or related by, for example, a product code (i.e., a product code carried by the product information area 300).

In the example shown very schematically in fig. 2A to 2C, the database contains three data sets:

the first theoretical data set (first scale) shown in fig. 2A represents theoretical data that may be provided by the manufacturer or supplier of the color change material and that relates to different colors of the color change material indicative of different measured parameters, thereby providing theoretical data.

The second set of experimental data (second scale) shown in fig. 2B represents experimental data obtained by placing one or more actual sample measurement tags in the same or similar environment as the product is placed in.

Third, an artificial perception data set (third scale) comprising the artificial perception data accumulated for the product, i.e. the perception data uploaded into the reading device by a person (tester or even customer) in the product supply chain (and then saved from the database) corresponds to the image into the label.

As shown in FIG. 2A, the theoretical data set (first scale) can sense the performance parameters of the color-changing material, the parameter values/ranges of the material performance and the color changed corresponding to the material, the R, G, B values in the standard RGB color model before and after changing the color of the material, the application (e.g., product compatible or usable with the color-changing material), and the specific function, e.g., whether the change is reversible or not

As shown in fig. 2B, the experimental data set (second scale) may include the product code, the identity of the color-changing material, the theoretical parameter values/range values of its sensitive parameters (for comparison purposes), the material change color/range, the measured experimental parameter values/range of the material change color, and the color during color measurement before and after the material change (i.e., R, G, B values in the standard RGB color model).

As shown in fig. 2C, the artifact perception data set (third scale) may list product codes and artifact perception data accumulated for the products associated with color change material on the label associated with the perception data with the identification color of each product (listed as C1, C2, C3). Thus, the colors (indicative of the values of the respective parameters) determined from the images of the labels associated with the humanly perceptible data may be stored as a set of combined colors indicative of the condition of the product, and may be associated with the respective human. And sensing the data. The time and date of the input artifact perception data may be stored in the comment field and may provide a link to the actual image of the product uploaded from the reading device. The database may be a live database and may thus show pictures about the best conditions for storing and transporting the relevant products. Anyone in the product supply chain (e.g., manufacturer, carrier, store clerk, customer) who takes the image of the measurement tag can upload the data or can lock access to that area of the database (human perception data set) as a key person (tester).

In the case where the product itself changes color over time (e.g. as the fruit ripens), the first and/or second and/or third data sets may comprise color data (the first data set being theoretical data and the second and third data being experimental data sets) representative of the color of the actual product over time. These actual product images may also be used in product monitoring.

An example of a method of generating measurement tags, obtaining experimental data to populate a measurement data set (second level) of a database, obtaining artificial perception data to populate a perception data set (third level) of the database will now be described with reference to fig. 3-6A, 6B for a user with conditional data.

Fig. 3 shows an example of a method of generating a measurement tag. A person wishing to generate a measurement tag first identifies, via a user interface of a reading device (or another computing device that accesses server 800 or may access server 800), that they wish to generate a measurement tag for a particular product. If the user already has a product code, they may enter the product code through the user interface, or they may request that the computing device access or generate the product code. Thus, at S1, the server or other computing device accesses or generates a product code, which, as described above, may contain product and producer data, and may be a barcode or QR code. At S2 and S3, the computing device receives from the user interface a parameter to be measured (e.g., temperature, humidity, etc.) and one or more parameter values to be identified. The computing device then prompts the user to identify more parameters to measure and repeats S2 through S4 until the answer is no.

At S5, if the computing device itself is not a server, the computing device forwards the product code with the required parameter data to the server, which accesses the database 801 at S8 to identify possible suitable color change material settings (first scale) from the theoretical data, or from one or both of the theoretical data set (first scale) and the experimental data set (second scale) if the product code already exists with the experimental data set (second scale). At S6, the computing device receives color change material data. At S7, the computing device uses a label layout template that identifies the locations of the various indicators and, in response to user input, identifies color changing materials to be used for the various parameters and places them on the label. The label layout template may specify particular different locations for the color indicators of different parameters so that a server or other computing device analyzing the label image may determine which color change regions are associated with which parameters, or the label may include code ((e.g., associated with or part of the product indicator code) identifying the location of each particular different parameter color change region oriented relative to the forward indicator.) for example, in the layout shown in fig. 1, the layout code or standard layout on the label may determine that the temperature sensitive color change region is to the left of the parameter indicator and the forward indicator is to the bottom of the lower edge or label, as shown in fig. 1, the humidity sensitive color change region is to the right of the parameter indicator and the forward indicator is to the lower edge or bottom of the label, and when the color change region includes a strip providing a region indicating a change in a parameter over time, the strip should be read in a clockwise direction and the positive direction indicator labeled as shown in fig. 1 at the lower edge or bottom of the label. Other layouts and read directions can of course be used, all that is required is for the tag itself to identify these layouts or to use a standard layout, or to associate the tag product code with a specified layout in a database so that the reading device server knows which areas of the server represent what.

Fig. 4A shows an example of a method of generating or adding to a measurement data set (second scale). First, a person wishing to create or add to a measurement data set takes a digital image of the tag using the digital camera 704. At S11, the reading device acquires the image. At S12, the reading device identifies the image adjustment indicator 21 in the label image using the desired layout of the label, which may be identified by data in the label or may be standard or specific to the product code. Although not shown in fig. 4A, the reading device may inquire whether the server does not have layout information, or may request the server to perform image adjustment and return an adjusted image. For the measurement tag shown in fig. 1, the reading device (or server) recognizes the image adjustment marker 21, and manipulates the orientation and size of the image until the corner image adjustment marker 21 defines the corner of a square or rectangle. -defining the size and then saving the adjusted image. A predefined size may be set in the tag product indicator or provided by the server, or specific to the product code, or even standard across the measurement tags.

At S13, the reading device (or server) identifies the color reference indicator 500 in the label image, compares the read red, green and blue values with the standard red, green and blue values of the RGB color model to define a mapping for color correction, then adjusts the read or sensed R, G, B values for each pixel of the color-changing region to correct the light level and different camera color sensitivities, and then saves the color-adjusted image as a corrected image. The color of the label image is thus adjusted to the standard reference and can therefore be compared with the color data in the database device. Steps S12 and S13 may be performed using commercial image processing and color correction software such as PhotoShop (registered trademark), and may be performed by a reading device or a server.

The user interface prompts the user to input sensor data obtained by using measurement instruments for measuring parameters, such as a temperature sensor or probe and a humidity sensor or probe. At S14, the reading device receives the sensor value and associates it with the color change region of the parameter. At S15, the user is prompted to enter more sensor data, and when the answer at S15 is no, the reading device forwards the corrected image with the received sensor data to the server. At S16, the server identifies the product code from the corrected label image, accesses the measurement data set for that product code in the database, and identifies (by comparing the sensed R, G, B values of the color change region) and the associated color change for each parameter, and then updates or fills in the measurement parameter values/ranges corresponding to that parameter and color change. The acquisition of measurement data may be performed at various stages of the product lifecycle, e.g., from production to delivery to storage to sale. Measurement data from multiple tags may be acquired and analyzed using conventional statistical analysis techniques that should provide a more accurate measurement data set.

Fig. 4B shows an example of a method of generating or adding to a perceptual data set (third scale). First, a person wishing to generate or add to a perception data set takes a digital image of a tag using the digital camera 704. At S21, the reading device acquires the image, and as described above, the image is adjusted and corrected at S22 and S23. Refer to S12 and S13 of fig. 4A.

The user interface of the reading device prompts the user to enter human perception data regarding their perception or sensation of the product. At S24, the reading device receives the human perception data and associates it with the tag image data. At S25, the user is prompted to enter more human perception data. When the answer at S25 is no, the reading device forwards the corrected image with the received human perception data to the server. At S26, the server identifies a product code from the corrected label image, accesses a perception data set for the product code in a database, identifies corrected R, G, B values for the color of the measured parameter (parameters C1, C2 are in C1 and C3 in FIG. 2C, searches the perception database for a particular combination of color and parameter, and if present, adds the perception data to the perception data set (third scale) for that color combination. if not present, in the example of FIG. 2C, the server populates a new row of the perception database with the corrected image color (R, G, B values) for each of the parameters C1, C2, C3.

The acquisition of the perception data may be performed at various stages of the product's lifecycle, e.g., from production to delivery, to storage to sale. Sensory data from multiple tags may be acquired and analyzed using conventional statistical analysis techniques, which may provide a more accurate set of sensory data.

Fig. 4C shows an example of a method of obtaining information about the status of a product by reading a measurement tag for which a database has been populated.

First, a person who wishes to acquire information about the condition of a product takes a digital image of a tag using the digital camera 704. At S30, the reading device acquires the image, and adjusts and corrects the image at S31 and S32, as discussed above with reference to S12 and S13 of fig. 4A.

At S33, the reading device forwards the corrected tag image to the server. At S34, the server identifies the product code from the corrected label image and accesses a relevant data set, typically at least one of a measurement data set (second level) and a perception data set (third level), in a database. The server knows the layout of the tag from the tag itself or the product code, or because the tag has a standard layout, the server knows which color change regions represent which parameters. For each measured parameter, the server identifies the corrected color in the label image (as a combination of R, G, B values), and searches the measurement data set associated with the product code for a match with that particular color (a particular combination of R), G and B values) to identify the parameter value represented by that particular color. The server thus obtains the parameter value for each measured parameter. The server may also search the perception data set (third level) associated with the product code to obtain the color combination to retrieve the relevant human perception data. The server then returns the parameter values and any associated human perception data to the reading device (or another computing device) which outputs the received data to the user via the user interface. The user interface may be as shown in fig. 1, but may have functionality to provide an audio output.

Fig. 5 shows an example of a measurement label 100 with different shades of gray representing different color shade images. The label has a product indicator 300 and a parameter indicator 200 on its surface. In this example, the product indicator 300 is a QR code. The QR code may incorporate or have provided thereon an orientation arrow that serves the function of the orientation indicator 400 of fig. 1.

The parameter indicator 300 includes a plurality of different color changing regions that may be responsive to (sensitive to) different environmental parameters and/or may be responsive at different times. The different sensitive areas may have different shapes, such as the square or circle shown, for easy recognition when the server analyzes the data carried during the tag. In addition, there may be two or more color-changing regions that respond to the same parameters to provide redundancy of measurements in the event of, for example, a label failure. To enable image adjustment, some color change areas may also be used as image adjustment indicators similar to the image adjustment indicator 21 of fig. 1. To enable them to do this, the product indicator and/or database may store data indicating what the locations of the color-changing regions on the label should be, what the distances between the color-changing regions should be, and how large they are. As in S12 and S13 of fig. 4A, the reading device and/or server should be enabled to skew and resize the label image.

FIG. 6A shows another example of the measurement tag of FIG. 6A. The parameter indicator of the measurement tag is surrounded by a frame which, like the frame shown in fig. 1, has one color reference area (three red, green and blue squares are shown in grayscale), although in this case there are four color reference areas on each side of the frame. The frame also has an image adjustment indicator, typically in the form of a rear square at the corners of the frame, and a positive direction indicator as provided by the four black squares in fig. 1. In fig. 6A, the color changing area of the parameter indicator is arranged in the middle area of the measurement tag, e.g. as a plurality of square areas or blocks a, in this example surrounding a blank diamond area B for subsequent extending the functionality of the tag, e.g. for other inductive color changing materials, information, etc. In this case, the product data may be encoded in a pattern formed by the color-changing regions, or may be a bar code or other code (not shown) external to the frame

FIG. 6B shows a measurement tag in which the frame or border of FIG. 6A has been added to the tag of FIG. 5.

