System and method for arranging shipment and insurance for an item

• US 9,710,740 B2
• Filed: 11/07/2001
• Issued: 07/18/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nobuyoshi Morimoto
• Original Assignee: Nobuyoshi Morimoto
• Inventors: Morimoto, Nobuyoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Sorey, Robert
• Assistant Examiner(s): RAPILLO, KRISTINE K
• Application Number:
  US10/045,649
• Publication Number:
  US 20020120475A1
• Time in Patent Office: 5,732 Days
• Field of Search: 705 4, 705 2- 3
• CPC Class Codes: A61K 38/00 Medicinal preparations containing peptides peptides containing beta-lactam rings A61K31/00; cyclic dipeptides not having in their molecule any other peptide link than those which form their ring, e.g. piperazine-2,5-diones, A61K31/00; ergot alkaloids of the cyclic peptide type A61K31/48; containing macromolecular compounds having statistically distributed amino acid units A61K31/74; medicinal preparations containing antigens or antibodies A61K39/00; medicinal preparations characterised by the non-active ingredients, e.g. peptides as drug carriers, A61K47/00
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 2203/10 Transponders
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 23/14 of tags , labels, cards, coupons, decorations or the like B65D23/008 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 25/205 Means for the attachment of labels, cards, coupons or the like; cards or coupons for the other types of rigid or semi-rigid containers B65D25/36 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/4212 Information or decoration elements, e.g. content indicators, or for mailing B65D5/522 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 79/02 Arrangements or devices for indicating incorrect storage or transport B65D79/005 takes precedence ; measuring devices G01
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/0029 the arrangement being specially adapted for wireless interrogation of grouped or bundled articles tagged with wireless record carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0631 Resource planning, allocation, distributing or scheduling for enterprises or organisations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/08 Insurance

Abstract

A system and method for arranging shipment and insurance for items being shipped in containers with memory devices. An intelligent shipping agent may receive a request to ship an item. The intelligent shipping agent may search a database or solicit quotations to obtain shipping and insurance services for an item to be shipped from an origination to a final destination. The intelligent agent may find an entry in the database or may select a vendor based on received quotations. The selection may maximize value of a product or service at the lowest cost. The memory device may store shipping and insurance information related to the item being shipped in a data file. The memory device may include input devices and sensors to gather and store information before, during and after shipment.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

performing via a server;

receiving a request to ship an item and to insure the item during shipment from an origination to a final destination, wherein the request specifies the origination, the final destination, insurance information, and item information;

prior to shipment of the item as a packaged item, and in response to said receiving the request;

automatically performing a search to select particular insurance for the packaged item according to one or more insurance criteria, wherein said performing the search to select particular insurance is based on the insurance information in the request to provide a specified level of insurance coverage for the packaged item during said shipment;

automatically performing a search to select a designated routing for the packaged item, wherein the search to select the designated routing comprises;

determining an indirect route to be less costly than a more direct route, wherein the indirect route is longer than the more direct route,

verifying that the indirect route meets a delivery deadline for the packaged item arriving at the final destination, and

selecting, based on said determining an indirect route to be less costly than a more direct route and based on said determining that both the indirect route and the more direct route are sufficient to meet the delivery deadline, the indirect route as a designated routing for the packaged item from the origination to the final destination as specified in the request;

determining item information including one or more characteristics of the packaged item, the characteristics including one or more of a weight of the item, an image of the item, or a description of the item;

determining insurer information including one or more terms of said particular insurance, the insurer information specifying the insurer selected to provide said particular insurance during said shipment;

determining routing information specifying the designated routing for the packaged item, the routing information specifying segments of a multi-segment route from the origination to the final destination; and

storing the item information, the insurer information, and the routing information as contents of a memory device which accompanies the packaged item during said shipment, wherein the memory device comprises an interface to update the contents, via a remote device, before, during, and after said shipment;

updating the contents of the memory device via the interface of the memory device during the shipment of the packaged item and the memory device from the origination to the final destination, wherein the server remotely updates a data file stored on the memory device;

accessing the updated contents of the memory device during the shipment of the packaged item and the memory device from the origination to the final destination, wherein the server receives the updated data file from the memory device via the interface of the memory device subsequent to the server remotely updating the data file stored on the memory device; and

during the shipment of the packaged item and the memory device from the origination to the final destination, receiving, by the server, updated information from the memory device.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

in response to receiving the updated information from the memory device, determining a new routing from a current location of the packaged item to the final destination; and

updating the memory device with information for the new routing.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the packaged item becomes packaged by packing the item in a container for shipping, wherein the container is configured to fit with multiple other containers in a carrier.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising forwarding copies of at least a portion of the contents of the memory device to one or more parties involved in said shipment, wherein the one or more parties include at least an originator of the request to insure the item during said shipment, a recipient of the item at the final destination, and the insurer selected to provide said particular insurance.

5. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising forwarding copies of the contents of the memory device to one or more predetermined email addresses.

6. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the information is collected by a sensor of the memory device.

7. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the designated routing is the least expensive routing.

8. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the contents of the memory device include contact information for the insurer selected to provide said particular insurance.

9. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising storing the contents of the memory device on a server connected to a network, wherein the server provides access to the contents of the memory device via the network.

10. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said storing the information as contents of the memory device comprises storing the contents of the memory device in an XML format.

11. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the updated data file comprises updated address information for a destination of the packaged item.

12. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the item information in the contents of the memory device further comprises customs information for the item.

13. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the item information in the contents of the memory device further comprises item handling information.

14. The method as recited in claim 13, wherein the item handling information comprises special instructions based on temperature, humidity, or vibration restrictions for shipping the item.

15. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the insurer information in the contents of the memory device further comprises one or more of:

an insurance policy number that identifies the particular insurance, an amount of insurance provided by the particular insurance, and an insurance deductible for the particular insurance.

16. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the item information in the contents of the memory device further comprises one or more digital images of the item, of a container in which the item is packed, or of a carrier transporting the item, wherein the one or more digital images are captured before, during, or after said shipment.

17. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the contents of the memory device further comprise one or more digital images of the item showing the physical condition of the item upon receipt.

18. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the memory device comprises an air testing device configured to test air samples for contaminants and to store test results in the contents of the memory device.

19. A system, comprising:

a memory device, wherein the memory device stores information about an item, wherein the memory device accompanies the item during shipment from an origination to a final destination;

a server connected to the memory device;

wherein the server is configured to access the memory device via a network; and

wherein the server is configured to;

receive a request to ship the item and to insure the item during shipment from the origination to the final destination, wherein the request specifies the origination, the final destination, insurance information, and item information;

prior to shipment of the item as a packaged item, and in response to receiving the request;

automatically perform a search to select particular insurance for the packaged item according to one or more insurance criteria, wherein said performing the search to select particular insurance is based on the insurance information in the request to provide maximum insurance coverage for the packaged item during said shipment for the least cost;

automatically perform a search to select a designated routing for the packaged item, wherein the search to select the designated routing comprises;

determining an indirect route to be less costly than a more direct route, wherein the indirect route is longer than the more direct route,

verifying that the indirect route meets a delivery deadline for the packaged item arriving at the final destination,

selecting, based on said determining an indirect route to be less costly than a more direct route and based on said determining that both the indirect route and the more direct route are sufficient to meet the delivery deadline, the indirect route as a designated routing for the packaged item from the origination to the final destination;

determine item information including one or more characteristics of the packaged item, the characteristics including one or more of a weight of the item, an image of the item, or a description of the item;

determine insurer information including one or more terms of said particular insurance, the insurer information specifying the insurer selected to provide said particular insurance during said shipment;

determine routing information specifying the designated routing for the packaged item, the routing information specifying segments of a multi-segment route from the origination to the final destination as specified in the request; and

store the item information, the insurer information, and the routing information as contents of the memory device, wherein the memory device comprises an interface to update the contents according to current shipping conditions, via a remote device, before, during, and after said shipment;

during the shipment of the packaged item and the memory device from the origination to the final destination, remotely update a data file stored on the memory device via the interface of the memory device;

during the shipment of the packaged item and the memory device from the origination to the final destination, receive the updated data file subsequent to remotely updating the data file stored on the memory device; and

during the shipment of the packaged item and the memory device from the origination to the final destination, receive updated information from the memory device based on a plurality of sensor measurements.

20. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium which stores program instructions, wherein the program instructions are executable by a computer system to implement:

receiving a request to ship an item and to insure the item during shipment from an origination to a final destination, wherein the request specifies the origination, the final destination, insurance information, and item information;

prior to shipment of the item as a packaged item, and in response to said receiving the request;

automatically performing a search to select particular insurance for the packaged item according to one or more insurance criteria, wherein said performing the search to select particular insurance is based on the insurance information in the request to provide maximum insurance coverage for the packaged item during shipment for the least cost;

automatically performing a search to select a designated routing for the packaged item, wherein the search to select the designated routing comprises;

determining an indirect route to be less costly than a more direct route, wherein the indirect route is longer than the more direct route,

verifying that the indirect route meets a delivery deadline for the packaged item arriving at the final destination, and

selecting, based on said determining an indirect route to be less costly than a more direct route and based on said determining that both the indirect route and the more direct route are sufficient to meet the delivery deadline, the indirect route as a designated routing for the packaged item from the origination to the final destination as specified in the request;

determining item information including one or more characteristics of the packaged item, the characteristics including one or more of a weight of the item, an image of the item, or a description of the item;

determining insurer information including one or more terms of said particular insurance, the insurer information specifying the insurer selected to provide said particular insurance during said shipment;

determining routing information specifying the designated routing for the packaged item, the routing information specifying segments of a multi-segment route from the origination to the final destination; and

storing the item information, the insurer information, and the routing information as contents of the memory device, wherein the memory device comprises an interface to read or to update the contents according to current shipping conditions, via a remote device, before, during, and after said shipment;

during the shipment of the packaged item and the memory device from the origination to the final destination, remotely updating, by the computer system, a data file stored on the memory device via the interface of the memory device;

during the shipment of the packaged item and the memory device from the origination to the final destination receiving, by the computer system, the updated data file subsequent to the computer system remotely updating the data file stored on the memory device; and

during the shipment of the packaged item and the memory device from the origination to the final destination, receiving updated information from the memory device on a periodic basis.