Method and system for sequencing deliverables using combined delivery codes and partial delivery point bar codes (DPBCs)

• US 20030146138A1
• Filed: 02/04/2003
• Published: 08/07/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/2002
• 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: Wilson, James D., Payne, David J., Snapp, Robert F.
• Granted Patent: US 6,865,443 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 209/584
• CPC Class Codes: B07C 3/00 Sorting according to destination collating the pages of a book B42C1/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 209/90 Sorting flat-type mail

Abstract

A method and system for sequencing deliverables using combined delivery codes and partial delivery point bar codes (DPBCs) provides pre-sequencing of deliverables for delivery carriers that has improved ordering with respect to the actual delivery route and accounts for un-coded new delivery points in the ordering process. A partial DPBC field is combined with a delivery code to generate the ordering sequence. The DPBC field is combined by generating delivery sequencing tables having sequence numbers splitting ZIP+4 codes into multiple entries delineated by ranges of the last two digits of the DPBC, that can then be flagged for ascending or descending delivery and assigned unique sequence numbers. The full address of actual delivery points is thereby concealed by the table, while providing more accurate sequencing conforming to actual deliver routes. New delivery points within a ZIP+4 code can be assigned a sequence number by reference to the last two digits of the actual address, providing further utility to the method.

Claims

1. A method for sorting deliverables, comprising:

receiving a deliverable having an actual delivery point address;

determining a ZIP+4 number for said actual delivery point address;

extracting a DPBC field from the actual delivery point delivery point bar code (DPBC); and

sequencing said received deliverable in conformity with a sequence number corresponding to a delivery point group identified by a DPBC field range of numbers encompassing said field of said DPBC and said ZIP+4 number.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the field is the lower two digits of the DPBC.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising ordering said sequence number in conformity with an actual delivery point sequence file.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising assigning sequence numbers to DPBC field ranges of numbers within maximum DPBC field range of said DPBC field, wherein each sequence number includes an ascending or descending attribute.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said assigning assigns unique sets of DPBC field ranges within a unique ZIP+4 code.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising assigning groups including a ZIP+4 range of ZIP+4 numbers to sets of post office boxes, wherein DPBC field ranges of said groups are set to a maximum DPBC range of said DPBC field ranges, whereby ZIP+4 codes corresponding to unique delivery point addresses are protected.

7. A computer system comprising a processor for executing program instructions and a memory coupled to said processor for storing said program instructions and data, wherein said program instructions comprise program instructions for:

receiving a deliverable having an actual delivery point address;

determining a ZIP+4 number for said actual delivery point address;

extracting a DPBC field from the actual delivery point bar code (DPBC); and

sequencing said received deliverable in conformity with a sequence number corresponding to a delivery point group identified by a DPBC field range of numbers encompassing said field of said actual delivery point address and said ZIP+4 number.

8. The computer system of claim 7, wherein said program instructions further comprise program instructions for forming said field from the lower two digits of the DPBC.

9. The computer system of claim 7, wherein said program instructions further comprise program instructions for ordering said sequence number in conformity with an actual delivery point sequence file.

10. The computer system of claim 7, wherein said program instructions further comprise program instructions for assigning sequence numbers to DPBC field ranges of numbers within maximum DPBC field range of said DPBC field, wherein each sequence number includes an ascending or descending attribute.

11. The computer system of claim 10, wherein said program instructions further comprise program instructions for assigning assigns unique sets of DPBC field ranges within a unique ZIP+4 code.

12. The computer system of claim 7, wherein said program instructions further comprise program instructions for assigning groups including a ZIP+4 range of ZIP+4 numbers to sets of post office boxes, wherein DPBC field ranges of said groups are set to a maximum DPBC field range of said DPBC field ranges, whereby ZIP+4 codes corresponding to unique delivery point addresses are protected.

13. A computer program product comprising signal-bearing media encoding program instructions and data for execution within a general-purpose computer system, wherein said program instructions comprise program instructions for:

receiving a deliverable having an actual delivery point address;

determining a ZIP+4 number for said actual delivery point address;

extracting a DPBC field from the actual delivery point bar code (DPBC); and

sequencing said received deliverable in conformity with a sequence number corresponding to a delivery point group identified by a DPBC field range of numbers encompassing said DPBC field and said ZIP+4 number.

14. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein said program instructions further comprise program instructions for forming said DPBC field from the lower two digits of the actual DPBC.

15. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein said program instructions further comprise program instructions for ordering said sequence number in conformity with an actual delivery point sequence file.

16. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein said program instructions further comprise program instructions for assigning sequence numbers to DPBC field ranges of numbers within maximum DPBC field range of said DPBC field, wherein each sequence number includes an ascending or descending attribute.

17. The computer program product of claim 16, wherein said program instructions further comprise program instructions for assigning assigns unique sets of DPBC field ranges within a unique ZIP+4 code.

18. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein said program instructions further comprise program instructions for assigning groups including a ZIP+4 range of ZIP+4 numbers to sets of post office boxes, wherein DPBC field ranges of said groups are set to a maximum DPBC field range of said DPBC field ranges, whereby ZIP+4 codes corresponding to unique delivery point addresses are protected.