System for delivering an object using a primary package to identify the object and displaying a label corresponding to the identified object on the primary package

Description

[0001] The field of invention is that of the design and manufacture of equipment dedicated to logistics.

[0002] More specifically, the invention relates to the delivery of objects, and in particular that of objects generally originating from e-commerce platforms or transferred from one individual to another.

[0003] In the field of the invention, the delivery of objects by e-commerce platforms is very often carried out by placing the object(s) to be delivered in a package provided, for the purposes of delivery, with a label presenting at least one visual code, in particular taking the form of a printed barcode, which makes it possible to identify the package by each of the actors involved in the delivery of the package.

[0004] Traditionally, for the delivery of one or more items, the package is shaped by an operator. The item(s) are then placed in the shaped package, then the latter is closed and labeled for delivery.

[0005] In the field of object transport, there is a theme which concerns the reshipping of products, or more broadly of objects, with a view to their recycling and / or their destruction.

[0006] In this respect, we can cite in particular: used coffee capsules; used batteries or, more generally, batteries for small electrical equipment; certain medical equipment, such as syringes; expired medicines; ...

[0007] Currently, for some of these objects that must or can be returned, it is noted, and even deplored, that the users of these objects do not take the time or make the effort to return these objects to the operator responsible for their recycling or destruction.

[0008] There is therefore a need to encourage users of items to be returned to do so.

[0009] At the same time, connected packages have recently appeared. These packages are equipped with an electronic display device visible from the outside of the package and designed to display a shipping postal address and possibly several other types of information. A known device from the prior art is described in patent US 2012 / 235791.

[0010] The display devices for such packages may be programmed to allow the user of the package to activate a reshipment of the package to a predetermined drop-off location, the drop-off address then being displayed on the electronic display device.

[0011] Furthermore, given their cost, these "connected" packages are made of materials that are resistant to various handling (opening, closing, shaping, etc.) and the various shocks that may occur during their transport phase. In this way, these packages are designed to be reused many times.

[0012] Currently, such packages are not used in the context of encouraging the reshipment of the item such as those mentioned above.

[0013] The invention aims in particular to overcome the drawbacks or inadequacies of the prior art.

[0014] More specifically, the invention aims to propose a system for transporting objects using reusable connected packages which facilitate the reshipment of used objects to a recycling or destruction center.

[0015] The invention also aims to provide such an object delivery system which preserves the integrity of the package, even with transported objects which are aggressive or dirty for the package.

[0016] The invention also aims to provide such a system which is easy to use for users.

[0017] These objectives, as well as others which will appear subsequently, are achieved thanks to the invention which has as its subject a system for transporting an object, implementing: a plurality of primary packages each having an electronic display device that can be viewed from outside the package, and including a computer unit configured to transmit display instructions to the electronic display device, a computer platform comprising a database relating to the objects, matching, for each object, an identifier and a label to be displayed on the electronic display device, the computer platform being connected to first long-distance communication means, the primary packages being connected to second long-distance communication means capable of communicating with the first long-distance communication means, characterized in that it comprises: at least one radio tag to be coupled, directly or indirectly, to the object and containing the identifier of the object, a proximity transmitter-receiver integrated into each primary package, capable of communicating with the radio tag and being configured to read the identifier, and in that the computer unit is connected to the transceiver and is further configured to transmit the identifier to the computer platform via the first and second long-distance communication means, the computer platform being configured to return to the computer unit the label corresponding to the identifier and the computer unit being configured to transmit to the electronic display device an instruction to display the label.

[0018] Thus, thanks to the invention, the primary package is programmed, via the radio tag coupled to the object to be shipped (or reshipped), with the label corresponding to the identifier of the object.

[0019] Note that the object identifier is unique, certified and encrypted.

[0020] It is also noted that, within the meaning of the invention, a “label” can be defined as a digital label incorporating the recipient’s address, the sender’s address and logistics tracking tags. As such, once displayed by the electronic display device of the primary package, the label is similar to a label affixed to the primary package and carrying various information. For reasons of content security, no mention relating to it is made on the label.

[0021] In addition, a routing system according to the invention may prove to have a dimension of incentive for the reshipping of objects to be recycled or destroyed. Indeed, an object of this type can be delivered with a dedicated radio tag, programmed with an identifier, the latter being itself recorded in the database of the computer platform to associate a label to be displayed on the electronic display device of the primary package. The consumer then simply has to place the consumed object in the appropriate primary package so that the latter, via its embedded intelligence, automatically displays the reshipping address corresponding to the object placed in the primary package.

