Method and system for providing shipment tracking and notifications
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An apparatus for tracking shipment of a plurality of packages, said apparatus comprising:
- a storage device to store at least computer program code; and
at least one processor to perform at least some of the stored computer program code, the at least one processor performing at least some of the stored computer program code to track shipment of the plurality of packages, the stored computer program code comprises;
computer program code for receiving status information associated with a package during shipment, the status information being provided by a mobile electronic device in or attached to the package, the status information including at least position information and environmental information, and the environmental information being related to environmental conditions of or around the package being shipped;
computer program code for determining whether a notification condition pertaining to the package exists based on the status information and at least one notification criterion;
computer program code for producing a notification message when the notification condition exists; and
computer program code for initiating electronically sending the notification message to an interested user,wherein the notification condition is determined to exist if the environmental information includes at least one environmental condition that exceeds a predetermined threshold, andwherein the mobile electronic device is configured to induce or influence activation of a mechanical system dependent at least in part on the status information, the mechanical system being at the mobile electronic device.
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Abstract
Improved approaches for monitoring status of articles being shipped are disclosed. The monitoring can produce notifications to interested parties. The notifications typically contain status information pertaining to the articles being shipped. Alternatively, interested parties can gain access to status information pertaining to the articles being shipped via a website. According to one embodiment, the status information includes at least position (location) information and shipping conditions information.
432 Citations
54 Claims
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1. An apparatus for tracking shipment of a plurality of packages, said apparatus comprising:
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a storage device to store at least computer program code; and at least one processor to perform at least some of the stored computer program code, the at least one processor performing at least some of the stored computer program code to track shipment of the plurality of packages, the stored computer program code comprises; computer program code for receiving status information associated with a package during shipment, the status information being provided by a mobile electronic device in or attached to the package, the status information including at least position information and environmental information, and the environmental information being related to environmental conditions of or around the package being shipped; computer program code for determining whether a notification condition pertaining to the package exists based on the status information and at least one notification criterion; computer program code for producing a notification message when the notification condition exists; and computer program code for initiating electronically sending the notification message to an interested user, wherein the notification condition is determined to exist if the environmental information includes at least one environmental condition that exceeds a predetermined threshold, and wherein the mobile electronic device is configured to induce or influence activation of a mechanical system dependent at least in part on the status information, the mechanical system being at the mobile electronic device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. An apparatus for tracking shipment of one or more packages, said apparatus comprising:
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a storage device to store at least computer program code; and at least one processor to perform at least some of the stored computer program code, the at least one processor performing at least some of the stored computer program code to track shipment of a package, the stored computer program code comprises; computer program code for receiving status information associated with the package during shipment, the status information being provided by status monitoring electronic circuitry provided proximate to the package during shipment of the package, the status information including at least position information and shipping condition information, and the shipping condition information being related to conditions of or around the package being shipped; computer program code for determining whether a notification condition pertaining to the package exists based on the status information; computer program code for producing a notification message when the notification condition is determined to exist; and computer program code for initiating electronically sending the notification message that has been produced to an interested user, wherein the notification condition is determined to exist at least if the shipping condition information indicates that at least one condition exceeds a predetermined threshold, and wherein the status monitoring electronic circuitry is configured to induce or influence activation of a mechanical system dependent at least in part on the status information, the mechanical system being coupled to the status monitoring electronic circuitry at least during shipment of the package. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49)
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50. A method for tracking shipment of one or more packages, the method comprising:
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receiving status information associated with a package during shipment, the status information being provided by status monitoring electronic circuitry provided proximate to the package during shipment of the package, the status information including at least position information and shipping condition information, and the shipping condition information being related to conditions of or around the package being shipped; determining whether a notification condition pertaining to the package exists based on the status information, the notification condition being determined to exist at least if the shipping condition information indicates that at least one condition exceeds a predetermined threshold; producing a notification message when the notification condition is determined to exist; initiating electronically sending the notification message that has been produced to an interested user; and activating, via the status monitoring electronic circuitry, a mechanical system that is coupled to the status monitoring electronic circuitry at least during shipment of the package, the activating being dependent on at least in part on the status information. - View Dependent Claims (51, 52, 53, 54)
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Specification