Method of and apparatus for an internet-based network configured for facilitating re-labeling of a shipment of packages at the first scanning point employing the capture of shipping document images and recognition-processing thereof initiated from the point of shipment pickup and completed while said shipment is being transported to said first scanning point

• US 7,753,271 B2
• Filed: 10/30/2007
• Issued: 07/13/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/17/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Fedex Corporate Services Incorporated (FedEx Corporation), Metrologic Instruments Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Fedex Corporate Services Incorporated (FedEx Corporation), Metrologic Instruments Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Zhu, Xiaoxun, Skaaksrud, Ole-Petter, Gordon, Wayne Luke, Smith, Jeffrey Robert, Dryden, Cameron Dee, Rhodes, Robert Russell Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim; Ahshik
• Application Number:
  US11/980,191
• Publication Number:
  US 20080210749A1
• Time in Patent Office: 987 Days
• Field of Search: 235/384, 235/462.01, 235/462.09, 235/375
• US Class Current: 235/384
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management

Abstract

A method of and apparatus for an Internet-based network configured for facilitating rapid re-labeling of a shipment of packages at the first scanning point in the Internet-based network. The network employs the capture of shipping document images and recognition-processing thereof initiated from the point of shipment pickup and completed while the shipment is being transported to the first scanning point. Shipping information extracted from the original shipping document is extracted from the shipping document images and stored in a DBMS. At the first scanning point, the shipping tracking number encoded within the original shipping document or original shipping label on the package in the shipment is used to access shipping information stored in the DBMS, and this shipping information is used to generate a new shipping label for each package in the shipment. The new shipping label can include a unique network-assigned machine-readable (NAMR) shipping label including either a 1D bar code label or an RFID tag encoded with a unique network-assigned shipment tracking number, which at each subsequent sorting and routing hub is read to access the unique network-assigned shipment tracking number, for accessing shipping information from the DBMS to deliver the package to its intended point of destination. Alternatively, the new shipping label can include a unique network-assigned machine-readable (NAMR) shipping label including either an intelligent 2D bar code label or an intelligent RFID tag encoded with a unique network-assigned shipment tracking number and shipping information extracted from the original shipping document, which at each subsequent sorting and routing hub is read to access shipment information to facilitate routing and delivery of the package to its intended point of destination.

Claims

1. A method of facilitating the re-labeling of a shipment of packages at a first scanning point in an Internet-based shipping, tracking, and delivery network including (i) a digital image capture and processing device with memory storage provided at a point of shipment pickup, (ii) said first scanning point capable of scanning packages being delivered to a point of destination, (iii) sorting and routing hubs located along routes leading to said point of destination, and (iv) a central processing station having a network application server and a database management system (DBMS) operably connected to the infrastructure of the Internet, wherein said shipment of packages has an original shipping document assigned an original shipment tracking number, and each package in said shipment has an original shipping label containing said original shipment tracking number, said method comprising the steps:

(A) at said point of shipment pickup,

(i) using said digital image capture and processing device to automatically capture a digital image of the original shipping document in connection with said shipment of packages, and then buffering said digital image in the memory storage of said digital image capture and processing device;

(ii) automatically processing said buffered digital image so as to read machine-readable information graphically represented in said digital image of the original shipping document, and produce data representative of said machine-readable information and a digital image file for said digital image of the original shipping document;

(iii) automatically encoding said data into said digital image file; and

(iv) transmitting said digital image file over said Internet to said network application server, and storing said digital image file in said DBMS; and

(B) while said shipment is being transported from said point of shipment pickup to said first scanning point,

(i) recognition processing said stored digital image file to read shipping information graphically represented in said digital image file, and

(ii) storing said extracted shipping information in said DBMS along with said digital image file; and

(C) at said first scanning point, (i) reading the original shipment tracking number contained in said original shipping document or the original shipment tracking number contained in said original shipping label, (ii) using said original shipment tracking number to access said shipping information stored in said DBMS, and (iii) using said accessed shipping information to facilitate re-labeling of said shipment of packages.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the original shipment tracking number contained in each said original shipping document and said original shipping label, is a bar-coded shipment tracking number;

and wherein step (C) further comprises, at said first scanning point;

(i) reading the bar-coded shipment tracking number contained in said original shipping document or said original shipping label using an optical scanning device;

(ii) using said bar-coded shipment tracking number to access said shipping information stored in said DBMS corresponding to the shipment;

(iii) generating a unique network-assigned machine-readable (NAMR) shipping label encoded with a unique network-assigned shipment tracking number;

(iv) applying said unique NAMR shipping label to each package in said shipment; and

(v) reading said unique NAMR shipping label on each package in said shipment, at said sorting and routing hubs located along routes leading to said point of destination, to access shipping information to sort and route said packages at said point of destination.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein step (C) further comprises, at said first scanning point,

reading the original shipment tracking number contained in either said original shipping document or said original shipping label of a given package in said shipment,

accessing shipping information stored in said DBMS regarding said shipment,

generating a unique network-assigned machine-readable (NAMR) shipping label including a 1D bar code symbol encoded with a unique network-assigned shipment tracking number, and

applying said unique NAMR shipping label to each package in said shipment.

