System and method for managing postal induction, tracking, and delivery
AssigneeUnited States Postal Service
InventorShahpour Ashaari
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method to track a mailing. The method comprises: receiving mailing information from a mailer, the mailing information comprising shipment information relating to a shipment and a mailing code associated with a mailing, the shipment information comprising a shipment identifier; receiving a shipment at an induction facility, wherein the shipment comprises an encoded shipment and a mailing associated with the mailing code; scanning at least one of the encoded shipment identifier or the mailing code into a scanned code; matching the scanned code to the shipment identifier; notifying the mailer of the induction of the shipment; scanning at least one of the encoded shipment identifier or the mailing code at a delivery facility; and notifying the mailer of the delivery of the shipment.
Claims39
A method, comprising:
- receiving mailing information from a mailer, the mailing information comprising shipment information relating to a shipment and a mailing code associated with a mailing, the shipment information comprising a shipment identifier;
- receiving shipment at an induction facility, wherein the shipment comprises an encoded shipment identifier and a mailing associated with the mailing code;
- scanning at least one of the encoded shipment identifier or the mailing code into a scanned code;
- matching the scanned code to the shipment identifier;
- notifying the mailer of the induction of the shipment;
- scanning at least one of the encoded shipment identifier or the mailing code at a delivery facility;
- and
- notifying the mailer of the delivery of the shipment.
A method of planning the future load of a mailing system, comprising:
- receiving mailing information from a mailer, the mailing information comprising shipment information having a shipment identifier, an estimated induction date, and a count value representing the number of mailpieces in the shipment;
- and
- estimating system load on a mail system based on the estimated induction date and the count value.
A system for tracking a mailing, the system comprising:
- a memory;
- and
- a processor coupled to the memory for:
- receiving mailing information from a mailer, the mailing information comprising shipment information relating to a shipment and a mailing code associated with a mailing, the shipment information comprising a shipment identifier;
- receiving the shipment at an induction facility, wherein the shipment comprises an encoded shipment identifier and a mailing associated with the mailing code;
- scanning at least one of the encoded shipment identifier or the mailing code into a scanned code;
- matching the scanned code to the shipment identifier;
- notifying the mailer of the induction of the shipment;
- scanning at least one of the encoded shipment identifier or the mailing code at a delivery facility;
- and
- notifying the mailer of the delivery of the shipment.
A system for planning the future load of a mailing system, the system comprising:
- a memory;
- and
- a processor coupled to the memory for:
- receiving mailing information from a mailer, the mailing information comprising shipment information having a shipment identifier, an estimated induction date, and a number of mail pieces in the shipment;
- and
- estimating system load on a mail system based on the estimated induction date and the number of mail pieces in the shipment.
A computer-readable medium on which is stored a set of instructions for providing tracking of mailings, which when executed perform stages comprising:
- receiving mailing information from a mailer, the mailing information comprising shipment information relating to a shipment and a mailing code associated with a mailing, the shipment information comprising a shipment identifier;
- receiving the shipment at an induction facility, wherein the shipment comprises an encoded shipment identifier and a mailing associated with the mailing code;
- scanning at least one of the encoded shipment identifier or the mailing code into a scanned code;
- matching the scanned code to the shipment identifier;
- notifying the mailer of the induction of the shipment;
- scanning at least one of the encoded shipment identifier or the mailing code at a delivery facility;
- and
- notifying the mailer of the delivery of the shipment.
A computer-readable medium on which is stored a set of instructions for estimating future loads on a mailing system, which when executed perform stages comprising:
- receiving mailing information from a mailer, the mailing information comprising shipment information having a shipment identifier, an estimated induction date, and a count value;
- and
- estimating system load on a mail system based on the estimated induction data and the count value.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.