Methods and systems for creating and using a location identification grid

• US 10,317,229 B2
• Filed: 12/01/2017
• Issued: 06/11/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: United States Postal Service (Government of the United States of America)
• Original Assignee: United States Postal Service (Government of the United States of America)
• Inventors: Bonnell, Clayton C., Reblin, Gary C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Trail, Allyson N
• Application Number:
  US15/829,154
• Publication Number:
  US 20180100744A1
• Time in Patent Office: 557 Days
• Field of Search: 235375, 705 35, 705338
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3476 using point of interest [POI] information, e.g. a route passing visible POIs
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/362 received from an external device or application, e.g. PDA, mobile phone or calendar application
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3623 using a camera or code reader, e.g. for optical or magnetic codes
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3629 Guidance using speech or audio output, e.g. text-to-speech text to speech systems per se G10L13/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3661 Guidance output on an external device, e.g. car radio
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/29 Geographical information databases
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9537 Spatial or temporal dependent retrieval, e.g. spatiotemporal queries
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/083 Shipping
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/024 Guidance services

Abstract

A method and system for generating a location identifier using a location code and a grid coordinate. The location code corresponds to a defined geographical area, such as a postal code or an area code. A grid coordinate can be determined based on destination location information, such as an address, a GPS-determined position, or other reference to a specific physical location. The location identifier is combined with the location code to generate a location identifier, which can be encoded in a computer readable format and placed on items for use in a distribution network. The location identifier can be used to facilitate domestic or international distribution of items using a common format or addressing scheme. The domestic and foreign distribution networks read and interpret location identifiers in order to deliver items.

Claims

1. A system for processing an item, the system comprising:

an application interface operable on a mobile computing device, the application interface configured to receive an order for an item and to receive a location coordinate from the mobile computing device, wherein a physical address is unavailable for delivering the item to a location identified by the location coordinate;

a processor in communication with the application interface, the processor configured to receive the order and the location coordinate from application interface;

wherein the processor is configured to;

determine a location code based on the received location coordinate;

generate a location identifier using the determined location code; and

transmit the location identifier to an item processing system.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the location coordinate is a geographic coordinate of the mobile computing device at the time the order for the item is received.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to generate the location identifier using the determined location code and at least a portion of the received location coordinate.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to generate a computer readable code corresponding to the location identifier.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the item processing system is configured to generate a physical label having the location identifier thereon.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the item processing system is configured to place the physical label on the item.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to transmit the location identifier to a shipper of the item.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the location code comprises a delivery address.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to determine the location code by at least:

selecting, based at least in part on the location coordinate, the location code from a plurality of stored location codes, the location code corresponding to one of a plurality of geographic areas.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the processor is configured to generate the location identifier by at least:

determining, based at least in part on the location code and the location coordinate, a grid coordinate value corresponding to the location; and

combining at least a portion of the location code with at least a portion of the grid coordinate value to generate the location identifier.

11. A method of generating a location identifier comprising:

receiving an order for an item from a mobile computing device;

receiving a location coordinate from the mobile computing device, wherein a location corresponding to the location coordinate lacks a physical address for delivering the item;

determining a location code based on the received location coordinate;

generating a location identifier using the determined location code; and

transmitting the generated location identifier to a shipper of the item.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the location coordinate is the location coordinate of the mobile computing device at the time the order for the item is received.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein generating the location identifier further comprises generating the location identifier using the determined location code and at least a part of the received location coordinate.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising generating a computer readable code corresponding to the location code.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising generating a physical label comprising the location identifier and affixing the physical label to the item.

16. The method of claim 11, further comprising delivering the item to the location corresponding to the location coordinate.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein the location coordinate is determined by a global positioning system.

18. A system for generating a location identifier comprising:

means for receiving an order for an item from a mobile computing device;

means for receiving a location coordinate from the mobile computing device, wherein a location corresponding to the location coordinate lacks a physical address for delivering the item;

means for determining a location code based on the received location coordinate;

means for generating a location identifier using the determined location code; and

means for transmitting the generated location identifier to a shipper of the item.