INTELLIGENT PALLET

• US 20100017347A1
• Filed: 09/23/2009
• Published: 01/21/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Mobile Logistics Management LLC
• Original Assignee: Mobile Logistics Management LLC
• Inventors: Wittwer, Thomas, Hagemann, Ronald T., Gaspard, James Gerard II
• Application Number:
  US12/565,317
• Publication Number:
  US 20100017347A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/400
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 19/004 and each contact surface having a discrete foot-like shape
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2203/10 Transponders
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00034 Plastic
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00039 Agglomerates, i.e. different materials mixed together
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00069 Plastic
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00074 Agglomerates, i.e. different materials mixed together
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00268 made of one piece
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00288 made of one piece
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00318 made of one piece
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2519/00338 contact surface having a discrete foot-like shape
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0833 Tracking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0283 Price estimation or determination

Abstract

A intelligent pallet having and active RFID tag embedded therein is provided. The pallet is used within a leasing system and/or an inventory management system.

Claims

1. A method of leasing pallets, comprising:

providing a plurality of pallets with active RFID tags;

leasing the pallets to a user;

arranging at least one RFID reader in a location for communications with the active RFID tags;

monitoring usage of the pallets by the user through the RFID reader and the active RFID tags; and

determining a lease fee based at least in part on monitored usage.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining the lease fee is calculated based on use of a certain number of the pallets for a fixed period of time.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining a lease fee is performed by calculating a number of turns of the pallets.