SYSTEMS, METHODS AND DEVICES FOR ITEM PROCESSING

• US 20140270356A1
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Published: 09/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: United States Postal Service (Government of the United States of America)
• Original Assignee: United States Postal Service (Government of the United States of America)
• Inventors: Dearing, Stephen M., Sherry, Carla F.
• Granted Patent: US 9,795,997 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 382/103
• CPC Class Codes: B07C 2301/0058 Verification for the correct postage amount
• CPC Class Codes: B07C 7/005 Computer assisted manual sorting, e.g. for mail
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00443 Verification of mailpieces, e.g. by checking databases

Abstract

Methods, systems and devices for item processing. The systems can include a PASS module that can include features that receive inputs relating to an item for processing and provide those inputs to other components and/or modules of a PASS system and/or of another system. The PASS system can include a variety of modules, including the PASS module, and can collect information and/or inputs from the variety of modules of the PASS system and use that information in item processing. The methods of item processing can use the PASS system and the PASS module to perform a variety of functions including, for example, revenue protection, sorting of items, task management, sampling and data collection, redirecting if enroute items, and personnel management.

Claims

1. A system for item processing comprising:

a camera configured to capture an image of an item;

a processor in communication with the camera, wherein the processor is configured to;

determine if the captured image is acceptable;

generate scan data from the captured image; and

provide instructions relating to the disposition of the item based at least in part on the scan data; and

an output in communication with the processor, the output configured to provide an instruction to a user relating to the disposition of the item.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the camera is configured to capture an image of the item when a label on the item is viewable by the camera within a defined three-dimensional space.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to communicate the scan data to a central computing unit comprising a processor and a memory configured to store information and instructions related to the item.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the processor is further configured to receive instructions relating to the disposition of the item from the central computing unit.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising a cart and a boom, wherein the boom is connected to the cart at a first end and wherein a second end of the boom extends from the cart and the camera is located at the second end of the boom.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the output comprises at least one of an audible or visual output.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the visual output comprises a colored light.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the scan data uniquely identifies the item.

9. A system for item processing comprising:

a first scan module configured to generate a first scan image of a first item and first scan data relating to the first scan image;

a computing system comprising;

a computing unit; and

storage comprising a first database of disposition information and instructions;

wherein the computing system is configured to;

receive the first scan data;

determine a disposition of the first item based at least in part on the first scan data;

provide an instruction to the first scan module relating to the disposition of the first item; and

wherein the first scan module receives the instruction for the disposition of the first item.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the computing system is further configured to update the first database with the first scan data.

11. The system of claim 10, further comprising a second scan module configured to generate a second scan image of a second item and second scan data from the second scan image.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the computing unit is further configured to:

receive the second scan data;

determine a disposition of the second item;

provide an instruction to the second scan module relating to the disposition of the second item to the second scan module.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the computing unit is further configured to compare the second scan data to disposition information relating to the second item in the database.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the second scan module receives the instruction relating to the disposition of the second item from the computing system, and provides the instruction to a user.

15. The system of claim 9, wherein the computing system comprises a second database and a third database.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the second database includes an indicator of scan data that has been associated with more than one item.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the third database includes an indicator of all of the scan images generated in a specified time frame.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the third database includes an indicator of all of the scan images generated in the past six months.

19. A method of item processing comprising:

capturing the image;

determining if measured characteristics of the captured image are within a defined range for acceptance;

generating scan data from the captured image; and

providing instructions relating to the disposition of the item based at least in part on the scan data.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

detecting the presence of an item within a defined three-dimensional image; and

triggering capturing the image in response to detecting the presence of the item.

21. The method of claim 19, further comprising updating a local database with the scan data.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the local database is updated with an indicator of the captured image.

23. The method of claim 19, further comprising providing information relating to the captured image.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the information comprises a representation of the captured image.

25. The method of claim 19, further comprising receiving instructions for the disposition of the item.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the disposition of the item comprises determining a physical characteristic of the item.

27. The method of claim 25, wherein the disposition of the item comprises sorting the item.

35. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

detecting the presence of an item within a defined three-dimensional image; and

triggering capturing the image in response to detecting the presence of the item.

28. A method of item processing comprising:

receiving information relating to a scan of a label associated with an item;

determining if the label has been associated with more than one item;

determining a physical characteristic of the item; and

determining if the received information associated with the label corresponds to the physical characteristic of the item.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein determining if the label has been associated with more than one item comprises:

comparing the received information to a first database comprising an indicator of labels that have been associated with more than one item;

if the received information does not match the indicator in the first database, comparing the received information to a second database comprising an indicator of labels that have been scanned in a designated time frame.

30. The method of claim 28, further comprising extracting information associated with the label from the information relating to the scan of the label.

31. The method of claim 30, further comprising querying a database with the extracted information associated with the label for information relating to the requested service.

32. The method of claim 28, further comprising determining a payer.

33. The method of claim 32, further comprising:

determining if the sender of the item is ascertainable; and

if the sender is ascertainable, indicating that the sender is the payer.

34. The method of claim 33, further comprising:

determining if the intended recipient is ascertainable if the sender is not ascertainable; and

indicating that the intended recipient is the payer if the intended recipient is ascertainable.

36. A system for processing an item comprising:

means for capturing the image;

means for determining if measured characteristics of the captured image are within a defined range for acceptance;

means for generating scan data from the captured image; and

means for providing instructions relating to the disposition of the item based at least in part on the scan data.