Method and system for tracking goods

• US 20050289019A1
• Filed: 06/04/2004
• Published: 12/29/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TTM Technologies North America, LLC (TTM Technologies Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Endicott Interconnect Technologies Incorporated, Maines Paper & Food Service Incorporated
• Inventors: Chan, Benson, Markovich, Voya, Maines, William, Lin, How
• Granted Patent: US 7,552,091 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/28
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/00 Methods or arrangements for effecting co-operative working between equipments covered by two or more of main groups G06K1/00 - G06K15/00, e.g. automatic card files incorporating conveying and reading operations
• 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

Abstract

A method and system for tracking goods, etc., food products, which involves identifying the received goods at a specified location and thereafter assigning an encoded readable code to each of the goods which can be only accessed by authorized personnel responsible for handling the goods on through to and including shipment, e.g., to customers. A host computer includes a database for encoding received identification data and thereafter encoding same to provide the readable codes. The method and system also allows the customer/recipient to access the codes to discern whether he/she has received the correct goods he purchased.

Claims

1. A method of tracking goods, said method comprising:

receiving goods at a specified location;

identifying each of said goods in accordance with a particular characteristic thereof at said specified location and thereafter providing said characteristics for each of said identified goods to a host database;

encoding each of said characteristics of said identified goods and producing a distinct encoded readable code for each of said goods;

applying one of said distinct encoded readable codes to each of said goods in accordance with a predetermined characteristic thereof;

reading said distinct encoded readable codes of said goods and providing said readings to said host database; and

distributing said goods having said distinct encoded readable codes thereon to selected recipients at selected locations located distant from said specified location.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said encoded readable codes are barcodes.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said encoded readable codes are radio frequency identifiable codes.

4. The method of claim 1 further including providing each of said selected recipients with its own reading apparatus such that said recipients can access said host database upon receipt of said goods having said distinct encoded readable codes to assure proper receipt of said goods.

5. The method of claim 4 further including storing said goods having said distinct encoded readable codes at said specified location prior to said distributing thereof to said selected recipients.

6. The method of claim 5 further including providing a readable identification code at each of said separate storage locations within said specified location where said goods are stored and storing said goods having said distinct encoded readable codes at each at said separate storage locations so as to associate each of said stored goods with a respective one of said separate storage locations.

7. The method of claim 6 further including retrieving selected ones of said goods at selected ones of said separate storage locations and thereafter transporting said goods to a distribution location at said specified location for accomplishing said distributing of said goods to said selected ones of said recipients.

8. The method of claim 4 wherein each of said distinct encoded readable codes include information relating to the type and quantity of said goods and the party transporting said goods.

9. A system for tracking goods, said system comprising:

a specified location for receiving said goods;

a host computer having a database;

apparatus for identifying each of said goods in accordance with a particular characteristic thereof at said specified location and thereafter providing said characteristics for each of said identified goods to said database of said host computer;

apparatus for encoding each of said characteristics of said identified goods and producing a distinct encoded readable code for each of said goods to said database of said host computer;

an applicator for applying one of said distinct encoded readable codes to each of said goods in accordance with a predetermined characteristic thereof;

apparatus for reading said distinct encoded readable codes of said goods and providing said readings to said host database; and

distributing means for distributing said goods having said distinct encoded readable codes thereon to selected recipients at selected locations located distant from said specified location.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein said specified location is a warehouse facility.

11. The system of claim 9 wherein said apparatus for identifying each of said goods in accordance with a particular characteristic thereof at said specified location and thereafter providing said characteristics for each of said identified goods to said database of said host computer is a scanner.

12. The system of claim 9 wherein said applicator is a human being, said human being manually applying each of said distinct encoded readable codes to each of said goods in accordance with said predetermined characteristic thereof.

13. The system of claim 9 wherein said apparatus for reading said distinct encoded readable codes of said goods and providing said readings to said host database is a scanner.

14. The system of claim 9 wherein said distributing means for distributing said goods having said distinct encoded readable codes thereon to selected recipients at selected locations located distant from said specified location is selected from the group consisting of air, sea and ground transportation apparatus.

15. The system of claim 9 further including storage apparatus for storing said goods having said distinct encoded readable codes at said specified location prior to said distributing thereof to said selected recipients.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein said storage apparatus comprises storage shelving.

17. The system of claim 15 further including a second applicator for providing a readable identification code at each of said separate storage locations within said specified location where said goods are stored and storing said goods having said distinct encoded readable codes at each at said separate storage locations so as to associate each of said stored goods with a respective one of said separate storage locations.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein said second applicator is a human being and said providing of said readable identification code is accomplished manually.

19. The system of claim 17 further including retriever apparatus for accomplishing said retrieving of said selected ones of said goods at said selected ones of said separate storage locations and thereafter transporting said goods to a distribution location at said specified location for accomplishing said distributing of said goods to said selected ones of said recipients.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein said retriever apparatus is a forklift truck.