초록 ▼

Products are delivered to customers using reusable containers. The reusable containers are equipped with a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag that is used by the vendor or deliverer to track whether the reusable container has been returned to the vendor or deliverer. The user can be credited

Products are delivered to customers using reusable containers. The reusable containers are equipped with a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag that is used by the vendor or deliverer to track whether the reusable container has been returned to the vendor or deliverer. The user can be credited with a deposit if he or she returns the container. The RFID can also be used to track the contents of a truck load or pallet load of containers.

대표청구항 ▼

We claim: 1. A method comprising: receiving orders from customers, said orders being for goods from a plurality of vendors, said orders being communicated to each of said vendors; collecting said goods from said plurality of vendors at a central location; providing said goods in reusable containers

We claim: 1. A method comprising: receiving orders from customers, said orders being for goods from a plurality of vendors, said orders being communicated to each of said vendors; collecting said goods from said plurality of vendors at a central location; providing said goods in reusable containers, said reusable containers having a radio frequency identification device attached thereto; establishing a relationship between a radio frequency identification device and a memory; informing said customers when said goods will be available for pickup; making said goods available for pickup by said customers, wherein said goods are in said reusable containers; collecting said reusable containers from said customers; and identifying which customers have returned their reusable containers by electronically querying the radio frequency identification devices attached to the reusable containers collected from said customers. 2. Method of claim 1 wherein said establishing of said relationship comprises storing in said memory a database including data associated with said radio frequency identification device. 3. Method of claim 1 wherein said establishing of said relationship comprises storing in said memory an identification indicia indicative of said radio frequency identification device. 4. Method of claim 1 wherein said establishing of said relationship comprises storing in said memory an identification of the customer to whom said container is provided. 5. Method of claim 1 wherein said customers return said reusable containers to a central collection point, said method further comprising querying the radio frequency identification devices within said containers when said customers return said containers to said collection point. 6. Method of claim 1 further comprising crediting accounts of those customers who return their reusable containers, said crediting being accomplished by a computer that receives the data scanned in from said radio frequency identification devices. 7. Method of claim 1 further comprising: collecting information on the purchasing habits of said customers and storing said information in a memory device; and offering a reduction of shipping cost in exchange for allowing targeted advertisement to be added to the reusable containers in response to said information in said memory device. 8. Method of claim 1 wherein said reusable containers contain one or more consumer products and are provided to the consumers of said consumer products in said containers. 9. Method of claim 1 wherein said radio frequency identification device is provided in a compartment within said container. 10. A method comprising: receiving orders from customers, said orders being for goods from a plurality of vendors, said orders being communicated to each of said vendors; collecting said goods from said plurality of vendors at a central location; providing said goods in reusable containers, said reusable containers having a radio frequency identification device attached thereto; informing said customers when said goods will be available for pickup; establishing a relationship between a radio frequency identification device and a memory; making said goods available for pickup by said customers, wherein said goods are in said reusable containers; collecting said reusable containers; and identifying which containers have been collected by electronically querying the radio frequency identification devices attached to the reusable containers. 11. Method of claim 10 wherein said reusable containers contain one or more consumer products and are provided to the consumers of said consumer products in said containers. 12. Method of claim 10 wherein said radio frequency identification device is provided in a compartment within said container. 13. A method comprising: receiving orders from customers, said orders being for goods from a plurality of vendors, said orders being communicated to each of said vendors; collecting said goods from said plurality of vendors at a central location; providing said goods in reusable containers, said reusable containers having an indicia attached thereto; establishing a relationship between said indicia and a memory; informing said customers when said goods will be available for pickup; making said goods available for pickup by said customers, wherein said goods are in said reusable containers; collecting said reusable containers from said customers; and identifying which customers have returned their reusable containers by electronically reading the indicia attached to the reusable containers collected from said customers. 14. Method of claim 13 wherein said indicia comprise machine readable indicia, said method further comprising scanning said machine readable indicia prior to providing said goods in said containers to said customers, and entering into said memory information indicating the containers and the customers to whom said containers are being provided. 15. Method of claim 14 wherein said indicia comprises a bar code or a magnetic strip. 16. Method of claim 14 further comprising collecting said containers from said customers and scanning said indicia after collecting said containers from said customers. 17. Method of claim 13 wherein said indicia are machine-readable indicia, said reading of said indicia comprising scanning said indicia electronically. 18. Method of claim 13 wherein said reusable containers contain one or more consumer products and are provided to the consumers of said consumer products in said containers. 19. Method of claim 7 wherein said reusable containers contain one or more consumer products and are provided to the consumers of said consumer products in said containers. 20. A method comprising: receiving orders from customers, said orders being for goods from a plurality of vendors, said orders being communicated to each of said vendors; collecting said goods from said plurality of vendors at a central location; providing said goods in reusable containers, said reusable containers being equipped with a radio frequency identification device; informing said customers when said goods will be available for pickup; making said goods available for pickup by said customers, wherein said goods are in said reusable containers: collecting said reusable containers from said customers; and identifying which customers have returned their reusable containers by electronically querying the radio frequency identification devices with which the reusable containers collected from said customers are equipped. 21. Method of claim 20 further comprising logging data in a memory indicative of the return of said reusable containers in response to said electronically querying. 22. A method comprising: receiving orders from customers, said orders being for goods from a plurality of vendors, said orders being communicated to each of said vendors; collecting said goods from said plurality of vendors at a central location; providing said goods in reusable containers, said reusable containers equipped with an radio frequency identification device; shipping said goods in said containers to a distribution point; informing said customers when said goods will be available for pickup; making said goods available for pickup by said customers, wherein said goods are in said reusable containers; collecting said reusable containers after said shipping and providing; and identifying which containers have been collected by electronically querying the radio frequency identification devices with which the reusable containers are equipped. 23. Method of claim 22 further comprising logging data in a memory indicative of the return of said reusable containers in response to said electronically querying. 24. Method of claim 20 or 22 wherein the goods provided in said reusable containers are one or more packaged items. 25. Method of claim 20 or 22 wherein the reusable containers comprise are capable of containing one or more packaged items. 26. Method of claim 20 or 22 wherein said containers are capable of containing different types of goods. 27. Method of claim 20 or 22 wherein said containers are capable of storing solid goods. 28. Method of claim 20 or 22 wherein said containers store solid goods. 29. Method of claim 20 further comprising: electronically ordering from a plurality of different companies some of said goods, said ordering of said goods being accomplished by a customer; shipping said goods to a distribution point for pick-up by said customer in response to said ordering. 30. Method of claim 29 wherein said goods from said plurality of different companies ordered by said customer are provided in one of said reusable containers, said customer picking up said goods at said distribution point.