WO2018185444A1

WO2018185444A1 - System for recording a physical parameter and method therefor

Info

Publication number: WO2018185444A1
Application number: PCT/FR2018/050874
Authority: WO
Inventors: Morgan FRERE
Original assignee: Confluence Industry
Priority date: 2017-04-07
Filing date: 2018-04-06
Publication date: 2018-10-11
Also published as: FR3065143B1; FR3065143A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a system for recording (1) a physical parameter, such as the temperature of a product. The system comprises means (8) for measuring the value of said physical parameter, such as a temperature sensor, over a period of time, a memory (13) for recording the values of the physical parameter over a period of time; radio communication means (12) configured to connect to a radio connection point connected to the internet and, in the state connected to said radio connection point, transmit data to a server, a brightness sensor (9). A control unit (11) is configured to: - record in the memory (13) the measured values of the physical parameter over a period of time; - control the activation of said radio communication means (12) according to the brightness measured or detected by the brightness sensor (9).

Description

SYSTEM FOR RECORDING A PHYSICAL PARAMETER AND CORRESPONDING METHOD

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to systems and methods for measuring and recording a physical parameter, such as temperature, as a function of time.

BACKGROUND ART Systems, usually called data loggers ("data loggers"), are known from the state of the art, which make it possible to measure the temperature of the environment in which they are located and to record the measured temperature values. over time. The data logger can be used to track the temperature of a product with which the logger is associated. Said recorder is associated with said product by being located near said product in the same container, for example a carton, intended to be transported from a place of dispatch to a given destination.

Such a recorder makes it possible, for example, to monitor the temperature variations of a temperature-sensitive product, such as a pharmaceutical, medical or food product, in order to be able to check whether the cold chain was or was not respected during the transportation of the product. .

When the recipient receives the container, he recovers the product and the corresponding recorder. The temperature data recorded by the recorder are loaded on a computer of the recipient who must send them to the sender for the latter to check, in order to release or not the products (that is to say, take responsibility for the issue or request the return of products), whether or not the temperature changes to which the product has been subjected are acceptable. The temperature data recorded by the recorder is loaded onto a recipient's computer to enable the recipient to verify whether or not the temperature changes to which the product has been subjected are acceptable. It is observed, however, that the recorders known from the state of the art prove to be tedious for use by the users, especially when the recipient needs to retrieve the data recorded in the recorder to transmit them, often by email, to the user. sender for processing. In particular, the recipient user generally needs a computer and a specific connectivity, for example USB type, to connect the recorder to the computer and must, in certain cases, have previously installed specific software for the processing of these data. It is further desirable to be able to optimize the energy autonomy of the recording system to limit the risk of unloading which would render the system inoperative during its use.

Document US2014 / 0313055, US20150192475, and JP2016161294 are known recording systems for recording temperature data and, under predefined conditions, for transmitting the recorded temperature data to verify the temperature conditions at which an associated product to the system could be submitted. However, each of these recording systems remains in listening or in permanent radio communication throughout their use. In particular, the registration system of document US2014 / 0313055 operates according to the BLE protocol (Bluetooth Low Energy) so that the recording system is configured to send and receive data permanently. The recording system is thus always listening and can exchange at any time with another Bluetooth communication device. In US20150192475, the sensors are permanently connected with a transceiver so that the communication is established permanently. Similarly in JP2016161294 recording systems can communicate by radio permanently.

In other words, such recording systems regularly send out requests by radio waves to identify the presence of a possible other system with which to exchange data. As a result, such recording systems configured to be in permanent listening can not be used as part of a product transport by air since this mode of transport requires that the electronic systems do not emit radio communication to avoid interference with aircraft devices. The object of the present invention is to propose a new system for recording a physical parameter and a corresponding method making it possible to overcome all or some of the problems set out above.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

For this purpose, the subject of the invention is a system for recording a physical parameter, such as the temperature, of a product that can be accommodated with the said recording system in a container, such as a carton, which, in the closed state, is opaque to light, characterized in that said system comprises: - means for measuring the value of said physical parameter, such as a temperature sensor, as a function of time;

a memory for recording the values of said physical parameter in function of time;

radio communication means configured to connect to a radio connection point connected to the Internet and, in the state connected to said radio connection point, transmit data to a server,

a light sensor, such as a photosensitive cell,

a control unit, such as a processor or microcontroller, configured to:

- Store in the memory the measured values of said physical parameter as a function of time;

- while the communication means are in an inactive state, for which the communication means are without possibility of radio communication, control, depending on the brightness measured or detected by the brightness sensor, the transition to the active state of said means of radio communication. Said recording system is intended to be housed with said product in a light-opaque container when said container is closed, to be transported from a place of dispatch to a destination.

