System for identifying an object and delivering an object using a primary package displaying a label corresponding to the identified object - Patent Application 20070122997

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system for delivering an object, the system comprising: - a plurality of primary packages (1); - a computing platform (2), The plurality of primary packages (1) each have an electronic display device (12) accessible from outside the package and include a computing unit (13) configured to send display instructions to the electronic display device; The computing platform (2) comprises a database (20) of objects, which associates for each object an identifier with a label to be displayed on the electronic display device, the computing platform is connected to a first long-range communication means (21) and the primary package (1) is connected to a second long-range communication means (14); The system is at least one RFID tag (15) directly or indirectly linked to the object and containing an identifier of the object; a proximity transceiver (16) integrated in each primary package, capable of communicating with the RFID tag and configured to read the identifier, The computing unit (13) is connected to the transceiver (16) and is further configured to send an identifier to the computing platform (2) via the first and second long-distance communication means, the computing platform (2) is configured to return a label corresponding to the identifier to the computing unit (13), and the computing unit (13) is configured to send a label display instruction to the electronic display device (12).

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] More specifically, the present invention relates to the delivery of objects, particularly objects generally from e-commerce platforms or objects transported from one individual to another. [Background technology]

[0003] In the field of the present invention, the sending of objects by electronic commerce platforms is very often done by placing one or more objects to be sent in a package that is provided for the sending with a tag that has at least one visual code, in particular in the form of a printed barcode, that allows the package to be identified by each of the actors involved in sending the package.

[0004] Conventionally, a package is formed by an operator for the delivery of one or several objects, one or more objects are then placed into the formed package, and the package is then closed and tagged for delivery.

[0005] In the field of object delivery, there is the topic of re-delivering products or objects more generally with a view to recycling them and / or their destruction.

[0006] In this respect, in particular, -Used coffee capsules, - used batteries or, more generally, batteries for small electrical appliances; -Some medical devices, such as syringes, - expired medicines, -..., may be mentioned.

[0007] Currently, for some of these objects that must or could be re-shipped, it is observed, and even regretted, that the users of these objects do not take the time or make the effort to send these objects back to the workers responsible for their recycling or their destruction.

[0008] Therefore, there is a need to encourage users of objects to be re-shipped to re-ship them.

[0009] At the same time, connected packages have recently appeared, which are equipped with electronic displays visible from the outside of the package and are intended to display the destination postal address and possibly some other type of information.

[0010] The displays on these packages can be programmed to allow the user of the package to initiate re-shipment of the package to a predetermined drop-off location, and the drop-off location address is displayed on the electronic display.

[0011] In addition, taking their cost into consideration, these "connected" packages are made of materials that are resistant to the various handling (opening, closing, forming, etc.) and shocks likely to occur during their transportation stages. In this way, these packages are designed to be reused again and again.

[0012] Currently, such packaging is not used in the context of incentives for reshipment of objects as described above. Summary of the Invention

[0013] The object of the present invention is, inter alia, to overcome the drawbacks or shortcomings of the prior art.

[0014] More specifically, the object of the present invention is to propose a system for sending objects using reusable connected packaging that facilitates the re-shipment of used objects to recycling or destruction facilities.

[0015] It is also an object of the present invention to provide such an object delivery system that preserves the integrity of the package, including in the event of shipments that are aggressive or troublesome to the package.

[0016] Another object of the present invention is to provide such a system that is easy for the user to use.

[0017] These objects, and others that will appear later, are achieved thanks to the present invention, which relates to a system for delivering objects, comprising: a plurality of primary packages; - a computing platform, each of the plurality of primary packages having an electronic display accessible from outside the package and including a computing unit configured to send display instructions to the electronic display; the computing platform comprises a database of objects, which associates for each object an identifier with a label to be displayed on the electronic display device, the computing platform is connected to a first long-range communication means, and the primary package is connected to a second long-range communication means capable of communicating with the first long-range communication means; The system is at least one RFID tag directly or indirectly linked to the object and containing an identifier of the object; a proximity transceiver integrated into each primary package, capable of communicating with the RFID tag and configured to read the identifier; The computing unit is connected to the transceiver and is further configured to send an identifier to the computing platform via the first and second long-range communication means, the computing platform is configured to return a label corresponding to the identifier to the computing unit, and the computing unit is configured to send a label display instruction to the electronic display device.

[0018] Thus, thanks to the present invention, the primary package is programmed to have a label that corresponds to the identifier of the object to be shipped (or reshipped) via an RFID tag that is linked to the object.

