Patent ID: 6820805
Filing Date: 2004-11-23
Classification: G06Q,G07B,G07C,G07F

Abstract:
A method for logging the transfer of a retail good, the method performed with respect to a signal-transmitting receptacle, the receptacle having a lid, the method comprising the steps of:(a) purchasing from a seller the retail good by a consumer via a telecommunications means; (b) driving a delivery vehicle by a delivery carrier to the signal-transmitting receptacle; (c) gaining access to the signal-transmitting receptacle by the delivery carrier using a delivery wireless key; (d) opening the lid of the receptacle by the delivery carrier; (e) transmitting a first wireless signal from the signal-transmitting receptacle via a wireless link; (f) placing the retail good in the signal-transmitting receptacle by the delivery carrier; (g) closing the lid of the signal-transmitting receptacle by the delivery carrier, defining a transfer; (h) transmitting a second wireless signal from the signal-transmitting receptacle via a wireless link; (i) receiving the second wireless signal by a first transmission node, said transmission node comprising a central processing unit and an antenna; (j) noting by the central processing unit a plurality of data comprising a date and a time associated with the received second wireless signal; (k) transmitting the plurality of data through a communicative means from the central processing unit to a central server; (l) notifying the consumer of the transfer from the central server by an electronic message; (m) gaining access to the signal-transmitting receptacle with a user wireless key by the consumer; (n) opening the lid of the receptacle by the consumer; (o) transmitting a third wireless signal from the signal-transmitting receptacle via the wireless link; (p) removing the retail good from the signal-transmitting receptacle by the consumer; (q) closing the lid of the signal-transmitting receptacle by the consumer; (r) transmitting a fourth wireless signal from the signal-transmitting receptacle via the wireless link; (s) inspecting the retail good by the consumer; (t) informing the seller the consumer desires the retail good to be returned to the seller; (u) gaining access to the signal-transmitting receptacle with the user wireless key by the consumer; (v) opening the lid of the receptacle by the consumer; (w) transmitting a fifth wireless signal from the signal-transmitting receptacle via the wireless link; (x) placing the retail good in the signal-transmitting receptacle by the consumer; (y) closing the lid of the signal-transmitting receptacle by the consumer; (z) transmitting a sixth wireless signal from the signal-transmitting receptacle via the wireless link; (aa) driving the delivery vehicle by the delivery carder to the signal-transmitting receptacle used by the consumer; (bb) gaining access to the signal-transmitting receptacle by the delivery carrier using the delivery wireless key; (cc) opening the lid of the receptacle by the delivery carrier; (dd) transmitting a seventh wireless signal from the signal-transmitting receptacle via the wireless link; (ee) removing the retail good in the signal-transmitting receptacle by the delivery carrier; (ff) closing the signal-transmitting receptacle by the delivery carrier; (gg) transmitting an eighth wireless signal from the signal-transmitting receptacle via the wireless link; (hh) receiving the eighth wireless signal by the transmission node on the delivery truck; (ii) confirming by the central processing unit on the delivery truck the plurality of data comprising the date and the time of the transfer of the retail good; (jj) transmitting the plurality of data through the second signal from the central processing unit to the central server.