METHOD FOR ASSEMBLING AND SHIPPING AN ITEM IN A SECURE ENVIRONMENT

• US 20100030581A1
• Filed: 04/09/2007
• Published: 02/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Airis Holdings LLC
• Original Assignee: Airis Holdings LLC
• Inventors: Grimes, William Robert, Factor, Ronald D.
• Granted Patent: US 7,991,653 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/4
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management
• 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 40/08 Insurance

Abstract

A method for assembling and shipping an item using a security cleared space connected to a port authority, comprising the steps of: leasing the security cleared space to a user; obtaining at least one component for assembly of the at least one item; assembling the at least one component in the security cleared space; screening at least one person for entry to the security cleared space; readying the assembled item for shipment to a destination by entering data related to the assembled item into a processor with computer instructions that direct the processor to move the assembled item to a designated storage area or to an aircraft for shipment. A method for receiving an assembled item and disassembling the item into components for storage or shipment is also contemplated.

Claims

1. A method for assembling and shipping at least one item using a security cleared space connected to a port authority, comprising the steps of:

leasing the security cleared space to a user for assembly of at least one item, wherein the security cleared space is connected to the port authority and is a secured area meeting United States Transportation Security Administration and International Air Transport Association requirements for cargo security policies;

screening at least one person for entry to the security cleared space, wherein the screening of the at least one person is according to United States Transportation Security Administration and International Air Transport Association requirements;

obtaining at least one component for assembly of the at least one item, wherein the at least one component has been screened according to United States Transportation Security Administration an International Air Transport Association requirements;

assembling the at least one component in the security cleared space, creating at least one assembled item in the security cleared space; and

readying the at least one assembled item for shipment to a destination by entering data related to the at least one assembled item into a processor connected to a network, wherein the processor comprises data storage with computer instructions that direct the processor to move the at least one assembled item directly to a designated storage area within the security cleared space for storage or to an aircraft connected to the security cleared space in compliance with United States Transportation Security Administration and International Air Transport Association requirements for shipment.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the moving of the at least one assembled item to the shipping vessel or to the designated storage area is by an automated process.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the processor further comprises data storage with computer instructions for receiving data related to the at least one assembled item or the at least one component from a network.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein at least two gateway protocols are used to receive data related to the at least one assembled item or the at least one component from at least two devices on the network.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of labeling each at least one assembled item or a group of packaged assembled items using at least one label.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the at least one label is a bar code, a radio frequency identification tag, a check character, text, or combinations thereof.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising the step of scanning the at least one label to initiate insurance coverage from at least one insurance carrier for a member of the group:

a manufacturer, an assembler, a broker, a forwarder, a shipper, a carrier, a customer, or combinations thereof.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein the at least one label comprises a manifest clearance form for enabling clearing of the at least one assembled item or the group of assembled items.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of scanning the manifest clearance form enabling clearing of the at least one assembled item or the group of assembled items while en-route from the security cleared space to a delivery point outside the security cleared space by transmitting the scanned manifest clearance form to the network and a designated internet protocol address.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of physically clearing a governmental customs inspection for enabling the at least one assembled item or the group of assembled items to pass out of the security cleared space to the shipping vessel for shipment to a specific destination, or to pass out of the security cleared space to the specific destination without use of the shipping vessel.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of sealing the at least one assembled item or a group of assembled items.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the sealing is performed using at least one aluminum metal container, at least one cargo net, tamper proof tape, at least one tamper proof crate, or combinations thereof.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the assembling of the screened components in the security cleared space is performed by an automated assembly line using smart pallets and a computer controlled processing unit.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the creation of the at least one assembled item further includes the step of manufacturing at least one manufactured component.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one person is a member of the group:

a line operator, a manager, a foreman, a forklift operator, an administrative personnel, a floor operator, a broker, a forwarder, a customs official, a treasury official, a drug enforcement agent and associated animals, a customs agent, a ground handling operator, a medical personnel, an engineer, a building engineer, a safety personnel, a leasing agent, an airport authority administrator, an airline official, a pilot or crew member, a load manager, a ramp operator, a ramp manager, a life, safety and code compliance official, a security officer, a police officer, a food delivery personnel, a cleaning personnel, a United States Department of Agriculture personnel, and combinations thereof.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the port authority relates to an airport, a terminal for ships, or a rail connection, a trucking facility, or another inter-modal facility.

