WO2003042854A1

WO2003042854A1 - Methods and systems for associating an identity of a sender with a parcel sent via a courier

Info

Publication number: WO2003042854A1
Application number: PCT/US2002/035319
Authority: WO
Inventors: Robert M. Rumph
Original assignee: The Maitland Company
Priority date: 2001-11-05
Filing date: 2002-11-05
Publication date: 2003-05-22

Abstract

When the card (40) is swiped through reader (50), an image of the sender appears on the display. The display may be fixed, or may be mobile. Terminal (60) may be connected to server (70), either directly or through a network such as the Internet. The employee may then confirm the sender's identity before the parcel enters the delivery stream. Server (70) may be connected in a similar fashion to printer (90). Information from server (70) may be conveyed to printer (90) in order that an indicia, such as a barcode, may be printed on parcel (80) deposited by the sender. The indicia (85) on parcel (80) may directly or indirectly reflect the sender's identity. The indicia may be stored at server (70) so that the sender's identity may later be ascertained. If after receipt, hazardous material is found in parcel (80), there is a suspicion regarding parcel (80), or parcel (80) otherwise raises a question as to the sender's identity, a look-up in server (70) may be performed on code (85) and sender's identity ascertained.

Description

METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR ASSOCIATING AN IDENTITY OF A SENDER WITH A PARCEL SENT VIA A COURIER

PRIORITY CLAIM

[001] This application claims priority based on Provisional Patent Application No. 60/330,958, filed November 5, 2001.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[002] The invention relates to methods and systems for associating an identity of a sender with a parcel sent via a courier. As used herein, the term "parcel" refers to any package, mail piece, letter, or object physically transmitted through a courier. As used herein, the term "courier" refers to any entity involved in the transportation or delivery of parcels, including but not limited to, private, international, national, and regional services such as Federal Express and United Parcel Service; public services such as national mail carriers systems (e.g., the United States Postal Service); and local couriers such as intra-city delivery services.

[003] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate several embodiments of the invention and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[004] Fig. 1 is a flowchart of a method consistent with the present invention.

[005] Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram of a first system consistent with the past invention.

[006] Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram of a second exemplary system consistent with the present invention.

[007] Fig. 4 is a parcel scanner system consistent with the present invention. DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[008] With increased concerns about hazardous materials being transmitted by courier, there exists an increased need for parcel security. In its broadest respects, the invention involves positively associating the identity of an individual responsible for sending a parcel with the parcel. The association may be recorded in a manner permitting the sender to be identified after the parcel is sent. In one embodiment, this may be accomplished by affixing to a parcel an indicator of the sender's identity. The indicator may be in the form of a marking affixed to, printed on, or contained within the parcel. The marking may be in the form of a label, a barcode, a magnetic strip, or any other detectable indicia. Preferably, the indicia is capable of being automatically read by a scanning device or other detector. In one embodiment, customers of the courier may be required to show an identification card, or otherwise provide identifying information at the time of depositing the parcel with the courier. When the sender's identity is confirmed, an indicator of the identity is associated with the parcel, such as by printing a code on the exterior of the parcel. If a question as to the sender's identity arises after receipt of the parcel or during transmission of the parcel, the code may be used to perform a look-up.

[009] In one embodiment, mail to be distributed through a courier, such as the U.S. Postal Service, would be required to be deposited in-person at a post office branch or through a U.S. postal service representative. The sender, or representative of the sender, will have an I.D. number that can be entered into a computer, or and I.D. card, such as one that can be swiped. A computer might then display a pre-stored image of a face of the sender, enabling a postal employee to confirm the identity of the sender before the parcel is deposited in the mail stream. Alternatively, fingerprints, iris scans, facial recognition, digital image profiling, or other biometrics may be used to identify sender. Once a positive identity is confirmed, the postal worker may take the parcel, put it in a stamping machine that may stamp and also put a personal barcode on each piece of mail. The barcode, or other indicia, may contain the sender's identification number or may contain a code that correlates to the sender's identification number. Alternatively, the identity of the sender may be printed on the parcel so that the recipient may independently confirm the sender's identity.

[010] During this process, the sender might also pay for the postage. Alternatively, the system might run in a debit program to eliminate stamps.

[011] In one embodiment, the courier might require that all parcels be positively associated with a sender, in a matter such as described above, so that no parcels carried by the courier would lack a positive identification with a sender. This may require that couriers eliminate drop-boxes unless they could be automatically operated to identify the sender. For example, a mail drop-box may include a biometric device, such as a fingerprint or iris scanner. Such a device might enable the deposit of parcels without human intervention by a representative of the courier. In such a system, the biometric device might positively identify the sender and prompt the sender to deposit mail pieces in a device that automatically codes each mail piece.

