Machine-readable medium and program instructions for assembling and shipping an item in a secure environment

• US 7,334,730 B1
• Filed: 04/09/2007
• Issued: 02/26/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Airis Holdings LLC
• Original Assignee: Airis Holdings LLC
• Inventors: Grimes, William Robert, Factor, Ronald D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Le; Thien M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Labaze; Edwyn
• Application Number:
  US11/733,061
• Time in Patent Office: 323 Days
• Field of Search: 235/384, 235/385, 235/487, 235/486, 235/375, 705/22, 705 28- 29, 340/572.1
• US Class Current: 235/384
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 11/00 Arrangements, systems or apparatus for checking, e.g. the occurrence of a condition, not provided for elsewhere

Abstract

A machine-readable medium connected to a network, having a processor, a data storage, an input device, and a display, containing computer instructions for instructing a processor to receive a first data related to at least one component for assembly of at least one assembled item, transport the at least one component to an assembly area for assembling the at least one assembled item, receive a second data related to the at least one assembled item for readying the at least one assembled item for shipment, store the second data in the data storage, and move the at least one assembled item to a designated storage area within the security cleared space for storage or to an aircraft connected to the security cleared space. A machine-readable medium having computer instructions for disassembling an assembled item into components for shipment or storage is also contemplated.

Claims

1. A machine-readable medium connected to at least one network having a processor, a data storage, at least one input device, and a display, containing computer instructions for instructing a processor to:

receive first data from the at least one input device with information related to at least one component for assembly of at least one assembled item, wherein the at least one component has been screened according to International Air Transport Association and United States Transportation Security Administration requirements;

store the first data in the data storage;

cause the transport of at least one of the components related to the first data to an assembly area in a security cleared space, wherein the security cleared space is connected to a port authority and is a secured area meeting International Air Transport Association requirements and United States Transportation Security Administration requirements for cargo security policies;

cause the assembly of the components in the assembly area of the security cleared space into the at least one assembled item;

receive second data that the components have been assembled into the at least one assembled item;

cause the at least one assembled item to be assigned a manifest;

cause the transport of the at least one assembled item to a designated storage area within the security cleared space or to a transshipment area within the security cleared space for loading onto a vehicle connected to the security cleared space in compliance with International Air Transport Association and United States Transportation Security Administration requirements for shipment; and

provide a report to at least one operator concerning at least one stage of assembly, transport, or storage of at least one component, at least one assembled item, or combinations thereof.

2. The machine-readable medium of claim 1, further comprising computer instructions for instructing the processor to display on the display a list of assembled items to be assembled from the at least one component at the assembly area.

3. The machine-readable medium of claim 1, further comprising computer instructions for causing the processor to display on the display a message that the at least one assembled item is to be assembled from the at least one component at the assembly area.

4. The machine-readable medium of claim 1, further comprising computer instructions for transferring first data, second data or combinations thereof, through at least two gateway protocols using the at least one input device.

5. The machine-readable medium of claim 1, further comprising computer instructions for instructing the processor to label each at least one assembled item.

6. The machine-readable medium of claim 5, wherein the label is a bar code, a radio frequency identification tag, a check character, text, or combinations thereof.

7. The machine-readable medium of claim 6, further comprising computer instructions for instructing the processor to scan the label, forming scanned data, transmit the scanned data to at least one insurance carrier for initiating insurance coverage for a member of the group consisting of:

a manufacturer, an assembler, a broker, a forwarder, a shipper, a carrier, a customer, or combinations thereof, and archive the scanned data in the data storage.

8. The machine-readable medium of claim 5, wherein the label comprises a manifest clearance form for enabling clearing of the at least one assembled item.

9. The machine-readable medium of claim 8, further comprising computer instructions for instructing the processor to scan the manifest clearance form, forming scanned manifest data, transmit the scanned manifest data to the at least one network and a designated internet protocol address for enabling clearing of the at least one assembled item while en route from the security cleared space to a delivery point outside the security cleared space, and archive the scanned data in the data storage.