The combination of:

a) the use of radio communication means for transmitting to a server the values of the physical parameter recorded in time, and b) the passage of said radio communication means from an inactive state to an active state, according to the brightness detected or measured by the brightness sensor,

not only simplifies, in particular automates, the data transmission operations of the system for their processing, thanks to the radio link which can be activated and then used transparently for the user of the recording system, but also to preserve the autonomy of the power source of the system by limiting the cases of radio communication to situations where it is possible, even if it is not certain, that the container has been opened by the recipient, and also to be able to use such a system during an air transport because, before the opening of the container, the absence or the weakness of luminosity makes that the means of radio communication remain inactive.

Indeed, the detection or brightness measurement makes it possible to determine whether the container of the system and of the product is open or closed, and thus to condition the activation of the communication means (to make them operational) when the container is open. As long as the container is closed, the product can be considered as being in shipment or waiting for delivery to the recipient so it is desirable that the system continues to record the temperature over time. However, the system does not need to transmit radio communication, and in particular does not need to communicate with the processing server since the issuing process is not completed. A radio connection point connected to the Internet is understood to mean a device, such as an Internet access box equipped with a WIFI module, also called a WiFi router modem, or a set of connected devices, such as a WIFI access point connected to an Internet modem, enabling the system to be connected by radio link to said device or to said set of devices to access the Internet and to communicate with the server connected to the Internet .

Thanks to the radio link enable / disable depending on the brightness, it is expected that the system does not emit radio communication as predefined conditions relating to the detected brightness are not met and, once the communication means activated, data communication between the system and the server can be done without the user needing to establish a connection with specific connectivity between the system and a recipient's computer or to transfer a memory card from the system to a computer.

In the systems of the documents of the state of the art, each system has an open communication since the start of the system, by which are going broadcast data after a given event, while in the system according to the invention, the control unit is configured to trigger the activation of the communication means following a predefined event relating to brightness.

In particular, following the exceeding of the brightness threshold, the recording system switches from an airplane-type mode of operation, in which its means of radio communication with the outside are inactivated, to a communicating mode of operation in which the communication means is activated so that the system can communicate and listen to its environment by issuing radio requests to identify a device to connect to, and, if the connection can be established, transmit at least a portion of the recorded data to that device .

When the radio communication means are inactivated, they can be powered but they can neither transmit nor receive data by radio waves, that is to say that they can not exchange data with the outside. Such a design of the system according to the invention thus makes it possible to use the recording system by placing it in a container, such as a cardboard, opaque to light, with a product whose physical parameter such as temperature, the container can be transported by plane without risk of electromagnetic interference with the aircraft devices while the recording system remains operational to record the values of said physical parameter over time. This is the opening of the carton, that is to say after its air transport, which due to exceeding the threshold value of brightness, will reactivate (or wake up) the radio communication means thus allowing to connect to a other device and transmit recorded data.

According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, the control unit is configured to activate the radio communication means when the detected or measured brightness ascends a predefined threshold value. Conditioning the activation of the radio communication means to the fact that the brightness ascends ascendingly a threshold value, that is to say when the container is open, and thus to stop said radio communication means when the brightness is below a threshold value (which is generally the case during most of the product's transport time), can significantly save the energy autonomy of the system while allowing to benefit, thanks to the system radio communication technology, a great ease of use of the system especially to transmit the recorded data.

In other words, the potentially negative impact on the energy autonomy of the system that could result from the high energy consumption of the radio communication means (compared to a wired link) is offset by the fact that the operation of these means of communication radio is conditioned by criteria or rules to prevent radio communication as long as the container is not open, and to limit such radio communication when the container is open but in a place not corresponding to the destination which does not therefore does not allow the system to connect to the server.

