Freight tracking and control system

• US 20040199285A1
• Filed: 01/12/2004
• Published: 10/07/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Descartes Systems Group Incorporated
• Original Assignee: The Descartes Systems Group Incorporated
• Inventors: Pfeifer, Lance T., Berichon, Jeffrey, OʼFlaherty, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 9,105,003 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/225
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9554 by using bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• 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: G06Q 20/203 Inventory monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0635 Processing of requisition or of purchase orders

Abstract

An electronic system for managing items in a supply chain. The system generally includes item information capturing means, such as a handheld device, adapted for capturing identification information associated with an item identified for supply chain management; mode specifying means adapted for receiving user input representative of a selection of at least one of a plurality of capturing modes, wherein each capturing mode is adapted for creating associated information by associating the captured item information with supply chain information; and transferring means adapted for transferring the associated information to an electronic storage device.

Claims

1. An electronic system for managing items in a supply chain comprising:

item information capturing means adapted for capturing identification information associated with an item identified for supply chain management;

mode specifying means adapted for receiving user input representative of a selection of at least one of a plurality of capturing modes, wherein each capturing mode is adapted for creating associated information by associating the captured item information with supply chain information; and

communicating means adapted for communicating the associated information to an associated data storage device.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of capturing modes includes at least one of a consolidation stage, a grid area stage, a loading vehicle stage, a delivery stage and a pick up stage.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the consolidation stage mode is adapted for associating the captured item information with supply chain information comprising at least one of a pallet identification with which the item has been associated, a time of capture information, a date of capture information, and item classification information.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the grid area stage mode is adapted for associating the captured item information with supply chain information comprising at least one of a grid identification with which the item has been associated, a time of capture information, and a date of capture information.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein the loading vehicle stage mode is adapted for associating the captured item information with supply chain information comprising at least one of a vehicle identification, wherein the vehicle has been identified for transporting the item, a time of capture information, a date of capture information, and a delivery destination.

6. The system of claim 2, wherein the delivery stage mode is adapted for associating the captured item information with supply chain information comprising at least one of a time of capture information, a date of capture information, item damage information, and item refusal information.

7. The system of claim 2, wherein the pick up stage mode is adapted for associating the captured item information with supply chain information comprising at least one of a time of capture information, a date of capture information, an item recipient identity, item damage information, and item refusal information.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the communicating means comprises at least one of a physical connection to the data storage device, a wireless connection to the data storage device, a BlueTooth™

connection to the data storage device and a 802.11 connection to the storage device.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the data storage device is adapted to be accessed through an Internet connection.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the data storage device comprises means adapted for formatting the associated information in accordance with an input user request.

11. A method for managing items in a supply chain comprising:

capturing identification information associated with an item identified for supply chain management;

receiving user input representative of a selection of at least one of a plurality of capturing modes, wherein each capturing mode is adapted for creating associated information by associating the captured item information with supply chain information; and

communicating the associated information to an associated data storage device.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the plurality of capturing modes comprises at least one of a consolidation stage, a grid area stage, a loading vehicle stage, a delivery stage and a pick up stage.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the consolidation stage mode is adapted for associating the captured item information with supply chain information comprising at least one of a pallet identification with which the item has been associated, a time of capture information, a date of capture information, and item classification information.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the grid area stage mode is adapted for associating the captured item information with supply chain information comprising at least one of a grid identification with which the item has been associated, a time of capture information, and a date of capture information.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the loading vehicle stage mode is adapted for associating the captured item information with supply chain information comprising at least one of a vehicle identification, wherein the vehicle has been identified for transporting the item, a time of capture information, a date of capture information, and a delivery destination.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the delivery stage mode is adapted for associating the captured item information with supply chain information comprising at least one of a time of capture information, a date of capture information, item damage information, and item refusal information.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein the pick up stage mode is adapted for associating the captured item information with supply chain information comprising at least one of a time of capture information, a date of capture information, an item recipient identity, item damage information, and item refusal information.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein the communicating means comprises at least one of a physical connection to the data storage device, a wireless connection to the data storage device, a BlueTooth™

connection to the data storage device and a 802.11 connection to the storage device.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein the data storage device is adapted to be accessed through an Internet connection.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the data storage device comprises means adapted for formatting the associated information in accordance with an input user request.

