Storage concierge

• US 9,864,885 B2
• Filed: 11/01/2016
• Issued: 01/09/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/26/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dufl, LLC
• Original Assignee: Dufl, LLC
• Inventors: Rinehart, William H., McGowan, Albert J., Gordon, Michael M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Labaze, Edwyn
• Application Number:
  US15/340,876
• Publication Number:
  US 20170140183A1
• Time in Patent Office: 434 Days
• Field of Search: 235385, 235375, 235487, 705 727, 705 1424, 705 28
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06028 using bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/06037 multi-dimensional coding
• 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 7/10366 the interrogation device being adapted for miscellaneous applications
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0833 Tracking

Abstract

Embodiments are generally, and without limitation, related to devices, systems, and methods that allow one or more users to store objects, in a fixed storage in a remote storage enclosure, that the user can have shipped to themselves anywhere. More specifically, but without limitation, a user sends objects directly or indirectly from a merchandise provider, to a fixed storage provided by a storage concierge at a Unique Address assigned to the user by the storage concierge. The storage concierge tags each object with an unique code and creates an inventory of each object it receives for the user. The storage concierge processes each object and then stores the objects in the user'"'"'s fixed storage associated with the Unique Address. When the user needs one or more objects, the user requests the objects to shipped to a desired location. The storage concierge takes the objects from the fixed storage and ships them accordingly. When the user is finished using the objects, the user requests that the objects be returned to the closet. The storage concierge ships the objects to the storage enclosure, processes the objects, and returns them to the fixed storage associated with the users Unique Address.

Claims

1. A processor-based method for operating a storage concierge, the processor-based method comprising:

receiving, by an operator device, over a network, and from a user device, a request to create an account;

assigning a unique address to a user device;

creating a user account associated with the unique address;

associating a first object, wherein the first object was received from the user of the user device or the first object was received from a third party provider, with the unique address;

associating a first code with the first object and the unique address;

associating a first digital image, of the first object, with the first code;

storing the first digital image in a network available image storage device;

automatically creating a workflow to process the first object by receiving instructions at the operator device from the user device;

storing the workflow to process the first object in a network available workflow storage device;

retrieving, by the operator device and over the network, the workflow from the network available workflow storage at a first time to process the first object;

alerting the operator device that the workflow at the first time is complete; and

,

in response to the alerting, storing a second digital image, of the first object, in the network available image storage device;

receiving a first request, over the network and from the user device to deliver the first object to a first location at a delivery time;

in response to the receiving the first request;

sending, over the network, a first shipping request to a first shipper device to pick up a storage device, wherein the storage device contains the first object, at a fixed storage location, and deliver the storage device to the first location;

receiving, by the operator device and over the network, a first tracking number from the first shipper device;

sending, by the operator device and over the network, a first message to the user device, wherein the first message includes the first tracking number;

receiving, by the operator device and over the network, an electronic notification from the first shipper device that the first object is at the first location;

sending, by the operator device and over the network, a second message to the user device, wherein the second message confirms delivery of the storage device at the first location;

receiving, by the operator device and over the network, a second request, from the user device, to pick up the first object from the first location at a pick-up time;

in response to the receiving the second request;

sending, by the operator device and over the network, a second shipping request to a second shipper device to pick up the storage device from the first location and return it to the fixed storage location;

receiving, by the operator device and over the network, a second tracking number from the second shipper device;

sending, by the operator device and over the network, a third message to the user device, wherein the third message includes the second tracking number;

receiving, by the operator device and over the network, a notification from the second shipper device that the storage device is at the fixed storage location;

sending, by the operator device and over the network, a fourth message to the user device, wherein the fourth message confirms delivery of the storage device at the fixed storage location;

storing a third digital image of the first object the network available image storage device;

retrieving the workflow at a second time to process the first object;

sending, by the operator device and over the network, a second alert to the operator device that the workflow at the second time is complete;

storing a fourth digital image of the first object in the image storage after the workflow at the second time is complete; and

sending, by the operator device and over the network, the fourth digital image of the first object to the user device.

2. The processor-based method for operating a storage concierge of claim 1, wherein:

the delivery time is the next day; and

the first shipper delivers the storage device to the first location by expedited delivery.

3. The processor-based method for operating a storage concierge system of claim 1, wherein the storage device is sized to fit the first object.

4. The processor-based method for operating a storage concierge system of claim 1, further comprising:

determining the storage device will not arrive at the first location by the delivery time; and

sending a failure alert to the operator device.

5. The processor-based method for operating a storage concierge of claim 1, wherein the operator device runs a first application and the user device runs a second application, and wherein the first application is different from the second application.

6. The processor-based method for operating a fixed storage delivery system of claim 1, further comprising sending, by the operator device and over the network, a third alert, wherein the third alert indicates the workflow is complete, after the workflow is complete at the first time and/or after the workflow is complete at the second time.

7. The processor-based method for operating a storage concierge of claim 1, wherein the first code is a bar code, a QR code, or a radio frequency identification tag.

