Integrated circuit package label and/or manifest system

• US 5,153,842 A
• Filed: 02/05/1990
• Issued: 10/06/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Pitney Bowes Incorporated World Headquarters Stamford CT
• Original Assignee: Pitney Bowes Incorporated (Böwe Systec AG)
• Inventors: Chen, Robert, Dlugos, Daniel F. Sr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ruggiero, Joseph
• Application Number:
  US07/474,872
• Time in Patent Office: 974 Days
• Field of Search: 364/478, 364/468, 364/408, 364/401-403, 364/464.01-464.03, 235/380, 235/379, 235/375, 235/385
• US Class Current: 700/227
• CPC Class Codes: B07C 3/12 using electric or electronic detecting means B07C3/14 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 1/18 by transferring data from one type of record carrier on to another type of record carrier, e.g. from magnetic tape to punched card
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0723 the record carrier comprising an arrangement for non-contact communication, e.g. wireless communication circuits on transponder cards, non-contact smart cards or RFIDs
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0728 the arrangement being an optical or sound-based communication interface
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07703 the interface being visual
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07749 the record carrier being capable of non-contact communication, e.g. constructional details of the antenna of a non-contact smart card
• 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 19/08 using markings of different kinds or more than one marking of the same kind in the same record carrier, e.g. one marking being sensed by optical and the other by magnetic means
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/1095 the scanner comprising adaptations for scanning a record carrier that is displayed on a display-screen or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 17/00508 Printing or attaching on mailpieces printing mechanisms B41J; security printing B41M3/14; marking methods B41M5/00; inks C09D11/00; record carriers with at least a part designed to carry digital markings G06K19/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00298 Visual, e.g. screens and their layouts
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00403 Memory zones protected from unauthorized reading or writing
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00588 Barcode
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00629 Circuit, e.g. transponder
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00701 Measuring the weight of mailpieces
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00717 Reading barcodes

Abstract

An integrated circuit card includes a microprocessor, a memory and input and output devices. The card stores information regarding a parcel. The card is secured to the parcel and serves as a label. The card includes a liquid crystal display that displays a bar code.

A similar integrated circuit card stores manifest data regarding a group of parcels. The card containing the manifest data is delivered to a carrier together with the group of parcels.

Claims

1. A method of placing an order for an item and of fulfilling said order, comprising the steps of:

(a) inputting item ordering information into an integrated circuit card;

(b) sending said card containing said input item ordering information to a supplier of said item;

(c) reading said input item ordering information from said card;

(d) packing said item into a parcel for shipment;

(e) inputting parcel information into said card;

(f) securing said card to said parcel;

(g) transporting said parcel with said secured card; and

(h) reading from said card said input parcel information.

2. A method of transporting a parcel together with parcel information regarding said parcel, comprising the steps of:

(a) securing an integrated circuit card to said parcel;

(b) inputting said parcel information into said integrated circuit card; and

(c) transporting said parcel together with said secured integrated circuit card, after said parcel information has been input into said card; and

,

(d) delivering said parcel to a recipient, inputting delivery information into said card, removing said card from said parcel, and returning said card to the sender of said parcel, said card functioning as a return receipt evidencing delivery of said parcel to said recipient.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of securing said card to said parcel precedes the step of inputting said parcel information into the card.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of inputting said parcel information into said card precedes the step of securing said card to said parcel.

5. A method of transporting a parcel together with parcel information regarding said parcel, comprising the steps of:

(a) securing an integrated circuit card to said parcel;

(b) inputting said parcel information into said integrated circuit card;

(c) transporting said parcel together with said secured integrated circuit card, after said parcel information has been input into said card;

(d) reading said input parcel information; and

,

(e) removing said card from said parcel, securing said card to a second parcel, inputting into said card parcel information regarding said second parcel, and transporting said second parcel together with said secured integrated circuit card.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the step of securing said card to said parcel precedes the step of inputting said parcel information into the card.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the step of inputting said parcel information into said card precedes the step of securing said card to said parcel.

8. The method of claim 5, further comprising the step of controlling parcel sorting equipment to sort said parcel in accordance with said read parcel information.