GB2371642A - Product distribution - Google Patents
Product distribution Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2371642A GB2371642A GB0102327A GB0102327A GB2371642A GB 2371642 A GB2371642 A GB 2371642A GB 0102327 A GB0102327 A GB 0102327A GB 0102327 A GB0102327 A GB 0102327A GB 2371642 A GB2371642 A GB 2371642A
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- Prior art keywords
- code
- holding point
- product
- customer
- ordination
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Classifications
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- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- G06Q10/00—Administration; Management
- G06Q10/08—Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
Description
Product Distribution Apparatus And A Method Of Distributing Products Background of the Invention 1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to product distribution apparatus having a plurality of supplier stations and a plurality of customer terminals.
The present invention also relates to a co-ordination station for use in the network and to a holding point for use in the network.
2. Description of the Related Art
Over recent years, there has been a tendency towards having products delivered in preference for them being collected from shops and other retail outlets etc. This trend has been enhanced by the availability of the internet and its associated advantages of purchasing products online. This may be considered an example of what is generally now referred to as ecommerce. Some products are easily delivered in an online environment. For example, software programmes and data may be supplied directly over the online communication link. The method of doing business works well with services, such as banking and insurance services etc, where the only physical products which need to be transferred are easily conveyed in the post. However, problems do occur when larger products are ordered and shipped to customers. A recent example of this has been the successful marketing of books over the internet, but generally most packages of this type are larger than those that may be easily placed through conventional receiving mechanisms, such as letter boxes. Increasingly, affluent people purchasing products of this type are often not available during the day to
receive deliveries. Consequently, there is a problem in that delivery may need to be made outside of normal working hours or special arrangements must be made in order for products to be collected.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved environment for the ordering and collection of products. In particular, it is an object of the present invention to provide an environment for the ordering and delivery of products which does not impact upon the normal delivery procedures of suppliers while at the same time providing an environment in which receiving customers are not inconvenienced.
Brief Summary of the Invention
According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a co-ordination station for use in a network, said network having a plurality of supplier stations; a plurality of customer terminals ; and a plurality of holding points; said co-ordination station comprising first receiving means configured to receive a request for a product-receiving address from a requesting customer terminal ; sending means configured to send an address of a selected holding point and a product code to said requesting customer terminals ; second receiving means configured to receive notification to the effect that a requested product has been received by the selected holding point; and identifying means configured to identify a first code to said selected holding point and a second code to said customer terminal, so that the first code and the second code may be processed in combination at said holding point.
Brief Description of the Several Views of the Drawings
Figure 1 shows an environment for assisting with the distribution of
products ; Figure 2 shows an overview of procedures performed within the environment shown in Figure 1 in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the invention;
Figure 3 details co-ordination station 131 as shown in Figure 1 ;
Figure 4 details computer system 301 shown in Figure 3;
Figure 5 details procedures performed by the processing structure identified in Figure 4;
Figure 6 shows a customer table ;
Figure 7 shows allocation tables and a transaction table ;
Figure 8 shows a holding point table ;
Figure 9 details procedures for overseeing transactions identified in
Figure 5;
Figure 10 details procedures for the allocation of codes to customers;
Figure 11 details procedures for responding to a product being received at a holding point;
Figure 12 details procedures executed by the co-ordination station when a customer receives a product;
Figure 13 details a holding point of the type shown in Figure 1 ;
Figure 14 details procedures performed by the processor identified in Figure 13 ; Figure 15 details the process shown in Figure 14 performed in response to a product being received ; Figure 16 details the process shown in Figure 14 for receiving an encrypted file ;
Figure 17 details the process shown in Figure 14 executed in
response to a customer arriving at a holding point.
Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention An environment for assisting with the distribution of products is illustrated in Figure 1. Products are produced by supplier stations such as supplier station 101 and supplier station 102. Supplies are made to customers and customers place orders with suppliers by means of computer equipment referred to herein as customer terminal equipment.
Thus, in the environment shown in Figure 1, there is provided a customer terminal 111, a second customer terminal 112 and a third customer terminal 113. A customer using a customer terminal, such as customer terminal 111, may view products for sale from, say, supplier station 101 by accessing supplier's 101 web site via the world-wide web 121. Having placed an order, supplier station 101 would then invoke measures, such as arranging for couriers etc, for products to be physically transferred to an address identified by the customer.
