WO2014105992A1

WO2014105992A1 - Extended shelf-life product distribution method

Info

Publication number: WO2014105992A1
Application number: PCT/US2013/077885
Authority: WO
Inventors: Yoshihiko Akimoto; Gene Scott
Original assignee: Yoshihiko Akimoto; Gene Scott
Priority date: 2012-12-26
Filing date: 2013-12-26
Publication date: 2014-07-03

Abstract

A computer network system operates to match a foodstuffs production with a consumer requirement and then exchanges the foodstuffs at a reuse date prior to a spoil date. The exchanged foodstuff is matched with requests for foodstuffs from people in need. The foodstuffs are then shipped to regions where such need is prevalent.

Description

TITLE

EXTENDED SHELF-LIFE PRODUCT DISTRIBUTION METHOD

BACKGROUND

[001] This disclosure relates to the field of food distribution and more particularly to a novel distribution method. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), hunger is the single gravest threat to the world's public health. The WHO also states that malnutrition is by far the biggest contributor to child mortality and is a major factor in half of all deaths of children worldwide. Six million children die of hunger every year globally. Figures on actual starvation are difficult obtain, but according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the less severe condition of undernourishment currently affects about 14% of the world's population. Although there are food surpluses in many countries and also organizations capable of bulk food transfers, the lack of sufficient means for long term grain storage in the most critical areas of the world often results in massive food spoilage and failure to meet the needs of the hungry. This disclosure presents a solution.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[002] Figure 1 is an example block diagram representing a physical computer network of the present disclosure; and

[003] Figure 2 is an example software logical flow diagram representing a method of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[004] Fig. 1 is a block diagram representing a number of physical computer systems and an example of communication relationships between them. In all instances, the term "computer 10" in this writing has the meaning of a physical computer system including at the very least, a physical data processor, a physical data storage memory capable of communicating with the data processor, a physical input/output device such as a means for sending and receiving data in communication with the Internet, and a software instruction set which is ^ _{QT A}

L)oc et ff: A imot^-03IA

stored within the data storage memory and in such form as to be able to be read and processed by the data processor. Physical computer systems of this type are well known in the art and the physical computer 10 referred to throughout this writing may be any one or more of the physical computer systems described above. In Fig. 1, the arrows represent data transfer paths between pairs of the computer systems and such paths may be wired or wireless communication means such as interconnections through the Internet or otherwise. Fig. 1 represents a network of computer systems of the type stated above and this network may include dozens or even hundreds of such computer systems.

[005] In Fig. 1, production plant computer 10 may be a single computer or may be a plurality of computers 10 located at different parts of the world as for instance, one may be located in Japan, another in the United States, and still another in Western Europe. There may be other computers 10 in still other locations around the world. Production plant computer 10 may be located at a bakery factory wherein a canned bread product is produced. Such a canned bread product may be in accordance with patent US 8597702 entitled "Method To Improve Shelf Life Of Baked Edible Products," issued on 03 December 2013 to Yoshihiko Akimoto of Nasushiobara, Japan. This canned bread product makes the presently described method possible, however, other extended shelf-life foodstuffs may be substituted for canned bread in the present method.

[006] In Fig. 1, consumer computers 20 may be located in businesses, homes, water borne vessels, vacation domiciles, travel trailers, and so on, or wherever the storage of an extended self-life foodstuffs is of use. As such, consumer computers 20 may number in the hundreds of thousands or greater numbers and may be found in every part of the world. Of course, an extended life foodstuffs may be stored at any convenient location which related consumer computers 20 may be located separately, and may particularly may be portable or personal computers such as smart phones.

[007] In Fig. 1, NGO computers 30 represent the computers that are used by nongovernmental organizations to accomplish their tasks of providing services to the peoples of those parts of the world where such services are needed. NGO computers 30, in this writing, represent those computers that are employed by for-profit as well as non-profit organizations ^ _{QT A}

L)oc et ff: A imot^-03IA

around the world, organizations that provide services as for instance, educating, guiding, helping, supporting, and feeding peoples in need.

[008] In Fig. 1, distribution center computers 40 represent the computers that are located within and used by food distribution centers in the villages and camps near or within the malnourished populations of third- world communities.

[009] Fig. 1 represents a novel communication network. It is noted that production plant computer 10 shares data transfer paths separately with each consumer computer 20, and also separately with each NGO computer 30. Production plant computer 10 does not share data transfer paths with any distribution center computers 40. Each NGO computer 30 shares data transfer paths with one or more distribution center computers 40. This arrangement of data transfer path sharing is novel, advantageous and mandatory in light of the benefit it affords as will be described below.

[0010] The benefit provided by the communication scheme defined in Fig. 1 and the method shown graphically in Fig. 2, is to enable initial distribution of extended shelf-life foodstuffs as a commercial venture to a first set of recipients (consumers), and to later provide a secondary distribution of the exact same foodstuffss as a charitable donation to regions where malnourished populations try to exist.

[0011] A first software instruction set 12 may be stored in data storage memory 14 of production plant computer 10. A consumer software instruction set 22 may be stored in data storage memory 24 of each consumer computer 20. As shown in Fig. 2 the two instruction sets 12 and 22 mutually communicate to enable a foodstuffs producer such as a bakery factory, to transmit promotion materials related to a foodstuffs such as a canned bakery product having extended shelf-life via consumer computers 20, to receive purchase orders from consumer computers 20, and to print internal work orders to a production facility, and to receive notice of work order fulfilment and inventory location (spot) from the production facility, and to print shipping instructions to a shipping facility so as to complete a commercial contract between, for instance, a bakery factory and a consumer. The first software instruction set also sets a timetable into data storage memory 14, the timetable recording a date of foodstuffs production, date of sale, sale price, date of shipment to customer, a projected date of spoilage, and a projected date of reuse. ^ _{QT A}

L)oc et ff: A imot^-03IA

[0012] A distribution center instruction set 42 may be stored in data storage memory 44 of each distribution center computer 40. As shown in Fig. 2, the two instruction sets 32 and 42 mutually communicate to enable an operating foodstuffs distribution center to send requests for foodstuffs including required quantities, location for delivery, and requested delivery times to computer 30 and to enable computer 30 to store such data in memory 34.

