Tracking in a distribution system
AssigneeE-Systems, Inc.
InventorsDavid A. Mills, Norris G. Turner
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An item identified by a location code is tracked through a transport image in a process controller (48). The transport image is characterized by input data to the specific construction of tracker units (32, 34). Location codes for each item are received by the process controller 48 and tracked by a service routine (152) to set a divert flag or an inject flag (172). Each location code is advanced through sections of the transport image by an INCH routine (200). When the location code matches a pocket identification a divert gate is actuated to remove an item from the distribution system.
Claims17
A method of tracking an item identified by a location code to one of a plurality of diverter stations in a distribution system, comprising the steps of:
- injecting items in sequence into the distribution system, each item identified by a location code,
- generating an injection signal in response to each item injected into the distribution system indicating that a location code is to be tracked,
- advancing the location code for each item through a series of storage locations representing an image of the distribution system to track the movement of each item, each storage location representing an increment of distance in the distribution system, one or more of the storage locations having an identifying code identifying one of the plurality of diverter stations, and
- generating a tracking signal to a diverter station associated with a location code.
A method of tracking a document identified by coded information to one of a plurality of diverter pockets in a distribution system, comprising the steps of:
- injecting a plurality of documents in sequence into the distribution system,
- advancing the coded information for each document through a series of storage locations representing an image of the distribution system to track the movement of each document in the distribution system, each storage location representing an increment of distance in the distribution system, one or more of the storage locations having an identifying code identifying one of the plurality of diverter pockets,
- comparing the coded information for a document with the identifying code of a storage location when that document reaches that storage location, and
- generating a tracking signal to the diverter pocket associated with the coded information if the coded information matches the identifying code of the storage location.
A method of tracking a document identified by coded information identifying one of a plurality of diverter pockets in a distribution system, comprising the steps of:
- injecting a plurality of documents in sequence into the distribution system,
- generating an injection signal in response to each document injected into the distribution system,
- encoding information from each document in sequence into a first storage location,
- advancing the coded information for each document through a series of such storage locations representing an image of the distribution system to track the document movement, each storage location representing an increment of distance in the distribution system, one or more of the storage locations having an identifying code identifying one of the plurality of diverter pockets,
- comparing the coded information for a document with the identifying code of a storage location when that document reaches that storage location, and generating a tracking signal for actuating a diverter pocket when a comparison identifies the coded information with an associated diverter pocket.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.