Fig. 6C shows a measurement label in which the positive direction indicator 400 is provided at one corner (e.g., the upper left corner in fig. 6C), and is L-shaped with an inclined end and with a thick line frame. A product indicator 300 in the form of a QR code (which may carry another positive direction indicator) is placed at another corner (opposite corner in this example) and the color-changing area of the parameter indicator 200 is arranged in an L-shape. The shape between the product indicator 300 and the positive direction indicator 400 is white and the space for the blank area is shown as a white square 600 for subsequent expansion of the label function.

Fig. 6D shows a measurement tag similar to that shown in fig. 6A. Fig. 7 shows a measurement tag similar to that shown in fig. 6A, but without a frame of reference and the shape of the tag is asymmetrical (one edge shown in the example has a triangular or arrow shape) to indicate a positive direction. To enable image adjustment, some color change areas may also be used as image adjustment indicators similar to the image adjustment indicator 21 of fig. 1. To enable them to do this, the product indicator and/or database may store data indicating where these color changing regions should be on the label, what the distance between these color changing regions should be, and what their size is. As in S12 and S13 of fig. 4A, the reading device and/or server should be enabled to skew and resize the label image. In this example, as well as any other label without color reference indicators, it is possible to calibrate the color data to a standard model, such as an RGB standard color model, during the experimental data acquisition described above with reference to fig. 4A.

Although square areas may be shown on the depicted label, other shapes may be used, such as circular, elliptical, and prismatic.

Thus, each color changing region of the parameter indicator comprises a color changing material that is sensitive to the factor or parameter to be measured or monitored, such that the color represents the value (or range of values) of the parameter and the change in color. color denotes the variation in the value (or range of values) of the parameter. The parameters to be measured will depend on the product.

Examples of environmental factors or parameters to which the color changing material may be sensitive include temperature, humidity, gas concentration such as oxygen or carbon dioxide, presence of particular substances, pressure, applied force, etc., as well as changes in these over time and over time themselves. The color change material may change color reversibly or irreversibly.

In the case where the color-changing regions irreversibly change color, then strips or rows of color-changing regions that change color at different values of the parameter may be provided to indicate how the parameter changes over time.

As described above, the product indicator may be in the form of a code, such as a bar code or QR code carrying product data and/or a character identifier for company profiles or product information.

As described above, the measurement tag may contain a color reference area that can be referenced by the reading device to adjust the color of the resulting image to compensate for color differences due to factors such as different reading devices, different captured light fields, and different color sensitivities. The color reference area may employ red, green and blue as reference marks each having a color intended to represent a corresponding one of red, green and blue in an RGB standard color space model, or may use a reference mark in another standard color model, such as a CMYK (cyan yellow, magenta, black) or HSV (hue, saturation, value) standard color space model.

The measurement tag may include a positive direction indicator (e.g., indicating a change in a parameter over time) for indicating a direction to read a continuous color scale of the measurement tag. The positive indicator may be provided by or on the product indicator instead of or in addition to the positive indicator. The positive direction indicator may be provided by a label having an asymmetric shape or an asymmetric pattern defined by a color-changing area.

The measurement tag may include one or more blank areas reserved for future use to expand the capability of the measurement tag, for example by adding more reference areas or by adding more color change areas. The product indicator, parameter indicator, color reference indicator, forward indicator and image alignment indicator ("fiducial mark") may be provided at any suitable location on the measurement tag, provided that the product indicator may contain information about the corresponding location of the indicator, other data on the tag may identify the corresponding indicator, or the location tag or tag type (identified by the data carried by the tag) may be preset for a particular measurement and stored in a database, and/or by a reading device and/or server depending on the measurement tag type, for example.

The label 100 may include an adhesive (e.g., adhesive) layer, a substrate layer, and a protective layer. The color-changing area 200 and the information area 300 can be carried by (disposed in or on) a substrate layer. The adhesive layer may be used to adhere the label to a product or a portion of a product environment, such as one or more of a food packaging bag, an outer surface of a package, and an inner surface of a container. The protective layer may be an airtight, transparent or translucent film material which prevents the ingress of, for example, air and water vapour prior to use of the measurement label. The protective layer may be removed prior to use of the label.

The color-changing inductive material can be any suitable color-changing material. For example, it may be an inductively color changing strip having different areas, and the areas may appear different colors depending on changes in environmental conditions, such as temperature, humidity, oxygen concentration, time, presence of chemical or physical contact (e.g., skin moisture), and the like. It may also be that the material indicating elapsed time comprises a material that changes color over time, and the measurement tag may contain a "timed test area" formed of such material, such as where oxidation of the material causes a change in its color, so that the oxidation of the material can be used to assess the process duration (e.g., transit time). It may also be a material or composition that changes color as a result of a chemical and/or biological reaction of two substances, such as test strips, which are commonly involved in the detection of carbon dioxide, mold, aldehydes, alcohols, even cold chains, engine-generated gaseous exhaust gases, and the like. Further examples, which may be a multilayer material structure in which the top layer changes state (e.g., becomes opaque to mask the color of the underlying layer, or becomes transparent to expose the color of the underlying layer, or melts into the underlying layer resulting in a color change), one example is a multilayer material structure used in a fluorescent test paper used under high temperature and dark conditions in which the underlying layer or layers are fluorescent material and the top layer or surface layer is a reversible temperature-sensitive color changing material (changing from transparent to colored). Another possibility is a multilayer structure formed by layers of materials with different melting points and different colors, so that at different temperatures, different layers melt to assume different colors. As another possibility, a high polymer material may be used, for example, in which the surface of the high polymer material is coated with a substance whose optical properties change with changes in environmental conditions.

Fig. 13 shows an example of a measuring system comprising a detection device for selecting a respective sensitive color-changing material 12 according to pre-measured data and for forming a measuring label 13 comprising at least one sensitive color for replacing the material 12 according to measurement requirements. The detection device comprises a reading device, for example a mobile phone having a camera 21 and a processor of at least one processor 23 with a memory 22 configured to store a computer program, wherein execution of the computer program enables reading of the measurement tag. A memory or other storage device stores the first scale, the second scale, the third scale and an analysis algorithm for the measurement method. Other reading devices may be used, such as a tablet computer or a dedicated image acquisition instrument.

The reading device may be configured to couple to a network to enable data acquisition and upload, e.g., to cloud storage. In the case of fig. 13 and in the case of fig. 1, at least some of the functions of the reading device (e.g. data storage and software) may be based on the cloud 22, thereby enabling optimization of the image acquisition (reading). The device reduces the cost and promotes mass production.

The monitoring of the edible product fresh cherries will now be taken as an example.

The cherries, upon being freshly picked from the trees by farmers, can be transported to stores and customers in various ways. The choice of mode of transportation depends on various constraints such as cost, distance traveled, and product. Air transport is used to transport food between continents with limited shelf life. Road and rail transport is preferred in countries or continents, and trains are used mainly in countries where it is necessary to cover a large distance. Maritime cargo is less expensive and plays a major role, using specialized vessels such as refrigerated containers, trucks and container ships to provide a supply chain ("cold chain") of controlled temperature. Regardless of the mode of transportation chosen, the journey for eating the agricultural produce remains complex, becoming longer as the food passes through various production, packaging and distribution centres, thus increasing the range of the food. Consumers at the end of a chain may use their own cars while shopping. At the end, the food may have traveled thousands of miles before reaching our dishes. There are miles of environmental cost.

Transporting cherries by air from a cherry orchard in one country to another may take eight hours, while the same trip may take two days if the cherries are transported by truck. If the journey is complex and must be divided into air and land transportation, then the cherries may have to travel one to three more days. If the budget is low, shipping and road transport may take longer, up to 20 days. Cherries should be transported under conditions to remain fresh. For example, if the temperature is kept at about 0 ℃, the humidity is kept at 90-95%, the CO2 concentration is between 20% and 25%, and the O2 concentration is between 3% and 5%, the cherries can be kept fresh for 30 to 45 days.

Fig. 14 shows a schematic diagram of an example of a measurement tag associated with the transportation of cherries, for example, attached to a container carrying cherries. The measurement tag has a similar frame as in fig. 6D, but a color change indication area is provided around the product information area (in the form of a QR code). The product information field may indicate the required details, including not only cherry type, but also date and time, lot picked, expected actual shipping route and expected time to possibly reach the destination.

The measuring tag shown in fig. 14 has six kinds of color-changing indicating units. In fig. 14, the area labeled "color 1-X" (where X ═ 1, 2, 3, or 4) is selected with a reversible color change temperature sensitive color change material to show the temperature at which the label was scanned. An example of a thermochromic reversible temperature-sensitive color change material is a thermochromic material that provides a color change upon heating or cooling due to electron transfer or a change in crystal structure. Common examples of thermochromic liquid crystals include cholesteric liquids (reflecting long wavelengths (red) at lower temperatures and short wavelengths (blue) at higher temperatures). Examples of cholesteric liquids include cholesteryl nano acid esters and cholesteryl acid esters. In this measurement label, the region labeled "color 1-1" changes from red to blue at temperatures above 5 degrees celsius (as a threshold temperature) and from blue to red at temperatures below 5 degrees celsius. The threshold temperatures of the color changes of the regions 'color 1-2', 'color 1-3' and 'color 1-4' are 10 ℃, 21 ℃ and 31 ℃, respectively.

The area labeled "color 2-X" is a temperature sensitive material that is irreversibly discolored and can permanently indicate the maximum temperature experienced by the cherry during storage. Taking this embodiment as an example, the irreversible thermochromic material may have a two-layer structure in which the lower layer is a photonic crystal and the upper layer is, for example, a paraffin-based material that melts from a solid to a liquid at a certain temperature. When the temperature is lower than the melting point of the upper material, the photonic crystal shows a specific color. However, when the temperature exceeds the melting point, the upper material liquefies into the gaps of the photonic crystal, and the color of the photonic crystal changes irreversibly. Irreversible discoloration temperature sensitive discoloration materials can record the maximum temperature experienced, but cannot record the time at which the maximum temperature occurs. For example, the upper layer of the region labeled "color 2-1" is made of n-tetradecane (melting point of n-tetradecane is 5.5 degrees celsius), and the lower layer is made of photonic crystals, which change color from blue to blue. The paraffin liquid is green when entering the lower layer gap. The threshold temperatures of color 2-2, color 2-3 and color 2-4 are 10 deg.C, 36.6 deg.C and 40 deg.C, respectively.

The region labeled "color 3" is made of a color-changing reversible humidity sensing material, such as a metal compound, for example, CoCl 2. For example, when the humidity is above 60%, the "color 3" will change from orange to blue.

The region labeled "color 4" is made of a reversible color changing water sensing material that will be transparent when contacted by water. Examples of reversible water-sensing materials can include water-chromic materials, such as water-chromic white C-1224 and SFXC water-chromic wet dominant inks, water-chromic polydiacetylene complexes. For example, a red layer is attached under the water sensing layer, and once in contact with water, the "color 4" will change from white to red when the ink layer becomes transparent.

