Abstract:
A method, AND apparatus are described to accurately measure the delivery performance of a postal service using without external agents in the measurement process. The invention describes a system that measures the postal logistic automatically, and continuously. The basis for measurement are tag mail pieces that circulate continuously through the postal system.

Description:
[0001]    This application claims priority of U.S. provisional application No. 61/075,423, filed Jun. 25, 2008 and of U.S. provisional application No. 61/079,281, filed Jul. 9, 2008. This application is a continuation-in-part of commonly assigned Ser. No. 11/840,749, filed Aug. 17, 2007. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The invention relates to a system for performance evaluation, especially as applied to a postal service. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    The determination of service performance for a postal agency is an important aspect of refining the reputation and value of delivery services, as well as identifying and troubleshooting problems within the delivery logistic. Postal services have traditionally measured their service performance externally by means of static delivery points to which the postal service delivers test letters that have been intentionally seeded into the mail stream at prescribed locations and times. Testing agents at the fixed points to which the test letters are delivered record time of delivery information, and data from all the agents is regularly aggregated as the basis for performance reports. 
         [0004]    These systems tend to be very expensive, which leads to a narrow sampling methodology. Over time, the Sectional Center Facility (SCF) within which data collection agents operate become known which makes the system produce data which is not representative of the rest of the system. In the ideal system, postal workers would not know in advance where measurement is taking place. 
         [0005]    With the advent of computer-controlled, dynamic sortation, unique “license plate” bar codes used in postal systems, and handheld scanning computers used by postal delivery personnel, it is possible to design a system through which a broader range of precise, representative performance can be measured. Such a system would be not only more accurate and informative than the traditional system, but it is also less expensive to operate. 
         [0006]    U.S. Pat. No. 7,079,981 describes a method of analyzing the operation of a delivery system. The method includes: determining a seeding plan; placing a seed piece into the delivery system; tracking the seed piece through the delivery system to generate tracking data; storing the tracking data in a central repository; and analyzing the tracking data to determine one or more faults. The faults referred to are sortation faults generated by the mail sorting facility. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    The present invention describes a method, apparatus and process to accurately measure the delivery performance of a postal service without using external agents in the measurement process. The invention describes a system that can measure the postal logistic automatically, and preferably continuously. The basis for measurement are tag mail pieces that circulate through the postal system. 
         [0008]    According to one aspect of the invention, a method for tracking postal service performance uses a computerized tracking system and tag mail pieces having machine readable indicia indicating an identification code for each tag. The method includes an initial step of assigning delivery destinations to each tag mail piece using the system. At an originating postal facility, the tag mail pieces are sorted on postal mail sorting machines according to a sort scheme whereby the tag mail pieces are each grouped with mail addressed to the delivery destination assigned to the grouped tag mail piece. The groups of mail grouped with tag mail pieces are transported to a destinating postal facility. The tag mail pieces are scanned to determine date and time of arrival of each at a series of locations at which the scans are made, which scanning is carried out at multiple locations to determine transit times between locations for each tag, wherein the locations preferably include originating postal facility, the destinating postal facility, and the delivery destinations. The tags are returned from the delivery destinations to an originating postal facility which may be the same or different from the originating postal facility it started from. Tag arrival data is analyzed using the system which is programmed to identify tag arrival data associated with postal performance problems. In such a method the steps are preferably repeated in a cycle wherein tags scanned at delivery destinations at the end of one cycle and the start of the next are returned to the originating postal facility. The method is highly useful when conducted on a pair of first and second mail facilities at different geographic locations, wherein the first mail facility serves as originating mail facility for mail and tags transported to the second mail facility as destinating mail facility, and the second mail facility serves as originating mail facility for mail and tags transported to the first mail facility as destinating mail facility. 
         [0009]    The invention further provides a system for tracking postal service performance. Such a system includes a plurality of tag mail pieces each bearing a machine readable identification code, a computerized tracking system that maintains a database of tracking data which reflects when each tag was scanned during a postal delivery cycle, which tracking system receives tracking data from postal mail sorting machines which scan the tag mail pieces and from manual scanning devices used to scan the tag mail pieces during postal delivery, a communications system such as a network whereby the tracking system receives tracking data from a plurality of postal sorting machines and manual scanning devices, and an automated analyzer that identifies tag arrival data associated with postal performance problems. The invention further provides a set of tag mail pieces for use in the foregoing method and system each comprising a mail piece sized card having a unique machine scannable identification code thereon. 
