Computerized recording and notification of the delivery and pickup of retail goods
First Claim
1. A method for logging the transfer of a retail good, the method performed with respect to a signal-transmitting receptacle, the receptacle having a lid, the method comprising the steps of:
- (a) purchasing from a seller the retail good by a consumer via a telecommunications means;
(b) driving a delivery vehicle by a delivery carrier to the signal-transmitting receptacle;
(c) gaining access to the signal-transmitting receptacle by the delivery carrier using a delivery wireless key;
(d) opening the lid of the receptacle by the delivery carrier;
(e) transmitting a first wireless signal from the signal-transmitting receptacle via a wireless link;
(f) placing the retail good in the signal-transmitting receptacle by the delivery carrier;
(g) closing the lid of the signal-transmitting receptacle by the delivery carrier, defining a transfer;
(h) transmitting a second wireless signal from the signal-transmitting receptacle via a wireless link;
(i) receiving the second wireless signal by a first transmission node, said transmission node comprising a central processing unit and an antenna;
(j) noting by the central processing unit a plurality of data comprising a date and a time associated with the received second wireless signal;
(k) transmitting the plurality of data through a communicative means from the central processing unit to a central server;
(l) notifying the consumer of the transfer from the central server by an electronic message;
(m) gaining access to the signal-transmitting receptacle with a user wireless key by the consumer;
(n) opening the lid of the receptacle by the consumer;
(o) transmitting a third wireless signal from the signal-transmitting receptacle via the wireless link;
(p) removing the retail good from the signal-transmitting receptacle by the consumer;
(q) closing the lid of the signal-transmitting receptacle by the consumer;
(r) transmitting a fourth wireless signal from the signal-transmitting receptacle via the wireless link;
(s) inspecting the retail good by the consumer;
(t) informing the seller the consumer desires the retail good to be returned to the seller;
(u) gaining access to the signal-transmitting receptacle with the user wireless key by the consumer;
(v) opening the lid of the receptacle by the consumer;
(w) transmitting a fifth wireless signal from the signal-transmitting receptacle via the wireless link;
(x) placing the retail good in the signal-transmitting receptacle by the consumer;
(y) closing the lid of the signal-transmitting receptacle by the consumer;
(z) transmitting a sixth wireless signal from the signal-transmitting receptacle via the wireless link;
(aa) driving the delivery vehicle by the delivery carder to the signal-transmitting receptacle used by the consumer;
(bb) gaining access to the signal-transmitting receptacle by the delivery carrier using the delivery wireless key;
(cc) opening the lid of the receptacle by the delivery carrier;
(dd) transmitting a seventh wireless signal from the signal-transmitting receptacle via the wireless link;
(ee) removing the retail good in the signal-transmitting receptacle by the delivery carrier;
(ff) closing the signal-transmitting receptacle by the delivery carrier;
(gg) transmitting an eighth wireless signal from the signal-transmitting receptacle via the wireless link;
(hh) receiving the eighth wireless signal by the transmission node on the delivery truck;
(ii) confirming by the central processing unit on the delivery truck the plurality of data comprising the date and the time of the transfer of the retail good;
(jj) transmitting the plurality of data through the second signal from the central processing unit to the central server.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Openings and closings of a secured storage receptacle (60) are logged to record the transfer of items. The system gains access to a signal-transmitting receptacle; transmits a first confirmation signal to a mobile transmission node (61); processes the first confirmation signal at the mobile transmission node (61); transmits a second confirmation signal to a central server (64); and notifies a consumer of the delivery with an electronic message (66). This process allows the transfer of items by a delivery confirmation signals to be received from the signal-transmitting receptable (60). The signal transmitted from the signal-transmitting receptable (60) is coupled to the opening and closing of the storage box.
