METHOD OF REUSING A REUSABLE TRANSPORT PACKAGING AND A SERVICE POINT AND SYSTEM THEREFOR

Abstract

The method uses a status server in communication with a parcel allocation system. The parcel allocation system has one or more service points. At the service points (20) a reusable transport packaging (600) is provided and is reused by changing its content and the status server (730) is updated with a status (620) associated with the transport packaging ID (602), which status (620) is a function of a system event (54) performed in the parcel allocation system (400). The packaging (600) can be left at the service point (20). The service point (20) has storage means (201) for a packaging (602) and communication means (202) for receiving and transmitting data of system events (54). The system (700) has a status server (730) and packaging (600) for holding a piece (40). The system can receive (124) dataset (59) of a system event (54) from a parcel allocation system (400) and transmit (122) a status (620) of the packaging (600) to a parcel allocation system (400). The packaging (600) has a transport packaging ID (602) associated with a status (620) of the packaging (600), which status is dependent on the received dataset (59) of the system event (54) from the parcel allocation system (400). The parcel allocation system is a system wherein electronic tokens are transmitted between the server and a service point. The parcel allocation system (400) has one or more service points (20) and an external server (30).

Claims

1. Method of reusing reusable transport packaging with a transport packaging ID, using a status server in communication within a parcel allocation system including one or more service points, the method including the following acts at the service point: providing the reusable transport packaging at the service point; changing the content of the reusable transport packaging; updating in the status server a status associated with the transport packaging ID, where the status is a function of a system event performed in the parcel allocation system; and reusing the provided reusable transport packaging at the service point.

2. The method according to claim 1, further including the act of leaving the reusable transport packaging at the service point of the parcel allocation system.

3. The method (100) according to claim 1, wherein acts of the service point further include: receiving a dataset of a system event to be performed; generating a service point signal for the system event, and generating a dataset for a performed system event associated with the transport packaging ID.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the parcel allocation system includes an external server in communication with the one or more service points, said method further includes the following acts performed at the external server: associating the transport packaging ID directly or indirectly with a service point, and generating and transmitting a dataset of a system event to be performed at the service point.

5. The method according to claim 4, further including the following acts for each reusable transport packaging: generating a sequence of successive electronic tokens associated directly or indirectly with the transport packaging ID and a service point; transmitting the electronic tokens between the external server and the service point, wherein the step of generating the sequence of successive electronic tokens includes: generating a user electronic token including a dataset of the system event to be performed at the external server and transmitting the user electronic token to the service point; generating a synchronisation electronic token at the service point in response to the performed system event and transmitting the synchronization electronic token to the external server, and generating an acknowledgement electronic token at the external server in response to the received synchronisation electronic token and transmitting the acknowledgement electronic token to the service point.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein each service point is in communication with an external server and the method further includes the acts of: communicating using one or more mobile smart devices, such that the datasets and/or electronic tokens are piggybacked between the external server and the one or more service points.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the status of the reusable transport packaging includes a state and a location.

8. A service point comprising: means configured and arranged for providing reusable transport packaging, changing the content of the reusable transport packaging, updating in a status server a status associated with a transport packaging ID associated with the reusable transport packaging, where the status is a function of a system event performed in a parcel allocation system, and reusing the provided reusable transport packaging; service point storage means configured and arranged for storing a transport packaging; and service point communication means configured and arranged for receiving and transmitting data of system events.

9. The service point according to claim 8, further including a service point processor configured and arranged to generate a service point signal to perform a service point event, and a parcel locker with a parcel locker chassis, and one or more compartments, each compartment having at least one mechanical lockable door with a mechanical lock configured and arranged to be locked to the parcel locker chassis, wherein the service point processor is a central processor configured and arranged to communicate with external units and to generate service point signals to the one or more mechanical locks and/or mechanical lockable doors depending on the system event.

10. A packaging reusing system for reusing reusable transport packaging comprising: a status server; and reusable transport packaging configured and arranged to hold a piece; means configured and arranged to receive a dataset of a system event from a parcel allocation system and for transmit a status of the reusable transport packaging to a parcel allocation system, said reusable transport packaging including a transport packaging ID associated with a status of the reusable transport packaging, where the status is dependent on the received dataset of the system event from the parcel allocation system; and the parcel allocation system includes one or more service points, an external server and further means configured and arranged for providing reusable transport packaging, changing the content of the reusable transport packaging, updating in a status server a status associated with a transport packaging ID associated with the reusable transport packaging, where the status is a function of a system event performed in a parcel allocation system, and reusing the provided reusable transport packaging.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0143] FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of the packaging reusing system and one embodiment of reusing the reusable transport packaging in a parcel allocation system.