The area labeled "color 5" is made of CO2 sensing material of PH indicator paper (e.g., M-cresol purple), alkaline substance, polymer, plasticizer, white pigment, solvent (see CN 104974380 a). This material turned from blue to pale green at 2% CO2, light yellow at 5% CO2, and yellow at over 10% CO 2.

The area labeled "color 6" is a PH indicator paper for sensing gases emitted by rotting food, such as food. Hydrogen sulfide. Indicators such as phenolphthalein, methyl red, and bromothymol blue may be used to indicate the respective pH ranges of about 8 to 10, 4.5 to 6, and 6 to 7.5. Within these ranges, phenolphthalein changes from colorless to pink, methyl red changes from red to yellow, and bromothymol blue changes from yellow to blue.

As discussed above with respect to fig. 3, theoretical (supplier) data for each of these color sensitive materials is acquired and stored in a theoretical data set (first scale), with the data associating each color parameter with a sensed parameter. The sensing color-changing material changes color along with the change of the actual environment. The R, G and B standard color model values (color code values and/or images) may be stored in the data set and color-contrasted with the R, G, B colors in the color reference regions of the measurement tag in the acquired image. The stored data may also indicate whether a particular thermochromic material is irreversible or reversible. In this example, this theoretical data set (first scale) may provide real-time (current) temperature, maximum temperature experienced, real-time (current) humidity, wet or dry indicators, CO2 concentration level, and PH.

Theoretical data set
		Real time temperature	5℃<Real time temperature<10℃
Maximum temperature	Not higher than 5 deg.C
		Real-time humidity	>60％
Dry and wet	Dry matter
		Concentration of carbon dioxide	Ordinary air
PH	7

The data for these inductively variable materials at different stages in each experiment are acquired by taking images of the measured measurement label taken during one or more experiments and stored in the experimental data set (second scale) described above with respect to fig. 4A. Meanwhile, additional sensors are used in the cherry transportation experiment environment to acquire data. These sensors may be measuring illumination (light level), air quality, humidity and temperature in the actual package and in the cargo container so that the accuracy of the monitoring results obtained from the label image can be calibrated with the data provided by the actual sensors at various stages during transportation, which will make the parameter value detection more accurate. Since this data is acquired under actual use conditions and measured and utilized as a calibration by the sensor at that time. The following are examples of experimental data for haul route 2:

the estimate data set (third scale) may be generated simultaneously as discussed above with reference to fig. 4B. When the label image is taken and their perception of the cherries is uploaded along with the label image, it may be provided simultaneously with measurement data set by a human tester along the transportation path of the cherries, which inspection data inspects the cherries and their environment along the transportation path of the cherries. For example: taste (sweet and sour), smell (good, oil cooked, begin to rot), feel/texture (hard, soft, etc.), and the like.

For example, when an image of a tag is uploaded by a customer or a shop owner's reading device, the server may access all three data sets and the product information stored by the product indicator and read the same tag by earlier obtained previous timestamp data, possibly also reading data from the internet, such as a shipping log and GPS data for transfer. The server may then output results incorporating these data, such as data from different sources using QR code links, so that the experimental data will enable the interrogator to know, for example, whether the cherries were delivered by refrigerated transport (temperature indicated by temperature sensitive color change area of the tag), whether the transport conditions were correct (based on stored data indicating correct conditions for transporting the cherries and parameter data obtained from the tag), whether the cherries were from QR code based products, and product freshness based on a combination of stored human perception data and parameter data obtained by reading the tag.

FIG. 15 is an illustration of a method for monitoring the freshness of an edible product, such as cherries. In this example, at the production end 1501, a farmer picks cherries from cherry trees. Then, at the beginning of the shipping phase 1502, cherries are packaged into boxes 102 and a measurement label 101 is affixed to each box 102. The transportation route of the box 102 may involve air transportation, road transportation, rail transportation, and sea transportation.

In stage 1502, the measurement tag may be automatically monitored by, for example, a monitoring camera 103 installed in the refrigerated vehicle, and/or manually inspected by a worker, such as a driver of the refrigerated vehicle. The monitoring camera 103 is connected to software configured to access the server 105.

The server 105 stores a performance database corresponding to the standard performance parameters of the sensing color-changing material in the database to form a first scale; various parameters and change data related to measurement requirements in the cherry or the transportation environment of the cherry (for example, measurement data is carried out through a sensor installed on a truck), color change data of a measurement label in the corresponding measurement environment are correlated to form a second scale, the cherry actually and artificially senses change degree data (for example, appearance, feeling or taste), and color change data of the corresponding measurement label is acquired to form a third scale.

The software, upon recognizing the measurement tag, may access the database and output the measurement results (e.g., the cherries may only be kept fresh for 5 days) and/or the current conditions inside the refrigerated vehicle (e.g., the temperature inside the refrigerated vehicle is too high or the humidity is too low).

Finally, box 102 reaches the end of the supply chain, client 1503. The customer takes a picture of the measurement tag using his mobile phone and uses the phone application to access the server 105 to output the measurement, e.g. "cherry is ripe and fresh in this box". Please eat them within four days. "or" cherries are no longer suitable for consumption! It was fresh when picked on the farm, but the temperature in the delivery truck was too high. ", depending on the reading of the measurement tag.

It should be understood that while cherry transportation is described above, the present invention is applicable to other transportation and storage of edible and non-edible products, such as pharmaceuticals and pharmaceuticals, medical products, electronic products, and electrical products, among others. Indeed, the present disclosure is applicable to products that may be affected by their environment during transportation, storage and/or use.

The disclosure of the present embodiment shall also include reference to fig. 1X, fig. 2X, fig. 3X, fig. 4X, fig. 5 to fig. 12.

The present invention relates to the field of measurement and identification, and more particularly to a method and apparatus for product monitoring.

The physical state of the object can be detected through artificial perception or corresponding tools, or the physical state of the object can be reflected through detecting the environment of the object; however, with human perception imprecision and inability to be used on a large scale, measurements can be made with conventional passive metrology measurement tools or active measurement system tools using existing detection means.

For example, because a certain requirement requires measuring the temperature of an enclosed space, a conventional tool measuring means may be to place a traditional liquid thermometer in the enclosed space and obtain a temperature value by visual reading, but this method has low accuracy, low automation degree, and is not suitable for large-scale use; with the increasing progress of electronics and related technologies, more active measurement tools have changed the traditional measurement method, such as using a temperature sensor and a system thereof, a temperature sensor probe can be placed in a closed space to sense the temperature, then the probe transmits data to a calculation module of the measurement system for calculation to obtain a temperature value result, the temperature value result obtained by the system can be not only informed to a user through a display screen, but also can be in a computer system data form, and compared with a data output mode of a liquid thermometer, the temperature value result can be stored in a computer and an internet system more conveniently.

Obviously, the sensing principle, the using mode, the result obtaining method and even the output and using mode of the result data of the two tool measuring modes are different. The most obvious differences are among them active or passive systems, the derived data being visual readings or computer system data.

Meanwhile, the detection can also be realized by adopting artificial perception, for example, the temperature of an enclosed space is also measured. Although very accurate temperature numerical data cannot be obtained by means of human sensing, it is possible to let a person enter the space and sense an approximate temperature level with physical senses on the premise of safety. Furthermore, the human sensing method can also be based on the result of "estimation value" obtained by human observation, experience evaluation, etc., for example, the "comfort level" of the human under a certain temperature condition of the enclosed space is an "estimation value". Thus, the "comfort level" may also be defined herein as the "state" of an environment. And, this "comfort level" is a result of requiring multiple factor judgment rather than a single temperature factor to determine, as a sick person and a healthy person have different ambient temperature requirements for comfort. Obviously, such an "estimate" of the "comfort level" is not obtained by simple temperature measurement means, but is based on the temperature data obtained by measurement, combined with a certain amount of multidimensional other data: such as human body related data, and then analyzed and calculated by using a specific algorithm.

However, the above method is an artificial original method, and is not an automatic operation by modern equipment, nor a scientific and simple operation.

The state or characteristic of the object may change over time, e.g. the physical state of the edible product may change over time. Depending on the way it is stored or used, and this variation may affect the quality of the product, for example its freshness. If the product is stored or used for a period of time, it may be damaged to various degrees due to environmental factors, usage habits, and the like, thereby affecting the quality of the product.

For example, when a commonly used mobile phone is knocked and randomly released in the using process, internal parts of the mobile phone are easy to damage, and whether the mobile phone needs to be replaced or not is difficult to judge through eye observation by people; and if the mobile phone needs to be sold, the mobile phone is difficult to estimate accurately, and a lower price can be sold due to wrong judgment of the freshness, so that unnecessary loss is caused.

For example, with the progress of science and technology, people pay more and more attention to the freshness and safety of agricultural products. A large amount of agricultural products need to be transported and stored by trucks for long distance or short distance, however, the quality of the agricultural products can be affected by the change of transportation conditions such as temperature and the like in the transportation process of the agricultural products, and even the agricultural products are deteriorated, rotten and damaged and cannot be eaten. It is essential for consumers and transportation personnel to know the transportation conditions experienced by agricultural products in the transportation process truly and conveniently.

The edible produce may have a label or tag (provided on the produce itself or on the produce container) to provide information about the characteristics of the produce. In particular, the label or tag may indicate the name, weight, volume, purpose, and other information of the article. The label or tag may be a printed label and may or may not carry one or more keywords and/or one or more codes or codes such as a barcode or QR code.

These labels or tags are an information carrier. The information carried may range from a simple identification of the product ("merchandise identification") to a combination of the simple merchandise identification with a code capable of carrying more complex information, such as a barcode or QR code. Such tags or labels are widely used in the trade, logistics and services industries of modern society.

The present embodiments provide a method and apparatus for product monitoring, providing a tag that carries, in addition to being an information carrier, a label for monitoring the freshness of edible products (e.g., meat, fish, vegetables, fruits, etc.). Information that facilitates product monitoring, such as information about the current or past environment of a product that may have downloaded an application ("app") that implements product monitoring, may be sensed or read by an electronic device (e.g., a mobile phone). Embodiments may provide simpler, less costly, and more information-based application solutions in many application areas.

The present embodiment provides a measuring method, a measuring system and a storage device for the above-described product monitoring, which can more easily, conveniently and efficiently measure the state of an object (product) and/or the state of the environment in which the object is placed.

This embodiment provides a measurement tag with one or more thermochromic materials, each of which is sensitive to one of the environmental factors or corresponding parameters experienced by the product or its environment, e.g., the package or container in which the product is held. Examples of environmental factors or parameters include temperature, humidity, concentration of gases such as oxygen or carbon dioxide, and the like.

