Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
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Tagging and identification system for luggage
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[001] The present invention relates generally to luggage but more particularly
to a tagging and identification system using information technology to
alert of lost or missing luggage.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[002] Lost luggage is a major inconvenience for travelers all over the world.
Whether it is the fault of airline companies or outright theft, the result is
the same. In the case of misdirected luggage, having a convenient and
reliable means to alert the luggage owner that the luggage has been
found would be a bonus.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[003] In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known devices
now present in the prior art, the present invention, which will be
described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide objects and
advantages which are:
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[4] To provide for a convenient and reliable tagging and identification
system using information technology to alert of lost or missing luggage.
[5] In order to do so, an itinerary travel tag attached to a piece of luggage,
the travel tag including a code; a mechanism for retrieving and sending the
code electronically; an internet server connected electronically to the
mechanism for receiving the code, and for providing a website including a
webpage associated with the code and used to provide information pertaining
to the piece of luggage, such that the piece of luggage can be tracked and the
information used remotely to locate and retrieve the piece of luggage at any
time and in any location.
[6] The tagging and identification system wherein there is a scanning
mechanism and a reading mechanism.
[7] The code being used is a OR code.
[8] The piece of luggage includes a plaque wherein the QR code is
permanently embedded on the plaque, such that the code is readable by the
scanning mechanism.
[9] The tagging and identification system can alternatively have a tag holder
with the OR code inserted therein such that the code is readable by the
scanning mechanism.
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[0010] The tagging and identification system wherein the scanning mechanism
is a cellular phone or a dedicated OR code reader
[0011] The code can also be an alphanumeric code which is automatically
associated with the OR code, such that when the OR code is unreadable a
person can use the alphanumeric code to access the web page.
[0012] The tagging and identification system where the webpage includes
means for inputting information about the piece of luggage; and includes
means for displaying the information about the piece of luggage, such that if
the piece of luggage is lost in transit, a person who locates it can read and
send the code on the piece of luggage, access the webpage, retrieve the
information, and then contact the owner about its location and available
retrieval options.
[0013] The tagging and identification system also includes information about
the piece of luggage includes instructions as to steps to take to return the
luggage to its owner. The information about the piece of luggage includes the
owner's e-mail address and phone number. Also, the information about the
piece of luggage includes airline flight numbers, stop overs, airline
companies,
and additional information pertaining to checked, unchecked, and consigned
luggage.
[0014] The tagging and identification system further includes the webpage's
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URL, such that the alphanumeric code can be entered manually onto the
webpage.
[0015] The website includes a database storing information about the baggage
and information of a plurality of clients.
[0016] The website includes a link directing to a translating website for
translating for any one language to any other language.
[0017] The website further incorporates a changeable password for each
individual client.
[0018] A method of tracking, locating, and retrieving lost luggage comprising
the steps of:
[0019] a.) attaching an itinerary travel tag to a piece of luggage, the travel
tag
including a code;
[0020] b.) providing a mechanism for retrieving and sending the code
electronically;
[0021] c.) providing an internet server connected electronically to the
mechanism for receiving the code;
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[0022] d.) providing a webpage, associated with the code, upon the server for
providing information pertaining to the piece of luggage, wherein the webpage
includes means for inputting information about the piece of luggage; and
includes means for displaying the information about the piece of luggage, such
that if the piece of luggage is lost in transit, a person who locates it can
read
and send the code, access the webpage, retrieve the information, and then
contact the owner about its location and available retrieval options.
[0023] The method of tracking, locating, and retrieving lost luggage wherein
the
means for inputting information includes the steps of:
[0024] e.) filling out a registration page that asks for a client's personal
data
which includes their name, address, contact information, e-mail address, and
phone number;
[0025] f.) filling out an instructions page, that can be used by a person who
finds the piece of luggage, setting forth instructions on how to return the
piece
of luggage to the client whom owns the piece of luggage.
[0026] There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important
features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof
that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present
contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional
features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will
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form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
[0027] In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the
invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited
in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements
of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in
the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of
being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be
understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are
for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting.
[0028] As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception,
upon
which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the
designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the
several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that
the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions
insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present
invention.
[0029] Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S.
Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially
the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar
with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a
cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of
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the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention
of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to
be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way.
[0030] These together with other objects of the invention, along with the
various
features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with
particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this
disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating
advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference
should be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter
which contains illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0031] Fig. 1 Schematic view of the process in general.
[0032] Fig. 2 Schematic view of the web interface.
[0033] Fig. 3 Side view of luggage with a tag holder and an embedded QR
code.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
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[0034] A Tagging and identification system for luggage is comprised of an
itinerary travel tag (12) located on a piece of luggage (14). The itinerary
travel tag (12) has a QR code (16). The itinerary travel tag (12) can be
either embedded on a plaque on the outside of the luggage (14), or it
can be inserted into a tag holder (18) for luggage (14), as known in the
art. When used on a tag holder (18) information in the traditional format
(that is alpha numerically) can be placed along with the itinerary travel
tag (12) as per fig. 3.
[0035] When a lost luggage (14) is found, the OR code (16) is scanned, for
example, by a cellular phone (17) and a signal is sent by way of a
cellular phone service provider (19), the signal is carried via airwaves as
data on an IP network and eventually by landlines (20) and through
Internet network (22) to an Internet connected server (24) hosting a
website (25) which has a database (26) wherein all the pertinent clients
information is held. Given that people finding the luggage may speak
any one of a variety of language, the website (25) provides a link
directing to a translating website for translating for any one language to
any other language. As a backup to the OR code (16), an alphanumeric
code (13) can be used when there is no convenient way of scanning the
OR code (16). The itinerary travel tag (12) contains the website's (25)
URL (21) so that the alphanumeric code can be entered so as to lead to
the proper page.
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[0036] From a client perspective, all the pertinent information is entered by
the
client or for the client onto the password protected client's personal page
on the website (25). No need to scan the OR code as simply entering
the alphanumeric code (13) automatically associates it with the QR code
(16) and the client's page on the website (25). Typically, for a new,
unregistered luggage (14), the QR code (16) redirects to a registration
page where the client or the store clerk enters the client's personal data
such as name, address, contact information and and a choice of
responses the client wishes to get in case of loss of luggage (14), such
as receiving an email, a phone call, or any other of a variety of such
responses. Once initial registration is done, and from then on, whenever
the OR code (16) is scanned or the alphanumeric code (13) is entered, it
leads to a special instructions page on the website (25) where the
instructions will be given to whoever found the luggage (14) as to what
to do to return the luggage (14) back to its rightful owner.
[0037] Current technology, such as on smart phones, allows for the luggage
(14) owner to obtain the geo location of whoever found the luggage (14)
for an even easier way of retrieving lost luggage (14).
[0038] The nature of the information on the website comprises but is not
limited
to the following: Itinerary, flight numbers, stop overs, airline companies,
and any additional information concerning checked, unchecked and
consigned luggage.
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[0039] As to a further discussion of the manner of usage and operation of the
present invention, the same should be apparent from the above
description. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of
usage and operation will be provided. With respect to the above
description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional
relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size,
materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and
use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art,
and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and
described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the
present invention.Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative
only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous
modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it
is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and
operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable
modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the
scope of the invention.
