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US 12,033,111 B2Granted
Distribution item delivery point management system
AssigneeUnited States Postal Service
InventorJames Deforrest Wilson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Systems and methods of managing incorrectly addressed items in a distribution network. A user can identify via an interface items which are incorrectly labelled, addressed, or which identify an incorrect recipient. The distribution network can use information from the user to reprocess items, reroute items, or take other actions.
Claims10
A method for processing items in a distribution network, the method comprising:
- providing, via an interface, information for a physical item in transit to an intended delivery point, wherein the information comprises:
- a digital image of the physical item;
- an intended recipient name;
- and
- the intended delivery point;
- receiving, by one or more processors, via the interface, an indication that the intended recipient name is not associated with the intended delivery point, wherein the indication is based at least in part on the digital image of the physical item;
- in response to receiving the indication, setting, by the one or more processors, a flag in a memory, wherein the flag indicates the intended recipient name is not associated with the intended delivery point;
- in response to setting the flag, determining, by the one or more processors, a correct delivery point for the intended recipient name;
- in response to determining the correct delivery point for the intended recipient name, updating, by the one or more processors, in the memory, the correct delivery point for the intended recipient name;
- querying, by the one or more processors, in an item visibility system to identify a current location of the physical item, wherein the item visibility system is configured to track the current location of the physical item while in transit;
- identifying, by the one or more processors, a next piece of item processing equipment in the distribution network to process the physical item, based on the identified current location of the physical item;
- scanning, in the identified next piece of item processing equipment, the physical item;
- identifying the set flag for the physical item;
- and
- in response to identifying the set flag, automatically sending, to the identified next piece of item processing equipment, instructions to the identified next piece of item processing equipment to process the physical item according to the updated correct delivery point;
- and
- attaching, to the physical item, a label having the intended recipient name and the updated correct delivery point thereon.
14 more elements
A system for processing items in a distribution network, the system comprising:
- an interface configured to:
- provide information for a physical item in transit, wherein the information comprises:
- a digital image of the physical item;
- an intended recipient name;
- and
- an intended delivery point of the physical item;
- and
- receive an indication that the intended recipient name is not associated with the intended delivery point, wherein the indication is based at least in part on the digital image of the physical item;
- and
- one or more processors configured to:
- receive, from the interface, the indication that the intended recipient name is not associated with the intended delivery point;
- in response to receiving the indication, set a flag in memory, wherein the flag indicates the intended recipient name is not associated with the intended delivery point;
- in response to setting the flag, determine a correct delivery point for the intended recipient name;
- in response to determining the correct delivery point for the intended recipient name, update, in the memory, the correct delivery point for the intended recipient name;
- query an item visibility system to identify a current location of the physical item, wherein the item visibility system is configured to track the current location of the physical item while in transit;
- and
- identify a next piece of item processing equipment in the distribution network to process the physical item, based on the identified current location of the physical item,
- automatically send instructions to the identified next piece of item processing equipment to process the physical item according to the updated correct delivery point;
- and
- wherein the identified next piece of item processing equipment is configured to:
- scan the physical item;
- identify the set flag for the physical item;
- in response to identifying the set flag for the physical item, automatically reroute, in the identified next piece of item processing equipment, the physical item to the updated correct delivery point;
- and
- attach, to the physical item, a label having the intended recipient name and the updated correct delivery point thereon.
22 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.