Pre-load data capture and handling instruction generator for parcel sorting

• US 20060149413A1
• Filed: 02/27/2006
• Published: 07/06/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: United Parcel Service Of America Incorporated (United Parcel Service Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: United Parcel Service Of America Incorporated (United Parcel Service Incorporated)
• Inventors: Anderson, Duane, Burgess, Michael, Potteiger, David, Perez, Juan R.
• Granted Patent: US 7,194,331 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/213
• CPC Class Codes: B07C 3/14 using light-responsive detecting means for information carriers G06K7/14
• CPC Class Codes: B07C 3/18 Devices or arrangements for indicating destination, e.g. by code marks applying data to information carriers G06K1/12
• 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: H03M 7/40 Conversion to or from variable length codes, e.g. Shannon-Fano code, Huffman code, Morse code

Abstract

The present invention provides systems and methods for electronically-capturing a destination address of a package and for using the destination address to automate a package pre-load operation. An embodiment of the invention includes a compression system for compressing the destination address as a compressed MaxiCode symbol, a smart shipping label system for generating a shipping label with a compressed MaxiCode and a pre-load assist system for generating package handling instructions from the electronically-captured destination address.

Claims

1. A system for processing a parcel, comprising:

a parcel scanning device to capture a destination address from a label address on a first shipping label on a parcel, wherein said destination address is based at least in part on said label address;

a pre-load assist tool to generate a handling instruction for said parcel based upon a comparison of said destination address and a dispatch plan allocating delivery work between and among a plurality of delivery vehicles, wherein said handling instruction identifies a select vehicle assigned from among said plurality of delivery vehicles, and wherein said assist tool is in communication with said scanning device to receive said destination address;

a label generator to produce a second shipping label bearing said handling instruction, wherein said generator is in communication with said assist tool to receive said handling instruction.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said scanning device captures said destination address from a symbol on said first shipping label, said symbol including said label address in a compressed data format.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein said symbol on said first shipping label comprises a MaxiCode symbol.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein said symbol on said first shipping label comprises a bar code.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein said symbol on said first shipping label comprises a radio frequency identification tag.

6. The system of claim 2, wherein said parcel scanning device further comprises:

a symbol decompression routine to extract said destination address from said symbol, such that said destination address is in a decompressed format.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said select vehicle is generally responsible for said delivery work near said destination address.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein each of said plurality of delivery vehicles includes a plurality of load positions,

wherein said handling instruction identifies a select load position assigned from among said plurality of load positions on said select vehicle.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein said handling instruction identifies one or more sortation belts ultimately destined for said select vehicle.

10. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of sortation belts configured to direct a plurality of said parcels toward said plurality of delivery vehicles,

wherein said handling instruction further identifies one or more of said plurality of sortation belts ultimately destined for said select vehicle.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein said parcel scanning device is selected from the group consisting of:

a bar-code scanner, a MaxiCode scanner, and a radio frequency identification tag reader.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein said pre-load assist tool is further configured to generate a subsequent handling instruction for said parcel in response to, and in accordance with, a change in said dispatch plan.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein said second shipping label comprises a tag in communication with said pre-load assist tool, such that said handling instruction changes in accordance with a change in said dispatch plan.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein said second shipping label comprises a second symbol, said second symbol including said handling instruction in a compressed data format.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein said destination address captured from said first shipping label further includes a service level identifier, such that said handling instruction is based at least in part on said service level identifier.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein said destination address captured from said first shipping label further includes a delivery commit time, such that said handling instruction is based at least in part on said delivery commit time.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein said pre-load assist tool further comprises:

an address validation system that returns an error code to a user if said destination address does not include a valid address, said error code including a prompt to said user to compare said destination address to said label address and to correct said destination address.

18. The system of claim 1, wherein said pre-load assist tool is further configured to store said handling instruction for each of a plurality of said parcels in order to monitor said delivery work allocated between and among said plurality of delivery vehicles.

19. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a label applicator to associate said second shipping label with said parcel.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein said label applicator is further configure to attach said second shipping label to said parcel.

21. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a pre-loader to load said parcel in said select delivery vehicle according to said handling instruction.

22. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a dispatch planning application that generates said dispatch plan and publishes said dispatch plan to said pre-load assist tool.