[0144] FIG. 2 illustrates one embodiment of the packaging reusing system implemented in a parcel allocation system.

[0145] FIG. 3 illustrates one embodiment of the packaging reusing system implemented in a parcel allocation system.

[0146] FIG. 4 illustrates one embodiment of the packaging reusing system implemented in a parcel allocation system using a distributed network of user applications for communication within the parcel allocation system.

[0147] FIG. 5 illustrates one embodiment of a parcel locker.

[0148] FIG. 6 illustrates one embodiment of the method of reusing a reusable transport packaging.

[0149] FIG. 7 illustrates one embodiment of the method of reusing a reusable transport packaging in a parcel allocation system.

[0150] FIG. 8 illustrates two embodiments of a reusable transport packaging.

[0151] FIG. 9 illustrates another two embodiments of a reusable transport packaging.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE

[0152] 10 Electronic tokens [0153] 20 Service point [0154] 30 External server [0155] 40 Piece [0156] 50 User electronic token [0157] 54 System event [0158] 58 Sequence number [0159] 59 Dataset [0160] 60 Synchronisation electronic token [0161] 70 Acknowledgement electronic token [0162] 80 Service point signal [0163] 90 User application [0164] 92 Mobile smart device [0165] 94 Processor (mobile smart device) [0166] 96 Communication means (mobile smart device) [0167] 100 Method [0168] 102 Transmitting (service point) [0169] 104 Receiving (service point) [0170] 108 Generating (service point) [0171] 122 Transmitting (server) [0172] 124 Receiving (server) [0173] 128 Generating (server) [0174] 134 Determining [0175] 150 Communicating [0176] 170 Reusing [0177] 182 Using [0178] 184 Associating [0179] 200 Parcel locker [0180] 202 Service point communication means [0181] 206 Service point processor [0182] 210 Parcel locker chassis [0183] 212 Compartments [0184] 214 Lockable door [0185] 215 Mechanical lock [0186] 302 Server communication means [0187] 306 Server processor means [0188] 400 Parcel allocation system [0189] 500 Use [0190] 600 Reusable transport packaging [0191] 602 Transport packaging ID [0192] 610 Chip [0193] 620 Status [0194] 622 State [0195] 624 Location [0196] 630 Sealing means [0197] 632 Security seal [0198] 640 Supporting means [0199] 700 Packaging reusing system [0200] 730 Status server

[0201] FIG. 1A illustrates one embodiment of the packaging reusing system 700. The system comprises a status server 730 and reusable transport packaging 600.

[0202] The reusable transport packaging 600 may be adapted for holding a piece 40. The reusable transport packaging 600 comprises a chip 610 with a transport packaging ID 602. The chip 610 may be fixed to the reusable transport packaging 600. This could include the chip being integrated into the material of the reusable transport packaging 600, the chip being clued to, rivet to, welded to, or otherwise inextricably linked with the reusable transport packaging 600.

[0203] The chip may be a passive chip. In one aspect the chip may be a RFID.

[0204] The packaging reusing system 700 may further comprises server communication means 302 adapted for receiving data of a system event 54 from a parcel allocation system and for transmitting a status 620 of the reusable transport packaging 600 to a parcel allocation system. These means 302 may be comprised in the status server 730.

[0205] The transport packaging ID 602 may be associated with a status 620 of the reusable transport packaging 600, which status is dependent on the received data of a system event 54 from the parcel allocation system. The status server 730 may store and update a record with the current status 620 of each reusable transport packaging 600 via use of the transport packaging IDs 602. The status server 730 may comprise computer readable media 440 to store a computer program product 430 and comprise server processor means 306 for executing the computer program product 430 to perform the acts described above. The status server 730 may be incorporated or comprised in a server in the parcel allocation system.

[0206] FIG. 1B illustrates one embodiment of using 500 the reusable transport packaging 600 in a parcel allocation system and one embodiment of the 100 of reusing a reusable transport packaging 600.

[0207] The parcel allocation system may comprise one or more service points 20. The service points may comprise one or more parcel lockers 200. Alternatively, the service points 20 may be manned service centres, shops, postal offices or comparable arrangements.

[0208] The use 500 of the reusable transport packaging 600 in the parcel allocation system is for reusing 170 transport packaging.

