Register for counting and tracking items in a bag

• US 9,798,907 B2
• Filed: 02/27/2015
• Issued: 10/24/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2014
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Dufl, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Dufl, Inc.
• Inventors: Rinehart, William H., McGowan, Albert J., Gordon, Michael M.
• Primary Examiner(s): SMALL, NAOMI J
• Application Number:
  US14/634,447
• Publication Number:
  US 20160092833A1
• Time in Patent Office: 970 Days
• Field of Search: 34053913
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07758 arrangements for adhering the record carrier to further objects or living beings, functioning as an identification tag
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10 by electromagnetic radiation, e.g. optical sensing; by corpuscular radiation
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10366 the interrogation device being adapted for miscellaneous applications
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 13/1427 with transmitter-receiver for distance detection

Abstract

A register for counting and tracking items in a bag comprises a manifest and an RFID reader. The RFID reader is used to query a plurality of RFID tags attached to items contained in the bag. The register creates reports counting and/or identifying changes to items contained in the bag while the bag is routed and/or items in the bag are processed for a customer.

Claims

1. A logistics system for routing and tracking bags, the logistics system comprising:

a customer interface receiving, from a customer device running a first instance of an application, instructions to initiate a first set of operations, wherein;

a first function in the first set of operations is selecting a first set of items of a plurality of items, to populate a first bag, wherein the plurality of items are stored in a storage container at an origin location;

a second function in the first set of operations is selecting a first location to route the first bag from the origin location;

a third function in the first set of operations is selecting a processing option for each item in the first set of items of the plurality of items;

a fourth function in the first set of operations is selecting a second set of items from the plurality of items to populate a second bag, wherein the second set of items from the plurality of items includes one or more items from the first set of items of the plurality of items; and

a fifth function in the first set of operations is selecting a second location to route the second bag from the origin location; and

a logistic-system server receiving, from a first device running a second instance of the application, instructions to initiate a second set of operations, wherein;

a first function in the second set of operations includes sending a first trigger to a logistics engine to populate the first bag with the first set of items of the plurality of items;

a second function in the second set of operations includes routing the first bag to the first location;

a third function in the second set of operations includes a first tracking of the first bag to the first location;

a fourth function in the second set of operations includes transmitting the first tracking information to the logistics engine;

a fifth function in the second set of operations includes transmitting a first message to the logistics engine that the first bag is at the first location;

a sixth function in the second set of operations includes routing the first bag from the first location to the origin location;

a seventh function in the second set of operations includes a second tracking of the first bag to the origin location;

an eighth function in the second set of operations includes transmitting the second tracking information to the logistics engine;

a ninth function in the second set of operations includes transmitting a second message to the logistics engine that the first bag is at the origin location;

a tenth function in the second set of operations includes sending a second trigger to the logistics engine to begin the processing option for each item in the first set of items of the plurality of items to the logistics engine;

an eleventh function in the second set of operations includes sending a third trigger to the logistics engine to populate the second bag with the second set of items of the plurality of items; and

a twelfth function in the second set of operation includes routing the second bag to the second location; and

the logistic engine receiving, from a second device, located at the origin location, running a third instance of the application, instructions to initiate a third set of operations, wherein;

a first function of the third set of operations includes receiving the first trigger to populate the first bag with the first set of items of the plurality of items;

a second function of the third set of operations includes initiating a first process to populate the first bag with the first set of items of the plurality of items;

a third function of the third set of operations includes receiving the first tracking information;

a fourth function of the third set of operations includes triggering a first notification to display the first tracking information on the customer device;

a fifth function of the third set of operations includes receiving the first message that the first bag is at the first location;

a sixth function of the third set of operations includes triggering a second notification to display that the first bag is at the first location, on the customer device;

a seventh function of the third set of operations includes receiving the second tracking information;

an eighth function of the third set of operations includes triggering a third notification to display the second tracking information on the customer device;

a ninth function of the third set of operations includes receiving the second message that the first bag is at the origin location;

a tenth function of the third set of operations includes receiving the second trigger to apply the process option to each item of the first set of items of the plurality of items;

an eleventh function of the third set of operations includes initiating a second process to return each item of the first set of items of the plurality of items to the storage container;

a twelfth function of the third set of operations includes initiating a third process to prepare the first bag for future use; and

a thirteenth function of the third set of operations includes receiving the third trigger to populate the second bag with the second set of items of the plurality of items.

2. The logistics system for routing and tracking bags as recited in claim 1, wherein the first bag and the second bag are the same bag or the first bag and the second bag are different bags.

