Method for object delivery

• US 7,464,037 B2
• Filed: 12/15/2003
• Issued: 12/09/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/23/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: System Application Engineering Incorporated
• Original Assignee: System Application Engineering Incorporated
• Inventors: Parks, James Michael, Sacks, Jerry Dennis, Lepp, Jeffrey Christopher
• Primary Examiner(s): Hayes; John W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Erb; Nathan H.
• Application Number:
  US10/737,952
• Publication Number:
  US 20040133303A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,821 Days
• Field of Search: 705/1, 235/375
• US Class Current: 705/1.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management

Abstract

The invention is a method for objects delivery at a location comprising the steps of using a mobile computer having a bar code reader, a display, an audio output device, a tactile input device, text to speech software, a voice recognition software, delivery system software, and radio frequency identification (RFID) reader, wherein said mobile computer is adapted for communication between a delivery server system and a user and the delivery server system is adapted for communication between the mobile computer and at least one external computer system.

Claims

1. A method for delivery of at least one object on a load wherein each of the at least one objects has a destination location comprising:

a. using a mobile computer having a bar code reader, a display, an audio output device, a tactile input device, non-lexicon text-to-speech software, a voice recognition software, delivery system software, and radio frequency identification (RFID) reader with a user, wherein said mobile computer is adapted for communication between a delivery server and the user, and the delivery server is adapted for communication between the mobile computer and at least one external computer system;

b. entering a user code of the user to log the user onto the mobile computer;

c. training the voice recognition software by the user;

d. providing a list of objects on the load with each respective destination location to the user from the delivery system software;

e. transmitting a request from the mobile computer to the delivery server to identify all of the least one objects on the load and each destination location per object on the load;

f. providing a summary list of objects on the load with each corresponding destination location to the user from the delivery system software using the text-to-speech software to the audio output device of the user from the delivery system software;

g. providing a destination locations list for all of the at least one objects on the load from the delivery system software to the display;

h. transporting the load with at least one object to a first destination location on the destination locations list;

i. advising the delivery system software by the user at the first destination location as to the first destination location as to the first destination location using an audio input to speak characters that identify the first destination location and either;

i. scanning a barcode identifying the first destination location;

or

ii. reading an RFID data to identify the first destination location;

j. advising the user using the text-to-speech software by the delivery system to indicate that the first destination location is correct and that at least one object is to be delivered to the first destination location;

k. advising the user using the text-to-speech software which of the at least one objects is to be delivered and the quantity of the at least one object to be delivered at the first destination location;

l. verifying delivery of the at least one object to the delivery system software by providing information to the delivery system software by identifying the at least one object indicated for delivery at the first destination location to the delivery system software by the user using the audio input to speak characters that identify the at least one object; and

either;

i. scanning the barcode of the at least one object;

or

ii. reading the RFID data of the at least one object;

m. transporting the load to additional destination locations on the destination location list and repeating steps (k) through (l) until all of the objects have been transported, off loaded, and delivery verified for each of the destination locations; and

n. transferring the information from the step for verifying delivery to the external computer system upon completion of offloading and verifying of at least one object.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the transferring of the information from the step for verifying delivery from the delivery system software to the at least one external computer system is at the termination and verification of all deliveries.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the transferring of the information from the step for verifying delivery system software is at the end of each delivery.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of generating a receipt of all delivered objects which have been verified.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one object being delivered is refused and the user identifies the object to the delivery system software being refused by:

a. speaking the characters on the object being refused into the audio input device;

b. scanning a barcode disposed on the object being refused;

c. reading an RFID data disposed on the object being refused; and

d. maintaining the object on the load for return to a sender.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of using the mobile computer to obtain status information for the user for comparing delivery time needed to deliver the at least one object on the load to an expected completion time for delivery and verifying delivery of at least one object on the load.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising a step of the user indicating a need to “

deliver short”

to the delivery system software using the voice recognition software.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of providing answers to a series of safety questions by the user to the delivery system software regarding a transport vehicle to move the load of the at least one object wherein the answers are from at least one member of the group of questions consisting of:

a. are the brakes working?;

b. is the horn working?;

c. is the steering working?;

d. is there any damage to the transport vehicle?

e. is there any leak in the transport vehicle?;

f. are the tires inflated and undamaged?; and

g. combinations thereof.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the destination location can be a member of the group consisting of:

a warehouse, a terminal, a dock, a manufacturing site, a customer site or combinations thereof.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the customer site is a member of the group:

a customer store, a residence, and combinations thereof.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the mobile computer is a handheld computer that indicates a specific zone where the object is located in the load.