Method and system for tracking assets in a transportation network

• US 20050288947A1
• Filed: 09/30/2004
• Published: 12/29/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• 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: Kelly, George R., Mallonee, Cynthia F.
• Application Number:
  US10/954,105
• Publication Number:
  US 20050288947A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/333
• 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: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders

Abstract

Systems and methods for tracking assets of a service provider in a transportation network may comprise assigning a destination and route to a transportation container having an associated permanent identification marker. A client may generate a unique identification label for the transportation container, wherein the unique identification label includes information regarding the destination and route assigned to the container. Thereafter, the unique identification label is attached to the transportation container. The client also receives first information pertaining to the unique identification label attached to the transportation container, and second information pertaining to the permanent identification marker associated with the transportation container. Handling units containing delivery items are loaded into the transportation container.

Claims

1. A method for tracking assets of a service provider in a transportation network, comprising:

assigning a destination and route to a transportation container having an associated permanent identification marker;

generating a unique identification label for the transportation container, wherein the unique identification label includes information regarding the destination and route assigned to the container;

attaching the unique identification label to the transportation container;

receiving first information pertaining to the unique identification label attached to the transportation container; and

receiving second information pertaining to the permanent identification marker associated with the transportation container,

wherein handling units containing delivery items are loaded into the transportation container.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the delivery items comprise mailpieces.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the unique identification label is a placard.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the unique identification label comprises a barcode.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the unique identification label includes information indicative of a range of delivery areas for contents of the transportation container.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the unique identification label includes human-readable destination information.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the permanent identification marker comprises a license plate.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing the first information and the second information.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

sending the first information and the second information to a server.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving information pertaining to the unique identification label comprises:

scanning the unique identification label attached to the transportation container to produce first scan data.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving second information comprises:

scanning a license plate associated with the transportation container to produce second scan data.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving information pertaining to distribution labels associated with the handling units, wherein the distribution labels uniquely identify the handling units.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the distribution labels comprise 24-digit distribution labels.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the distribution labels comprise barcodes.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the distribution labels include at least one of origin information, destination information, origin date information, and expected delivery date information.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the permanent identification marker comprises a barcode, a radio frequency identification tag, and a human readable label.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

linking the handling units with the transportation container.

18. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

creating an electronic manifest corresponding to the transportation unit.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the electronic manifest comprises an inventory of items loaded into the transportation container.

20. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving information pertaining to a license plate associated with a transportation vehicle in which the transportation container is loaded.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

linking the transportation vehicle with the transportation container.

22. An apparatus for tracking assets of a service provider in a transportation network, comprising:

means for assigning a destination and route to a transportation container having an associated permanent identification marker;

means for generating a unique identification label for the transportation container, wherein the unique identification label includes information regarding the destination and route assigned to the container;

means for attaching the unique identification label to the transportation container;

means for receiving first information pertaining to the unique identification label attached to the transportation container; and

means for receiving second information pertaining to the permanent identification marker associated with the transportation container,

wherein handling units containing delivery items are loaded into the transportation container.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the delivery items comprise mail pieces.

24. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the unique identification label is a placard.

25. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the unique identification label comprises a barcode.

26. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the unique identification label includes information indicative of a range of delivery areas for contents of the transportation container.

27. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the unique identification label includes human-readable destination information.

28. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the permanent identification marker comprises a license plate.

29. The apparatus of claim 22, further comprising:

means for storing the first information and the second information.

30. The apparatus of claim 22, further comprising:

means for sending the first information and the second information to a server.

31. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the means for receiving information pertaining to the unique identification label comprises:

means for scanning the unique identification label attached to the transportation container to produce first scan data.

32. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the means for receiving second information comprises:

means for scanning a license plate associated with the transportation container to produce second scan data.

33. The apparatus of claim 22, further comprising:

means for receiving information pertaining to distribution labels associated with the handling units, wherein the distribution labels uniquely identify the handling units.

34. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the distribution labels comprise 24-digit distribution labels.

35. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the distribution labels comprise barcodes.

36. The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the distribution labels include at least one of origin information, destination information, origin date information, and expected delivery date information.

37. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the permanent identification marker comprises a barcode, a radio frequency identification tag, and a human readable label.

38. The apparatus of claim 22, further comprising:

means for linking the handling units with the transportation container.

39. The apparatus of claim 22, further comprising:

means for creating an electronic manifest corresponding to the transportation unit.

40. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the electronic manifest comprises an inventory of items loaded into the transportation container.

41. The apparatus of claim 22, further comprising:

means for receiving information pertaining to a license plate associated with a transportation vehicle in which the transportation container is loaded.

42. The apparatus of claim 41, further comprising:

means for linking the transportation vehicle with the transportation container.

43. A computer-readable medium containing instructions for performing a method for tracking assets of a service provider in a transportation network, the method comprising:

assigning a destination and route to a transportation container having an associated permanent identification marker;

generating a unique identification label for the transportation container, wherein the unique identification label includes information regarding the destination and route assigned to the container;

attaching the unique identification label to the transportation container;

receiving first information pertaining to the unique identification label attached to the transportation container; and

receiving second information pertaining to the permanent identification marker associated with the transportation container,

wherein handling units containing delivery items are loaded into the transportation container.