         [0010]    These and other aspects of the invention are described further in the detailed description that follows. For purposes of the invention, the word “carrier” refers to the human worker that delivers sorted mail to delivery points such as homes and businesses. A “destination code” as referred to herein is a code such as a zip code which defines a system of zones to which mail is delivered. “Tracking data” according to the invention refers to data saved in a database which reflects the tag mail piece identity, the date, and time, as well as the location where a scan of a tag mail piece was made during a postal delivery process. It is to be understood that terms used herein not otherwise defined should be given their meanings recognized in the postal sorting art, if applicable, not more general definitions found in dictionaries. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
         [0011]    In the accompanying drawing: 
           [0012]      FIG. 1  is a front view of a tag according to the invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram of circulation of tag mail pieces within the postal logistic according to the invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is a schematic diagram of system server operation according to the invention; 
           [0015]      FIGS. 4 and 5  show enhanced tag mail pieces according to the invention; 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  shows a wear protected tag mail piece according to the invention; 
           [0017]      FIG. 7  is a leading edge-on view of the tag mail piece of  FIG. 6 ; and 
           [0018]      FIG. 8  is a rear view of the tag mail piece of  FIG. 6  with the flap folded. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0019]    An example tag or marker is shown in  FIG. 1 . This tag concept is adapted from commonly-assigned Redford et al. Process And System For Tracking of Mail, U.S. Ser. No. 11/840,749, filed Aug. 17, 2007, U.S. patent publication 20090048704, Feb. 19, 2009, the contents of which are incorporated by reference herein. Tags (tag mail pieces)  10  are added to a stream of mail being processed on a sorter. These special tags  10  resemble mail pieces, but use of actual mail pieces as markers is not preferred. The RFID tag described in Redford et al. referenced above may be omitted. Tag  10  has a unique human-readable ID number (including a tag number and serial number)  12  and a printed unique bar code  13 . Tag  10  is preferably at the maximum permitted height of a letter mail piece, 6⅛ inches, with a human readable serial number printed at the top, and may be color differentiated such as by a horizontal stripe  14  across the top wherein the number  12  is printed. In general, a tag  10  in a tray should be easily identified visually because not many mail pieces of the type sorted on postal letter sorting machines are over 5 inches tall. Tag  10  also has a scannable ID code such as an intelligent mail bar code (IMB)  13 . This allows the computer controlling operation of the sorting machine to identify the tag number  12  of tag  10  as it passes. A “unique” code for purposes of the invention is one that is different from the codes for all other items of the same type within the system in which the item (such as a tag  10  is used). 
         [0020]    Redford et al. starts with the method by which the tags are introduced and are persistent within the system. Rather than introducing the tags manually or automatically at the outset of an operation, the present invention initially introduces a relatively large batch of tags into convenient points within the overall logistic, such as the dual-pass rough cull system, also known as the “Barney.” The system of the invention takes over the routing of tags from that point, distributing and positioning an adequate number of tags throughout the postal logistic at appropriate measurement points at the appropriate moment to make relevant measurements. 
         [0021]    Service measurements for first class mail are taken in “loops” through the system that start and finish with the human postal carrier. This represents the performance of the postal service according to the factors under the control of the postal service. For instance, the failure of a patron to go to the mailbox and retrieve their mail is not a component of the measurement. The event which frames the end of one loop and the start of the next is the carrier&#39;s scanning of the Intelligent Mail Barcode (IMB) of the distinctive tag mail pieces, which are intermingled with sequenced mail at profoundly low rates. When the carrier sees the tag mail piece in the course of the route, the carrier scans the tag mail piece and puts it with the outgoing mail that is being collected. The tag mail piece is at that moment concluding its previous delivery cycle and embarking on the next one. 
