STORAGE CONCIERGE

• US 20170140183A1
• Filed: 11/01/2016
• Published: 05/18/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dufl, LLC
• Original Assignee: Dufl, LLC
• Inventors: Rinehart, William H., McGowan, Albert J., Gordon, Michael M.
• Granted Patent: US 9,864,885 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06028 using bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06037 multi-dimensional coding
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07758 arrangements for adhering the record carrier to further objects or living beings, functioning as an identification tag
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10366 the interrogation device being adapted for miscellaneous applications
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0833 Tracking

Abstract

Embodiments are generally, and without limitation, related to devices, systems, and methods that allow one or more users to store objects, in a fixed storage in a remote storage enclosure, that the user can have shipped to themselves anywhere. More specifically, but without limitation, a user sends objects directly or indirectly from a merchandise provider, to a fixed storage provided by a storage concierge at a Unique Address assigned to the user by the storage concierge. The storage concierge tags each object with an unique code and creates an inventory of each object it receives for the user. The storage concierge processes each object and then stores the objects in the user'"'"'s fixed storage associated with the Unique Address. When the user needs one or more objects, the user requests the objects to shipped to a desired location. The storage concierge takes the objects from the fixed storage and ships them accordingly. When the user is finished using the objects, the user requests that the objects be returned to the closet. The storage concierge ships the objects to the storage enclosure, processes the objects, and returns them to the fixed storage associated with the users Unique Address.

Claims

1. A method for operating a storage concierge, the method comprising:

assigning a unique address to a user;

creating a user account associated with the unique address;

associating a first object, wherein the first object was received from the user or a third party provider, with the unique address;

associating a first code with the first object and the unique address;

associating a first digital image, of the first object, with the first code;

storing the first digital image in an image storage;

storing a workflow to process the first object;

retrieving a workflow at a first time to process the first object;

sending a first alert to an operator device that the workflow at the first time is complete; and

storing a second digital image, of the first object, in the image storage after the workflow at the first time is complete;

receiving a first request, from a user device associated with the user account, to deliver the first object to a first location at a delivery time;

in response to the first request;

sending a first request to a first shipper to pick up a transitory storage, wherein the transitory storage contains the first object, at a fixed storage location, and deliver the transitory storage to the first location;

receiving a first tracking number from the first shipper;

sending a first message to the user device, wherein the first message includes the first tracking number and is associated with the user account;

receiving a notification from the first shipper that the first object is at the first location;

sending a second message to the user device, wherein the second message confirms delivery of the transitory storage at the first location;

receiving a second request, from the user device associated with the user account, to pick up the first object from the first location at a pick-up time;

in response to the second request;

sending a second request to a second shipper to pick up the transitory storage from the first location and return it to the fixed storage location;

receiving a second tracking number from the second shipper;

sending a third message to the user device, wherein the third message includes the second tracking number;

receiving a notification from the second shipper that the transitory storage is at the fixed storage location;

sending a fourth message to the user device, wherein the fourth message confirms delivery of the transitory storage at the fixed storage location;

storing a third digital image of the first object an image storage;

retrieving the workflow at a second time to process the first object;

sending a second alert to the operator device that the workflow at the second time is complete; and

storing a fourth digital image of the first object in the user account after the workflow at the second time is complete.

2. The method for operating a storage concierge of claim 1, wherein:

the delivery time is the next day; and

the first shipper delivers the transitory storage to the first location by expedited delivery.

3. The method for operating a storage concierge system of claim 1, wherein the transitory storage is sized to fit the first object.

4. The method for operating a storage concierge system of claim 1, further comprising:

determining the transitory storage will not arrive at the first location by the delivery time; and

sending a failure alert to the operator device.

5. The method for operating a storage concierge of claim 1, wherein the operator device runs a first application and the user device runs a second application, and wherein the first application is different from the second application.

6. The method for operating a fixed storage delivery system of claim 1, further comprising sending a third alert, wherein the third alert indicates the workflow is complete, after the workflow is complete at the first time and/or after the workflow is complete at the second time.

7. The method for operating a storage concierge of claim 1, wherein the first code is a bar code, a QR code, or a radio frequency identification tag.

