System and method of employing a single bar code for coordinating shipping and receiving information

• US 6,015,167 A
• Filed: 08/14/1998
• Issued: 01/18/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Original Assignee: United Technologies Corporation (Raytheon Technologies Corporation d/b/a RTX)
• Inventors: Toney, Elizabeth D., Harlow, Ernest R., Naglieri, James W., Savino, John E., Gallagher, Thomas P., Macy, Barbara Reid, Scully, Michael John
• Primary Examiner(s): Fridie, Jr., Willmon
• Application Number:
  US09/134,570
• Time in Patent Office: 522 Days
• Field of Search: 283/67, 283/70, 283/79, 283/80, 283/81, 283/72, 283/117, 235/375, 235/383, 235/385, 53/135.1, 53/415
• US Class Current: 283/67
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 15/00 Printed matter of special format or style not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/083 Shipping

Abstract

A system of employing a single bar code provided on a shipping label for coordinating shipping and receiving information between supplier and customer includes accessing a supplier digital processor including a parts database from a customer digital processor via a digital communication link. Purchase order information is selected in the parts database. Authorization is provided from the customer digital processor to the supplier digital processor for the immediate shipment of the selected purchase order by means of an authorization command, and a single bar code is generated and provided on a shipping label in response to the authorization command, whereby the single bar code is linked to a plurality of predetermined relevant purchase and shipping information associated with the purchase order.

Claims

1. A method of employing a single bar code shipping label for coordinating shipping and receiving information between supplier and customer, comprising the steps of:

accessing a supplier digital processor including a parts database from a customer digital processor via a digital communication link;

selecting and entering purchase and shipping information associated with a purchase order from items provided in the parts database;

authorizing from the customer digital processor to the supplier digital processor the immediate shipment to the customer of the purchase order by means of an authorization command; and

generating a single bar code on a shipping label in response to the authorization command, whereby the single bar code is linked to a plurality of predetermined relevant purchase and shipping information associated with the purchase order.

2. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the purchase and shipping information associated with a purchase order includes at least two of:

customer name and address, customer packing slip number, purchase order number, box quantity number, part quantity number, customer part number, manufacturer part number, and shipping date.

3. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the step of selecting includes the steps of:

initially selecting parts listed in the database; and

transmitting from the supplier digital processor to the customer digital processor which of the initially selected parts can receive authorization for immediate shipment.

4. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the customer digital processor and the supplier digital processor communicate with each other over the internet via a customer/supplier web site.

5. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the customer digital processor and the supplier digital processor communicate with each other via electronic data interchange technology (EDI).

6. A method as defined in claim 1, wherein the customer digital processor and the supplier digital processor communicate via electronic data interchange technology (EDI) employing X.12 856 transmission protocol.

7. A system of employing a single bar code shipping label for coordinating shipping and receiving information between customer and supplier, comprising:

a supplier digital processor including a parts database;

a customer digital processor coupled to the supplier digital processor via a communications link for selecting items provided in the parts database, entering purchase and shipping information associated with a purchase order, and authorizing the immediate shipment of the purchase order by means of an authorization command; and

a bar code generator coupled to the supplier digital processor for generating a shipping label including a single bar code in response to the authorization command, whereby the bar code is linked to a plurality of predetermined relevant purchase and shipping information associated with the purchase order.

8. A system as defined in claim 7, wherein the parts order information includes at least two of:

customer name and address, customer packing slip number, purchase order number, box quantity number, part quantity number, customer part number, manufacturer part number, and shipping date.

9. A system of employing a single bar code shipping label for coordinating shipping and receiving information between customer and supplier, comprising:

means for accessing a supplier digital processor including a parts database from a customer digital processor via a digital communication link;

means for selecting and entering purchase and shipping information associated with a purchase order from items provided in the parts database;

means for authorizing the immediate shipment of the purchase order by means of an authorization command; and

means for generating a single bar code on a shipping label in response to the authorization command, whereby the single bar code is linked to a plurality of predetermined relevant purchase and shipping information associated with the purchase order.

10. A system as defined in claim 9, further including means for scanning the bar code shipping label to retrieve the plurality of predetermined relevant purchase and shipping information.