US 9,508,107 B2Granted

Intelligent barcode systems

AssigneeUnited States Postal Service

InventorsClayton Bonnell, Jeffrey L. Freeman, Michael Lyons, Stephen M. Dearing, Margaret L. Choiniere, Daryl S. Hamilton, Himesh Patel, Carla Fern Sherry, David James Payne

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Abstract

Systems and methods using intelligent barcodes for processing mail, packages, or other items in transport are provided. Systems and methods allowing end-to-end visibility of a mail stream by uniquely identifying and tracking mail pieces are also provided. Systems and methods include the use of standardized intelligent barcodes on mail pieces, a seamless process for mail acceptance, continuous mail piece tracking, and feedback on mail quality in real time. In one embodiment, systems and methods using intelligent barcodes allow a mailing service to provide enhanced acceptance, sorting, tracking, address correction, forwarding, and delivery services. In another embodiment, systems and methods using intelligent barcodes allow a mailing service to identify a mail piece as undeliverable-as-addressed (UAA) and determine a final disposition for the mail piece. In yet another embodiment, systems and methods using intelligent barcodes allow mailers more visibility into the mail stream and information on the quality of their mailings.

Claims12

Dependent claims

A method of identifying extraneous processing of mail items and correcting related operational problems in mail processing equipment, the method comprising:

providing a mail sorting apparatus comprising components including at least one of a barcode reader and an optical character reader configured to read information from a mail piece;
providing mail processing equipment;
receiving, in the mail sorting apparatus, a mail piece having at least one encoded value located thereon which identifies the mail piece and sorting information for the mail piece, each of the at least one encoded value being only optically readable, wherein the mail piece is a tangible item for delivery to a recipient;
reading, using a component of the mail sorting apparatus, one of the at least one encoded value located on the mail piece;
decoding, using a processor, the read encoded value located on the mail piece to identify the mail piece;
directing the mail piece to the mail processing equipment using the sorting information;
processing the mail piece on at the mail processing equipment at a first time;
processing the mail piece on the mail processing equipment at a second time, the second time occurring after the first time;
determining, using a processor, a value relating to the processing of the mail piece, wherein the value relating to the processing of the mail piece indicates an amount of time elapsed between the first time and, the second time;
determining, using a processor, that the value relating to the processing of the mail piece is indicative of extraneous processing of the mail piece by the mail processing equipment;
determining, using a processor, based on the sorting information read from the encoded value, which component of the mail sorting apparatus read the encoded value and which mail processing equipment processed the mail piece;
transmitting an indication of the extraneous processing and of the determined component and mail processing equipment via an interface to a device associated with the mail processing equipment and the mail sorting apparatus;
and
adjusting the mail processing equipment to resolve operational problems of the equipment in response to the transmitted indication.

11 more elements

A non-transitory machine readable medium comprising instructions for identifying extraneous processing of mail items for correction of related operational problems in mail processing equipment, wherein upon execution the instructions cause a mail sorting machine to:

receive, in a mail processing apparatus, a mail piece having at least one encoded value located thereon which identifies the mail piece and sorting information for the mail piece, each of the at least one encoded value being only optically readable, wherein the mail piece is a tangible item for delivery to a recipient;
read one of the at least one encoded value located on the mail piece;
decode the read encoded value located on the item to identify the mail piece;
direct the mail piece to the mail processing equipment using the sorting information;
process the mail piece on the mail processing equipment at a first time;
process the mail piece on the mail processing equipment at a second time, the second time occurring after the first time;
determine a value relating to the processing of the mail piece, wherein the value relating to the processing of the mail piece indicates an amount of time elapsed between the first time and the second time;
determine that the value relating to the processing of the mail piece is indicative of extraneous processing of the mail piece by the mail processing equipment;
determine, using a processor, based on the sorting information read from the encoded value, which component of the mail sorting apparatus read the encoded value and which mail processing equipment processed the mail piece;
transmit an indication of the extraneous processing and of the determined component and mail processing equipment via an interface to a device associated with the mail processing equipment and the mail sorting apparatus;
and
adjust the mail processing equipment to resolve operational problems of the equipment in response to the transmitted indication.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 14/683,060Filed 9 Apr 2015 · continuation
Priority: 16 Mar 2009
Published: US 2015/0213399 A130 Jul 2015
Granted: 29 Nov 2016
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification9 codes

G06Q 50/60
Information and communication technology [ICT] specially adapted for implementation of business processes of specific business sectors, e.g.…:…
B07C 3/00
Sorting according to destination
B07C 3/18
Sorting according to destination: devices or arrangements for indicating destination, e.g. by code marks
G06Q 10/083
Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management: shipping

Family

Application12/405,139Parent of this continuation · filed 16 Mar 2009
Application13/619,505Parent of this continuation · filed 14 Sep 2012
US 8,598,482 B2Parent of this continuation · filed 3 Dec 2013
US 2015/0213399 A1Pre-grant publication · published 30 Jul 2015
US 9,012,798 B2Parent of this continuation
US 2010/0230328 A1Published application
US 2013/0008951 A1Published application
US 9,508,107 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.