[0013] An NGO software instruction set 32 may be stored in data storage memory 34 of each NGO computer 30. As shown in Fig. 2 the two instruction sets 12 and 32 mutually communicate to enable an operating NGO, or any equivalent entity, to send requests for foodstuffs including required quantities, locations for delivery, and requested delivery times to computer 10 and to enable computer 10 to store such data in memory 14.

[0014] A distribution center instruction set 42 may be stored in data storage memory 44 of each distribution center computer 40. As shown in Fig. 2, the two instruction sets 32 and 42 mutually communicate to enable an operating foodstuffs distribution center to send requests for foodstuffs including required quantities, location for delivery, and requested delivery times to computer 30 and to enable computer 30 to store such data in memory 34.

[0015] Referring now to Fig. 2, the method of the present disclosure includes computer processing of computers 10, 20, 30, and 40. The method begins with computer 10 transmitting promotional materials to computers 20 advertising foodstuff for sale. In response computer 10 receives purchase orders from computers 20. Computer 10 responds to the purchase orders by printing work orders to load the production lines or alternatively the work orders may be delivered to the production lines by electronic means, computer to computer. Later, computer 10 receives a notice of work completion and assigns an inventory spot for the produced foodstuffs. Computer then prints shipping instructions for that part of the foodstuffs that will be shipped to meet the orders from computers 20. The shipping instructions will enable actual foodstuffs shipping to customers. At this time computer 10 creates and stores in memory a timetable including: production date, shipping date, product identification or type, sale price, customer identification, foodstuffs spoil date and reuse date. This information is entered into computer 10 by the production plant staff. Later an internal time clock of computer 10 produces an alert which may be an audible alarm or a blink light, etc. This alert identifies that a reuse date has occurred for the ^ _{QT A}

L)oc et ff: A imot^-03IA

foodstuffs. Computer 10 sends this alert to consumer 20. Consumer 20 has the option, at this time, to trade the original foodstuff for a fresh production bath in an exchange whereby the new replacement foodstuffs is offered at a reduced price. When this exchange takes place, the original foodstuffs is available for further use and it is matched with a request received from an NGO. When such a match is made computer 10 prints shipping papers for transit of the foodstuffs to the NGO. Computer 10 also reduces inventory stock amounts appropriately as well and enters into the transaction into data storage memory 14. NGO computer 30 receives foodstuffs requirements/requests from distribution center computers 40 and transmits such requirements to production plant computer 10. Later, computer 30 receives a notice of shipment and later still, a notice of shipment being made. Inventory documents are produced and a running inventory of foodstuffs is maintained in computer memory 34. If the foodstuffs are maintained in inventory by the NGO, computer 30 prints shipping papers for use in the transit of the foodstuffs from NGO to distribution centers. Distribution center computer 40 receives requests for foodstuffs requirements from villages and families in the region serviced. These requests are entered into computer 40. Such requests are consolidated as part of the software program 42 and these requests are sent to NGO computer 30 and therein consolidated once more with other requests made by distribution center computers 40. When foodstuffs shipments are made by NGOs shipping papers are transmitted to the computers 40 of the respective distribution centers. These computers 40, in turn print inventory documents and shipping papers for distribution of the foodstuffs to those in need.

[0016] The above description is shown pictorially in Fig. 2. Where the description refers to a computer, as for instance computer 10 or 20, it will be understood that the action inferred may be conducted by an input/output device such as a printer, or by a transceiver or other by the computer's data processor or memory device or other feature of the respective computer system, 10, 20, 30, or 40.

[0017] Embodiments of the subject apparatus and method have been described herein. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and understanding of this disclosure. Accordingly, other embodiments and approaches are within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

CLAIMS What is claimed is:

Claim 1. A network of physical computer systems consisting of:

a production plant computer system having a mutual data transfer means with each one of a plurality of consumer computer systems and a mutual data transfer means with each one of a plurality of NGO computer systems;

the NGO computer systems each having a mutual data transfer means with at least one distribution center computer system.

Claim 2. A network of physical computer systems, the systems integrated for data transfer therebetween, wherein each of the computer systems having at least, a physical data processor, a physical data storage memory capable of communicating with the data processor, a physical input/output device having means for sending and receiving data in communication with the Internet, and a software instruction set stored within the data storage memory, the instruction sets enabled for conducting a method comprising:

transmitting promotional material for foodstuffs;

receiving purchase orders for the foodstuffs from consumers;

printing internal work orders for the foodstuffs;

receiving notice of work orders completed;

printing shipping instructions for original foodstuffs;

storing data on the original foodstuffs including: dates of production, shipping, spoil, and reuse;

receiving an alert at the reuse date;

sending exchange notices to consumers;

exchanging the original foodstuffs for a new foodstuffs;

entering a foodstuffs requirement from at least one village;

entering a foodstuffs requirement from at least one distribution center;

entering a foodstuffs request from at least one NGO; WO 2014/105992^ _{QT A} PCT/US2013/077885 L)oc et ff: A imot^-03IA

receiving and matching the NGO foodstuffs requirement with the exchanged original foodstuffs;

printing a foodstuffs shipping papers; and

shipping the original foodstuffs to the at least one distribution center for delivery to the village prior to the spoil date.