Patent US6505094B2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6505094B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System and method for shipping items from a distribution facility
Assignee: Dell Products LP
•
Filing: 2001-03-05
•
Granted: 2003-01-07
•
Expires: 2021-03-05
Abstract
Abstract A method for preparing items for shipment in a distribution facility with multiple pallet-build squares may include a step of identifying an available pallet-build square among the multiple pallet-build squares. An item may then be transported to an operator for the available pallet-build square. Item data from a scan of a barcode on the item may then be received, and in response, a display may be automatically updated to identify the available pallet for the operator.
Inventors
- 👤 Mark A. Pape
- 👤 Branden Clark Bickley
- 👤 Robert T. Mason
- 👤 Robert F. Martin
- 👤 William B. Muir
- 👤 Richard M. Williams
- 👤 Gustavo Blum
- 👤 Stefanie A. Vandorpe
- 👤 James E. Pike
- 👤 Sergio Botero
- 👤 Gregory V. Johnson
- 👤 Tracy A. Masson
- 👤 Michael R. Rogers
- 👤 Timothy J. Boswell
- 👤 Melissa S. Snyder
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 18:38
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06Q; G06Q10/00; G06Q10/08; G06Q10/087; G06Q10/0874; G06Q10/08741; G06Q10/083
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
74 words
A method, in a distribution facility with multiple pallet-build squares, for preparing items for shipment on a pallet, the method comprising: identifying an available pallet-build square among the multiple pallet-build squares; transporting an item to an operator for the available pallet-build square; receiving item data from a scan of a barcode on the item; and in response to receiving the item data, automatically updating a display to identify the available pallet for the operator.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
74 words
A method, in a distribution facility with multiple pallet-build squares, for preparing items for shipment on a pallet, the method comprising: identifying an available pallet-build square among the multiple pallet-build squares; transporting an item to an operator for the available pallet-build square; receiving item data from a scan of a barcode on the item; and in response to receiving the item data, automatically updating a display to identify the available pallet for the operator.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of transporting an item to an operator for the available pallet-build square is performed automatically, in response to identifying the available pallet-build square.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
60 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising: identifying all of the items to be loaded onto the available pallet; receiving an eject signal; and responding to the eject signal by ejecting the available pallet from the pallet-build square only if the item data and the pallet data indicate that all of the items have been loaded onto the pallet.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
51 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising: placing the item on the available pallet; receiving pallet data from a scan of a barcode for the available pallet; and in response to receiving the pallet data, automatically updating a database to indicate that the item was placed on the available pallet.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 4 , further comprising: in response to receiving the pallet data, automatically updating the display to confirm that the item was placed on the available pallet.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
71 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising: staging the pallet in a pallet-staging area of the distribution facility for tender to a carrier; displaying, in a display, a pallet identifier and a box count for the pallet; receiving pallet data from a scan of a barcode for the staged pallet; in response to receiving the pallet data, automatically updating the database to indicate that the carrier has accepted the pallet.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
103 words
The method of claim 6 , further comprising: selecting a group of parcels to be tendered to a carrier as one shipment; displaying, in a display in the distribution facility, an identifier for each of the parcels in the group; tendering the parcels to a carrier; receiving data from scans of barcodes on each of the parcels; in response to receiving the data from each scan, automatically updating the display to indicate that the carrier has accepted the corresponding parcel; determining that the parcels have all been accepted; and updating a database of the distribution facility to indicate that the parcels were accepted.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
90 words
One or more computer-usable media including encoded logic for a distribution facility, the one or more computer-usable media comprising logic that performs the steps of: identifying an available pallet-build square among multiple pallet-build squares in a distribution facility; in response to identifying the available pallet-build square, automatically transporting an item to an operator for the available pallet-build square; receiving item data from a scan of a barcode on the item; and in response to receiving the item data, automatically updating a display to identify the available pallet for the operator.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
90 words
One or more computer-usable media including encoded logic for a distribution facility, the one or more computer-usable media comprising logic that performs the steps of: identifying an available pallet-build square among multiple pallet-build squares in a distribution facility; in response to identifying the available pallet-build square, automatically transporting an item to an operator for the available pallet-build square; receiving item data from a scan of a barcode on the item; and in response to receiving the item data, automatically updating a display to identify the available pallet for the operator.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
33 words
The one or more computer-usable media of claim 8 , wherein the logic automatically transports the item to an operator for the available pallet-build square, in response to identifying the available pallet-build square.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
64 words
The one or more computer-usable media of claim 8 , wherein the logic further performs the steps of: receiving pallet data from a scan of a barcode for the available pallet after the item has been placed on the available pallet; and in response to receiving the pallet data, automatically updating a database to indicate that the item was placed on the available pallet.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
33 words
The one or more computer-usable media of claim 8 , wherein the logic further performs the step of automatically updating the display to confirm that the item was placed on the available pallet.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