[0209] In the illustrated embodiment, a retailer wishes to send pieces to his costumers, which they have ordered. The retailer is provided with reusable transport packaging 600 each with a unique transport packaging ID 602. The retailer packs the ordered pieces 40 in suitable reusable transport packaging 600 resulting in a number of parcels (a parcel being a reusable transport packaging 600+one or more ordered pieces 40). The retailer orders a courier service to deliver the parcels. The courier service picks up the parcels and delivers the parcels to a distribution centre. The distribution centre may act as a service point 20 depending on how the parcel allocation system is organised.

[0210] The courier service may bring other parcels from other retailers. The courier service may also bring empty reusable transport packaging 600 for distribution within the parcel allocation system, thereby recirculation empty reusable transport packaging 600 for reuse 170. The distribution centre may redirect both parcels and empty reusable transport packaging 600 to other users of the parcel allocation system e.g. consignors to receive empty reusable transport packaging 600 for later use or consignees to receiving parcels.

[0211] From the distribution centre a courier service may receive parcels and/or empty reusable transport packaging 600 to be delivered at different service points 20, which may act as collect or delivery place for parcels but also for empty reusable transport packaging 600. At the service point 20, the courier service delivers the parcels booked for this given service point 20.

[0212] The service point 20, may now act not only as a delivery and collect place. Due to the reusable transport packaging 600, the consignee now opens the parcel, picks up the ordered piece and leaves the empty reusable transport packaging at the service point. Thus the service point 20 now also may act as a distribution centre for the reusable transport packaging 600.

[0213] The service point may also be used for the opposite case, namely that a consignor orders a delivery of a parcel from a service point 20, which delivery the consignor orders as a delivery using a reusable transport packaging 600. In this case, the courier service may deliver an empty reusable transport packaging 600 to the service point 20, the consignor then, at the service point, places the piece to be sent in the reusable transport packaging 600 and now the parcel can be collected by a courier service for distribution of the parcel.

[0214] Hence, a courier service may both deliver and collect parcels and/or empty reusable transport packaging 600 to/from a service point 20. The courier service may service a route with several service points 20 and/or distribution centres.

[0215] In the illustrated embodiment, the courier service subsequent to a delivery/collection at a service point 20 continues to a distribution centre. Similar to previously mentioned, the distribution centre may act as a service point 20 depending on how the parcel allocation system is organised. The courier service may now deliver or collect parcels and/or empty reusable transport packaging 600. From the distribution centre, empty reusable transport packaging 600 may be delivered by a courier service to the retailer (or other retailers), who wishes to send new pieces to his costumers, which they have ordered. Thereby, recirculation of the empty reusable transport packaging 600 and hence reuse 170 is achieved.

[0216] To reuse the reusable transport packaging 600, the empty reusable transport packaging 600 should preferably be constantly recirculated within the system by being distributed to consignors.

[0217] In the illustrated embodiment, the reusable transport packaging comprises a transport packaging ID 602 and a status 620 is associated herewith. The status 620 may comprise information of the state 622, which could include occupied or available. Additional states such as damaged, rejected, reserved could be included.

[0218] The status 620 may also comprise information of location 624 of the reusable transport packaging. The location 624 may be given as an ID of a service point, a distribution centre, a storage location, a retailer or other users. Alternatively, the location may be given by a GPS location. The location may only be part of the status when the reusable transport packaging 600 is in connection with the service points 20.

[0219] The status 602 may be determined based on system events performed in the parcel allocation system. For example, the status 620 can be set to occupied already when the empty reusable transport packaging 600 is collected from a service point 20 if it is booked by a retailer. This status may be set due to the system event of a courier collecting the reusable transport packaging at the service point. The occupied status may include that no location is recorded in the status. Once the status 620 changes to available state 622 due to the parcel having been delivered to a service point 20 and the piece 40 has been removed, the status 620 may include the location 624, being for example the ID or GPS location of the service point.

[0220] One embodiment of the method 100 of reusing a reusable transport packaging 600 is illustrated by the part captured by the dashed lines. The method performed at the service point 20 comprises the acts of changing 110 the content of the reusable transport packaging 600 and updating 112 a status 620 associated with the transport packaging ID 602.

[0221] FIG. 2 illustrates one embodiment of the packaging reusing system 700 implemented in a parcel allocation system 400. The packaging reusing system 700 comprises reusable transport packaging 600 comprising a chip 610 and a transport packaging ID 602.

[0222] The reusable transport packaging 600 can hold a piece 40 to be sent from a consignee to a consignor. The piece 40 can be associated with a piece ID.

[0223] The reusable transport packaging 600 holding a piece 40 may be referred to as a parcel.

[0224] The packaging reusing system 700 may comprise a status server 730 having server communication means 302, computer readable media 440, a computer program product 430 and server processor means 306 for executing the computer program product 430.

