Method and apparatus for tracking mail items through a carrier distribution system
First Claim
1. A method for tracking through a carrier distribution system a mail item created by a sender, the method comprising the steps of:
- inducting the mail item into the carrier distribution system, the mail item having thereon a unique sender generated identifier;
obtaining the unique sender generated identifier from the mail item during processing of the mail item in the carrier distribution system;
assigning a unique carrier generated identifier to the mail item;
associating the unique sender generated identifier with the unique carrier generated identifier;
the carrier tracking the location of the mail item through the carrier distribution system using the unique carrier generated identifier; and
allowing the sender to obtain location information about the mail item using the unique sender generated identifier without the sender having knowledge of the unique carrier generated identifier.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A carrier distribution system tracks a mail item having a unique sender generated identifier thereon. The carrier distribution system includes apparatus for reading the unique sender generated identifier from the mail item; structure for including a unique carrier generated identifier on the mail item; a data base that associates the unique sender generated identifier with the unique carrier generated identifier; at least one sensor that reads the unique carrier generated identifier from the mail item and provides location information to the data base that is associated with the unique carrier generated identifier so that at times when the carrier distribution system receives a location query from an entity about the mail item via submission of the unique sender generated identifier the location information is obtainable from the database without requiring submission of the unique carrier generated identifier by the entity.
65 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method for tracking through a carrier distribution system a mail item created by a sender, the method comprising the steps of:
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inducting the mail item into the carrier distribution system, the mail item having thereon a unique sender generated identifier;
obtaining the unique sender generated identifier from the mail item during processing of the mail item in the carrier distribution system;
assigning a unique carrier generated identifier to the mail item;
associating the unique sender generated identifier with the unique carrier generated identifier;
the carrier tracking the location of the mail item through the carrier distribution system using the unique carrier generated identifier; and
allowing the sender to obtain location information about the mail item using the unique sender generated identifier without the sender having knowledge of the unique carrier generated identifier. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A carrier distribution system for tracking a mail item having a unique sender generated identifier thereon, the carrier distribution system comprising:
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means for reading the unique sender generated identifier from the mail item;
means for including a unique carrier generated identifier on the mail item;
a data base that associates the unique sender generated identifier with the unique carrier generated identifier;
at least one sensor that reads the unique carrier generated identifier from the mail item and provides location information to the data base that is associated with the unique carrier generated identifier so that at times when the carrier distribution system receives a location query from an entity about the mail item via submission of the unique sender generated identifier the location information is obtainable from the database without requiring submission of the unique carrier generated identifier by the entity. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification