Internet-based system and method for tracking objects bearing URL-encoded bar code symbols

• US 6,321,992 B1
• Filed: 01/29/1999
• Issued: 11/27/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Metrologic Instruments Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Metrologic Instruments Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Wilz, David, Knowles, Carl Harry
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, THIEN MINH
• Application Number:
  US09/240,378
• Time in Patent Office: 1,033 Days
• Field of Search: 235/462.01, 235/462.02, 235/462.08, 235/462.09, 235/462.1, 235/462.15, 235/462.25, 235/472.01, 235/375, 235/494
• US Class Current: 235/462.01
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management

Abstract

A novel Web-based package routing, tracking and delivering system and method that uses URL/ZIP-CODE encoded bar code symbols on parcels and packages. The system comprises one or more Routing, Tracking and Delivery (RTD) Internet Server Subsystems connected to the Internet infrastructure and updated at any instant of time with package tracking information. A Package Log-In/Shipping Subsystem is located at each shipping location and connected to the RTD Internet Server by way of the Internet infrastructure. A Package Routing Subsystem is located at a hub station and connected to the RTD Internet Server by way of the Internet infrastructure. A Portable Package Delivery Subsystem is carried by each package delivery person, and connected to the RTD Internet Server by way of the Internet infrastructure communication link. At each remote hub station within the system, the URL/ZIP-CODE encoded bar code symbol is automatically scanned by way of the Internet infrastructure; the encoded destination Zip Code is locally recovered and used to route the package at the hub station; and the locally recovered URL is used to access the RTD Internet Server and update the location of the package within the system. The Portable Package Delivery Subsystem is used to read the URL/ZIP-CODE encoded bar code symbol near the delivery destination in order to access the RTD Internet Server and display delivery information and the like to facilitate the delivery process.

Claims

1. A system for routing, tracking and delivering packages from a shipping point to a plurality of destination points, comprising:

a routing, tracking and delivery (RTD) Internet Server connected to the Internet infrastructure, for storing package delivery information and package tracking information on each package logged-in with said system;

a Package Log-In/Shipping Computer Subsystem located at a shipping location and connectable to said RTD Internet Server by way of the Internet infrastructure, for entering package delivery information and package tracking information on each package logged-in with said system, and producing a URL/ZIP-CODE encoded bar code symbol for application to each said package being logged-in with said system;

a plurality of Package Routing Subsystems located at remote hub stations and connectable to said RTD Internet Server by way of the Internet infrastructure, for scanning URL/ZIP-CODE encoded bar code symbols applied to said packages, transmitting tracking information on said packages to said RTD Internet Server, and routing said packages within said system; and

a plurality of Package Delivery Computer Subsystems connectable to said RTD Internet Server, for accessing package delivery information served therefrom.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said RTD Internet Server comprises:

a relational database management system (RDBMS) for storing package delivery information and package tracking information on each package logged-in with said system;

an HTTP Server for serving HTML-encoded web-pages having URL-specified information storage fields represented therein, each said URL-specified information storage field being linked to one said package logged-in with said system; and

a Common Gateway Interface (CGI) for interfacing said RDBMS with said HTTP Server.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein said RDBMS contains information elements that are related to an information storage location in an HTML-encoded web-page which is specified by a Uniform Resource locator (URL) that has been uniquely assigned to a particular package being tracked within said system.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said Package Log-In/Shipping Computer Subsystem comprises a desktop computer system and a bar code symbol printer.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein said Package Routing Subsystem comprises a portable scanning terminal programmed to automatically connect to said RTD Internet Server upon reading a URL/ZIP-CODE encoded bar code symbol.

6. A method of routing, tracking and delivering packages from an Information shipping points to a plurality of destination points, comprising the steps of:

(a) applying a URL/ZIP-CODE encoded bar code symbol to each said package being tracked within said system;

(b) reading said URL/ZIP-CODE encoded bar code symbol on each said package at different locations within said system in order to track the position of said package therein and facilitate routing operations; and

(c) reading said URL/ZIP-CODE encoded bar code symbol on each said package in order to access delivery information from an Internet Informatin Server, for delivering said package to its destination.

7. A system for tracking objects and linking information thereto, said system comprising:

an Internet Information Server connected to the Internet infrastructure, for storing object tracking information on each object logged-in within said system;

a plurality of Client Computer Subsystems connectable to said Internet Server by way of the Internet infrastructure, for entering into said Internet Information Server object-related information on each object logged-in with said system, and accessing said object-related information from said Internet Information Server; and

a Log-In Computer Subsystem for entering object identifying information into the Internet Information Server in order to log-in each object to be tracked within said system, and producing a printed URL encoded bar code symbol for application to each said object being logged-in and tracked within said system.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein said Internet Information Server comprises:

a relational database management system (RDBMS) for storing object tracking information on each object logged-in within said system;

an HTTP Server for serving HTML-encoded web-pages having URL-specified information storage fields represented therein, each said URL-specified information storage field being linked to one said object logged-in with said system; and

meanss for interfacing said RDBMS with said HTTP Server.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein said RDBMS contains information elements that are related to an information storage location in an HTML-encoded web-page which is specified by a Uniform Resource Locator (URL) that has been uniquely assigned to a particular object being tracked within said system.

10. The system of claim 7, wherein said Log-In Computer Subsystem comprises a desktop computer system and bar code symbol printer.

11. A method of linking, storing and accessing information relating to an object using an Information Server, comprising the steps of:

(a) applying a URL-Encoded bar code symbol to an object being logged-in with said Information Server;

(b) storing in said Information Server, information related to said object; and

(c) reading said URL-Encoded bar code symbol on said object and accessing information related to said object stored in said Information Server.