[0225] The transport packaging ID 602 may be associated with a status 620 of the reusable transport packaging 600, which status is dependent on received data of a system event 54 from the parcel allocation system. The status server 730 may store and update a record with the current status 620 of each reusable transport packaging 600 via use of the transport packaging IDs 602.

[0226] In the illustrated embodiment, the parcel allocation system 400 comprises one or more service points 20 and a server 30. The status server 730 and the server 30 may be incorporated or comprised in a single server unit.

[0227] The parcel allocation system 400 is operated by communicating datasets 59 between the server 30 and a service point 20.

[0228] The parcel allocation system 400 is here more explicitly illustrated to be operated by transmitting electronic tokens 10 between the server 30 and a service point 20. The electronic tokens 10 may be associated with a piece 40. For each piece 40 a sequence of electronic tokens comprising a user electronic token 50, a synchronisation electronic token 60 and an acknowledgement electronic token 70 may be generated. The electronic tokens 50,60,70 in the sequence may be generated dependent on performed system events 54 in the parcel allocation system 400.

[0229] FIG. 3 illustrates one exemplified embodiment of the packaging reusing system 700 implemented in the parcel allocation system 400 of FIG. 2. Here, only a single service point 20 and the communication between the server 30 and the service point 20 for a single piece 40 is illustrated. The communication is achieved with the sequence of electronic tokens comprising a user electronic token 50, a synchronisation electronic token 60 and an acknowledgement electronic token 70, which may be generated in response to or dependent on data of service events generated or received in the parcel allocation system.

[0230] FIG. 4 illustrates one exemplified embodiment of the packaging reusing system 700 implemented in the parcel allocation system 400 of FIGS. 2 and 3. Similar to FIG. 3, only a single service point 20 and the communication between the server 30 and the service point 20 for a single piece 40 is illustrated. In the illustrated embodiment, the packaging reusing system 700 is implemented in a parcel allocation system 400 using a distributed network of user applications 90 for communication within the parcel allocation system 400. The user applications may be installed on a distributed network of mobile smart devices. In this parcel allocation system 400, the electronic tokens 50,60,70 may be piggybacked by the user application between the server and the service point 20.

[0231] The user electronic token may be piggybacked by a single user application installed on a specific mobile smart device. For each user electronic token, one or more synchronisation electronic tokens and/or acknowledgement electronic tokens may be piggybacked by one or more user applications of the distributed network of mobile smart devices. Hence, the one or more user applications of the distributed network of mobile smart devices piggybacking the synchronisation e-token and the acknowledgement token may be different from each other and different from the user application carrying the user e-token. The multiple synchronisation electronic tokens and/or acknowledgement electronic tokens for each user electronic token may be identical copies. Hence, the multiple synchronisation electronic tokens may be identical and the acknowledgement electronic tokens may be identical.

[0232] FIG. 5 illustrates one embodiment of a parcel locker 200. The illustrated parcel locker 200 comprises a parcel locker chassis 210, one or more compartments 212, each compartment having at least one mechanical lockable door 214 configured to be locked to the parcel locker chassis 210. The parcel locker may further comprise a battery such that the parcel locker may be battery-operated. The parcel locker 200 may further comprise service point transmitter means 202, service point receiver means and service point processor means 206.

[0233] In one insert, a close-up of a mechanical lockable door 214 with a mechanical lock 215 of the parcel locker 200 is illustrated. The one or more mechanical locks 215 and/or mechanical lockable doors 214 receives a service point signal 80 to perform a service point event.

[0234] In another insert, an embodiment of the parcel locker 200 is illustrated from a top view. The parcel locker comprises multiple compartments 212, each compartment having at least one mechanical lockable door 214 configured to be locked to the parcel locker chassis. In the illustrated embodiment, the parcel locker 200 is designed with reach-through compartments 212 on the left-hand side of the parcel locker. In this embodiment, the reach-through compartments have two doors, a front-end door and a back-end door accessing a single compartment 212. This can facilitate front-end and back-end loading of the compartment. The reach-through compartment may in other embodiments only comprise a single door 214 and thus being front-end loaded. The parcel locker 200 is also illustrated with half-through compartments 212 on the right hand side of the parcel locker. In this embodiment, the half-through compartments have a single door accessing a single compartment 212 facilitating front-end loading of the compartment.

[0235] FIG. 6 illustrates multiple embodiments of the method 100 for reusing a reusable transport packaging 600, using a status server 730 in communication with in a parcel allocation system 400. The parcel allocation system 400 comprises one or more service points 20.