As mentioned above, the brightness detection makes it possible to determine whether or not the container is open. Apart from certain special cases, such as customs clearance, a container has no reason to be opened during shipment before being delivered to the consignee. Preventing the communication means from functioning as long as the package is not open thus makes it possible not to waste the energy of the system. However, as detailed below, a preferred embodiment is provided according to which, after having activated the communication means because of a detection or measurement of brightness which exceeds a threshold value (from which it can be deduced that the container has has been opened), the active maintenance of the communication means is conditioned to the identification by the system of a radio connection point connected to the Internet which is known from said system and / or to which said communication means can connect. If there is no identification of such a known radio connection point and / or said communication means can connect, it can be deduced that the container is not open at the recipient, the system can then stop automatically means radio communication to avoid looping a known connection point that is present at the recipient but does not exist in a place such as a customs. According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, the recording system is configured to stop said communication means after having communicated with the server, preferably after having received corresponding information from said server. According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, the control unit is configured for, preferably at least in the absence of action of a person on the system, to stop said radio communication means when the detected or measured brightness is less than a predefined threshold value. According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, the control unit is configured for, in the connected state of the recording system at said radio connection point following said upward crossing of predefined brightness threshold value, transmitting to the server the values of said physical parameter recorded as a function of time.

Thus the values of the physical parameter, which have been measured and recorded during transport, are transmitted to the server when the product has arrived. and has been unpacked at the addressee.

The system can automatically stop the measurement and recording of the physical parameter when, by connecting to the recipient's radio connection point, the system has provided the server with the measured and recorded data and received corresponding acknowledgment of receipt information from the server. .

According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, said server being configured to process the received data and to generate information relating to the result of this treatment, such as information respecting or not respecting the cold chain, the unit The controller is configured to receive, by said radio connection point, said processing result information. According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, the radio communication means comprise a WIFI communication module.

According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, the control unit is configured, in the event of a connection failure with said radio connection point or with the server, to stop said radio communication means so as to stop searching for a point. radio connection as long as an additional condition is not met.

Conditioning the activation of the communication means to the brightness and conditioning the activated maintenance of the means of communication to the identification of a known radio connection point connected to the Internet and / or to which the system can connect , makes it possible to optimize the use of the means of communication and thus the energy autonomy of the system. Indeed, this dual condition of brightness and identification of radio connection point ensures that the system, once shipped, communicates with the server only when the product has arrived and unpacked at the recipient. Such a design avoids the means of communications are running out to look for an Internet connection point when this is not necessary.

According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, the additional condition for restarting the radio connection point search includes the fact that the detected or measured brightness ascends ascendingly a predefined threshold value.

According to an advantageous characteristic of the invention, the additional condition for restarting the communication network search includes pressing a given button of the registration system to reactivate the network search.

The invention also relates to an assembly comprising:

a recording system as described above,

a radio connection point connected to the Internet and to which said radio communication means of the recording system are able to connect, and

- a server connected to the Internet.

The invention also relates to a method of tracking a physical parameter, such as the temperature, of a product, using a recording system as described above, said recording system being placed in a container, such as a carton, with said product, said container being opaque to light in the closed state, characterized in that said method comprises the following steps:

when the detected or measured brightness ascends a predefined threshold value, controlling the passage of the radio communication means from an inactive state to an active state to connect to a radio connection point connected to the Internet,

transmitting to a server connected to the Internet, values of said physical parameter recorded as a function of time in the memory; receiving result information relating to the processing of the values of said physical parameter by the server;

preferably, activating an information indicator according to the received result information.

In summary and according to one embodiment, the recording system forms a recorder that is self-communicating and benefits from a radio communication technology, preferably according to the WIFI protocol, which is activated in certain light conditions. During this activation, the recorder seeks to connect to the Internet by this radio communication to transmit to a processing server all the measured data. The server is configured to provide a web service for managing, recording and processing data. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the description which follows, which is purely illustrative and nonlimiting and should be read with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a recording system according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of several elements of a recording system according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing, in accordance with one embodiment of the invention, a recording system in the started state which communicates with the sender with a radio connection point connected to the Internet, consignor having prepared a package in which a product is introduced and into which the recording system is to be introduced;

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a package, in the closed state, which contains the product and a recording system, the recording system measuring the temperature but no longer communicating with the outside, in accordance with a embodiment of the invention; - Figure 5 is a schematic view of the package located in a warehouse, according to one embodiment of the invention;

- Figure 6 is a schematic view of a moving vehicle carrying the package, according to one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 7 is a schematic view of the package in the open customs state, the system detecting the light and activating its radio communication means but finding no radio connection point to connect to, according to an embodiment of FIG. the invention;

FIG. 8 is a schematic view of the package in the open state by the recipient of the package, the system detecting the light and connecting to the radio connection point of the recipient to communicate with the server via the Internet, according to a mode embodiment of the invention;

- Figure 9 is a schematic view of an aircraft carrying the package, the radio communication means of the system being inactive, according to one embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The concept of the invention is described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which embodiments of the concept of the invention are shown. Similar numbers refer to similar items on all drawings. However, this concept of the invention can be implemented in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Instead, these embodiments are provided so that this description is complete, and communicate the scope of the concept of the invention to those skilled in the art. The scope of the invention is therefore defined by the appended claims. A reference throughout the description to "an embodiment" means that a particular feature, structure, or feature described in connection with an embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the invention. embodiment of the present invention. Thus, the appearance of the phrase "in one embodiment" at various locations throughout the specification does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment. In addition, the particular features, structures, or features may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments.