The measurement tag may provide an indication of the environmental parameter to be measured. The actual color of the color changing indicator element represents a value (or range of values of the parameter) and thus a change in color of a particular color changing indicator element represents a change in the value (or range of values) of the parameter. The measurement tag can be read by taking an image of the measurement tag using a reading device, for example, using a camera of a mobile phone (mobile phone). The reading device may access a database which for each color of the color changing indicator area is associated with a value (or range of values) of the respective parameter. The database may contain a first data set (first scale) representing theoretical data, which may be provided by the manufacturer of the color change material, and having different parameter values for different possible colors of the color change material, thereby providing theoretical calibration data. The database may additionally or alternatively contain a second data set (second scale) representing experimental data obtained by subjecting an actual sample measurement tag (possibly associated with a sample of an actual product) to the same or similar process as the environment. Where the product to be monitored will be present. The experimental calibration data may be obtained by taking readings of parameter values over a period of time using separate sensors (e.g., thermometer for temperature, humidity sensor for humidity, etc.), and for each sensor reading, and correspondingly taking an image of each measurement tag, and storing the color of the indicator along with the associated sensor data value, thereby providing experimental calibration data.

Such experimental calibration data will also be calibrated for the reading device if the reading device used for acquiring the experimental data is of the same type as the reading data used for the actual measurement. However, to address the possibility that other reading devices may be used during the measurement process, or to address the case where there may be no experimental data set (second scale), the measurement tag may also be provided with color reference regions (e.g. red, green and red). The reading device or a computer to which the reading device has access may calibrate the color difference data read by the reading device or computer against the first or second data set (scale) it stores.

The measurement tag may also contain a positive direction indication area or an image correction indication area to enable the read image data to be processed or manipulated so that the image has the appropriate size and orientation.

The measurement method may include a requirement (requirement) determination step, a data set (scale) construction step, a data processing step, and an actual measurement step. These steps do not have to be performed one after the other, nor by the same device or means. For example, the actual measurement step may, and indeed will, typically be performed separately from the other steps. The demand determining step may include: at least one measurement parameter representative of the object (product) to be measured and/or the environment of the product is determined. For example, the parameter may be, among others, the temperature of the product or its environment, the humidity of the product environment, the concentration of gas in the product environment, etc. The dataset (scale) construction step may comprise one or more of: selecting a color-changing material to be sensed for each parameter to be measured, acquiring color-changing performance parameters provided by the theory or manufacturer of the color-changing material, and forming a first data set (namely a first scale of color relative to the parameter value) with the color change associated with the parameters; for the parameters to be actually measured, the product and the sample measuring label with the color-changing material can be simultaneously placed in a preset environment for testing or experiment. Acquiring a real-time image of the measuring label in the environment change process, acquiring actual measurement data under the test environment condition by using an additional corresponding sensor, acquiring an actual experiment parameter measurement result related to color change data from the sensor measurement data corresponding to the real-time color data in the image of the measuring label, and forming a second data set (a second scale) associated with the actually measured parameter value corresponding to the color change of the actually measured label; the product and corresponding sample measurement label with color change material are placed in its intended environment, images of the measurement label are obtained under different environmental conditions, while human perception data (for edible product annotation, such as "freshly melted", "seemingly ripe", "seemingly/melt overcooked", "wrinkled", "dry", "bruised", "rotten", etc.) are obtained, real-time color data changes in the measurement label image correspond to the human perception data with the parameter values and form a third data set (third scale). The algorithm development step may include developing a measurement analysis algorithm based on the measurement requirements in combination with one or more of the first scale, the second scale and the third scale. The measuring step may include acquiring a real-time image of the measurement tag and, if necessary, performing a standard recovery on the real-time image; and extracting corresponding color data of the sensitive color-changing material, and substituting the corresponding color data into a result analysis algorithm to obtain a measurement result.

Preferably, the measurement tag comprises at least one detection and identification area arranged at the preset placement position and a positive direction identification area for acquiring the positive direction of the measurement tag (i.e. wherein the positive direction represents the direction). The continuous color scale of which measurement tag is read to indicate the change in the parameter over time (e.g., and the sensitive color change material is disposed in the corresponding detection and identification zone.

Preferably, the measurement tag comprises at least one detection and identification area and an information identification area arranged in preset placement positions, on which a first positive direction identification structure for acquiring the positive direction of the measurement tag is arranged. The information identification area, or a second positive direction identification structure for acquiring the positive direction of the measurement tag, is provided at a free position of the measurement tag.

Preferably, the measurement tag includes a color reference area, and the step of obtaining the color parameter of the measurement tag includes: an image of the color reference area is acquired in the measurement tag to acquire a reference measurement color of the color reference area. A color reference region; comparing the reference measured color with a preset standard color to obtain an image property deviation value between the reference measured color and the standard color (thereby solving the problem discussed above that read color data may have different color sensitivity depending on the reading apparatus); and capturing images of the detection identification areas in the measurement label, acquiring the identification measurement color of each detection identification area, and acquiring the actual color of each detection identification area according to the image attribute deviation value.

Preferably, the method for constructing the performance database of the first scale comprises the following steps: acquiring standard color parameters which are displayed differently along with the change of the standard performance parameters according to the standard performance parameters of the sensitive color-changing material; acquiring inherent performance parameters of the sensitive color-changing material according to the standard performance parameters of the sensitive color-changing material; and combining the standard color parameters and the inherent performance parameters to construct a performance database of the first scale.

Preferably, the construction method for the second scale comprises: providing at least one measurement environment, each measurement environment comprising a plurality of environmental factors; and or respectively adjusting one or more environmental factors according to a preset rule in a preset data range corresponding to the measurement environment to obtain a corresponding variable measurement environment; in a measuring environment, acquiring first color change data corresponding to a color change process of a measuring label; or, in the variable measurement environment, acquiring second color change data corresponding to the color change process of the measurement label; constructing a data model based on the first color changing process data and the corresponding measurement environment to form a second scale; or constructing a data model of the measurement environment based on the second color change process data and the corresponding variable to form a second scale.

Preferably, the method for constructing the third scale comprises: acquiring a first actual change degree of the measured object within a preset time period according to the measurement environment, or acquiring a second actual change degree of the measured object within the preset time period according to the variable measurement environment; when the actual change degree comprises image information or text description information related to the measured object, the text description comprises related description of the actual change degree of the measured object; constructing a data model based on the first color change data and the first actual change degree to form a third scale; or constructing a data model based on the second color change data and the second actual degree of change to form a third scale.

An embodiment provides a measurement method, including: providing corresponding sensitive color-changing materials according to the pre-measured data, and integrating at least one sensitive color-changing material to form a measurement label. The measuring method comprises a requirement determining step, a scale constructing step, an algorithm developing step and an actual measuring step, and specifically comprises the following steps: a requirement determining step: and determining the measurement parameters of the measured object and/or the measurement environment according to the measurement result. Measuring the demand; scale construction: selecting a corresponding sensitive color-changing material and a corresponding measuring label according to the measuring parameters, wherein the sensitive color-changing material and the measuring label are arranged on a measured object and/or in a measuring environment, and at least one of a first scale, a second scale and a third scale is constructed; obtaining standard performance parameters of the sensitive color-changing material to form a corresponding performance database and a first scale; acquiring parameters and change data related to measurement requirements from the measured object and/or the measurement environment thereof, and acquiring color change data of the measurement label in the corresponding measurement environment to form a second scale; acquiring actual change degree data of the measured object in a measuring environment, and acquiring color change data corresponding to the measuring label to form a third scale; and (3) algorithm development steps: and developing a measurement result analysis algorithm according to the measurement requirement and in combination with one or more of the first scale, the second scale and the third scale. And (3) actual measurement: acquiring a real-time image of the measurement label, and performing standard recovery on the real-time image; and extracting corresponding color data of the sensitive color-changing material, and substituting the corresponding color data into a result analysis algorithm to obtain a measurement result.

An embodiment of the present disclosure provides a measurement system, including: detection means for providing respective sensitive color change materials according to pre-measured data and for integrating at least one sensitive color change material according to the above method. Measuring the demand and forming a measurement tag, and storing a computer program executable to implement the steps of the measurement method; the detection device includes: a storage device for storing the first scale, the second scale, the third scale and a result analysis algorithm in the measurement method; and a measuring device for performing the actual measuring step in the detection method, and the measuring device is connected with the storage device to acquire the relevant data in the storage device.

Compared with the prior art, the invention has the advantages that by designing a measuring method, a measuring system and a storage device, and constructing a corresponding scale according to a sensitive color-changing material, a measuring label and a measured object, the invention is used for reflecting the theoretical value, the measured value and the evaluation value of the product state and obtaining computer data, so that a computer conveniently obtains the related adopted serial numbers of the physical state or other objects or environments through accurate and intelligent analysis and calculation, thereby quickly obtaining the actual numerical value or numerical value and achieving higher intelligent level; in addition, the accuracy of image judgment can be further improved by capturing the image of the color reference area. Meanwhile, a plurality of color intervals are provided, and after the color of the measurement tag is more carefully divided into color values, the color values correspond to the color intervals, thereby ensuring more accurate judgment.

The embodiment provides a measurement tag, which is used for solving the problems of complexity and low efficiency of the existing tag data acquisition mode and further solving the problem of single purpose.

Embodiments provide a measurement label including a label body, a color change region and an information region, wherein the color change region includes at least a color change region made of a color change material for sensing a change. In a given environmental parameter, such as temperature, humidity, concentration of a particular gas (e.g. oxygen or carbon dioxide).

Preferably, the product information area includes a two-dimensional code, and the monitoring indication area is provided on the tag main body with a forward direction of the two-dimensional code as a forward direction.

Preferably, the color-changing indicating unit is disposed on the measurement tag body around the periphery of the two-dimensional code.

Preferably, the measurement label further includes a positive direction indication area, wherein the color change indication unit is provided on the label body, and a forward direction of the positive direction identification area is set to a positive direction.

Preferably, the positive direction identification area comprises at least a direction identification structure, wherein the structure orientation of the direction identification structure is set to the positive direction of the positive direction identification area or to the position orientation of the direction identification. The structure is set to the positive direction of the positive direction recognition area.

Preferably, the shape of the tag body is a recognizable forward direction shape, and the discoloring region is provided on the tag body with the forward direction of the tag body as a forward direction.

Preferably, the product information area includes a two-dimensional code layer, a bar code layer or a character identifier layer for identifying the company profile or the product information.

Preferably, the measurement tag further comprises a colour reference region.

Preferably, the measurement tag further comprises a blank reserved area.

Preferably, the colour change material may comprise, for example, one or more of: thermosensitive color-changing materials, humidity-sensitive color-changing materials, specific substance-sensitive color-changing materials, timed color-changing materials or force-sensitive color-changing materials.

The present embodiments provide a measurement tag that provides an environment monitoring function in addition to carrying tag product data as compared to conventional tags, thereby extending the application range of the tag, and thus implementing a low-cost and efficient method for data carrying and product measurement.

Fig. 1X-3X illustrate an embodiment of a measurement method.

The measurement method shown in fig. 1X includes providing a product with a label or tag, wherein the label or tag is carried by the product or its packaging or container, for example, and the label or tag has at least one color that changes with material as a function of a parameter associated with the product being monitored, wherein the parameter may be, for example, product temperature or product environment, product ambient humidity, gas concentration (O2 or product environment). The measurement method may include a demand (demand) demand determination step; and scale construction step S12 in fig. 1X; algorithm development steps S13, S12 in fig. 1X; actual measurement steps S14, S12 in fig. 1X.