110 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method for logging the transfer of a retail good, the method performed with respect to a signal-transmitting receptacle, the receptacle having a lid, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) purchasing from a seller the retail good by a consumer via a telecommunications means;
(b) driving a delivery vehicle by a delivery carrier to the signal-transmitting receptacle;
(c) gaining access to the signal-transmitting receptacle by the delivery carrier using a delivery wireless key;
(d) opening the lid of the receptacle by the delivery carrier;
(e) transmitting a first wireless signal from the signal-transmitting receptacle via a wireless link;
(f) placing the retail good in the signal-transmitting receptacle by the delivery carrier;
(g) closing the lid of the signal-transmitting receptacle by the delivery carrier, defining a transfer;
(h) transmitting a second wireless signal from the signal-transmitting receptacle via a wireless link;
(i) receiving the second wireless signal by a first transmission node, said transmission node comprising a central processing unit and an antenna;
(j) noting by the central processing unit a plurality of data comprising a date and a time associated with the received second wireless signal;
(k) transmitting the plurality of data through a communicative means from the central processing unit to a central server;
(l) notifying the consumer of the transfer from the central server by an electronic message;
(m) gaining access to the signal-transmitting receptacle with a user wireless key by the consumer;
(n) opening the lid of the receptacle by the consumer;
(o) transmitting a third wireless signal from the signal-transmitting receptacle via the wireless link;
(p) removing the retail good from the signal-transmitting receptacle by the consumer;
(q) closing the lid of the signal-transmitting receptacle by the consumer;
(r) transmitting a fourth wireless signal from the signal-transmitting receptacle via the wireless link;
(s) inspecting the retail good by the consumer;
(t) informing the seller the consumer desires the retail good to be returned to the seller;
(u) gaining access to the signal-transmitting receptacle with the user wireless key by the consumer;
(v) opening the lid of the receptacle by the consumer;
(w) transmitting a fifth wireless signal from the signal-transmitting receptacle via the wireless link;
(x) placing the retail good in the signal-transmitting receptacle by the consumer;
(y) closing the lid of the signal-transmitting receptacle by the consumer;
(z) transmitting a sixth wireless signal from the signal-transmitting receptacle via the wireless link;
(aa) driving the delivery vehicle by the delivery carder to the signal-transmitting receptacle used by the consumer;
(bb) gaining access to the signal-transmitting receptacle by the delivery carrier using the delivery wireless key;
(cc) opening the lid of the receptacle by the delivery carrier;
(dd) transmitting a seventh wireless signal from the signal-transmitting receptacle via the wireless link;
(ee) removing the retail good in the signal-transmitting receptacle by the delivery carrier;
(ff) closing the signal-transmitting receptacle by the delivery carrier;
(gg) transmitting an eighth wireless signal from the signal-transmitting receptacle via the wireless link;
(hh) receiving the eighth wireless signal by the transmission node on the delivery truck;
(ii) confirming by the central processing unit on the delivery truck the plurality of data comprising the date and the time of the transfer of the retail good;
(jj) transmitting the plurality of data through the second signal from the central processing unit to the central server. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A computerized package transfer system for logging a transfer of a retail good, the computerized package transfer system comprising:
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(a) a signal-transmitting receptacle comprising a secured package container for protecting the transfer of a retail good;
(b) a central server;
(c) a wireless transmission path from the signal-transmitting receptacle to the central server for transmitting a transfer confirmation signal from the signal-transmitting receptacle to the central server; and
(d) a computer network system communicatively coupled to the central server, the network system comprising notification means;
wherein the wireless transmission path comprises;
(a) A first transmit path originating from the two-way wireless link;
(b) A first transmission node, said node positioned at a receiving end of the first transmit path; and
(c) A second transmit path originating from the first transmission node and ending at the central server. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A method for logging a transfer of a retail product, comprising the steps of:
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(a) gaining access to a signal-transmitting receptacle by a delivery carrier using a wireless key;
(b) placing the retail good in the signal-transmitting receptacle by the delivery carrier;
(c) closing the signal-transmitting receptacle by the delivery carrier;
(d) transmitting a first wireless signal from the signal-transmitting receptacle via a two-way wireless link;
(e) receiving the first wireless signal by a transmission node on a delivery truck;
(f) confirming by a central processing unit on the delivery truck a plurality of data comprising a date and a time of a transfer of the retail good;
(g) transmitting the plurality of data through a second wireless signal from the delivery truck to a central server; and
(h) notifying the consumer of the transfer from the central server.
