SORTATION AND EXTRACTION SYSTEM FOR ITEM MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS AND ASSOCIATED METHODS
First Claim
1. A method of managing physical items for remote entities, comprising:
- receiving a plurality of physical items in a location remote from the entities, the items being associated with at least one of the remote entities;
determining which of the remote entities is associated with the items;
collecting data about the items, including size data about the size of each item;
storing each item in a discrete storage location;
associating the discrete storage location of each with information related to the item;
retrieving from the discrete storage locations a plurality of items for a selected remote entity, wherein the items are retrieved in a progressive size order based upon the size data; and
sequentially collecting the retrieved items in the progressive size order.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention is directed generally toward item management systems and associated methods. Aspects of the invention are directed toward a method and system for managing physical items for remote entities wherein a plurality of physical items associated with at least one of the remote entities are received in a location remote from the entities. The system determines which of the remote entities is associated with the items, and the system collects data about the items, including data about the size of each item. The system is configured to store each item in a discrete storage location and to associate the discrete storage location of each item with information related to the item. The system is also configured to retrieve a plurality of items for a selected remote entity from the discrete storage locations, wherein the items are retrieved in a progressive size order based upon the size data; and sequentially collected in the progressive size order.
71 Citations
19 Claims
-
1. A method of managing physical items for remote entities, comprising:
-
receiving a plurality of physical items in a location remote from the entities, the items being associated with at least one of the remote entities; determining which of the remote entities is associated with the items; collecting data about the items, including size data about the size of each item; storing each item in a discrete storage location; associating the discrete storage location of each with information related to the item; retrieving from the discrete storage locations a plurality of items for a selected remote entity, wherein the items are retrieved in a progressive size order based upon the size data; and sequentially collecting the retrieved items in the progressive size order. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
-
-
13. A item management system for processing a plurality of physical items for a plurality of entities, comprising:
-
an induction portion configured to receive the plurality of physical items associated with the plurality of entities remote from the induction portion, the induction portion configured to automatically collect data from the physical items, including receiver data about the remote entity to receive the physical item and mensuration data about the size of the physical item; a control portion coupled to the induction portion and configured to control operation of the item management system, the control portion being configured to contain data about the remote entities and to receive the mensuration data about the physical items; a storage portion coupled to the control portion and having a plurality of storage locations, wherein each storage location being configured to receive and temporarily store a single physical item received from the induction portion, each storage location having a location associated with the physical item temporarily stored therein; a retrieval portion coupled to the control portion and configured to retrieve from the storage portion a plurality of physical items associated with a remote entity, wherein the retrieval portion retrieves the plurality of physical items in a progressive size order based upon the mensuration data; and a collection portion configured to receive the plurality of retrieved physical items in the progressive size order for subsequent processing for the remote entity. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
-
-
18. A method of managing physical items for a plurality of identifiable customers, comprising:
-
receiving a plurality of physical items in a kiosk location remote from the entities, the items being associated with at least one of the customers; determining which of the customers is associated with the items; collecting data about the items, including size data about the size of each item; storing each item in a discrete storage location in the kiosk location; associating the discrete storage location of each with information related to the item; retrieving from the discrete storage locations a plurality of items for a selected customer; collecting identification authentication information about a customer located at the kiosk location; confirming an authorized association of the identification authentication information between the customer and the collection of retrieve items; and delivering the plurality of items retrieved for the selected remote entity to the authorized customer at the kiosk location. - View Dependent Claims (19)
-
Specification