Lost item notification and recovery system
First Claim
1. A method for managing items, comprising the steps of:
- registering an item for lost item management by receiving a brief description of the item, receiving contact information associated with the item, assigning a registration number to the item, and storing the brief description of the item, the contact information associated with the item, and the item registration number in a computer file;
tagging the item for lost item management by rendering a tag displaying a lost item message, reporting information, and the item registration number and affixing the tag to the item; and
facilitating return of the item when it becomes lost by;
receiving a lost item report from a reporting party in accordance with the reporting information contained on the tag indicating that the item has become lost;
ascertaining return communication information associated with the reporting party,retrieving the brief description of an item from the computer file,delivering a lost item notification message in accordance with the contact information contained in the computer file, andwherein the lost item notification message comprises the brief description of the item retrieved from the computer file and the return communication information associated with the reporting party.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A largely or totally automated lost item notification and recovery system that avoids language barriers by providing a short description of the item entered by the subscriber and stored in a database in any lost item notification message communicated to the subscriber concerning the item. The lost item notification message may also include an indication of the language used by the reporting party when placing the lost item report, and may also include an indication of the geographic location where the lost item report originated. The system may also activate pre-defined countermeasures associated with the lost item once the item has been reported lost and implement a reward system providing compensation to the reporting party or others upon successful return of the lost item.
108 Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A method for managing items, comprising the steps of:
-
registering an item for lost item management by receiving a brief description of the item, receiving contact information associated with the item, assigning a registration number to the item, and storing the brief description of the item, the contact information associated with the item, and the item registration number in a computer file; tagging the item for lost item management by rendering a tag displaying a lost item message, reporting information, and the item registration number and affixing the tag to the item; and facilitating return of the item when it becomes lost by; receiving a lost item report from a reporting party in accordance with the reporting information contained on the tag indicating that the item has become lost; ascertaining return communication information associated with the reporting party, retrieving the brief description of an item from the computer file, delivering a lost item notification message in accordance with the contact information contained in the computer file, and wherein the lost item notification message comprises the brief description of the item retrieved from the computer file and the return communication information associated with the reporting party. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
-
-
8. A method for managing items, comprising the steps of:
-
registering an item for lost item management by receiving contact information associated with the item, assigning a registration number to the item, and storing the contact information associated with the item and the item registration number in a computer file; tagging the item for lost item management by rendering a tag displaying a lost item message, reporting information, and the item registration number and affixing the tag to the item; and facilitating return of the item when it becomes lost by; receiving a lost item report from a reporting party in accordance with the reporting information contained on the tag indicating that the item has become lost, ascertaining return communication information associated with the reporting party, ascertaining a reporting language used by the reporting party when communicating the lost item report, delivering a lost item notification message in accordance with the contact information contained in the computer file, and wherein the lost item notification message comprises an indication of the reporting language and the return communication information associated with the reporting party. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10)
-
-
11. A method for managing items, comprising the steps of:
-
registering an item for lost item management by receiving contact information associated with the item, assigning a registration number to the item, and storing the contact information associated with the item and the item registration number in a computer file; tagging the item for lost item management by rendering a tag displaying a lost item message, reporting information, and the item registration number and affixing the tag to the item; and facilitating return of the item when it becomes lost by; receiving a lost item report from a reporting party in accordance with the reporting information contained on the tag indicating that the item has become lost, ascertaining return communication information associated with the reporting party, ascertaining reporting location information from communication routing information associated with the lost item report, delivering a lost item notification message in accordance with the contact information contained in the computer file, and wherein the lost item notification message comprises an indication of the reporting location information and the return communication information associated with the reporting party. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
-
-
15. A method for managing items, comprising the steps of:
-
registering an item for lost item management by receiving contact information associated with the item including a countermeasures address associated with a countermeasures communication device carried with the item, assigning a registration number to the item, and storing the contact information associated with the item and the item registration number in a computer file; identifying the item for lost item management by rendering a tag displaying a lost item message, reporting information, and the item registration number and affixing the tag to the item; facilitating return of the item when it becomes lost by receiving a lost item report from a reporting party in accordance with the reporting information contained on the tag indicating that the item has become lost, ascertaining return communication information associated with the reporting party, and delivering a lost item notification message in accordance with the contact information contained in the computer file; and sending a countermeasures activation message to the countermeasures address in response to receiving the lost item report, wherein the countermeasures activation message is operational for activating a countermeasure affecting the lost item. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-
Specification