NL2015976B1

NL2015976B1 - System comprising a pool of product carriers

Info

Publication number: NL2015976B1
Application number: NL2015976A
Authority: NL
Inventors: Nowé Wim
Original assignee: Alcomij Beheer B V
Priority date: 2015-12-16
Filing date: 2015-12-16
Publication date: 2017-06-30

Abstract

The invention relates to a system comprising a pool of product carriers, such as shelves for carrying goods, (multi)trolleys or gitterboxes, wherein the carriers in the pool are provided with a unique code, the system further comprising a server, a database containing the unique codes, a plurality of mobile client devices configured to detect the codes on the carriers, to contact the server and to send to the server data containing the codes on the carriers at the location of a user of the product carriers, wherein the server and/or the mobile client devices is/are configured to compare the codes on the carriers at the location of the user with the unique codes in the database.

Description

System comprising a pool of product carriers

The invention relates to a system comprising a pool of product carriers, such as shelves for carrying e.g. potted plants and flowers and placed in a trolley. Other examples include (multi) trolleys and gitterboxes.

The invention further relates to a mobile client device, such as a mobile (smart) phone .

The product carriers according to the present invention are intended for use as returnable transport carriers, i.e. product carriers that are part of a vast and open pool of product carriers, e.g. hundreds of thousands or more, for moving various products, including products in standard sizes. Such a pool facilitates logistics from producers via wholesalers, cross-docking, and/or storage to retailers and vice versa. An open pool enables free exchange of the product carriers, which saves time, transport costs, and administration. Empty carriers can be exchanged for carriers carrying products, or the other way round, all through the supply chain.

Such pools are typically owned, managed, and maintained by one or few entities and carriers from the pool are hired and used by many entities. Monitoring a pool is complex. Maintaining a pool is a costly affair, especially when the pool ages and/or when similar, cheaper product carriers of an inferior quality are added to the pool by third parties to avoid having to hire the product carriers.

It is an object of the present invention to facilitate managing a vast pool of product carriers.

To this end, the carriers, preferably each of the carriers, in the pool are provided with a unique code, the system further comprising a server, e.g. in a network, and database containing the unique codes, a plurality of mobile client devices, such as mobile (smart) phones, configured, e.g. running a client application, to detect the codes on the carriers, to contact the server and to send to the server data containing the codes on the carriers at the location of a user of the product carriers, wherein the server and/or the mobile client devices is/are configured to compare the codes on the carriers at the location of the user with the unique codes in the database.

In an embodiment, the server and/or the mobile client devices is/are configured to compare the codes of the carriers at the location of the user with the unique codes in the database to track and trace the product carriers and/or to establish whether the carriers are counterfeit or not.

The former, i.e. track and trace the product carriers in the pool, can be used to gather logistic information regarding the flow of the product carriers, to estimate or assess expected stock levels in different pool depots, to provide logistic information on product carriers to the users of the carriers, and/or to enable users to add product information to the product carriers and to provide logistical information of these product carriers.

The latter, i.e. establishing whether the carriers are counterfeit or not can be achieved, e.g. by determining whether the detected code of the product carrier is an allocated code. If the code has not been allocated, i.e. does not exist in the pool, the carrier is likely to be a counterfeit. Other options include determining whether the product carrier is likely to be present at the location of detection, e.g. based on time and distance relative to the previous detection or based on the flow of product carriers.

In an embodiment, the client devices comprise an imaging device, e.g. a camera, to record an image of a plurality of the product carriers and the client devices and/or the server are configured to extract, e.g. on the basis of known image recognition algorithms, features, such as letters, numbers, lines in a bar code, or dots in a QR code, or provided e.g. in contrasting colors, in relief or as openings on or in the carrier, from the recorded image data.

In another embodiment, the client devices are configured, e.g. run a client application, to detect location information, e.g. via GPS, of the device and/or the carriers and send the location information, such as location coordinates or a client number, to the server along with the codes or images of carriers at the location of the user of the product carriers.

In another embodiment, the client devices comprise a real time clock and are configured to establish the time when the codes are detected and send the time coordinate to the server along with the codes on the carriers or images of the carriers at the location of the user.

