Method for producing a product compilation

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for producing a product compilation, which comprises at least one main product and at least one or more subproducts. The main product or a subproduct is provided as a leading object with machine-readable data, which comprise a process key (1), which comprises at least one uniform resource identifier (URI, 2) and a control element region (3), wherein, in the production process, at least one machine recognizes the process key (1) and a work step of the machine is triggered by the process key (1).

Claims

1. A method for producing a product compilation comprising at least one main product and at least one or more subproducts, the method comprising: providing the main product or the subproduct as a leading product with machine-readable data, which includes a process key, which comprises at least one uniform resource identifier and a control element region, recognizing said process key in the production process by at least one machine, triggering a work step of said at least one machine by said process key, defining said work step at a production run time for the product compilation by accessing data that are defined by the uniform resource identifier, wherein the uniform resource identifier comprises a pointer that points to at least one control information databank accessible via a data network, and carrying out said work step on said product compilation, wherein in said work step the product compilation is physically modified.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the product compilation comprises a printed product, which includes the main product and one or more subproducts.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the product compilation comprises a shopping bag, for accommodating a customer-specific product compilation.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the work step is triggered by an item of control information provided by the control element region.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the control information is stored in the control element region of the process key.

6. The method according to claim 4, wherein the control information is queried via a data network from at least one control information databank in accordance with an instruction stored in the control element region of the process key.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the control element region comprises at least one machine-specific control element having a machine identification and a machine control instruction assigned to the machine.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the control element region comprises at least one machine-specific control element having a machine identification and a query instruction, which is assigned to the machine, for a machine control instruction.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the machine-readable data are selected from the group of: i) machine-readable data attached directly onto or at the printed product and ii) machine-readable data associated detachably, temporarily, and spatially in the immediate vicinity of the printed product.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the process key comprises a prefixed metatag for the producer-specific identification of further elements of the process key.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the process key comprises a security element, which is used for decrypting the items of information stored in the control element region and/or the uniform resource identifier.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein the machine-readable data are stored as a machine-readable two-dimensional barcode or matrix barcode or in an RFID tag.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the machine-readable data are printed in a printing process directly onto a main product or subproduct or are stored in a data storage process in an RFID tag, which is attached to the main product or subproduct.

14. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least two machines at separate locations participate in the production process.

15. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least one subproduct is added to the main product in the course of a conveyor section.

16. The method according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of main products are processed by the at least one machine in a product sequence in the course of the conveyor section.

17. The method according to claim 1, wherein the pointer comprises a transfer protocol path which is accessible via a data network.

18. The method according to claim 1, wherein the physical modification of the product compilation during the work step includes adding subproducts, wrapping the product compilation, printing an address, or trimming.

19. A shopping bag, comprising at least one main product or subproduct having machine-readable data, the machine-readable data comprising at least one process key, which comprises at least one uniform resource identifier and a control element region, wherein the process key is recognizable in a production process by at least one machine, wherein a work step of said at least one machine is triggerable by said process key, the shopping bag being physically modified in said work step, wherein the work step is defined at production run time by accessing data that are defined by the uniform resource identifier, and wherein the uniform resource identifier comprises a pointer that points to at least one control information databank accessible via a data network.

20. The shopping bag according to claim 19, wherein the machine-readable data is formed as a machine-readable two-dimensional barcode or matrix barcode or as an RFID tag.

21. A printed product comprising at least one main product or subproduct having machine-readable data, the machine-readable data comprising at least one process key, which comprises at least one uniform resource identifier and a control element region, wherein the process key is recognizable in a production process by at least one machine, wherein a work step of said at least one machine is triggerable by said process key, the printed product being physically modified in said work step, wherein the work step is defined at production run time by accessing data that are defined by the uniform resource identifier, and wherein the uniform resource identifier comprises a pointer that points to at least one control information databank accessible via a data network.

22. The printed product according to claim 21, wherein the machine-readable data is formed as a machine-readable two-dimensional barcode or matrix barcode or as an RFID tag.

