Intelligent barcode systems

• US 9,691,116 B2
• Filed: 04/17/2015
• Issued: 06/27/2017
• 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., Hamilton, Daryl S., Patel, Himesh, Sherry, Carla Fern, Payne, David James, Choiniere, Margaret L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rodriguez, Joseph C
• Application Number:
  US14/690,173
• Publication Number:
  US 20150221058A1
• Time in Patent Office: 802 Days
• 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 postage metering system using cryptography G06Q2250/05
• 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 facilitating processing of a mailed item, 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 mailed item;

providing mail processing equipment;

receiving, in the mail sorting apparatus, a mailed item having an encoded value located thereon, the encoded value including delivery point address information for the mailed item, and an identifier for the sender of the mailed item, and sorting information for the mailed item, the encoded value being only optically readable, wherein the mailed item is a tangible item for delivery to a recipient;

reading, using a scanner, the encoded value;

decoding, using a processor, the encoded value to determine delivery point address information for the mailed item, and an identifier for the sender of the mailed item;

directing the mailed item to the mail processing equipment using the sorting information;

processing the mail piece on the mail processing equipment;

determining, using a processor, that the delivery point address information corresponds to old delivery point address information which has been connected to new delivery point address information;

determining, using a processor, that the sender of the mailed item has been previously notified of the new delivery point address information;

determining, using a processor, charges associated with processing of the item, the charges based at least in part on the previous notification of the sender of the new delivery point address information;

identifying, using a processor, a payment account associated with the sender based on the identifier;

applying the charges to the payment account;

adjusting the mail processing equipment to modify a processing path of the mailed item to direct said mailed item to a destination associated with the new delivery point address information.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein decoding comprises determining a delivery point for the mailed item, and wherein the method further comprises querying, using a processor, a database for a location address corresponding to the delivery point and providing routing directions to the location address.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein decoding comprises determining a delivery point for the mailed item, and wherein the delivery point is a global position XY coordinate.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising providing the global position XY coordinate to a geographic information system mapping program.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

receiving directions to the global position XY coordinate location from the geographic information system mapping program; and

displaying the directions to the coordinate location.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein decoding comprises determining a delivery point for the mailed item, and wherein the delivery point corresponds to a delivery address.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the method further comprises providing routing information for moving the item to the delivery address.

8. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising instructions for facilitating processing of a mailed item, which when executed cause a system to:

receive, in 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 mailed item, a mailed item having an encoded value located thereon which includes delivery point address information for the mailed item and an identifier for the sender of the mailed item and sorting information for the mailed item the encoded value being only optically readable, wherein the mailed item is a tangible item for delivery to a recipient;

read an encoded value located on an item which has been received into the system;

decode the encoded value to determine delivery point address information for the mailed item, and an identifier for the sender of the mailed item;

direct the mailed item to mail processing equipment using the sorting information;

process the mail piece on the mail processing equipment;

determine that the delivery point address information corresponds to old delivery point address information which has been connected to new delivery point address information;

determine that the sender of the mailed item has been previously notified of the new delivery point address information;

determine charges associated with processing of the item, the charges based at least in part on the previous notification of the sender of the new delivery point address information;

identify a payment account associated with the sender based on the identifier;

apply the charges to the payment account;

adjust the mail processing equipment to modify a processing path of the mailed item to direct it to a destination associated with the new delivery point address information.

9. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 8, wherein decoding the encoded value comprises determining a delivery point for the mailed item and wherein the instructions further cause a computer to query a database for a location address corresponding to the delivery point and to provide routing directions to the location address.

10. The non-transitory compute readable medium of claim 8, wherein decoding comprises determining a delivery point for the mailed item, and wherein the delivery point is a global position XY coordinate.

11. The non-transitory computers readable medium of claim 10, wherein the instructions further cause a computer to provide the global, position XY coordinate to a geographic information system mapping program.

12. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 11, wherein the instructions further cause a computer to receive directions to the global position XY coordinate location from the geographic information system mapping program and display the directions to the coordinate location.

13. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 8, wherein decoding comprises determining a delivery point for the mailed item, and wherein the delivery point corresponds to a delivery address.

14. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 13, wherein the instructions further cause the machine to provide routing information for moving the item to the delivery address.

15. A system for facilitating processing of a mailed item comprising:

means for sorting mail pieces, the means for sorting configured to read information from a mailed item;

means for receiving a mailed item having an encoded value located thereon which includes delivery point address information for the mailed item and an identifier for the sender of the mailed item and sorting information for the mailed item the encoded value being only optically readable, wherein the mailed item is a tangible item for delivery to a recipient;

means for reading the encoded value;

means for decoding the encoded value to determine delivery point address information for the mailed item, and an identifier for the sender of the mailed item;

means for directing the mailed item to mail processing equipment using the sorting information;

means for processing the mail piece;

means for determining, that the delivery point address information corresponds to old delivery point address information which has been connected to new delivery point address information;

means for determining that the sender of the mailed item has been previously notified of the new delivery point address information;

means for determining charges associated with processing of the item, the charges based at least in part on the previous notification of the sender of the new delivery point address information;

means for identifying a payment account associated with the sender based on the identifier;

means for applying the charges to the payment account; and

means for adjusting the mail processing equipment to modify a processing path of the mailed item to direct it to a destination associated with the new delivery point address information.