70 words
The one or more computer-usable media of claim 8 , wherein the logic further performs the step of: identifying all of the items to be loaded onto the available pallet; receiving an eject signal; and responding to the eject signal be ejecting the available pallet from the pallet-build square only if the item data and the pallet data indicate that all of the items have been loaded onto the pallet.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
105 words
A method for tendering multiple pallets in a shipment to a carrier, the method comprising: staging a pallet in a pallet-staging area for tender to a carrier; displaying, in a display, a pallet identifier and a box count for the pallet; receiving pallet data from a scan of a barcode for the staged pallet; automatically updating a database to indicate that the carrier has accepted the pallet; visually inspecting the pallet to confirm that the box count is correct; and performing the step of receiving pallet data from a scan of a barcode for the staged pallet after the step of visually inspecting the pallet.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
105 words
A method for tendering multiple pallets in a shipment to a carrier, the method comprising: staging a pallet in a pallet-staging area for tender to a carrier; displaying, in a display, a pallet identifier and a box count for the pallet; receiving pallet data from a scan of a barcode for the staged pallet; automatically updating a database to indicate that the carrier has accepted the pallet; visually inspecting the pallet to confirm that the box count is correct; and performing the step of receiving pallet data from a scan of a barcode for the staged pallet after the step of visually inspecting the pallet.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 13 , further comprising automatically updating the display to indicate that the carrier has accepted the pallet.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
94 words
A method for tendering multiple pallets in a shipment to a carrier, the method comprising: staging a pallet in a pallet-staging area for tender to a carrier; displaying, in a display, a pallet identifier and a box count for the pallet; receiving pallet data from a scan of a barcode for the staged pallet; automatically updating a database to indicate that the carrier has accepted the pallet; and in response to receiving the pallet data, automatically updating the display to indicate a total number of accepted pallets and a total number of accepted boxes.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
94 words
A method for tendering multiple pallets in a shipment to a carrier, the method comprising: staging a pallet in a pallet-staging area for tender to a carrier; displaying, in a display, a pallet identifier and a box count for the pallet; receiving pallet data from a scan of a barcode for the staged pallet; automatically updating a database to indicate that the carrier has accepted the pallet; and in response to receiving the pallet data, automatically updating the display to indicate a total number of accepted pallets and a total number of accepted boxes.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
69 words
The method of claim 15 , further comprising: after the display has been updated to indicate that the carrier has accepted the pallet, moving the pallet from the pallet-staging area into a shipping container; and thereafter, placing a second pallet in the pallet-staging area, such that a carrier representative accepts all of the pallets in the shipment without all of the pallets being staged together in the pallet-staging area.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
106 words
A method in a distribution facility for tendering parcels to a carrier, the method comprising: selecting a group of items to be tendered to a carrier as one shipment; displaying, in a display in the distribution facility, an identifier for each of the items in the group; tendering the items to a carrier; receiving data from scans of barcodes on each of the items; in response to receiving the data from each scan, automatically updating the display to indicate that the carrier has accepted the corresponding item; determining that the items have all been accepted; and updating a database to indicate that the items were accepted.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
106 words
A method in a distribution facility for tendering parcels to a carrier, the method comprising: selecting a group of items to be tendered to a carrier as one shipment; displaying, in a display in the distribution facility, an identifier for each of the items in the group; tendering the items to a carrier; receiving data from scans of barcodes on each of the items; in response to receiving the data from each scan, automatically updating the display to indicate that the carrier has accepted the corresponding item; determining that the items have all been accepted; and updating a database to indicate that the items were accepted.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
124 words
One or more computer-usable media including encoded logic for use in tendering parcels to a carrier, the encoded logic comprising logic that performs the steps of: selecting a group of items to be tendered to a carrier as one shipment; displaying, in a display in the distribution facility, an identifier for each of the items in the group; receiving data from scans of barcodes on each of the items after the items have been tendered to a carrier; in response to receiving the data from each scan, automatically updating the display to indicate that the carrier has accepted the corresponding item; determining that the items have all been accepted; and updating a database of the distribution facility to indicate that the items were accepted.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
124 words
One or more computer-usable media including encoded logic for use in tendering parcels to a carrier, the encoded logic comprising logic that performs the steps of: selecting a group of items to be tendered to a carrier as one shipment; displaying, in a display in the distribution facility, an identifier for each of the items in the group; receiving data from scans of barcodes on each of the items after the items have been tendered to a carrier; in response to receiving the data from each scan, automatically updating the display to indicate that the carrier has accepted the corresponding item; determining that the items have all been accepted; and updating a database of the distribution facility to indicate that the items were accepted.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2006-01-06 | 2006-07-08 | 2007-01-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-01-06 | 2010-07-08 | 2011-01-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-01-06 | 2014-07-08 | 2015-01-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |