Paperless parcel tracking system

• US 5,313,051 A
• Filed: 04/06/1992
• Issued: 05/17/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Gray, Michael N., Donaldson, Robert L., Brown, Marvin K., Camilleri, Patrick F., Moore, Victor S., Fado, Francis, Tout, James J. Jr., Brigida, David J., Pate, Thomas K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cross, E. Rollins
• Assistant Examiner(s): SOLIS, ERICK R
• Application Number:
  US07/863,988
• Time in Patent Office: 771 Days
• Field of Search: 235/375, 235/376, 235/384, 340/712, 178/18, 178/19, 382/3
• US Class Current: 235/375
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• 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: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 17/0008 Communication details outside or between apparatus coin-freed apparatus for franking per se G07F17/26
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 17/00193 Constructional details of apparatus in a franking system
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 17/00362 Calculation or computing within apparatus, e.g. calculation of postage value
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 17/00508 Printing or attaching on mailpieces printing mechanisms B41J; security printing B41M3/14; marking methods B41M5/00; inks C09D11/00; record carriers with at least a part designed to carry digital markings G06K19/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 17/00661 Sensing or measuring mailpieces weighing G01G19/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00096 via phone lines
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00112 Wireless
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/0012 in a mobile phone system
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00217 Portable franking apparatus, i.e. the whole franking apparatus, not parts alone
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00282 Touch screen
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00379 Calculation of different sending options for a mail piece
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00588 Barcode
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00717 Reading barcodes

Abstract

A portable paperless parcel tracking system capable of reading bar codes on packages, capturing signatures and alphanumeric data related to the parcels when entered into a touch panel display, disabling manual or finger touch entry when a stylus is near the surface of the display, storing the parcel related data electronically and transmitting the data to a host at a convenient time.

Claims

1. A paperless parcel tracking system which obtains signature and data information without paper records, comprising:

a processor for executing a parcel tracking program;

storage for storing signature information and parcel descriptive information;

a bar code reader for reading parcel descriptive information from a bar code related to at least one selected parcel into the storage under control of the processor;

a stylus for entering information into the system;

a touch sensitive tablet display for detecting signature information written by the stylus on the tablet display which signature information is related to the selected parcel descriptive information and store the signature information into the storage;

means to display control information in predetermined fields of the tablet display;

means to detect input from manual contact with the tablet display; and

means to disable input from manual contact with the tablet display when the stylus is within a predetermined distance to the tablet display;

whereby signatures related to the tracking of parcels are obtained without paper documentation.

2. A system, as in claim 1, wherein the bar code reader is a laser scanner.

3. A system, as in claim 1, wherein the bar code reader is a magnetic bar code reader.

4. A system, as in claim 1, wherein the bar code reader is controlled by selecting a control command displayed in one of the predetermined location of the display tablet.

5. A system, as in claim 1, wherein the bar code reader is automatically started when the signature data is entered.

6. A system, as in claim 1, wherein the display is an LCD display.

7. A paperless parcel tracking system which obtains signature and data information without paper records comprising:

a processor for executing a parcel tracking program;

storage for storing signature information and parcel descriptive information;

a bar code reader for reading parcel descriptive information from a bar code related to at least one selected parcel into the storage under control of the processor;

a stylus for entering information into the system;

a touch sensitive tablet display for detecting signature information written by the stylus on the tablet display which signature information is related to the selected parcel descriptive information and store the signature information into the storage;

means to detect when the stylus is within a predetermined distance from the tablet display;

means to disable touch input by manual contact with the tablet display while the stylus is within a predetermined distance of the tablet display surface; and

host link means to output the selected parcel descriptive information and related signature information;

whereby signatures related to the tracking of parcels are obtained without paper documentation.

8. A paperless parcel tracking system, comprising:

a processor;

storage;

a bar code reader for reading parcel descriptive information from a bar code related to at least one selected parcel into the storage under control of the processor;

a touch sensitive LCD tablet display for detecting input from a stylus, further comprising;

means to display control commands on predetermined locations of the tablet display;

means to detect the presence of the stylus in one of the predetermined locations on the tablet display;

means to read signature information written on the tablet display which is related to the selected parcel descriptive information and store the signature information into the storage;

wherein the tablet display detects the stylus when it is within a predetermined distance from the tablet display surface and disables manual touch input while the stylus is within the predetermined distance from the tablet display surface; and

an infrared link to output the selected parcel descriptive information and related signature information;

whereby signatures related to the tracking of parcels are obtained without paper documentation.

9. A system, as in claim 8, wherein operation of the bar code reader is controlled by selecting a control command displayed in a predetermined location of the tablet display with the stylus.

10. An intelligent touch sensitive tablet display, comprising:

a touch sensitive display screen capable of detecting input from a stylus and from manual touch;

a first antenna positioned substantially adjacent to the perimeter of the display screen;

an intelligent stylus having a second antenna;

first logic means for transmitting positional information from the first antenna to the stylus;

second logic means for processing positional information received from the first antenna, determining when the stylus is within a predetermined proximity to the touch sensitive display screen, and signalling the touch sensitive display screen that the stylus is within a predetermined distance to the touch sensitive display screen; and

third logic means for processing the positional information transmitted from the stylus indicating that the stylus is within a predetermined distance to the touch sensitive display screen and disabling the detection of manual touch input when the stylus is within the predetermined distance to the touch sensitive display screen;

whereby input resulting from inadvertent manual contact with the touch sensitive display screen will not interfere with input from the stylus.

11. A paperless parcel tracking system which obtains signature and data information without paper records, comprising:

a processor for executing a parcel tracking program;

storage for storing signature information and parcel descriptive information;

a bar code reader for reading parcel descriptive information from a bar code related to at least one selected parcel into the storage under control of the processor;

a stylus for entering information into the system;

a touch sensitive tablet display for detecting signature information written by the stylus on the tablet display which signature information is related to the selected parcel descriptive information and store the signature information into the storage;

means to display control information in predetermined fields of the tablet display;

means to detect input from manual contact with the tablet display;

means to disable input from manual contact with the tablet display when the stylus is within a predetermined distance to the tablet display; and

host link means to output the selected parcel descriptive information and related signature information;

whereby signatures related to the tracking of parcels are obtained without paper documentation.

12. A system, as in claim 11, wherein the host link means is an infrared link.

13. A system, as in claim 11, wherein the host link means is a cellular modem.