23. A container made of plastic or cardboard, comprising at least one main product or subproduct having machine-readable data, the machine-readable data comprising at least one process key, which comprises at least one uniform resource identifier and a control element region, wherein the process key is recognizable in a production process by at least one machine, wherein a work step of said at least one machine is triggerable by said process key, the container being physically modified in said work step, wherein the work step is defined at production run time by accessing data that are defined by the uniform resource identifier, and wherein the uniform resource identifier comprises a pointer that points to at least one control information databank accessible via a data network.

24. The container according to claim 23, wherein the machine-readable data is formed as a machine-readable two-dimensional barcode or matrix barcode or as an RFID tag.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The invention will be explained hereafter on the basis of figures, which merely illustrate exemplary embodiments. In the figures:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a process key according to the invention comprising a uniform resource identifier (URI) and a control element region;

(3) FIG. 2 shows a process key according to the invention comprising a metatag, a uniform resource identifier (URI), and a control element region;

(4) FIG. 3 shows a process key according to the invention comprising a metatag, a uniform resource identifier (URI), a control element region, and a key region;

(5) FIG. 4 shows an arrangement having multiple process keys n according to the invention, each comprising a metatag, a uniform resource identifier (URI), a control element region, and a key region;

(6) FIG. 5 shows a process key according to the invention in interaction with machines for producing a product compilation; and

(7) FIG. 6 shows a process key according to the invention in interaction with machines for producing a product compilation, and also the interaction of a machine with a data cloud.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(8) FIG. 1 shows a process key 1 according to the invention. The process key 1 comprises a uniform resource identifier (URI) 2 and a control element region 3.

(9) The uniform resource identifier 2 is constructed as follows according to the known scheme:

(10) URI=scheme “:” hier-part [“?” query] [“#” fragment]

(11) The components of the uniform resource identifier 2 are listed in the following example.

(12) foo://example.com:8042/over/there?name=ferret#nose

(13) The resource comprises a scheme, which defines the context and identifies the type of the URI. Known schemes are, for example, the protocols HTTP and FTP. A colon and a path for locating the resource follow directly thereon.

(14) The path comprises an authority (i.e., for example, example.com:8042), a path (i.e., for example, /over/there), a query (i.e., for example, ?name=ferret), and a fragment (i.e., for example, #nose).

(15) The authority can identify a host and can contain user inputs. The path contains specifications which identify a resource. The query contains data for identifying resources, which cannot be precisely located by the specification of the path. The fragment references a point within a resource.

(16) The control element region 3 comprises, for example, a list having pairs relating to machine identifications M, 4, 5 and machine control-instructions E, 6.

(17) The machine identifications M, 4, 5 can identify machine classes or specific machines, for example, an insertion machine for inserting subproducts into a main product, a film wrapping machine for wrapping a product compilation in film, an addressing machine for addressing a product compilation, etc.

(18) The machine control instructions 6 can identify work steps which are to be executed by a machine or a machine class or a specific machine, for example, the insertion of a specific subproduct at a specific point of the main product, the wrapping in film of a product compilation with a transparent, semitransparent, or opaque film, the addressing of the product compilation with a specific address, etc.

(19) During the production of a product compilation comprising a main product and multiple subproducts, the main product or a subproduct is provided as the leading object with machine-readable data, which comprise the process key 1. The process key 1 is recognizable to the machines participating in the production of product compilations, wherein in each case one machine accesses the process key 1 and a work step defined in the process key is triggered.

(20) Because the main product or subproduct is provided with the process key 1, in one variant, the production of the product compilation can be defined by only the process key 1 alone and can be performed without further access to external data. This enables a particularly high throughput during the production of product compilations, since the access to external data would slow down the production because of the time required to carry out the access.

(21) Since the process key 1 comprises a uniform resource identifier URI 2, work steps for producing product compilations can be defined at the run time. For example, at the run time, during a work step for attaching a delivery address to the product compilation, the relevant address can be established by access to data which are defined by the uniform resource identifier 2. This enables the data security to be improved, since, for example, all of the customer data sets do not have to be available at a production location, but rather only the customer data sets which are required for the production of the present product compilation.

(22) Work steps may be defined at the run time by way of the use of the uniform resource identifier 2. For example, it may be noted in the process key 1 that wrapping in film of the product compilation is to be performed, wherein it is first ascertained at the run time, by access to data defined by the uniform resource identifier 2, whether a transparent, semitransparent, or opaque film wrapping is to be performed.

