Freight information management method and freight management system using electronic tags

• US 6,560,579 B2
• Filed: 09/21/2001
• Issued: 05/06/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/08/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Tsushima, Isao, Ono, Toshiyuki, Taniguchi, Kazuhiko, Kimijima, Norihiro, Ota, Izumi, Soga, Shuji
• Primary Examiner(s): Hafiz, Tariq R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Van Doren, Beth
• Application Number:
  US09/956,975
• Publication Number:
  US 20020010606A1
• Time in Patent Office: 592 Days
• Field of Search: 705/7, 705/28, 705/22, 235/380, 235/381, 235/382, 235/382.5, 340/825, 340/825.01, 340/2.23, 340/2.26, 340/3.1, 340/3.5, 340/3.54
• US Class Current: 705/28
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/063 Operations research, analysis or management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0631 Resource planning, allocation, distributing or scheduling for enterprises or organisations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06315 Needs-based resource requirements planning or analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06316 Sequencing of tasks or work
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0633 Workflow analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/083 Shipping
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0875 Itemisation or classification of parts, supplies or services, e.g. bill of materials
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/203 Inventory monitoring

Abstract

A collection request inputted at a consignor destination system is recorded on an electronic tag attached to freight and sent to a collection management system so as to be received. During collection of freight, information concerning collection is recorded on the electronic tag by means of a terminal unit and the collection information is sent to the collection management system. An in-base station freight information management system informs a freight information overall management system of the collection information and information concerning freight passing through the base station. The freight information overall management system acquires a transport history of the freight on the basis of the information sent from the in-base station freight information management system, calculates a delivery schedule of the freight and informs it to each in-base station freight information management system.

Claims

1. A freight information management method useful in a freight information management system, comprising:

on the basis of a consignor address and a consignee address of freight requested to be delivered from a consignor destination, determining a delivery route of said freight in a freight information management center;

writing the determined delivery route into an electronic tag attached to said freight remotely from said freight information management center;

while said freight is delivered via a plurality of collection/delivery stations in accordance with the delivery route in the electronic tag attached to said freight, determining a redelivery route of said freight in response to a delivery time designated by said consignee in the freight information management center;

writing the determined redelivery route into said electronic tag attached to said freight remotely from said freight information management center; and

changing the delivery route of said freight in accordance with the redelivery route in said electronic tag attached to said freight.

2. A freight information management method according to claim 1,

wherein information concerning said redelivery route is transmitted from said freight information management center to a collection/delivery station where said freight is expected to be collected and remotely written into said electronic tag attached to said freight through a reader/writer provided at the collection/delivery station.