Method and system for providing automated e-mail item tracking status messages

• US 20030204452A1
• Filed: 09/10/2002
• Published: 10/30/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: William Wheeler
• Original Assignee: William Wheeler
• Inventors: Wheeler, William
• Application Number:
  US10/238,383
• Publication Number:
  US 20030204452A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/28
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a system and method for tracking an item being shipped from a sender to a recipient. The item traverses a shipping route that includes at least one tracking point facility. The method includes affixing a machine-readable identifier on the item at a first location. The machine-readable identifier encodes data corresponding to the sender'"'"'s e-mail address, the recipient'"'"'s e-mail address, and an item description. The machine-readable identifier is read at the at least one tracking point facility. A tracking status e-mail is automatically transmitted in response to the step of reading. The e-mail is transmitted to at least one of the sender and the recipient, or both.

Claims

1. A method for tracking an item being shipped from a sender to a recipient, the item traversing a shipping route that includes at least one tracking point facility, the method comprising:

affixing a machine-readable identifier on the item, the machine-readable identifier encoding data corresponding to the sender'"'"'s e-mail address, the recipient'"'"'s e-mail address, and an item description;

reading the machine-readable identifier at the at least one tracking point facility; and

automatically transmitting a tracking status e-mail in response to the step of reading, the e-mail being transmitted to at least one of the sender and the recipient, or both.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the data includes an e-mail tracking notice request indicating that the sender requests that the tracking status e-mail be transmitted in response to the step of reading.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the data includes notification data identifying the parties receiving the tracking status e-mail.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the notification data specifies that only the sender receive the tracking status e-mail.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the notification data specifies that only the recipient receive the tracking status e-mail.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein the notification data specifies that both the sender and recipient receive the tracking status e-mail.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the machine-readable identifier comprises optical indicia.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the machine-readable identifier comprises a bar code.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the bar code is a two-dimensional bar code.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the machine-readable identifier comprises a radio frequency tag.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the machine-readable identifier comprises a magnetic card.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the data includes a message density field identifying the at least one tracking point facility.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the tracking status e-mail is only transmitted when the at least one tracking point facility is an item receiving point.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the tracking status e-mail is only transmitted when the at least one tracking point facility is an item transfer point.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the tracking status e-mail is only transmitted when the at least one tracking point facility is an item delivery point.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the tracking status e-mail is transmitted at each tracking point facility.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the item description includes purchase order information.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the tracking status e-mail includes a date and time the tracking status e-mail was generated.

19. A system for tracking an item being shipped from a sender to a recipient, the system comprising:

a labeling device configured to affix a machine-readable identifier to the item, the machine-readable identifier being configured to encode data corresponding to an e-mail tracking notice request field, the sender'"'"'s e-mail address, the recipient'"'"'s e-mail address, and an item description; and

at least one tracking point facility configured to read the machine-readable identifier, generate a tracking status e-mail in response to detecting the e-mail tracking notice request field, and transmit the e-mail to at least one of the sender and the recipient.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the system comprises a common carrier shipping system.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein the system comprises an intra-company system.

22. The system of claim 19, wherein the system comprises an inventory control system.

23. The system of claim 19, wherein the system comprises a component distribution system in a just-in-time manufacturing system.

24. The system of claim 19, wherein the labeling device is an optical indicia printer.

25. The system of claim 19, wherein the labeling device is a bar code printer.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the bar code printer generates two-dimensional bar codes.

27. The system of claim 25, wherein the bar code printer further comprises:

a user interface;

a controller coupled to the user interface; and

a label printer coupled to the controller.

28. The system of claim 19, wherein the labeling device further comprises:

a display;

at least one input device; and

a processor coupled to the display and the at least one input device.

29. The system of claim 19, wherein the machine-readable identifier is an RF tag.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein the labeling device is a programming device configured to program the RF tag.

31. The system of claim 19, wherein the machine-readable identifier is a magnetic card device.

32. The system of claim 31, wherein the labeling device is a programming device configured to program the magnetic card device.

33. The system of claim 19, wherein the at least one tracking point facility is an item receiving point.

34. The system of claim 19, wherein the at least one tracking point facility is an item transfer point.

35. The system of claim 19, wherein the at least one tracking point facility is an item delivery point.

36. A computer readable medium having computer-executable instructions disposed thereon for performing a method for tracking an item being shipped from a sender to a recipient, the item traversing a shipping route that includes at least one tracking point facility, the method comprising:

reading sender shipping information including the sender'"'"'s e-mail address, the recipient'"'"'s e-mail address, and a description of the item;

disposing the sender shipping information in a machine-readable identifier; and

affixing the machine-readable identifier to the item, whereby the at least one tracking point facility automatically transmits a tracking status e-mail to one of the sender and recipient, or both, in response to the step of reading.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein the machine-readable identifier includes a tracking notice request, the at least one tracking point facility only generating the tracking status e-mail in response to detecting the tracking notice request.