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16. A method for logging a transfer of a retail good, comprising the steps of:
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(a) purchasing from a seller a service associated with the retail good by a consumer via a telecommunications means;
(b) gaining access to a signal-transmitting receptacle used by the customer with a user wireless key by the consumer;
(c) placing the retail good in the signal-transmitting receptacle by the consumer;
(d) closing the signal-transmitting receptacle by the consumer;
(e) driving a delivery vehicle by a delivery carrier to the signal-transmitting receptacle used by the consumer;
(f) gaining access to the signal-transmitting receptacle by the delivery carrier using a delivery wireless key;
(g) removing the retail good in the signal-transmitting receptacle by the delivery carrier;
(h) closing the signal-transmitting receptacle by the delivery carrier;
(i) transmitting a first wireless signal from the signal-transmitting receptacle via a two-way wireless link;
(j) receiving the first wireless signal by a transmission node on the delivery truck;
(k) confirming by the central processing unit on the delivery truck a plurality of data comprising a date and a time of a transfer of the retail good;
(l) transmitting the plurality of data through a second wireless signal from the delivery truck to a central server;
(m) notifying the consumer of the transfer from the central server by an electronic message;
(n) performing an act comprising the service upon the retail good by the seller;
(o) driving the delivery vehicle by the delivery carrier to the signal-transmitting receptacle used by the consumer;
(p) gaining access to the signal-transmitting receptacle by the delivery carrier using the delivery wireless key;
(q) placing the retail good in the signal-transmitting receptacle by the delivery carrier;
(r) closing the signal-transmitting receptacle by the delivery carrier;
(s) transmitting a third wireless signal from the signal-transmitting receptacle via the two-way wireless link;
(t) receiving the third wireless signal by the transmission node on the delivery truck;
(u) confirming by the central processing unit on the delivery truck the plurality of data comprising the date and the time of the transfer of the retail good;
(v) transmitting the plurality of data through a fourth wireless signal from the delivery truck to the central server;
(w) notifying the consumer of the transfer from the central server by an electronic message;
(x) gaining access to the signal-transmitting receptacle with the user wireless key by the consumer;
(y) removing the retail good from the signal-transmitting receptacle by the consumer; and
(z) closing the signal-transmitting receptacle by the consumer. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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18. A method for logging the transfer of a retail good, the method performed with respect to a signal-transmitting receptacle, the receptacle having a lid, the method comprising the steps of:
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(a) purchasing from a seller the retail good by a consumer via a telecommunications means;
(b) driving a delivery vehicle by a delivery carrier to the signal-transmitting receptacle;
(c) gaining access to the signal-transmitting receptacle by the delivery carrier using a delivery wireless key;
(d) opening the lid of the receptacle by the delivery carrier;
(e) in response to the opening of the lid, transmitting a first wireless signal from the signal-transmitting receptacle via a wireless link;
(f) placing the retail good in the signal-transmitting receptacle by the delivery carrier;
(g) closing the lid of the signal-transmitting receptacle by the delivery carrier, defining a transfer;
(h) in response to the closing of the lid, transmitting a second wireless signal from the signal-transmitting receptacle via a wireless link;
(i) receiving the second wireless signal by a first transmission node, said transmission node comprising a central processing unit and an antenna;
(j) noting by the central processing unit a plurality of data comprising a date and a time associated with the received second wireless signal;
(k) transmitting the plurality of data through a communicative means from the central processing unit to a central server;
(l) notifying the consumer of the transfer from the central server by an electronic message;
(m) gaining access to the signal-transmitting receptacle with a user wireless key by the consumer;
(n) opening the lid of the receptacle by the consumer;
(o) in response to the opening of the lid, transmitting a third wireless signal from the signal-transmitting receptacle via the wireless link;
(p) removing the retail good from the signal-transmitting receptacle by the consumer;
(q) closing the lid of the signal-transmitting receptacle by the consumer;
