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

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11989691-B2
Application number	US-202318175280-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 27, 2023
Priority date	Jun 19, 2013
Publication date	May 21, 2024
Grant date	May 21, 2024

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. A system for routing items comprising:
a plurality of item processing devices each comprising a scanner configured to scan a computer readable code on an item and generate scan data; and
a processor in communication with the plurality of item processing devices, the processor configured to:
receive the scan data from the plurality of item processing devices;
determine a delivery pathway for the item, the delivery pathway comprising a plurality of expected handling events;
calculate an estimated delivery time based on the delivery pathway; and
provide the estimated delivery time to a sender.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the computer readable code is associated with an item record, the item record comprising at least one of: the computer readable code, an item service class, a shipper ID, a destination, an item shape, and an item size.

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the processor is further configured to determine the delivery pathway for the item based on one or more of: an item class, an item shape, an item size, and a current time.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
identify an impending event along the delivery pathway; and
update the delivery pathway based on the event.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the event is one of: insufficient item processing equipment, insufficient personnel, or insufficient transportation resources at a regional distribution facility, a hub, or a unit delivery facility along the delivery pathway.

6. The system of claim 4 , wherein the processor is further configured to identify the impending event comprises:
receive an event alert for the item from one or more of the plurality of item processing devices; and
identify the impending event along the delivery pathway based on the event alert.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
receive scan data from an item processing device of the plurality of item processing devices;
identify a handling event associated with the scan data; and
determine, based on the scan data, that the item is on an incorrect delivery pathway.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
update the delivery pathway for the item when the item is on the incorrect delivery pathway; and
cause one or more of the plurality of item processing devices to re-route the item to the updated delivery pathway.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the processor is further configured to evaluate one or more of: the delivery pathway, the scan data, and the updated delivery pathway to generate a delivery performance report.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
determine, based on the scan data, that the item comprises a nesting object, the nesting object comprising a plurality of nested items;
identify the plurality of nested items associated with the nesting object; and
determine an updated delivery pathway for one or more of the plurality of nested items based on the scan data.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the processor is further configured to instruct the plurality of item processing devices to separate one or more of the plurality of nested items from the nesting object based on the determined updated delivery pathway.

12. A method for routing items within a distribution network comprising:
scanning, via a plurality of item processing devices, a computer readable code on an item to generate scan data;
communicating the computer readable code to a processor;
determining, via the processor, a delivery pathway for the item based on the scan data, the delivery pathway comprising a plurality of handling events;
calculating, via the processor, an estimated delivery time based on the delivery pathway; and
providing the estimated delivery time to a sender.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein determining the delivery pathway comprises determining, via the processor, the delivery pathway for the item based on one or more of: an item class, an item shape, an item size, and a current time.

14. The method of claim 12 further comprising:
identifying, via the processor, an impending event along the delivery pathway; and
updating, via the processor, the delivery pathway based on the event.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the event is one of: insufficient item processing equipment; insufficient personnel, or insufficient transportation resources at a regional distribution facility, a hub, or a unit delivery facility along the delivery pathway.

16. The method of claim 14 further comprising:
receiving, at the processor, an event alert from one or more of: the plurality of item processing devices, a data repository, or a mobile scanning device; and
identifying, via the processor, the impending event along the delivery pathway based on the event alert.

17. The method of claim 12 further comprising:
receiving, at the processor, scan data from an item processing device of the plurality of item processing devices;
identifying, via the processor, a handling event associated with the scan data; and
determining, via the processor, that the item is on an incorrect delivery pathway based on the scan data.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising:
updating, via the processor, the delivery pathway for the item when the item is on the incorrect delivery pathway; and
re-routing the item via one or more of the plurality of item processing devices.

19. The method of claim 12 further comprising:
determining, via the processor, the item comprises a nesting object based on the scan data, the nesting object comprising a plurality of nested items;
identifying, via the processor, the plurality of nested items; and
determining, via the processor, an updated delivery pathway for each of the plurality of nested items based on the scan data.

20. The method of claim 19 further comprising:
separating, via one or more of the plurality of item processing devices, one or more of the plurality of nested items from the nesting object based on the updated delivery pathway.

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

• G06Q10/087 Primary

  Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders · CPC title

• B07C3/18

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

• G06K7/1413

  1D bar codes · CPC title

• G06K7/1417

  2D bar codes · 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