Multi-level, hierarchical radio-frequency communication system
US6006100A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 6, 1994 |
| Grant date | Dec 21, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 6, 2014 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02D30/70
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
Portable measuring devices which communicate by low power transceivers through a communication controller with a printer device collect weight and size data on articles to be shipped. The collected weight and size data are combined with origin and destination data, and labels are printed bearing pertinent shipping and routing information in machine readable format. The labels are attached to the articles to be shipped and accompany the articles to their respective destinations. At transfer points the labels are read by scanner devices which also communicate by low power transceiver links with the communication controller. The wireless linking of the scanner devices promotes human safety by the absence of cords which could cause entanglement of an operator in mechanized conveying equipment. The communication controllers at each stage of the shipping process have the capability of transferring received and updated status information on the shipped articles to a central data station.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.