System and methods for transportation and delivery using bar codes

• US 20020091537A1
• Filed: 01/11/2001
• Published: 07/11/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Symbol Technologies, LLC (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc. (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Inventors: Algazi, Allan Stuart
• Granted Patent: US 7,386,456 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/337
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/083 Shipping
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0281 Customer communication at a business location, e.g. providing product or service information, consulting
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 17/00508 Printing or attaching on mailpieces printing mechanisms B41J; security printing B41M3/14; marking methods B41M5/00; inks C09D11/00; record carriers with at least a part designed to carry digital markings G06K19/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 17/00733 Cryptography or similar special procedures in a franking system
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/0004 Determining the location of mailpieces outside apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00145 via the Internet
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00588 Barcode
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00838 Personal data, i.e. biometrics
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/37 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voice recognition

Abstract

A method of obtaining a package is described. A user is electronically notified that a package has arrived at a predetermined location. The user then prints a paper receipt including a two-dimensional bar code encoding the user'"'"'s previously provided biometric information. At the predetermined location, the user scans the two-dimensional bar code, which is decoded to obtain the previously provided biometric information. The user also conveys current biometric information. If the user'"'"'s current biometric information is equivalent to the user'"'"'s current biometric information, a retrieval devices provides the package to the user.

Claims

1. A method of obtaining a package, comprising

notifying a user electronically that a package has arrived at a predetermined location;

printing a paper receipt including a two-dimensional bar code encoding the user'"'"'s previously provided biometric information;

at the predetermined location, scanning the two-dimensional bar code, decoding the two-dimensional bar code to obtain the user'"'"'s previously provided biometric information and conveying the user'"'"'s current biometric information to a retrieval device; and

if the user'"'"'s current biometric information is equivalent to the user'"'"'s current biometric information, providing the package to the user by the retrieval device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

presenting the package for visual inspection by the user prior to providing the package to the user by the retrieval device.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of notifying a user electronically occurs via a cell phone.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of notifying a user electronically occurs via a PDA.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of notifying a user electronically occurs via a two-way pager.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the user'"'"'s previously provided biometric information and the user'"'"'s current biometric information include data related to the user'"'"'s fingerprint.

7. The method of claim 2, wherein the user'"'"'s previously provided biometric information and the user'"'"'s current biometric information include data related to the user'"'"'s handprint.

8. The method of claim 2, wherein the user'"'"'s previously provided biometric information and the user'"'"'s current biometric information include data related to the user'"'"'s voiceprint.

9. The method of claim 2, wherein the user'"'"'s previously provided biometric information and the user'"'"'s current biometric information include data related to the user'"'"'s facial features.

10. The method of claim 2, wherein the user'"'"'s previously provided biometric information and the user'"'"'s current biometric information include data related to the user'"'"'s signature.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein conveying the user'"'"'s current biometric information is accomplished by:

affixing the user'"'"'s signature to a signature bar code; and

scanning the signature bar code.

12. The method of claim 2, wherein the two-dimensional bar code utilizes the PDF 417 symbology.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, further comprising:

a presenter for presenting the package for visual inspection by the user prior to providing the package to the user by the provider.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the notifier operates via a cell phone.

16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the notifier operates via a PDA.

17. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the notifier operates via a two-way pager.

18. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the user'"'"'s previously provided biometric information and the user'"'"'s current biometric information include data related to the user'"'"'s fingerprint.

19. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the user'"'"'s previously provided biometric information and the user'"'"'s current biometric information include data related to the user'"'"'s handprint.

20. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the user'"'"'s previously provided biometric information and the user'"'"'s current biometric information include data related to the user'"'"'s voiceprint.

21. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the user'"'"'s previously provided biometric information and the user'"'"'s current biometric information include data related to the user'"'"'s facial features.

22. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the user'"'"'s previously provided biometric information and the user'"'"'s current biometric information include data related to the user'"'"'s signature.

23. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the two-dimensional bar code utilizes the PDF 417 symbology.

25. The method as in claim 24, further comprising:

the user ordering a package from a package provider and directing the provider to send the package to the service provider;

the package provider contacting the service provider to obtain the user'"'"'s select contact information;

the service provider notifying the user electronically that the package has arrived at a predetermined location.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the step of the user ordering a package is accomplished via the Internet.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein the select biometric information include data related to the user'"'"'s facial features.

28. The method of claim 25, wherein the select biometric information include data related to the user'"'"'s voiceprint.

29. The method of claim 25, wherein the select biometric information include data related to the user'"'"'s fingerprint.

30. The method of claim 25, wherein the select biometric information include data related to the user'"'"'s signature.

31. The method of claim 25, wherein the select biometric information include data related to the user'"'"'s handprint.

13. An apparatus for delivering goods, comprising:

a notifier for notifying a user electronically that a package has arrived at a predetermined location;

a scanner for scanning a two-dimensional bar code provided by a user at the predetermined location;

a decoder for decoding the user'"'"'s previously provided biometric information from the two-dimensional bar code;

a collector for collecting the user'"'"'s current biometric information;

a comparator for comparing the user'"'"'s current biometric information and the user'"'"'s previously provided biometric information; and

a provider for providing the package to the user if the user'"'"'s current biometric information matches the user'"'"'s previously provided biometric information.

24. A method of establishing a service for package delivery, comprising:

a user providing to a service provider select biometric information, select contact information, and select financial information in a secure fashion;

insuring that the select financial information and the select biometric information are stored in a secure manner apart from the select contact information; and

encoding the select biometric information so as to be capable of being printed in a two-dimensional bar code.

32. A method of returning a package, comprising

a user notifying a package provider that the user desires to return a package to the package provider via a service provider;

after consultation with the package provider, the service provider notifying the user electronically that the package is ready to be accepted for return;

printing a paper return label including a two-dimensional bar code encoding the user'"'"'s previously provided biometric information;

affixing the paper return label to the package;

at the predetermined location, scanning the two-dimensional bar code, decoding the two-dimensional bar code to obtain the user'"'"'s previously provided biometric information and conveying the user'"'"'s current biometric information to a deposit device;

if the user'"'"'s current biometric information is equivalent to the user'"'"'s current biometric information, the user providing the package to the service provider by the deposit device; and

the service provider providing the package to the package provider.

33. The method as in claim 32, further comprising:

querying the user the reason for returning the package.

34. The method as in claim 33, further comprising:

ascertaining the current physical dimension and weight parameters of the package by the deposit device and comparing the current physical dimension and weight parameters of the package with previously established physical dimension and weight parameters provided by the package provider; and

if the current physical dimension and weight parameters are substantially equivalent to the previously established physical dimension and weight parameters, accepting the package by the service provider and crediting the user'"'"'s financial account by the package provider for the amount spent on the package.

35. The method of claim 34, wherein the user'"'"'s previously provided biometric information and the user'"'"'s current biometric information include data related to the user'"'"'s fingerprint.

36. The method of claim 34, wherein the user'"'"'s previously provided biometric information and the user'"'"'s current biometric information include data related to the user'"'"'s handprint.

37. The method of claim 34, wherein the user'"'"'s previously provided biometric information and the user'"'"'s current biometric information include data related to the user'"'"'s voiceprint.

38. The method of claim 34, wherein the user'"'"'s previously provided biometric information and the user'"'"'s current biometric information include data related to the user'"'"'s facial features.

39. The method of claim 34, wherein the user'"'"'s previously provided biometric information and the user'"'"'s current biometric information include data related to the user'"'"'s signature.

40. The method of claim 34, wherein the two-dimensional bar code utilizes the PDF 417 symbology.

41. The method of claim 34, wherein the step of the user notifying the package provider is accomplished via the Internet.