US-12619947-B2 - Systems and methods for tracking item handling data during logistics operations

US12619947B2US 12619947 B2US12619947 B2US 12619947B2US-12619947-B2

Abstract

Systems and methods for tracking item handling data are disclosed herein. The method associates, by a first device of a first user, a first identifier of at least one first package comprising at least one item and a second identifier of a second package where the second package comprises the at least one first package and the association is indicative of a nested relationship. The method generates transaction information associated with the at least one item based on the association and packaging information of the at least one item, and generates a third identifier indicative of the transaction information associated with the at least one item applied to the second package. The method tracks at least one attribute of the transaction information associated with the at least one item via the third identifier.

Inventors

Suvarna S. Krishnan
Izel Erdem

Assignees

ZEBRA TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION

Dates

Publication Date: 20260505
Application Date: 20221208

Claims (15)

1 . A method for tracking item handling data, comprising: associating, by a first device of a first user, a first identifier of at least one first package comprising at least one item and a second identifier of a second package, the second package comprising the at least one first package and the association being indicative of a nested relationship; generating transaction information associated with the at least one item based on the association and packaging information of the at least one item; generating and applying a third identifier indicative of the transaction information associated with the at least one item to the second package; authenticating a second user via a second device; receiving, based on the authentication of the second user, the second package by the second user; associating the second package with the second user and adding the association of the second package with the second user to the transaction information by processing the third identifier via the second device; tracking at least one attribute of the transaction information associated with the at least one item via the third identifier; associating the second package with a third user and adding the association of the second package with the third user to the transaction information by processing the third identifier via the second device; authenticating the third user via a third device; determining, by the third user, at least one condition of the second package; adding the determined at least one condition of the second package to the transaction information by processing the third identifier via the third device; determining whether the determined condition complies with the transaction information; receiving the second package by the third user when the determined condition complies with the transaction information; and rejecting the second package by the third user when the determined condition does not comply with the transaction information, wherein each of the first device, the second device, and the third device is a mobile barcode scanner, and the determined at least one condition of the second package is indicative of one or more of a fair, a tampered, a damaged and an environmental condition.
2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising authenticating the first user via the first device; and generating the first identifier of the at least one first package comprising the at least one item based on a detected event.
3 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising storing the first identifier, the second identifier, the third identifier and the packaging information in a first database, wherein the first database is shared with at least two of the first user, the second user and the third user, and the first user is a manufacturer, the second user is a transporter, and the third user is a distributor.
4 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising adding a receiving event to the transaction information based on receiving the second package by the third user; processing the first identifier of the at least one first package and the second identifier of the second package via the third device; determining whether the association of the first identifier of the at least one first package and the second identifier of the second package complies with the transaction information; authenticating the transaction information when the association complies with the transaction information; and adding an alert to the transaction information when the association does not comply with the transaction information.
5 . The method of claim 4 , further comprising generating shipment information in response to received order information of the at least one item; modifying the transaction information by adding the shipping information and the order information to the transaction information; generating and applying a fourth identifier indicative of the modified transaction information to a third package comprising the at least one item; storing the fourth identifier and the shipment information in a second database, wherein the second database is shared with the second user and the third user, and the second user is a transporter, and the third user is a distributor.
6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein the first identifier, the second identifier, the third identifier, and the fourth identifier are one or more of a machine readable symbol, a label, a temperature sensitive marker, a barcode, a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag, a quick response (QR) and a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) beacon.
7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the transaction information is one of a contract and an agreement, and is encrypted or added to a blockchain.
8 . A system for tracking item handling data, comprising, a first device; a second device; a third device; one or more processors; and a non-transitory computer-readable memory coupled to the first device, the second device, the third device, and the one or more processors, the memory storing instructions thereon that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to: associate, by the first device of a first user, a first identifier of at least one first package comprising at least one item and a second identifier of a second package, the second package comprising the at least one first package and the association being indicative of a nested relationship; generate transaction information associated with the at least one item based on the association and packaging information of the at least one item; generate a third identifier indicative of the transaction information associated with the at least one item to be applied to the second package; authenticate a second user via a second device; receive, based on the authentication of the second user, the second package by the second user; associate the second package with the second user and add the association of the second package with the second user to the transaction information by processing the third identifier via the second device; track at least one attribute of the transaction information associated with the at least one item via the third identifier; associate the second package with a third user and add the association of the second package with the third user to the transaction information by processing the third identifier via the second device; authenticate the third user via a third device; receive, from the third user, at least one determined condition of the second package; add the determined at least one condition of the second package to the transaction information by processing the third identifier via the third device; determine whether the determined condition complies with the transaction information; notify the third user to receive the second package when the determined condition complies with the transaction information; and notify the third user to reject the second package when the determined condition does not comply with the transaction information, wherein each of the first device, the second device, and the third device is a mobile barcode scanner, and the determined at least one condition of the second package is indicative of one or more of a fair, a tampered, a damaged and an environmental condition.
9 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the one or more processors to: authenticate the first user via the first device; and generate the first identifier of the at least one first package comprising the at least one item based on a detected event.
10 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the one or more processors to: store the first identifier, the second identifier, the third identifier and the packaging information in a first database, wherein the first database is shared with at least two of the first user, the second user and the third user, and the first user is a manufacturer, the second user is a transporter, and the third user is a distributor.
11 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the one or more processors to: add a receiving event to the transaction information when the third user receives the second package; process the first identifier of the at least one first package and the second identifier of the second package via the third device; determine whether the association of the first identifier of the at least one first package and the second identifier of the second package complies with the transaction information; authenticate the transaction information when the association complies with the transaction information; and add an alert to the transaction information when the association does not comply with the transaction information.
12 . The system of claim 11 , wherein the instructions, when executed, further cause the one or more processors to: generate shipment information in response to received order information of the at least one item; modify the transaction information by adding the shipment information and the order information to the transaction information; generate a fourth identifier indicative of the modified transaction information to be applied to a third package comprising the at least one item; store the fourth identifier and the shipment information in a second database, wherein the second database is shared with the second user and the third user, and the second user is a transporter, and the third user is a distributor.
13 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the first identifier, the second identifier, the third identifier, and the fourth identifier are one or more of a machine readable symbol, a label, a temperature sensitive marker, a barcode, a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag, a quick response (QR) and a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) beacon.
14 . The system of claim 8 , wherein the transaction information is one of a contract and an agreement, and is encrypted or added to a blockchain.
15 . A tangible non-transitory machine-readable medium comprising instructions for tracking item handling data that, when executed, cause a machine to: associate, by a first device of a first user, a first identifier of at least one first package comprising at least one item and a second identifier of a second package, the second package comprising the at least one first package and the association being indicative of a nested relationship; generate transaction information associated with the at least one item based on the association and packaging information of the at least one item; generate a third identifier indicative of the transaction information associated with the at least one item to be applied to the second package; authenticate a second user via a second device; receive, based on the authentication of the second user, the second package by the second user; associate the second package with the second user and add the association of the second package with the second user to the transaction information by processing the third identifier via the second device; track at least one attribute of the transaction information associated with the at least one item via the third identifier; associate the second package with a third user and add the association of the second package with the third user to the transaction information by processing the third identifier via the second device; authenticate the third user via a third device; receive, from the third user, at least one determined condition of the second package; add the determined at least one condition of the second package to the transaction information by processing the third identifier via the third device; determine whether the determined condition complies with the transaction information; notify the third user to receive the second package when the determined condition complies with the transaction information; and notify the third user to reject the second package when the determined condition does not comply with the transaction information, wherein each of the first device, the second device, and the third device is a mobile barcode scanner, and the determined at least one condition of the second package is indicative of one or more of a fair, a tampered, a damaged and an environmental condition.