8. A system for operating a storage concierge, the system comprising:

a preference repository configured to;

store a workflow to process a first object; and

a logistics engine configured to;

assign a unique address to a user device;

create a user account associated with the unique address;

associate the first object, wherein the first object was received from the user or a third party provider, with the unique address;

associate a first code with the first object and the unique address;

associate a first digital image, of the first object, with the first code;

create, automatically, a workflow to process the first object by receiving instructions at the operator device from the user device;

retrieve the workflow at a first time to process the first object;

send a first alert to an operator device that the workflow at the first time is complete; and

receive a first request, from a user device and over the network, associated with the user account, to deliver the first object to a first location at a delivery time;

send a first request to a first shipper device to pick up a storage device wherein the storage device contains the first object, at a fixed storage location, and deliver the storage device to the first location;

receive a first tracking number from the first shipper device;

send a first message to the user device, wherein the first message includes the first tracking number and is associated with the user account;

receive a notification from the first shipper device that the first object is at the first location;

send a second message to the user device, wherein the second message confirms delivery of the storage device at the first location; and

receive a second request, from the user device associated with the user account, to pick up the first object from the first location at a pick-up time;

receive a second tracking number from the second shipper device;

send a third message to the user device, wherein the third message includes the second tracking number;

receive a notification from the second shipper device that the storage device is at the fixed storage location;

send a fourth message to the user device, wherein the fourth message confirms delivery of the storage device at the fixed storage location;

retrieve the workflow at a second time to process the first object;

send a second alert to the operator device that the workflow at the second time is complete;

send, over the network, the fourth digital image of the first object to the user device; and

an image storage device configured to;

store the first digital image of the first object after receiving the first object;

store a second digital image of the first object after the workflow at the first time is complete;

store a third digital image of the first object after delivery at the fixed storage location; and

store a fourth digital image of the first object after the workflow at the second time is complete.

9. The system for operating a storage concierge of claim 8, wherein:

the delivery time is the next day; and

the first shipper delivers the storage device to the first location by expedited delivery.

10. The system for operating a storage concierge of claim 8, wherein the storage device is sized to fit the first object.

11. The system for operating a storage concierge of claim 8, wherein the logistics engine is further configured to:

determine the storage device will not arrive at the first location by the delivery time; and

send a failure alert to the operator device.

12. The system for operating a storage concierge of claim 8, wherein the operator device runs a first application and the user device runs a second application, and wherein the first application is different from the second application.

13. The system for operating a storage concierge of claim 8, wherein the logistics engine is further configured to send a third alert after the workflow is complete at the first time or after the workflow is complete at the second time.

14. The system for operating a storage concierge of claim 8, wherein the first code is a bar code, a QR code, or a radio frequency identification tag.

15. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having sets of instructions stored thereon for operating a storage concierge which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to:

assign a unique address to a user device;

create a user account associated with the unique address;

associate a first object, wherein the first object was received from a user of the user device or the first object was received from a third party provider, with the unique address;

associate a first code with the first object and the unique address;

associate a first digital image, of the first object, with the first code;

store the first digital image in a network available image storage device;

create, automatically, a workflow to process the first object by receiving instructions at an operator device and from the user device;

store a workflow to process the first object;

retrieve a workflow at a first time to process the first object;

send a first alert to an operator device that the workflow at the first time is complete; and

store a second digital image, of the first object, in the image storage after the workflow at the first time is complete;

receive a first request, from a user device associated with the user account, to deliver the first object to a first location at a delivery time;

in response to the first request;

send a first request to a first shipper device to pick up a transitory storage, wherein the storage device contains the first object, at a fixed storage location, and deliver the storage device to the first location;

receive a first tracking number from the first shipper device;

send a first message to the user device, wherein the first message includes the first tracking number and is associated with the user account;

receive a notification from the first shipper device that the first object is at the first location;

send a second message to the user device, wherein the second message confirms delivery of the storage device at the first location;

receive a second request, from the user device associated with the user account, to pick up the first object from the first location at a pick-up time;

in response to the second request;

send a second request to a second shipper device to pick up the storage device from the first location and return it to the fixed storage location;

receive a second tracking number from the second shipper device;

send a third message to the user device, wherein the third message includes the second tracking number;

receive a notification from the second shipper device that the storage device is at the fixed storage location;

send a fourth message to the user device, wherein the fourth message confirms delivery of the storage device at the fixed storage location;

store a third digital image of the first object an image storage;

retrieve the workflow at a second time to process the first object;

send a second alert to the operator device that the workflow at the second time is complete;

store a fourth digital image of the first object in the image storage device after the workflow at the second time is complete; and

send, by the operator device and over the network, the fourth digital image of the first object to the first user device.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium having sets of instructions stored thereon for operating a storage concierge of claim 15, wherein:

the delivery time is the next day; and

the first shipper delivers the storage device to the first location by expedited delivery.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium having sets of instructions stored thereon for operating a storage concierge of claim 15, wherein the storage device is sized to fit the first object.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium having sets of instructions stored thereon for operating a storage concierge of claim 15, further comprising:

determining the storage device will not arrive at the first location by the delivery time; and

sending a failure alert to the operator device.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium having sets of instructions stored thereon for operating a storage concierge of claim 15, wherein the operator device runs a first application and the user device runs a second application, and wherein the first application is different from the second application.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium having sets of instructions stored thereon for operating a storage concierge of claim 15, wherein the first code is a bar code, a QR code, or a radio frequency identification tag.