Methods and systems for creating and using a location identification grid

• US 9,654,920 B2
• Filed: 05/18/2016
• Issued: 05/16/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/2014
• 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 C., Reblin, Gary C.
• Primary Examiner(s): TRAIL, ALLYSON NEEL
• Application Number:
  US15/158,468
• Publication Number:
  US 20160261983A1
• Time in Patent Office: 363 Days
• Field of Search: 235375, 705 35, 705338
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3476 using point of interest [POI] information, e.g. a route passing visible POIs
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/362 received from an external device or application, e.g. PDA, mobile phone or calendar application
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3623 using a camera or code reader, e.g. for optical or magnetic codes
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3629 Guidance using speech or audio output, e.g. text-to-speech text to speech systems per se G10L13/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3661 Guidance output on an external device, e.g. car radio
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/29 Geographical information databases
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9537 Spatial or temporal dependent retrieval, e.g. spatiotemporal queries
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/083 Shipping
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/024 Guidance services

Abstract

A method and system for generating a location identifier using a location code and a grid coordinate. The location code corresponds to a defined geographical area, such as a postal code or an area code. A grid coordinate can be determined based on destination location information, such as an address, a GPS-determined position, or other reference to a specific physical location. The location identifier is combined with the location code to generate a location identifier, which can be encoded in a computer readable format and placed on items for use in a distribution network. The location identifier can be used to facilitate domestic or international distribution of items using a common format or addressing scheme. The domestic and foreign distribution networks read and interpret location identifiers in order to deliver items.

Claims

1. A system for transporting an item comprising:

an item processing apparatus configured to receive an item having a destination location identifier located thereon, wherein the destination location identifier comprises a location code and grid coordinates, the item processing apparatus further configured to read the destination location identifier and communicate the destination location identifier to a processor;

a memory in communication with the processor, the first memory storing a plurality of location codes corresponding to a plurality of geographic areas;

wherein the processor is configured to;

query the memory to identify, based on the destination location identifier, a specific geographic area from the plurality of stored location codes, the location code corresponding to one of the plurality of geographic areas; and

sort the item according to the identified geographic area.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the item processing apparatus comprises a scanner configured to read the destination location from an item.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the location code further identifies a distribution facility located within the identified geographic area.

4. The system of claim 1 further comprising a second memory in communication with the processor, the second memory storing grid coordinates corresponding to a plurality of physical locations.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein the physical locations comprise delivery addresses.

6. The system of claim 5, further comprising a second processor configured to query the second memory to identify the physical address associated with the grid coordinates in the destination location identifier.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein the system further comprises a mobile device having a scanner and a communication module in communication with the processor, wherein the scanner is configured to read the location identifier located on the item and request the physical address associated with the destination location identifier.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the memory contains an association between the plurality of geographic areas and corresponding grid coordinate systems.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the processor is configured to query the memory to identify the grid coordinate system corresponding to the identified geographic area.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the processor is configured to query the memory to identify the grid coordinate system corresponding to the identified geographic area.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the memory stores an association between the plurality of geographic areas and corresponding grid coordinate systems for the plurality of geographic areas.

12. A method for transporting an item comprising

receiving an item in an item processing apparatus, the item having a destination location identifier located thereon, the destination location identifier comprising a location code and grid coordinates;

receiving the destination location identifier from the item;

identify, in a memory, based on the received location code, a specific geographic area from the plurality of stored location codes, the location code corresponding to one of the plurality of geographic areas;

identify, based on the received location code, a specific distribution facility within the identified geographic area; and

sorting the item according to the identified specific distribution facility.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein receiving the destination location identifier comprises scanning the item to read the destination location identifier.

14. The method of claim 12 further comprising transporting the item to the specific distribution facility identified in the destination location identifier.

15. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

scanning the item via a scanning device located within the identified geographic area;

querying a second memory storing grid coordinates corresponding to a plurality of physical locations to identify a physical location corresponding to the received grid coordinates;

requesting the physical location associated with the scanned destination location identifier; and

delivering the item to the physical location identified from the received grid coordinates.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising identifying, from the second memory, a delivery address corresponding to the received physical location.