8. A system for operating a storage concierge, the system comprising:

a preference repository configured to;

store a workflow to process a first object; and

a logistics engine configured to;

assign a unique address to a user;

create a user account associated with the unique address;

associate the first object, wherein the first object was received from the user or a third party provider, with the unique address;

associate a first code with the first object and the unique address;

associate a first digital image, of the first object, with the first code;

retrieve a workflow at a first time to process the first object;

send a first alert to an operator device that the workflow at the first time is complete; and

receive a first request, from a user device associated with the user account, to deliver the first object to a first location at a delivery time;

send a first request to a first shipper to pick up a transitory storage wherein the transitory storage contains the first object, at a fixed storage location, and deliver the transitory storage to the first location;

receive a first tracking number from the first shipper;

send a first message to the user device, wherein the first message includes the first tracking number and is associated with the user account;

receive a notification from the first shipper that the first object is at the first location;

send a second message to the user device, wherein the second message confirms delivery of the transitory storage at the first location; and

receive a second request, form the user device associated with the user account, to pick up the first object from the first location at a pick-up time;

receive a second tracking number from the second shipper;

send a third message to the user device, wherein the third message includes the second tracking number;

receive a notification from the second shipper that the transitory storage is at the fixed storage location;

send a fourth message to the user device, wherein the fourth message confirms delivery of the transitory storage at the fixed storage location;

retrieve the workflow at a second time to process the first object;

send a second alert to the operator device that the workflow at the second time is complete; and

an image storage configured to;

store the first digital image of the first object after receiving the first object;

store a second digital image of the first object after the workflow at the first time is complete;

store a third digital image of the first object after delivery at the fixed storage location; and

store a fourth digital image of the first object after the workflow at the second time is complete.

9. The system for operating a storage concierge of claim 8, wherein:

the delivery time is the next day; and

the first shipper delivers the transitory storage to the first location by expedited delivery.

10. The system for operating a storage concierge of claim 8, wherein the transitory storage is sized to fit the first object.

11. The system for operating a storage concierge of claim 8, wherein the logistics engine is further configured to:

determine the transitory storage will not arrive at the first location by the delivery time; and

send a failure alert to the operator device.

12. The system for operating a storage concierge of claim 8, wherein the operator device runs a first application and the user device runs a second application, and wherein the first application is different from the second application.

13. The system for operating a storage concierge of claim 8, wherein the logistics engine is further configured to send a third alert after the workflow is complete at the first time or after the workflow is complete at the second time.

14. The system for operating a storage concierge of claim 8, wherein the first code is a bar code, a QR code, or a radio frequency identification tag.

15. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having sets of instructions stored thereon for operating a storage concierge which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to:

assign a unique address to a user;

create a user account associated with the unique address;

associate a first object, wherein the first object was received from the user or a third party provider, with the unique address;

associate a first code with the first object and the unique address;

associate a first digital image, of the first object, with the first code;

store the first digital image in an image storage;

store a workflow to process the first object;

retrieve a workflow at a first time to process the first object;

send a first alert to an operator device that the workflow at the first time is complete; and

store a second digital image, of the first object, in the image storage after the workflow at the first time is complete;

receive a first request, from a user device associated with the user account, to deliver the first object to a first location at a delivery time;

in response to the first request;

send a first request to a first shipper to pick up a transitory storage, wherein the transitory storage contains the first object, at a fixed storage location, and deliver the transitory storage to the first location;

receive a first tracking number from the first shipper;

send a first message to the user device, wherein the first message includes the first tracking number and is associated with the user account;

receive a notification from the first shipper that the first object is at the first location;

send a second message to the user device, wherein the second message confirms delivery of the transitory storage at the first location;

receive a second request, from the user device associated with the user account, to pick up the first object from the first location at a pick-up time;

in response to the second request;

send a second request to a second shipper to pick up the transitory storage from the first location and return it to the fixed storage location;

receive a second tracking number from the second shipper;

send a third message to the user device, wherein the third message includes the second tracking number;

receive a notification from the second shipper that the transitory storage is at the fixed storage location;

send a fourth message to the user device, wherein the fourth message confirms delivery of the transitory storage at the fixed storage location;

store a third digital image of the first object an image storage;

retrieve the workflow at a second time to process the first object;

send a second alert to the operator device that the workflow at the second time is complete; and

store a fourth digital image of the first object in the user account after the workflow at the second time is complete.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium having sets of instructions stored thereon for operating a storage concierge of claim 15, wherein:

the delivery time is the next day; and

the first shipper delivers the transitory storage to the first location by expedited delivery.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium having sets of instructions stored thereon for operating a storage concierge of claim 15, wherein the transitory storage is sized to fit the first object.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium having sets of instructions stored thereon for operating a storage concierge of claim 15, further comprising:

determining the transitory storage will not arrive at the first location by the delivery time; and

sending a failure alert to the operator device.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium having sets of instructions stored thereon for operating a storage concierge of claim 15, wherein the operator device runs a first application and the user device runs a second application, and wherein the first application is different from the second application.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium having sets of instructions stored thereon for operating a storage concierge of claim 15, wherein the first code is a bar code, a QR code, or a radio frequency identification tag.