Logistics chain management system

• US 20050006456A1
• Filed: 03/12/2004
• Published: 01/13/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hussmann Corporation (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Exago Pty., Ltd.
• Inventors: White, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 7,059,515 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/376
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management

Abstract

A logistics chain management system for which provides a network and databases to enable exporters or importers to book transport and storage facilities for all stages of the export/import transport/storage chain. An electronic document is created which eliminates the need to re enter data and thus reduces the incidence of errors. Quality assurance is achieved by monitoring consignments of goods with data loggers. All participants sign an agreement including predetermined transport conditions for the goods and a system manager monitors compliance using the data loggers. The system allows the consignee to acknowledge that the conditions have been complied with at the time of receipt of the goods.

Claims

1. A method of delivering goods between a consignor and a consignee in which

a) the consignor and consignee agree to the conditions of transport and storage of the consignment including the maintenance of the temperature of the consignment

b) the agreed conditions and consignment details are entered into a central database accessible by the consignor and consignee

c) at least one condition sensing datalogger capable of sensing the agreed conditions including temperature are attached to the consignment

d) the data logger is programmed to sense the conditions at agreed intervals and to store the readings or transmit the readings to said central database

e) the consignee upon receipt of the goods reviews the datalogger memory or the transmitted readings and determines if the agreed conditions have been complied with

f) the consignee then enters into said database whether the conditions have been complied with or not.