In Figures 1 and 2, there is shown a recording system 1 of a physical parameter of a product. The product may be an object, element or substance that can be manufactured, natural, inert or living. By way of example, the product may comprise organs, blood, medical samples, medicines, vaccines, vegetables, ice creams, minced meat, etc. ... The physical parameter of a product is a physical parameter to which the product is subject. Said recording system makes it possible, as detailed hereinafter, to follow the evolution over time of said physical parameter of a product with which said system is associated, in a reliable and easy manner for the users of said system. Of course, the system can also record one or more other physical parameters.

For simplicity, the data recording system 1 is hereinafter called the recorder. The recorder is intended to be associated with a product for which it is desired to follow said physical parameter which will be measured over time by the recorder. The recorder and the product are for this purpose housed in the same container so that the product is transported with the recorder. Of course, the product may further have a specific packaging, but the product and its specific packaging are housed with the recorder in the same container so that the recorder follows the movement of the product in the same environment. The container is in the general form of a box, package, box or cardboard in which are locked the recorder and the product. The container is opaque to light in the closed state. By opaque to light is meant that, in the closed state, the brightness sensor does not detect brightness or measure a brightness lower than a threshold value predefined in the recorder. Alternatively, the container may be a cold room and / or a vehicle. For simplicity said container is hereinafter called package because of the example described according to which the product is shipped with the recorder with which it is associated from a place of dispatch to a destination. The recorder thus makes it possible to monitor the state of the product during its shipment.

According to a particular aspect, it is considered that the physical parameter value is substantially homogeneous in the environment close to said product defined by the interior of the package in which the product and the recorder are located. As detailed below, the values of the parameter recorded over time, for example during the transport of the product, can be processed to determine product status information and allow a product recipient to decide on the product's status. whether or not to accept said product or a shipper to release or not said product.

In particular, in the field of pharmaceuticals such as vaccines, it is important to be able to know the temperature history of the vaccines in order to be able to determine whether the temperature or temperature variation undergone is or are not acceptable according to the rules. or predefined criteria.

In the example illustrated in the figures, the recorded physical parameter is the temperature. Alternatively, said physical parameter may be another physical parameter such as acceleration to detect shock, hygrometry, pressure, inclination to detect a reversal. Other applications related to the detection of a physical parameter are of course conceivable.

The description given below for the temperature also applies for the case where the measured physical parameter is a physical parameter other than the temperature. The recorder is in the form of a housing 100. The housing has a generally flat shape in the sense that its width and length dimensions are greater than its thickness dimension (or height).

The housing has a face, called the front face, which comprises a control button 18 for starting the recorder 1. According to a particular aspect presented below, the judgment is conditioned by an order of the server 4.

The housing also preferably comprises, on said front face, warning lights 16, 17 for indicating information relating to the status of the product associated with said recorder after processing the recorded data as detailed below.

In particular, the indicator light 16 makes it possible to indicate that the state of the product is in conformity while the indicator 17 makes it possible to trigger an alert to indicate a drift of the measured physical parameter with respect to a predefined criterion (for example a threshold crossing of temperature). The sender and / or the recipient can then analyze the recorded data to conclude on the state of acceptability or otherwise of the product. More precisely, these LEDs make it possible to indicate whether the conditions in which the product has been transported comply with the criterion (s) or predefined rule (s). Indeed, the physical parameter recorded over time is representative, at least partially, of these transport conditions, and in particular of the environment and any physical constraints on the product that is located in the same package and therefore close to the recorder. It is considered that the physical parameter measured by the recorder corresponds to the physical parameter to which the product is subjected.

The housing also includes, preferably on said front face, lights 15 indicating the operating status of the recorder. In the example illustrated in FIG. 1, said operating status indicators include an indicator indicating the started status of the recorder, a lamp indicating the connected state of the recorder at a radio connection point, and a status indicator. LED indicating a state of data communication between the recorder and a server.

Said recorder 1 comprises means 8 for measuring the value of said physical parameter as a function of time. In the example presented below, said physical parameter that is measured is the temperature. For this purpose, the measuring means 8 comprise for example a temperature sensor. The temperature sensor measures the temperature as a function of time as close as possible to the product to be monitored because the recorder and the product are contained in the same package.

The values of the temperature measured by the sensor are recorded as a function of time in a memory 13 of the recorder (FIG. 2).

The recorder also includes a brightness sensor 9 for detecting or measuring a brightness value. The brightness sensor 9 may comprise a photosensitive cell. Alternatively, it can be provided to use a photovoltaic cell.

The recorder comprises radio communication means 12 which are configured to communicate with a server 4 via a communication network. Said communication network comprises at least one radio connection point 10 connected to the Internet and accessible from the place of destination. Said server 4 is also connected to the Internet to enable said recorder 1 to communicate with said server 4 in the connected state of the recorder at the radio connection point. In a particular aspect, the communication network that allows the recorder to communicate with the server 4 also includes a radio connection point 3 connected to the Internet and accessible from the place of dispatch. According to one embodiment, the radio communication means 12 comprise a WIFI communication module. In a particular aspect, the WIFI communication module is located on the same electronic card as the microcontroller. Thus, when the recorder is at the sender, respectively at the recipient, the communication network with which the recorder communicates includes a radio connection point, preferably by the WIFI protocol, connected to the Internet and the server 4 connected to the Internet. Thus according to one embodiment, it can be provided that the radio communication means 12 of the recorder 1 are configured to connect according to the WIFI protocol with a WIFI connection point configured at the sender and a WIFI connection point configured at the recipient which respectively allow access to the Internet and therefore to the server 4.

The use of the WIFI protocol allows the radio communication means of the recorder to connect to a WIFI connection point defined in the client recipient of the product with which said recorder is associated. In particular, the recipient usually has an Internet access box from which it can create a WIFI network serving WIFI connection point with connection parameters known to the recorder. If necessary, it is also possible to connect to said Internet access box a device, of type router or WIFI access point, to define said WIFI connection point.

Alternatively, it can be provided that the connection means 12 communicate according to another protocol, for example the mobile telephony protocol, such as GSM, GPRS, 3G, 4G or Satellite with a corresponding radio connection point for communicating via the Internet with the server 4.

Said server 4 may be formed of several servers connected to the Internet. The recorder also comprises a stand-alone power supply 14, of battery or battery type, possibly rechargeable.

The recorder comprises a control unit 1 1 configured to record in the memory 13 the measured value of said physical parameter as a function of time.

The control unit 1 1 makes it possible to control the activation of said radio communication means 12 according to the measured or detected brightness. The control unit forms the central intelligence of the recorder and makes it possible to control the various electronic components of the recorder and in particular to control the radio communication means and the operations of writing and / or reading in data memory. acquired by the sensors and the data communicated during the radio communication steps. The control unit comprises for example a microcontroller (or microprocessor) and a clock integrated or not to the microcontroller.

To allow the radio communication means 12 of the recorder to seek and connect, at the sender, to a radio connection point connected to the Internet, connection parameters are defined in a memory of the recorder. The connection parameters include the network name (SSID) to which the recorder can connect when it is at the sender, preferably with a password. Similarly, as detailed below, when the package is open at the recipient, the recorder is configured to connect to a radio connection point connected to the Internet. It can be provided that the identifiers and passwords for connecting to the recipient's radio connection point are the same as those for connecting to the sender's radio connection point. Alternatively, said identifiers and passwords may be different. Thus, the recorder makes it possible to manage the operation of the communication means 12 so as not to operate the radio communication means 12 permanently. The recorder thus makes it possible to operate the radio communication means 12 mainly after startup and before the package is closed, and when it is probable that the package has arrived and has been opened at the addressee. Such management of the radio communication means 12 makes it possible to limit the power consumption of the recorder.

To manage the operation of the communication means, the control unit is configured to control said radio communication means 12 according to the detected or measured brightness.

Apart from the case of initial start of the recorder or of a user action on the recorder such as pressing the button 18 following a connection failure, the control unit is thus configured to trigger the activation of the radio communication means, depending at least on the brightness measured by the cell. According to one embodiment, it can be provided that the activation of the radio communication means 12 is also conditioned on a value or variation of the minimum value of the temperature measured by the temperature sensor.

Activation may correspond to an awakening of the means of communication when they were on standby or a power supply of said communication means when their power was off.