The sensitive color-changing material of the measurement label can be calibrated by using theoretical or experimental data as described above. Thus, a database may be generated comprising a first data set (first scale) representing theoretical data, which theoretical data may be provided by the manufacturer of the color change material and have different parameter values for different possible colors of the color change material, thereby providing theoretical value calibration data. The database may additionally or alternatively contain a second data set (second scale) representing experimental data, which may be generated by placing an actual sample measurement tag (possibly associated with a sample of an actual product) in the same or the same environment. Similar to where the product to be monitored is located. The experimental calibration data may be obtained by taking readings of parameter values over a period of time using separate sensors (e.g., thermometer for temperature, humidity sensor for humidity, etc.), and for each sensor reading, an image of the measurement label should also be taken and the color of the indicator stored with the associated sensor data value, thereby providing experimental calibration data.

The measurement label includes at least one sensitive color-changing material similar to a measurement strip. Depending on the parameter to be measured or detected, the measurement tag may contain different types of areas or zones ("test strips") that change color in response to changes in the different parameters. For example, a measurement tag for sensing temperature and humidity would be provided with a temperature sensitive material region and a humidity sensitive material region with corresponding sensitive color change materials.

In the first embodiment, referring to fig. 1X, the scale constructing step in fig. 2X includes:

step S121 in fig. 2X: and selecting corresponding sensitive color-changing materials and measuring labels according to the measuring parameters, and arranging the sensitive color-changing materials and the measuring labels on the measured object and/or in the measuring environment.

Step S122 in fig. 2X: standard performance parameters of the sensitive color-changing material are obtained to form a corresponding performance database representing expected color changes formed as a function of the specified parameters to form a first scale.

Step S123 in fig. 2X: parameters and change data relating to measurement requirements of the object and/or the object environment are acquired, and color change data of the measurement label is acquired in the corresponding measurement environment, i.e. experimental data representing measured color changes and measured changes of the specified parameters are acquired, thereby forming a second scale.

Step S124 in fig. 2X: actual change degree data of the object in its measurement environment is acquired, and color change data corresponding to the measurement label is acquired to form a third scale.

In step S121 of fig. 2X, the currently measured requirements, such as a change in physical characteristics of the subject, a change in parameter values of the subject environment, a measurement data range, a measurement time period, and the like, are acquired in the requirement determination step. Based on this information, the appropriate color-changing material and measurement label can be selected and measured.

In step S122, the standard performance parameter of the sensitive color-changing material may be described as a performance map of a certain parameter threshold range, and stored in the form of a performance database to facilitate subsequent data acquisition. Preferably, the first scale reflects theoretical values, such as intrinsic performance parameters of a certain sensitive color-changing material, and actual measurement data at the time of delivery.

Meanwhile, by integrating a plurality of sensitive color-changing materials into the composite sensitive color-changing material (namely, color-changing 'test paper'), corresponding changes can be obtained through different color-changing test paper.

In step S123 of fig. 2X, a measurement value is acquired. Firstly, various parameters and change data related to measurement requirements are acquired for an object and/or the environment of the object through related environment measurement tools (sensors); secondly, the color change data of the measurement tag in the corresponding measurement environment is acquired through the existing or specific image acquisition system, and the color of the measurement tag can be changed according to the change of the measurement environment. The second scale is used for associating various parameters and the change data of the measured object or/and the measuring environment thereof with each color change data of the corresponding measuring label by acquiring the parameters or the change data in the measuring environment and/or the measuring environment. The color change of the label was measured as a reference standard.

Furthermore, the processing is based on the measured value of the measurement tag, i.e. the data transformation of the actual alteration of the measurement tag, in combination with the measurement environment (including variable and constant measurement environments, where constant represents a relatively stable state) and the color change of the measurement tag.

In step S124 in fig. 2X, specifically, according to the standard measurement environment or according to the variable measurement environment, the actual change degree of the measured object in the preset time period is obtained, where the change degree includes image information or text description information about the measured object; the third scale is based on a database corresponding to the actual degree of change and forms change measurement data of the measurement label in combination with the change of the corresponding measurement label.

The actual degree of change includes measurable data or information that is manually evaluated.

For example, regarding the transportation of a certain fruit, in the whole cold chain environment, the color change of the measuring label and the change degree corresponding to the appearance of the fruit under corresponding conditions are obtained, the change degree of the appearance of the fruit and the color change of the measuring label (for reflecting the parameter change of the cold chain environment) are combined to form a third level, and through the change degree, the freshness degree and even the attenuation degree can be obtained; freshness refers to a criterion for evaluating the freshness of fruit, such as color and brightness of the fruit surface, and the degree of decay refers to the degree of decay of the fruit. And the degree of attenuation is obtained.

For example, regarding the transportation of a certain fruit, in the whole non-cold chain environment (even possibly a harsher environment), the color change of the measuring label and the change degree corresponding to the appearance obtain the change amount of the fruit under corresponding conditions, and the change degree of the fruit appearance is combined with the color change of the measuring label (the parameter change for reflecting the cold chain environment) to form a third grade; by varying the degree, freshness and even decay can be obtained; freshness refers to a criterion for evaluating the freshness of fruit, such as color and brightness of the fruit surface, and the degree of decay refers to the degree of decay of the fruit. And the degree of attenuation is obtained.

In this embodiment, the algorithm development step includes:

a result analysis algorithm is developed for measuring the object to be measured according to its measurement requirements in combination with one or more of the first, second and third scales.

In this embodiment, referring to fig. 3X, the actual measurement step includes:

step S31 in fig. 3X: acquiring a real-time image of the measurement label, and recovering a processing standard of the real-time image;

step S32 in fig. 3X: and extracting corresponding color data of the sensitive color-changing material, and substituting the corresponding color data into a result analysis algorithm to obtain a measurement result.

The color parameter is the real-time color of the corresponding color change material.

Specifically, a corresponding analysis algorithm is obtained according to the measurement requirement, and after the measurement is completed, all collected data are analyzed and discussed according to the analysis algorithm, so that a set of self-selection rules are formed to reflect the actual state of the measured object, and reflection is generated from various angles, so that the precision is improved, and the actual state of some special measured objects cannot be obtained through one measurement method, so that the overall application range is provided.

Further, the standard restoration is performed, for example, by restoring parameter differences (e.g., angle, distortion, color difference, brightness, resolution, and RGB color standards), and performing corresponding image modifications during the restoration process. Through relevant positioning technologies (such as three-point positioning of two-dimensional codes, measurement label outline positioning and image text position positioning), standard restoration of color areas can be achieved.

In this embodiment, a measurement solution is provided.

The measurement solution may be embodied by a coordinate system, wherein the type and extent of the X-axis is defined according to the measurement requirements. For example, in a freshness measurement of fresh produce, prepare the freshness X-axis (freshness decreases from left to right); for example, in the measurement of the degree of aging of the object to be measured, the degree of aging (the degree of aging increases from left to right) is prepared. For example, in measuring a melting process of ice melting, an X-axis of the melting process is prepared (the degree of melting increases from left to right); for example, in the mass measurement of an iron block, a mass X axis is prepared (mass decreases from left to right).

Various types and ranges of Y-axis are defined based on the first scale, the second scale, and the third scale. Specific reference is made to the following description.

Furthermore, the prepared relevant data of the first scale, the second scale and the third scale are substituted into the coordinate system model, for example, in the freshness measurement of fresh products, the change of the temperature parameter in the measurement label is obtained by combining the irreversible data of the temperature and the alcohol content of the second scale with the third scale; when the thermochromic material shows color a (color a is the preferred temperature for the corresponding fresh product), the freshness is the freshness of the coordinate system model and moves toward the right side of X on an axis that changes with time (a general freshness that gradually approaches the X axis); when the thermochromic material exhibits color B (color B is a non-preferred temperature), the freshness moves further to the right of the X-axis and exceeds the general freshness of the X-axis. Axis and gradually approaches the non-freshness of the X-axis. Similarly, the alcohol content is as described above (in this case the fresh produce is typically fruit).

Finally, a color display of the measurement tag corresponding to the temperature and the alcohol content is obtained, and freshness is obtained in case of different colors. Also, the measurement principle of other measured objects is similar to that described above, and measurement is performed only by using different parameters. The specific parameter selection is determined according to the actual measurement requirement, and even the above-mentioned freshness parameter is an implementation manner, and the measurement of the freshness is not limited.

As shown in fig. 4X, the present invention provides a preferred embodiment II of the measurement method.

A measuring method comprises the steps of presetting a sensitive color-changing material, a measuring label and a measured object, and further comprises a requirement determining step, a scale constructing step, an algorithm developing step and an actual measuring step.

The provision of the sensitive color-changing material, the measurement tag and the object to be measured is in accordance with the above description and will not be described in detail here.

In this embodiment, the scale constructing step constructs at least one of the first scale, the second scale and the third scale, and includes the steps of:

step S41 in fig. 4X: and selecting corresponding sensitive color-changing materials and measuring labels according to the measuring parameters, and arranging the sensitive color-changing materials and the measuring labels on the measured object and/or in the measuring environment.

Step S42 in fig. 4X: and acquiring standard performance parameters of the sensitive color-changing material to form a corresponding performance database and form a first scale.

Step S422 in fig. 4X: and acquiring parameters and change data related to measurement requirements from the measured object and/or the measurement environment thereof, and acquiring color change data of the measurement label in the corresponding measurement environment to form a second scale.

Step S423 in fig. 4X: and acquiring actual change degree data of the measured object in the measuring environment, and acquiring color change data corresponding to the measuring label to form a third scale.

Step S43 in fig. 4X: the construction of the scale is completed.

In this embodiment, the requirement determination step and the algorithm development step are substantially identical to those described above, except that the preset parameters are different (i.e., different proportions are constructed), and the combined preset parameters are different. If the system constructs only one of the first scale, the second scale and the third scale, an analysis algorithm for measuring the object to be measured is developed in an algorithm development step according to the measurement requirement of the object to be measured in a requirement determination step. By combination with one of the first scale, the second scale and the third scale already constructed; alternatively, if the system constructs only two of the first scale, the second scale and the third scale, an analysis algorithm for measuring the object to be measured is developed in algorithm development according to the measurement requirement of the object to be measured in the requirement determining step. By being combined with two of the first scale, the second scale and the third scale that have been constructed.

As described above, the measurement tag or label may thus provide an indicator for each environmental parameter to be measured or monitored. The actual color of an index represents a value (or range of values of the parameter) and thus the color change of a particular index represents a change in the value (or range of values) of the parameter. The measurement tag can be read by taking an image of the measurement tag using a reading device, for example, using a camera of a mobile phone (mobile phone). The reading device may access a database that associates, for each indicator, the reading color of the indicator with the value (or range of values) of the respective parameter. The database may contain a first data set (first scale) representing theoretical data that may be provided by a manufacturer of the color change material and having different parameter values for different possible colors of the color change material, thereby providing theoretical calibration data. The database may additionally or alternatively contain a second data set (second scale) representing experimental data obtained by subjecting an actual sample measurement tag (possibly associated with a sample of an actual product) to the same or similar environment as the environment. Where the product to be monitored will be present. The experimental calibration data may be obtained by taking readings of parameter values over a period of time using separate sensors (e.g., thermometer for temperature, humidity sensor for humidity, etc.), and for each sensor reading, an image of the measurement label should also be taken and the color of the indicator stored with the associated sensor data value, thereby providing experimental calibration data.

Such experimental calibration data will also be calibrated for the reading device if the reading device used for acquiring the experimental data is of the same type as the reading data used for the actual measurement. However, to account for the possibility that other reading devices may be used in the measurement process, or to account for the fact that there may be no experimental data set (second scale), the measurement tag may also carry reference patches (e.g. red, green and red). The reading device or a computer to which the reading device accesses may calibrate the color data read by the reading device or computer against the first or second data set (scale) it stores.

The measurement tag may also contain a direction or orientation indicator to enable the read image data to be processed or manipulated so that the image has the appropriate size and orientation.

Additionally, where the produce itself changes color over time (e.g., as the fruit ripens), the first and/or second data sets may include color data (theoretical data for the first data set and experimental data for the second data set) representative of actual produce color changes over time, and may also be used in produce monitoring.

Fig. 5 shows an example of a measurement tag in a grey scale.

As shown in fig. 5, the measurement label includes a label body 100, a color-change region 200 and an information region 300, wherein the color-change region 200 includes at least a color-change region made of: a color change material for sensing a change in a given environmental parameter. As shown, the information area 300 is a QR code incorporating directional arrows, and the color-changing area 200 includes a plurality of different color-sensitive areas that may respond to different environmental parameters or may respond at different times. Different sensitive areas may have different shapes for easy identification. In addition, there may be two or more regions that respond to the same parameters to provide redundant measurements in the event of, for example, a tag failure. In this embodiment, the label body 100 includes an adhesive (e.g., adhesive) layer, a substrate layer, and a protective layer. The color-changing area 200 and the information area 300 are carried by a substrate layer (disposed in or on the substrate layer). The adhesive layer is used to adhere the label to an object or to the surroundings of the object, such as one or more of a food packaging bag, an outer surface of a packaging box and an inner surface of a container. The protective layer protects the color-changing area 200 and the information area 300 on the substrate layer. For example, the protective layer may be made of an airtight, transparent or translucent film material that prevents air and water vapor from entering the color-changing region 200 prior to use of the measurement label, thereby preventing the color-changing region 200 from coming into contact with air and starting to react. In some cases, the protective layer may be removed prior to use of the label.

In this embodiment, the respective color-changing materials and the measurement label formed by integrating at least one color-changing material are set according to the previously measured data. In the measuring process, the color-changing material or the measuring label is adhered to the measured object or is arranged in the surrounding environment of the measured object, and the measured object or the parameters of the environment of the measured object are obtained by the following method. Color changing material or measuring label to reflect the state of the object to be measured.

As described above, color change materials change color depending on a particular environment, chemical change and/or change color over time or by physical contact, depending on the particular color change material. For example, the tag may include one or more of: the temperature-sensitive color-changing material changes color with temperature; the humidity-sensitive color-changing material changes color with humidity; the oxygen detecting material changes color with the oxygen concentration; paper for sensing specific substances or characteristics, color change materials that change color over time, and the like are tested. The color-changing material may be a reversible color-changing material or an irreversible color-changing material, or any material that can change color according to specific parameters falls within the scope of the present invention. Some examples of color change materials that can be typically provided as test strips but can be incorporated into the measurement label are:

1) a timed test paper formed of one of a plurality of oxidation-discoloration materials currently available, the surface of which is discolored by oxidation, and the duration of the oxidation process determines the depth of the discoloration, so that the oxidation process of the material can be used to evaluate the process duration;

2) a test paper for detecting a specific substance based on a useful function; obtaining new substances with different colors through chemical and biological reactions of the two substances, such as test paper which generally relates to carbon dioxide, mould, aldehyde, alcohol, even cold chain steam, tail gas and the like;

3) a multi-layer structure test paper; in order to meet the requirement of the fluorescent test paper under the high-temperature dark condition, the bottom layer can be used as a fluorescent material, and the surface layer is a reversible temperature-sensitive color-changing material (from transparent to colored);

4) using a plurality of layers with different melting points, test paper with materials with different melting points and different colors, and under different temperature states, each layer is melted to present different colors;

5) the surface of a high polymer structure test paper, for example, a high polymer material, is coated with a specific substance, and after coating, may also cause a change in the optical characteristics of the surface to produce a color change effect.

As described above, the color-changing material may be any one or more of a thermosensitive color-changing material, a humidity-sensitive color-changing material, a specific substance-sensitive color-changing material, a time-sensitive color-changing material, or a force-sensitive color-changing material.

The measurement label includes at least one of color change materials, and the color change materials are arranged according to a preset rule. According to different measuring purposes, measuring strips with different measuring functions are effectively integrated together to form a special measuring label, for example, a measuring label for sensing temperature and humidity, and the measuring label has a heat-sensitive material area and humidity. Sensitive material area and corresponding color-changing material, so as to achieve the purpose of measuring the measured object.

Fig. 8 shows a measuring step for a measuring tag comprising a color reference area, wherein the actual measuring step comprises:

step S31 in fig. 8: an image of a color reference area in the measurement tag is acquired to acquire a reference measurement color of the color reference area.

Step S32 in fig. 8: and comparing the reference measurement color with a preset standard color to obtain an image attribute deviation value between the reference measurement color and the standard color.

Step S33 in fig. 8: acquiring images of the detection and identification areas in the measurement label, acquiring the identification measurement color of each detection and identification area, and acquiring each detected and identified actual color to divide the areas according to the image attribute deviation value.

The deviation values are differences between images, and basic attributes of an image include pixel, resolution, size, color, bit depth, hue, saturation, brightness, color channel, image level, and the like. By comparing the color of the photographed image with a preset standard color, the difference therebetween can be analyzed to obtain a difference of a specific parameter, such as a difference of color temperature and brightness, a color difference, and the like.

Meanwhile, three primary colors can be used as the colors of the color reference region, and of course, other colors can be used as long as the colors of the actually acquired image are distinguished from the preset standard colors. The method can be well reflected, so that the difference of image color change is obtained, the intelligent recognition of a machine is realized, and the recognition precision is improved.

Meanwhile, three primary colors may be adopted as the colors of the color reference region, and of course, other colors may be used as long as a distinction is made between the color of the actually acquired image and a preset standard color. The method can be well reflected, so that the difference of image color change is obtained, the intelligent recognition of a machine is realized, and the recognition precision is improved.

Fig. 9 shows an example of a building method of the database for the first scale.

This method of construction of a performance database for a first scale comprises:

step S1221 in fig. 9: and obtaining standard color parameters according to the standard performance parameters of the sensitive color-changing material, wherein the standard color parameters are different along with the change of the standard performance parameters.

Step S1222 in fig. 9: obtaining the intrinsic performance parameters of the photosensitive color-changing material according to the standard performance parameters of the photosensitive color-changing material

Step S1223 in fig. 9: and combining the standard color parameters and the inherent performance parameters to construct a performance database of the first scale.

Specifically, a first scale is embodied using a coordinate system model, wherein the first scale is based on theoretical values of standard performance parameters of the sensitive color-changing material.

For example, according to the temperature performance parameter of the sensitive color-changing material, different standard colors are revealed by acquiring the theoretical temperature range of the temperature performance parameter. The theoretical temperature range of the temperature performance parameter is taken as the X axis, the color is taken as the Y axis, and different theoretical temperature ranges of the X axis correspond to different colors.

Fig. 10 shows an example of a method of constructing the second scale.

The second scale construction method comprises:

step S1231 in fig. 10: at least one measurement environment is provided, each measurement environment including a plurality of environmental factors.

Step S12311 in fig. 10: in a measurement environment, first color change data corresponding to a color change process of a measurement tag is acquired.

Step S12312 in fig. 10: a data model based on the first color changing process data and the corresponding measurement environment is constructed to form a second scale.

Step S1232 in fig. 10: and sequentially adjusting one or more environment factors within a preset data range corresponding to the measuring environment to obtain the corresponding variable measuring environment.

Step S12321 in fig. 10: in the variable measurement environment, second color change data corresponding to a color change process of the measurement tag is acquired.

Step S12322: a data model is constructed based on the second color changing process data and the corresponding variable measurement environment to form a second scale.

According to step S1231, the process may directly proceed to step S1232, and according to the measurement demand, step S12311 and step S12312 are performed, or step S12321 and step S12322 are performed. Meanwhile, if the environmental factors of the measuring environment are stable, fresh products whose temperature, humidity, and other factors are not changed are shipped using, for example, a refrigerator as in the measuring environment in step S1231. If the environmental factors of the measuring environment are stable, the environmental factors are slightly changed; or if the environmental factors are not stable, in the variable measuring environment of step S1232, for example, a foam box with dry ice is used to transport fresh produce, although the temperature, humidity and other factors are often constant and slightly varied.

At the same time, a second scale is embodied using the coordinate system model. For example, taking the measurement process as the X-axis, the Y-axis coordinate includes the temperature change value and the color change of the corresponding temperature area on the measurement label corresponding to the different temperature change values. That is, the second scale is constructed by combining the color change of the measurement label with the corresponding parameter of the measurement environment.

Fig. 11 and 12 show an example of a construction method for the third scale.

The construction method for the third scale comprises two preferred solutions.

With reference to fig. 11, the first scheme is implemented on the basis of the foregoing step S1231, and includes:

step S12411 in fig. 11: and acquiring a first actual change degree of the measured object in a preset time period according to the measuring environment.

Step S12412 in fig. 11: a data model based on the first color change data and the first actual degree of change is constructed to form a third scale.

The actual degree of change includes image information about the measured object or text description information including a description about the actual degree of change of the measured object, and various states and changes are reflected in the text.

Preferably, the above text description can be summarized again as "estimate", e.g. in freshness, from fresh to stale, by constructing a standard "estimate" to obtain a standard level such as fresh, relatively fresh, generally poor, stale, etc. And combining the coordinate system model of the second scale to form an X axis based on the coordinate system model of the second scale, and taking the standard level of the estimated value as a Y axis.

The second solution, referring to fig. 12, is implemented on the basis of the foregoing step S1232, and includes:

step S12421 in fig. 12: and acquiring a second actual change degree of the measured object within a preset time period according to the variable measurement environment.

Step S12422 in fig. 12: a data model based on the second color change data and the second actual degree of change is constructed to form a third scale.

The first color change data and the second color change data are based on a color change of the measurement tag in the respective measurement environment and are distinguished by "first" and "second" by the two solutions described above.

In the present invention, a related embodiment of a measurement method is provided.

The measurement method for ice melting into water will now be described.

A requirement determining step: it is determined whether and to what extent the ice melts into the water. The melting point of water is 0 deg.c, but when ice is melted into water, a general thermometer used when ice is melted cannot measure the process of ice being converted into water because surrounding water ice is also 0 deg.c when ice is melted.

The scale construction steps are as follows: a first scale is configured that indicates the presence of water.

And (3) algorithm development steps: by using the first scale of the invention, the corresponding first color-changing test paper is arranged on the ice through the first color-changing test paper, and the first scale is provided on the ice, wherein the first color-changing test paper is a color-changing test paper which can change color after meeting water.

And (3) actual measurement: the first piece of color change test paper turned red in the presence of water and green when dried, while reversible or irreversible metamorphic materials were used and measured for different purposes under different conditions.

The thermal conductivity efficiency measuring method will now be described.

