Pick up notice and method of using same

• US 7,395,962 B2
• Filed: 10/28/2005
• Issued: 07/08/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: United Parcel Service Of America Incorporated (United Parcel Service Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: United Parcel Service Of America Incorporated (United Parcel Service Incorporated)
• Inventors: Miller, Matthew T., Garcia, Daniel, Fleckenstein, James J., Barta, Craig M., Aubuchon, Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): Caputo; Lisa M
• Application Number:
  US11/260,998
• Publication Number:
  US 20070095904A1
• Time in Patent Office: 984 Days
• Field of Search: 235/375, 235384-385, 705/22, 358/400
• US Class Current: 235/384
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management

Abstract

Generally described, the invention provides for an indicia that is associated with a pick up notice left at a pick up location. This indicia is “linked” to the parcel(s) that were intended for pick up at the location, which may be done by a handheld portable data acquisition device that includes a scanning or reading means, allowing information to be acquired from the pick up notice as well as from the parcels, and stored on the handheld portable data acquisition device. Parcel'"'"'s that do not comply with a carrier'"'"'s business rules are left at the business location, along with the pick up notice. The indicia is then used to access information about the parcels that were left behind and arrange for re-pick up or alternate pick up instructions, including canceling pick up. The indicia may also be used to track parcels that were picked up as well as to make alternate delivery arrangements for the picked up parcels.

Claims

1. A system for picking up one or more unique items from a shipper each item having a unique identity and each having a different machine-readable item code readable therefrom, said system comprising;

A) a plurality of pick up notices, each of said pick up notices including a machine-readable pick up notice code thereon, each of said pick up notice codes being unique within said plurality of pick up notices;

B) a code-reading device configured to read said machine-readable pick up notice code from one of said pick up notices as well as to read said machine-readable item code from each of said one or more items, such that a pick up notice code is read and one or more item codes are read; and

C) a code storing and linking device, said device configured to store said pick up notice code and said one or more item codes and also configured to provide a link between said pick up notice code and said one or more item codes.

2. A system for picking up one or more unique items from a shipper each item having a unique identity and each having a different machine-readable item code readable therefrom, said system comprising;

A) a plurality of pick up notices, each of said pick up notices including a machine-readable pick up notice code thereon, each of said pick up notice codes being unique within said plurality of pick up notices;

B) a code-reading and storing device configured to read said machine-readable pick up notice code from one of said pick up notices, configured to read said machine-readable item code from each of said one or more items, and configured to store said pick up notice code and said one or more item codes; and

C) a storing and serving device configured to receive information relating to said pick up notice code and said one or more item codes from said code-reading and storing device, said storing and serving device also configured to provide information upon request relating to said one or more items, said information including a status that indicates whether each of the one or more items was left behind or picked up, upon the receipt of information relating to said pick up notice.

3. The system as claimed in claim 2, wherein said storing and service device is configured to receive and provide said information via an Internet connection.

4. A system for picking up one or more unique items each item having a unique identity and each having a different machine-readable item code readable therefrom, said system comprising;

A) a plurality of pick up notices, each of said pick up notices including a machine-readable pick up notice code thereon, each of said pick up notice codes being unique within said plurality of pick up notices;

B) a code-reading and storing device configured to read said machine-readable pick up notice code from one of said pick up notices, configured to read said machine-readable item code from each of said one or more items, and configured to store said pick up notice code and said one or more item codes; and

C) a storing linking and serving device configured to receive information relating to said pick up notice code and said one or more item codes from said code-reading and storing device, said storing linking and serving device also configured to link said pick up notice code relative to said one or more item codes to allow it to provide information upon request relating to said one or more unique items, said information including a status that indicates whether each of the one or more items was left behind or picked up, upon the receipt of information relating to said pick up notice.

5. The system as claimed in claim 4, wherein said storing and service device is configured to receive and provide said information via an Internet connection.

