POSTAL STAMP TRACKING SYSTEM AND METHOD

• US 20090271030A1
• Filed: 07/06/2009
• Published: 10/29/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Inventors: Lu, Binh T., Laska, Casimir F., Otterlee, Thomas J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,132,726 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/244
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/00 Methods or arrangements for effecting co-operative working between equipments covered by two or more of main groups G06K1/00 - G06K15/00, e.g. automatic card files incorporating conveying and reading operations
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/0776 the adhering arrangement being a layer of adhesive, so that the record carrier can function as a sticker
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00629 Circuit, e.g. transponder

Abstract

A trackable postage stamp includes a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface. The second surface is adapted to adhere to a piece of mail. The stamp also includes a passive tracking device including stamp identification (ID) information.

Claims

1. A method of tracking a postage stamp, comprising:

coupling tracking information to the stamp, the tracking information including a stamp ID, wherein the tracking information is stored within a passive RFID device;

dispensing the stamp to a customer as part of a book of stamps, wherein the book includes book identification information;

reading the tracking information as the stamp is dispensed;

storing the stamp ID in a database; and

reading the tracking information as the stamp is deposited into a postal mailbox, and storing the stamp ID and a mailbox location within a database.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising comparing the mailbox location and the dispensing location, and identifying the stamp if the mailbox location is more than a predefined distance from the dispensing location.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising capturing an image of the customer and storing the captured image in the database.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising storing a dispensing location within a database.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the reading the tracking information as the stamp is dispensed includes reading the book identification information, and the storing step includes storing the book identification information in a database.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the database in which the book identification information is stored also includes a list of individual stamp IDs associated with the book identification information.

7. A method of tracking a postage stamp, comprising:

coupling tracking information to the stamp, the tracking information including a stamp ID, wherein the tracking information is stored within a passive RFID device;

dispensing the stamp to a customer as part of a book of stamps, the book including book identification information;

reading the tracking information as the stamp is dispensed;

storing the stamp ID in a database;

sensing when an article is deposited in a mailbox;

determining when tracking information was not properly read for all the articles placed in the mailbox; and

providing a perceivable indication when it has been determined that tracking information was not properly read for all the articles placed in the mailbox.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising comparing the mailbox location and the dispensing location, and identifying the stamp if the mailbox location is more than a predefined distance from the dispensing location.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising capturing an image of the customer and storing the captured image in the database.

10. The method of claim 7, further comprising storing a dispensing location within a database.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein the reading the tracking information as the stamp is dispensed includes reading the book identification information, and the storing step includes storing the book identification information in a database.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the database in which the book identification information is stored also includes a list of individual stamp IDs associated with the book identification information.