[0022] According to a first advantageous solution, the proximity transceiver is an RFID reader, and more precisely a UHF RFID reader.

[0023] According to a second advantageous solution, the proximity transceiver is an NFC reader.

[0024] In either case, this type of proximity transceiver is very common and can therefore be implemented inexpensively and in large quantities.

[0025] According to an advantageous solution, the database is configured so that the label includes data relating to a destination physical address.

[0026] As previously stated, this allows for automatic display of the physical destination address on the primary package. However, the label may include data other than the destination address without departing from the scope of the invention.

[0027] Thus, according to another advantageous solution, the database is configured in such a way that the label includes data relating to the weight of the object.

[0028] In this way, using a weight-taking device integrated into the primary package, it is possible to calculate the delivery billing to take into account the mass of the contents. In other words, the primary package transmits the unique identifier of the contents and its weight in an encrypted form. In return, the IT platform sends a prepaid label with the correct weight and indicating the physical address of the recipient likely to be able to process the contents.

[0029] According to a particular embodiment, the system uses secondary packages, capable of being contained in the primary packages, the radio tag being carried by the secondary packages.

[0030] It is understood that, in this embodiment, the radio tag is not carried directly by the object to be reshipped itself, but by another package, called a secondary package, into which the object is introduced, the whole being placed in the primary package.

[0031] In the context of this embodiment, it is then possible to transport, in a reusable connected primary package, objects likely to be aggressive or dirty for the primary package. Indeed, the aggressive and / or dirty object is confined in the secondary package. As a result, the material integrity of the primary package is preserved, as well as its capacity to be reused multiple times, without requiring maintenance or upkeep.

[0032] In fact, the secondary package constitutes, with respect to the primary package, a protective enclosure for the internal volume of the primary package.

[0033] According to this embodiment, the secondary packages comprise a container having a cavity and the closing means being able to adopt, with the container, an opening configuration or a closing configuration in which the closing means prohibit access to the cavity, the radio tag being integrated into a seal guaranteeing that the secondary package is maintained in its closing configuration.

[0034] In this way, the seal has a dual function, namely: it forms a support bearing the identification data of the transported object; it keeps the container and the associated closing means in the closing configuration, preventing the replacement of the transported object by another (not corresponding to the identifier) ​​or, at the very least, signals the reopening of the secondary package.

[0035] In this case, the seal advantageously comprises a part which is irreversibly degradable when the secondary package moves from the closing configuration to the opening configuration.

[0036] Therefore, it is not possible to damage the integrity of the seal without it being visible or, at the very least, without it being reported.

[0037] According to a particular embodiment, the seal takes the form of a strip intended to be glued overlapping on the container and the means for closing the secondary packages in the configuration for closing the secondary packages.

[0038] Such a seal, for example self-adhesive, is very practical to use and can be quickly applied to the secondary package.

[0039] Preferably, the seal comprises a radio-identification electronic chip, and first communication means comprising an antenna, the first communication means being coupled to the electronic chip and extending at least partially in the degradable part of the seal, the transceiver of the primary package being configured to periodically send a radio request capable of being picked up by the antenna, then transmitted to the electronic chip, and receive a return signal produced by the electronic chip in response to the radio request then transmitted by the antenna, the computer unit being configured to detect an absence of a return signal.

[0040] According to this embodiment, it is possible to know in real time whether the seal guaranteeing the maintenance of the closed configuration of the secondary package has been damaged. Such information therefore makes it possible to know whether the secondary package has been opened following the affixing of the seal. A consultation of the computer unit of the primary package makes it possible to become aware of the possible opening information.

[0041] Indeed, an opening of the secondary package and, in other words, a transition from its closing configuration to its opening configuration, results in a degradation (rupture) of the degradable part of the seal. Thus, because the first means of communication are integrated in the degradable part, then they are also degraded when the secondary package is opened. This degradation of the first means of communication then prevents the reception and / or transmission of the request sent by a transceiver to the radio-identification electronic chip and, consequently, the electronic chip does not produce a return signal.

[0042] In this context, it is recalled that the information exchanged between the label, the primary package and the remote IT platform is encrypted and certified.

[0043] Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear more clearly on reading the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, given as an illustrative and non-limiting example, with reference to the figure 1 unique which provides a schematic illustration of a routing system according to the invention.

