Method and transit time tester for monitoring the transit time of small-sized goods to be conveyed, particularly of letters and similar mail items

• US 8,009,088 B2
• Filed: 03/13/2008
• Issued: 08/30/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Siemens AG
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Kupfernagel, Rolf, Paetsch, Holger, Berlin, Bernhard
• Primary Examiner(s): Issing; Gregory C
• Application Number:
  US12/075,730
• Publication Number:
  US 20080258970A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,265 Days
• Field of Search: 342/357.74, 342/357.64, 342/357.527
• US Class Current: 342/357.52
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 9/005 Solid-state data loggers
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 17/00024 Physical or organizational aspects of franking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/0004 Determining the location of mailpieces outside apparatus

Abstract

Disclosed is a method and a transit time tester for monitoring the transit time of an item to be conveyed, particularly a mail consignment, wherein the movements of a consignment are registered and stored in a transit time tester for later evaluation of the sequence of transportation. The transit time tester is equipped with sensors, satellite-based positioning system (GPS) receiver and storage media, corresponding in its dimensions and characteristics to the item to be conveyed to be monitored and determined from the sensor data the current type of conveyance with the aid of a microprocessor. To be monitored, the transit time and the routes of transportation of standard letters and similar mail consignments over a number of days. The receiver for the GPS is selectively switched on and off as a function of the changing conditions of reception and the current type of conveyance of the item to be conveyed.

Claims

1. A method for monitoring the transit time of a small-size mail item to be conveyed, comprising:

providing a transit time tester with dimensions and characteristics substantially corresponding to the small-size mail item to be conveyed and monitored, the transit time tester comprising;

sensors for providing sensor data related to transportation and processing processes wherein several types of conveyances are utilized for transporting the small-size mail item as part of a sequence of transportation,

a satellite-based positioning system having a receiver for receiving satellite signals through a satellite link,

a storage media, and

a microprocessor for determining from the sensor data a current type of conveyance;

initializing the transit time tester, the initializing includes storing in the storage data media a plurality of geographic coordinates of a plurality of postal mail centers such that each of the plurality of geographic coordinates corresponds to one of the plurality of postal mail centers, each of the postal mail centers comprising a postal mail sorting machine;

registering and storing movements of the small-size mail item by the transit time tester for later evaluation of the sequence of transportation, the movements stored in the storage media;

selectively switching the receiver for the satellite-based positioning system on and off as a function of changing conditions of reception of the satellite signals and/or a current type of conveyance utilized for transporting the small-size mail item, the switching the receiver off creating an interruption of the satellite link; and

detecting by the transit time tester of a machine pass in the postal mail sorting machine of one of the plurality of postal mail centers.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein cycle times used by the satellite-based positioning system for a small-size mail item having a determined geographic position are adapted to processes used for transporting and processing the small-size mail item.

3. The method as claimed in claim 2, further comprising:

after the interruption of the satellite link;

calculating a current position from data which was stored in the storage media prior to the interruption of the satellite link.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein take-off and/or landing phases of aircraft used for transporting the small-size mail item are determined via an evaluation of peak accelerations of the aircraft.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein flight phases of aircraft used for transporting the small-size mail item are detected with the aid of an air pressure sensor provided in the transit time tester.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein an effect on the reception of the satellite signals due to the type of conveyance utilized for transporting the small-size mail item is used as an indication of a quality of a position determination of the small-size mail item.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the detecting includes sensing by an acceleration sensor of very high transverse accelerations resulting from rerouting the transit time tester at a speed greater than or equal to 3.0 m/s.

8. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the satellite-based positioning system switches off after a predetermined number of attempts if the type of transportation or the type of conveyance does not change and the conditions of reception in a type of conveyance remain the same over a relatively long time.

9. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the satellite-based positioning system receiver, for determining a position of the small-size mail item based on the type of conveyance and processes of transportation, is only switched on periodically for a short time in each case.

10. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising providing an event generator, implemented via infrared or RF remote control, which informs the transit time tester of a mailing of the small-size mail item in a mailbox which triggers an immediate position determination of the satellite-based positioning system receiver.

11. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the satellite-based positioning system receiver is switched off on detection of the take-off phase of the transport aircraft and is only reactivated after detection of the landing phase.

12. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein only mail centers located within an expected range are taken into consideration for finding the transit time tester if a last position found before interruption of the satellite link lies within the expected range.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein the transit time tester checks whether a preconfigured cycle time and an available energy reserve supplying components of the transit time tester correspond to one another.

14. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein if the energy reserves are not sufficient, cycle times are increased sufficient to enable a recording of a complete transportation route for the small-size mail item but with a fewer number of position points along the transportation route.

15. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the initializing further includes storing in the storage media at least one data selected from the group consisting of:

geographic coordinates of a starting location,

geographic coordinates of a destination,

geographic coordinates of a location where initialization occurs,

occurring time interval for establishing the satellite link as a function of a current transportation process or the location, respectively, and

predicted transit time of the small-size mail item.

16. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the small-size mail item is a standard letter.

17. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the transit time tester includes a stamping zone where no electronic components are excluded.

18. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the transit time tester includes zones which alternate between a flexible zone and a rigid zone to provide adequate flexibility of the transit time tester at rerouting rollers of the postal mail sorting machines.

19. A method for monitoring the transit time of a small-size mail item to be conveyed, comprising:

providing a transit time tester with dimensions and characteristics substantially corresponding to the small-size mail item to be conveyed and monitored, the transit time tester comprising;

sensors for providing sensor data related to transportation and processing processes wherein several types of conveyances are utilized for transporting the small-size mail item as part of a sequence of transportation,

a satellite-based positioning system having a receiver for receiving satellite signals through a satellite link,

a storage media, and

a microprocessor for determining from the sensor data a current type of conveyance;

initializing the transit time tester, the initializing includes storing in the storage data media a plurality of geographic coordinates of a plurality of postal mail centers such that each of the plurality of geographic coordinates corresponds to one of the plurality of postal mail centers, each of the postal mail centers comprising a postal mail sorting machine;

storing movements of the small-size mail item for later evaluation of the sequence of transportation, the movements stored in the storage media;

selectively switching the receiver for the satellite-based positioning system on and off as a function of changing conditions of reception of the satellite signals and/or a current type of conveyance utilized for transporting the small-size mail item, the switching the receiver off creating an interruption of the satellite link

detecting by the transit time tester of a machine pass in the postal mail sorting machine of one of the plurality of postal mail centers; and

after the interruption of the satellite link;

calculating a current position from data which was stored in the storage media prior to the interruption of the satellite link.