4. The method of claim 3, which further comprises at step (D), at subsequent sorting and routing hubs in said Internet-based shipping, tracking and delivery network, reading said unique NAMR shipping label so as to access shipping information encoded therein, and sort and route each said package to said point of destination point indicated by shipping information contained in said unique NAMR shipping label.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein step (C) further comprises, at said first scanning point,

(i) reading the original shipment tracking number contained in either said original shipping document or said original shipping label of a given package in said shipment,

(ii) accessing shipping information stored in said DBMS regarding said shipment;

(iii) generating a unique network-assigned machine-readable (NAMR) shipping label, comprising a 1D bar code symbol encoded with unique network-assigned shipment tracking number; and

(iv) applying said unique NAMR shipping label to each package in said shipment; and

wherein said method further comprises step (D) including;

(i) at subsequent sorting and routing hubs, reading said 1D bar code symbol encoded with the unique network-assigned shipment tracking number, and using said unique network-assigned shipment tracking number, to access shipping information stored in said DBMS; and

(ii) using said accessed shipping information to sort and route the package through said Internet-based shipping, tracking and delivery network to said point of destination indicated in said DBMS.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein step (C) further comprises, at said first scanning point,

(i) reading the original shipment tracking number contained in either said original shipping document or said original shipping label of a given package in said shipment;

(ii) accessing shipping information stored in said DBMS regarding said shipment;

(iii) generating a unique network-assigned machine-readable (NAMR) shipping label, comprising a RFID tag encoded with unique network-assigned shipment tracking number; and

(iv) applying said unique NAMR shipping label to each package in said shipment; and

wherein said method further comprises step (D) including;

(i) at subsequent sorting and routing hubs, reading said RFID tag encoded with the unique network-assigned shipment tracking number, and using said unique network-assigned shipment tracking number, to access shipping information stored in said DBMS; and

(ii) using said accessed shipping information to sort and route the package through said Internet-based shipping, tracking and delivery network to said point of destination indicated in said DBMS.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein step (C) further comprises, at said first scanning point,

(i) reading the original shipment tracking number contained in either said original shipping document or said original shipping label of a given package in said shipment;

(ii) accessing shipping information stored in said DBMS regarding said shipment;

(iii) generating a unique network-assigned machine-readable (NAMR) shipping label, comprising an intelligent 2D bar code symbol encoded with an unique network-assigned shipment tracking number and shipping information extracted from said original shipping document; and

(iv) applying said unique NAMR shipping label to each package in said shipment; and

wherein said method further comprises step (D) including;

(i) at subsequent sorting and routing hubs, reading said intelligent 2D bar code symbol containing shipping information extracted from said original shipping document; and

(ii) using said shipping information to sort and route the package through said Internet-based shipping, tracking and delivery network to said point of destination.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein step (C) further comprises, at said first scanning point,

(i) reading the original shipment tracking number contained in either said original shipping document or said original shipping label of a given package in said shipment;

(ii) accessing shipping information stored in said DBMS regarding said shipment;

(iii) generating a unique network-assigned machine-readable (NAMR) shipping label, comprising an intelligent RFID tag encoded with a unique network-assigned shipment tracking number and shipping information extracted from said original shipping document; and

(iv) applying said unique NAMR shipping label to each package in said shipment; and

wherein said method further comprises step (D) including;

(i) at subsequent sorting and routing hubs, reading said intelligent RFID tag containing shipping information extracted from said original shipping document; and

(ii) using said shipping information to sort and route the package through said Internet-based shipping, tracking and delivery network to said point of destination.

9. An Internet-based network configured for facilitating the re-labeling of a shipment of packages at a first scanning point, wherein said shipment of packages has an original shipping document assigned an original shipment tracking number, and each package in said shipment has an original shipping label containing said original shipment tracking number, comprising:

a digital image capture and processing device with memory storage provided at a point of shipment pickup;

said first scanning point capable of scanning packages being delivered to a point of destination;

sorting and routing hubs located along routes leading to said point of destination;

a central processing station having a network application server; and

a database management system (DBMS) operably connected to the infrastructure of the Internet;

wherein at said point of shipment pickup,

(i) said digital image capture and processing device automatically captures a digital image of an original shipping document in connection with said shipment of packages, and then said memory storage buffers said digital image;

(ii) said buffered digital image is automatically processed so as to read machine-readable information graphically represented in said digital image of the original shipping document, and produce data representative of said machine-readable information and a digital image file for said digital image of the original shipping document;

(iii) said data is automatically encoded into said digital image file; and

(iv) said digital image file is transmitted over said Internet to said network application server, and said digital image file is stored in said DBMS;

wherein while said shipment is being transported from said point of shipment pickup to said first scanning point,

(i) said stored digital image file is recognition processed to read shipping information graphically represented in said digital image file, and

(ii) said extracted shipping information is stored in said DBMS along with said digital image file; and

wherein at said first scanning point,

(i) the original shipment tracking number contained in said original shipping document or the original shipment tracking number contained in said original shipping label is read,

(ii) said original shipment tracking number is used to access said shipping information stored in said DBMS, and

(iii) said accessed shipping information is used to facilitate re-labeling of said shipment of packages.