[0044] As illustrated by the figure 1 , a system for transporting an object according to the invention uses a plurality of primary packages 1, of the type consisting of: a box 10 delimiting a receiving volume intended to accommodate one or more objects; a cover 1 connected or not to the box 10, and able to adopt, with the box, a configuration for closing the primary package or a configuration for opening the primary package.

[0045] The primary packages each also include: an electronic display device 12 which can be viewed from outside the primary package; a computer unit 13 configured to transmit display instructions to the electronic display device.

[0046] The routing system according to the invention further comprises a computer platform 2 including a database 20 relating to the objects to be routed, this database matching, for each object, an identifier and a label to be displayed on the electronic display device of the primary packages.

[0047] In addition, the computer platform is connected to the first means of long-distance communication.

[0048] The primary packages are connected to second long-distance communication means 14 capable of communicating with the first long-distance communication means of the computer platform.

[0049] According to the principle of the invention, the routing system comprises, for each primary package: a radio tag 15 (or even several) coupled directly or indirectly to the object to be transported, this radio tag being programmed so as to contain the identifier of the object to be transported as stored in the database 20 of the computer platform; a proximity transceiver 16 integrated into each primary package and capable of communicating with the radio tag 15 of the same primary package, the transceiver being configured to read the identifier contained in the radio tag.

[0050] In addition, the computer unit of the primary package is connected to the corresponding transceiver 15 and is further configured to transmit the identifier of the contained object to the computer platform 2 via the first long-distance communication means and the second long-distance communication means. The computer platform 2 is further configured to return to the computer unit 13, again via the first long-distance communication means and the second long-distance communication means, the label corresponding to the identifier of the object contained in the primary package (the label in question having been matched with the identifier of the object via the database 20 of the computer platform 2).It should be noted that the identifier contained in the label affixed to the package is unique and certified and that the exchanges between the primary package unit and the platform are preferably encrypted.

[0051] At the primary package level, the computer unit is configured to ultimately transmit to the electronic display device 12 of the primary package an instruction to display the label.

[0052] The label preferably including data relating to a physical destination address of the object to be delivered, the destination address is then displayed on the electronic display device 12 of the primary package.

[0053] In this sense, the database 20 of the computer platform is configured in such a way that the label, for each object to be routed, includes said physical destination address data for the object in question.

[0054] It is noted that the database of the computer platform can also be configured so that the label includes data relating to the weight of the object.

[0055] Regarding the proximity transceiver integrated into the primary package, this can be of the RFID or NFC type.

[0056] According to the embodiment illustrated by the figure 1 , the routing system implements, in addition to the primary packages, secondary packages 3, capable of being contained in the primary packages (i.e. sized so as to be able to be housed in a primary package). In this case, the object(s) to be routed are arranged and contained inside the secondary package transported by the primary package. In addition, as shown on the figure 1 , the radio tag 15 is carried by the corresponding secondary package.

[0057] According to this embodiment, the secondary packages 3 each comprise a container 30 having a cavity intended to receive the object(s) to be transported, as well as closing means 31 (in practice a cover) which can adopt, with the container, an opening configuration giving access to the cavity of the secondary package or a closing configuration in which the closing means prevent access to the cavity.

[0058] In this case, the radio tag 15 is then integrated into a seal 150 guaranteeing that the secondary package remains in its closed configuration.

[0059] According to an advantageous characteristic, the seal 150 comprises a degradable part 151 (illustrated schematically by the dotted line across the seal 150 and which may or may not be constituted by a pre-cut). This degradable part is irreversibly degradable when the secondary package passes from the closing configuration to the opening configuration.

[0060] According to a preferred embodiment, the seal 150 takes the form of a strip, for example self-adhesive, intended to be glued overlapping onto the container 30 and the closing means 31 of the secondary packages in the secondary package closing configuration.

[0061] Of course, the seal 150 is reported overlapping on the container and the closing means of the secondary package once the object is placed inside the secondary package and the latter returned to the closing configuration.

[0062] Still according to this embodiment, the seal comprises an electronic radio-identification chip 152 as well as first means of communication in the form of an antenna 153, coupled to the electronic chip via a connection extending at least partially in the degradable part of the seal.

[0063] The transceiver 16 of the primary package is configured to periodically send a radio request that can be picked up by the antenna of the seal, then transmitted to the electronic chip. The chip is programmed to produce a return signal intended to be received by the transceiver of the primary package in response to the radio request, this return signal being transmitted via the antenna. In addition, the computer unit is configured to detect an absence of a return signal.

