Transfer verification products and methods

• US 7,191,942 B2
• Filed: 08/12/2003
• Issued: 03/20/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Larry Aptekar
• Original Assignee: Larry Aptekar
• Inventors: Aptekar, Larry
• Primary Examiner(s): Caputo; Lisa M.
• Application Number:
  US10/639,370
• Publication Number:
  US 20040149823A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,316 Days
• Field of Search: 235/385, 235/470, 705/22, 705/28
• US Class Current: 235/385
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0875 Itemisation or classification of parts, supplies or services, e.g. bill of materials
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management

Abstract

A documentation product and methods for using the product to check a shipment and take responsibility for a shipment are included. The documentation product includes a transfer document that corresponds to a shipment. The transfer document includes identification of a carrier, identification of a destination, and identification of an image. The identified image depicts the shipment. The identified image can be compared with a received shipment such that discrepancies can be determined. The transfer document can also be acknowledged as corresponding to the shipment depicted at least in part by the image.

Claims

1. A method of comparing a container to a container imaging product comprising:

receiving a plurality of visible light images of a container which has six sides each of which is substantially rectangular, wherein a first image of the plurality of visible light images is of a first view of the container and includes a first symbol marked on a side of the container without physical damage and not a second different symbol;

wherein a second image of the plurality of visible light images is of a second view of the container and includes the second symbol marked on a side of the container without physical damage and not the first symbol;

wherein five or more sides of the container are visible in the images; and

wherein at least one of the images depicts at least one substantially complete side of the container; and

comparing the images of the sides marked with the first and second symbols to the container'"'"'s sides marked by those same symbols to ascertain if tampering with the contents of the container has occurred,

wherein the images shows that the first symbol is applied directly to the surface of the container without a label.

2. A method of comparing a container to a container imaging product comprising:

receiving a plurality of visible light images of a container which has six sides each of which is substantially rectangular, wherein a first image of the plurality of visible light images is of a first view of the container and includes a first symbol marked on a side of the container without physical damage and not a second different symbol;

wherein a second image of the plurality of visible light images is of a second view of the container and includes the second symbol marked on a side of the container without physical damage and not the first symbol;

wherein five or more sides of the container are visible in the images; and

wherein at least one of the images depicts at least one substantially complete side of the container; and

comparing the images of the sides marked with the first and second symbols to the container'"'"'s sides marked by those same symbols to ascertain if tampering with the contents of the container has occurred,

wherein the image shows that the first symbol is printed directly onto the container.

3. A method of comparing a container to a container imaging product comprising:

receiving a plurality of visible light images of a container which has six sides each of which is substantially rectangular, wherein a first image of the plurality of visible light images is of a first view of the container and includes a first symbol marked on a side of the container without physical damage and not a second different symbol;

wherein a second image of the plurality of visible light images is of a second view of the container and includes the second symbol marked on a side of the container without physical damage and not the first symbol;

wherein five or more sides of the container are visible in the images; and

wherein at least one of the images depicts at least one substantially complete side of the container; and

comparing the images of the sides marked with the first and second symbols to the container'"'"'s sides marked by those same symbols to ascertain if tampering with the contents of the container has occurred,

further comprising the step of receiving a plurality of images of a second container which only has six sides which are substantially rectangular wherein an image of a first view of the second container includes a first symbol and not a second different symbol; and

an image of a second view of the second container, the second view includes the second symbol and not the first symbol, wherein five or more sides of the second container are visible in the images and wherein in the images the first and second symbols of the image'"'"'s second container are substantially the same as the first and second symbols of the images of the first container,

wherein in the images both the first and second containers are marked with identification of the same consignee and a different consignor.

4. A method of comparing a container to a container imaging product comprising:

receiving a plurality of visible light images of a container which has six sides each of which is substantially rectangular, wherein a first image of the plurality of visible light images is of a first view of the container and includes a first symbol marked on a side of the container without physical damage and not a second different symbol;

wherein a second image of the plurality of visible light images is of a second view of the container and includes the second symbol marked on a side of the container without physical damage and not the first symbol;

wherein five or more sides of the container are visible in the images; and

wherein at least one of the images depicts at least one substantially complete side of the container; and

comparing the images of the sides marked with the first and second symbols to the container'"'"'s sides marked by those same symbols to ascertain if tampering with the contents of the container has occurred,

further comprising the step of receiving a plurality of images of a second container which only has six sides which are substantially rectangular wherein an image of a first view of the second container includes a first symbol and not a second different symbol; and

an image of a second view of the second container, the second view includes the second symbol and not the first symbol, wherein five or more sides of the second container are visible in the images and wherein in the images the first and second symbols of the image'"'"'s second container are substantially the same as the first and second symbols of the images of the first.container,

wherein in the images both the first and second containers are marked with identification of different consignee and the same consignor.