[0236] In one embodiment, the method 100 comprises acts performed at the service point 20 of changing 110 the content of the reusable transport packaging 600 and updating 112 in the status server 730 a status 620 associated with the transport packaging ID 602. The status 620 is a function of a system event 54 performed in the parcel allocation system (400).

[0237] In one further embodiment, the method 100 comprises the further act of leaving 114 the reusable transport packaging 600 at the service point 20 of the parcel allocation system 400.

[0238] In one further embodiment, the method 100 comprises the further acts of the service point of receiving 104 a dataset 59 of a system event 54 to be performed, generating 108 a service point signal 80 for the system event 54 and generating 108 a dataset 59 for a performed system event 54 associated with the transport packaging ID 602.

[0239] In yet one further embodiment, wherein the parcel allocation system 400 comprises an external server 30 in communication with the one or more service points 20, the method 100 comprises the acts performed at the external server 30 of associating 184 the transport packaging ID 602 directly or indirectly with a service point 20, and generating 128 and transmitting 122 a dataset 59 of a system event 54 to be performed at the service point 20.

[0240] FIG. 7 illustrates one embodiment of the method 100 for reusing a reusable transport packaging 600 in a parcel allocation system comprising a server 30 and one or more service points 20. In the parcel allocation system, electronic tokens are transmitted between the server 30 and a service point 20. The electronic tokens may be associated with a piece 40. For each piece 40 a sequence of electronic tokens comprising a user electronic token 50, a synchronisation electronic token 60 and an acknowledgement electronic token 70 may be generated. The electronic tokens 50,60,70 in the sequence may be generated dependent on performed system events 54 in the parcel allocation system.

[0241] The method 100 comprises one or more acts of providing a reusable transport packaging 600. The reusable transport packaging 600 comprises a chip 610 with a transport packaging ID 602. The chip 610 may be fixed to the reusable transport packaging 600. The method 100 further comprises one or more acts of using 182 the provided reusable transport packaging 600.

[0242] In the server 30, the transport packaging ID 602 is associated 184 with a piece 40, and a user electronic token 50 associated with the piece 40 is generated 128 and transmitted 122. The user electronic token 50 may comprise data of a system event 54 to be performed in the parcel locker system.

[0243] The user electronic token 50 is received 104 in a service point 20 and a sequence number 58 for the system event 54 associated with the piece 40 is generated 108. The sequence number 58 may be generated in connection with the system event 54 being performed, as a subsequent step or when it is most suitable in regard to the information flow in the method.

[0244] The method further comprises an act of generating 108 a synchronisation electronic token 60 in the service point. The synchronisation electronic token 60 comprises the generated sequence number 58 and the synchronisation electronic token 60 is transmitted from the service point 20.

[0245] The synchronisation electronic token 60 is received 124 in the server 30 and in response to the received synchronisation electronic token 60 an acknowledgement electronic token 70 is generated 128 and transmitted 122. The acknowledgement electronic token 70 is received 104 in the service point 20.

[0246] A further act is performed in the server 30 of determining 134 a status 620 of the reusable transport packaging 600. The status 620 is dependent on generated or received data of a system event 54 comprised in an electronic token 50,60,70 associated with the transport packaging ID 602.

[0247] In a further embodiment of the method, the parcel allocation system further comprises a user application 90 adapted to be installed on a distributed network of mobile smart devices, such that the electronic tokens 50,60,70 are piggybacked by the user application 90 between the server 30 and the one or more service points 20.

[0248] FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate four embodiments of a reusable transport packaging 600. The reusable transport packaging 600 is adapted for holding a piece 40 and comprises a chip 610 with a transport packaging ID 602. The chip may be fixed to the reusable transport packaging 600. This could include the chip being integrated into the material of the reusable transport packaging 600, the chip being clued to, rivet to, welded to, or otherwise inextricably linked with the reusable transport packaging 600.

[0249] The chip may be a passive chip. In one aspect the chip may be a RFID.

[0250] The illustrated reusable transport packaging 600 in FIGS. 8B and 9B comprises resealable sealing means 630.

[0251] The reusable transport packaging 600 in FIGS. 8A, 8B and 9A are illustrated with fixation means 640 for supporting a piece 40 to be placed inside the reusable transport packaging 600. These fixation means are in FIGS. 8A and 8B illustrated by the dotted areas.

[0252] The reusable transport packaging 600 in FIGS. 8A, 9A and 9B are illustrated with security means 632. These may be used for validating that the reusable transport packaging 600 is unopened during transport from the consignor to consignee.