A requirement determining step: in the manufacture of a specific product, in order to measure the heat conduction efficiency of a profiled metal part, the metal part is heated at the heating end of the metal part, where it is necessary to measure the temperature change after heating for a specific time from the heating end to the heat radiating end, so as to obtain the distribution of the degree of heating to which the part is subjected, thereby calculating the heat conduction efficiency of the part having a shape.

Scale construction: manufacturing a measurement label using an irreversible temperature sensitive color change material; in addition, irreversible color-changing test paper combination

There is provided a storage device storing a computer program executable to implement the steps of the identification method as described above.

In summary, the above describes only preferred embodiments of the invention and is not intended to limit the scope of the invention. Any modification, equivalent replacement, improvement and the like made within the spirit and scope of the present invention should be included in the protection scope of the present invention.

The embodiment relates to the field of measurement and identification, in particular to a measurement method, which comprises the following steps: providing corresponding sensitive color-changing materials according to the pre-measured data, and integrating at least one sensitive color-changing material to form a measurement label. The measuring method comprises a requirement determining step, a scale constructing step, an algorithm developing step and an actual measuring step. The invention also relates to a measuring system, which comprises a detection device, wherein the detection device is used for providing corresponding sensitive color-changing materials according to pre-measured data, and integrating and forming at least one sensitive color-changing material according to measurement requirements. The tag is measured and a computer program is stored. The invention also relates to a storage device. The invention is used for reflecting theoretical values, measured values and estimated values of the product state and obtaining computer data, thereby enabling a computer to conveniently obtain physical state or other related information through accurate and intelligent analysis and calculation. The objects or environments are numbered, so that actual values or numerical values are obtained quickly and a high intelligent level is achieved.

Embodiments relate to the field of labels, and more particularly, to a measurement label. The measurement label comprises a label body, a color change area and an information area, wherein the color change area at least comprises a color change area made of a color change material for detecting preset changes. An environmental parameter. The invention has the beneficial effects that: compared with the prior art, in the invention, by designing the measuring tag and adding the components capable of realizing the environment measuring function on the traditional tag application, the application range can be further expanded, and the environment measuring function and the data carrier are integrated into the tag, so that the data of the environment where the tag is located can be sensed besides the basic function of information recording, and the low-cost and high-efficiency data bearing method and the data measuring and collecting method are realized.

The disclosure of this application also includes the following numbered clauses (note: priority claim)

1. A method of measurement, characterized by: setting corresponding inductive color-changing materials according to the pre-measured data, and integrating at least one inductive color-changing material to form a measuring label; the measuring method comprises a requirement determining step, a scale constructing step, an algorithm establishing step and an actual measuring step, wherein,

a requirement determining step, determining the measurement parameters of the measured object or/and the measurement environment thereof according to the measurement requirement;

a scale construction step, namely selecting corresponding inductive color-changing materials and measurement labels according to measurement parameters, wherein the inductive color-changing materials and the measurement labels are arranged on the measured object or/and in the measurement environment thereof; acquiring standard performance parameters of the induction color-changing material to form a corresponding performance database and form a first scale; acquiring various parameters and change data related to measurement requirements in the measured object or/and the measurement environment of the measured object, acquiring color change data corresponding to a measurement label in the measurement environment, and forming a second scale; acquiring actual change degree data of the measured object in a measuring environment, acquiring color change data corresponding to the measuring label and forming a third scale;

an algorithm making step, wherein a measurement result analysis algorithm is made according to measurement requirements by combining one or more scales of a first scale, a second scale and a third scale;

an actual measurement step, namely acquiring a real-time image of the measurement label, and performing standard restoration on the real-time image; and extracting corresponding color data of the inductive color-changing material, and substituting the data into a result analysis algorithm to obtain a measurement result.

2. The measurement method according to claim 1, characterized in that: the measurement label includes at least one detection identification area and the positive direction identification area who obtains measurement label positive direction that sets up according to predetermineeing the locating place, response color-changing material sets up in the detection identification area that corresponds.

3. The measurement method according to claim 1, characterized in that: the measurement label includes that at least one according to presetting the locating place setting detects identification area and information identification district, be equipped with the first positive direction identification structure who acquires the measurement label positive direction on the information identification district, perhaps, be equipped with the second positive direction identification structure who acquires the measurement label positive direction on the idle position of measurement label.

4. The measuring method according to

claim

2 or 3, wherein the measuring tag comprises a color reference area, and the color parameter obtaining step of the measuring tag comprises:

capturing an image of a color reference area in the measurement label, and acquiring a reference measurement color of the color reference area;

comparing the reference measurement color with a preset standard color to obtain an image attribute deviation value of the reference measurement color and the standard color;

and capturing images of the detection identification areas in the measurement label, acquiring the identification measurement colors of the detection identification areas, and acquiring the actual colors of the detection identification areas according to the image attribute deviation values.

5. The measurement method according to claim 1, wherein the performance database of the first scale is constructed in a manner including:

obtaining standard color parameters which are displayed along with the change of the standard performance parameters according to the standard performance parameters of the induction color-changing material;

acquiring the performance parameters of the induction color-changing material according to the standard performance parameters of the induction color-changing material;

combining the standard color parameter and the self performance parameter to construct a performance database of the first scale

6. The measurement method according to claim 1, wherein the second scale is constructed in a manner including:

at least setting a measuring environment, wherein each measuring environment comprises a plurality of environmental factors; or, within a preset data range corresponding to the measurement environment, respectively adjusting each single or multiple environmental factors according to a preset rule to obtain a corresponding variable measurement environment;

in a measuring environment, acquiring first color change data corresponding to a color change process of a measuring label; or, in a variable measurement environment, acquiring second color change data corresponding to the color change process of the measurement label;

constructing a data model based on the first color change process data and the corresponding measuring environment to form a second scale; or constructing a data model based on the second color change process data and the corresponding variable measurement environment to form a second scale.

7. The measurement method according to claim 6, wherein the third scale is constructed in a manner including:

acquiring a first actual change degree of the measured object in a preset time period according to the measuring environment, or acquiring a second actual change degree of the measured object in the preset time period according to the variable measuring environment; wherein the content of the first and second substances,

the actual change degree comprises image information or text description information of the measured object, and the text description comprises the relevant description of the actual change degree of the measured object;

constructing a data model based on the first color change data and the first actual change degree to form a third scale; or constructing a data model based on the second color change data and the second actual change degree to form a third scale.

8. A method of measurement, characterized by: setting corresponding inductive color-changing materials according to the pre-measured data, and integrating at least one inductive color-changing material to form a measuring label; the measuring method comprises a requirement determining step, a scale constructing step, an algorithm establishing step and an actual measuring step, wherein,

a scale construction step, namely selecting corresponding inductive color-changing materials and measurement labels according to measurement parameters, wherein the inductive color-changing materials and the measurement labels are arranged on a measured object or/and in a measurement environment of the measured object, and at least one of a first scale, a second scale and a third scale is constructed; acquiring standard performance parameters of the induction color-changing material to form a corresponding performance database and form a first scale; acquiring various parameters and change data related to measurement requirements in the measured object or/and the measurement environment of the measured object, acquiring color change data corresponding to a measurement label in the measurement environment, and forming a second scale; acquiring actual change degree data of the measured object in a measuring environment, acquiring color change data corresponding to the measuring label and forming a third scale;

9. A measurement system, characterized by: the measuring system comprises a corresponding inductive color-changing material set according to pre-measuring data, at least one inductive color-changing material integrated according to measuring requirements and forming a measuring label and a detecting device with a computer program stored, wherein the computer program can be executed to realize the steps of the measuring method according to any one of claims 1 to 8; and the detection device comprises a storage device for storing various first marks, second scales, third scales and result analysis algorithms in the detection method, and a measurement device for realizing actual measurement steps in the detection method, wherein the measurement device is connected with the storage device to acquire related data in the storage device.

10. A memory device, characterized by: the storage means stores a computer program executable to implement the steps of the measurement method according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

11. A measurement tag, characterized by: the measurement label comprises a label main body, a color changing area and an information area, wherein the color changing area at least comprises a color changing area formed by a color changing material used for sensing the change of the preset environmental parameters.

12. The measurement tag of clause 11, wherein: the information area comprises a two-dimensional code, and the color-changing area is arranged on the label main body by taking the forward direction of the two-dimensional code as the forward direction.

13. The measurement tag of clause 12, wherein: the color-changing region is arranged on the label main body around the two-dimensional code.

14. The measurement tag of clause 11, wherein: the measurement label also comprises a positive direction identification area, and the discoloring area is arranged on the label main body by taking the positive direction of the positive direction identification area as the positive direction.

15. The measurement tag of clause 14, wherein: the positive direction identification area at least comprises a direction identification structure, the structure orientation of the direction identification structure is set to be the positive direction of the positive direction identification area, or the position orientation of the direction identification structure is set to be the positive direction of the positive direction identification area.

16. The measurement tag of clause 11, wherein: the label main body is in a recognizable forward shape, and the discoloring regions are arranged on the label main body in a forward direction of the label main body.

17. Measurement tag according to clause 11, characterized in that: the information area includes a two-dimensional code layer, a bar code layer or a character recognition layer for recognizing a company profile or for recognizing product information.

18. The measurement tag of any of clauses 11 to 17, wherein: the measurement tag further comprises a color reference area.

19. The measurement tag of any of clauses 11 to 17, wherein: the measurement tag further comprises a blank reserved area.

20. The measurement tag of any of clauses 11 to 17, wherein: the color-changing material is one of a temperature-sensing color-changing material, a humidity-sensing color-changing material, a specific object texture color-changing material, a timing color-changing material or a force-applying color-changing material.

Additional items forming part of the invention are set forth below

C1. A method of generating a database for product monitoring, the method comprising: determining at least one parameter indicative of a product status and/or a product storage status; identifying at least one color-changing material for each parameter; providing a measurement tag comprising at least one color change material; a database is generated by correlating the color of each color changing material with the value of the corresponding parameter to provide a comparison data set so that the color can be used to determine the status of the product and/or the stored status of the product for each color changing material.

C2. The method according to clause C1, wherein generating a database by correlating the color change of each color changing material with the value of the respective parameter comprises accessing theoretical color data for each color changing material.

C3. The method according to clauses C1 or C2, wherein generating the database further comprises correlating the color of each color changing material with the value of the corresponding parameter measured by the sensor to provide an experimental comparison data set to determine the condition of the product storage using the status of the product and/or the color of each color changing material.

C4. The method according to clause C1, C2 or C3, wherein the color of each color changing material is correlated with the value of the corresponding parameter measured by the sensor to provide an experimental comparison data set comprising receiving color image data color changing material representative of the measurement label bearing each color and sensor data, and correlating the received color image data with the sensor data.

C5. The method according to clause C1, C2, C3, or C4, wherein generating the database further comprises: human perception data relating to the condition of the product is received and the color of each color changing material is associated with the human perception data to provide a human perception data set enabling a human to perceive the state of the product and/or the state of the product store to be associated with the color of each color changing material.

C6. The method according to clause C1, C2, C3 or C4, wherein the step of generating the database further comprises: receiving human perception data related to a condition of a product; receiving color image data representing a measurement label with each color change material along with human perception data correlates the received color image data with the received human perception data to provide a human perception data set such that human perception of product status and/or product storage status correlates with the color of each color to change the material.

