Systems and methods for producing and managing a tracking label in an item delivery system

• US 9,443,220 B2
• Filed: 08/12/2013
• Issued: 09/13/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/2001
• 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: Raney, Brent A., Hamilton, Daryl S., Ferlaino, Anthony M. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ly, Cheyne D
• Application Number:
  US13/964,336
• Publication Number:
  US 20140046867A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,128 Days
• Field of Search: 414/265, 705/404, 705/408, 707/912
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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: G07B 17/00435 Details specific to central, non-customer apparatus, e.g. servers at post office or vendor
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00443 Verification of mailpieces, e.g. by checking databases
• 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

Providing an information system in an item delivery system comprises reading a tracking indicia on a unit load, updating a database with first data from the tracking indicia, and updating the database with information that the unit load has been terminated. In addition, receiving second data to be included in a label, and printing the label may be included.

Claims

1. A system for maintaining and providing status information for items in a delivery system, comprising:

a scanning device that reads tracking indicia on a unit load, the unit load comprising a plurality of items being transported together in a container, the plurality of items each including information specifying a unique final destination;

a database that stores tracking indicia for a unit load;

a first component that updates the database with data indicating that the unit load has been terminated, the terminated state of the unit load being associated with a separation of each of the plurality of items from the unit load;

a second component that provides a user with access to the database based on the updating of the database with information that the unit load has been terminated;

a data receiving component configured to receive label request information from the user corresponding to at least one of the plurality of items separated from the unit load in the terminated state; and

a printing device that prints a label to be applied to the at least one of the plurality of items separated from the unit load, the label comprising the label request information, and the printing device printing the label after the first component updates the database with data indicating that the unit load has been terminated.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a third component that provides status information to the user for one of the plurality of items in the unit load.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a fourth component that processes the plurality of items for delivery based on the information specifying the unique final destinations.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the data indicating that the unit load has been terminated further comprises a location of where the tracking indicia for the unit load was read.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the tracking indicia includes a serial number unique to the unit load.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the tracking indicia includes at least one of:

a date and a time that the tracking indicia was read;

an ID of an operation associated with the reading of the tracking indicia;

a weight of the unit load;

a quantity of items associated with the unit load;

a location of where the tracking indicia is read;

an ID of an operator operating a device reading the tracking indicia; and

an ID of a machine reading the tracking indicia.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the container is one of a mail tray, a mail sack, and a mail tub.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the tracking indicia includes at least one of a bar code and a PLANET code.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the user is at least one of a sender, a recipient, and an item delivery system operator.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the printing device is configured to print the label in at least one of a customer location, a central location, and at automated equipment in the item delivery system.

11. A computer-implemented method for maintaining and providing status information for items in a delivery system, comprising:

reading, by a computer, a tracking indicia on a unit load, the unit load comprising a plurality of items being transported together in a container, the plurality of items each including information specifying a unique final destination;

storing, by the computer, data from the tracking indicia into a database;

based on a termination of the unit load, updating the database with information that the unit load has been terminated, the terminated state of the unit load being associated with a separation of the plurality of items from the unit load for further processing;

providing a user with access to the database based on the updating of the database with information that the unit load has been terminated; and

receiving, from the user, label request information corresponding to at least one of the plurality of items separated from the unit load in the terminated state; and

printing a label to be applied to the at least one of the plurality of items separated from the unit load, the label comprising the label request information, and the label being printed after the database is updated with information that the unit load has been terminated.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the information that the unit load has been terminated includes the time and location that the unit load was terminated and the quantity of items in the unit load.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the tracking indicia includes a serial number unique to the unit load.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the tracking indicia includes at least one of:

a date and a time that the tracking indicia was read;

an ID of an operation associated with the reading of the tracking indicia;

a weight of the unit load;

a quantity of items associated with the unit load;

a location of where the tracking indicia is read;

an ID of an operator operating a device reading the tracking indicia; and

an ID of a machine reading the tracking indicia.

15. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising program instructions, which, when executed by a processor, cause the processer to perform a method for maintaining and providing status information for items in a delivery system, the method comprising:

reading, by a computer, a tracking indicia on a unit load, the unit load comprising a plurality of items being transported together in a container, the plurality of items each including information specifying a unique final destination;

storing, by the computer, data from the tracking indicia into a database;

based on a termination of the unit load, updating the database with information that the unit load has been terminated, the terminated state of the unit load being associated with a separation of the plurality of items from the unit load for further processing;

providing a user with access to the database based on the updating of the database with information that the unit load has been terminated;

receiving, from the user, label request information corresponding to at least one of the plurality of items separated from the unit load in the terminated state; and

printing a label to be applied to the at least one of the plurality of items separated from the unit load, the label comprising the label request information, and the label being printed after the database is updated with information that the unit load has been terminated.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the information that the unit load has been terminated includes the time and location that the unit lad was terminated and the quantity of items in the unit load.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein the tracking indicia includes a serial number unique to the unit load.