(r) in response to the closing of the lid, transmitting a fourth wireless signal from the signal-transmitting receptacle via the wireless link;
(s) inspecting the retail good by the consumer;
(t) informing the seller the consumer desires the retail good to be returned to the seller;
(u) gaining access to the signal-transmitting receptacle with the user wireless key by the consumer;
(v) opening the lid of the receptacle by the consumer;
(w) in response to the opening of the lid, transmitting a fifth wireless signal from the signal-transmitting receptacle via the wireless link;
(x) placing the retail good in the signal-transmitting receptacle by the consumer;
(y) closing the lid of the signal-transmitting receptacle by the consumer;
(z) in response to the closing of the lid, transmitting a sixth wireless signal from the signal-transmitting receptacle via the wireless link;
(aa) driving the delivery vehicle by the delivery carrier to the signal-transmitting receptacle used by the consumer;
(bb) gaining access to the signal-transmitting receptacle by the delivery carrier using the delivery wireless key;
(cc) opening the lid of the receptacle by the delivery carrier;
(dd) in response to the opening of the lid, transmitting a seventh wireless signal from the signal-transmitting receptacle via the wireless link;
(ee) removing the retail good in the signal-transmitting receptacle by the delivery carrier;
(ff) closing the signal-transmitting receptacle by the delivery carrier;
(gg) in response to the closing of the lid, transmitting an eighth wireless signal from the signal-transmitting receptacle via the wireless link;
(hh) receiving the eighth wireless signal by the transmission node on the delivery truck;
(ii) confirming by the central processing unit on the delivery truck the plurality of data comprising the date and the time of the transfer of the retail good;
(jj) transmitting the plurality of data through the second signal from the central processing unit to the central server.
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19. A method for logging a transfer of a retail good, comprising the steps of:
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(a) purchasing from a seller a service associated with the retail good by a consumer via a telecommunications means;
(b) gaining access to a signal-transmitting receptacle used by the customer with a user wireless key by the consumer;
(c) placing the retail good in the signal-transmitting receptacle by the consumer;
(d) closing the signal-transmitting receptacle by the consumer;
(e) driving a delivery vehicle by a delivery carrier to the signal-transmitting receptacle used by the consumer;
(f) gaining access to the signal-transmitting receptacle by the delivery carrier using a delivery wireless key;
(g) removing the retail good in the signal-transmitting receptacle by the delivery carrier;
(h) closing the signal-transmitting receptacle by the delivery carrier;
(i) in response to the closing of the signal-transmitting receptacle, transmitting a first wireless signal from the signal-transmitting receptacle via a two-way wireless link;
(j) receiving the first wireless signal by a transmission node on the delivery truck;
(k) confirming by the central processing unit on the delivery truck a plurality of data comprising a date and a time of a transfer of the retail good;
(l) transmitting the plurality of data through a second wireless signal from the delivery truck to a central server;
(m) notifying the consumer of the transfer from the central server by an electronic message;
(n) performing an act comprising the service upon the retail good by the seller;
(o) driving the delivery vehicle by the delivery carrier to the signal-transmitting receptacle used by the consumer;
(p) gaining access to the signal-transmitting receptacle by the delivery carrier using the delivery wireless key;
(q) placing the retail good in the signal-transmitting receptacle by the delivery carrier;
(r) closing the signal-transmitting receptacle by the delivery carrier;
(s) in response to the closing of the signal-transmitting receptacle, transmitting a third wireless signal from the signal-transmitting receptacle via the two-way wireless link;
(t) receiving the third wireless signal by the transmission node on the delivery truck;
(u) confirming by the central processing unit on the delivery truck the plurality of data comprising the date and the time of the transfer of the retail good;
(v) transmitting the plurality of data through a fourth wireless signal from the delivery truck to the central server;
(w) notifying the consumer of the transfer from the central server by an electronic message;
(x) gaining access to the signal-transmitting receptacle with the user wireless key by the consumer;
(y) removing the retail good from the signal-transmitting receptacle by the consumer; and
(z) closing the signal-transmitting receptacle by the consumer.
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Specification