Systems and methods for utilizing a tracking label in an item delivery system

• US 7,143,937 B2
• Filed: 02/21/2002
• Issued: 12/05/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• 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: Ferlaino, Anthony M., Hamilton, Daryl S., Rainey, Brent A.
• Primary Examiner(s): FUREMAN, JARED
• Application Number:
  US10/468,482
• Publication Number:
  US 20040074965A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,748 Days
• Field of Search: 235/385, 235/375, 235/383, 235/454, 235/462.01, 235/462.13, 235/470, 902/37, 902/41, 705/1, 705/28, 705/406
• US Class Current: 235/383
• CPC Class Codes: B07C 3/14 using light-responsive detecting means for information carriers G06K7/14
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/0004 Determining the location of mailpieces outside apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/0062 Label

Abstract

Collecting a label in an item delivery system (100) comprises reading a label on a unit load when the unit load is terminated, defacing the label if the quality of the label meets a predefined quality level, depositing the label in a read bin holder if the quality of the label meets a predetermined quality level, and depositing the label in a no-read bin holder if the quality of the label does not meet a predefined quality level. The item delivery system includes a network (160) facilitating communication between an information system (110), a label collection system (120), legacy systems (130), customer systems (140), and delivery systems (150).

Claims

1. A method for collecting a label in an item delivery system, comprising:

reading a label on a unit load when the unit load is terminated;

defacing the label if the quality of the label meets a predefined quality level;

depositing the label in a read bin holder if the quality of the label meets a predefined quality level; and

depositing the label in a no-read bin holder if the quality of the label does not meet a predefined quality level.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising validating whether the unit load is being routed properly using data read from the label.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising providing an indication if the unit load is not being routed properly.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the indication comprises at least one of a visual indicator and a audible indicator.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the unit load is terminated when it is at least one of emptied for further processing and emptied for delivery.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising reading a label which Includes a tracking indica containing a serial number unique to the unit load.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising reading a label including at least one of a bar code, a PLANET code, and an improved tracking label.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising reading a label on a unit load one of a mail tray, a mail sack, and a mail tub.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising translating a 10-digit print stream data read from the label into 24-digit label print stream data.

10. A system for collecting a label in an item delivery system, comprising:

a component for reading a label on a unit load when the unit load is terminated;

a component for defacing the label if the quality of the label meets a predefined quality level;

a component for depositing the label in a read bin holder if the quality of the label meets a predefined quality level; and

a component for depositing the label In a no-read bin holder if the quality of the label does not meet a predefined quality level.

11. The system of claim 10, further comprising a component for validating whether the unit load is being routed properly using data read from the label.

12. The system of claim 11, further comprising a component for providing an indication if the unit load is not being routed properly.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the indication comprises at least one of a visual indicator, and a audible indicator.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein the unit load is terminated when it is at least one of emptied for further processing, and emptied for delivery.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein the label includes a tracking indica containing a serial number unique to the unit load.

16. The system of claim 10, wherein the label includes at least one of a bar code, a PLANET code, and an improved tracking label.

17. The system of claim 10, wherein the unit load comprises at least one of a mail tray, a mail sack, and a mail tub.

18. The system of claim 10, further comprising a component translating a ten-digit print stream data read from the label into a 24-digit label print stream data.