Patent ID: 9592969
Date: 2017-03-14
CPC Classifications: B65G

Claim:
1. A system for tracking and controlling access to transported articles, the system comprising: a computing module having a database and a processor connected to the database, the computing module being in signal communication with a sending station and at least one receiving station, the at least one receiving station comprising a receiving point for receiving a carrier; a first input device provided at the sending station and configured for receiving information related to a desired receiving station and identifying information identifying a carrier (“carrier ID”) and an item (“item ID”) placed within the carrier for delivery, wherein the carrier ID and the item ID are transmitted to the computing module and the carrier is locked prior to delivery; and a second input device provided at the at least one receiving station and configured for receiving the carrier ID for a carrier received at the at least one receiving station and identifying information for an individual (“user ID”) at the at least one receiving station provided access to the carrier, wherein the carrier ID and the user ID are transmitted to the computing module; wherein, after the carrier ID and user ID of the individual that is provided access to the item is entered into the second input device of the at least one receiving station, the computing module facilitates unlocking the carrier to allow access to the item inside, wherein the computing module is configured to record the user ID of the individual that is provided access to the item within the carrier, and the associated carrier ID and/or item ID to provide chain of custody information for tracking the item, wherein when the carrier has been delivered to an incorrect receiving station, the computer module generates and transmits a notification to both the sending station and the desired receiving station and the computer module does not facilitate unlocking the carrier.