Returnable container physical distribution management system using information system

• US 6,616,055 B2
• Filed: 11/26/2001
• Issued: 09/09/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Yushin System Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Yushin System Company Limited
• Inventors: Nakagami, Yasuhiro, Okamura, Kousaku, Nakabayashi, Yasuo
• Primary Examiner(s): Pitts, Harold I.
• Application Number:
  US09/979,997
• Publication Number:
  US 20020161878A1
• Time in Patent Office: 652 Days
• Field of Search: 235/375, 235/492
• US Class Current: 235/492
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2203/10 Transponders
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 25/205 Means for the attachment of labels, cards, coupons or the like; cards or coupons for the other types of rigid or semi-rigid containers B65D25/36 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/00 Methods or arrangements for effecting co-operative working between equipments covered by two or more of main groups G06K1/00 - G06K15/00, e.g. automatic card files incorporating conveying and reading operations
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/0022 arrangements or provisions for transferring data to distant stations, e.g. from a sensing device "transfer between computer elements G06F13/00 "; data-transmission H04L
• 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: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management

Abstract

There is provided a returnable container physical distribution system adapted to the information society and, more particularly, a returnable container physical distribution system is provided in which IC cards are attached to returnable containers for easier connection with the internet to manage the returnable containers transported between a producer, a wholesaler and/or warehouse and a retailer more efficiently.

A computer network interconnects a terminal at a management canter for governing the system as a whole, a terminal at a returnable container delivery center for distributing returnable containers having IC cards attached thereto, a terminal at a producer who produces and ships products, and a terminal at a wholesaler and/or warehouse who wholesales and warehouses the products, and data are transmitted and received between the computer network and the IC cards at the terminals in routes for physical distribution of the returnable containers to allow physical distribution of the returnable containers to be managed at the management center on a comprehensive basis.

Claims

1. A returnable container physical distribution management system using an information system characterized in that a computer network interconnects a terminal at a management center for governing the system as a whole, a terminal at a returnable container delivery center for distributing returnable containers having IC cards attached thereto, a terminal at a producer who produces and ships products, a terminal at a wholesaler and/or warehouse who wholesales and warehouses the products, and a terminal at a retailer,

and in that data are transmitted and received between the computer network and the IC cards at the terminals in routes for physical distribution of the returnable containers to allow physical distribution of the returnable containers to be managed at the management center on a comprehensive basis;

wherein the IC card is any of only a first IC card, a combination of the first IC card and a second IC card,

the returnable container has the first IC card of an embedded type and wherein transmission/reception of data to/from an external device is performed on non-contacting basis, and

an IC card holding pocket in which the second IC card can be contained and an entry section for visibly entering required information using pictures, characters or the like are provided on a side of the returnable container.

2. A returnable container physical distribution management system using an information system according to claim 1,

wherein the physical distribution route of the returnable containers is any of ordering, distribution instruction, shipment, leasing and charging of returnable containers, assembly and product information registration, shipment from the producer, warehousing at the wholesaler and/or warehouse and delivery from the wholesaler and/or warehouse or a combination of the same.

3. A returnable container physical distribution management system using an information system according to claim 2,

wherein the physical distribution route of the returnable containers further includes, termination of the physical distribution of the returnable containers, disassembly and collection request and collection and cleaning.

4. A returnable container physical distribution management system using an information system according to claim 1,

wherein payment for the returnable containers and products is carried out through the computer network.

5. A returnable container physical distribution management system using an information system according to claim 1,

wherein data are stored for the current contract and the preceding contract in the IC card and are stored and erased at each contract.

6. A returnable container physical distribution management system using an information system according to claim 1,

wherein data stored in the IC card are separated into a plurality of banks for each of which an access right for writing and reading can be set.

7. A returnable container physical distribution management system using an information system according to claim 1,

wherein the first IC card embedded in the returnable container is configures so as to store distribution information required for distribution of the products housed in the returnable container.

8. A returnable container physical distribution management system using an information system according to claim 7,

wherein the distribution information stored in the first IC card comprises system management information, returnable container management information, product management information, and account management information.

9. A returnable container physical distribution management system using an information system according to claim 1,

wherein the second IC card storing common distribution information required for distribution of a plurality of the returnable containers to be delivered for each destination of the products on the physical distribution route is attached to the IC card pocket of one returnable container which is positioned at a leading of the plurality of the returnable containers.

10. A returnable container physical distribution management system using an information system according to claim 9,

wherein the common distribution information stored in the second IC card comprises destination of the products, product codes(JAN codes and SKU codes), product name, quantity of the returnable containers, unit price(delivery price) and producer information.