Method for maintaining the integrity of a mailing using radio frequency identification tags

• US 20040049316A1
• Filed: 09/10/2002
• Published: 03/11/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pitney Bowes Incorporated (Böwe Systec AG)
• Original Assignee: Pitney Bowes Incorporated (Böwe Systec AG)
• Inventors: Wong, Kwan C., Pintsov, Leon A., Miller, Kenneth G., Winkelman, John H., Bodie, Kevin W.
• Granted Patent: US 6,801,833 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/226
• CPC Class Codes: B07C 3/18 Devices or arrangements for indicating destination, e.g. by code marks applying data to information carriers G06K1/12

Abstract

This invention creates a hierarchy of radio frequency identification tags that are related to the mail pieces in mail trays and the pallet on which the mail trays sit. This hierarchical method provides a layered approach that is designed to minimize the probability that a mailer or the post office will misassemble or misroute a mailing or elements of a mailing.

Claims

1. A method for processing mail, said method comprises the steps of:

A. placing a radio frequency identification tag on a mail piece that identifies the mail piece;

B. placing one or more mail pieces having a radio frequency identification tag in a tray;

C. placing a radio frequency identification tag on a tray that identifies the mail pieces in the tray;

D. placing one or more trays having radio frequency identification tags on a palette;

E. placing a radio frequency identification tag on a palette that identifies the trays in the palette; and

F. scanning the radio frequency identification tags at specified times during the process to route the mailing.

2. The method claimed in claim 1, wherein the identifier uniquely identifies the mail piece.

3. The method claimed in claim 2, wherein the unique identifier contains information integrity data.

4. The method claimed in claim 1, wherein the identification tag on the tray identifies the destination of the mail in the tray.

5. The method claimed in claim 1, wherein the identification tag on the tray identifies the sender of the mail pieces in the tray

6. The method claimed in claim 1, wherein the radio frequency tag on the mail piece indicates the value of the contents of the mail piece.

7. The method claimed in claim 6, wherein the value of the contents of the mail piece is encrypted.

8. The method claimed in claim 1, further including the steps of:

placing one or more palettes having radio frequency identification tags in a vehicle; and

placing a radio frequency identification tag on the vehicle that identifies the palettes in the vehicle.

9. The method claimed in claim 8, wherein the radio frequency identification tag on the vehicle is programmed to contain information about the carrier.

10. The method claimed in claim 8, wherein the radio frequency identification tag on the vehicle is programmed to contain information about the mailings destination.

11. The method claimed in claim 8, wherein the radio frequency identification tag on the vehicle is attached to a mailing document.

12. The method claimed in claim 11, further including the step of:

submitting the mailing document to a carrier.

13. The method claimed in claim 12, further including the step of:

entering the information from the radio frequency identification tags into a central computer.

14. The method claimed in claim 13, further including the steps of:

entering the information scanned from the radio frequency identification tags as the mail pieces move through the delivery process to provide a end to end trace of the movement of the mailing.

15. The method claimed in claim 14, further including the step of:

auditing the scanned information to provide a quality check of the delivery of the mail piece.

16. The method claimed in claim 14, further including the step of:

notifying the sender of the information scanned.