United States Postal Service

Stephen M Dearing

Carla Fern Sherry

Himesh A Patel

C Scot Atkins

Kuldip K Goyal

Margaret Louise Choiniere

Amy B Cradic

David James Payne

Clayton Craig Bonnell

Daryl S Hamilton

Jeffrey L Freeman

Michael Lyons

James DeForrest Wilson

Scott R Bombaugh

Gary C Reblin

Carla F Sherry

Rosemarie Bolha

Kyle M Dixon

Gerald J Jamula

Systems and methods for shipping items using codes existing on packaging of items is described. Systems and methods do not require a shipping label or additional codes to be placed on an item, thus eliminating the box-in-a-box situation that frequently occurs. The systems use the existing codes, such as UPC, SKU, serial numbers, etc., and utilize order information and distribution network information to move and track items through the distribution network to delivery.

Systems and methods for distributing items within a distribution network

Embodiments include systems and methods of a service that allows hard copy and electronic media customers to proactively specify, across a broad range of categories, the hard copy mail and/or electronic media mail that they would or would not like to receive. Embodiments include methods and systems configured to allow customers of delivery services to customize the flow of physical items such as hard copy or other letters or parcels, for delivery or electronic media mail from mailers based on highly specific customer-designated criteria. The delivery service acts as a trusted third party to serve as the intermediary between the recipient of the items and mailers to provide privacy and manage a repository for a customer-selected criteria database. In addition, one embodiment provides verification and/or identification that mail being sent meets the customer's designated criteria.

System and method of electronic and physical mail categorization and targeted delivery

A system and method for accurately tracking the delivery of items in an item distribution network using a purpose built confidence event recorder. An item sorter sorts items for delivery based upon route information and preferences for the delivery. Items are tracked while out for delivery through the use of confidence data recorded by a confidence event recorder carried by an item carrier. The confidence data recorder can that can record GPS and time data, as well as scan barcodes, such as a barcode on an item to be delivered. Confidence data can be used to accurately record when and where item carriers deliver items. The system determines if an actual delivery occurred by comparing the confidence data to previously gathered confidence data. An expected delivery window generation system can be used to generate expected delivery windows for the delivery of new items based on the confidence data recorded.

Use of geospatial coordinate systems for tracking item delivery

Systems and methods of processing items. Items in a distribution network or process may be scanned at every handling point in the distribution network, and each scan is recorded in a central repository. The scan information can be used to generate real-time access to data, analytical tools, predictive tools, and tracking reports.

System and method for providing real-time tracking of items in a distribution network

Systems and methods for handling a plurality items by using a sorter to receive items and obtain item information and delivery destinations from the items. A run manifest is generated having an item identifier and a destination for each of the plurality of items. The run manifest data is used in a routing module to generate dynamic routes for delivering the plurality of items, and generating a sequence identifier for each of the plurality of items according to the dynamically generated routes.

System and method for dynamically routing items

Systems and methods for tracking items. A system for tracking an item is configured to scan the item for a computer readable code and convert the computer readable code into a digital identifier associated with the item. The system includes a controller circuit configured to receive authentication information from the mobile computing device, receive a request from the mobile computing device, comprising the digital identifier and a request for information relating to the item. When the memory has the information, the controller circuit obtains the information from the memory and generates an output comprising the digital identifier and the information for display. The output is based on a comparison of a location of the mobile computing device and an expected location of the item.

System and method for item tracking

Systems, methods and apparatus are disclosed for providing content associated with an information item on a distribution item using a computing device. In one aspect a method includes identifying an image of an information item on a distribution item. The method further includes processing, in a processor the image, to generate a data item determined by the information item. The method further includes decoding the data item to determine a set of attributes of the distribution item. The method further includes retrieving content associated with the distribution item using at least one of the attributes in the set of attributes. The method further includes delivering content associated with the distribution item.

System and method for retrieving content associated with distribution items

Systems and methods for dynamic routing of delivery resources for delivery of items from a pickup location on or near a first planned route to a delivery location on or near a second planned route. Methods can include identifying a first route and a second route based on the pickup and delivery locations, selecting one of a predetermined plurality of transfer nodes based on the locations of the first and second routes, and sending instructions to resources traveling along the first and second routes to meet and transfer the items at the selected transfer node.

Intelligent dynamic routing and delivery systems

Methods, systems and devices for item processing. The systems can include a PASS module that can include features that receive inputs relating to an item for processing and provide those inputs to other components and/or modules of a PASS system and/or of another system. The PASS system can include a variety of modules, including the PASS module, and can collect information and/or inputs from the variety of modules of the PASS system and use that information in item processing. The methods of item processing can use the PASS system and the PASS module to perform a variety of functions including, for example, revenue protection, sorting of items, task management, sampling and data collection, redirecting if enroute items, and personnel management.

Systems, methods and devices for item processing

Systems and methods of delivering an item to a mobile delivery receptacle are disclosed. A method of delivering an item to a mobile delivery receptacle can include receiving from a mobile delivery receptacle a location of the mobile delivery receptacle. Based on a cross-referencing credential, the method can include verifying the location of the mobile delivery receptacle. The method may include identifying a mobile delivery unit and determining a position of the mobile delivery unit. The method can include calculating a delivery route from the position of the mobile delivery unit to the mobile delivery receptacle and passing the location of the delivery resource and the delivery route to the mobile delivery unit.

Movable item receptacles

Systems and methods for an automated measurement utility are disclosed. Image analysis is used to determine a quantity of items in a stack of items. The quantity of items can be determined further based on item information and location awareness information. The quantity of items can be used to determine resource requirements, predictive workloads, and to improve item processing operations.

Growing community of inventors

Herndon, VA, United States of America

Stephen M Dearing