Consolidated shipping and distribution of multiple orders with returns
First Claim
1. A method of distributing items, said method comprising:
- obtaining each item listed in a first order of one or more items, said first order being associated with a first customer;
obtaining each item listed in a second order of one or more items, said second order being associated with a second customer;
placing each item from the first order into a first sub-package;
associating a first sub-package identifier with the first sub-package;
associating a first customer identifier with the first sub-package identifier, the first customer identifier being associated with the first customer;
placing each item from the second order into a second sub-package;
associating a second sub-package identifier with the second sub-package;
associating a second customer identifier with the second sub-package identifier, the second customer identifier being associated with the second customer;
placing the first and second sub-packages into a consolidated package that is associated with a consolidated package tracking identifier;
associating the first and second sub-package identifiers with the consolidated package tracking identifier;
shipping the consolidated package to a localized distribution center;
while executing said step of shipping the consolidated package, tracking the shipment of the consolidated package to the localized distribution center;
receiving and unpacking the consolidated package at the localized distribution center;
controlling access to the first and second sub-packages at the localized distribution center;
making the first sub-package available to the first customer for retrieval at the distribution center; and
making the second sub-package available to the second customer for retrieval at the distribution center.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides systems and methods of consolidating, shipping and distributing items comprising multiple orders to multiple customers. The orders are received by an inventory management service, filled and packaged at a centralized distribution center in fewer containers than there are orders. For instance, if there are N orders destined for a particular authorized outlet, then the N orders will be consolidated and shipped in at most N−1, or fewer, containers. However, each order is individually packaged, controlled, tracked and received as an individual order. The consolidated containers are shipped to an authorized outlet and the individual orders are distributed to the customers. Also provided are systems and methods for returning orders that are not picked up at the authorized outlet to a central location. The items may be, for example, service parts, wireless communication devices, etc. Warehousing, shipping and transportation costs are reduced by this invention.
114 Citations
47 Claims
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1. A method of distributing items, said method comprising:
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obtaining each item listed in a first order of one or more items, said first order being associated with a first customer; obtaining each item listed in a second order of one or more items, said second order being associated with a second customer; placing each item from the first order into a first sub-package; associating a first sub-package identifier with the first sub-package; associating a first customer identifier with the first sub-package identifier, the first customer identifier being associated with the first customer; placing each item from the second order into a second sub-package; associating a second sub-package identifier with the second sub-package; associating a second customer identifier with the second sub-package identifier, the second customer identifier being associated with the second customer; placing the first and second sub-packages into a consolidated package that is associated with a consolidated package tracking identifier; associating the first and second sub-package identifiers with the consolidated package tracking identifier; shipping the consolidated package to a localized distribution center; while executing said step of shipping the consolidated package, tracking the shipment of the consolidated package to the localized distribution center; receiving and unpacking the consolidated package at the localized distribution center; controlling access to the first and second sub-packages at the localized distribution center; making the first sub-package available to the first customer for retrieval at the distribution center; and making the second sub-package available to the second customer for retrieval at the distribution center. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of distributing service parts, said method comprising:
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obtaining each service part listed in a first order of one or more service parts, said first order being associated with a first customer; obtaining each service part listed in a second order of one or more service parts, said second order being associated with a second customer; placing each service part from the first order into a first sub-package; associating a first sub-package identifier with the first sub-package; associating a first customer identifier with the first sub-package identifier, the first customer identifier being associated with the first customer; placing each service part of the second order into a second sub-package; associating a second sub-package identifier with the second sub-package; associating a second customer identifier with the second sub-package identifier, the second customer identifier being associated with the second customer; placing the first and second sub-packages into a consolidated package that is associated with a consolidated package tracking identifier; associating the first and second sub-package identifiers with the consolidated package tracking identifier; shipping the consolidated package to a localized distribution center; while executing said step of shipping the consolidated package, tracking the shipment of the consolidated package to the localized distribution center; receiving and unpacking the consolidated package at the localized distribution center; controlling access to the first and second sub-packages at the localized distribution center; making the first sub-package available to the first customer for retrieval at the distribution center; and making the second sub-package available to the second customer for retrieval at the distribution center. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A method for distributing wireless communication devices, comprising:
