Patent Application
20070246523
This application is related to and claims priority of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/549,928 entitled “Metered Mail Tracking with Two Dimensional Bar Code” filed Mar. 5, 2004, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
1. Technical Field
This invention relates generally to a system and method for tracking delivery items, and more particularly, to a system and method for providing passive tracking services for delivery items using a unique identifier.
2. Background
Presently, customers of delivery service providers, such as the United States Postal Service (USPS), United Parcel Service, Federal Express, and other ship delivery items using printing machines or systems, e.g., postage meters, that allow customers to print delivery fees directly onto a delivery item, or onto a label that is affixed to the delivery item.
Customers also ship delivery items using delivery fees purchased and generated through the Internet (online postage). Online postage allows customers to pay delivery fees online, print the delivery fees onto a label, and attach the label to the delivery item.
Postage meters and online postage allow customers to track the costs of delivery fees and to pay for extra services associated with mailing. Such extra services include, for example, Certified Mail, Business Reply Mail, Address Change Service, Return Receipt Product, Electronic Return Receipt Product, etc.
Postage meters and online postage also allow customers to choose between a variety of delivery services, for example First Class Mail, Priority Mail, Express Mail, Package Services, International Mail, Presorted First Class Mail Services, etc.
Postage meters preferably produce two dimensional barcodes that can uniquely identify each piece of mail. Similarly, a customer purchasing online postage from a delivery provider preferably receives a two dimensional barcode on the prepaid delivery label he generates. Two dimensional barcodes utilize both the height and the width of the bars to encode data, thereby allowing a greater amount of data to be encoded. Embedded within the barcode is identifying information, such as an indication of the postal meter generating the barcode and the owner of the postage meter. When using online postage services, the identifying information may include information identifying the customer, such as a username, user identification number, or account number. A unique identifier can be created for each delivery item.
During processing for delivery, a number of different types of automated equipment may handle the delivery item. The automated equipment includes a number of commercially available machines, such as a delivery barcode sorter, a carrier sequence barcode sorter, and other barcode equipment. The automated equipment also may include optical character recognition (OCR) equipment. This equipment reads the unique identifier for each delivery item in order to properly process the delivery item.
Despite the fact that so many devices read the unique identifier at their given locations, if the customer desires to know the delivery status or present location of the delivery item, that information is not readily available for the customer. Thus, it is desirable to provide a tracking service for metered delivery items and/or online postage delivery items so that information regarding the delivery processing status is readily available to the customer.
Consistent with the invention, systems and methods for tracking metered delivery items or online postage delivery items include passively tracking a unique identifier generated for each delivery item.
Also included is a system and method for tracking metered delivery items or online postage delivery items, wherein the unique identifier is included in the metered mark.
It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the appended claims.
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitutes a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.
Referring now to the drawings,
Method 100 begins at stage 101 where a unique identifier (unique ID) for the delivery item is created. The unique ID may be, for example, a two dimensional barcode that is generated on the delivery item. The unique ID may be generated by a postal meter and printed directly on the delivery item. Alternatively, the unique ID can be printed on a label that is affixed to the delivery item.
Referring back to
At stage 103, the delivery service provider receives a delivery item with a unique ID. The unique ID allows tracking of the delivery item during processing (as explained below) through a distribution network operated by a delivery service provider, such as the USPS. The distribution network may include any or all of the processing centers of the delivery provider that handle outgoing and incoming mail.
At stage 104, the delivery item is processed by the delivery service provider's automated equipment and/or its processing personnel. Typically, a series of automated equipment and/or personnel at one or more locations perform designated tasks to route the delivery item until it is delivered to its destination.
At stage 106, when the delivery item is handled by automated equipment or mail processing personnel, the unique ID is read and associated with other data, such as location of the processing stage and time. Preferably, the reading takes place by an automated scan of the unique ID on the delivery item. A database is then updated with the unique ID and associated data for the delivery item. Database updates may occur at each processing point, or at only selected points. The database contains information on a plurality of delivery items handled by the delivery service provider. Therefore, the database can be accessed to provide the location or processing status of the delivery item by entering the delivery item's unique ID.
This method of tracking the delivery item is a passive method that does not require the use of steps or equipment beyond that which is already utilized in delivery item processing. Additional barcode scanners and scanning steps need not be added to the existing delivery process.
At stage 107, a delivery item status request, including the unique ID, is received from the customer (e.g., a sender or receiver of the delivery item). The request may be received via website, e-mail, phone, or other appropriate means. In response to the request, at stage 108, the database is accessed by a processor and status information regarding the delivery item is provided to the customer via a transmitter. Alternatively, the status of the delivery item can be transmitted to a customer at predetermined intervals, without the customer having to request the information. The status information may include information identifying a piece of equipment that processed the delivery item and its location, indicating that the delivery item is in transit (e.g., on a plane to a destination processing center), or identifying that the delivery item is ready for delivery (e.g., a mail carrier is in the process of delivering the delivery item). Preferably, the customer may access the database at any time during method 100.
At stage 109, if the delivery item needs to undergo further processing (i.e., it has not yet been delivered), method 100 returns to stage 104 and performs the steps as described above. If no further processing is required for delivery of the item, delivery and tracking are complete at stage 110.
In an alternative embodiment, a container that carries delivery items may additionally or alternatively be tracked. For example, using the system and method outlined above, the customer mails a delivery item having a unique ID. Once the customer gives the delivery item to a processing center for delivery, the delivery item may be placed into a container that carries a plurality of delivery items. The container has its own unique ID such as a two dimensional barcode or an RFID. Personnel at the processing center associate the unique ID on the delivery item with the unique ID on the container. The delivery item may then be tracked using the container's unique ID instead of the delivery item's own unique ID. Preferably, the customer continues to track the delivery item by its unique ID and never needs to be concerned about the container's unique ID. For the processing center, this allows for efficient use of resources in tracking the delivery item, while allowing the customer to track the delivery item using the delivery item's unique ID.
Other embodiments of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the invention disclosed herein. It is intended that the specification and examples be considered as exemplary only, with a true scope and spirit of the invention being indicated by the following claims.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60549928 | Mar 2004 | US |