[012] In an alternative embodiment, no indicia at all may need to be printed on the parcel. Rather, the parcel may be scanned at the time of entry into the system, and an image of the parcel (or information reflecting an image of the parcel) stored in a searchable database. Just as no two human faces are likely to be identical, so too are no two parcels likely to be identical. Borrowing from known biometric techniques for identifying human faces, similar techniques can be used to scan parcels and thereafter identify the sender's identity.

[013] Figure 1 illustrates three exemplary steps of a method consistent with the present invention. In step 10 of Figure 1 , a sender delivers a parcel to an identification facility. This may occur in one of many manners. For example, the sender might take mail to be delivered to a local post office. Alternatively, parcels may be deposited at an automatic kiosk or drop-box. In yet another embodiment, the sender may "deliver" parcels to a courier who picks up the parcels at the sender's location, assuming the mobile courier is equipped to I.D. the sender. [014] In step 20 of Figure 1 , the sender's identity is confirmed. With reference to Figure 2, the identity may be confirmed through a parcel sender's identity card 40. The card may be read, for example, through card reader 50. In its broadest sense, the invention is not limited to particular means for confirming the sender's identity. Rather, any other means of confirming the sender's identity may be used.

[015] In Figure 2, after card 40 is swiped through reader 50, an image of the sender appears on the display. The display may be fixed (e.g., a display device of a personal computer), or may be mobile (e.g., such as on an hand-held device). Terminal 60 may be connected to server 70, either directly or through a network such as the Internet. The connection may be wired or wireless. An employee of the courier may view a pre-stored image of the sender on a display of terminal 60. The employee may then confirm the sender's identity before the parcel enters the delivery stream. Server 70 may, is in turn, be connected in a similar fashion to printer 90. Information from server 70 may be conveyed to printer 90 in order that an indicia, such as a barcode, may be printed on parcel 80 deposited by the sender. The indicia 85 on parcel 80 may directly or indirectly reflect the sender's identity. As illustrated in step 30 of Figure 1 , the indicia may be stored at server 70 so that the sender's identity may later be ascertained. For example, if after receipt, hazardous material is found in parcel 80, there is a suspicion regarding parcel 80, or parcel 80 otherwise raises a question as to the sender's identity, a lookup in server 70 may be performed on code 85 and the sender's identity ascertained.

[016] In an alternative embodiment illustrated in Figure 3, biometric scanner 100 may replace or be provided in addition to, card scanner 50. The biometric scanner 100 may rely upon iris recognition technology, facial recognition technology, fingerprint recognition technology, or other biometric identifiers.

[017] As an alternative to, or an addition to, printer 90 of Figures 2 and 3, Figure 4 illustrates parcel scanner 110 which may be positioned adjacent parcel conveyor 120. As parcels pass scanner 110, an image of the parcel may be captured. Scanner 110 may capture an image of each parcel and identify from the image unique identifying characteristics of the parcel. Thereafter, an indicia of the parcel's identity may be stored in server 70. While Figure 4 illustrates a single scanner 110, multiple scanners may be positioned about conveyor 120 to capture parcels from multiple angles. In addition, while conveyor 120 is illustrated, the invention is not limited to a conveyor based system. Scanning may be manually performed or may be performed in other automated manners. In addition, the technology of Figure 4 may be used in a parcel sorting facility, a parcel receiving facility, or an automated kiosk or drop box.

[018] Other embodiments of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the invention disclosed herein. It is intended that the specification and examples be considered as exemplary only, with a true scope and spirit of the invention being indicated by the following claims.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A method of linking an identity of a parcel to an identity of a sender, the method comprising: recording in a database information about at least one physical attribute of the sender; before release of the parcel into a mail stream, receiving, at a parcel deposit location, information identifying at least one physical attribute of the sender; comparing the physical attribute information in the database with physical attribute information received at the deposit location in order to confirm an identity of the sender; and releasing the parcel into the mail stream.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising recording an association between the sender's identity and an identity of the parcel.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the physical attribute information is biometric data.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the biometric data is at least one of retina scan information, fingerprint information, voice information, and DNA information.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the physical attribute information includes an image of the sender.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein recording an association between the sender's identity and an identity of the parcel includes associating with the parcel an indicator reflective of the sender's identity.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the indicator is at least one of a label, a barcode, a magnetic strip or a detectible indicia placed on the parcel.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the physical attribute information is received at the deposit location by visually observing an image of the sender on an identification card presented by the sender.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the physical attribute information is received at the deposit location by capturing biometric data from the sender.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the deposit location is a drop box having a biometric sensor associated therewith.

11. The method of claim 2, wherein recording an association includes recording in a data structure information reflecting an identity of the parcel with a link to information reflecting an identity of the sender.

12. The method of claim 1 when receiving includes viewing the sender's face and wherein comparing includes visually comparing the viewed sender's face with a stored image of the sender's face.

13. The method of claim 1 , further comprising, after release into mail stream, ascertaining the identity of the sender if the parcel is suspected of containing a hazardous material.