21. A computer readable medium of instructions for managing items in a supply chain comprising:

item information capturing means adapted for capturing identification information associated with an item identified for supply chain management;

mode specifying means adapted for receiving user input representative of a selection of at least one of a plurality of capturing modes, wherein each capturing mode is adapted for creating associated information by associating the captured item information with supply chain information; and

communicating means adapted for communicating the associated information to an data storage device.

22. The medium of claim 21, wherein the plurality of capturing modes comprises at least one of a consolidation stage, a grid area stage, a loading vehicle stage, a delivery stage and a pick up stage.

23. The medium of claim 22, wherein the consolidation stage mode is adapted for associating the captured item information with supply chain information comprising at least one of a pallet identification with which the item has been associated, a time of capture information, a date of capture information, and item classification information.

24. The medium of claim 22, wherein the grid area stage mode is adapted for associating the captured item information with supply chain information comprising at least one of a grid identification with which the item has been associated, a time of capture information, and a date of capture information.

25. The medium of claim 22, wherein the loading vehicle stage mode is adapted for associating the captured item information with supply chain information comprising at least one of a vehicle identification, wherein the vehicle has been identified for transporting the item, a time of capture information, a date of capture information, and a delivery destination.

26. The medium of claim 22, wherein the delivery stage mode is adapted for associating the captured item information with supply chain information comprising at least one of a time of capture information, a date of capture information, item damage information, and item refusal information.

27. The medium of claim 22, wherein the pick up stage mode is adapted for associating the captured item information with supply chain information comprising at least one of a time of capture information, a date of capture information, an item recipient identity, item damage information, and item refusal information.

28. The medium of claim 21, wherein the communicating means comprises at least one of a physical connection to the data storage device, a wireless connection to the data storage device, a BlueTooth™

connection to the data storage device and a 802.11 connection to the storage device.

29. The medium of claim 21, wherein the data storage device is adapted to be accessed through an Internet connection.

30. The medium of claim 29, wherein the data storage device comprises means adapted for formatting the associated information in accordance with an input user request.

31. A computer implemented method for managing items in a supply chain comprising:

capturing identification information associated with an item identified for supply chain management;

receiving user input representative of a selection of at least one of a plurality of capturing modes, wherein each capturing mode is adapted for creating associated information by associating the captured item information with supply chain information; and

communicating the associated information to an data storage device.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the plurality of capturing modes comprises at least one of a consolidation stage, a grid area stage, a loading vehicle stage, a delivery stage and a pick up stage.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the consolidation stage mode is adapted for associating the captured item information with supply chain information comprising at least one of a pallet identification with which the item has been associated, a time of capture information, a date of capture information, and item classification information.

34. The method of claim 32, wherein the grid area stage mode is adapted for associating the captured item information with supply chain information comprising at least one of a grid identification with which the item has been associated, a time of capture information, and a date of capture information.

35. The method of claim 32, wherein the loading vehicle stage mode is adapted for associating the captured item information with supply chain information comprising at least one of a vehicle identification, wherein the vehicle has been identified for transporting the item, a time of capture information, a date of capture information, and a delivery destination.

36. The method of claim 32, wherein the delivery stage mode is adapted for associating the captured item information with supply chain information comprising at least one of a time of capture information, a date of capture information, item damage information, and item refusal information.

37. The method of claim 32, wherein the pick up stage mode is adapted for associating the captured item information with supply chain information comprising at least one of a time of capture information, a date of capture information, an item recipient identity, item damage information, and item refusal information.

38. The method of claim 32, wherein the communicating means comprises at least one of a physical connection to the data storage device, a wireless connection to the data storage device, a BlueTooth™

connection to the data storage device and a 802.11 connection to the storage device.

39. The method of claim 31, wherein the data storage device is adapted to be accessed through an Internet connection.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein the data storage device comprises means adapted for formatting the associated information in accordance with an input user request.