The environment illustrated in Figure 1 provides an enhancement to the process of products being delivered to customers. In preference to the product being supplied to the customer directly, the product is supplied to a holding point identified by the customer so that the customer does not need to be available when the delivery is actually made, and from the supplier's point of view no special arrangements have to be made in terms of the time of delivery. The product is supplied to a holding point selected from a plurality of available holding points and the overall availability of products and the placing of orders by the customer is overseen by a co-ordination station. Thus, as shown in Figure 1, there is provided a co-ordination station 131 that communicates with a plurality of holding points, including a
first holding point 132 and a second holding point 133. Communication between the co-ordination station 131 and holding point (132, 133) may be effected over the word-wide web. Alternatively, and in the preferred embodiment, communication is made via existing communication channels used essentially for electronic point of sale services (EPOS).
An overview of procedures performed within the environment shown in Figure 1 in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in Figure 2. The preferred embodiment of the invention allows the customer to arrange for a product to be despatched to a specified holding point from which the customer then obtains the product at a time that is convenient. These activities are overseen by the co-ordination station 131.
Furthermore, charges are submitted to customers when items are collected, this information is conveyed back to the co-ordination station and charges are then made to the individual holding points or associations of holding points. Consequently, the supplier stations do not need to be made aware that the service is being performed. The service is effected by a customer specifying addresses of holding points to supplier stations and including a unique reference code in the holding point address. These unique reference codes are obtained from the co-ordination station 131. Thus, as shown at step 201, a product code is obtained from the co-ordination station by, say, customer terminal 111. This is achieved by customer terminal 111 accessing a web site of the co-ordination station, after performing a registration process.
Having obtained a product code and an address of a holding point from the co-ordination station, the customer places an order using the specific code and the selected holding point address, as identified in step 202.
The supplier station, such as supplier station 101, receives an order in the usual way, possibly including credit card details etc. The product is sent to the customer using the selected holding point address and including the code obtained at step 201. Thus, as shown at step 203, the product is sent to the holding point which, from the supplying station's perspective, represents a conventional transaction.
The product is delivered to the holding point, possibly by a courier.
The holding point holds onto the product in a secure way and informs the co-ordination station to the effect that the product has been received, as shown in step 204, identifying the product code.
As shown in step 205, the co-ordination station 131 sends an encrypted file to the holding point, that may be considered as the first code.
The co-ordination station then waits for approximately one hour, as shown at step 206, and then, as shown at step 207, the co-ordination station 131 informs the customer terminal 111 to the effect that the product has arrived at the selected holding point 132.
As shown at step 208, the customer 111 obtains a key (that may be considered as a second code) from the co-ordination station 131.
As shown in step 209, the customer conveys details of the key to the selected holding point 132 which allows the holding point 132 to decrypt the file received from the co-ordination station 131. This confirms that the transaction is correct, the customer is given their product and a charge is made by the holding point 131.
Co-ordination station 131 is detailed in Figure 3. The station includes a computer system 301, arranged to receive input command from a mouse 302 and from a keyboard 303. Output signals are displayed on a visual display unit 304 and communication to the world-wide web 121 is achieved
via communication cable 305.
Computer system 301 is detailed in Figure 4. The system includes a central processing unit 401 such as a Pentium III processor configured to operate under instructions received from system memory 402. Programmes are loaded into memory from disc storage 403 and communication to external devices is achieved by an input/output interface 404. New programme instructions are loaded to disc 403 via a DVD reader 405 configured to receive a CD-ROM 406 or a similar data-conveying medium.
Procedures performed by the processing structure identified in
Figure 4 are identified in Figure 5.
At 501, procedures are implemented to register a new customer, in which information is obtained from a customer in order to populate a customer table.
At 502, instructions are implemented to oversee transactions, as illustrated in Figure 9.
At 503, instructions are implemented in order to maintain databases, essentially to purge databases of old data and thereby freeing up space and code allocations for new transactions.
At 504, instructions are implemented to perform charging activities, usually on a monthly basis.
Finally, at 505, procedures are implemented in order to receive and process comments and suggestions made by customers.
A customer table, of a type populated by procedures 501, is illustrated in Figure 6. A customer table includes a field 601 for identifying a unique client D, allocated on initiation of the registration process. Field 602 maintains a record of the client's name with field 603 maintaining details of the client's address. Field 604 stores a password for the client with field 605
maintaining details of the client's e-mail address. Field 606 identifies the presence of other data fields that may be populated when further information about the client is obtained, such as specific interests etc.
