Process and System for Tracking of Mail

• US 20090048704A1
• Filed: 08/17/2007
• Published: 02/19/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/17/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Korber Supply Chain LLC
• Original Assignee: Siemens Energy & Automation Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Redford, Dale E.
• Granted Patent: US 8,024,063 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/224
• CPC Class Codes: B07C 3/00 Sorting according to destination collating the pages of a book B42C1/00

Abstract

A process of tracking mail during postal handling includes an initial step of sorting an incoming stream of mail on an automated sorting machine to a series of pockets based on a sort scheme. During sorting, RFID-tagged, machine-sortable markers are introduced into the incoming mail stream at intervals and the RFID-tagged markers are sorted with the mail into pockets of the sorter. Mail and markers are swept from the pockets into trays, and the markers are introduced such that at least one marker is swept to each of a set of trays containing the sorted mail. The trays containing the mail and markers are then transported away from the automated sorting machine. During a postal operation subsequent to the initial sorting, one or more of the RFID-tagged markers are scanned to identify mail from the initial sorting.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented process of tracking mail during postal handling at a postal processing facility, comprising:

initially sorting an incoming stream of mail on an automated sorting machine to a series of pockets based on a sort scheme;

during sorting, introducing RFID-tagged, machine-sortable markers into the incoming mail stream at intervals and sorting the RFID-tagged markers with the mail into pockets of the sorter;

sweeping the mail and RFID-tagged markers from the pockets into trays, wherein the markers are introduced such that at least one marker is swept to each of a set of trays containing the sorted mail;

transporting the trays containing the mail and RFID-tagged markers from the automated sorting machine; and

during a postal operation subsequent to the initial sorting, scanning one or more of the RFID-tagged markers; and

identifying mail from the initial sorting from the scanned RFID-tagged markers.

2. The process of claim 1, wherein each marker has a unique ID code in its RFID tag, and further comprising:

associating marker ID codes with mail from the initial sorting in a database accessed by a computerized control system; and

referencing an ID code of a marker to determine associated mail in the database.

3. The process of claim 1, during the initial sorting:

optically scanning identifier data on the mail pieces and RFID-tagged markers in the stream as the mail pieces and markers are transported along a conveyor system in the sorting machine;

identifying a marker based on the result of the optical scan, thereby distinguishing markers from mail pieces during sorting;

diverting a marker to a sorter pocket determined by a sort scheme that causes at least one marker to be swept to each of the set of trays.

4. The process of claim 3, wherein the RFID tag of each marker has a unique ID code and the marker also has an optically scanable code which is correlated to the ID code of the marker, further comprising:

associating marker ID codes with mail from the initial sorting in a database accessed by a computerized control system; and

referencing an ID code of a marker to determine associated mail in the database.

5. The process of claim 1, wherein the subsequent postal operation is a second sorting operation for which mail included in one or more trays from the initial sorting is required.

6. The process of claim 5, wherein a computer controlling the second sorting operation on an automated sorting machine determines if all markers associated with mail from the initial sorting have been scanned during the second sorting operation.

7. The process claim 1, wherein the subsequent postal operation comprises shipping one or more trays each containing one of the RFID-tagged markers to another postal processing facility, and scanning the RFID-tagged markers of each shipped tray at that postal processing facility.

8. The process claim 1, further comprising recovering the RFID-tagged markers for re-use.

9. The process of claim 2, further comprising:

during the initial sorting, optically scanning identifier data on the mail pieces and RFID-tagged markers in the stream as the mail pieces and markers are transported along a conveyor system in the sorting machine;

saving in the database the order in which mail pieces and RFID-tagged markers were sorted to each pocket;

sweeping the mail and markers into trays in a manner that maintains the saved order for each pocket; and

where the subsequent postal operation is a sorting operation, following scanning of the markers prior to the subsequent sorting operation, determining the extent to which mail referenced in the database is missing from the subsequent sorting operation.

10. A computer-implemented process of tracking mail during postal handling at a postal processing facility, comprising:

initially sorting an incoming stream of mail on an automated sorting machine to a series of pockets based on a sort scheme;

during sorting, introducing RFID-tagged, machine-sortable markers into the incoming mail stream at intervals, wherein each marker has a unique ID code in its RFID tag and also has an optically scanable code which is correlated to the ID code of the marker in a database accessed by a computerized control system;

optically scanning identifier data on the mail pieces and the optically scanable code on the markers in the stream as the mail pieces and markers are transported along a conveyor system in the sorting machine;

identifying a marker based on the result of the optical scan, thereby distinguishing markers from mail pieces during sorting;

diverting a marker to a sorter pocket determined by the sort scheme;

associating the ID code of the diverted marker with mail sorted to that pocket in the database accessed by the computerized control system;

sweeping the mail and markers from the pockets into trays, wherein the sort scheme diverts markers to pockets such that at least one marker is swept to each of a set of trays containing sorted mail;

transporting the trays containing the mail and markers from the automated sorting machine; and

tracking the mail by reading the RFID tag of the markers when the mail is being transported in the trays;

during a postal operation subsequent to the initial sorting, scanning one or more of the markers, and

identifying mail from the initial sorting from the scanned markers by referencing an ID code of a marker to determine associated mail in the database.

11. The process of claim 10, wherein the subsequent postal operation is a second sorting operation for which mail included in one or more trays from the initial sorting is required.

12. The process of claim 11, wherein a computer controlling the second sorting operation on an automated sorting machine determines if all markers associated with mail from the initial sorting have been scanned during the second sorting operation.

13. The process of claim 10, further comprising:

saving in the database the order in which mail pieces and RFID-tagged markers were sorted to each pocket;

sweeping the mail and markers into trays in a manner that maintains the saved order for each pocket; and

where the subsequent postal operation is a sorting operation, following scanning of the markers prior to the subsequent sorting operation, determining the extent to which mail referenced in the database is missing from the subsequent sorting operation.

15. The marker of claim 10, wherein the marker body is made of a sheet of durable plastic.

16. The marker of claim 10, wherein the code is a bar code that permits the sorting machine to distinguish the marker from a mail piece.

17. The marker of claim 10, wherein the human readable indicia includes an ID number of the marker.

18. The marker of claim 10, wherein the marker has a height of 6⅛

inches.

14. A marker configured for use in a postal sorting facility, comprising:

a flexible rectangular body of dimensions suitable for sorting in an automated postal sorting machine used to sort letter mail;

an RFID-tag on the body identifying the marker when scanned;

an optically scanable code on the marker body which identifies the marker to the sorting machine, which code is correlated to a value of the RFID tag; and

human-readable identification indicia printed on the marker body.

19. The marker of claim 14, wherein the marker has a visually prominent stripe printed along an upper margin thereof.