Apparatus and method for providing shipment information

• US 7,482,920 B2
• Filed: 04/17/2006
• Issued: 01/27/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Transcend Shipping Systems, LLC (Raymond Anthony Joao)
• Original Assignee: Raymond Anthony Joao
• Inventors: Joao, Raymond Anthony
• Primary Examiner(s): TRIEU, VAN THANH
• Application Number:
  US11/405,146
• Publication Number:
  US 20060247986A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,016 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539.11, 340/539.13, 340/539.14, 340/539.19, 340/539.22, 340/539.26, 340/588, 340/686.1, 340/10.1, 342/357.01, 342/426.22, 342/457, 342/463, 455/427.1
• US Class Current: 340/539.11
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/083 Shipping
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/021 Services related to particular areas, e.g. point of interest [POI] services, venue services or geofences

Abstract

An apparatus, including a shipment conveyance device which is a shipping container, pallet, piece of luggage, or tote, a memory device located in, on, or at, the shipment conveyance device which stores information regarding the shipment conveyance device, a global positioning device located in, on, or at, the shipment conveyance device which determines a position or location of the shipment conveyance device, a processing device which processes information regarding the shipment conveyance device in response to an occurrence of an event or a request for information and which generates a message containing information regarding the position or location of the shipment conveyance device and information regarding the occurrence of an event, a status of a shipment or transportation involving the shipment conveyance device, a temperature, or an impact or force on the shipment conveyance device, and a transmitter located in, on, or at, the shipment conveyance device which transmits the message to a communication device.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a shipment conveyance device, wherein the shipment conveyance device is a shipping container, a pallet, a piece of luggage, or a tote;

a memory device, wherein the memory device is located in, on, or at, the shipment conveyance device, wherein the memory device stores information regarding a description of a good, product, or item, being shipped or transported via or which is contained in or on the shipment conveyance device, and origination information, sender information, shipper information, destination information, receiver information, handling instruction information, delivery instruction information, invoice information, packing slip information, delivery time information, or payment instruction information, regarding the shipment conveyance device;

a global positioning device, wherein the global positioning device is located in, on, or at, the shipment conveyance device, and further wherein the global positioning device determines a position or location of the shipment conveyance device;

a processing device, wherein the processing device processes information regarding the shipment conveyance device in response to an occurrence of an event or in response to a request for information regarding the shipment conveyance device, wherein the processing device generates a message containing information regarding the position or location of the shipment conveyance device and information regarding the occurrence of an event, a status of a shipment or a transportation of or involving the shipment conveyance device, a shipment or transportation temperature, or an impact or force on the shipment conveyance device; and

a transmitter, wherein the transmitter is located in, on, or at, the shipment conveyance device, wherein the transmitter transmits the message to a communication device associated with an individual or entity, a sender of the shipment conveyance device, a receiver of the shipment conveyance device, a carrier of the shipment conveyance device, or an individual or entity authorized to receive information regarding the shipment conveyance device or information regarding a shipment or a transportation of or involving the shipment conveyance device.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a display device, wherein, the display device is located in, on, or at, the shipment conveyance device, wherein the display device displays or provides information regarding the shipment conveyance device or information regarding the shipment or the transportation of or involving the shipment conveyance device.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a receiver, wherein the receiver receives the request for information regarding the shipment conveyance device.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the message contains information regarding a stop made by a carrier of the shipment conveyance device or information regarding the shipment or the transportation of or involving the shipment conveyance device.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a sensor, wherein the sensor monitors or measures a temperature during the shipment or the transportation of the shipment conveyance device, a shock exerted on the shipment conveyance device, an impact exerted on the shipment conveyance device, and a force exerted on the shipment conveyance device,

wherein the message contains information regarding a temperature of the shipment or the transportation, a change in a shipment or transportation temperature, and an impact or force exerted on the shipment conveyance device.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the message contains information regarding an unusual stopping period regarding the shipment or the transportation of or involving the shipment conveyance device.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processing device is programmed to automatically generate the message.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processing device generates a delivery message, and further wherein the apparatus transmits the delivery message to the communication device.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the event is a detection of a deviation from a pre-determined. shipment or transportation route associated with the shipment or the transportation of or involving the shipment conveyance device.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the event is a detection of an unauthorized carrier or a wrong carrier shipping or transporting the shipment conveyance device or a detection of an unauthorized receiver of the shipment conveyance device or a wrong receiver of the shipment conveyance device.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the event is a detection of a shipment or transportation temperature which deviates from a shipment or transportation temperature requirement.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the event is a detection of an impact experienced by the shipment conveyance device, a force experienced by the shipment conveyance device, a mishandling of the shipment conveyance device, a dropping of the shipment conveyance device, and an accident involving the shipment conveyance device.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

