Item tracking and anticipated delivery confirmation system and method

• US 8,635,078 B2
• Filed: 07/30/2012
• Issued: 01/21/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/2001
• 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: Aldstadt, Harry
• Primary Examiner(s): ADE, OGER GARCIA
• Application Number:
  US13/561,256
• Publication Number:
  US 20120310853A1
• Time in Patent Office: 540 Days
• Field of Search: 705/705.001
• US Class Current: 705/1
• 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

Abstract

This disclosure describes systems and methods for electronically tracking information. The tracking information may include arrival information regarding an arrival of the item and processing information regarding processing of the item.

Claims

1. A method for providing tracking information for an item being shipped, associated with a shipping customer, comprising:

receiving, by a processor, arrival information from the customer regarding an anticipated arrival of a shipment comprising a plurality of items, wherein the arrival information includes;

a predetermined shipment identification identifying the anticipated shipment, and

a predetermined customer identification identifying the customer;

receiving, by the processor, a first shipment with a first shipment identification;

comparing, by the processor, the first shipment identification to the predetermined shipment identification; and

notifying, by the processor, the customer with confirmed arrival information confirming the arrival of each item in the first shipment when the first shipment identification matches the predetermined shipment identification.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

processing the item associated with the first shipment; and

providing the customer with processing information regarding the item.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the processing information includes at least one of the following:

a code for linking a predetermined customer identification and an identification of the item, a processing date for processing the item, and a location for processing the item.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the processing information further includes at least one of a processing time for processing the item, and a level of pre-sort for sorting the shipment associated with the item.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the confirmed arrival information and the processing information are provided to the customer via a website.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the confirmed arrival information and the processing information are provided to the customer via a file transfer protocol.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising using a code to uniquely identify the item and associate the item with the customer.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the code further links the item to a subset of customer gathered data within a database of the customer.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the code comprises a first type of barcode and a second type of barcode.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein a first symbology of the first type of barcode is inversely related to a second symbology of the second type of barcode.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the anticipated arrival information is provided electronically by the customer.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the anticipated arrival information is provided electronically by a company on behalf of the customer.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the shipping identification further includes a subscriber number and a sequential shipment identification number.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the anticipated arrival information further includes at least one of:

a facility code indicating a receiving facility for the anticipated shipment;

an estimated drop date that the anticipated shipment; and

an estimated drop time for the anticipated shipment.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the anticipated arrival information further includes at least one of:

an items name providing a description of the anticipated shipment;

a service code indicating a level of service for the anticipated shipment;

a total items number indicating a total number of items dropped in the anticipated shipment;

a total track number indicating a total number of items dropped in the anticipated shipment for tracking;

a tracking identification indicating an identification associated with the item; and

a presort level indicating a level of sortation for the anticipated shipment.

16. A method for providing tracking information for an item shipped, associated with a shipping customer, comprising:

receiving, from a processor, anticipated arrival information from the customer regarding an anticipated arrival of a shipment comprising a plurality of items, wherein the anticipated arrival information includes;

a predetermined shipment identification identifying the anticipated shipment, and

a predetermined customer identification identifying the customer;

receiving, from the processor, a first shipment with a first shipment identification;

comparing, from the processor, the first shipment identification to the predetermined shipment identification;

notifying, from the processor, the customer with confirmed arrival information when the first shipment identification matches the predetermined shipment identification;

processing the item associated with the shipment; and

providing the customer with processing information regarding the item.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the confirmed arrival information and processing information are provided to the customer via a website.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the confirmed arrival information and processing information are provided to the customer via a file transfer protocol.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the processing information includes at least one of the following:

a code for linking a predetermined customer identification and an identification of the item, a processing date for processing the item, and a location for processing the item.

20. The method of claim 16, further comprising using a code to uniquely identify the item and associate the item with the customer.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the code further links the item to a subset of customer gathered data within a database of the customer.

22. The method of claim 16, wherein the anticipated arrival information further includes at least one of:

a facility code indicating a receiving facility for the anticipated shipment;

an estimated drop date that the anticipated shipment; and

an estimated drop time for the anticipated shipment.

23. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising program instructions, which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform a method for providing tracking information for an item being shipped, associated with a shipping customer, the method comprising:

receiving, by the processor, arrival information from the customer regarding an anticipated arrival of a shipment comprising a plurality of items, wherein the arrival information includes;

a predetermined shipment identification identifying the anticipated shipment, and

a predetermined customer identification identifying the customer;

receiving, by the processor, a first shipment with a first shipment identification;

comparing, by the processor, the first shipment identification to the predetermined shipment identification; and

notifying, by the processor, the customer with confirmed arrival information confirming the arrival of each item in the first shipment when the first shipment identification matches the predetermined shipment identification.

24. A system for providing tracking information for an item being shipped, associated with a shipping customer, the system comprising:

a processor; and

a memory storing instructions executable by the processor to;

receive arrival information from the customer regarding an anticipated arrival of a shipment comprising a plurality of items, wherein the arrival information includes;

a predetermined shipment identification identifying the anticipated shipment, and

a predetermined customer identification identifying the customer;

receive a first shipment with a first shipment identification;

compare the first shipment identification to the predetermined shipment identification; and

notify the customer with confirmed arrival information confirming the arrival of each item in the first shipment when the first shipment identification matches the predetermined shipment identification.