System and method for tracking of mail using a universal coding system

• US 8,005,568 B2
• Filed: 04/02/2004
• Issued: 08/23/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/2003
• 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: Hamilton, Daryl
• Primary Examiner(s): Zeender; F. Ryan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Amsdell; Dana
• Application Number:
  US10/817,574
• Publication Number:
  US 20040260665A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,699 Days
• Field of Search: 235/375, 700/224, 705/1, 705/8, 705/28, 705/404
• US Class Current: 700/225
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0833 Tracking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/203 Inventory monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00443 Verification of mailpieces, e.g. by checking databases
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00588 Barcode
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/0297 including a machine-readable marking, e.g. a bar code digitally marked record carriers in general G06K19/00

Abstract

A method of tracking trays through a delivery system. The method comprises: generating an enhanced label, the enhanced label comprising a routing code and a label unique identifier, the enhanced label being applied to the tray; associating a tray with a container, the container having a container unique identifier; and receiving a load container scan, the load container scan associating the container unique identifier with the enhanced label.

Claims

1. A method of tracking a tray of items, comprising:

generating, via a processor, data for an enhanced label;

the enhanced label data comprising a routing code and a label unique identifier, wherein; and

the enhanced label being unique within a predetermined time period so that additional labels generated within the predetermined time period are distinguishable from the enhanced label;

printing, via a printer, the enhanced label;

applying the enhanced label to the tray, the tray being uniquely identified by a combination of the routing code and the label unique identifier;

receiving load container data generated by a scanner, the load container data associating a container unique identifier of a container with the enhanced label; and

associating, in a database via a processor, the tray with the container.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving load vehicle data generated by a scanner, the load vehicle data associating the container unique identifier with a vehicle identifier and a load time.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving unload vehicle data generated by a scanner, the unload vehicle data associating the container unique identifier with a vehicle identifier and an unload time.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving unload container data generated by a scanner, the unload container data associating the container unique identifier with an unload container time.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the label unique identifier comprises at least one of a machine identifier, a label source, a holdout identifier, a serial number, or a label type.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the routing code comprises at least one of a destination code, a content identifier number, a DOD code, or an MPC code.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the label unique identifier comprises a label type, the label type comprising a constant field, a key field, and a variable field.

8. A system for tracking a tray of items, comprising:

a memory;

a database;

a processor coupled to the memory and the database, the processor configured to;

generate data for an enhanced label for affixing to the tray;

the enhanced label data comprising a routing code and a label unique identifier;

the enhanced label being unique within a predetermined time period so that additional labels generated within the predetermined time period are distinguishable from the enhanced label; and

the tray being uniquely identified by a combination of the routing code and the label unique identifier;

receive load container data, the load container data including the label unique identifier, the routing code, and a container unique identifier of a container; and

associate the label unique identifier and the routing code with the container unique identifier.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the processor is further configured to receive load vehicle data, the load vehicle data associating the container unique identifier with a vehicle identifier and a load time.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the processor is further configured to receive unload vehicle data, the unload vehicle data associating the container unique identifier with a vehicle identifier and an unload time.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the processor is further configured to receive unload container data, the unload container data associating the container unique identifier with an unload container time.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the label unique identifier comprises at least one of a machine identifier, a label source, a holdout identifier, a printer port identifier, a serial number, or a label type.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein the routing code comprises at least one of a destination code, a content identifier number, a DOD code, or an MPC code.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein the label unique identifier comprises a label type, the label type comprising a constant field, a key field, and a variable field.

15. A non-transitory computer-readable medium on which is stored a set of instructions for tracking a tray of items, which when executed perform stages comprising:

generating data for an enhanced label for affixing to the tray;

the enhanced label data comprising a routing code and a label unique identifier;

the enhanced label being unique within a predetermined time period so that additional labels generated within the predetermined time period are distinguishable from the enhanced label; and

the tray being uniquely identified by a combination of the routing code and the label unique identifier;

receiving load container data, the load container data including the label unique identifier, the routing code, and a container unique identifier of a container; and

associating the label unique identifier and the routing code with the container unique identifier.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, further comprising instructions for receiving load vehicle data, the load vehicle data associating the container unique identifier with a vehicle identifier and a load time.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, further comprising instructions for receiving unload vehicle data, the unload vehicle data associating the container unique identifier with a vehicle identifier and an unload time.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, further comprising instructions for receiving unload container data, the unload container data associating the container unique identifier with an unload container time.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the label unique identifier comprises at least one of a machine identifier, a label source, a holdout identifier, a printer port identifier, a serial number, or a label type.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the routing code comprises at least one of a destination code, a content identifier number, a DOD code, or an MPC code.