38. The method of claim 36, wherein the step of reading further comprises:

providing at least one data entry form on a display;

inputting the sender shipping information into at least one data entry form using an input device, the information including the sender'"'"'s e-mail address, the recipient'"'"'s e-mail address, and a description of the item; and

encoding the sender shipping information in response to the step of inputting.

39. The method of claim 36, wherein the sender shipping data includes notification data identifying the parties receiving the tracking status e-mail.

40. The method of claim 36, wherein the notification data specifies that only the sender, or only the recipient, or both the sender and the recipient receive the tracking status e-mail.

41. The method of claim 36, wherein the step of disposing includes generating machine-readable optical indicia.

42. The method of claim 41, wherein the optical indicia is a bar code.

43. The method of claim 42, wherein the bar code is a two-dimensional bar code.

44. The method of claim 36, wherein the step of disposing includes programming an RF tag.

45. The method of claim 36, wherein the step of disposing includes programming a magnetic card.

46. A computer readable medium having computer-executable instructions disposed thereon for performing a method for tracking an item being shipped from a sender to a recipient, the item traversing a shipping route that includes at least one tracking point facility, the method comprising:

reading a machine-readable identifier affixed to the item, the machine-readable identifier encoding shipping transaction information, the shipping transaction information including a sender e-mail address field, a recipient e-mail address field, and an item identification field;

generating a tracking status e-mail in response to the step of reading; and

transmitting the tracking status e-mail to at least one of the sender and recipient, or both, in accordance with the shipping transaction information encoded in the optical indicia.

47. The method of claim 46, wherein the machine-readable identifier includes a tracking notice request, the at least one tracking point facility generating the tracking status e-mail only in response to detecting the tracking notice request.

48. The method of claim 46, wherein the step of reading includes scanning optical indicia.

49. The method of claim 46, wherein the step of reading includes scanning a bar code.

50. The method of claim 49, wherein the bar code is a two-dimensional bar code.

51. The method of claim 46, wherein the step of reading includes scanning an RF tag.

52. The method of claim 46, wherein the step of reading includes reading a magnetic card.

53. The method of claim 46, wherein the shipping transaction information includes notification data identifying the parties receiving the tracking status e-mail.

54. The method of claim 53, wherein the notification data specifies that only the sender, or only the recipient, or both the sender and the recipient receive the tracking status e-mail.

55. A machine-readable medium having stored thereon a data structure, the data structure comprising:

an e-mail tracking notice request field, the e-mail tracking notice request field including a command causing a reading device to generate a tracking status e-mail in response to detecting the e-mail tracking notice request field;

a sender e-mail address field;

a recipient e-mail address field; and

an item identification field including a description of the item being shipped.

56. The data structure of claim 55, further comprising a notification data field for identifying the parties receiving the tracking status e-mail.

57. The data structure of claim 56, wherein the notification data field specifies that only the sender, or only the recipient, or both the sender and the recipient receive the tracking status e-mail.

58. The data structure of claim 55, further comprising a notification message density field for identifying the at least one tracking point facility.

59. The data structure of claim 58, wherein the notification message density field specifies that the tracking status e-mail is only transmitted from an item receiving point.

60. The data structure of claim 58, wherein the notification message density field specifies that the tracking status e-mail is only transmitted from item transfer points.

61. The data structure of claim 58, wherein the notification message density field specifies that the tracking status e-mail is only transmitted from an item delivery point.

62. The data structure of claim 58, wherein the notification message density field specifies that the tracking status e-mail is transmitted from each tracking point facility, including an item receiving point, item transfer points, and an item delivery point.

63. The data structure of claim 55, wherein the item identification field includes a date and a time of the tracking status e-mail.

64. The data structure of claim 55, wherein the item identification field includes item purchase order information.

65. A computer readable medium having stored thereon a data structure corresponding to a tracking status e-mail, the tracking status e-mail being automatically generated in response to reading a machine-readable identifier, the machine-readable identifier being disposed on an item being shipped from a sender to a recipient, the data structure comprising:

a notification field identifying the sender and recipients of the e-mail;

a subject matter field of the tracking status e-mail;

an item identification field including a description of the item being shipped; and

and a tracking status field including a status of the item being shipped.

