Apparatus and method for improved airborne transportation of small packages
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of transporting packages, comprising:
- receiving a plurality of packages from multiple sources over a time period at a central processing facility,receiving self-reported identification information from each of the sources,receiving objective security information for each one of the sources at the processing facility, the security information being, for each particular one of the sources, about at least one of that particular source and the package received from that particular source,maintaining a database of the identification and security information,receiving a request for a destination for each of the packages,evaluating the security information for each of the packages,selectively approving ones of the packages in response to the step of evaluating,selecting different ones of a plurality of passenger air carriers for the packages approved in the step of approving,transporting the approved packages from the processing facility to the passenger air carriers selected in the step of selecting, andretaining the self-reported identification information and the objective security information for each of the selected approved packages until after the selected airline has transported that package to its destination.
0 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Packages are received from multiple sources at one central facility. The approved and verified packages are then transported to different airlines for expedited transport. The method features receiving self-reported identification and objective security information about the source and/or the package, and maintaining a database of this information. The security information is evaluated for each of the packages, and they are selectively approved based on this evaluation.
-
Citations
25 Claims
-
1. A method of transporting packages, comprising:
-
receiving a plurality of packages from multiple sources over a time period at a central processing facility, receiving self-reported identification information from each of the sources, receiving objective security information for each one of the sources at the processing facility, the security information being, for each particular one of the sources, about at least one of that particular source and the package received from that particular source, maintaining a database of the identification and security information, receiving a request for a destination for each of the packages, evaluating the security information for each of the packages, selectively approving ones of the packages in response to the step of evaluating, selecting different ones of a plurality of passenger air carriers for the packages approved in the step of approving, transporting the approved packages from the processing facility to the passenger air carriers selected in the step of selecting, and retaining the self-reported identification information and the objective security information for each of the selected approved packages until after the selected airline has transported that package to its destination. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
-
-
15. A facility for selective transport of packages, comprising:
-
a central receiving area for receiving packages from a plurality of individuals, security apparatus proximate the receiving area for obtaining and recording in a database security information relating to the package and the delivery individual, a plurality of airline carrier facilities disposed near the receiving area, and transportation means for transporting the packages from the receiving area to the plurality of airline facilities. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
-
-
25. A memory for storing data for access by an application program being executed on a data processing system, comprising:
a data structure stored in said memory, said data structure including information resident in a database used by said application program and including; a package transportation identification field containing information identifying a sender of a package, a routing information field containing information identifying a one of a plurality of passenger air carriers that is to transport the package, and a security information field containing security information about the sender of the package.
Specification