Patent ID: 11887205
Assignee: UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICES
Field: Computer technology (Electrical engineering)
Classification: CPC G  H | IPC G  H

Claim 7:
8. A method of automatically tracking the location of a distribution item comprising:
receiving, at a plurality of distribution facilities, a plurality of beacons and a plurality of distribution items, each of the plurality of distribution items having one of the plurality of beacons thereon;
detecting, by sensors at each of the plurality of distribution facilities, a plurality of identifier signals emitted by the beacons, each of the plurality of beacons emitting one of the plurality of identifier signals;
associating, in a memory, each identifier signal of the plurality of identifier signals with a unique serial number corresponding to one of the plurality of beacons, and with an identifier of a distribution facility of the plurality of distribution facilities where the identifier signal was detected;
receiving, in a user interface, a computer readable code identifying a specific unique serial number associated with one of the plurality of distribution items;
querying the memory to determine the corresponding identifier of the distribution facility associated with the specific unique serial number;
activating the beacon associated with the specific unique serial number to emit an alert; and
identifying a location of the beacon in the one of the plurality of distribution facilities from the alert.