C7. An apparatus for generating a database for product monitoring using measurement tags, the apparatus comprising a processor and a memory storing program instructions for: at least one parameter indicative of the status of the product and/or the status of the product is determined. Storing the identification of at least one color-changing material for each parameter; providing a measurement tag comprising at least one color change material; a database is generated by correlating the color of each color changing material with the value of the corresponding parameter to provide a comparison data set such that the state of the product and/or the state of the product storage can be determined using the color for each color changing material.

C8. The device according to clause C7, wherein generating the database by associating the color of each color changing material with the value of the respective parameter comprises accessing theoretical color data for each color changing material.

C9. The apparatus according to clauses C7 or C8, wherein generating the database further comprises correlating the color of each color changing material with the value of the corresponding parameter measured by the sensor to provide an experimental comparison data set to determine the condition of the product storage using the status of the product and/or the color of each color changing material.

C10. The apparatus of clause C9, wherein correlating the color of each color change material with the value of the corresponding parameter measured by the sensor to provide an experimental comparison data set comprises: color image data representing a measurement label with each color change material is received. Is associated with the sensor data and correlates the received color image data with the sensor data.

C11. The apparatus of any of clauses C7 to C10, wherein generating the database further comprises: human perception data relating to a condition of the product is received and a color of each color changing material is associated with the human perception data to provide a set of human perception data. Thereby associating a person's status of the product and/or the storage status of the product with the color of each color changing material.

C12. The method of any of clauses C7-C10, wherein generating a database further comprises: receiving sensory data of a person relating to a condition of the product; color image data representing a measurement label bearing each color change material is received along with the human perception data, and the received color image data and the received human perception data provide a set of human perception data to associate a state of a human perception product and/or a state of product storage with each color change color associated material.

C13. A method of product monitoring using a measurement tag having at least one color change material sensitive to a parameter indicative of a product status and/or a product storage status, the method comprising: an image of the product is acquired. Measuring the label; extracting color data of at least one color-changing material from the image; the database is accessed using the color data to determine the status of the product and/or the status of the product store.

C14. The method according to clause C13, wherein the database is generated using the method according to any of clauses C1 to C6

C15. A device for product monitoring using a measurement tag having at least one color change material sensitive to a parameter indicative of a product status and/or a product storage status, the device comprising a processor and a memory configured to: acquiring an image of the measurement label; extracting color data of at least one color-changing material from the image; the database is accessed using the color data to determine the status of the product and/or the status of the product store.

C16. The apparatus of clause C15, wherein the database is stored remotely on a server.

C17. A measuring apparatus comprising the apparatus of any of clauses C11, C15 or C16.

C18. The device according to clause C15, C16, or C17, wherein accessing the database comprises accessing theoretical color data for each color change material.

C19. The device according to clauses C15, C16, C17 or C18, wherein accessing the database comprises accessing experimental comparison dataset data correlating the color of each color changing material with the value of the respective parameter measured by the sensor to enable conditions to determine the useful life of the product and/or conditions of storage of the product using the color of each color changing material.

C20. The apparatus of clause C19, wherein the experimental comparison data set is derived by correlating the color of each color changing material with the value of the respective parameter measured by the sensor.

C21. The apparatus of any of clauses C15 to C20, wherein accessing the database further comprises accessing an artifact perception data set that associates a color of each color changing material with artifact perception data.

C22. The apparatus of any of clauses C15-C17, wherein accessing a database comprises accessing one or more of: a theoretical color data set correlating the color of each color changing material with the value of the corresponding parameter; and experimental comparison dataset data correlating the color of each color changing material with the value of the corresponding parameter measured by the sensor, wherein the color is determined from an image of the measurement tag bearing the color changing material; an artificial perception data set associating a color of each color changing material with artificial perception data.

C23. A measurement tag for product monitoring, comprising a tag body; a parameter indicator comprising a color changing region; and a product indicator identifying information related to the product, wherein the color-changing zone comprises at least one color-changing material sensitive to a parameter indicative of a product status and/or a product storage status.

C24. The measurement tag according to clause C23, wherein the product identification comprises a two-dimensional code.

C25. The measurement tag of clause C23 or C24, wherein the product indicator comprises a two-dimensional code and the color-changing region is disposed on the tag body around a periphery of the two-dimensional code.

C26. The measurement tag of any of clauses C23-C25, further comprising a positive direction indicator for indicating a read direction of the tag.

C27. The measurement tag of clause C26, wherein the positive direction indicator comprises the shape of a tag body.

C28. The measurement tag of any of clauses C23-C27, further comprising a positive direction indicator for indicating a read direction of the tag, wherein the positive direction indicator comprises at least one of: the shape of the tag body; and the shape of the tag body. An asymmetrically shaped region on a portion of the tag body; a product code or data carried by a product code; data carried by or on the QR code.

C29. The measurement tag of any of clauses C23-C28, wherein the tag body includes an orientation indicator for orienting an image of the tag.

C30. The measurement tag of any of clauses C23-C29, wherein the tag body includes a color reference indicator to enable calibration of color data read from the tag.

C31. A computer program comprising instructions which, when executed by a computing device such as a processor, cause the computing device to perform the method of any of clauses C1 to C6 and C12 to C14.

31. A tangible, non-transitory storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by a computing device, such as a processor, cause the computing device to perform the method of any of clauses C1-C6 and C12-C14.

Claims

1. A method of generating a database for product monitoring, the method comprising:

determining at least one parameter indicative of a product status and/or a product storage status;

identifying at least one color-changing material for each parameter;

providing a measurement tag comprising at least one color change material;

a database is generated by correlating the color of each color changing material with the value of the corresponding parameter to provide a comparison data set such that the state of the product and/or the state of the product storage can be determined using the color for each color changing material.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein generating a database by correlating the color of each color changing material with the value of the respective parameter comprises accessing theoretical color data for each color changing material.

3. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein the step of generating a database further comprises: correlating the color of each color changing material with the value of the respective parameter measured by the sensor to provide an experimental comparison data set to enable the condition, the color of each color changing material being used to determine the condition of the product and/or product storage.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein correlating the color of each color changing material with the value of the corresponding parameter measured by the sensor to provide an experimental comparison data set comprising receiving color image data representing a measurement label with each color, altering the material with the sensor data, and correlating the received color image data with the sensor data.

5. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein generating a database further comprises: human perception data relating to the condition of the product is received and the color of each color changing material is associated with the human perception data to provide a set of human perception data to associate a person's status of the product and/or a stored status of the product with the color of each color changing material.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein the step of generating a database further comprises: receiving sensory data of a person relating to a condition of the product; color image data representing a measurement tag carrying each color change material is received along with the human perception data, and the received correlated color image data and the received human perception data are correlated to provide a set of human perception data to correlate human perception of product status and/or product storage status with the color of each color change material.

7. An apparatus for generating a database for product monitoring using measurement tags, the apparatus comprising a processor and a memory storing program instructions for:

identifying at least one color-changing material for each parameter;

providing a measurement tag comprising at least one color change material;

a database is generated by correlating the color of each color changing material with the value of the corresponding parameter to provide a comparison data set such that the state of the product and/or the state of the product storage can be determined using the color.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein generating a database by correlating the color of each color changing material with the value of the respective parameter comprises accessing theoretical color data for each color changing material.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 or 8, wherein the step of generating a database further comprises: the color of each color changing material is correlated with the value of the respective parameter measured by the sensor to provide an experimental comparison data set to enable the condition, product and/or product storage condition to be determined using the color.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein correlating the color of each color changing material with the value of the corresponding parameter measured by the sensor to provide an experimental comparison data set includes receiving color image data representing a measurement label with each color, altering the material with the sensor data, and correlating the received color image data with the sensor data.

11. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein generating a database further comprises: receiving human perception data relating to a condition of the product and associating a color of each color changing material with the human perception data to provide a set of human perception data to enable human perception of a product status and/or a product storage status for association with a color.

12. The method of claim 7 or 8, wherein generating the database further comprises: receiving sensory data of a person relating to a condition of the product; color image data representing a measurement label with each color change material is received along with the human perception data, and the received color image data and the received human perception data provide a set of human perception data to correlate human perception of product condition and/or product storage condition with color changes.

13. A method of monitoring a product using a measurement tag having at least one color change material sensitive to a parameter indicative of a product status and/or a product storage status, the method comprising:

acquiring an image of the measurement label;

extracting color data of at least one color-changing material from the image;

the database is accessed using the color data to determine the status of the product and/or the status of the product store.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the database is generated using the method according to claim 1 or 2.

15. A device for product monitoring using a measurement tag having at least one color change material sensitive to a parameter indicative of a product status and/or a product storage status, the device comprising a processor and a processor; the memory is configured to:

acquiring an image of the measurement label;

extracting color data of at least one color-changing material from the image;

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the database is stored remotely on a server.

17. A measuring device comprising the device of claims 7 and 15.

18. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein accessing the database comprises accessing theoretical color data for each color change material.

19. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein accessing the database comprises accessing experimental comparison dataset data correlating measured color of each color changing material with a value of a respective parameter measured by a sensor to enable a condition of the product to be achieved and/or to determine a condition of product storage from measured color.

20. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the experimental comparison data set is derived by correlating the color of each color change material with the value of the respective parameter measured by the sensor.

21. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein accessing the database further comprises accessing an artificial perception data set that associates a color of each color changing material with the artificial perception data.

22. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein accessing the database comprises accessing one or more of:

a theoretical color data set correlating the color of each color changing material with the value of the corresponding parameter;

experimentally comparing data sets correlating the color of each color changing material with the value of the corresponding parameter measured by the sensor, wherein the color is determined from an image of the measurement tag with the color changing material;

an artificial data set associating the color of each color changing material with artificial perception data.

23. A measurement tag for product monitoring, comprising:

the main body of the label is provided with a label,

a parameter indicator comprising a color changing region; and

a product indicator identifying information related to the product,

wherein the color-changing region comprises at least one color-changing material that is sensitive to a parameter indicative of the product status and/or the product storage status.

24. The measurement tag of claim 23, wherein the product indicator comprises a two-dimensional code.

25. The measurement tag of claim 23 wherein the product indicator comprises a two-dimensional code and the color change region is disposed on the tag body around a periphery of the two-dimensional code.

26. The measurement tag of claim 23, further comprising a positive direction indicator to indicate a read direction of the tag.

27. The measurement tag of claim 26, wherein the positive direction indicator comprises a shape of the tag body.

28. The measurement tag of claim 23, further comprising a positive direction indicator for indicating a read direction of the tag, wherein the positive direction indicator comprises at least one of: the shape of the tag body; an asymmetrically shaped region on a portion of the tag body; a product code or data carried by a product code; data carried by or on the QR code.

29. The measurement tag according to any one of claims 23 to 28, wherein the tag body comprises an orientation indicator for orienting the image of the tag.

30. A measurement tag as claimed in any one of claims 23 to 28, wherein the tag body includes a colour reference indicator to enable calibration of colour data read from the tag.

31. A computer program comprising instructions which, when executed by a computing device, such as a processor, cause the computing device to perform the method of any of claims 1, 2, 3, 6, 12, 13 or 14.

32. A tangible storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by a computing device, such as a processor, cause the computing device to perform the method of any of claims 1, 2, 3, 6, 12, 13, or 14.