Mail sorting systems and methods

Details Mail sorting systems and methods Mail sorting systems and methods

2007-10-09

2007-10-09

Le, Thien Minh (Department: 2876)

Registers

Systems controlled by data bearing records

C235S492000

Reexamination Certificate

active

11173240

ABSTRACT:
Systems and methods are disclosed for sorting and tracking mail items that are sent via a mail system. Such systems improve the efficiency and accuracy of mail systems by utilizing radio frequency identification (RFID) technology to communicate sorting instructions to a sorting operator. In one embodiment, a radio frequency reader device or tag can be associated with each container used to hold a plurality of mail items destined for a common delivery location. By reading information stored on RFID tags associated with mail items to be sorted, the radio frequency reader devices can be configured to automatically alert a sorting operator as to whether a mail item belongs in a selected container. The reader devices can also maintain a record of what mail items have been placed in each such container. This information can be stored in association with tracking information that is generated during the transport of the containers.

REFERENCES:
patent: 3438489 (1969-04-01), Cambornac et al.
patent: 4832204 (1989-05-01), Handy et al.
patent: 5051914 (1991-09-01), Samsone et al.
patent: 5068797 (1991-11-01), Samsone et al.
patent: 5072401 (1991-12-01), Samsone et al.
patent: 5421464 (1995-06-01), Gillmann et al.
patent: 5472097 (1995-12-01), Villachica
patent: 5612889 (1997-03-01), Pintsov et al.
patent: 5684705 (1997-11-01), Herbert
patent: 5770841 (1998-06-01), Moed et al.
patent: 5778377 (1998-07-01), Marlin et al.
patent: 5869819 (1999-02-01), Knowles et al.
patent: 5936865 (1999-08-01), Pintsov et al.
patent: 5971587 (1999-10-01), Kato et al.
patent: 6047264 (2000-04-01), Fisher et al.
patent: 6134561 (2000-10-01), Brandien et al.
patent: 6220509 (2001-04-01), Byford
patent: 6285916 (2001-09-01), Kadaba et al.
patent: 6335685 (2002-01-01), Schrott et al.
patent: 6370446 (2002-04-01), Divine
patent: 6385504 (2002-05-01), Pintsov et al.
patent: 6463354 (2002-10-01), Pintsov
patent: 6557758 (2003-05-01), Monico
patent: 6610954 (2003-08-01), Takizawa
patent: 6721617 (2004-04-01), Kato et al.
patent: 6727813 (2004-04-01), Iwasaki et al.
patent: 6786404 (2004-09-01), Bonner et al.
patent: 6853294 (2005-02-01), Ramamurthy et al.
patent: 7030760 (2006-04-01), Brown
patent: 7142092 (2006-11-01), Ramamurthy et al.
patent: 2001/0013830 (2001-08-01), Garber et al.
patent: 2001/0052544 (2001-12-01), Nishitani
patent: 2002/0175112 (2002-11-01), Takizawa
patent: 2003/0014143 (2003-01-01), Kato et al.
patent: 2003/0101069 (2003-05-01), Sando
patent: 2003/0106771 (2003-06-01), Takizawa
patent: 2003/0116480 (2003-06-01), Takizawa
patent: 2003/0116481 (2003-06-01), Takizawa
patent: 2003/0116484 (2003-06-01), Takizawa
patent: 2003/0126030 (2003-07-01), Hungerford, III
patent: 2004/0000997 (2004-01-01), Stevens, III
patent: 2004/0004119 (2004-01-01), Baldassari et al.
patent: 2004/0016684 (2004-01-01), Braginsky et al.
patent: 2004/0049315 (2004-03-01), Sansone et al.
patent: 2004/0049316 (2004-03-01), Pintsov et al.
patent: 2004/0069850 (2004-04-01), De Wilde
patent: 2004/0098272 (2004-05-01), Kapsis et al.
patent: 2004/0143354 (2004-07-01), Kato et al.
patent: 2004/0149826 (2004-08-01), Alleshouse
patent: 2004/0153379 (2004-08-01), Joyce et al.
patent: 2004/0193449 (2004-09-01), Wildman et al.
patent: 2004/0257203 (2004-12-01), Maltsev et al.
patent: 2004/0263901 (2004-12-01), Critelli et al.
patent: 2005/0040231 (2005-02-01), Allison et al.
patent: 2005/0099292 (2005-05-01), Sajkowsky
patent: 2005/0116034 (2005-06-01), Satake et al.
patent: 2005/0119786 (2005-06-01), Kadaba
patent: 2005/0232747 (2005-10-01), Brackmann et al.
patent: 2006/0071063 (2006-04-01), Duckett
patent: 2006/0190588 (2006-08-01), Nakayama et al.
patent: 2007/0000989 (2007-01-01), Kadaba
patent: 2007/0057789 (2007-03-01), Hamerly et al.
patent: 0 710 930 (1996-08-01), None
patent: 0 710 930 (1997-03-01), None
patent: 0928641 (1999-07-01), None
patent: 1 246 133 (2002-02-01), None
patent: 1 246 134 (2002-02-01), None
patent: 1273359 (2003-08-01), None
patent: 1 398 735 (2004-03-01), None
patent: WO98/24036 (1998-06-01), None
patent: WO 00/00300 (2000-01-01), None
International Search Report from corresponding International Application No. PCT/US2006/023946 dated Nov. 23, 2006.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Mail sorting systems and methods does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Mail sorting systems and methods, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Mail sorting systems and methods will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3902147