Patent ID: 6778880
Filing Date: 2004-08-17
Classification: G06Q

Abstract:
In a distribution system in which a plurality of differing types of products of differing shapes and sizes are packed at a shipping site in one or more sealed packages for transportation via a distribution route to a receiving site, with at least one portion of the sealed package being composed of a material through which can pass high frequency signals;a respective no-contact type wireless electronic product tag attached to each of a plurality of products to be placed inside said sealed package, with article specific article specific data corresponding to the respective attached item being stored on each said electronic product tag, said article specific data including data for identifying the attached item; an electronic tag attached to each of said packages for storing package specific data, said package specific data including data for identifying said package and its intended contents; a computer workstation at the shipping site for generating a work order specifying the products to be shipped to said receiving site but not specifying which of said products is to be placed into a particular said package; a first product tag reading device at the shipping site that reads said article specific data from each electronic product tag as the associated product is being placed in said package; a package tag writing device at the shipping site that writes said article specific data onto the electronic package tag attached to each said package as specific products on the work order are packed in that package whereby the article specific data stored in the package tag is complete and accurate even if the associated package is sealed and shipped with only some of the products specified on the work order; a second product tag reading device at the receiving site that reads said article specific data from each electronic product tag before the sealed package is opened and the associated product can be removed from said package; a package tag reading device at the receiving site that reads said article specific data from the electronic pacgage tag attached to the sealed said package; a computer workstation at the receiving site connected to the second product tag reading device and to the package tag reading device for comparing the article specific data with the package specific data to thereby confirm that the intended package contents correspond to the actual contents; and a database system at the receiving site responsive to the computer workstation that stores some or all of the article specific data and the package specific data after the computer workstation has thus confirmed that the intended package contents were actually received.