During the overseeing of transactions, reference is made to allocation tables, such as allocation table 701 and allocation table 702 as shown in Figure 7. An allocation table is maintained for each individual holding point. Thus, in this example, allocation table 701 maintains details of product codes for holding point 132 and, similarly, allocation 702 maintains details of product codes for holding point 133. When implemented nationally, it is envisaged that many hundreds of holding points would be available throughout the country, therefore a similar number of allocation tables would be required as part of the overall data base management environment.
Each allocation table, such as table 701, includes a field 703 identifying a product code. The allocation tables are pre-populated with many product codes and actual product codes are then selected from these tables when allocated to a particular customer. Thus, the table 701 also includes a field 704 that records the client to whom the code was allocated and a field 705 identifying the date of allocation.
The database management system also includes a transaction table 710 that maintains essential data relating to particular transactions. In addition to transaction requests populating the transaction table, it is also possible for customers, by their respective terminals, to make enquiries as to the status of a particular transaction, involving an enquiry to the transaction table 710.
The transaction table 710 includes a field 711 that identifies a client ID. A field 712 stores identification for a selected holding point and field 713
stores a product code. Field 714 stores details relating to the product, ie the type of goods and their value etc, with field 715 storing the allocation date.
After a product has been sent from a supplier to a holding point, field 716 retains a holding date with field 719 retaining a similar collection date.
In order to ensure that only the correct customer may obtain their product from a holding point, the selected holding point is supplied with an encrypted file after the product has been received there. The customer is then supplied with the key for decrypting that file so that the decrypting process may be performed locally at the holding point and the product released. Consequently, a file name for the encrypted file is stored at field 717 and its associated key is stored at field 718.
The database system also stores a holding point table as illustrated at Figure 8. This table is maintained essentially for charging services and includes a field 801 that retains a unique identification for the holding point (the same ID used at field 712), an address of the holding point at field 802 and an accumulated charge at field 803. Thus, when a product is taken from a holding point, a payment is made by a customer and details of this payment are recorded at the co-ordination station 131. Thus, the appropriate record is modified and the charge field is accumulated with details of the new transaction amount. Periodically, typically monthly, charges are transmitted to holding points. It is also appreciated that a plurality of holding points may be commercially related and that charges may be submitted collectively. Holding point table in Figure 8 retains an accumulated charge. In alternative embodiments further details of transactions may be retained and reported to holding points or group offices etc.
Procedures 502 for overseeing transactions are shown in Figure 9.
Three separate procedures are performed, identified as 901, 902 and 903, in response to received input signals. Procedure 901 relates to the allocation of codes to customers. The customer then uses the code resulting in a package being received at a holding point. Procedure 902 relates to the communications that occur between a co-ordination station and a holding point when a product has been received. Similarly, procedure 903 relates to communications between the co-ordination station and the holding point when a package is actually taken from the holding point.
The procedures for overseeing transactions identified in Figure 9, in combination with the system hardware shown in Figure 4, provide a coordination station for use in a network, in which the network has a plurality of supplier stations 101, 102. In addition, there are a plurality of customer terminals 111 to 113 and a plurality of holding points 132,133.
The co-ordination station 131 includes a first receiving means configured to receive a request for a product-receiving address (such as the address of holding point 132) from a requesting customer terminal, such as customer terminal 111. The co-ordination station 131 includes sending means configured to send an address of a selected holding point and a product code to the requesting customer terminal. This enables the customer at the customer terminal to use this address and code for a product to be supplied from a supplier station, such as station 101, to a holding point such, as holding point 132.
The co-ordination station 131 includes a second receiving means configured to receive notification to the effect that a requested product has been received by the selected holding point. Thus, when the product is received at holding point 132 a message is sent back to co-ordination station 131. In addition, the co-ordination station 131 includes identifying
means configured to identify a first code to the selected holding point (preferably in the form of an encrypted file) and to supply a second code to the customer terminal (preferably in the form of the key which decrypts the encrypted file) so that said first code and said second code may be processed in combination at the holding point. Thus, if the customer provides a key to the holding point and the holding point is then able to use this key to decrypt a file, the holding point's operatives are made aware of the fact and will then release the product. Alternatively, if it is not possible to perform an decryption process of this type, the product will not be released.
Procedures 901 are detailed in Figure 10. At step 1001 co-ordination station 131 receives a request for an allocation of a product code and a holding point address.
At step 1002 the allocation table of the selected holding point is read to identify a unique product code for that particular holding point. In addition, the allocation table is populated with details of the client to whom the code has been allocated and a date of allocation.
At step 1003 transaction table 710 is populated, identifying the client ID, the holding point ID, the product code, product details received from the customer and the allocation date of the product code. Thus, the holding point ID in combination with the product code provides a unique identification for the product.
At step 1004 details of the product code and the holding point address are sent to the customer terminal.
Procedures 902 for responding to a product being received at a holding point are detailed in Figure 11. At step 1101 a notification of receipt is received by co-ordination station 131. Thus, the co-ordination station is
informed that a particular product has been received. The product itself carries its product code and the co-ordination table is aware as to where the notification has been sent from, thereby identifying the holding point ID.
At step 1102 the holding date is recorded at field 716 of the transaction table and at step 1103 a key consisting of six to ten digits is generated. Consequently, at step 1104, a file is created and then encrypted using the key generated at step 1103. The file contains information relating to the transaction itself. Thus, for example, the file may include selected components from the transaction tables 710 but this information can only be decrypted at a holding point when a customer provide the holding point with a decryption key.
Thus, at step 1105 the encrypted file is sent to the holding point and retained there. The system now waits for approximately one hour before notifying the respective customer. This is to ensure that the message has propagated to the holding point before the customer is notified. It should be appreciated that the system operates in multi-tasking environment and that many operations will be performed in a multiplexed fashion.
After waiting at step 1106 the customer is notified at step 1107. The customer receives a notification, possibly bye-mail, to the effect that the product has been received at the selected holding point. The customer is then invited to interrogate a secure region of the web site of the coordination station 131 and after entering their respective password, access is given to the key generated at step 1103.
Procedures 903 executed by the co-ordination station 131 when a customer receives a product are illustrated in Figure 12.
At step 1201 co-ordination station 131 receives confirmation to the effect that a payment has been made. At step 1202 the transaction table is
updated at field 719 identifying the collection date. Thereafter, at step 1203 the holding point table shown in Figure 8 is updated with the new incremental charge.
Holding point 132 is detailed in Figure 13. The holding point includes secure storage 1301 for temporarily holding products 1302. In addition, the holding point includes processing equipment 1303 for processing data and for communicating with the co-ordination station 131. awaiting collection.
Processing equipment 1303 includes a processor 1311, a key pad 1312, a display device 1313, a magnetic card reader 1314 and a modem 1315. Modem 1315 may facilitate communication via the world-wide web 121 or alternatively other communication networks may be used. In particular, electronic point of sale equipment may be used and communication may be achieved to a plurality of such devices via an interface service, such as that provided by service provider InSitu. The processor 1311 includes local memory devices and backup storage devices and is configured to receive input commands from keyboard 1312 and to display output information via display 1313 or via printer 1323.
In this preferred embodiment, an operator at holding point 132 is provided with two magnetic cards of the type that may be read by card reader 1314. These include a first card 1321 that is swiped through the card reader 1314 when a new product is received at the holding point. After swiping the card in this way, the operator is then invited to identify the product code, included in the product's address, manually via the keypad 1312. This information is then conveyed to co-ordination station 131. In alternative embodiments, products may include bar codes and the cards may take other forms, such as memory cards or smart cards etc.
A similar card 1322 is used when a product is to be despatched from
the holding point. Again, product code information would have been entered via the keypad 1312 as part of the decryption process and this information is then returned back to co-ordination station 131. Thus, for example, card 1321, used when a product is received, may be a yellow card and card 1322, used when a product is handed over to a customer, may be a red card. This ensures that minimal input or operational knowledge is required by operatives at the holding points.
Procedures performed by the processor 1311 are illustrated in
Figure 14. 1401 identifies procedures performed in response to a product being received. Procedures 1402 relate to the transfer of data from the coordination station 131 and procedures 1403 relate to a customer transaction in which a product is handed over to the customer.
Procedures 1401 are detailed in Figure 15. The holding point 132 receives a new product and in response to this an operator swipes card 1321 through card reader 1314 resulting in the processor 1311 receiving card input at step 1501.
In response to receiving card input at step 1501 the processor 1311, via display 1313, invites the operative to enter the product code via the keypad 1312. Thus, as shown at step 1502, the processor 1311 receives details of the product code.
