Internet-based system and method for routing, tracking and delivering packages using URL-encoded bar code symbols

• US 6,394,354 B1
• Filed: 01/11/1999
• Issued: 05/28/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/24/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Metrologic Instruments Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Metrologic Instruments Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Wilz, David M. Sr., Knowles, Carl Harry
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, THIEN MINH
• Application Number:
  US09/228,223
• Time in Patent Office: 1,233 Days
• Field of Search: 235/462.01,472.01,375,384,381
• US Class Current: 235/472.01
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9554 by using bar codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10722 Photodetector array or CCD scanning
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 7/10851 Circuits for pulse shaping, amplifying, eliminating noise signals, checking the function of the sensing device basic electronic circuitry H03

Abstract

An Internet-based system and method is provided for routing, tracking and delivering packages. Bar code symbols encoded with URLs and ZIP-CODE information are applied to packages to be routed and tracked within the system. At different points in the system, these URL/ZIP-CODE encoded bar code symbols are read to automatically route and track packages.

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 operable 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 and generating package tracking information, and transmitting said package tracking information to said RTD Internet Server, and routing said packages within said system using at least a portion of said package tracking information; and

a plurality of mobile Package Delivery Computer Subsystems operably connectable to said Internet Server by way of the Internet infrastructure, for accessing package delivery information served therefrom, wherein each mobile Package Delivery Computer Subsystem is capable of reading said URL/ZIP-Code encoded barcode symbol on any of said plurality of packages so as to access package delivery information from said RTD Internet Server.

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

an Interface for interfacing said RDBMS with said HTTP Server.

3. The system of claim 1, 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 for entering package delivery information and a bar code symbol printer for printing URL/ZIP-Code encoded barcode symbols.

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

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

(a) at said shipping point applying a URL/ZIP-CODE encoded bar code symbol to each package being tracked within a package routing/tracking and delivery (RTD) system having an Internet Server storing package delivery information;

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

(c) reading said URL/ZIP-CODE encoded bar code symbol on each said package using a portable scanning terminal in operable communication with said Internet Server in order to access package delivery information from said Internet Server, for display on said portable scanning terminal and use in delivering said package to its destination point.

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

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

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

a plurality of Mobile Client Computer Subsystems connectable to said Internet Information Server by way of the Internet infrastructure, for reading a printed URL encoded barcode symbol applied to a package, connecting to said Internet Information Server, and accessing therefrom package-related information maintained on each package being tracked by 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 package 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 package logged-in with said system; and

a software-based interface 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 package 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 Web-based package routing, tracking and delivery system, comprising:

one or more Routing, Tracking and Delivery (RTD) Internet Server Subsystems are connected to the Internet for maintaining and serving package related information produced by either (i) a Package Log-In/Shipping Subsystem located at a product shipping location and connected to said RTD Internet Server by a first data communication link, (ii) a Package Routing Subsystem located at a hub station and connected to said RTD Internet Server Subsystem by a second data communication link, or (iii) a Portable Package Delivery Subsystem carried by a package delivery person and operably connected to said RTD Internet Server Subsystem by a wireless data communication link.

12. A Web-based package routing, tracking and delivery system comprising a plurality of remote hub stations, wherein each remote hub station within the system further comprises:

a first mechanism for reading URL-encoded bar code symbols on a package;

a second mechanism for recovering the URL encoded in the bar code symbol at said hub station; and

a third mechanism for updating the location of said package within said system using said recovered URL.

13. The Web-based package routing, tracking and delivery system of claim 12, which further comprises means for reading said encoded bar code symbol using a portable Internet access terminal, and recovering the URL-encoded therein.