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US 8,301,458 B2Granted
Dynamic inventory distribution system
AssigneeUnited States Postal Service
InventorsMichael John Amato, Brent Alan Raney, Joseph Anthony Narvaez
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Embodiments include systems and methods of delivery DVDs, games, other electronically or computer readable media, or other high value items through the mail or via any other delivery service for return and redelivery to a second customer. For example, in one embodiment, items returned by a first customer are identified during processing of a container or mailer containing the item, the second customer is determined, a new address label is affixed to the container, and the item is delivered to the second customer.
Claims26
A method of distributing an item to successive recipients, the method comprising:
- receiving addressing data based on indicia on a surface of a container;
- determining with a computer, based on the address data, that an item is disposed within the container, the container and the item having been dispatched from a first recipient of the container and of the item;
- receiving data identifying the item disposed within the container, the data being based on further indicia on a surface of the container;
- receiving image data indicative of at least a portion of the item disposed within the container, wherein the item is viewable via a viewing window on the container and wherein the image data is generated by inspecting the item through the viewing window;
- detecting physical damage to the item based on the image data;
- identifying through use of a computer a second recipient of the item based on the detected physical damage to the item;
- readdressing the container to the second recipient;
- and
- dispatching the container to the second recipient.
6 more elements
A system for distributing an item to successive recipients, the system comprising:
- a database configured to store item and recipient data;
- at least one processor configured to:
- receive addressing data based on indicia on a surface of a container;
- determine based on the address data that an item is disposed within the container, the container and the item having been dispatched from a first recipient of the container and of the item;
- receive data identifying the item disposed within the container, the data being based on further indicia on a surface of the container;
- receive image data indicative of at least a portion of the item disposed within the container, wherein the item is viewable via a viewing window on the container and wherein the image data is generated by inspecting the item through the viewing window;
- detect physical damage to the item based on the image data;
- identify a second recipient of the item based on the detected physical damage to the item and based on the data stored in the database;
- generate instructions for readdressing the container to the second recipient and dispatching the container to the second recipient;
- and
- update the data in the database to associate the item with the second recipient.
8 more elements
A system for distributing an item to successive recipients, the system comprising:
- means for storing item and recipient data;
- means for processing data, said processing means configured to:
- receive data identifying an item disposed within a container received for processing, the container and the item having been dispatched from a first recipient of the container and of the item;
- receive image data indicative of at least a portion of the item disposed within the container, wherein the item is viewable via a viewing window on the container and wherein the image data is generated by inspecting the item through the viewing window;
- detect physical damage to the item based on the image data;
- identify a second recipient of the item based on the detected physical damage to the item and based on the data stored in the database;
- generate instructions for readdressing the container to the second recipient and dispatching the container to the second recipient;
- and
- update the data in the database to associate the item with the second recipient.
6 more elements
A computer-program product for distributing an item to successive recipients, the product comprising:
- a non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon data indicative of codes executable by at least one processor to:
- receive addressing data based on indicia on a surface of a container;
- determine based on the address data that an item is disposed within the container, the container and the item having been dispatched from a first recipient of the container and of the item;
- receive data identifying the item disposed within the container, the data being based on further indicia on a surface of the container;
- receive image data indicative of at least a portion of the item disposed within the container, wherein the item is viewable via a viewing window on the container and wherein the image data is generated by inspecting the item through the viewing window;
- detect physical damage to the item based on the image data;
- identify a second recipient of the item based on the detected physical damage to the item;
- readdress the container to the second recipient;
- and
- dispatch the container to the second recipient.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.