Method for maintaining the integrity of a mailing using radio frequency identification tags
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for processing mail, said method comprises the steps of:
- A. placing a radio frequency identification tag on a mail piece that identifies the mail piece;
B. placing one or more mail pieces having a radio frequency identification tag in a tray;
C. placing a radio frequency identification tag on a tray that identifies the mail pieces in the tray;
D. placing one or more trays having radio frequency identification tags on a palette;
E. placing a radio frequency identification tag on a palette that identifies the trays in the palette; and
F. scanning the radio frequency identification tags at specified times during the process to route the mailing.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
This invention creates a hierarchy of radio frequency identification tags that are related to the mail pieces in mail trays and the pallet on which the mail trays sit. This hierarchical method provides a layered approach that is designed to minimize the probability that a mailer or the post office will misassemble or misroute a mailing or elements of a mailing.
88 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method for processing mail, said method comprises the steps of:
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A. placing a radio frequency identification tag on a mail piece that identifies the mail piece;
B. placing one or more mail pieces having a radio frequency identification tag in a tray;
C. placing a radio frequency identification tag on a tray that identifies the mail pieces in the tray;
D. placing one or more trays having radio frequency identification tags on a palette;
E. placing a radio frequency identification tag on a palette that identifies the trays in the palette; and
F. scanning the radio frequency identification tags at specified times during the process to route the mailing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
placing one or more palettes having radio frequency identification tags in a vehicle; and
placing a radio frequency identification tag on the vehicle that identifies the palettes in the vehicle.
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9. The method claimed in claim 8, wherein the radio frequency identification tag on the vehicle is programmed to contain information about the carrier.
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10. The method claimed in claim 8, wherein the radio frequency identification tag on the vehicle is programmed to contain information about the mailings destination.
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11. The method claimed in claim 8, wherein the radio frequency identification tag on the vehicle is attached to a mailing document.
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12. The method claimed in claim 11, further including the step of:
submitting the mailing document to a carrier.
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13. The method claimed in claim 12, further including the step of:
entering the information from the radio frequency identification tags into a central computer.
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14. The method claimed in claim 13, further including the steps of:
entering the information scanned from the radio frequency identification tags as the mail pieces move through the delivery process to provide a end to end trace of the movement of the mailing.
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15. The method claimed in claim 14, further including the step of:
auditing the scanned information to provide a quality check of the delivery of the mail piece.
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16. The method claimed in claim 14, further including the step of:
notifying the sender of the information scanned.
Specification