3. The logistics system for routing and tracking bags as recited in claim 1, wherein the plurality of items are owned by a customer using the customer device.

4. The logistics system for routing and tracking bags as recited in claim 1, wherein the plurality of items are rented from the logistics system by a customer using the customer device.

5. The logistics system for routing and tracking bags as recited in claim 1, wherein the processing option includes, laundering, dry-cleaning, steaming, pressing, or polishing.

6. The logistics system for routing and tracking bags as recited in claim 1, wherein one or more of the plurality of items are purchased from the logistics system by a customer using the customer device.

7. The logistics system for routing and tracking bags as recited in claim 1, wherein the first location is a different location than the second location or the first location is the same as the second location.

8. A method for routing and tracking bags, the method comprising:

receiving by a customer interface, from a customer device running a first instance of an application, instructions to initiate a first set of operations, wherein;

a first function in the first set of operations is selecting a first set of items of a plurality of items, to populate a first bag, wherein the plurality of items are stored in a storage container at an origin location;

a second function in the first set of operations is selecting a first location to route the first bag from the origin location;

a third function in the first set of operations is selecting a processing option for each item in the first set of items of the plurality of items;

a fourth function in the first set of operations is selecting a second set of items from the plurality of items to populate a second bag, wherein the second set of items from the plurality of items includes one or more items from the first set of items of the plurality of items; and

a fifth function in the first set of operations is selecting a second location to route the second bag from the origin location; and

receiving by a logistic-system server, from a first device running a second instance of the application, instructions to initiate a second set of operations, wherein;

a first function in the second set of operations includes sending a first trigger to a logistics engine to populate the first bag with the first set of items of the plurality of items;

a second function in the second set of operations includes routing the first bag to the first location;

a third function in the second set of operations includes a first tracking of the first bag to the first location;

a fourth function in the second set of operations includes transmitting the first tracking information to the logistics engine;

a fifth function in the second set of operations includes transmitting a first message to the logistics engine that the first bag is at the first location;

a sixth function in the second set of operations includes routing the first bag from the first location to the origin location;

a seventh function in the second set of operations includes a second tracking of the first bag to the origin location;

an eighth function in the second set of operations includes transmitting the second tracking information to the logistics engine;

a ninth function in the second set of operations includes transmitting a second message to the logistics engine that the first bag is at the origin location;

a tenth function in the second set of operations includes sending a second trigger to the logistics engine to begin the processing option for each item in the first set of items of the plurality of items to the logistics engine;

an eleventh function in the second set of operations includes sending a third trigger to the logistics engine to populate the second bag with the second set of items of the plurality of items; and

a twelfth function in the second set of operation includes routing the second bag to the second location; and

receiving by the logistic engine, from a second device, located at the origin location, running a third instance of the application, instructions to initiate a third set of operations, wherein;

a first function of the third set of operations includes receiving the first trigger to populate the first bag with the first set of items of the plurality of items;

a second function of the third set of operations includes initiating a first process to populate the first bag with the first set of items of the plurality of items;

a third function of the third set of operations includes receiving the first tracking information;

a fourth function of the third set of operations includes triggering a first notification to display the first tracking information on the customer device;

a fifth function of the third set of operations includes receiving the first message that the first bag is at the first location;

a sixth function of the third set of operations includes triggering a second notification to display that the first bag is at the first location, on the customer device;

a seventh function of the third set of operations includes receiving the second tracking information;

an eighth function of the third set of operations includes triggering a third notification to display the second tracking information on the customer device;

a ninth function of the third set of operations includes receiving the second message that the first bag is at the origin location;

a tenth function of the third set of operations includes receiving the second trigger to apply the process option to each item of the first set of items of the plurality of items;

an eleventh function of the third set of operations includes initiating a second process to return each item of the first set of items of the plurality of items to the storage container;

a twelfth function of the third set of operations includes initiating a third process to prepare the first bag for future use; and

a thirteenth function of the third set of operations includes receiving the third trigger to populate the second bag with the second set of items of the plurality of items.

9. The method for routing and tracking bags as recited in claim 8, wherein the first bag and the second bag are the same bag or the first bag and the second bag are different bags.

10. The method for routing and tracking bags as recited in claim 8, wherein the plurality of items are owned by a customer using the customer device.

11. The method for routing and tracking bags as recited in claim 8, wherein the plurality of items are rented from the logistics system by a customer using the customer device.

12. The method for routing and tracking bags as recited in claim 8, wherein the processing option includes, laundering, dry-cleaning, steaming, pressing, or polishing.

