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

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10748113-B2
Application number	US-201715787135-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 18, 2017
Priority date	Jun 19, 2013
Publication date	Aug 18, 2020
Grant date	Aug 18, 2020

Abstract

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.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An item delivery system comprising:
a data repository in communication with a processor, the data repository storing points and information regarding items for delivery to a plurality of delivery points and geofence data for at least a first delivery point of the plurality of delivery points;
a mobile computing device having a location detection circuit, wherein the location detection circuit is configured to detect the geographic location of the mobile computing device and the mobile computing device configured to communicate location information;
a communication circuit in communication with the data repository and the mobile computing device configured to receive location information from the mobile computing device;
wherein the processor is configured to receive the location information of the mobile computing device, to determine the mobile computing device's geographic location with regard to a geofence for the first delivery point for which a first item is to be delivered, to record a logical handling event associated with delivery of a second item to a second delivery point of the plurality of delivery points based on the determination, and to generate a notification based at least in part on the logical handling event.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to generate the notification when the location information indicates that the mobile computing device has entered the geofence for the first delivery point.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to generate the notification based on a determination that the mobile device has passed through the geofence for the first delivery point.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the notification is a delivery notification.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the delivery notification is a notification that the second item has been delivered to the second delivery point.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to send the notification to an intended recipient of the second.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the mobile computing device further comprises a scanner configured to scan the first item generate scan information.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the communication circuit is further configured to receive scan information from the mobile computing device indicative of scanning the first item upon delivery.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the scan information comprises location information indicative of the location of the mobile communication device at the time the first item was scanned, and wherein the logical handling event is based at least in part on the scan information.

10. A method for delivering items comprising:
storing geofence data for at least a first delivery point of a plurality of delivery points and information regarding items for delivery to the plurality of delivery points;
detect the geographic location of a mobile computing device along a delivery route comprising the plurality of delivery points;
determining the mobile computing device's geographic location with regard to the geofence data for the first delivery point of the plurality of delivery points to which a first item is to be delivered;
recording a logical handling event based on the determination of the mobile computing device's geographic location with regard to the geofence data, the logical handling event being associated with delivery of a second item to a second delivery point of the plurality of delivery points; and
generating a notification based at least in part on the logical handling event.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein generating the notification comprises generating the notification when the geographic location of the mobile computing device indicates that the mobile computing device has entered a geofence for the first delivery point.

12. The system of claim 10 , wherein generating the notification comprises generating the notification when the geographic location of the mobile computing device indicates that the mobile computing device has passed through a geofence for the first delivery point.

13. The system of claim 10 , wherein the notification is a delivery notification.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the notification is a notification that the second item has been delivered to the second delivery.

15. The system of claim 10 , further comprising sending the notification to an intended recipient of the second item indicating the second item has been delivered to the second delivery point.

16. The system of claim 10 , further comprising scanning the first item to be delivered and generating scan information.

17. The system of claim 10 , further comprising receiving scan information from the mobile computing device indicative of scanning the item upon delivery.

18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the scan information further comprises location information indicative of the location of the mobile communication device at the time the first item was scanned, and wherein the logical handling event is based at least in part on the scan information.

Assignees

• United States Postal Service

Inventors

• Dearing Stephen M
• Goyal Kuldip K
• Sherry Carla F
• Cradic Amy B
• Atkins C Scot
• Patel Himesh A

Classifications

• G06Q10/0833 Primary

  Tracking · CPC title

• G06Q10/063

  Operations research, analysis or management · CPC title

• G06Q10/04

  Forecasting or optimisation specially adapted for administrative or management purposes, e.g. linear programming or "cutting stock problem" (market predictions or forecasting for commercial activities G06Q30/0202) · CPC title

• G06Q30/0201

  Market modelling; Market analysis; Collecting market data · CPC title

• B07C3/18

  Devices or arrangements for indicating destination, e.g. by code marks {(applying data to information carriers G06K1/12)} · CPC title