METHODS, APPARATUS, AND SYSTEMS FOR MANAGING LOGISTICS INFORMATION RELATED TO A CONTAINER HAVING A SCALE
First Claim
1. An improved system for managing logistics information related to a loading operation for a shippable item, the system comprising:
- a container used for transporting the shippable item, wherein the container further comprisesa storage space within the container, andan integrated scale disposed within the storage space to support the shippable item once loaded within the container, wherein the integrated scale generates a signal reflecting a weight of what is supported on the scale; and
a container interface display apparatus removably disposed on an exterior wall of the container, the container interface display apparatus further comprisinga housing removably attached to the exterior wall of the container,a processing unit disposed within the housing,a scanner disposed at least partially within the housing, the scanner being operatively coupled to the processing unit, wherein the scanner is operative to receive an identification signal identifying the shippable item during loading of the container,interface circuitry coupled to the processing unit and disposed within the housing with a connection to the interface circuitry accessible through the housing, wherein the connection of the interface circuitry is operatively coupled to the integrated scale of the container, the interface circuitry being operative to receive the generated signal from the integrated scale indicating a detected weight of the shippable item once loaded onto the integrated scale,a memory coupled to the processing unit, wherein the memory maintaining at least a logistics information management program code section for execution by the processing unit, wherein the memory is further operative to maintain the managed logistics information related to the loading operation comprising at least (a) an association between the container and the shippable item and (b) the detected weight of the shippable item,a display screen coupled to the processing unit, wherein the display screen is disposed on the housing in a configuration oriented away from the exterior wall of the container for interaction with logistics personnel loading the container, anda wireless communication interface operatively coupled to the processing unit, wherein the wireless communication interface provides the processing unit with access to a wireless communication path;
a managing node device in operative communication with the wireless communication interface of the container interface display apparatus over the wireless communication path, wherein the managing node device further comprises a logistics data store device for maintaining information related to the loading operation;
wherein the processing unit of the container interface display apparatus, when executing the logistics information management program code section, is operative toidentify the shippable item based upon the identification signal received by the scanner,record the association in memory as part of the managed logistics information after identifying the shippable item,record the detected weight in memory as part of the managed logistics information based upon the signal received from the integrated scale,cause the display screen to provide electronic logistics monitor information on the display screen, wherein the electronic logistics monitor information comprises at least a portion of the managed logistics information maintained in the memory,cause the wireless communication interface to transmit a message to the managing node device, wherein the message relates to the managed logistics information related to the container; and
wherein the managing node device is operative toreceive the message from the container interface display apparatus, andupdate the logistics data store device with the managed logistics information as communicated in the message.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods are disclosed for managing logistics information related to a container using a container interface display apparatus. A scanner on the container interface display apparatus identifies an item during loading of the container. An association between the container and the item is recorded in memory of the container interface display apparatus as part of managed logistics information related to the container. A scale within the container detects a weight of the item and sends a signal to the container interface display apparatus indicating the detected weight of the item (which is also recorded in memory as part of the managed logistics information related to the container). Electronic logistics monitor information (e.g., at least a portion of the managed logistics information) is then generated on the display screen of the container interface display apparatus.