In a further embodiment, the server is configured, e.g. runs a server application, to store information regarding location and/or time of the detected codes and thus of the carriers marked with the codes.

The invention also relates to a mobile client device, such as a mobile (smart) phone, configured, e.g. running a client application, to detect codes on product carriers in a pool, contact a server and send to the server data containing the codes on the carriers at the location of a user of the product carriers, and compare or enable the server to compare the codes on the carriers at the location of the user with the unique codes in the database.

In an embodiment, the mobile client device is configured to compare or enable the server to compare the codes on the carriers at the location of the user with the unique codes in the database to track and trace the product carriers and/or to establish whether the carriers are counterfeit or not.

In another embodiment, the mobile client device comprises an imaging device, e.g. a camera, to record an image one or more the product carriers, preferably of a plurality of the product carriers, e.g. a stack of carriers of juxtaposed carriers, in one image.

In another embodiment, the mobile client device is configured to extract from the recorded image data features containing the codes or codes.

In another embodiment, the mobile client device comprises a sensor to detect location information, e.g. via GPS, of the device and/or the carriers and is configured to send the location information to the server along with the codes or images of carriers at the location of the client.

In another embodiment, the mobile client device comprises a real time clock and the client device is configured to establish the time when the codes are detected and send the time coordinate to the server along with the codes on the carriers or images of the carriers at the location of the client.

In an embodiment, the product carrier is a trolley comprising a rectangular and elongated frame provided with a holder for a post at each corner and a post is placed in each holder. In a refinement, the holders and posts all have a square cross-section with the posts having outer dimensions that are slightly smaller than de inner dimensions of the holders, i.e. the posts are slidably and removably positioned in de holders in one of four positions. Thus, existing trolleys can be modified in a straightforward manner, as will be explained in more detail below, and existing posts can be re-used in a new pool of (modified) trolleys. In principle, it suffices to only replace the shelves. It is preferred that the shelves are rectangular and elongated and comprise a hook at each corner. It is further preferred that the shelves have a length in a range from 1250 to 1350 mm, e.g. 1320 mm, and a width in a range from 530 to 570 mm, e.g. 550 mm.

The invention also relates to a computer program, e.g. an app, or suite of computer programs comprising at least one software code portion or a computer program product storing at least one software code portion, the software code portion, when run on a mobile client device or server, being configured for executing the steps specified above . EP 288 290 relates to a plate-shaped sign for identification purposes, said sign being adapted to be placed around an edged object by bending the sign around the edges of the object. US 2015/0053755 relates to systems and methods for identifying, tracking, tracing and determining the authenticity of a good are described herein. In some embodiments, a system includes an imaging system, a database, and an authentication center. The imaging system is configured to capture an image of a unigue signature associated with a good at the good's origin. The unigue signature can be, for example, a random structure or pattern unigue to the particular good. US 2011/0042452 relates to a method and system for permanently and visibly marking reusable packing crates with a unigue mark and using the mark to identify and track the crate in a manufacturing environment. The code can be used to identify a crate uniquely and to assign waypoint data, process management data and content data that can be stored in a computer database. The data can be used for tracking information capabilities and business intelligence in and for manufacturing management systems.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a trolley carrying a plurality of shelves for use in a system according to the present invention.

Figure 2 is a detail of Figure 1, showing the edge of a shelf provided with a unique code.

Figure 3 is a front view of a stack of shelves, each provided with a unique code.

Figure 4 is block diagram illustrating an exemplary data processing system that the system can comprise.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a gitterbox for use in a pool according to the present invention.

Figures 1 and 2 show a trolley 1 for carrying goods, such as potted plants and flowers, comprising a rectangular and elongated frame 2 provided with four wheels 3 at its underside near each corner and a holder 4 for a post 5 at each corner. A post 5 is placed in each holder. Each post has on one of its four sides a series of openings 6 and on the side opposite from the openings a slot 7 running the length of the post. A plurality of rectangular shelves 10 is mounted in the trolley. Each shelf has a plate 11 providing a planar top surface 12 for carrying products and a hook 13 at each corner. With these hooks, the shelves 10 are mounted, at a selected height, in the trolley. The short edges of the shelves are provided with a unique code. In this example, the code is binary and formed by a plurality of slotted openings 14 in the short sides of the shelves . A vast plurality of these shelves is provided with a unique code and forms a pool, which is part of a system that further comprises a server, a database containing the unique codes, and a plurality of mobile client devices, such as mobile (smart) phones .