17. A method for receiving at least one assembled item arriving by aircraft, disassembling the at least one assembled item, and shipping at least one component using a security cleared space connected to a port authority, comprising the steps of:

leasing the security cleared space to a user for disassembly of at least one item, wherein the security cleared space is connected to the port authority and is a secured area meeting United States Transportation Security Administration and International Air Transport Association requirements for cargo security policies;

screening at least one person for entry to the security cleared space, wherein the screening of the at least one person is according to United States Transportation Security Administration and International Air Transport Association requirements;

obtaining at least one assembled item from the shipping vessel, wherein the at least one assembled item has been screened according to the United States Transportation Security Administration and International Air Transport Association requirements;

disassembling the at least one assembled item into at least one component in the security cleared space and screening the at least one component using the at least one person, creating at least one screened component; and

readying the at least one screened component for shipment to a destination by entering data related to the at least one screened component or the at least one assembled item into a processor connected to a network, wherein the processor comprises data storage with computer instructions that direct the processor to move the at least one screened component directly to a designated storage area within the security cleared space or to a vehicle connected to the security cleared space in compliance with United States Transportation Security Administration and International Air Transport Association requirements for shipment.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the moving of the at least one screened component to the vehicle or to the designated storage area is by an automated process.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the processor further comprises data storage with computer instructions for receiving data related to the at least one assembled item or the at least one screened component from a network.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein at least two gateway protocols are used to receive data related to the at least one assembled item or the at least one screened component from at least two devices on the network.

21. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of labeling each at least one assembled item, each at least one screened component, a group of screened components, or combinations thereof using at least one label.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the at least one label is a bar code, a radio frequency identification tag, a check character, text, or combinations thereof.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising the step of scanning the at least one label to initiate insurance coverage from at least one insurance carrier for a member of the group:

a manufacturer, an assembler, a broker, a forwarder, a shipper, a carrier, a customer, or combinations thereof.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the at least one label comprises a manifest clearance form enabling clearing of the at least one screened component or the group of screened components.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising the step of scanning the manifest clearance form enabling clearing of the at least one screened component or the group of screened components while en route from the security cleared space to a delivery point outside the security cleared space by transmitting the scanned manifest clearance form to the network and a designated internet protocol address.

26. The method of claim 25, further comprising the step of physically clearing a governmental customs inspection for enabling the at least one screened component or the group of screened components to pass out of the security cleared space to the vehicle for shipment to a specific destination, or to pass out of the security cleared space to a specific destination without use of the vehicle.

27. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of sealing the at least one screened component or a group of screened components.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein the sealing is performed using at least one aluminum metal container, at least one cargo net, tamper proof tape, at least one tamper proof crate, or combinations thereof.

29. The method of claim 17, wherein the disassembling of the at least one assembled item in the security cleared space is performed by an automated assembly line using smart pallets and a computer controlled processing unit.

30. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of disassembling the at least one assembled item further includes the step of manufacturing at least one manufactured component.

31. The method of claim 17, wherein the at least one person comprises a member of the group:

a line operator, a manager, a foreman, a forklift operator, an administrative personnel, a floor operator, a broker, a forwarder, a customs official, a treasury official, a drug enforcement agent and associated animals, a customs agent, a ground handling operator, a medical personnel, an engineer, a building engineer, a safety personnel, a leasing agent, an airport authority administrator, an airline official, a pilot or crew member, a load manager, a ramp operator, a ramp manager, a life, safety and code compliance official, a security officer, a police officer, a food delivery personnel, a cleaning personnel, a United States Department of Agriculture personnel, and combinations thereof.

32. The method of claim 17, wherein the port authority relates to an airport, a terminal for ships, or a rail connection, a trucking facility, or another inter-modal facility.