US 12,067,447 B2
Method and apparatus for tracking one or more plants and/or plant based products and/or tracking the sale of products derived from the same, utilizing RFID technology
Dilek Dagdelen Uysal, Lakeland, FL (US); and Jeffrey Lane Wells, Lakeland, FL (US)
Assigned to METRC, LLC, Lakeland, FL (US)
Filed by METRC LLC, Lakeland, FL (US)
Filed on Jun. 27, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/214,729.
Application 15/655,325 is a division of application No. 14/764,904, granted, now 9,959,438, issued on May 1, 2018, previously published as PCT/US2015/035644, filed on Jun. 12, 2015.
Application 18/214,729 is a continuation of application No. 17/492,968, filed on Oct. 4, 2021, granted, now 11,687,745.
Application 17/492,968 is a continuation of application No. 16/657,302, filed on Oct. 18, 2019, granted, now 11,138,396, issued on Oct. 5, 2021.
Application 16/657,302 is a continuation of application No. 15/655,325, filed on Jul. 20, 2017, granted, now 10,474,855, issued on Nov. 12, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/011,463, filed on Jun. 12, 2014.
Prior Publication US 2023/0342571 A1, Oct. 26, 2023
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. G06K 7/10 (2006.01); G06K 19/07 (2006.01); G06Q 10/08 (2024.01); G06Q 10/0833 (2023.01); G06Q 10/087 (2023.01); G06Q 50/02 (2024.01)
CPC G06K 7/10366 (2013.01) [G06K 19/0723 (2013.01); G06Q 10/08 (2013.01); G06Q 10/0833 (2013.01); G06Q 10/087 (2013.01); G06Q 50/02 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of tracking at least one plant, comprising:
providing at least one RFID tag assembly,
wherein each RFID tag assembly of the at least one RFID tag assembly comprises:
a strap,
wherein the strap comprises:
a strap body having a strap body proximal end and a strap body distal end;
a first strap connecting portion attached to the strap body proximate to the strap body distal end; and
a second strap connecting portion attached to the strap body proximate to the strap body proximal end,
wherein the first strap connecting portion and the second strap connecting portion are configured such that when the first strap connecting portion is connected to the second strap connecting portion in a locked position, the first strap connecting portion and second strap connecting portion are in locked connection such that the strap body distal end is in locked connection with the strap body proximal end; and
an RFID label,
wherein the RFID label comprises:
an RFID label body having an RFID label body proximal end and an RFID label body distal end;
an RFID circuit,
wherein the RFID circuit is attached to the RFID label body;
an RFID antenna,
wherein the RFID antenna is connected to the RFID circuit,
wherein the RFID antenna is attached to the RFID label body, and
wherein the RFID label and the strap are configured to:
(i) interconnect in a first configuration, such that when the first strap connecting portion and the second strap connecting portion are in locked connection, the RFID label does not separate from the strap and an orientation of the RFID label is dependent on an orientation of the strap, and
(ii) interconnect in a second configuration, such that when the first strap connecting portion and the second strap connecting portion are in locked connection the RFID label does not separate from the strap and the orientation of the RFID label is adjustable independently from the orientation of the strap;
putting at least one seed or at least one stem in soil and/or water;
positioning a corresponding at least one RFID tag with respect to the at least one seed or the at least one stem in a manner that each RFID tag of the at least one RFID tag is associated with the corresponding seed or the corresponding stem,
wherein each RFID tag of the at least one RFID tag is incorporated into a corresponding RFID tag assembly of the at least one RFID tag assembly;
after the at least one seed or at least one stem matures transfers into a vegetative state to become at least one plant, if each RFID tag of the at least one RFID tag is not yet attached to the corresponding plant of the at least one plant, attaching the each RFID tag of the at least one RFID tag to the corresponding plant of the at least one plant;
after the at least one potted plant matures further, harvesting the at least one plant to create a lot or batch of harvested material;
packaging the harvested material into a packaged product; and
attaching either:
(i) the at least one RFID tag from the at least one plant; or
(ii) a product RFID tag that is associated with the at least one RFID tag,
to the packaged product.