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

[0020] It should also be noted that within the meaning of the present invention, a "label" can be defined as a digital tag that integrates a recipient's address, a sender's address, and a tracking logistics tag. Thus, when the label is displayed by an electronic display device of the primary package, it resembles a tag that is attached to the primary package and carries various information. For reasons of content protection, the contents are not listed on the label.

[0021] In addition, it will be seen that the delivery system according to the present invention has an aspect of encouraging the re-shipment of objects that should be recycled or destroyed. Indeed, this type of object can be delivered with a dedicated RFID tag programmed with an identifier, which is itself recorded in the database of the computing platform and associates with it a label that is displayed on the electronic display of the primary package. The consumer simply places the consumed object in the appropriate primary package, and the primary package, through its embedded intelligence, automatically displays the re-shipment address corresponding to the object placed in the primary package.

[0022] According to a first advantageous solution, the proximity transceiver is an RFID reader, more particularly an 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 cheaply in mass production.

[0025] According to one advantageous solution, the database is arranged in such a way that the labels contain data relating to the physical destination.

[0026] As mentioned above, this allows for automatic display of the physical destination on the primary package. As such, the label may contain data other than the destination without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0027] Therefore, according to another advantageous solution, the database is configured such that the label contains data relating to the weight of the object.

[0028] In this way, a weight measuring device integrated into the primary package can be used to calculate a delivery bill that takes into account the mass of the contents. In other words, the primary package sends an encrypted unique identifier of the contents and its weight. In return, the computing platform sends a prepaid label with the correct weight that indicates the recipient's physical address where the contents can be processed.

[0029] According to one particular embodiment, the system utilizes a secondary package that can be housed in the primary package, with the RFID tag carried by the secondary package.

[0030] It can be seen that in this embodiment the RFID tag is not carried by the object to be reshipped itself, but directly by another package, called the secondary package, into which the object is inserted and which is then placed in its entirety into the primary package.

[0031] Thus, within the context of this embodiment, objects that may be aggressive or troublesome to the primary package may be transported in the reusable connected primary package, and in effect, the aggressive and / or troublesome objects are contained within the secondary package, thereby preserving the material integrity of the primary package and its ability to be reused multiple times without requiring maintenance or care.

[0032] In effect, the secondary package constitutes, relative to the primary package, a protective enclosure for the interior space of the primary package.

[0033] According to this embodiment, the secondary package comprises a container having a cavity and a closure means which can be in an open or closed configuration together with the container, the closure means prohibiting access to the cavity in the closed configuration, and the RFID tag is integrated into a seal which ensures that the secondary package is maintained in its closed configuration.

[0034] In this way the seal has a dual function: - it forms a medium containing identification data of the item; - It maintains the container and associated closure means in a closed configuration and prohibits the substitution of the consignment for another (not corresponding to the identifier), or at least reports the re-opening of the secondary package.

[0035] In this case, the seal advantageously comprises a portion that can be irreversibly broken when the secondary package is switched from the closed configuration to the open configuration.

[0036] Therefore, it is impossible to compromise the integrity of the seal without it being seen, or at least reported.

[0037] According to one particular embodiment, the seal takes the form of a strip intended to be glued so as to overlap the closure means of the container and the secondary package in the closed configuration of the secondary package.

[0038] Such seals, eg stickers, are very practical and can be readily applied to secondary packaging.

[0039] Preferably, the seal comprises an electronic radio frequency identification chip and first communication means comprising an antenna, the first communication means being tethered to the electronic chip and extending at least partially into the breakable portion of the seal, the transceiver of the primary package being configured to periodically transmit wireless requests which can be received by the antenna and then sent to the electronic chip, and then receive return signals generated by the electronic chip in response to the wireless requests sent by the antenna, and the computing unit being configured to detect the absence of a return signal.

[0040] According to this embodiment, it is possible to know in real time whether the seal that ensures that the secondary package remains in a closed configuration has been broken. Such information therefore makes it possible to know whether the secondary package has been opened after the seal was applied. By checking with the computing unit of the primary package, information regarding the possibility of opening can be obtained.

[0041] Indeed, opening the secondary package, in other words switching it from its closed configuration to its open configuration, causes the breakage (destruction) of the breakable part of the seal. Thus, since the first communication means is integrated into the breakable part, it is also broken during the opening of the secondary package. This breakage of the first communication means then prevents the reception and / or transmission of requests issued by the transceiver to the electronic radio frequency identification chip, so that the electronic chip does not generate a return signal.

