Method and system for tracking disposition status of an item to be delivered within an organization

Abstract

A method and system for tracking the receipt and the internal movement of items such as packages, parcels and other accountable items within an organization such as a corporation, hospital or school. The system comprises a portable data terminal programmed to record information regarding the receipt and the internal movement of the items in a data collection format, wherein the data collection format can be created and/or modified by the user according to the user's needs. For that purpose, the system further comprises a base station to allow the user to create and/or modify the data collection format. The base station is capable of communicating with the portable data terminal for unloading electronic files to the portable data terminal in order to modify the data collection format.

1 . A system for tracking receipt and internal movement of items within an organization, wherein each item is sent by a sender and received from a carrier to be delivered to a recipient, said system comprising:
 a portable data terminal for recording information regarding the internal movement of the item in a data collection format; and   a base station adapted to communicate with the portable data terminal, the base station including   means for modifying the data collection format and means to transmit the modified data collection format to the portable data terminal,wherein the portable data terminal, in response to receiving the modified data collection format, will record data in the modified data collection format transmitted by the base station.   
   
   
       2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the portable data terminal further comprises:
 a display device to display information regarding the internal movement of items; and   an input device to input information regarding the internal movement of items.   
   
   
       3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the input device includes a barcode reader. 
   
   
       4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the base station further comprises:
 a connection cradle adapted to hold the portable data terminal, the base station communicating with the portable data terminal via the connection cradle.   
   
   
       5 . A method for tracking internal movement of items within an organization using a portable data terminal, the method comprising:
 recording information regarding the internal movement of a first item within the organization using the portable data terminal;   storing the recorded information for the first item in a first data collection format in the portable data terminal;   receiving at the portable data terminal a second data collection format transmitted from a base station;   recording information regarding the internal movement of a second item within the organization using the portable data terminal; and   storing the recorded information for the second item in the second data collection format in the portable data terminal.   
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the second data collection format is created at the base station.