10. The Internet-based network of claim 9, wherein the original shipment tracking number contained in each said original shipping document and said original shipping label, is a bar-coded shipment tracking number;

and wherein at said first scanning point;

(i) reading the bar-coded shipment tracking number contained in said original shipping document or said original shipping label using an optical scanning device;

(ii) using said bar-coded shipment tracking number to access said shipping information stored in said DBMS corresponding to the shipment;

(iii) generating a unique network-assigned machine-readable (NAMR) shipping label encoded with a unique network-assigned shipment tracking number;

(iv) applying said unique NAMR shipping label to each package in said shipment; and

(v) reading said unique NAMR shipping label on each package in said shipment, at said sorting and routing hubs located along routes leading to said point of destination, to access shipping information to sort and route said packages at said point of destination.

11. The Internet-based network of claim 9, wherein, at said first scanning point,

the original shipment tracking number, contained in either said original shipping document or said original shipping label of a given package in said shipment, is read;

shipping information stored in said DBMS regarding said shipment, is accessed;

a unique network-assigned machine-readable (NAMR) shipping label, including a 1D bar code symbol encoded with a unique network-assigned shipment tracking number, is generated; and

said unique NAMR shipping label is applied to each package in said shipment.

12. The Internet-based network of claim 11, wherein at subsequent sorting and routing hubs in said Internet-based network, said unique NAMR shipping label is read so as to access shipping information encoded therein, and sort and route each said package to said point of destination point indicated by shipping information contained in said unique NAMR shipping label.

13. The Internet-based network of claim 9, wherein, at said first scanning point,

(i) the original shipment tracking number contained in either said original shipping document or said original shipping label of a given package in said shipment, is read;

(ii) shipping information stored in said DBMS regarding said shipment, is accessed;

(iii) a unique network-assigned machine-readable (NAMR) shipping label comprising a 1D bar code symbol encoded with unique network-assigned shipment tracking number, is generated; and

(iv) said unique NAMR shipping label is applied to each package in said shipment; and

wherein at subsequent sorting and routing hubs,

(i) said 1D bar code symbol encoded with the unique network-assigned shipment tracking number is read, and said unique network-assigned shipment tracking number is used to access shipping information stored in said DBMS; and

(ii) said accessed shipping information is used to sort and route the package through said Internet-based shipping, tracking and delivery network to said point of destination indicated in said DBMS.

14. The Internet-based network of claim 9, wherein, at said first scanning point,

(i) the original shipment tracking number contained in either said original shipping document or said original shipping label of a given package in said shipment, is read;

(ii) shipping information stored in said DBMS regarding said shipment, is accessed;

(iii) a unique network-assigned machine-readable (NAMR) shipping label, comprising a RFID tag encoded with unique network-assigned shipment tracking number, is generated; and

(iv) said unique NAMR shipping label is applied to each package in said shipment; and

wherein at subsequent sorting and routing hubs,

(i) said unique RFID tag encoded with the unique network-assigned shipment tracking number is read, and said unique network-assigned shipment tracking number is used to access shipping information stored in said DBMS; and

(ii) said accessed shipping information is used to sort and route the package through said Internet-based shipping, tracking and delivery network to said point of destination indicated in said DBMS.

15. The Internet-based network of claim 9, wherein step (C) further comprises, at said first scanning point,

(i) the original shipment tracking number contained in either said original shipping document or said original shipping label of a given package in said shipment, is read;

(ii) shipping information stored in said DBMS regarding said shipment, is accessed;

(iii) a unique network-assigned machine-readable (NAMR) shipping label, comprising an intelligent 2D bar code symbol encoded with a unique network-assigned shipment tracking number and shipping information extracted from said original shipping document, is generated; and

(iv) said unique NAMR shipping label is applied to each package in said shipment; and

wherein at subsequent sorting and routing hubs,

(i) said intelligent 2D bar code symbol containing shipping information extracted from said original shipping document, is read; and

(ii) said shipping information is used to sort and route the package through said Internet-based shipping, tracking and delivery network to said point of destination.

16. The Internet-based network of claim 9, wherein, at said first scanning point,

(i) the original shipment tracking number contained in either said original shipping document or said original shipping label of a given package in said shipment, is read;

(ii) shipping information stored in said DBMS regarding said shipment, accessed;

(iii) a unique network-assigned machine-readable (NAMR) shipping label, comprising an intelligent RFID tag encoded with a unique network-assigned shipment tracking number and shipping information extracted from said original shipping document, is generated; and

(iv) said unique NAMR shipping label is applied to each package in said shipment; and

wherein at subsequent sorting and routing hubs,

(i) said intelligent RFID tag containing shipping information extracted from said original shipping document, is read; and

(ii) said shipping information is used to sort and route the package through said Internet-based shipping, tracking and delivery network to said point of destination.