System and method for managing postal induction, tracking, and delivery

• US 7,028,895 B2
• Filed: 07/31/2003
• Issued: 04/18/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2003
• 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: Ashaari, Shahpour
• Primary Examiner(s): Frech, Karl D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): WALSH, DANIEL I
• Application Number:
  US10/631,269
• Publication Number:
  US 20040188522A1
• Time in Patent Office: 992 Days
• Field of Search: 235/385, 235/383, 235/381, 705/22, 705/28, 705/7, 705/8, 705/401, 705/402, 705/404, 705/400
• US Class Current: 235/385
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management

Abstract

A method to track a mailing. The method comprises: receiving mailing information from a mailer, the mailing information comprising shipment information relating to a shipment and a mailing code associated with a mailing, the shipment information comprising a shipment identifier; receiving a shipment at an induction facility, wherein the shipment comprises an encoded shipment and a mailing associated with the mailing code; scanning at least one of the encoded shipment identifier or the mailing code into a scanned code; matching the scanned code to the shipment identifier; notifying the mailer of the induction of the shipment; scanning at least one of the encoded shipment identifier or the mailing code at a delivery facility; and notifying the mailer of the delivery of the shipment.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving mailing information from a mailer, the mailing information comprising shipment information relating to a shipment and a mailing code associated with a mailing, the shipment information comprising a shipment identifier;

receiving shipment at an induction facility, wherein the shipment comprises an encoded shipment identifier and a mailing associated with the mailing code;

scanning at least one of the encoded shipment identifier or the mailing code into a scanned code;

matching the scanned code to the shipment identifier;

notifying the mailer of the induction of the shipment;

scanning at least one of the encoded shipment identifier or the mailing code at a delivery facility; and

notifying the mailer of the delivery of the shipment.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

estimating a cost to deliver the mailing based on the mailing information; and

providing the estimated cost of the mailing to the mailer.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising checking an account balance of the mailer to verify available funds for payment of the estimated cost to deliver the mailing.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

receiving confirmation that the shipment is incoming from the mailer; and

debiting a trust account of the mailer with the estimated cost to deliver the mailing.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

during transportation of the shipment from the induction facility to the delivery facility, scanning the encoded shipment identifier as in process scan data.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

providing the in-process scan data to the mailer.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising utilizing the mailing information to estimate future system loads.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein utilizing the mailing information to estimate future system loads further comprises:

receiving an induction date in the mailing information, the induction date estimating the date upon which the mailing will be delivered to the induction facility; and

estimating future system loads based on the induction date.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein estimating future system loads further comprises:

receiving a count value representing the number of mailpieces in the mailing; and

estimating future system loads based on the induction date and the count value.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing an estimate of an in-home delivery date for the mailing.

11. A method of planning the future load of a mailing system, comprising:

receiving mailing information from a mailer, the mailing information comprising shipment information having a shipment identifier, an estimated induction date, and a count value representing the number of mailpieces in the shipment; and

estimating system load on a mail system based on the estimated induction date and the count value.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the shipment information comprises an induction location and wherein estimating system load further comprises estimating system load on a mail system based on the induction location.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein the shipment information comprises a delivery location and wherein estimating system load further comprises estimating system load on a mail system based on the delivery location.

14. A system for tracking a mailing, the system comprising:

a memory; and

a processor coupled to the memory for;

receiving mailing information from a mailer, the mailing information comprising shipment information relating to a shipment and a mailing code associated with a mailing, the shipment information comprising a shipment identifier;

receiving the shipment at an induction facility, wherein the shipment comprises an encoded shipment identifier and a mailing associated with the mailing code;

scanning at least one of the encoded shipment identifier or the mailing code into a scanned code;

matching the scanned code to the shipment identifier;

notifying the mailer of the induction of the shipment;

scanning at least one of the encoded shipment identifier or the mailing code at a delivery facility; and

notifying the mailer of the delivery of the shipment.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the processor provides the function of:

estimating a cost of the mailing based on the mailing information; and

providing the estimated cost to deliver the mailing to the mailer.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the processor provides the function of checking an account balance of a trust account of the mailer to verify available funds for payment of the estimated cost to deliver the mailing.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the processor provides the functions of:

receiving confirmation that the shipment is incoming from the mailer; and

debiting an account of the mailer with the estimated cost to deliver the mailing.

