ADAPTIVE INFORMATION & MEASUREMENT SYSTEM
First Claim
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1. A method for tracking postal service performance using a computerized tracking system and tag mail pieces having machine readable indicia indicating an identification code for each tag, comprising:
- (a) assigning delivery destinations to each tag mail piece using the system;
at an originating postal facility, sorting the tag mail pieces on postal mail sorting machines according to a sort scheme whereby the tag mail pieces are each grouped with mail addressed to the delivery destination assigned to the grouped tag mail piece;
(b) transporting the groups of mail grouped with tag mail pieces to a destinating postal facility;
(c) scanning the tags to determine date and time of arrival of each at a series of locations at which the scans are made, which scanning is carried out at multiple locations to determine transit times between locations for each tag, wherein the locations include originating postal facility, the destinating postal facility, and the delivery destinations;
(d) returning the tags from the delivery destinations to an originating postal facility which may be the same or different from the originating postal facility in step (a); and
(e) analyzing tag arrival data from step (c) using the system programmed to identify tag arrival data associated with postal performance problems.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method, AND apparatus are described to accurately measure the delivery performance of a postal service using without external agents in the measurement process. The invention describes a system that measures the postal logistic automatically, and continuously. The basis for measurement are tag mail pieces that circulate continuously through the postal system.
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Citations
5 Claims
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1. A method for tracking postal service performance using a computerized tracking system and tag mail pieces having machine readable indicia indicating an identification code for each tag, comprising:
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(a) assigning delivery destinations to each tag mail piece using the system; at an originating postal facility, sorting the tag mail pieces on postal mail sorting machines according to a sort scheme whereby the tag mail pieces are each grouped with mail addressed to the delivery destination assigned to the grouped tag mail piece; (b) transporting the groups of mail grouped with tag mail pieces to a destinating postal facility; (c) scanning the tags to determine date and time of arrival of each at a series of locations at which the scans are made, which scanning is carried out at multiple locations to determine transit times between locations for each tag, wherein the locations include originating postal facility, the destinating postal facility, and the delivery destinations; (d) returning the tags from the delivery destinations to an originating postal facility which may be the same or different from the originating postal facility in step (a); and (e) analyzing tag arrival data from step (c) using the system programmed to identify tag arrival data associated with postal performance problems. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A system for tracking postal service performance, comprising:
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a plurality of tag mail pieces each bearing a machine readable identification code; a computerized tracking system that maintains a database of tracking data which reflects when each tag was scanned during a postal delivery cycle, which tracking system receives tracking data from postal mail sorting machines which scan the tag mail pieces and from manual scanning devices used to scan the tag mail pieces during postal delivery; a communications system whereby the tracking system receives tracking data from a plurality of postal sorting machines and manual scanning devices; and an automated analyzer that identifies tag arrival data associated with postal performance problems.
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Specification