Description

BACKGROUND Logistics operations include the transportation and distribution (e.g., delivery) of items (e.g., packages) to destination locations (e.g., residences or businesses) and typically involve a multi-party (e.g., a manufacturer, a distributor and at least one transportation company or transporter) logistics supply chain to transport and distribute the items. Items may be packaged across several packaging levels for transportation. For example, at least one item may be packaged within a carton, the carton may be packaged within a case comprising a plurality of cartons, and the case may be packaged within a pallet comprising a plurality of cases which is loaded into a container (e.g., implemented as a storage unit affixed to or stored in a vehicle or a storage area integrated in at least a portion of a vehicle) for transportation and distribution. As such, it can be challenging to associate events (e.g., packaging, shipment, receiving, inspection, scanning and the like) and/or conditions (e.g., fair, tampered, damaged, environmental, and the like) with an item across packaging levels thereof during logistics operations (e.g., loading, shipment, delivery, and/or collection operations). Additionally, it can also be challenging to associate these events and/or conditions with an item that is returned (e.g., via a returned merchandise authorization (RMA)). BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS The accompanying figures, where like reference numerals refer to identical or functionally similar elements throughout the separate views, together with the detailed description below, are incorporated in and form part of the specification, and serve to further illustrate embodiments of concepts that include the claimed invention, and explain various principles and advantages of those embodiments. FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of a system of the present disclosure for tracking item handling data during logistics operations. FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating processing steps carried out by an embodiment of the system of the present disclosure of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating step 202 of FIG. 2 in greater detail. FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating step 204 of FIG. 2 in greater detail. FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating step 206 of FIG. 2 in greater detail. FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating step 346 of FIG. 5 in greater detail. FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating step 208 of FIG. 2 in greater detail. FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of a system of the present disclosure for tracking item handling data during logistics operations. FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating processing steps carried out by the embodiment of the system of the present disclosure of FIG. 8. FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating step 602 of FIG. 9 in greater detail. FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating step 604 of FIG. 9 in greater detail. FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating step 606 of FIG. 9 in greater detail. Skilled artisans will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of embodiments of the present invention. The system and method components have been represented where appropriate by conventional symbols in the drawings, showing only those specific details that are pertinent to understanding the embodiments of the present invention so as not to obscure the disclosure with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having the benefit of the description herein. DETAILED DESCRIPTION As mentioned above, it can be challenging to associate events (e.g., packaging, shipment, receiving, inspection, scanning and the like) and/or conditions (e.g., fair, tampered, damaged, environmental, and the like) with an item across packaging levels thereof during logistics operations and it can also be challenging to associate these events and/or conditions with an item that is returned (e.g., via a returned merchandise authorization (RMA)). Conventional systems and methods can utilize a plurality of information systems associated with respective logistics supply chain parties (e.g., a manufacturer, a distributor and/or at least one transportation company or transporter) to track item handling data during logistics operations. However, these information systems often store proprietary and/or confidential information that preclude their access by and/or sharing with other parties thereby obviating the utility of these conventional systems and methods. For example, a manufacturer information system may store proprietary and/or confidential manufacturing information (e.g., raw materials, suppliers, a manufacturing site, etc.) associated with an item thereby precluding access to the manufacturer information system by a distributor and/or at least one t