In other words, for the active state of the radio communication means, the control unit controls the power supply if previously the power supply was cut off or commands the awakening, for example with a given voltage command, of said means of communication. communication if they were previously powered but minimally without the possibility of radio communication.

The brightness thus makes it possible to trigger the passage of the communication means from the inactive state, without the possibility of radio communication, to the active state, with a possibility of communication which makes it possible to send requests to connect to a device or communication network and transmit recorded data once the connection is established. On the contrary, as recalled above, the known systems of the documents of the state of the art presented in the introduction operate according to a BLE protocol or equivalent according to which the system is always listening and therefore at least regularly transmits radio requests to detect its environment Such systems are therefore in permanent active radio communication and may therefore disturb aircraft devices in case of transport by plane.

The control unit 1 1 is configured not to search for a radio connection point or communication network to connect to (and thus not to transmit data) in the absence of detection of brightness or as the measured brightness is lower to a predefined threshold value (in the recorder), ie as long as the measured or detected brightness has not passed a predefined threshold value.

In other words, the radio communications means 12 are configured not to receive or transmit data as long as an authorization or communication control corresponding to a sufficient brightness measured or detected by the sensor 9, is not provided by the control unit.

As long as the brightness detected is insufficient, no radio communication activity occurs. The radio communication means do not send data by radio wave. In particular, the communication means do not put in listen mode, reception or broadcast and do not try to connect. As shown in Figure 3, the user starts the recorder 1 by pressing the start button. The recorder activates its means of radio communication, searches and connects to connection point 3 of the sender connected to the Internet. According to a particular aspect, this "initial" activation of said communication means is performed following the start of the recorder, without it being conditioned to the brightness. As explained below, after the communication means have been stopped, the next reactivation thereof is dependent on the measured or detected brightness. It can be provided that the recorder records the temperature as soon as the recorder has been started or after a given time.

The control unit communicates with the server 4 connected to the Internet to signal itself, for example using the transmission of a predefined data frame, to indicate to the server 4 that the recorder has started .

After being reported, the recorder stops communicating with the server 4. The control unit 1 1 then stops the radio communication means 12. Said stop of the radio communication means 12 can be achieved by putting the radio communication means 12 on standby, that is to say by a power supply in a minimal manner but without the possibility of radio communication, or by cutting off the feeding of the means of communication 12 radio.

This stop of the radio communication means 12 makes it possible to limit the energy consumption of the recorder and thus to save the power reserve of the recorder. This stop also allows in the context of air transport, as shown in Figure 9, that the system emits no radio communication likely to disrupt the operation of the aircraft. Indeed, the stopping of the radio communication means 12 prevents said radio communication means 12 from searching in a loop for a network to be connected while the recorder being contained in the closed package, the recorder does not need to communicate with the outside.

After signaling and after stopping the communication means, the recorder waits to detect its packaging in the container with the product.

As illustrated in Figure 4, once the recorder and the product introduced into the package, the sender closes the package. The brightness detected or measured by the brightness sensor 9 is then lowered below a predefined threshold value. In particular, it can be considered that, inside the closed package, the brightness is substantially zero.

Thus, the brightness sensor 9 no longer detects the light environment 5 outside the package and the control unit 1 1 thus identifies the fact that the recorder and therefore the product for which it is intended to be associated is in a phase shipping, that is, ready to ship or being shipped.

Subsequently the package can be stored in a warehouse as shown in Figure 5, for example waiting for shipping. Then the package can be shipped, for example by truck as shown in Figure 6, or by any other means of transport, such as vehicle or boat. Whether in the stored state or during transport, as long as the package remains closed, the absence or low light measured or detected by the sensor 9 of the recorder causes the control unit to stop the radio communication means 12 thus preserving the autonomy of said autonomous power supply 14. However, it should be noted that although the radio communication means 12 are stopped, the temperature measured by said measuring means continues to be recorded and stored in the memory 13 of the recorder.

The measuring means 8 of said physical parameter regularly measure, that is to say at a given frequency, said temperature, but their consumption is very low. Similarly, the measurement sensor 9 or brightness detection operates regularly to measure or detect the brightness to allow the control unit to wake up or re-energize the radio communication means when measuring or detection of brightness sufficient.

As illustrated in FIG. 7, when the package is opened in a place that does not correspond to its destination, for example customs 7, the sensor 9 measures or detects a sufficient brightness which means that the package is open and possibly that the recorder is out of the package.