66. The data structure of claim 65, wherein the tracking notification field is configured to be compatible with automated e-mail field scraping software that automatically queries the subject matter field of an e-mail for the presence of the notification field.

67. The data structure of claim 65, further comprising a signature field, the signature field including a signature bit-map of an item shipping record.

68. The data structure of claim 65, wherein the tracking status field includes the location of the item at the time the tracking status e-mail is generated.

69. The data structure of claim 65, wherein the tracking status field includes the time and date of the tracking status e-mail.

70. The data structure of claim 65, wherein the tracking status field includes an estimated time of delivery of the item.

71. A reading apparatus for reading a machine-readable identifier disposed on an item being shipped from a sender to a recipient, the reading apparatus comprising:

a reader assembly configured to acquire data disposed in the machine-readable identifier; and

a processor coupled to the reader assembly, the processor being programmed to,

detect an e-mail tracking notice request embedded in the machine-readable identifier,

decode a sender'"'"'s e-mail address, a recipient'"'"'s e-mail address, and an item description embedded in the machine-readable identifier, and

transmit a tracking status e-mail to at least one of the sender and the recipient, or both, in response to detecting the e-mail tracking notice request.

72. The reading apparatus of claim 71, wherein the reader assembly is configured to read optical indicia.

73. The reading apparatus of claim 71, wherein the reader assembly includes an imaging assembly configured to scan a bar code and generate image data corresponding to the bar code.

74. The reading apparatus of claim 73, wherein the processor is configured to decode the image data in the process of detecting the e-mail tracking notice request and decoding a sender'"'"'s e-mail address, a recipient'"'"'s e-mail address, and an item description embedded in the identifier.

75. The reading apparatus of claim 73, wherein the bar code is a two-dimensional bar code.

76. The reading apparatus of claim 71, wherein the reader assembly includes an scanning assembly configured to scan an RF tag.

77. The reading apparatus of claim 71, wherein the reader assembly includes an reading assembly configured to read a magnetic card.

78. The reading apparatus of claim 71, further comprising:

a display device coupled to the processor; and

at least one user input device coupled to the processor.

79. The reading apparatus of claim 71, wherein the tracking status e-mail comprises:

a notification field corresponding to a subject matter field of the tracking status e-mail;

an item identification field including a description of the item being shipped;

a signature field, the signature field including a signature bit-map of an item shipping record; and

a tracking status field including a status of the item being shipped.

80. A system for producing a machine-readable identifier for use in tracking an item being shipped from a sender to a recipient, the system comprising:

a user interface configured to input sender shipping information, the sender shipping information including an e-mail tracking notice request, the sender'"'"'s e-mail address, the recipient'"'"'s e-mail address, and an item description;

a controller coupled to the user interface, the controller being configured to embed the sender shipping information in a machine-readable identifier; and

an affixing device coupled to the controller, the affixing device being configured to affix the machine-readable indicia to the item.

81. The system of claim 80, wherein the machine-readable identifier includes optical indicia.

82. The system of claim 80, wherein the machine-readable identifier is a bar code and the affixing device comprises a bar code printer.

83. The system of claim 82, wherein the bar code printer generates two-dimensional bar codes.

84. The system of claim 80, wherein the machine-readable identifier is an RF tag, and the affixing device comprises a programming device configured to program the RF tag.

85. The system of claim 80, wherein the machine-readable identifier is a magnetic card device, and the affixing device comprises a programming device configured to program the magnetic card device.

86. In a computer system having a graphical user interface including a display and at least one input device, a method for providing information used for tracking an item being shipped from a sender to a recipient, the method comprising:

providing at least one data entry icon on the display;

inputting the information into the at least one data entry form using the input device, the information including the sender'"'"'s e-mail address, the recipient'"'"'s e-mail address, and a description of the item;

encoding the information in response to the step of inputting, whereby the information is encoded in a machine-readable identifier; and

affixing the machine-readable identifier to the item.

87. The method of claim 86, wherein the machine-readable identifier includes optical indicia.

88. The method of claim 86, wherein the machine-readable identifier is a bar code.

89. The method of claim 88, wherein the bar code is a two-dimensional bar code.

90. The method of claim 86, wherein the machine-readable identifier comprises an RF tag device.

91. The method of claim 86, wherein the machine-readable identifier comprises a magnetic card device.