Having received an indication to the effect that a product has been received and in response to receiving details of the product code, this information, in combination with the holding point's ID, is conveyed back to the co-ordination station 131 at step 1503.
Procedures 1402 identified in Figure 14 are detailed in Figure 16. At step 1601 an encrypted file is received from the co-ordination station. At step 1602 the encrypted file received at step 1601 is stored.
Procedures 1403 are detailed in Figure 17. Procedures 1403 are executed in response to a customer arriving at a holding point and requesting a transfer of product. At the holding point a security check is performed, the customer is invited to make a payment for the service performed and then the product is handed over.
In response to a customer arriving at a holding point, an operative passes a second card 1322 through the card reader 1314 resulting in processor 1311 receiving card input at step 1701.
At step 1702 a question is asked as to whether the customer is aware of the code for the product which the customer wishes to collect. If the customer can identify the product code control is directed to step 1710.
Alternatively, if the question asked at step 1702 is answered in the negative, to the effect that the customer cannot remember the code, control is directed to step 1703.
The customer identifies the key to the operative and the operative enters the details of the key via the keypad 1312. If the customer cannot provide details of the product code, it is necessary to consider all of the encrypted files held at the processor 1311. Thus, at step 1704, the processor reads the next file and at step 1708 a question is asked as to whether the file can be decrypted. If a question asked at step 1708 is answered in the negative, to the effect that the file cannot be decrypted, a question is asked at 1709 as to whether another file is available. If this question is answered in the affirmative, control is returned to step 1704 and the next file is read. If all of the files are considered and none of the files can be decrypted an error message is generated in response to the question asked at step 1709 being answered in the negative.
If the question asked at step 1702 is answered in the affirmative, to
the effect that the product code is available, the details of the key are again specified and this information is received by the person at step 1710. Thus, the processor now receives the key and the product code at step 1710 and attempts to perform a decryption process at 1711.
At step 1712 a question is asked as to whether the file has been decrypted and if answered in the negative an error message is generated.
After decrypting the file charge details are sent to printer 1323 at step 1713 and the customer is requested to make a payment before the product is handed over. Thereafter, at step 1714 the processor 1311, via modem 1315, informs the co-ordination station to the effect that the product has been given to the customer. Thus, as previously stated, this results in the co-ordination station 131 updating the transaction table to confirm that the collection has been made.
Claims (24)
1. A co-ordination station for use in a network, said network having a plurality of supplier stations; a plurality of customer terminals; and a plurality of holding points; said co-ordination station comprising: first receiving means configured to receive a request for a productreceiving address from a requesting customer terminal ; sending means configured to send an address of a selected holding point and a product code to said requesting customer terminal ; second receiving means configured to receive notification to the effect that a requested product has been received at the selected holding point; and identifying means configured to identify a first code to said selected holding point and a second code to said customer terminal, so that said first code and said second code may be processed in combination at said holding point.
2. A co-ordination station according to claim 1, wherein said identifying means identifies a first code to said selected holding point in the form of an encrypted file.
3. A co-ordination station according to claim 2, wherein said second code is a decryption key for said encrypted file.
4. A co-ordination station according to claim 3, wherein an e-mail is sent to a customer terminal to identify product availability.
5. A co-ordination station according to claim 4, wherein said key is supplied to said customer terminal in response to said customer terminal contacting a website.
6. A holding point for use in a network, said network having a plurality of supplier stations; a plurality of customer terminals ; and a coordination station; said holding point comprising: product code input means configured to receive a product code read from a physical product received from a supplier; output means configured to send said received product code to said co-ordination station; first code input means configured to receive a first code from said co-ordination station; second code input means configured to receive a second code from a customer; and processing means configured to process said first code with said second code to determine whether said physical product may be given to said customer.
7. A holding point according to claim 6, wherein said product code input means is a manually operable key pad.
8. A holding point according to claim 7, wherein said output means communicates with said co-ordination station using electronic pointof-sale equipment.
9. A holding point according to claim 7, including card-reading
means and a readable card for notifying said holding point to the effect that a product has been received.
10. A holding point according to claim 9, including a second card for notifying holding point to the effect that a customer has requested a product.
11. A holding point according to claim 7, wherein said first code is an encrypted file and said second code is a decryption key for decrypting said encrypted file.
12. A holding point according to claim 11, wherein said processing means is configured to identify an encrypted file that can be decrypted by said decryption key.
13. Product distribution apparatus, comprising a plurality of supplier stations; a plurality of customer terminals; a co-ordination station and a plurality of holding points, comprising first receiving means at said co-ordination station configured to receive a request for a physical product receiving address from a requesting customer terminal; sending means at said co-ordination station configured to send an address of a selected holding point and a product code to said requesting customer terminal ; product code input means at said holding point configured to receive a product code read from a physical product received from a supplier; output means at said holding point configured to send said received
product code to said co-ordination station ; second receiving means at said co-ordination station configured to receive notification to the effect that a requested product has been received at the selected holding point; identifying means at said co-ordination station configured to identify a first code to said selected holding point and a second code to said customer terminal; first code input means at said holding point configured to receive said first code from said co-ordination station; second code input means at said holding point configured to receive said second code from a customer; and processing means at said holding point configured to process said first code with said second code to determine whether said physical product may be given to said customer.
14. A co-ordination station according to claim 13, wherein said identifying means identifies a first code to said selected holding point in the form of an encrypted file.
15. A co-ordination station according to claim 14, wherein said second code is a decryption key for said encrypted file.
16. A co-ordination station according to claim 15, wherein an email is sent to a customer terminal to identify product availability.
17. A co-ordination station according to claim 16, wherein said key is supplied to said customer terminal in response to said customer
terminal contacting a website.
18. A holding point according to claim 13, wherein said product code input means is a manually operable key pad.
19. A holding point according to claim 18, wherein said output means communicates with said co-ordination station using electronic pointof-sale equipment.
20. A holding point according to claim 18, including card-reading means and a readable card for notifying said holding point to the effect that a product has been received.
21. A holding point according to claim 20, including a second card for notifying holding point to the effect that a customer has requested a product.
22. A holding point according to claim 18, wherein said first code is an encrypted file and said second code is a decryption key for decrypting said encrypted file.
23. A holding point according to claim 22, wherein said processing means is configured to identify an encrypted file that can be decrypted by said decryption key.
24. Product distribution apparatus substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB0102327A GB2371642A (en) | 2001-01-30 | 2001-01-30 | Product distribution |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB0102327A GB2371642A (en) | 2001-01-30 | 2001-01-30 | Product distribution |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB0102327D0 GB0102327D0 (en) | 2001-03-14 |
| GB2371642A true GB2371642A (en) | 2002-07-31 |
Family
ID=9907771
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB0102327A Withdrawn GB2371642A (en) | 2001-01-30 | 2001-01-30 | Product distribution |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| GB (1) | GB2371642A (en) |
Citations (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WO2000065499A1 (en) * | 1999-04-27 | 2000-11-02 | Woorigisool Inc. | Apparatus and method for delivering a parcel |
| WO2001031593A1 (en) * | 1999-10-27 | 2001-05-03 | Imaging Technologies Pty Limited | Electronic commerce delivery system |
| WO2001031588A2 (en) * | 1999-10-28 | 2001-05-03 | Brivo Systems, Inc. | System and method for providing access to an unattended storage device |
| WO2001037180A1 (en) * | 1999-11-19 | 2001-05-25 | Ecognito, Inc. | System, method, and computer program product for maintaining consumer privacy and security in electronic commerce transactions |
| EP1148434A2 (en) * | 2000-04-13 | 2001-10-24 | Nec Corporation | Method to verify recipient of delivered article and method and system to deliver article to recipient and computer program storing medium thereof |
-
2001
- 2001-01-30 GB GB0102327A patent/GB2371642A/en not_active Withdrawn
Patent Citations (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WO2000065499A1 (en) * | 1999-04-27 | 2000-11-02 | Woorigisool Inc. | Apparatus and method for delivering a parcel |
| WO2001031593A1 (en) * | 1999-10-27 | 2001-05-03 | Imaging Technologies Pty Limited | Electronic commerce delivery system |
| WO2001031588A2 (en) * | 1999-10-28 | 2001-05-03 | Brivo Systems, Inc. | System and method for providing access to an unattended storage device |
| WO2001037180A1 (en) * | 1999-11-19 | 2001-05-25 | Ecognito, Inc. | System, method, and computer program product for maintaining consumer privacy and security in electronic commerce transactions |
| EP1148434A2 (en) * | 2000-04-13 | 2001-10-24 | Nec Corporation | Method to verify recipient of delivered article and method and system to deliver article to recipient and computer program storing medium thereof |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB0102327D0 (en) | 2001-03-14 |
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