18. The system of claim 14, wherein the processor provides the functions of:

during transportation of the shipment from the induction facility to the delivery facility, receiving a scan of the encoded shipment identifier as in-process scan data.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the processor provides the functions of:

providing the in-process scan data to the mailer.

20. The system of claim 14, wherein the processor provides the function of utilizing the mailing information to estimate future system loads.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein the processor provides the function of:

receiving an induction date in the mailing information, the induction date estimating the date upon which the mailing will be delivered to the induction facility; and

estimating future system loads based on the induction date.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein the processor provides the function of:

receiving a number of pieces of mail in the mailing information; and

estimate future system loads based on the induction date and the number of pieces of mail in the mailing information.

23. The system of claim 14, wherein the processor provides the function of providing an estimate of an in-home delivery date for the mailing.

24. A system for planning the future load of a mailing system, the system comprising:

a memory; and

a processor coupled to the memory for;

receiving mailing information from a mailer, the mailing information comprising shipment information having a shipment identifier, an estimated induction date, and a number of mail pieces in the shipment; and

estimating system load on a mail system based on the estimated induction date and the number of mail pieces in the shipment.

25. The system of claim 24 wherein the processor provides the function of estimating system load using an induction location provided in the shipment information.

26. The system of claim 24 wherein the processor provides the function of estimating system load based on a delivery location provided within the shipment information.

27. A computer-readable medium on which is stored a set of instructions for providing tracking of mailings, which when executed perform stages comprising:

receiving mailing information from a mailer, the mailing information comprising shipment information relating to a shipment and a mailing code associated with a mailing, the shipment information comprising a shipment identifier;

receiving the shipment at an induction facility, wherein the shipment comprises an encoded shipment identifier and a mailing associated with the mailing code;

scanning at least one of the encoded shipment identifier or the mailing code into a scanned code;

matching the scanned code to the shipment identifier;

notifying the mailer of the induction of the shipment;

scanning at least one of the encoded shipment identifier or the mailing code at a delivery facility; and

notifying the mailer of the delivery of the shipment.

28. The computer-readable medium of claim 27, further comprising instructions, which when executed perform stages comprising:

estimating a cost of the mailing based on the mailing information; and

providing the estimated cost to deliver the mailing to the mailer.

29. The computer-readable medium of claim 28, further comprising instructions, which when executed perform stages comprising:

checking an account balance of the mailer to verify available funds for payment of the estimated cost to deliver the mailing.

30. The computer-readable medium of claim 28, further comprising instructions, which when executed perform stages comprising:

receiving confirmation that the shipment is incoming from the mailer; and

debiting the mailer with the estimated cost to deliver the mailing.

31. The computer-readable medium of claim 27 further comprising instructions, which when executed perform stages comprising:

during transportation of the shipment from the induction facility to the delivery facility, scanning the encoded shipment identifier as in-process scan data.

32. The computer-readable medium of claim 31, further comprising instructions, which when executed perform stages comprising:

providing the in-process scan data to the mailer.

33. The computer-readable medium of claim 27, further comprising instructions, which when executed perform stages comprising:

utilizing the mailing information to estimate future system loads.

34. The computer-readable medium of claim 33, further comprising instructions, which when executed perform stages comprising:

receiving an induction date in the mailing information, the induction date estimating the date upon which the mailing will be delivered to the induction facility; and

estimating future system loads based on the induction date.

35. The computer-readable medium of claim 34, further comprising instructions, which when executed perform stages comprising:

receiving a count value representing the number of mailpieces in the mailing; and

estimating future system loads based on the induction date and the count value.

36. The computer-readable medium of claim 27, further comprising instructions, which when executed perform stages comprising:

providing an estimate of an in-home delivery date for the mailing.

37. A computer-readable medium on which is stored a set of instructions for estimating future loads on a mailing system, which when executed perform stages comprising:

receiving mailing information from a mailer, the mailing information comprising shipment information having a shipment identifier, an estimated induction date, and a count value; and

estimating system load on a mail system based on the estimated induction data and the count value.

38. The computer-readable medium of claim 37 wherein the shipment information comprises an induction location and wherein the instructions when executed perform the stage of estimating system load further comprises estimating system load on a mail system based on the induction location.

39. The computer-readable medium of claim 37 wherein the shipment information comprises a delivery location and wherein the instructions when executed perform the stage of estimating system load further comprises estimating system load on a mail system based on the delivery location.