Figure 4 depicts a block diagram illustrating an exemplary data processing system that the system may comprise. It should be appreciated that each of the server, the database and the plurality of mobile client devices may comprise one or more elements of the exemplary data processing system. It may for example be that the database comprises all elements of the data processing system, but is may also be that the database comprises only one of the memory elements 22 which will be explained below.

As shown in Figure 4, the data processing system 20 may include at least one processor 21 coupled to memory elements 22 through a system bus 23. As such, the data processing system may store program code within memory elements 22. Further, the processor 21 may execute the program code accessed from the memory elements 22 via a system bus 23. In one aspect, the data processing system may be implemented as a computer that is suitable for storing and/or executing program code. It should be appreciated, however, that the data processing system 20 may be implemented in the form of any system including a processor and a memory that is capable of performing the functions described within this specification.

The memory elements 22 may include one or more physical memory devices such as, for example, local memory 24 and one or more bulk storage devices 25. The local memory may refer to random access memory or other non-persistent memory device(s) generally used during actual execution of the program code. A bulk storage device may be implemented as a hard drive or other persistent data storage device.

The processing system 20 may also include one or more cache memories (not shown) that provide temporary storage of at least some program code in order to reduce the number of times program code must be retrieved from the bulk storage device 25 during execution.

Input/output (I/O) devices depicted as an input device 26 and an output device 27 optionally can be coupled to the data processing system. Examples of input devices may include, but are not limited to, a keyboard, a pointing device such as a mouse, or the like, or for example at least one of the plurality of mobile client devices. Examples of output devices may include, but are not limited to, a monitor or a display, speakers, or the like. Input and/or output devices may be coupled to the data processing system either directly or through intervening I/O controllers.

In an embodiment, the input and the output devices may be implemented as a combined input/output device (illustrated in Figure 4 with a dashed line surrounding the input device 26 and the output device 27). An example of such a combined device is a touch sensitive display, also sometimes referred to as a "touch screen display" or simply "touch screen". In such an embodiment, input to the device may be provided by a movement of a physical object, such as e.g. a stylus or a finger of a user, on or near the touch screen display. A network adapter 28 may also be coupled to the data processing system to enable it to become coupled to other systems, computer systems, remote network devices, and/or remote storage devices through intervening private or public networks. For example, a network adapter 28 one of the plurality of mobile client devices may enable the mobile client device to become coupled to the server and/or the database. The network adapter may comprise a data receiver for receiving data that is transmitted by said systems, devices and/or networks to the data processing system 20, and a data transmitter for transmitting data from the data processing system 20 to said systems, devices and/or networks. Modems, cable modems, and Ethernet cards are examples of different types of network adapter that may be used with the data processing system 20.

As pictured in Figure 4, the memory elements 22 may store an application 29. In various embodiments, the application 29 may be stored in the local memory 24, the one or more bulk storage devices 25, or apart from the local memory and the bulk storage devices. It should be appreciated that the data processing system 20 may further execute an operating system (not shown in Figure 4) that can facilitate execution of the application 29. The application 29, being implemented in the form of executable program code, can be executed by the data processing system 20, e.g., by the processor 21. Responsive to executing the application, the data processing system 20 may be configured to perform one or more operations or method steps described herein.

In one aspect of the present invention, the data processing system 20 may represent the system as described herein.

In another aspect, the data processing system 20 may represent one of the plurality of mobile client devices, and/or the database. In that case, the application 29 may represent a client application that, when executed, configures the data processing system 20 to perform the various functions described herein with reference to a "client". Examples of a client can include, but are not limited to, a personal computer, a portable computer, a mobile phone, or the like.

In yet another aspect, the data processing system 20 may represent the server. For example, the data processing system may represent an (HTTP) server, in which case the application 29, when executed, may configure the data processing system to perform (HTTP) server operations.

