Second site control of article transport processing

摘要

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a system and methodology for sorting and/or distributing items and articles being shipped to a receiving party through private and/or commercial delivery systems. Various characteristics of an article being shipped are obtained and assembled in a database. In an exemplary embodiment, the descriptive characteristics of the article are acquired at a first site and the processing and desired disposition of the article is determined at a second site which is physically separate from the first site. The descriptive characteristics of the article being shipped are displayed at the second site and are sufficient to identify the article to a processing individual located at the second site. The processing individual is then enabled to indicate a desired disposal of the article from the second site without being exposed to the physical article located at the first site. In an exemplary embodiment, the descriptive characteristics of the article may include one or more images of the article along with various other descriptive physical characteristics of the article such as the size and weight of the article. In one example, the processing individual is enabled to authorize the opening of an article in which case, descriptive characteristics of the contents of the article are acquired at the first site and displayed to the processing individual at the second site for use in determining an appropriate disposition of the article.

主权项

1. A method for processing an article being transported at a first location by a user located at a second location, said method comprising:
obtaining characteristics descriptive of said article at said first location; creating an electronic file containing said characteristics; transmitting said electronic file from said first location to said second location, said first location being isolated from said second location; processing said electronic file at said second location to determine said characteristics of said article, said characteristics including a visually perceptible image of contents of said article; displaying said characteristics to said user at said second location; and enabling said user to select one of a plurality of article disposal options, one of which is to destroy said article, after viewing said perceptible image of said contents and thereafter disposing of said article at said first location in accordance with said selected article disposal option made by said user at said second location.