Consolidated shipping and distribution of multiple orders with returns

Number of patents in Portfolio can not be more than 2000

United States of America Patent

PATENT NO 7426484
APP PUB NO 20040153379A1
SERIAL NO

10357971

Stats

ATTORNEY / AGENT: (SPONSORED)

Importance

Loading Importance Indicators... loading....

Abstract

See full text

The present invention provides systems and methods of consolidating, shipping and distributing items comprising multiple orders to multiple customers. The orders are received by an inventory management service, filled and packaged at a centralized distribution center in fewer containers than there are orders. For instance, if there are N orders destined for a particular authorized outlet, then the N orders will be consolidated and shipped in at most N-1, or fewer, containers. However, each order is individually packaged, controlled, tracked and received as an individual order. The consolidated containers are shipped to an authorized outlet and the individual orders are distributed to the customers. Also provided are systems and methods for returning orders that are not picked up at the authorized outlet to a central location. The items may be, for example, service parts, wireless communication devices, etc. Warehousing, shipping and transportation costs are reduced by this invention.

Loading the Abstract Image... loading....

First Claim

See full text

Family

Loading Family data... loading....

Patent Owner(s)

  • UNITED PARCEL SERVICE OF AMERICA, INC.

International Classification(s)

  • [Classification Symbol]
  • [Patents Count]

Inventor(s)

Inventor Name Address # of filed Patents Total Citations
Joyce, Robert F Alpharetta, GA 5 485
Smith, Gary Alan Peachtree City, GA 1 103
Thornton, Daniel B Louisville, KY 1 103

Cited Art Landscape

Load Citation

Patent Citation Ranking

Forward Cite Landscape

Load Citation