Personal intelligent shipment system and method

• US 20050144059A1
• Filed: 12/30/2003
• Published: 06/30/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc. (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc. (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Inventors: Schuessler, Frederick
• Application Number:
  US10/748,400
• Publication Number:
  US 20050144059A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/9
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0833 Tracking

Abstract

Described is a method and system for providing a user with a personalized shipment system. The user is registered by providing user data which is associated with a unique user identifier. Label data is generated for each of a plurality of labels. Each label includes a unique label identifier in a machine language. The label identifier is associated with the user identifier in a computer database. An item to be shipped is received; the item includes one of the labels and recipient data which includes a destination data of the item. Determination is made whether the destination data is in a machine language. When the destination data is not in a machine language, the destination data is translated into machine language destination data. The unique label identifier and the machine language destination data are obtained from the item using a machine capable of reading the machine language during the shipment of the item. The tracking data is recorded the computer database based on the machine language unique label identifier and the machine language data. The tracking data regarding shipment progress of the item is provided in response to a request referencing at least one of the user identifier and the destination data.

Claims

1. A method for providing a user with a personalized shipment system, comprising:

registering a user by obtaining user data;

associating the user data with a unique user identifier;

generating label data for each of a plurality of labels, each label including a unique label identifier in a machine language;

associating the label identifier with the user identifier in a computer database;

receiving an item to be shipped including one of the labels and recipient data including a destination data of the item;

determining whether the destination data is in a machine language;

translating, when the destination data is not in a machine language, the destination data into machine language destination data;

obtaining the unique label identifier and the machine language destination data from the item using a machine capable of reading the machine language during the shipment of the item;

recording in the computer database tracking data based on the machine language unique label identifier and the machine language data; and

providing the tracking data regarding shipment progress of the item in response to a request referencing at least one of the user identifier and the destination data.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the machine language unique label identifier and the machine language destination data are stored on the item in form one of a barcode and an RFID tag.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

generating, using the label data, the plurality of labels by at least one of the user, a postal delivery service and a predetermined third party provider.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the tracking data includes time data and location data corresponding to the scanning.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the label data is stored in at least one of a barcode and an RFID tag.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the machine language destination data includes at least one recipient name and a recipient address code.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the machine language destination data includes a further code identifying each of a plurality of recipient names which have the same recipient address code.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the label data includes optional additional data generated by the user.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the label data, the destination data and postage data are stored on the label as a two-dimensional barcode.

10. The method according to claim 6, further comprising:

associating by the user the recipient address code with a predetermined recipient identifier.

11. The method according to claim 8, wherein the tracking data includes the optional additional data.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein the tracking data includes an arrival date indicative of one of an actual date and an estimated date of arrival of the item at the destination.

13. A system for providing a user with a personalized shipment system for shipment of an item, comprising:

a first computing arrangement generating label data for each of a plurality of labels, each label including a unique label identifier in a machine language;

a second computing arrangement including a database and storing user data in the database, the second computing arrangement associating the user data with a unique user identifier and associating the unique label identifier with the user identifier in the database;

a first shipment processing arrangement receiving an item to be shipped, the item including one of the labels and recipient data including destination data of the item, the first shipment processing arrangement determining whether the destination data is in a machine language and, when the destination data is not in a machine language, the first shipment processing arrangement translates the destination data into the machine language destination data and marks the item with the machine language destination data; and

a second shipment processing arrangement obtaining the machine language unique label identifier and the machine language destination data from the item during the shipment, the second shipment processing arrangement recording in the database tracking data based on the association of the label identifier and the destination data,

wherein the tracking data is provided by the second computing arrangement in response to a request referencing at least one of the user identifier and the destination data.

14. The system according to claim 13, wherein the machine language unique label identifier and the machine language destination data are stored on the item in one of a barcode and an RFID tag, and wherein the first shipment processing arrangement includes at least one of a barcode reader, a barcode writer, an RFID tag reader and an RFID tag writer.

15. The system according to claim 13, further comprising:

a printing arrangement generating the plurality of labels by at least one of the user, a postal delivery service and a predetermined third party provider using the label data.

16. The system according to claim 15, wherein the printing arrangement includes at least one of a barcode writer and an RFID tag writer.

17. The system according to claim 13, wherein the tracking data includes time and location data corresponding to receipt of the item by the second shipment processing arrangement.

18. The system according to claim 13, wherein the machine language recipient data includes at least one recipient name and a recipient address code.

19. The system according to claim 18, wherein the machine language destination data includes a further code identifying each of a plurality of recipient names which have the same recipient address code.

20. The system according to claim 13, wherein the label data includes optional additional data generated by the user.

21. The system according to claim 13, wherein the label data, the machine language recipient data and postage data are stored on the label as a two-dimensional barcode.

22. The system according to claim 18, wherein the user associates the recipient address with a recipient identifier.

23. The system according to claim 20, wherein the machine language recipient data includes a further code indicative of each of a plurality of recipients located at the destination.

24. The system according to claim 13, wherein the tracking data includes an arrival date indicative of one of an actual date and an estimated date of arrival of the item at the destination.