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US 8,132,726 B2Granted
Postal stamp tracking system and method
AssigneeLockheed Martin Corporation
InventorsBinh T. Lu, Thomas J. Otterlee, Casimir F. Laska
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A trackable postage stamp includes a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface. The second surface is adapted to adhere to a piece of mail. The stamp also includes a passive tracking device including stamp identification (ID) information.
Claims11
A method of tracking a postage stamp, comprising:
- coupling tracking information to the stamp, the tracking information including a stamp ID, wherein the tracking information is stored within a passive RFID device;
- dispensing the stamp to a customer as part of a book of stamps, wherein the book includes book identification information;
- reading the tracking information as the stamp is dispensed;
- storing the stamp ID in a database;
- capturing an image of the customer and storing the captured image in the database;
- and
- reading the tracking information as the stamp is deposited into a postal mailbox, and storing the stamp ID and a mailbox location within a database.
4 more elements
A method of tracking a postage stamp, comprising:
- coupling tracking information to the stamp, the tracking information including a stamp ID, wherein the tracking information is stored within a passive RFID device;
- dispensing the stamp to a customer as part of a book of stamps, the book including book identification information;
- reading the tracking information as the stamp is dispensed;
- storing the stamp ID in a database;
- sensing when an article is deposited in a mailbox;
- determining when tracking information was not properly read for all the articles placed in the mailbox;
- and
- providing a perceivable indication when it has been determined that tracking information was not properly read for all the articles placed in the mailbox.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.