6. A system for picking up one or more unique items from a shipper each item having a unique identity and each having a different machine-readable item code readable therefrom, said system comprising;

A) a plurality of pick up notices, each of said pick up notices including a first machine-readable pick up notice code and a second human-readable pick up notice code thereon, each of said pick up notice codes being unique within said plurality of pick up notices;

B) a code-reading device configured to read said machine-readable pick up notice code from one of said pick up notices, and also configured to read said machine-readable item code from each of said one or more items;

C) a code-storing device configured to store said pick up notice code and said one or more item codes; and

D) a linking device configured to link said pick up notice relative to said one or more items; and

E) a reporting device configured to report information regarding each of said one or more unique items, said information including a status that indicates whether each of the one or more unique items was left behind or picked up, in response to receipt of said second human-readable notice code.

7. The system as claimed in claim 6, wherein said reporting device comprises a computer server configured to store data associated with said machine-readable pick up notice code from one of said pick up notices, and also configured to store data associated with said machine-readable item code.

8. The system as claimed in claim 6, wherein said reading in step “

B”

is done by scanning.

9. The system as claimed in claim 6, wherein said linking in step “

D”

is done electronically.

10. A method for picking up one or more unique items from a shipper each item having a unique identity and each having a different machine-readable item code readable therefrom, said method including the steps of:

A) providing a plurality of pick up notices, each of said pick up notices including a machine-readable pick up notice code thereon, each of said pick up notice codes being unique within said plurality of pick up notices;

B) machine reading said machine-readable pick up notice code from one of said pick notices and storing corresponding electronic data associated with said machine-readable pick up notice code;

C) machine reading said machine-readable item code from each of said one or more items, and storing electronic data associated with said one or more items, said electronic data associated with said one or more items including a status that indicates whether each of said one or more items was picked up by the carrier; and

D) electronically linking said electronic data associated with said machine-readable pick up notice code with said electronic data associated with said one or more items.

11. A method for picking up one or more unique items from a shipper each item having a unique identity and each having a different machine-readable item code readable therefrom, said method including the steps of:

A) providing a plurality of pick up notices, each of said pick up notices including a machine-readable pick up notice code thereon, each of said pick up notice codes being unique within said plurality of pick up notices;

B) machine reading said machine-readable pick up notice code from one of said pick up notices and storing corresponding electronic data associated with said machine-readable pick up notice code;

C) machine reading said machine-readable item code from each of said one or more items, and storing electronic data associated with said one or more items; and

D) electronically linking said electronic data associated with said machine-readable pick up notice code with said electronic data associated with said one or more items; and

E) reporting information regarding each of said one or more unique items in response to receipt of a description of said one of said pick up notices, said information including a status that indicates whether each of said one or more items was picked up by the carrier.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein in step “

E”

, said receipt of a description of said one of said pick up notices is accomplished at least in part by use of the internet, and wherein said reporting of said information regarding each of said one or more unique items is accomplished at least in part by use of the internet.

13. A method for picking up one or more unique items each having unique identities and each having a different machine-readable item code readable therefrom, said method including the steps of:

A) providing a plurality of pick up notices, each of said pick up notices including a machine-readable first pick up notice code and a human-readable second pick up notice code thereon, each of said first pick up notice codes being unique within said plurality of pick up notices;

B) machine reading said machine-readable pick up notice code from one of said pick up notices and storing corresponding electronic data associated with said machine-readable pick up notice code;

C) machine reading said machine-readable item code from each of said one or more items, and storing electronic data associated with said one or more items;

D) electronically linking said electronic data associated with said machine-readable pick up notice code with said electronic data associated with said one or more items; and

E) reporting information regarding each of said one or more unique items in response to receipt of said human-readable second pick up notice code, said information including a status that indicates whether each of said one or more items was picked up by the carrier.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein in step “

E”

, said receipt of said human-readable second pick up notice code is accomplished at least in part by use of the internet, and wherein said reporting of said information regarding each of said one or more unique items is accomplished at least in part by use of the internet.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein in step “

A”

, said machine-readable first pick up notice code includes common data relative to said human-readable second pick up notice code.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein said human-readable indicia is an alphanumeric sequence.