44. The computer-readable medium of claim 43, wherein the delivery items comprise mailpieces.

45. The computer-readable medium of claim 43, wherein the unique identification label is a placard.

46. The computer-readable medium of claim 43, wherein the unique identification label comprises a barcode.

47. The computer-readable medium of claim 43, wherein the unique identification label includes information indicative of a range of delivery areas for contents of the transportation container.

48. The computer-readable medium of claim 43, wherein the unique identification label includes human-readable destination information.

49. The computer-readable medium of claim 43, wherein the permanent identification marker comprises a license plate.

50. The computer-readable medium of claim 43, further comprising:

storing the first information and the second information.

51. The computer-readable medium of claim 43, further comprising:

sending the first information and the second information to a server.

52. The computer-readable medium of claim 43, wherein receiving information pertaining to the unique identification label comprises:

scanning the unique identification label attached to the transportation container to produce first scan data.

53. The computer-readable medium of claim 43, wherein receiving second information comprises:

scanning a license plate associated with the transportation container to produce second scan data.

54. The computer-readable medium of claim 43, further comprising:

receiving information pertaining to distribution labels associated with the handling units, wherein the distribution labels uniquely identify the handling units.

55. The computer-readable medium of claim 54, wherein the distribution labels comprise 24-digit distribution labels.

56. The computer-readable medium of claim 54, wherein the distribution labels comprise barcodes.

57. The computer-readable medium of claim 54, wherein the distribution labels include at least one of origin information, destination information, origin date information, and expected delivery date information.

58. The computer-readable medium of claim 43, wherein the permanent identification marker comprises a barcode, a radio frequency identification tag, and a human readable label.

59. The computer-readable medium of claim 43, further comprising:

linking the handling units with the transportation container.

60. The computer-readable medium of claim 43, further comprising:

creating an electronic manifest corresponding to the transportation unit.

61. The computer-readable medium of claim 60, wherein the electronic manifest comprises an inventory of items loaded into the transportation container.

62. The computer-readable medium of claim 43, further comprising:

receiving information pertaining to a license plate associated with a transportation vehicle in which the transportation container is loaded.

63. The computer-readable medium of claim 62, further comprising:

linking the transportation vehicle with the transportation container.

64. An apparatus for tracking assets of a service provider in a transportation network, comprising:

a memory having a program that;

assigns a destination and route to a transportation container having an associated permanent identification marker;

generates a unique identification label for the transportation container, wherein the unique identification label includes information regarding the destination and route assigned to the container, and the unique identification label is attached to the transportation container;

receives first information pertaining to the unique identification label attached to the transportation container; and

receives second information pertaining to the permanent identification marker associated with the transportation container, wherein handling units containing delivery items are loaded into the transportation container; and

a processor that runs the program.

65. The apparatus of claim 64, wherein the delivery items comprise mailpieces.

66. The apparatus of claim 64, wherein the unique identification label is a placard.

67. The apparatus of claim 64, wherein the unique identification label comprises a barcode.

68. The apparatus of claim 64, wherein the unique identification label includes information indicative of a range of delivery areas for contents of the transportation container.

69. The apparatus of claim 64, wherein the unique identification label includes human-readable destination information.

70. The apparatus of claim 64, wherein the permanent identification marker comprises a license plate.

71. The apparatus of claim 64, wherein the program further stores the first information and the second information.

72. The apparatus of claim 64, wherein the program further sends the first information and the second information to a server.

73. The apparatus of claim 64, wherein receiving information pertaining to the unique identification label comprises:

scanning the unique identification label attached to the transportation container to produce first scan data.

74. The apparatus of claim 64, wherein receiving second information comprises:

scanning a license plate associated with the transportation container to produce second scan data.

75. The apparatus of claim 64, wherein the program further receives information pertaining to distribution labels associated with the handling units, wherein the distribution labels uniquely identify the handling units.

76. The apparatus of claim 75, wherein the distribution labels comprise 24-digit distribution labels.

77. The apparatus of claim 75, wherein the distribution labels comprise barcodes.

78. The apparatus of claim 75, wherein the distribution labels include at least one of origin information, destination information, origin date information, and expected delivery date information.

79. The apparatus of claim 64, wherein the permanent identification marker comprises a barcode, a radio frequency identification tag, and a human readable label.

80. The apparatus of claim 64, wherein the program further links the handling units with the transportation container.

81. The apparatus of claim 64, wherein the program further creates an electronic manifest corresponding to the transportation unit.

82. The apparatus of claim 81, wherein the electronic manifest comprises an inventory of items loaded into the transportation container.

83. The apparatus of claim 64, wherein the program further receives information pertaining to a license plate associated with a transportation vehicle in which the transportation container is loaded.

84. The apparatus of claim 83, wherein the program further links the transportation vehicle with the transportation container.