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obtaining each wireless communication device listed in a first order of one or more wireless communication devices, said first order being associated with a first customer; obtaining each wireless communication device listed in a second order of one or more wireless communication devices, said second order being associated with a second customer; association a first device identifier with the first wireless communication device; associating a first customer identifier with the first device identifier, the first customer identifier being associated with the first customer; associating a second device identifier with the second wireless communication device; associating a second customer identifier with the second device identifier, the second customer identifier being associated with the second customer; placing the first and second wireless communication devices into a consolidated package that is associated with a consolidated package tracking identifier; associating the first and second device identifiers with the consolidated package tracking identifier; shipping the consolidated package to a localized distribution center; while executing said step of shipping the consolidated package, tracking the shipment of the consolidated package to the distribution center; receiving and unpacking the consolidated package at the localized distribution center; controlling access to the first and second wireless communication devices at the localized distribution center; making the first wireless communication device available to the first customer for retrieval; and making the second wireless communication device available to the second customer for retrieval. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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36. A method of distributing one or more items, said method comprising:
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obtaining each item listed in a first order of one or more items, said first order being associated with a first customer; obtaining each item listed in a second order of one or more items, said second order being associated with a second customer; placing each item from the first order into a first sub-package; associating a first sub-package identifier with the first sub-package; associating a first customer identifier with the first sub-package identifier, the first customer identifier being associated with the first customer; placing each item of the second order into a second sub-package; associating a second sub-package identifier with the second sub-package; associating a second customer identifier with the second sub-package identifier, the second customer identifier being associated with the second customer; placing the first and second sub-packages into a consolidated package that is associated with a consolidated package tracking identifier; associating the first and second sub-package identifiers with the consolidated package tracking identifier; showing the association between first and second sub-package identifiers to the first and second customer identifiers on a control device and associating the control device with the consolidated package; shipping the consolidated package to a localized distribution center; while executing said step of shipping the consolidated package, tracking the shipment of the consolidated package to the distribution center; receiving and unpacking the consolidated package at the localized distribution center; showing the association between the first and second sub-package identifiers to the first and second customer identifiers on a control log; controlling access to the first and second sub-packages at the localized distribution center; making the first sub-package available to the first customer for retrieval; and making the second sub-package available to the second customer for retrieval. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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45. A method of distributing items, said method comprising:
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at a centralized distribution center, obtaining each item listed in a first order of one or more items, said first order being associated with a first customer; at a centralized distribution center, obtaining each item listed in a second order of one or more items, said second order being associated with a second customer; placing each item from the first order into a first sub-package; associating a first sub-package identifier with the first sub-package; associating a first customer identifier with the first sub-package identifier, the first customer identifier being associated with the first customer; placing each item of the second order into a second sub-package; associating a second sub-package identifier with the second sub-package; associating a second customer identifier with the second sub-package identifier, the second customer identifier being associated with the second customer; placing the first and second sub-packages into a consolidated package that is associated with a consolidated package tracking identifier; associating the first and second sub-package identifiers with the consolidated package tracking identifier; shipping the consolidated package to a localized distribution center, while executing said step of shipping the consolidated package, tracking the shipment of the consolidated package to the distribution center; receiving and unpacking the consolidated package at the localized distribution center; controlling access to the first and second sub-packages at the localized distribution center; making the first and second sub-packages available to the first and second customers for retrieval from the distribution center, and in response to the first and second sub-packages remaining unclaimed for a time period in excess of a pre-determined time period; (A) placing the first and second sub-packages into a consolidated return package that is associated with a return tracking identifier; (B) associating the first and second sub-package identifiers with the return tracking identifier; (C) shipping the consolidated return package back to the centralized distribution center; and (D) tracking the consolidated return package while the consolidated return package is being shipped to the centralized distribution center. - View Dependent Claims (46, 47)
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Specification