(23) FIG. 2 shows a process key 1′ according to the invention, wherein a metatag MD is prefixed to a uniform resource identifier 2′ and a control element region 3. The metatag MD enables the producer-specific identification of the further elements of the process key. By way of the access to the metatag MD, a machine can recognize very rapidly whether the relevant process key 1′ comprises a uniform resource identifier 2′ and a control element range 3′, to trigger a work step of the machine. The throughput during the production of product compilations may thus be increased.

(24) FIG. 3 shows a process key 1″ according to the invention, wherein a security element S is affixed to uniform resource identifier 2″ and a control element region 3″. The security element S is used for decrypting the items of information stored in the control element region 3″ and/or the uniform resource identifier 2″. The security element can define an encryption algorithm, which is required for the decryption, for example, a symmetrical algorithm or an asymmetrical algorithm. The key required for the decryption, for example, a symmetrical key or the private key of an asymmetrical key, can have been stored in the relevant machine in an initialization step.

(25) FIG. 4 shows a plurality of process keys 1.sub.1, 1.sub.2, 1.sub.3, which are contained in the machine-readable data, with which the main product or the subproduct is provided. In FIG. 4, three process keys 1.sub.1, 1.sub.2, 1.sub.3 are shown, however, fewer or many more process keys can be contained in the machine-readable data. Work steps can be defined by the multiple process keys 1.sub.1, 1.sub.2, 1.sub.3 per machine or machine class, which are to be carried out by the relevant machine or a machine of a machine class. In particular by access to the metatag MD.sub.1, MD.sub.2, MD.sub.3, the respective machine can rapidly establish whether work steps which are to be executed are defined in process key 1.sub.1, 1.sub.2, 1.sub.3.

(26) FIG. 5 shows a process key 1.sub.5, which is contained in machine-readable data, with which a main product or subproduct is provided, which is conveyed in a conveyance direction from a machine M1 to a machine M2 and to a machine M3. As schematically shown in FIG. 5, the process key comprises a URL (unified resource locator) having the value ABC . . . and properties E having the values 1/5, 2/3, 100/200, 3/2. As schematically shown in FIG. 5, the property 1/5 relates to the machine M1, using which the work step 5 is to be carried out. The work step 5 can be defined on the machine M1 and can relate to adding a specific subproduct, for example. As schematically shown in FIG. 5, the property 2/3 relates to the machine M2, using which the work step 3 is to be carried out, which relates in the example of FIG. 5 to a cutting function to a specific size FL×FB. As schematically shown in FIG. 5, the size FL×FB, to which the trimming is to be carried out, is to be looked up in the properties. In the example of FIG. 5, the size FL×FB=100×200 of a specific unit, which is used for the machine M2, for example, the unit centimeters. As schematically shown in FIG. 5, the property 3/2 relates to the machine M3, using which the work step 2 is to be carried out. The work step 2 of the machine M3 can relate, for example, to the insertion of a specific subproduct or the film wrapping with a transparent, semitransparent, or opaque film.

(27) The operator who is schematically shown in FIG. 5 can optionally, as indicated by the dashed arrows, engage in the machines, query data, or monitor processing steps to be executed.

(28) FIG. 6 shows a process key 1.sub.6, which is contained in machine-readable data, with which a main product or subproduct is provided, which is conveyed in a conveyance direction from a machine M1 to a machine M2 and to a machine M3. As schematically shown in FIG. 6, the process key comprises a URL having the value ABC . . . and properties E having the values 1/5, 2/3, 3/2. The properties E1 having the values 1/5 and E2 having the values 3/2 relate to the machine M1 and the machine M3, which have to carry out the work step 5 and the work step 2. The property E2 having the values 2/3 relates to the machine M2, which has to carry out the work step 3. In the example shown in FIG. 6, the work step 3 requires additional specifications, for example, the dimension specification of the trimming of a main product or subproduct. As shown in FIG. 6, the machine M2 carries out a query, using the URL ABC . . . , in a control information databank, shown as a “cloud”, to retrieve the required specifications with respect to the dimension specification FL, FB, which is required to carry out the trimming.