System and method for locking a carrier/container for tracking, controlling access, and providing delivery confirmation
First Claim
1. A system for tracking and controlling access to transported articles, the system comprising:
- a computing module having a database and a processor connected to the database, the computing module being in signal communication with a sending station and at least one receiving station, wherein a carrier is transported from the sending station to the at least one receiving station though tubes of a pneumatic tube delivery system, wherein the at least one receiving station comprises a receiving point for receiving the carrier, the receiving point separate from the pneumatic tube delivery system such that when the carrier is received at the receiving point other carriers may be transported through the pneumatic tube delivery system;
a first input device provided at the sending station and configured for receiving identifying information identifying the carrier (“
carrier ID”
) and an item (“
item ID”
) placed within the carrier for delivery to the at least one receiving station via the pneumatic tube delivery system, wherein the carrier ID and the item ID are transmitted to the computing module and the carrier is locked prior to delivery; and
a second input device provided at the at least one receiving station and separate from the receiving point, the second input device configured for receiving the carrier ID for the carrier received at the at least one receiving station and identifying information for an individual (“
user ID”
) at the at least one receiving station, wherein the carrier ID and the user ID are transmitted to the computing module;
wherein, after the carrier is removed from the receiving point and the carrier ID and user ID of the individual that is provided access to the item is entered into the second input device of the at least one receiving station, the computing module facilitates unlocking the carrier to allow access to the item inside, wherein the computing module is configured to record the user ID of the individual that is provided access to the item within the carrier, time of access to the item, and the associated carrier ID and item ID to provide chain of custody information for tracking the item.
4 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for tracking/controlling access to transported articles, includes a computing module in signal communication with sending and receiving stations. A first input device at the sending station receives identifying information identifying a carrier (“carrier ID”) and an item (“item ID”) placed within the locked carrier. The carrier ID and the item ID are transmitted to the computing module. A second input device at the receiving station receives the carrier ID for a carrier received at the receiving station and identifying information for an individual (“user ID”) at the receiving station provided access to the locked carrier. The carrier ID and the user ID are transmitted to the computing module, which unlocks the carrier and allows access to the item inside, and records the user ID of the individual provided access and the associated carrier ID and/or item ID to provide chain of custody information for the item.
43 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A system for tracking and controlling access to transported articles, the system comprising:
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a computing module having a database and a processor connected to the database, the computing module being in signal communication with a sending station and at least one receiving station, wherein a carrier is transported from the sending station to the at least one receiving station though tubes of a pneumatic tube delivery system, wherein the at least one receiving station comprises a receiving point for receiving the carrier, the receiving point separate from the pneumatic tube delivery system such that when the carrier is received at the receiving point other carriers may be transported through the pneumatic tube delivery system; a first input device provided at the sending station and configured for receiving identifying information identifying the carrier (“
carrier ID”
) and an item (“
item ID”
) placed within the carrier for delivery to the at least one receiving station via the pneumatic tube delivery system, wherein the carrier ID and the item ID are transmitted to the computing module and the carrier is locked prior to delivery; anda second input device provided at the at least one receiving station and separate from the receiving point, the second input device configured for receiving the carrier ID for the carrier received at the at least one receiving station and identifying information for an individual (“
user ID”
) at the at least one receiving station, wherein the carrier ID and the user ID are transmitted to the computing module;wherein, after the carrier is removed from the receiving point and the carrier ID and user ID of the individual that is provided access to the item is entered into the second input device of the at least one receiving station, the computing module facilitates unlocking the carrier to allow access to the item inside, wherein the computing module is configured to record the user ID of the individual that is provided access to the item within the carrier, time of access to the item, and the associated carrier ID and item ID to provide chain of custody information for tracking the item. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for tracking and controlling access to transported articles, the method comprising the steps of:
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receiving, by a computing module including a processor and a data storage medium, identification information for a carrier (“
carrier ID”
) and an item (“
item ID”
) placed within the carrier, the identification information sent from a first input device at a sending station;locking the carrier with the item inside; transporting the locked carrier from a sending station to a desired receiving station of at least one receiving station through tubes of a pneumatic tube delivery system, the at least one receiving station comprising a receiving point for receiving the carrier, the receiving point separate from the pneumatic tube delivery system such that when the carrier is received at the receiving point other carriers may be transported through the pneumatic tube delivery system; receiving, by the computing module, the carrier ID for the carrier received at the at least one receiving station and an individual (“
user ID”
) located at the at least one receiving station, the identification information sent from a second input device provided at the at least one receiving station and separate from the receiving point;wherein when the carrier has been delivered to the desired receiving station; authorizing that the received user ID can access the carrier; and if the user ID is authorized, unlocking the carrier; and recording the user ID of the individual that is provided access to the item within the carrier, time of access to the item, and the associated carrier ID and item ID to provide chain of custody information for tracking the item. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification