Freight information management method and freight management system using electronic tags

• US 6,941,278 B2
• Filed: 08/13/2002
• Issued: 09/06/2005
• 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
• Assistant Examiner(s): BOSWELL, BETH V
• Application Number:
  US10/216,773
• Publication Number:
  US 20030004769A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,120 Days
• Field of Search: 705/7, 705/27, 705/28, 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. Anin-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 in a freight information management system having a consignor destination system provided at a consignor destination, a base station system provided at a transport trader'"'"'s base station for collecting freight from said consignor destination and delivering said freight to a consignee, a freight information overall management system connected to said base station system, and an electronic tag attached to said freight to be delivered, said electronic tag capable of electronically storing freight information necessary for delivery, comprising the steps of:

receiving, by said consignor destination system, input of collection request information including consignor information concerning a consignor and consignee information concerning a consignee;

storing, by said consignor destination system, the collection request information thus received in storage means;

transmitting, by said consignor destination system, said collection request information to a collection management system provided in a base station system at a base station serving as a departure store;

reading and storing, by said consignor destination system, a freight number previously stored in said electronic tag attached to said freight, said freight number identifying individual freight;

determining, by said consignor destination system, a base station serving as an arrival store of said freight, on the basis of said consignee information;

writing, by said consignor destination system, arrival store information indicative of the base station thus determined and said collection request information in said electronic tag;

receiving, by said collection management system, said collection request information from said consignor destination system;

determining, by said collection management system, a terminal device to be used for collection of said freight;

transmitting, by said collection management system, consignor information contained in said collection request information to the terminal device thus determined;

storing, by said terminal device, said consignor information;

recording, by said terminal device, collection record information including a name of a person in charge and work date/time in said electronic tag;

reading, by said terminal device, said collection request information from said electronic tag;

transmitting, by said terminal device, said collection record information and said collection request information to said collection management system as collection registration information; and

transmitting, by said collection management system, the collection registration information thus received from said terminal device to said freight information overall management system.