Mail sorting systems and methods

• US 7,278,568 B2
• Filed: 07/01/2005
• Issued: 10/09/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: United Parcel Service Of America Incorporated (United Parcel Service Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: United Parcel Service Of America Incorporated (United Parcel Service Incorporated)
• Inventors: Kadaba, Nagesh
• Primary Examiner(s): Le; Thien Minh
• Application Number:
  US11/173,240
• Publication Number:
  US 20070000989A1
• Time in Patent Office: 830 Days
• Field of Search: 235/375, 235/492, 235/380, 235/382, 235/382.5, 235/385, 209/900, 209/584, 271/3.13
• US Class Current: 235/375
• CPC Class Codes: B07C 3/008 Means for collecting objects, e.g. containers for sorted mail items pile receivers in general B65H31/00
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2419/06 Roofs, roof membranes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders

Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed for sorting and tracking mail items that are sent via a mail system. Such systems improve the efficiency and accuracy of mail systems by utilizing radio frequency identification (RFID) technology to communicate sorting instructions to a sorting operator. In one embodiment, a radio frequency reader device or tag can be associated with each container used to hold a plurality of mail items destined for a common delivery location. By reading information stored on RFID tags associated with mail items to be sorted, the radio frequency reader devices can be configured to automatically alert a sorting operator as to whether a mail item belongs in a selected container. The reader devices can also maintain a record of what mail items have been placed in each such container. This information can be stored in association with tracking information that is generated during the transport of the containers.

Claims

1. A system for sorting mail items, comprising:

a plurality of radio frequency identification (RFID) tags, wherein each said RFID tag is physically associated with a mail item to be delivered from a sender to a receiver;

a plurality of containers, wherein each said container is used for holding a plurality of mail items destined for a common delivery location; and

a plurality of tag reader devices, wherein each said tag reader device is physically associated with one of said plurality of containers, each said tag reader device being configured to;

read first information from the RFID tag associated with each said mail item that is brought within range of said tag reader device;

compare said first information from said tag with second information stored on said tag reader device;

determine whether said mail item belongs in said associated container based on said comparing; and

generate an alert if said determining indicates that said mail item does not belong in said associated container.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said first information comprises a unique identifier that uniquely identifies the mail item brought within range of said tag reader device and said second information comprises a list of identifiers that identify a predetermined list of mail items that are to be placed in said associated container.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein said first information comprises destination indicia associated with the mail item brought within range of said tag reader device and said second information comprises destination indicia associated with said container.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein each said tag reader device is further configured to record a list of the mail items deposited in said associated container during a sorting process.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein said tag reader device is further configured to communicate said list of mail items to a host computer.

6. The system of claim 5, further comprising a database for storing said list of mail items in association with an identifier that uniquely identifies said container.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein said database further comprises tracking data generated in association with the transport of said container by a carrier to said common delivery location.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the step of generating an alert comprises illuminating a light located on said tag reader device.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the step of generating an alert comprises sounding an audible alarm.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein said tag reader device is further configured to generate a confirmation signal if said comparing step determines that said mail belongs in said associated container.

11. A method of sorting mail items, comprising:

associating a radio frequency identification tag with a mail item that is to be mailed from a sender to a receiver;

associating a tag reader device with a container that is to be used for holding a plurality of mail items destined for a common delivery location;

reading first information from the tag associated with said mail item when said mail item is brought within range of said tag reader device;

comparing said first information from said tag with second information stored on said tag reader device;

determining whether said mail item belongs in said container based on said comparing; and

generating an alert if said determining indicates that said mail item does not belong in said container.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said first information comprises a unique identifier that uniquely identifies said mail item and said second information comprises a list of identifiers that identify a predetermined list of mail items that are to be placed in said container.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein said first information comprises destination indicia associated with said mail item and said second information comprises destination indicia associated with said container.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising recording on said tag reader device a list of the mail items deposited in said container during a sorting process.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising communicating said list of mail items to a host computer for storage in a central database, said list of mail items being stored in association with an identifier that uniquely identifies said container.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising storing, in association with said container identifier, tracking data generated during the transport of said container by a carrier to said common delivery location.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein said radio frequency identification tag is embedded in a label that further comprises at least one of a barcode and human readable indicia.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein said step of generating an alert comprises illuminating a light located on said tag reader device.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein said step of generating an alert comprises sounding an audible alarm.

20. The method of claim 11, further comprising generating a confirmation signal if said comparing determines that said mail item does belong in is said container.

21. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

receiving said container at said common delivery location;

capturing indicia from a mail item removed from said container;

identifying a sort location based at least in part on said captured indicia;

communicating with a radio frequency identification tag associated with said identified sort location; and

responsive to said communication, illuminating a light associated with the radio frequency identification tag that is associated with said identified sort location.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein said step of identifying a sort location comprises identifying a unique radio frequency identifier of the tag associated with said sort location.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein said step of identifying a sort location comprises querying a sortation database based on said indicia captured from the mail item removed from said container.