17. A method for picking up one or more unique items from one or more shippers each item having a unique identity and each having a different machine-readable item code readable therefrom, said method including the use of a handheld data acquisition device and comprising the steps of:

A) providing a plurality of pick up notices, each of said pick up notices including a machine-readable pick up notice code thereon, each of said pick up notice codes being unique within said plurality of pick up notices;

B) machine reading said machine-readable pick up notice code from one of said pick up notices and storing corresponding electronic data associated with said machine-readable pick up notice code on said handheld data acquisition device;

C) machine reading said machine-readable item code from each of said one or more items, and storing electronic data associated with said one or more items on said handheld data acquisition device;

D) electronically linking said electronic data associated with said machine-readable pick up notice code with said electronic data associated with said one or more items; and

E) reporting information regarding each of said one or more unique items in response to receipt of a description of said one of said pick up notices, said information including a status that indicates whether each of said one or more items was picked up by the carrier.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein in step “

E”

, said receipt of a description of said one of said pick up notices is accomplished at least in part by use of the internet, and wherein said reporting of said information regarding each of said one or more unique items is accomplished at least in part by use of the internet.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein in step “

D”

, said linking is done on said handheld data acquisition device.

20. A method for picking up one or more unique items from a shipping location each item having a unique identity and each having a different machine-readable item code readable therefrom, said method including the use of a handheld data acquisition device and a computer server and comprising the steps of:

A) providing a plurality of pick up notices, each of said pick up notices including a machine-readable pick up notice code thereon, each of said pick up notice codes being unique within said plurality of pick up notices;

B) machine reading said machine-readable pick up notice code from one of said pick up notices and storing corresponding electronic data associated with said machine-readable pick up notice code on said handheld data acquisition device;

C) machine reading said machine-readable item code from each of said one or more items, and storing electronic data associated with said one or more items on said handheld data acquisition device;

D) transferring said electronic data associated with said machine-readable pick up notice code from said handheld data acquisition device to said server as well as transferring said electronic data associated with said one or more items from said handheld data acquisition device to said server;

E) electronically linking said electronic data on said server associated with said machine-readable pick up notice code with said electronic data on said server associated with said one or more of items; and

F) reporting information regarding each of said one or more items in response to receipt of a description of said one of said pick up notices, said information including a status for each of said one or more items indication whether said item was picked up from the pick up location.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein in step “

F”

, said receipt of a description of said one of said pick up notices is accomplished at least in part by use of the internet, and wherein said reporting of said information regarding each of said one or more items is accomplished at least in part by use of the internet.

22. A method for picking up, from a shipping location, one or more unique items each having a unique identity and each having a different machine-readable item code readable therefrom, said method including the steps of:

A) providing a plurality of pick up notices, each of said pick up notices including a machine-readable pick up notice code thereon, each of said pick up notice codes being unique within said plurality of pick up notices;

B) attempting the pick up of said one or more unique items at the shipping location under a set of predetermined business rules;

C) picking up each of said items if each said item meets said business rules;

D) leaving each of said one or more items at said shipping location if said item does not meet said business rules;

E) machine reading said machine-readable pick up notice code from one of said pick up notices and storing corresponding electronic data associated with said machine-readable pick up notice code;

F) machine reading said machine-readable item code from each of said one or more items, and storing electronic data associated with said one or more items;

G) electronically linking said electronic data associated with said machine-readable pick up notice code with said electronic data associated with said machine-readable item code from each of said one or more items;

H) reporting information regarding each of said one or more items in response to receipt of a description of said one of said pick up notices from a shipper, said information including a status for each of said one or more items indication whether said item was picked up from the pick up location; and

I) modifying pick up plans for one or more items each having a status that indicates the items were left at said shipping location based upon subsequent instructions from said shipper.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein in step “

G”

, linking is provided on a computer server.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein in step “

G”

, linking is first provided on a handheld device and then transferred to a computer server where said linking is again provided on said server.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein in step “

H”

, said receipt of a description of said one of said pick up notices is accomplished at least in part by use of the internet, and wherein said reporting of said information regarding each of said one or more unique items is accomplished at least in part by use of the internet.

26. The method of claim 22, wherein in step “

H”

, said receipt of a description of said one of said pick up notices is accomplished at least in part by use of a telephone connection, and wherein said reporting of said information regarding each of said one or more unique items is accomplished at least in part by use of a telephone connection.