13. The method for routing and tracking bags as recited in claim 8, wherein one or more of the plurality of items are purchased from the logistics system by a customer using the customer device.

14. The method for routing and tracking bags as recited in claim 8, wherein the first location is a different location than the second location or the first location is the same as the second location.

15. A non-transitory, computer-readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform operations for routing and tracking bags, the operations comprising:

receiving by a customer interface, from a customer device running a first instance of an application, instructions to initiate a first set of operations, wherein;

a first function in the first set of operations is selecting a first set of items of a plurality of items, to populate a first bag, wherein the plurality of items are stored in a storage container at an origin location;

a second function in the first set of operations is selecting a first location to route the first bag from the origin location;

a third function in the first set of operations is selecting a processing option for each item in the first set of items of the plurality of items; and

a fourth function in the first set of operations is selecting a second set of items from the plurality of items to populate a second bag, wherein the second set of items from the plurality of items includes one or more items from the first set of items of the plurality of items; and

a fifth function in the first set of operations is selecting a second location to route the second bag from the origin location;

receiving by a logistic-system server, from a first device running a second instance of the application, instructions to initiate a second set of operations, wherein;

a first function in the second set of operations includes sending a first trigger to a logistics engine to populate the first bag with the first set of items of the plurality of items;

a second function in the second set of operations includes routing the first bag to the first location;

a third function in the second set of operations includes a first tracking of the first bag to the first location;

a fourth function in the second set of operations includes transmitting the first tracking information to the logistics engine;

a fifth function in the second set of operations includes transmitting a first message to the logistics engine that the first bag is at the first location;

a sixth function in the second set of operations includes routing the first bag from the first location to the origin location;

a seventh function in the second set of operations includes a second tracking of the first bag to the origin location;

an eighth function in the second set of operations includes transmitting the second tracking information to the logistics engine;

a ninth function in the second set of operations includes transmitting a second message to the logistics engine that the first bag is at the origin location;

a tenth function in the second set of operations includes sending a second trigger to the logistics engine to begin the processing option for each item in the first set of items of the plurality of items to the logistics engine;

an eleventh function in the second set of operations includes sending a third trigger to the logistics engine to populate the second bag with the second set of items of the plurality of items; and

a twelfth function in the second set of operation includes routing the second bag to the second location; and

receiving by the logistic engine, from a second device, located at the origin location, running a third instance of the application, instructions to initiate a third set of operations, wherein;

a first function of the third set of operations includes receiving the first trigger to populate the first bag with the first set of items of the plurality of items, a second function of the third set of operations includes initiating a first process to populate the first bag with the first set of items of the plurality of items;

a third function of the third set of operations includes receiving the first tracking information;

a fourth function of the third set of operations includes triggering a first notification to display the first tracking information on the customer device;

a fifth function of the third set of operations includes receiving the first message that the first bag is at the first location;

a sixth function of the third set of operations includes triggering a second notification to display that the first bag is at the first location, on the customer device;

a seventh function of the third set of operations includes receiving the second tracking information;

an eighth function of the third set of operations includes triggering a third notification to display the second tracking information on the customer device;

a ninth function of the third set of operations includes receiving the second message that the first bag is at the origin location;

a tenth function of the third set of operations includes receiving the second trigger to apply the process option to each item of the first set of items of the plurality of items;

an eleventh function of the third set of operations includes initiating a second process to return each item of the first set of items of the plurality of items to the storage container;

a twelfth function of the third set of operations includes initiating a third process to prepare the first bag for future use; and

a thirteenth function of the third set of operations includes receiving the third trigger to populate the second bag with the second set of items of the plurality of items.

16. The non-transitory, computer-readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform operations for routing and tracking bags as recited in claim 15, wherein the first bag and the second bag are the same bag or the first bag and the second bag are different bags.

17. The non-transitory, computer-readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform operations for routing and tracking bags as recited in claim 15, wherein the plurality of items are owned by a customer using the customer device.

18. The non-transitory, computer-readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform operations for routing and tracking bags as recited in claim 15, wherein the plurality of items are rented from the logistics system by a customer using the customer device.

19. The non-transitory, computer-readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform operations for routing and tracking bags as recited in claim 15, wherein the processing option includes, laundering, dry-cleaning, steaming, pressing, or polishing.

20. The non-transitory, computer-readable medium comprising instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform operations for routing and tracking bags as recited in claim 15, wherein one or more of the plurality of items are purchased from the logistics system by a customer using the customer device.