System and method for amalgamating multiple shipping companies using reusable containers and wide area networks

• US 6,988,079 B1
• Filed: 08/21/2000
• Issued: 01/17/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Dan Kikinis, Zvi Or-Bach
• Original Assignee: Dan Kikinis, Zvi Or-Bach
• Inventors: Kikinis, Dan, Or-Bach, Zvi
• Primary Examiner(s): Trammell, James P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Greene, Daniel L.
• Application Number:
  US09/642,358
• Time in Patent Office: 1,975 Days
• Field of Search: 705/22, 705/28, 705/29, 705/1, 705/37, 340/10.1, 370/352
• US Class Current: 705/28
• 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 10/0875 Itemisation or classification of parts, supplies or services, e.g. bill of materials
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/203 Inventory monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching

Abstract

A system and method for delivering packages using a vehicle such as a truck. The packages contain RFIDs that can be electronically queried when the truck is at a destination. A computer communicates to the driver which packages are to be provided at the destination, and the RFIDs can be electronically queried so that the driver can identify those packages. The truck can have an RFID affixed thereto, so that when the driver arrives at the destination, a computer system is informed and can communicate said instructions to the driver. The instructions can be generated using a data base at a remote location coupled to a system within the truck (or within the destination).

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a delivery vehicle;

a set of packages within said vehicle, said packages having a signal responsive tag;

a transmitter for querying one of the signal responsive tags within said vehicle to thereby locate the package corresponding to said signal responsive tag, said signal responsive tag emitting a signal in response to said querying; and

at least one light beam source for pointing to said package with a light beam, the direction of said light beam being in response to said signal.

2. A system comprising:

a delivery vehicle;

a set of packages within said vehicle, said packages having at least one signal responsive tag;

a transmitter for querying one of the tags within said vehicle to thereby locate the package corresponding to said tag, said tag generating a signal in response to said querying; and

at least one light beam source for identifying a package corresponding to said queried tag by pointing toward said package in a direction responsive to said signal generated by said tag.

3. Method for locating a package within a vehicle comprising:

providing a signal for querying a signal responsive tag, said tag being within or affixed to said package within said vehicle;

receiving a reply signal from said tag;

determining the location of the tag in response to the reply signal and indicating the location of the tag using one or more light beams for pointing toward the tag, the direction of said light beams being responsive to said reply signal.

4. Method of claim 3 wherein said tag is an RFID.

5. A system comprising:

a set of objects, said objects having a signal responsive tag;

a transmitter for querying one of the tags to thereby locate the object corresponding to said tag, said tag generating a signal in response to said querying; and

at least one light beam source for identifying said object corresponding to said queried tag by pointing toward said object in a direction responsive to said signal generated by said tag.

6. System of claim 5 wherein said tags are RFIDs.

7. Method for locating an object comprising:

providing an object, said object having a signal responsive tag;

providing a signal for querying said signal responsive tag;

receiving a reply signal from said tag; and

determining the location of the tag in response to the reply signal and indicating the location of the tag using one or more light beams, said one or more light beams pointing toward the object corresponding to said queried tag in a direction responsive to said reply signal.

8. Method of claim 7 wherein said tag is an RFID.