System and method of providing informed delivery items using a hybrid-digital mailbox

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11836668-B2
Application number	US-202117366807-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 2, 2021
Priority date	Mar 6, 2017
Publication date	Dec 5, 2023
Grant date	Dec 5, 2023

Abstract

Systems and methods of creating, managing, and distributing supplemental content associated with items in a distribution network. A physical delivery item can be imaged and associated with additional content generated or associated with the sender of the physical delivery item.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system for handling distribution items comprising:
a mail sorting apparatus comprising a camera, the mail sorting apparatus configured to:
capture, by the camera, an image of a physical distribution item having an identifier thereon;
interpret the identifier from the captured image of the physical distribution item, the identifier including a delivery point and a code; and
sort the physical distribution item according to the delivery point;

an item image processor configured to store the captured image of the physical distribution item, to generate identifier information from the captured image of the identifier, and to associate the identifier information with the stored captured image;
a supplemental item content interface in communication with a supplemental item content processor, the supplemental item content processor configured to:
receive, from a sender of the physical distribution item, the identifier which is on the physical distribution item;
receive a plurality of types of supplemental item content, wherein each of the plurality of types of supplemental item content is associated with a different geographic area;
associate each of the plurality of types of supplemental item content with the identifier on the physical distribution item; and

a central hub in communication with the item image processor, the mail sorting apparatus, and the supplemental item content processor, the central hub configured to:
receive the identifier information from the mail sorting apparatus;
identify, based on the delivery point, a geographic area to which the physical distribution item into be delivered;
determine, based on the identifier information, and the geographic area, one of the plurality of types of supplemental item content associated with the identified geographic area;
select, from the determined plurality of types of supplemental item content, one of the types of the plurality of types of supplemental item content that is associated with the identified geographic area;
provide to an intended recipient of the physical distribution item a delivery notification including the stored image of the physical distribution item;
cause the mail sorting apparatus to sort the physical distribution item according to the identified delivery point; and
based on causing the mail sorting apparatus to sort the physical distribution item, provide, to the intended recipient, via a user interface, the selected one of the types of the plurality of supplemental item content with the delivery notification.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the selected supplemental item content is embedded in the image of the physical distribution item provided to the intended recipient.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the central hub is configured to provide the stored image by sending an electronic message mail including the stored image to the intended recipient.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the delivery notification further comprises an electronic interface accessible by the intended recipient, the electronic interface configured to provide an option to accept or reject delivery of the physical distribution item.

5. The system of claim 3 , wherein the intended recipient accesses the selected one of the types of the plurality of supplemental item content by selecting the received stored image received in a dashboard of the user interface.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the central hub is further configured to receive, from the intended recipient, interaction information regarding the recipient's interaction with the supplemental item content, and wherein the supplemental item content interface is configured to receive the interaction information and to provide the interaction information to the sender of the physical distribution item.

7. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a customer preference database, the customer preference database storing preference data for a plurality of customers.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the supplemental item content interface is configured to receive a request for a distribution list of recipients and a list of preference parameters.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the customer preference database is configured to generate a distribution list of a plurality of recipients based on the list of preference parameters, and to generate a unique identifier for each of the plurality of recipients.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the central hub is configured to track delivery data for the physical distribution item and to provide the selected one of the types of the plurality of supplemental item content when the received identifier information is associated with supplemental item content in the supplemental item content interface.

Assignees

• United States Postal Service

Inventors

• Bornitz Carrie Ann
• Dixon Jr Robert E
• Luckay Ryan M

Classifications

• G06Q10/0833 Primary

  Tracking · CPC title

• G06Q30/0207

  Discounts or incentives, e.g. coupons or rebates · CPC title

• G06Q30/0277

  Online advertisement · CPC title

• G06Q10/08

  Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management · CPC title