an input device for inputting information regarding a person or entity attempting to receive the shipment conveyance device,

wherein the processing device processes the information regarding a person or entity attempting to receive the shipment conveyance device and determines whether or not the person or entity is a proper receiver of the shipment conveyance device.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processing device detects an occurrence giving rise to an insurance claim regarding the shipment conveyance device, and further wherein the message includes insurance claim information.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the message is transmitted via, on, or over, the Internet or the World Wide Web.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the shipping container, the pallet, the piece of luggage, or the tote, is a refrigerated container, a heated container, or an insulated container.

17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the communication device is a wireless device or a personal digital assistant.

18. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the message contains information regarding a description of a good, product, or item, being shipped or transported via the shipment conveyance device, origination information regarding the shipment or the transportation, sender information regarding the shipment or the transportation, shipper information regarding the shipment or the transportation, destination information regarding the shipment or the transportation, receiver information regarding the shipment or the transportation, handling instruction information regarding the shipment or the transportation, delivery instruction information regarding the shipment or the transportation, invoice information regarding the shipment or the transportation, packing slip information regarding the shipment or the transportation, delivery time information regarding the shipment or the transportation, or payment instruction information regarding the shipment or the transportation.

19. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus stores information regarding a temperature requirement regarding the shipment or the transportation, digitized map information, information regarding a stop or stops made during a transport of the shipment or the transportation, or travel route information regarding the shipment or the transportation.

20. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the shipment conveyance device is a shipping container.

21. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the shipment conveyance device is a pallet.

22. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the shipment conveyance device is a piece of luggage.

23. An apparatus, comprising:

a piece of luggage;

a memory device, wherein the memory device is located in, on, or at, the piece of luggage, wherein the memory device stores information regarding a description of a good, product, or item, being shipped via or which is contained in the piece of luggage, and origination information, sender information, shipper information, destination information, receiver information, handling instruction information, delivery instruction information, invoice information, packing slip information, delivery time information, or payment instruction information, regarding the piece of luggage;

a global positioning device, wherein the global positioning device is located in, on, or at, the piece of luggage, and further wherein the global positioning device determines a position or location of the piece of luggage;

a processing device, wherein the processing device processes information regarding the piece of luggage in response to an occurrence of an event or in response to a request for information regarding the piece of luggage, wherein the processing device generates a message containing information regarding the position or location of the piece of luggage and information regarding the occurrence of an event, a status of a shipment or a transportation of or involving the piece of luggage, a shipment or a transportation temperature, or an impact or force on the piece of luggage; and

a transmitter, wherein the transmitter is located in, on, or at, the piece of luggage, wherein the transmitter transmits the message to a communication device associated with an individual or entity, a sender of the piece of luggage, a receiver of the piece of luggage, a carrier of the piece of luggage, or an individual or entity authorized to receive information regarding the piece of luggage or information regarding a shipment or a transportation of or involving the piece of luggage.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, further comprising:

a receiver, wherein the receiver receives the request for information regarding the piece of luggage.

25. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the message contains information regarding a stop made by a carrier of the piece of luggage or information regarding the shipment or the transportation of or involving the piece of luggage.

26. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the message contains information regarding an unusual stopping period regarding the shipment or the transportation of or involving the piece of luggage.

27. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the event is a detection of a deviation from a pre-determined shipment or transportation route associated with the shipment or the transportation of or involving the piece of luggage.

28. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the event is a detection of an unauthorized carrier or a wrong carrier shipping or transporting the piece of luggage, a detection of an unauthorized receiver of the piece of luggage or a wrong receiver of the piece of luggage, a detection of an impact experienced by the piece of luggage1 a force experienced by the piece of luggage, a mishandling of the piece of luggage, a dropping of the piece of luggage, or an accident involving the piece of luggage.

29. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the processing device detects an occurrence giving rise to an insurance claim regarding the piece of luggage, and further wherein the message includes insurance claim information.

30. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the communication device is a wireless device or a personal digital assistant.