The control unit 1 1 then activates the radio communication means 12 seeking to connect to a predefined network or to a network of a predefined list. In particular, the radio communication means 12 seek to connect to a network whose identifier has been defined in the recorder for example in the memory 13. In the example illustrated in FIG. 7, the place of opening, here the customs, does not include a network with a known identifier of the recorder. In fact, the package is not supposed to be open outside the sender's and the recipient's home so the recorder is not supposed to communicate with the server 4. The recorder is not supposed to be connect to a connection point connected to the Internet, outside the sender and the recipient. Therefore, and possibly after one or more attempts to search or connection, the control unit stops the radio communication means 12. According to one embodiment, the recorder continues to measure and record the temperature even in the open state of the package.

In the event of a connection failure, said communication means are stopped so as to no longer search for a radio connection point until an additional condition is fulfilled.

It can be expected that the awakening or replenishment of the radio communications means 12 to restart the connection search is conditioned to the crossing of a threshold value of brightness (predefined in the recorder). Such a crossing corresponds to the combination of a detection or measurement of a brightness lower than a predefined threshold value, called a closing value, and then, for example later, a detection or measurement of a brightness greater than a value predefined threshold, called opening value. Said closure value may be less than or equal to the opening value.

In other words, the control unit 1 1 is configured to activate the radio communication means 12 during the detected ascending or measured ascending step of a predefined brightness threshold value.

Indeed, such a combination of events is representative of the fact that the package was opened in an area other than the recipient, for example customs, then closed, and finally reopened to a place that can be at the customer's destination .

As explained below, a wakeup or feedback condition of the communication means may be the pressing of a given button 18 of the recorder 1 to reactivate the network search. This condition applies in particular to the case where the product has arrived at the addressee but has been opened in an area out of range of the radio connection point connected to the Internet.

When the package is then closed, the control unit detects the absence or insufficiency of brightness using the sensor 9.

According to a preferred embodiment, the detection of the absence or insufficiency of brightness is recorded by the recorder but is not used to control the stopping of the radio communication means. According to one particular aspect, the stopping of the radio control means results from a failure of connection of the recorder to the access point or the server 4, or from a command of the server 4 received by the recorder 1.

As illustrated in FIG. 8, when the package arrives at the recipient's premises and the package is open, the corresponding brightness measured or detected by the device enables the control unit to wake up or refuel the communication means which are looking for a network to which connect and find a network whose identifier he knows. The radio communication means then connect to said network preferably identified by means of a password predefined in the recorder. The radio communication means can then communicate with the server 4 via the Internet and the radio connection point present at the addressee.

Assuming that the package is open to the recipient but the means of communication fail to connect to a predetermined radio connection point 10, for example because the recorder is out of range of said radio connection point 10 , the recorder behaves as described above in connection with Figure 7 and cut, possibly after one or more other tests, said communication means. Advantageously, the radio communication means 12 can be woken up or re-energized by the user by pressing a given button, for example the start button 18 of the recorder. Thus, the user can for example bring the recorder closer to the radio connection point and / or ensure its proper operation, then press the start button 18 of the recorder to wake up or re-energize the radio communication means. The communication means 12 searches for, finds and connects to the predefined radio connection point present at the recipient.

In the state connected to said radio connection point, the recorder 1 transmits to the server 4 the recorded temperature values as a function of time. It can also be provided that the recorder records and transmits to the server 4 additional data such as the measured brightness value or detected over time, the connection point searches or any other event that the recorder was able to detect or measure. .

Said server 4 which receives the data transmits an acknowledgment to the recorder 1.

Said server 4 processes the received data and generates information relating to the result of this treatment, such as compliance information or non-compliance with the cold chain, with respect to predefined rules. The driving unit 1 1 of the recorder is configured to receive said processing result information.

The processing result information returned by the server to the recorder allows the control unit to activate the status indicator 16 or 17 based on said processing result information. The recorder can thus activate the indicator 16 which indicates an "OK" status if the treatment result information is positive (for example when the cold chain has been respected) or can activate the LED 17 to alert the recipient who can then ask the sender for information if necessary. The sender can view the details of the cloud server data and take responsibility for the delivery or acceptance of the product based on this data.

It can be provided that the temperature measurement is carried out continuously as long as the server 4 has not transmitted to the recorder any information, for example said processing result information, interpreted by the recorder as a stop command of measure, in order to avoid any erroneous or malicious measuring stop.

