Second site control of article transport processing

• US 20040220818A1
• Filed: 04/30/2003
• Published: 11/04/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Lahiri, Sandip
• Granted Patent: US 7,844,468 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/083 Shipping

Abstract

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a system and methodology for sorting and/or distributing items and articles being shipped to a receiving party through private and/or commercial delivery systems. Various characteristics of an article being shipped are obtained and assembled in a database. In an exemplary embodiment, the descriptive characteristics of the article are acquired at a first site and the processing and desired disposition of the article is determined at a second site which is physically separate from the first site. The descriptive characteristics of the article being shipped are displayed at the second site and are sufficient to identify the article to a processing individual located at the second site. The processing individual is then enabled to indicate a desired disposal of the article from the second site without being exposed to the physical article located at the first site. In an exemplary embodiment, the descriptive characteristics of the article may include one or more images of the article along with various other descriptive physical characteristics of the article such as the size and weight of the article. In one example, the processing individual is enabled to authorize the opening of an article in which case, descriptive characteristics of the contents of the article are acquired at the first site and displayed to the processing individual at the second site for use in determining an appropriate disposition of the article.

Claims

1. A method for processing an article being transported at a first location by a user located at a second location, said first location being isolated from said first location, said method comprising:

obtaining characteristics descriptive of said article at said first location;

displaying said characteristics to said user at said second location;

enabling said user to provide article disposal input information at said second location;

transmitting said article disposal input information from said second site to said first site; and

disposing of said article at said first site in accordance with said article disposal input information provided by said user.

2. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said article is a container being shipped in a mail system.

3. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said article is a container being shipped in a private article delivery system.

4. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first location is isolated from said second location by being located in an airtight environment separate from said second location.

5. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first location is isolated from said second location by being physically remote from said second location, said second location being electronically coupled to said first location by means of an interconnection network.

6. The method as set forth in claim 5 wherein said interconnection network is an Internet connection.

7. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said characteristics include a visually perceptible image of said article.

8. The method as set forth in claim 7 wherein said image is obtained at said first location, said method further including:

creating an image file from said image at said first location; and

transmitting said image file from said first location to said second location.

9. The method as set forth in claim 8 and further including:

converting said image file for display on a display device at said second location; and

displaying said image to said user at said second location.

10. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said characteristics include weight characteristics representative of weight of said article.

11. The method as set forth in claim 10 wherein said weight is obtained at said first location, said method further including:

creating a weight information file representative of said weight of said article; and

transmitting said weight information file from said first location to said second location.

12. The method as set forth in claim 11 and further including:

converting said weight information file for display of said weight information on a display device at said second location; and

displaying said weight information to said user at said second location.

13. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said characteristics include dimension characteristics representative of dimensions of said article.

14. The method as set forth in claim 13 wherein said dimensions are obtained at said first location, said method further including:

creating a dimension information file representative of said dimensions of said article; and

transmitting said dimension information file from said first location to said second location.

15. The method as set forth in claim 14 and further including:

converting said dimension information file for display of said dimension information on a display device at said second location; and

displaying said dimension information to said user at said second location.

16. The method as set forth in claim 1 and further including:

enabling said user to input an open command at said second location to open said article at said first location; and

opening said article in accordance with said open command to access contents of said article at said first location.

17. The method as set forth in claim 16 and further including:

obtaining contents characteristics descriptive of contents of said article at said first location; and

displaying said contents characteristics to said user at said second location.

18. The method as set forth in claim 17 wherein said contents characteristics include a perceptible image of said contents.

19. A storage medium including machine readable coded indicia, said storage medium being selectively coupled to a reading device, said reading device being selectively coupled to processing circuitry within a computing system, said reading device being selectively operable to read said machine readable coded indicia and provide program signals representative thereof, said program signals being effective for processing an article being transported at a first location by a user located at a second location, said first location being isolated from said first location, said program signals being selectively operable to accomplish the steps of:

obtaining characteristics descriptive of said article at said first location;

displaying said characteristics to said user at said second location;

enabling said user to provide article disposal input information at said second location;

transmitting said article disposal input information from said second site to said first site; and

disposing of said article at said first site in accordance with said article disposal input information provided by said user.

20. A computing device for communicating with an article handling system for processing an article being transported at a first site, said computing device being selectively operable by a user at a second site, said second site being isolated from said first site, said computing device comprising:

a system bus;

a CPU device connected to said system bus;

a memory device connected to said system bus;

an input device connected to said system bus, said input device being arranged to enable user input to said computing system;

a user display device connected to said system bus; and

coupling means arranged to couple said computing device at said second location to said article handling system at said first site, said computing device being selectively operable for receiving information descriptive of characteristics of said article, and displaying said characteristics on a user input screen on said display device at said second site, said user input screen including means for enabling user input of disposal information on said input device, said computing device being selectively operable for initiating a transmission of said disposal information to said article handling system to effect a disposal of said article in accordance with said disposal information.