Patent ID: 6866195
Filing Date: 2005-03-15
Classification: G06Q,G07F

Abstract:
1. A method for the unattended distribution and retrieval of returned items by an inventory management service, comprising: providing an unattended facility comprised of at least one secure enclosure at a location that is remote from a central warehouse and that is geographically close to a plurality of customers of the inventory management service; receiving information from said plurality of customers regarding a certain plurality of service parts that comprise an inventory of items that are to be placed in the unattended facility; placing paid inventory of items in said unattended facility; maintaining said inventory of items within one or more secure enclosures of the unattended facility; allowing said plurality of customers to access the inventory of items, as needed; receiving from at least one of said plurality of customers a request for delivery of an order comprised of one or more items that are not included in the inventory of items; responding to the request for delivery transporting the order from the central warehouse to the unattended facility and placing the items that comprise the order in the one or more secure enclosures of the unattended facility; providing a single notification to the customer that the items comprising the customer's order have been placed in one or more secure enclosures of the unattended facility; securely maintaining the order within the unattended facility until the order is retrieved up by the customer; and allowing the customer to access the order within the unattended facility.