Systems and methods for producing and managing a tracking label in a an item delivery system

• US 20050075997A1
• Filed: 02/21/2002
• Published: 04/07/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/2001
• 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: Ferlaino, Anthony M, Hamilton, Daryl S, Rainey, Brent A
• Granted Patent: US 8,521,658 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0833 Tracking
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 17/00435 Details specific to central, non-customer apparatus, e.g. servers at post office or vendor
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00443 Verification of mailpieces, e.g. by checking databases
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/0297 including a machine-readable marking, e.g. a bar code digitally marked record carriers in general G06K19/00

Abstract

Providing an information sytem in an item delivery system comprises reading a tracking indicia (410) on a unit load, updating a database (415) with first data from the tracking indicia, and updating the database with information that the unit load has been terminated. In addition, receiving (425) second data to be included in a label, and printing the label may be included.

Claims

1. A method for providing an information system in an item delivery system, comprising:

reading a tracking indicia on a unit load;

updating a database with first data from the tracking indicia; and

updating the database with information that the unit load has been terminated.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the database is updated when the unit load is at least one of emptied for further processing, and emptied for delivery.

3. The method of claim 1, comprising reading a tracking indicia containing a serial number unique to the unit load.

4. The method of claim 1, comprising updating a database with first data including at least one of:

a date and a time the tracking indicia is read, an ID of an operation associated with the reading of the tracking indicia, a weight of the unit load, a quantity of items associated with the unit load, a location of where the tracking indicia is read, an ID of an operator operating a device reading the tracking indicia, and an ID of a machine reading the tracking indicia.

5. The method of claim 1, comprising reading tracking indicia on a unit load comprising one of a mail tray, a mail sack, and a mail tub.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein reading a tracking indicia on a unit load comprises reading a tracking indicia including at least one of a bar code, a PLANET code, and an improved tracking label.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing access to the database to at least one of a sender, recipient, and an item delivery system operator.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving second data to be included in a label; and

printing the label.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising receiving the second data from at least one of a sender, recipient, and an item delivery system operator.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising printing the label at one of a customer location, a central location, and at automated equipment in the item delivery system.

11. A system for providing an information system in an item delivery system, comprising:

a first component for reading a tracking indicia on a unit load;

a second component for updating a database with first data from the tracking indicia; and

a third component for updating the database with information that the unit load has been terminated.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the third component comprises a component for updating the database with information that the unit load is terminated when the unit load is at least one of emptied for further processing, and emptied for delivery.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the first component reads tracking indicia containing a serial number unique to the unit load.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the first data comprises at least one of:

a date and a time of the tracking indicia is read, an ID of an operation associated with the reading of the tracking indicia, a weight of the unit load, a quantity of items associated with the unit load, a location of where the tracking indicia is read, an ID of an operator operating a device reading the tracking indicia, and an ID of a machine reading the tracking indicia.

15. The system of claim 11, wherein the first component comprises a component for reading a tracking indicia on at least one of a mail tray, a mail sack, and a mail tub.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the tracking indicia comprises at least one of a bar code, a PLANET code, and an improved tracking label.

17. The system of claim 11, further comprising a component for providing access to the database to at least one of a sender, recipient, and an item delivery system operator.

18. The system of claim 11, further comprising:

a fourth component for receiving second data to be included in a label; and

a fifth component for printing the label.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the fourth component comprises a component for reading second data from at least one of a sender, recipient, and an item delivery system operator.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the fifth component comprises a component for printing the label at least on of one of a customer location, a central location, and at automated equipment in the item delivery system.