Various embodiments of the invention may be implemented as a program product for use with a computer system, where the program(s) of the program product define functions of the embodiments (including the methods described herein). In one embodiment, the program(s) can be contained on a variety of non-transitory computer-readable storage media, where, as used herein, the expression "non-transitory computer readable storage media" comprises all computer-readable media, with the sole exception being a transitory, propagating signal. In another embodiment, the program(s) can be contained on a variety of transitory computer-readable storage media. Illustrative computer-readable storage media include, but are not limited to: (i) non-writable storage media (e.g., read-only memory devices within a computer such as CD-ROM disks readable by a CD-ROM drive, ROM chips or any type of solid-state non-volatile semiconductor memory) on which information is permanently stored; and (ii) writable storage media (e.g., flash memory, floppy disks within a diskette drive or hard-disk drive or any type of solid-state random-access semiconductor memory) on which alterable information is stored. The computer program may be run on the processor 21 described herein.

The server and/or the mobile client devices is/are configured to compare the codes of the carriers at the location of the user with the unique codes in the database to track and trace the product carriers and/or to establish whether the carriers are counterfeit or not.

The invention is not restricted to the above-described embodiments, which can be varied in a number of ways within the scope of the claims. For instance, Figure 5 shows an alternative product carrier for use in a system according to the present invention, to wit a gitterbox 15. The unique code is provided e.g. on or in a dedicated plate 16 on one of the sides of the box or on or in the frame 17 of the box.

Claims

A system comprising a collection of product carriers, such as shelves for carrying goods, (muiti) trolleys or gitter boxes, wherein the carriers in the collection are provided with a unique code, which system is further provided with a server, a database containing the unique codes, a number of mobile client applications that are configured to detect the codes on the carriers, to contact the server and to send data to the server containing the codes on the carriers at the location of a user of the user. product carriers, wherein the server and / or the mobile client applications is / are configured to compare the codes on the carriers at the location of the user with the unique codes in the database.

The system of claim 1, wherein the server and / or the mobile client applications is / are configured to compare the codes on the carriers at the location of the user's location with the unique codes in the database for tracking and tracing the product carriers and / or for determining whether or not the carriers are counterfeit.

The system of claim 1 or 2, wherein the client applications include an imaging device for recording an image of a plurality of the product carriers and wherein the client applications and / or the server are configured to extract features of the stored image data.

A system according to any preceding claim, wherein the client applications are configured to detect location information of the device and / or carriers and send the location information to the server together with the codes or images of carriers at the location of the location of the user.

The system of any preceding claim, wherein the client applications include an actual time clock and the client applications are configured to determine the time at which the codes were detected and to send the time coordinate to the server together with the codes on the carrier or images of the carriers at the location of the client's location.

The system of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the server is configured to store information regarding the location and / or time of the detected codes.

A system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the client applications and / or the server are / are configured to have the unique code of the carriers present at the location of the client and the signal that one or more of these carriers counterfeit is to be compared if the detected code is not present in the database if the code is detected in an unlikely location.

A system according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the carriers are shelves for carrying goods, (multi) trolleys or gitter boxes.

A mobile client device, such as a mobile smartphone or telephone, configured to detect codes on product carriers in a collection, contact a server and send data to the server containing the codes on the carriers at the location of a user's location comparing the product carriers, and the codes on the carriers at the location of the user, with, or allowing the server to compare, the unique codes in the database.

A mobile client device according to claim 9, configured to compare the codes on the carriers at the location of the user with, or allow the server to compare with, the unique codes in the database for tracking and tracing the product carriers and / or for determining whether or not the carriers are counterfeit.

A mobile client device according to claim 9 or 10, comprising an image device for storing an image of one or more product carriers, preferably of a number of the product carriers in one image.

A mobile client device according to claim 11, configured to extract the codes containing features or codes from the stored image data.

A mobile client device according to any of claims 9 to 12, comprising a sensor for detecting location information of the device and / or the carriers and configured to send the location information to the server together with the codes or images of carriers at the location of the user.

A mobile client device as claimed in any one of claims 9 to 13, comprising an actual time clock and configured to determine the time at which the codes are detected and to send the time coordinate to the server together with the codes on the carriers or images of the carriers at the location of the client's location.

A computer program or set of computer programs comprising at least one software code portion or a computer program product storing at least one software code portion, which software code portion, if applied to a mobile client device or server, is configured to perform the steps specified in one of the foregoing conclusions.