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US 10,504,299 B2Granted
System and method for processing distribution items in a distribution network
AssigneeUnited States Postal Service
InventorsDaniel Mark Bentley, Nii-Kwashie Aryeetey
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Systems and methods for processing distribution items having unique identifiers affixed thereon. The unique identifiers can include computer readable codes and written alphanumeric strings generated by a user. A system receives the unique identifier and requests payment information from a user, and stores an association between the unique identifier and the payment information, and processes the item according to the payment information.
Claims12
A method of processing an item comprising:
- receiving, via a user operated interface device, an image of a unique identifier, the unique identifier having been physically generated;
- processing the image of the received unique identifier to generate unique identifier information;
- storing the unique identifier information in a memory;
- after receiving the image of the unique identifier, receiving an item in a distribution network, the item having the unique identifier thereon;
- processing the item on item processing equipment comprising a scanning device to generate an image of the unique identifier from the received item;
- processing the image of the unique identifier from the received item to generate read unique identifier information;
- querying, by a processor, the memory for the stored unique identifier information;
- determining, by a processor, whether the read unique identifier information corresponds to the stored unique identifier information;
- and
- causing the item processing equipment to move the item into one of a plurality of locations in response to the determination.
7 more elements
A system for processing items in a distribution network comprising:
- a user interface configured to receive an image of a unique identifier, the unique identifier having been physically generated;
- a processor in communication with the user interface and configured to process the image of the received unique identifier to generate unique identifier information;
- a memory, in communication with the processor, configured to store the unique identifier information;
- an item distribution network configured to receive an item having the unique identifier thereon after the user interface has received the image of the unique identifier;
- and
- the item distribution network including processing equipment comprising a scanning device configured to scan the item and to generate an image of the unique identifier from the received item;
- wherein the processor is further configured to process the image of the unique identifier from the received item to generate read unique identifier information;
- wherein the processor is further configured to query the memory for the stored unique identifier information;
- wherein the processor is further configured to determine whether the read unique identifier information corresponds to the stored unique identifier information;
- and
- wherein the processor is further configured to cause item processing equipment to move the item into one of a plurality of locations in response to the determination.
8 more elements
A system for processing an item comprising:
- means for receiving an image of a unique identifier, the unique identifier having been physically generated;
- means for processing the identified portion of the image to generate unique identifier information;
- means for storing the unique identifier information in a memory;
- means for receiving an item in a distribution network after the image of the unique identifier has been received, the item having the unique identifier thereon;
- means for processing the item on item processing equipment comprising a scanning device to generate an image of the unique identifier from the received item;
- means for processing the image of the unique identifier from the received item to generate read unique identifier information;
- means for querying the memory for the stored unique identifier information;
- means for determining whether the read unique identifier information corresponds to the stored unique identifier information;
- and
- means for causing the item processing equipment to move the item into one of a plurality of locations in response to the determination.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.