Transfer verification products and methods

• US 20040149823A1
• Filed: 08/12/2003
• 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 7,191,942 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 10/0875 Itemisation or classification of parts, supplies or services, e.g. bill of materials
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management

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 container imaging product comprising:

an image of a first view of a container, the first view including a first symbol and not including a second symbol; and

an image of a second view of the container, the second view including the second symbol and not including the first symbol.

2. The container imaging product of claim 1, wherein the first and second symbols are different numbers.

3. The container imaging product of claim 1, wherein the first and second symbols are different letters.

4. The container imaging product of claim 1, wherein the container has a first side and a second side, the first symbol is located on the first side and the second symbol is located on the second side.

5. The container imaging product of claim 1, wherein the first view of the container is opposite the second view of the container.

6. The container imaging product of claim 1, wherein the first view of the container includes an access surface of the container.

7. The container imaging product of claim 1, wherein the images are stored in an electronic memory coupled to the container.

8. The container imaging product of claim 1, wherein an identification of the images is stored in an electronic memory coupled to the container.

9. A shipment analysis system, comprising:

one or more mounted digital cameras; and

a computer coupled to the one or more cameras and configured to received multiple images of a shipment having a plurality of sides,

wherein the multiple images include at least a first image showing a first view of the shipment and a second image showing a second view of the shipment, the second view including a side of the shipment not included in the first view.

10. The shipment analysis system of claim .9, wherein the one or more mounted digital cameras is a single camera moveably mounted with respect to the shipment.

11. The shipment analysis system of claim 9, wherein the one or more mounted digital cameras include a plurality of cameras mounted around a space sufficient to accommodate the shipment.

12. The shipment analysis system of claim 9, wherein the shipment comprises a container enclosing goods.

13. The shipment analysis system of claim 9, wherein the computer is connected to a network and transmits the images over the network to a destination computer located at the destination of the shipment.

14. The shipment analysis system of claim 9, wherein the first image includes a first symbol, but not a second symbol and the second image includes the second symbol, but not the first symbol.

15. The shipment analysis system of claim 9, wherein the shipment is a container and the first view includes an access area of the container.

16. The shipment analysis system of claim 9, wherein the shipment is a container and the first view includes a seal mounted on the container.

17. A computer program, stored on a tangible storage medium, for acquiring multiple views of a shipment, the program including executable instructions that cause one or more computers to:

send activation signals to one or more cameras;

receive, from the one or more cameras, multiple images of a shipment having a plurality of sides,

wherein the multiple images include at least a first image showing a first view of the shipment and a second image showing a second view of the shipment, the second view including a side of the shipment not included in the first view.

18. The computer program of claim 17, wherein the one or more cameras is a single camera moveably mounted with respect to the shipment.

19. The computer program of claim 17, wherein the one or more cameras include a plurality of cameras mounted around a space sufficient to accommodate the shipment.

20. The computer program of claim 17, wherein the shipment comprises a container enclosing goods.

21. The computer program of claim 17, wherein the computer is connected to a network and the executable instructions cause the one or more computers to transmit the images over the network to a destination computer located at a destination of the shipment.

22. The computer program of claim 17, wherein the first image includes a first symbol, but not a second symbol and the second image includes the second symbol, but not the first symbol.

23. The computer program of claim 17, wherein the shipment is a container and the first view includes an access area of the container.

24. The computer program of claim 17, wherein the shipment is a container and the first view includes a seal mounted on the container.

25. A container comprising:

a first side including a first symbol;

a second side including a second symbol;

a third side including a third symbol;

a fourth side including a fourth symbol; and

where the first, second, third, and fourth symbols are sequential.

26. The container of claim 25 where the first, second, third, and fourth symbols are numeric.

27. A method of inspecting a shipment comprising:

receiving the shipment;

receiving a communication identifying a first symbol with a first side of the shipment and a second symbol with a second side of the shipment; and

viewing the symbols on the first side and the second side of the shipment.

28. A method of inspecting a shipment comprising:

receiving a request to permit movement of the shipment;

receiving a communication identifying a first symbol with a first side of the shipment and a second symbol with a second side of the shipment; and

viewing the symbols on the first side and the second side of the shipment.