It can be expected that the brightness is considered sufficient when the brightness value is greater than 50 lux. It can be provided that this threshold value predefined in the recorder can be modified for example in the control unit which then compares a value provided by the brightness sensor with this threshold value to identify whether the brightness of the environment in which it is located the recorder and therefore the product is sufficient to consider that the package is open. According to one embodiment, the means or control unit described above are formed by an electronic and computer processing and calculation unit. Said unit may be in the form of an electronic circuit provided with a microcontroller or processor. When, in the description, it is specified that given means are configured to perform a given operation, it means that the electronic and computer system which forms said means, comprises computer instructions for performing said operation.

Thus, the steps and functions presented above can be implemented as a computer program or via hardware components (eg, programmable door networks). Computer programs, or computer instructions, may be contained in program storage devices, such as computer readable digital data storage media, or executable programs. Programs or instructions can also be run from program storage devices.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings. Accordingly, it should be understood that when the features mentioned in the appended claims are followed by reference signs, these signs are included solely for the purpose of improving the intelligibility of the claims and are in no way limiting to the scope of the claims. claims.

Moreover, the term "including" does not exclude other elements or steps. In addition, features or steps that have been described with reference to one of the embodiments set forth above may also be used in combination with other features or steps of other embodiments set forth above.

Claims

1. System for recording (1) a physical parameter, such as the temperature, of a product suitable for being housed with said recording system in a container, such as a carton, which, in the closed state, is opaque to light, characterized in that said system comprises:

measuring means (8) for the value of said physical parameter, such as a temperature sensor, as a function of time;

a memory (13) for recording the values of said physical parameter as a function of time;

- Radio communication means (12) configured to connect to a radio connection point (3, 10) connected to the Internet and, in the state connected to said radio connection point, to transmit data to a server (4). )

a brightness sensor (9), such as a photosensitive cell,

a control unit (1 1), such as a processor or microcontroller, configured to:

recording in the memory (13) the measured values of said physical parameter as a function of time;

- while the communication means are in an inactive state, for which the communication means are without possibility of radio communication, control, depending on the brightness (5) measured or detected by the brightness sensor (9), the passage in the active state of said radio communication means (12).

Recording system (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the control unit (1 1) is configured to activate the radio communication means (12) when the detected or measured brightness ascends an ascending predefined threshold value.

Recording system (1) according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the recording system (1) is configured to stop said communication means (12) after communicating with the server (4), preferably after receiving corresponding information from said server.

4. Recording system (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control unit (1 1) is configured for, preferably at least in the absence of action of a person on the system, let said radio communication means (12) stop when the detected or measured brightness is below a predefined threshold value.

Recording system (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control unit (1 1) is configured for the connected state of the recording system (1) at said radio connection (10) following said upward crossing of predefined brightness threshold value, transmitting to the server (4) the values of said physical parameter recorded as a function of time.

6. Registration system (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that, said server (4) being configured to process the received data and generate information relating to the result of this processing, such as information of respect or for non-compliance with the cold chain, the control unit (1 1) is configured to receive, by said radio connection point (10), said processing result information.

Recording system (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the radio communication means (12) comprise a WIFI communication module.

Recording system (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control unit (1 1) is configured for, in case of connection failure with said radio connection point or with the server, stop said radio communication means so as not to look for a radio connection point as long as an additional condition is not completed.

Recording system (1) according to claim 8, characterized in that the additional condition for restarting the radio connection point search includes the fact that the detected or measured brightness ascends a predefined threshold value.

10. Recording system (1) according to one of claims 8 or 9, characterized in that the additional condition for restarting the communication network search includes pressing a button (18) of the system of the system. recording (1) to reactivate the network search.

1 1. Set comprising:

- a recording system (1) according to one of the preceding claims, - a radio connection point (3, 10) connected to the Internet and to which said radio communication means (12) of the recording system (1 ) are able to connect, and

- a server (4) connected to the Internet.

12. A method of tracking a physical parameter, such as temperature, of a product, using a recording system (1) according to one of the preceding claims, said recording system (1 ) being placed in a container (2), such as a carton, with said product, said container being opaque to light in the closed state, characterized in that said method comprises the following steps:

when the detected or measured brightness (5) ascends a predefined threshold value, controlling the passage of the radio communication means (12) from an inactive state to an active state to connect to a radio connection point (10); ) connected to the Internet,

transmitting to a server (4) connected to the Internet, values of said physical parameter recorded as a function of time in the memory (13);

- receive a result information relating to the processing of the values of the said physical parameter by the server (4);

preferably, activating an information indicator (16, 17) as a function of the received result information.