Intelligent barcode systems

• US 9,508,107 B2
• Filed: 04/09/2015
• Issued: 11/29/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/2009
• 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: Bonnell, Clayton, Freeman, Jeffrey L., Lyons, Michael, Dearing, Stephen M., Choiniere, Margaret L., Hamilton, Daryl S., Patel, Himesh, Sherry, Carla Fern, Payne, David James
• Primary Examiner(s): Rodriguez, Joseph C
• Application Number:
  US14/683,060
• Publication Number:
  US 20150213399A1
• Time in Patent Office: 600 Days
• Field of Search: 209/583, 209/584, 209/900, 700223-227
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B07C 3/00 Sorting according to destination collating the pages of a book B42C1/00
• CPC Class Codes: B07C 3/18 Devices or arrangements for indicating destination, e.g. by code marks applying data to information carriers G06K1/12
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/083 Shipping
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 2220/00 Business processing using cryptography
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/60 Business processes related to postal services shipping G06Q10/083; franking apparatus G07B17/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 209/90 Sorting flat-type mail

Abstract

Systems and methods using intelligent barcodes for processing mail, packages, or other items in transport are provided. Systems and methods allowing end-to-end visibility of a mail stream by uniquely identifying and tracking mail pieces are also provided. Systems and methods include the use of standardized intelligent barcodes on mail pieces, a seamless process for mail acceptance, continuous mail piece tracking, and feedback on mail quality in real time. In one embodiment, systems and methods using intelligent barcodes allow a mailing service to provide enhanced acceptance, sorting, tracking, address correction, forwarding, and delivery services. In another embodiment, systems and methods using intelligent barcodes allow a mailing service to identify a mail piece as undeliverable-as-addressed (UAA) and determine a final disposition for the mail piece. In yet another embodiment, systems and methods using intelligent barcodes allow mailers more visibility into the mail stream and information on the quality of their mailings.

Claims

1. A method of identifying extraneous processing of mail items and correcting related operational problems in mail processing equipment, the method comprising:

providing a mail sorting apparatus comprising components including at least one of a barcode reader and an optical character reader configured to read information from a mail piece;

providing mail processing equipment;

receiving, in the mail sorting apparatus, a mail piece having at least one encoded value located thereon which identifies the mail piece and sorting information for the mail piece, each of the at least one encoded value being only optically readable, wherein the mail piece is a tangible item for delivery to a recipient;

reading, using a component of the mail sorting apparatus, one of the at least one encoded value located on the mail piece;

decoding, using a processor, the read encoded value located on the mail piece to identify the mail piece;

directing the mail piece to the mail processing equipment using the sorting information;

processing the mail piece on at the mail processing equipment at a first time;

processing the mail piece on the mail processing equipment at a second time, the second time occurring after the first time;

determining, using a processor, a value relating to the processing of the mail piece, wherein the value relating to the processing of the mail piece indicates an amount of time elapsed between the first time and, the second time;

determining, using a processor, that the value relating to the processing of the mail piece is indicative of extraneous processing of the mail piece by the mail processing equipment;

determining, using a processor, based on the sorting information read from the encoded value, which component of the mail sorting apparatus read the encoded value and which mail processing equipment processed the mail piece;

transmitting an indication of the extraneous processing and of the determined component and mail processing equipment via an interface to a device associated with the mail processing equipment and the mail sorting apparatus; and

adjusting the mail processing equipment to resolve operational problems of the equipment in response to the transmitted indication.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising, upon receiving the mail piece, storing in a memory a parameter, the parameter being used to determine the value relating to the processing of the mail piece.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the parameter comprises a time the mail piece was initially received in the mail sorting apparatus.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein determining the value relating to the processing of the mail piece comprises retrieving the time the mail piece was initially received in the mail sorting apparatus, and determining the amount of time the mail piece has been in the mail sorting apparatus.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein determining that the value is indicative of extraneous processing of the mail piece further comprises:

determining the amount of time the mail piece has been in the mail sorting apparatus exceeds a predetermined elapsed time.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the mail processing equipment comprises an automated mail processing equipment.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the mail processing equipment comprises one of a mail sorter, an undeliverable as addressed service, a mail forwarding service, or an address correction service.

6. A non-transitory machine readable medium comprising instructions for identifying extraneous processing of mail items for correction of related operational problems in mail processing equipment, wherein upon execution the instructions cause a mail sorting machine to:

receive, in a mail processing apparatus, a mail piece having at least one encoded value located thereon which identifies the mail piece and sorting information for the mail piece, each of the at least one encoded value being only optically readable, wherein the mail piece is a tangible item for delivery to a recipient;

read one of the at least one encoded value located on the mail piece;

decode the read encoded value located on the item to identify the mail piece;

direct the mail piece to the mail processing equipment using the sorting information;

process the mail piece on the mail processing equipment at a first time;

process the mail piece on the mail processing equipment at a second time, the second time occurring after the first time;

determine a value relating to the processing of the mail piece, wherein the value relating to the processing of the mail piece indicates an amount of time elapsed between the first time and the second time;

determine that the value relating to the processing of the mail piece is indicative of extraneous processing of the mail piece by the mail processing equipment;

determine, using a processor, based on the sorting information read from the encoded value, which component of the mail sorting apparatus read the encoded value and which mail processing equipment processed the mail piece;

transmit an indication of the extraneous processing and of the determined component and mail processing equipment via an interface to a device associated with the mail processing equipment and the mail sorting apparatus; and

adjust the mail processing equipment to resolve operational problems of the equipment in response to the transmitted indication.

7. The non-transitory machine readable medium of claim 6, wherein upon execution, the instructions further cause the mail sorting machine to store in a memory a parameter, upon receiving the mail piece, the parameter being used to determine the value relating to the processing of the mail piece.

8. The non-transitory machine readable medium of claim 7, wherein the parameter comprises a time the mail piece was initially received in the mail processing apparatus.

9. The non-transitory machine readable medium of claim 8, wherein determining the value relating to the processing of the mail piece comprises retrieving, from the memory, the time the mail piece was initially received in the mail processing apparatus, and determining the amount of time the mail piece has been in the mail processing apparatus.

10. The non-transitory machine readable medium of claim 9, wherein determining the value relating to the processing of the mail piece is indicative of extraneous processing of the mail piece further comprises determining the time the mail piece has been in the mail processing apparatus exceeds a predetermined elapsed time.