[0064] In the absence of a return signal, the computer unit 13 is also configured to transmit an alert signal to the computer platform via the first long-distance communication means and the second long-distance communication means.

[0065] The operation of a routing system as described above, with or without the implementation of secondary packages, is described below.

[0066] When an object is placed in the primary package while directly or indirectly carrying the radio tag 15, the identifier contained in the radio tag is transmitted to the proximity transmitter-receiver, in a manner known per se, the data relating to the identifier being transmitted to the computer unit of the primary package.

[0067] This identifier is transmitted, via the first long-distance communication means and the second long-distance communication means, to the computer platform.

[0068] Using the object database 20, the identifier is matched with a label to be displayed on the display device of the primary package. The digital data relating to this label are transmitted to the computer unit 13 of the primary package via the first long-distance communication means and the second long-distance communication means.

[0069] This label data is transmitted by the primary package's computer unit to the electronic display device, with a display instruction.

[0070] Thus, if the label contains data relating to a physical destination address, this is displayed on the electronic display device which can be viewed from outside the primary package.

[0071] With an object routing system according to the invention, it is possible to envisage use in "inventory" mode: at the request of an operator or automatically at regular time intervals, the identifiers contained in the radio tags carried by the products themselves or by the secondary packages are read by the transceivers of the primary packages and are transmitted to the computer platform. During this operation, opening the primary packages is not necessary.

Claims

1. A system for routing an object, implementing: - a plurality of primary packages (1) each having an electronic display device (12) accessible from the exterior of the package, and including a computing unit (13) parameterized to transmit display instructions to the electronic display device, - a computing platform (2) comprising a database (20) relating to the objects, matching, for each object, an identifier and a label to be displayed on the electronic display device, the computing platform being connected to first long-distance communication means (21), the primary packages (1) being connected to second long-distance communication means (14) able to communicate with the first long-distance communication means (21), - at least one RFID ticket (15) to be coupled, directly or indirectly, to the object and containing the identifier of the object, - a proximity transceiver (16) integrated into each primary package, able to communicate with the RFID ticket and being parameterized to read the identifier, and in that the computing unit (13) is connected to the transceiver (16) and is further parameterized to transmit the identifier to the computing platform (2) via the first and second long-distance communication means, characterized in that the computing platform (2) is parameterized to return to the computing unit (13) the label corresponding to the identifier so as to facilitate the reshipment of the object and the computing unit (13) is parameterized to transmit to the electronic display device (12) a label display instruction so as to prompt to reship the object, the database (20) being parameterized such that the label comprises data relating to a physical destination address.

2. The system for routing an object according to claim 1, characterized in that the proximity transceiver (16) is an RFID reader.

3. The system for routing an object according to claim 2, characterized in that the proximity transceiver (16) is an NFC reader.

4. The system for routing an object according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the database (20) is parameterized such that the label comprises data relating to the weight of the object.

5. The system for routing an object according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that it implements secondary packages (3), able to be contained in the primary packages (1), the RFID ticket (15) being carried by the secondary packages (3).

6. The system for routing an object according to claim 5, characterized in that the secondary packages (3) comprise a container (30) having a cavity and closing means (31) which can adopt, with the container (30), an open configuration or a closed configuration in which the closing means (31) prohibit access to the cavity, the RFID ticket (15) being integrated into a seal (150) guaranteeing that the secondary package (3) is held in its closed configuration.

7. The system for routing an object according to claim 6, characterized in that the seal (150) comprises a part (151) that is irreversibly degradable when the secondary package switches from the closed configuration to the open configuration.

8. The system for routing an object according to any of claims 6 and 7, characterized in that the seal (150) takes the form of a strip intended to be glued in an overlapping manner on the container (30) and the secondary package (3) closing means (31) in the closed configuration of the secondary packages.

9. The system for routing an object according to any of claims 7 and 8, characterized in that the seal (150) comprises an electronic radio frequency identification chip (152), and first communication means comprising an antenna (153), the first communication means being coupled to the electronic chip (152) and extending at least partially into the degradable part (151) of the seal, and in that the transceiver (16) of the primary package is configured to periodically send a radio request capable of being picked up by the antenna (153), then transmitted to the electronic chip (152), and to receive a return signal produced by the electronic chip (152) in response to the radio request then transmitted by the antenna (153), the computing unit (13) being parameterized to detect an absence of a return signal.