Transfer verification products and methods

• US 20040149821A1
• Filed: 03/26/2003
• Published: 08/05/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Larry Aptekar
• Original Assignee: Larry Aptekar
• Inventors: Aptekar, Larry
• Granted Patent: US 7,422,149 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/385
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/203 Inventory monitoring

Abstract

A documentation product and methods for using the product to check a shipment and take responsibility for a shipment are disclosed. The documentation product includes a transfer document that corresponds to a shipment. The transfer document includes identification of a carrier, identification of a destination, and identification of an image. The identified image depicts the shipment. The identified image can be compared with a received shipment such that discrepancies can be determined. The transfer document can also be acknowledged as corresponding to the shipment depicted at least in part by the image.

Claims

1. A documentation product comprising:

a transfer document corresponding to a shipment, wherein the transfer document includes at least;

(a) identification of a carrier;

(b) identification of a destination; and

(c) identification of an image;

wherein the image depicts the shipment.

2. The documentation product of claim 1, wherein the identification of the image comprises the image.

3. The documentation product of claim 1, wherein the identification of the image comprises identification of a second document attached to the transfer document.

4. The documentation product of claim 1, wherein the identification of the image comprises identification of a location where data representing the image is stored.

5. The documentation product of claim 1, wherein the identification of the image comprises identification of an entity that has possession of the image.

6. The documentation product of claim 1, wherein the destination is a port of discharge.

7. The documentation product of claim 1, wherein the transfer document further includes a textual description of the shipment.

8. The documentation product of claim 1, wherein the shipment includes goods and a container and the image depicts the container.

9. The documentation product of claim 1, wherein the shipment includes goods and a container and the image depicts the goods.

10. The documentation product of claim 1, wherein the transfer document also includes identification of a second image, the second image depicts another view of the shipment, the shipment is marked with a plurality of symbols, at least one symbol is visible in the image, and at least one symbol is visible in the second image.

11. The documentation product of claim 1, wherein the shipment is a portion of a second shipment.

12. The documentation product of claim 1, wherein the transfer document is electronic.

13. The documentation product of claim 1, wherein a tracking number comprises the identification of the carrier and the identification of the destination.

14. A method of checking a shipment, comprising the steps of:

viewing a transfer document that includes identification of an image depicting the shipment;

viewing the shipment;

viewing the image; and

comparing the shipment to the image such that discrepancies can be determined.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the shipment includes goods in a container and further comprising the step of:

removing the goods from the container.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of:

determining one or more discrepancies between the shipment and the image.

17. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of:

determining that there are no discrepancies between the shipment and the image.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein the identification of the image comprises the image.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein the identification of the image comprises identification of a second document attached to the transfer document.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein the identification of the image comprises identification of a location where data representing the image is stored.

21. The method of claim 14, wherein the identification of the image comprises identification of an entity that has possession of the image.

22. The method of claim 14, wherein the transfer document further includes a textual description of the shipment, and further comprising the step of:

comparing the shipment to the textual description such that discrepancies can be determined.

23. The method of claim 14, wherein the shipment includes goods and a container and the image depicts the container.

24. The method of claim 14, wherein the shipment includes goods and a container and the image depicts the goods.

25. The method of claim 14, wherein the shipment is a portion of a second shipment.

26. The method of claim 14, wherein the step of viewing the shipment includes remotely viewing the shipment.

27. The method of claim 14, wherein the step of viewing the shipment includes viewing a second image of the shipment.

28. The method of claim 14, further comprising the step of:

receiving the transfer document.

29. A method of taking responsibility for a shipment, comprising the steps of:

receiving a shipment;

receiving a transfer document that includes identification of an image depicting the shipment; and

acknowledging the transfer document.

30. The method of claim 29, further comprising the steps of:

determining one or more discrepancies between the shipment and the image; and

recording the discrepancies on the transfer document prior to the step of acknowledging.

31. The method of claim 29, further comprising the step of:

determining that there are no discrepancies between the shipment and the image.

32. The method of claim 29, wherein the identification of the image comprises the image.

33. The method of claim 29, wherein the identification of the image comprises identification of a second document attached to the transfer document.

34. The method of claim 29, wherein the identification of the image comprises identification of a location where data representing the image is stored.

35. The method of claim 29, wherein the identification of the image comprises identification of an entity that has possession of the image.

36. The method of claim 29, wherein the transfer document further includes a textual description of the shipment.

37. The method of claim 29, wherein the step of acknowledging the transfer document includes signing the transfer document.

38. The method of claim 29, wherein the shipment is a portion of a second shipment.

39. The method of claim 29, wherein receiving the shipment includes taking title to the shipment.

40. The method of claim 29, further comprising the step of:

transporting the shipment.

41. The method of claim 29, further comprising the step of:

storing the shipment.