Shipping information acquisition device and usage

• US 20060138223A1
• Filed: 12/23/2004
• Published: 06/29/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Brian A. Schar
• Original Assignee: Brian A. Schar
• Inventors: Schar, Brian A.
• Application Number:
  US11/021,696
• Publication Number:
  US 20060138223A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 235/384
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/257 electronically G07C9/26 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/27 with central registration
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/37 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voice recognition

Abstract

A shipping information acquisition device may include a system that positively identifies the receiver of a package, a system that acquires information associated with delivery of a package, a system that acquires information associated with the receipt of a package from a sender, and/or other information. Information associated with the package, its receiver and/or sender may be stored in a composite data record. The composite data record may be stored and later retrieved to facilitate tracking data associated with packages.

Claims

1. An apparatus utilized with a package transported from a sender to a receiver, comprising:

a shipping information acquisition device including an information handling system;

a data storage system operationally connected to said information handling system;

a package identification scanner operationally connected to said information handling system; and

an identity verification system operationally connected to said information handling system, said identity verification system configured to positively identify the receiver.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said identity verification system includes a magnetic stripe reader.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said identify verification system includes a radio frequency identification device reader.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said identity verification system includes a biometric sensor.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said shipping information acquisition device is portable.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a delivery information acquisition system operationally connected to said information handling system.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an entry information acquisition system operationally connected to said information handling system.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a communication interface operationally connected to said information handling system.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a package analysis system operationally connected to said information handling system.

10. A composite data record associated with a package transported from a sender to a recipient, comprising:

a package identifier; and

at least one package recipient identity information record, wherein at least one said package recipient identity information record is associated with said package identifier.

11. The composite data record of claim 10, wherein at least one said package recipient identity information record includes data associated with the age of the recipient.

12. The composite data record of claim 10, wherein at least one said package recipient identity information record includes data acquired from an identification document of the recipient.

13. The composite data record of claim 10, further comprising at least one payment information record, wherein at least one said payment information record is associated with said package identifier.

14. The composite data record of claim 10, further comprising at least one package sender identity information record, wherein at least one said package sender identity information record is associated with said package identifier.

15. The composite data record of claim 10, further comprising at least one expected information record, wherein at least one said package sender identity information record is associated with said package identifier.

16. The composite data record of claim 10, further comprising at least one of:

at least one delivery information record associated with said package identifier, and

at least one entry information record associated with said package identifier.

21. The method of claim 10, wherein at least one said package recipient identity information record includes data acquired from an identification document of the recipient.

17. A method for tracking data associated with packages handled by a shipper, comprising:

assigning an identifier to each of a plurality of packages;

creating a composite data record corresponding to each said identifier; and

storing said composite data records.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising inspecting at least one said composite data record.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising selecting a plurality of said composite data records for auditing, wherein said inspecting is performed on said selected composite data records.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein each selected composite data record includes an expected information record and a package recipient identity information record;

wherein said auditing includes comparing said expected information record to said package recipient identity information record.