ITEM MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS AND ASSOCIATED METHODS
First Claim
1. A method of tracking a mail item, comprising:
- receiving a physical mail item in a location remote from remote entities, the mail item being associated with at least one of the remote entities;
determining which of the remote entities is associated with the mail item;
collecting data about the mail item;
providing at least a portion of the data to at least one of the associated remote entities via a computer network;
providing a unique identifier with the mail item;
storing the mail item in a discrete storage location;
associating the discrete storage location with the identifier of the physical mail item; and
video tracking a movement of the mail item using one or more video imaging devices.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention is directed generally toward item management systems and associated methods. Aspects of the invention are directed toward receiving items, inducting the items into the item management system and storing the items. In certain embodiments, inducting the item can include imaging at least a portion of the item and providing that image to a remote user. Other aspects of the invention include retrieving the items form storage and processing the items. In selected embodiments, processing an item can include processing the item in accordance with instructions provided by a remote user. In certain embodiments, at least some of the items that have been processed can then be returned to storage. Still other aspects of the invention can include monitoring various portions of the item management process. In selected embodiments, various aspects of the invention can be automated and/or computer controlled. Additionally, various aspects of the invention can allow non-uniform items to be stored in a uniform structure.
78 Citations
20 Claims
-
1. A method of tracking a mail item, comprising:
-
receiving a physical mail item in a location remote from remote entities, the mail item being associated with at least one of the remote entities;
determining which of the remote entities is associated with the mail item;
collecting data about the mail item;
providing at least a portion of the data to at least one of the associated remote entities via a computer network;
providing a unique identifier with the mail item;
storing the mail item in a discrete storage location;
associating the discrete storage location with the identifier of the physical mail item; and
video tracking a movement of the mail item using one or more video imaging devices. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
-
-
5. A method of tracking an item, comprising:
-
receiving a physical item in a location remote from at least one of a plurality of remote entities, the item being associated with the at least one of the remote entities, the item having an identifier;
storing the item in a discrete storage location;
associating the discrete storage location with the identifier of the physical item; and
video tracking a movement of the physical item using one or more video imaging devices. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
-
-
14. A method of delivering mail items at a facility, comprising:
-
receiving a physical mail item at the facility where multiple entities receive mail items, the mail item being associated with at least one of the entities;
determining which of the entities are associated with the mail item;
providing a unique identifier with the mail item;
storing the mail item in a discrete storage location; and
associating the discrete storage location with the identifier of the physical mail item, the mail item being retrievable by an associated entity. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17)
-
-
18. A method of sorting mail items at a postal facility, comprising:
-
receiving multiple mail items at the postal facility, each mail item being associated with at least one remote entity;
determining which of the remote entities are associated with each mail item;
providing a unique identifier with each mail item; and
storing the mail items in discrete storage locations associated with the provided identifiers, the mail item being retrievable for delivery to the associated remote entities. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
-
Specification