Systems and methods of processing undeliverable delivery items

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11430243-B2
Application number	US-202016847269-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 13, 2020
Priority date	Apr 16, 2019
Publication date	Aug 30, 2022
Grant date	Aug 30, 2022

Abstract

Provided herein are processing systems including a camera that is arranged to capture an image of a delivery item. The system also includes a hardware processor that is operably connected to the camera and that is configured to perform operations that include capturing, using the camera, an image of a delivery item that is undeliverable to an intended recipient or at an intended delivery location, where the image includes an address of the intended recipient. The operations also include embedding, by the hardware processor, processing data with the image of the delivery item to thereby generate an embedded image, and notifying a sender of the delivery item that the delivery item is undeliverable using the embedded image. Also provided herein are related computer readable media and methods of processing delivery items that are undeliverable.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A processing system, comprising:
(a) a camera that is arranged to capture an image of a delivery item; and
(b) a hardware processor that is operably connected to the camera and that is configured to perform operations comprising:
capturing, using the camera, an image of a delivery item that is undeliverable to an intended recipient or at an intended delivery location, where the image includes an address of the intended recipient;
embedding, by the hardware processor, processing data with the image of the delivery item to thereby generate an embedded image as a printable file, the embedded image including the image of the delivery item framed by a template area that includes a reason for the delivery item being undeliverable; and
notifying a proxy of a sender of the delivery item, via a hard copy printout of the embedded image, that the delivery item is undeliverable.

2. The processing system of claim 1 , wherein the capturing, using the camera, the image of the delivery item that is undeliverable comprises activating the camera after the delivery item is manually positioned to face the camera.

3. The processing system of claim 1 , wherein the processing data comprises one of temporary delivery location information or updated delivery location information included in the template area.

4. The processing system of claim 1 , further comprising electronically transmitting the embedded image to the sender.

5. The processing system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a printer that is operably connected to the hardware processor; and
wherein the operations further comprise:
printing, by the printer, the printable file to generate the hard copy printout of the embedded image.

6. A computer-readable, non-transitory storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by a hardware processor of a computing system, cause the hardware processor to execute a method of processing a delivery item, the method comprising:
capturing an image of a delivery item received from a camera that is operably connected to the computing system, wherein the delivery item is at least one of undeliverable to an intended recipient or undeliverable at an intended delivery location, where the image includes an address of the intended recipient;
embedding, by the hardware processor, processing data with the image of the delivery item to thereby generate an embedded image as a printable file, the embedded image including the image of the delivery item framed by a template area that includes a reason for the delivery item being undeliverable; and
notifying a proxy of a sender of the delivery item, via a hard copy printout of the embedded image, that the delivery item is undeliverable.

7. The computer-readable, non-transitory storage medium of claim 6 , wherein the capturing the image of the delivery item received from the camera comprises activating the camera after the delivery item is manually positioned to face the camera.

8. The computer-readable, non-transitory storage medium of claim 6 , wherein the method further comprises printing the printable file via a printer that is operably connected to the hardware processor to generate the hard copy printout of the embedded image.

9. The computer-readable, non-transitory storage medium of claim 6 , wherein the method further comprises electronically transmitting the embedded image to the sender.

10. The computer-readable, non-transitory storage medium of claim 9 , wherein the processing data comprises one of temporary delivery location information or updated delivery location information included in the template area.

11. A method of processing a delivery item using a processing station comprising a computer and a camera that is operably connected to the computer, the method comprising:
capturing an image of the delivery item with the camera, wherein the delivery item is at least one of undeliverable to an intended recipient or undeliverable at an intended delivery location;
embedding, by the computer, processing data with the image of the delivery item to thereby generate an embedded image as a printable file, the embedded image including the image of the delivery item framed by a template area that includes a reason for the delivery item being undeliverable;
notifying a proxy of a sender of the delivery item, via a hard copy printout of the embedded image, that the delivery item is undeliverable; and
directing the delivery item to an alternative location other than the intended delivery location.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the capturing the image of the delivery item with the camera comprises activating the camera after the delivery item is manually positioned to face the camera.

13. The method of claim 11 , further comprising identifying that the delivery item is undeliverable as addressed.

14. The method of claim 13 , wherein the identifying that the delivery item is undeliverable as addressed comprises identifying that an address on the delivery item is erroneous.

15. The method of claim 13 , wherein the identifying that the delivery item is undeliverable as addressed comprises determining that the image of the delivery item includes erroneous information about at least one of the intended recipient or the intended delivery location.

16. The method of claim 11 , further comprising printing the printable file to thereby generate the hard copy printout of the embedded image.

17. The method of claim 11 , wherein the alternative location comprises a location from a group consisting of: a waste location, a temporary delivery location, or an updated delivery location.

18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising notifying the sender of the temporary delivery location or the updated delivery location.

Assignees

• United States Postal Service

Inventors

• Miller Derek
• Graham Thomas J

Classifications

• B07C3/14 Primary

  using light-responsive detecting means {(for information carriers G06K7/14)} · CPC title

• G06V30/416 Primary

  Extracting the logical structure, e.g. chapters, sections or page numbers; Identifying elements of the document, e.g. authors · CPC title

• H04N23/60

  Control of cameras or camera modules · CPC title

• H04N23/90

  Arrangement of cameras or camera modules, e.g. multiple cameras in TV studios or sports stadiums · CPC title

• H04N23/54

  Mounting of pick-up tubes, electronic image sensors, deviation or focusing coils · CPC title