US 12,699,954 B2 · Digitally informed delivery with custom electronic supplements for hardcopy mail

Abstract

Systems and methods for digitally accompanied delivery of delivery items, such as mail or packages. A delivery item has supporting digital data, such as electronic text, a digital file, an image, a web page(s), or the like. The delivery item includes an indicia, such as a bar code, that provides access to, or references, the digital resource. When the delivery item is processed during transit from the sender to the recipient of the delivery item, the indicia is scanned, read, and/or decoded, and the supporting digital data is identified therefrom. The delivery service transmits, to the recipient, an electronic notification indicating or including at least part of the supporting digital data. The notification may include information about the enroute status of the delivery item. The recipient may access the delivery item's supporting digital data, e.g., as included directly in the notification or via a link provided with the notification, etc.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A system for providing digital data associated with a tangible delivery item that is sent from a sender to a recipient, the system comprising:

one or more processor;
and
a memory operatively coupled to the one or more processor, wherein the memory is configured to store data comprising:
conventional delivery item data comprising sender identification data for the tangible delivery item and recipient identification data for the tangible delivery item;
and
supporting digital data (SDD) that is distinct from the conventional delivery item data and that is lacking information identifying the recipient, wherein the SSD comprises additional information that is associated with the tangible delivery item;
wherein the one or more processor is configured to perform operations comprising:
generating an image of an indicia that is configured for application to an exterior of the tangible delivery item, the indicia including data comprising:
at least a portion of the conventional delivery item data;
and
at least a portion of the additional information;
receiving an image of the exterior of the tangible delivery item during sorting, the image including the indicia;
decoding the indicia to obtain the at least a portion of the conventional delivery item data and the at least a portion of the additional information;
and
sending, to a processing device of the recipient, a digital message comprising the at least a portion of the additional information.

12 more elements

A computer-implemented method for providing digital data associated with a tangible delivery item that is sent from a sender to a recipient, the method comprising:

receiving from a processing device of the sender:
conventional delivery item data comprising sender identification data for the tangible delivery item, and recipient identification data for the tangible delivery item;
and
supporting digital data (SDD) that is distinct from the conventional delivery item data and that is lacking information identifying the recipient;
generating an image of an indicia that is configured for application to an exterior of the tangible delivery item, the indicia including data comprising:
at least a portion of the conventional delivery item data;
and
SDD-related data corresponding to the SDD;
receiving an image of the exterior of the tangible delivery item during sorting, wherein the image includes the indicia;
decoding the scanned image to obtain the at least a portion conventional delivery item data and the SDD-related data;
and
sending, to a processing device of the recipient, a digital message comprising the SDD-related data.

9 more elements

A system for providing digital data associated with a tangible delivery item that is sent from a sender to a recipient, the system comprising:

one or more processor;
and
an interface that is operatively coupled to the one or more processor, wherein the interface is configured to receive, from the sender, data comprising:
conventional delivery item transmittal data comprising sender identification data for the tangible delivery item and recipient identification data for the tangible delivery item;
and
supporting digital data (SDD) that is distinct from the conventional delivery item transmittal data and that is lacking information identifying the recipient;
and
wherein the one or more processor is configured to perform operations comprising:
transmitting, to a processing device of a delivery service, the conventional delivery item transmittal data and SDD-related data, wherein the delivery service is configured to associate the tangible delivery item with the SDD and to inform the recipient about the SDD based on the SDD-related data;
generating an image of an indicia with encoded data comprising:
the conventional delivery item transmittal data;
and
the SDD-related data;
and
providing the image of the indicia for application to an exterior surface of the tangible delivery item;
wherein the image of the indicia is configured to be imaged during sorting of the tangible delivery item.

13 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Digitally informed delivery with custom electronic supplements for hardcopy mail

Life of this patent

Digitally informed delivery with custom electronic supplements for hardcopy mail

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20