10. The machine-readable medium of claim 1, further comprising computer instructions for instructing the processor to activate a means for sealing to seal the at least one assembled item according to a member of the group comprising:

custom agency standards, weather protection needs, tamper prevention, and combinations thereof.

11. The machine-readable medium of claim 10, wherein the means for sealing is performed using a member of the group comprising:

at least one aluminum metal container, at least one cargo net, tamper proof tape, at least one tamper proof crate, and combinations thereof.

12. The machine-readable medium of claim 1, further comprising computer instructions for directing an automated assembly line using smart pallets and a computer controlled processing unit.

13. The machine-readable medium of claim 1, further comprising computer instructions for instructing the processor to cause manufacture of additional components.

14. A machine-readable medium connected to at least one network having a processor, a data storage, at least one input device, and a display, containing computer instructions for instructing a processor to:

receive first data from the at least one input device with information related to at least one assembled item for disassembly of the at least one assembled item into at least one screened component, wherein the at least one assembled item has been screened according to International Air Transport Association and United States Transportation Security Administration requirements;

store the first data in the data storage;

cause the transport of at least one of the assembled items related to the first data to a disassembly area in a security cleared space, wherein the security cleared space is connected to a port authority and is a secured area meeting International Air Transport Association requirements and United States Transportation Security Administration requirements for cargo security policies;

cause the disassembly of the assembled item in the disassembly area of the security cleared space into the at least one screened component;

receive second data that the assembled item has been disassembled into the at least one screened component;

cause the at least one screened component to be assigned a manifest;

cause the transport of the at least one screened component to a designated storage area within the security cleared space or to a transshipment area within the security cleared space for loading onto a vehicle connected to the security cleared space in compliance with International Air Transport Association and United States Transportation Security Administration requirements for shipment; and

provide a report to at least one operator concerning at least one stage of disassembly, transport, or storage of at least one screened component, at least one assembled item, or combinations thereof.

15. The machine-readable medium of claim 14, further comprising computer instructions for instructing the processor to display on the display a list of screened components to be obtained from disassembly of the at least one assembled item at the disassembly area.

16. The machine-readable medium of claim 14, further comprising computer instructions for causing the processor to display on the display a message that the at least one screened component is to be obtained from disassembly of the at least one assembled item.

17. The machine-readable medium of claim 14, further comprising computer instructions for transferring first data, second data or combinations thereof, through at least two gateway protocols using the at least one input device.

18. The machine-readable medium of claim 14, further comprising computer instructions for instructing the processor to label each at least one screened component.

19. The machine-readable medium of claim 18, wherein the label is a bar code, a radio frequency identification tag, a check character, text, or combinations thereof.

20. The machine-readable medium of claim 19, further comprising computer instructions for instructing the processor to scan the label, forming scanned data, transmit the scanned data to at least one insurance carrier for initiating insurance coverage for a member of the group consisting of:

a manufacturer, an assembler, a broker, a forwarder, a shipper, a carrier, a customer, or combinations thereof, and archive the scanned data in the data storage.

21. The machine-readable medium of claim 18, wherein the label comprises a manifest clearance form for enabling clearing of the at least one screened component.

22. The machine-readable medium of claim 21, further comprising computer instructions for instructing the processor to scan the manifest clearance form, forming scanned manifest data, transmit the scanned manifest data to the at least one network and a designated internet protocol address for enabling clearing of the at least one screened component while en route from the security cleared space to a delivery point outside the security cleared space, and archive the scanned data in the data storage.

23. The machine-readable medium of claim 14, further comprising computer instructions for instructing the processor to activate a means for sealing to seal the at least one screened component according to a member of the group comprising:

custom agency standards, weather protection needs, tamper prevention, and combinations thereof.

24. The machine-readable medium of claim 23, wherein the means for sealing is performed using a member of the group comprising:

at least one aluminum metal container, at least one cargo net, tamper proof tape, at least one tamper proof crate, and combinations thereof.

25. The machine-readable medium of claim 14, further comprising computer instructions for directing an automated assembly line using smart pallets and a computer controlled processing unit.

26. The machine-readable medium of claim 14, further comprising computer instructions for instructing the processor to cause manufacture of additional components.