[0042] In this context, it is recalled that the information exchanged between the tag, the primary package, and the remote computing platform is encrypted and authenticated.

[0043] Other features and advantages of the present invention will become more clearly apparent upon reading the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, given as an illustrative and non-limiting example, with reference to the single FIG. 1 which provides a schematic diagram of a delivery system according to the invention. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0044] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic diagram of a delivery system according to the present invention; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0045] As shown in FIG. 1, a system for sending objects according to the present invention utilizes a plurality of primary packages 1, which are a box 10 delimiting a storage space intended to contain one or several objects; a lid 1 connected or not connected to the box 10 and which together with the box can assume a primary package closed configuration or a primary package open configuration.

[0046] The primary packages are: an electronic display device 12 accessible from outside the primary package; a computing unit 13 configured to send display instructions to the electronic display device.

[0047] The delivery system according to the invention further comprises a computing platform 2 containing a database 20 of objects to be delivered, which database associates for each object an identifier and a label to be displayed on the electronic display device of the primary package.

[0048] Additionally, the computing platform is connected to a first long-range communication means 21 .

[0049] The primary packages, for their part, are connected to second long-range communication means 14 which are able to communicate with the first long-range communication means of the computing platform.

[0050] In accordance with the principles of the present invention, the delivery system comprises for each primary package: - one RFID tag 15 (or even several) directly or indirectly linked to the object to be sent, which RFID tag is programmed to contain an identifier of the object to be sent, which is stored in the database 20 of the computing platform. a proximity transceiver 16 integrated into each primary package and capable of communicating with the RFID tag 15 of the same primary package, the transceiver being configured to read the identifier contained in the RFID tag;

[0051] Additionally, the computing unit of the primary package is connected to a corresponding transceiver 15 and is further configured to send, via the first and second long-range communication means, an identifier of the contained object to the computing platform 2. Furthermore, the computing platform 2 is further configured to return, again via the first and second long-range communication means, to the computing unit 13 a label corresponding to the identifier of the object contained in the primary package (the label in question being linked to the identifier of the object via the database 20 of the computing platform 2). It should be noted that the identifier contained in the tag attached to the package is unique and authenticated and that communication between the unit of the primary package and the platform is preferentially encrypted.

[0052] At the primary package level, the computing unit is configured to ultimately send label display instructions to the primary package's electronic display device 12 .

[0053] The label preferably contains data relating to the physical destination of the object being sent, and the destination is displayed on the electronic display 12 of the primary package.

[0054] In this sense, the database 20 of the computing platform is configured such that a label contains, for each sent object, said physical destination data of the object in question.

[0055] It should also be noted that the computing platform's database may be configured such that the label contains data regarding the weight of the object.

[0056] With respect to the proximity transceiver integrated into the primary package, the proximity transceiver may be of the RFID or NFC type.

[0057] According to the embodiment shown in Figure 1, the shipping system utilizes, in addition to a primary package, a secondary package 3 that can be accommodated in (i.e., is sized to be accommodated in) the primary package. In this case, one or more objects to be shipped are placed and contained within the secondary package that is carried by the primary package. Additionally, an RFID tag 15 is carried by the corresponding secondary package, as can be seen in Figure 1.

[0058] According to this embodiment, the secondary packages 3 each comprise a container 30 having a cavity intended to contain one or more objects to be sent, and a closure means 31 (actually a lid), which together with the container can be in an open configuration allowing access to the cavity of the secondary package, or in a closed configuration in which the closure means prohibits access to the cavity.

[0059] And in this case, the RFID tag 15 is integrated into the seal 150 which ensures that the secondary package is maintained in its closed configuration.

[0060] According to one advantageous feature, the seal 150 comprises a breakable portion 151 (schematically indicated by a dotted line across the seal 150, which may or may not consist of a pre-cut), which is irreversibly breakable when the secondary package is switched from a closed configuration to an open configuration.

[0061] According to one preferred embodiment, the seal 150 takes the form of a strip, for example an adhesive strip, intended to be adhered so as to overlap the container 30 and the closure means 31 of the secondary package in the closed configuration of the secondary package.

[0062] Of course, the seal 150 is applied so as to overlap the closure of the container and secondary package when the object is placed in the secondary package and the secondary package is returned to the closed configuration.

[0063] Still according to this embodiment, the seal comprises an electronic radio frequency identification chip 152 and first communication means in the form of an antenna 153 tethered to the electronic chip via a coupling that extends at least partially into the breakable portion of the seal.