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Citations
43 Claims
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1. An improved system for managing logistics information related to a loading operation for a shippable item, the system comprising:
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a container used for transporting the shippable item, wherein the container further comprises a storage space within the container, and an integrated scale disposed within the storage space to support the shippable item once loaded within the container, wherein the integrated scale generates a signal reflecting a weight of what is supported on the scale; and a container interface display apparatus removably disposed on an exterior wall of the container, the container interface display apparatus further comprising a housing removably attached to the exterior wall of the container, a processing unit disposed within the housing, a scanner disposed at least partially within the housing, the scanner being operatively coupled to the processing unit, wherein the scanner is operative to receive an identification signal identifying the shippable item during loading of the container, interface circuitry coupled to the processing unit and disposed within the housing with a connection to the interface circuitry accessible through the housing, wherein the connection of the interface circuitry is operatively coupled to the integrated scale of the container, the interface circuitry being operative to receive the generated signal from the integrated scale indicating a detected weight of the shippable item once loaded onto the integrated scale, a memory coupled to the processing unit, wherein the memory maintaining at least a logistics information management program code section for execution by the processing unit, wherein the memory is further operative to maintain the managed logistics information related to the loading operation comprising at least (a) an association between the container and the shippable item and (b) the detected weight of the shippable item, a display screen coupled to the processing unit, wherein the display screen is disposed on the housing in a configuration oriented away from the exterior wall of the container for interaction with logistics personnel loading the container, and a wireless communication interface operatively coupled to the processing unit, wherein the wireless communication interface provides the processing unit with access to a wireless communication path; a managing node device in operative communication with the wireless communication interface of the container interface display apparatus over the wireless communication path, wherein the managing node device further comprises a logistics data store device for maintaining information related to the loading operation; wherein the processing unit of the container interface display apparatus, when executing the logistics information management program code section, is operative to identify the shippable item based upon the identification signal received by the scanner, record the association in memory as part of the managed logistics information after identifying the shippable item, record the detected weight in memory as part of the managed logistics information based upon the signal received from the integrated scale, cause the display screen to provide electronic logistics monitor information on the display screen, wherein the electronic logistics monitor information comprises at least a portion of the managed logistics information maintained in the memory, cause the wireless communication interface to transmit a message to the managing node device, wherein the message relates to the managed logistics information related to the container; and wherein the managing node device is operative to receive the message from the container interface display apparatus, and update the logistics data store device with the managed logistics information as communicated in the message. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An improved system for managing logistics information related to a loading operation for a shippable item, the system comprising:
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a container used for transporting the shippable item, the container further comprising a storage space within the container for maintaining the shippable item once loaded within the container, an entry through which to access the storage space as part of loading the container, and a scale disposed within the storage space of the container to support the shippable item once loaded within the container; and a container interface display apparatus disposed on a wall of the container near the entry, the container interface display apparatus further comprising a processing unit, a scanner operatively coupled to the processing unit, wherein the scanner is operative to receive an identification signal identifying the shippable item during loading of the container, a scale interface circuit coupled to the processing unit and operatively coupled to the scale of the container, the scale interface circuit being operative to receive a signal from the scale, wherein the signal indicates a detected weight of the shippable item once loaded within the container, a memory coupled to the processing unit, wherein the memory maintaining at least a logistics information management program code section for execution by the processing unit, wherein the memory is further operative to maintain the managed logistics information related to the loading operation comprising at least (a) an association between the container and the shippable item and (b) the detected weight of the shippable item, and a display screen coupled to the processing unit, wherein the display screen is oriented on the wall of the container for interaction with logistics personnel loading the container; and wherein the processing unit of the container interface display apparatus, when executing the logistics information management program code section, is operative to identify the shippable item based upon the identification signal received by the scanner, record the association in the memory as part of the managed logistics information after identifying the shippable item, record the detected weight in the memory as part of the managed logistics information based upon the signal received from the scale, cause the display screen to provide electronic logistics monitor information on the display screen, wherein the electronic logistics monitor information comprises at least a portion of the managed logistics information maintained in the memory. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A method for managing logistics information related to a container using a container interface display apparatus, the method comprising:
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identifying, by a scanner of the container interface display apparatus, an item during loading of the container; recording, in a memory of the container interface display apparatus, an association between the container being loaded and the identified item, the association being part of the managed logistics information related to the container; detecting, by a scale disposed within the container, a weight of the item loaded within the container, wherein the scale is disposed within the container and operatively coupled to the container interface display apparatus while supporting the weight of the item; receiving, by the container interface display apparatus, a signal from the scale, wherein the signal indicates the detected weight of the item; recording, in the memory of the container interface display apparatus, the detected weight of the identified item, the detected weight being part of the managed logistics information related to the container; and generating electronic logistics monitor information on the display screen of the container interface display apparatus, wherein the electronic logistics monitor information comprises at least a portion of the managed logistics information. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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Specification