[0064] The transceiver 16 of the primary package, for its part, is configured to periodically transmit a wireless request that can be received by the antenna of the seal and then sent to the electronic chip. The chip is programmed to generate a return signal in response to the wireless request, which return signal is intended to be received by the transceiver of the primary package, and this return signal is sent via the antenna. In addition, the computing unit is configured to detect the absence of a return signal.

[0065] In addition, if there is no return signal, the computing unit 13 is configured to issue an alarm signal to the computing platform via the first long-range communication means and the second long-range communication means.

[0066] The operation of such a delivery system, with or without the use of secondary packaging, is described below.

[0067] When an object carrying an RFID tag 15, directly or indirectly, is placed in the primary package, the identifier contained in the RFID tag is transmitted to the proximity transceiver in a manner known per se, and data relating to the identifier is transmitted to a computing unit in the primary package.

[0068] The identifier is sent to the computing platform via the first long-range communication means and the second long-range communication means.

[0069] Thanks to the object database 20, the identifier is associated with a label intended to be displayed on the display device of the primary package, and digital data relating to this label is emitted to the computing unit 13 of the primary package via the first long-range communication means and the second long-range communication means.

[0070] This data about the label, along with display instructions, is sent to the electronic display device by the computing unit of the primary package.

[0071] Thus, if the label contains data relating to the physical destination, the destination is displayed on an electronic display accessible from outside the primary package.

[0072] The object delivery system according to the invention can envisage the use of an "inventory" mode: at the request of an operator or automatically at regular time intervals, an identifier contained in an RFID tag carried by the product itself or by the secondary packaging is read by a transceiver in the primary packaging and transmitted to a computing platform. During this operation, it is not necessary to open the primary packaging.

Claims

1. 1. A system for delivering an object, comprising: a plurality of primary packages (1); a computing platform (2); each of the plurality of primary packages (1) having an electronic display device (12) accessible from outside the package and including a computing unit (13) configured to send display instructions to the electronic display device; the computing platform (2) comprises a database (20) of objects that directly associates, for each object, an identifier with a label that is displayed on the electronic display device, the computing platform is connected to a first long-range communication means (21), and the primary package (1) is connected to a second long-range communication means (14) that is able to communicate with the first long-range communication means (21); at least one RFID tag (15) directly or indirectly coupled to said object and containing said identifier of said object; a proximity transceiver (16) integrated into each primary package, capable of communicating with said RFID tag and configured to read said identifier; the computing unit (13) is connected to the transceiver (16) and is further configured to send the identifier to the computing platform (2) via the first and second long-distance communication means, the computing platform (2) is configured to return the label corresponding to the identifier to the computing unit (13), and the computing unit (13) is configured to send a label display instruction to the electronic display device (12); 1. A system for sending objects, characterized in that the database (20) is configured such that the label contains data relating to the physical destination of the object, and the label is displayed on the electronic display device (12) to indicate the destination of the sending of the primary package (1).

2. 2. The system for sending an object according to claim 1, wherein said proximity transceiver (16) is an RFID reader.

3. The system for sending an object according to claim 1, characterized in that the proximity transceiver (16) is an NFC reader.

4. 2. The system for sending objects according to claim 1, wherein said database (20) is configured such that said label contains data relating to the weight of said object.

5. 2. A system for sending objects according to claim 1, characterized in that it utilizes a secondary package (3) that can be housed in the primary package (1), and the RFID tag (15) is carried by the secondary package (3).

6. 6. A system for sending objects as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that the secondary package (3) comprises a container (30) having a cavity and a closure means (31) which can be in an open or closed configuration together with the container (30), the closure means (31) prohibiting access to the cavity in the closed configuration, and the RFID tag (15) is integrated into a seal (150) which ensures that the secondary package (3) is maintained in its closed configuration.

7. 7. A system for sending objects according to claim 6, characterized in that the seal (150) comprises a portion (151) that can be irreversibly broken when the secondary package is switched from the closed configuration to the open configuration.

8. 7. A system for sending objects according to claim 6, characterized in that the seal (150) is in the form of a strip intended to be glued so as to overlap the container (30) and the closure means (31) of the secondary package (3) in the closed configuration of the secondary package.

9. 8. The system for sending an object according to claim 7, 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 breakable portion (151) of the seal, the transceiver (16) of the primary package being configured to periodically transmit wireless requests which can be received by the antenna (153) and then sent to the electronic chip (152), and then receive return signals generated by the electronic chip (152) in response to the wireless requests sent by the antenna (153), and the computing unit (13) being configured to detect the absence of return signals.

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