         [0022]      FIG. 2  shows the sequential looping of tags whose journeys are framed by the carrier scan during delivery/collection. The cycle begins at the destinating processing and distribution center (P &amp; DC)  20 . There are intermediate scans at automation or manual sorting points  22  that provide the salient points that describe the process sequence routing. This information is needed in troubleshooting basic service level problems. It is possible to utilize any of the salient mail processing equipment scan points to “start” and “stop the clock,” in the sense that the total time in a delivery cycle could be estimated based on the summation of different time segments between measurements that the tag  10  is present. Preferably each tag  10  at P &amp; DC  20  is designated for delivery to an address not served by the P &amp; C  20 , but to one served by a destinating P &amp; DC  24  which serves a different range of addresses (destinations). Destinating P &amp; DC  24  is at a different geographic location so that mail from originating P &amp; DC  20  is shipped there, generally in trucks  23 . 
         [0023]    Once the incoming mail and tags  10  that accompany the mail are sorted at P &amp; DC  24 , so that a relatively small number of batches of mail intended for delivery by a designated carrier have a tag  10  in addition to the presorted mail. The postal carrier  27  in the course of a delivery route to a recipient at the delivery point  28  finds a tag  10  and at that moment (ideally) the tag is scanned without being delivered and instead returned to the delivery unit  26 . The scan that takes place at the delivery point  28  ends the current measurement cycle and starts the next. 
         [0024]    As shown in  FIG. 3 , a system server  30  collects scan information as the tag mail pieces are processed by the various mail processing equipment  31 , and importantly, by the carrier through the intelligent mail device (IMD)  32 . The IMD  32  is a hand held scanner with memory that retains the result of each scan, namely the scan time and tag I.D. number. The information from IMD  32  is uploaded daily when the carrier returns to the office (DU  26 ), and is then routed to a database  33  accessed by the system server  30 . Database  33  stores data from system  30  relating to route generation, scan logging, report generation and tag management. System  30  analyzes scan points to detect problematic scan habits by the carrier, such as scanning all of the tag mail pieces upon return to the office as indicated by closely spaced sequential time stamps, failure to scan the tags, and missing tag mail pieces. In instances such as these, an alert would be generated to inform the manager of Delivery Unit (DU)  26  of the problem. For all scans, either through mail processing equipment  31  or an IMD  32 , the system  30  verifies the consistency and validity of the scan logs, and can identify mail routing mistakes and problem points. Since each tag  10  is destined to be handled and logged by a particular carrier, if a tag is sent to the wrong carrier, the tag number will not match the tag number expected for that route. In a preferred form of the invention, the data analyzed by system  30  can be accessed through a web interface  35  by remote users on computers  36  using report generation software. Steps of the method as indicated by arrows in  FIGS. 2-3  include a) receiving a tag for use at originating P7DC  20 , typically from the delivery unit  26 , b) shipping and scanning tags at one or more intermediate destinations, such as while on board truck  23  when it is at a stopping point, c) scanning with the IMD  32  to stop timing for the current cycle and d) recording the starting time for the next cycle, at which point the cycle repeats. 
         [0025]    Although the standard format of the IMB includes the destination zip code, the routing of the tag mail piece  10  is not defined within its IMB. This feature is necessary to allow dynamic destinations to be assigned a tag mail piece to accommodate the sequential processing loops and multiple destinations that each tag mail piece encounters. Thus the system  30  is in two-way communication with sorting machines  31  so that when a destination for a tag I.D. is changed by system  30 , a new zip code is associated with that tag I.D. when it is sorted for the next cycle. 
         [0026]    The IMB used in the tag mail piece will be associated with a default delivery point defined by the postal service (e.g., a warehouse) that acts as a failsafe when dynamic delivery points cannot be calculated for whatever reason. The remaining data components of the IMB are used as a serial number to render the code unique, providing a license plate function. As tag mail pieces are sorted within the postal logistic, the various reading and sorting systems within the logistic would be altered to screen for the IMB containing the zip code assigned to all tag mail pieces  10  and sort accordingly. 
         [0027]    Mail Processing Equipment (MPE) continuously screens for the specified zip code or ID code embedded in the IMB that indicates a tag mail piece. When a tag mail piece has been detected, the mail processing equipment  31  queries a server (Server  30 ) for the appropriate delivery point assignment for that tag mail piece. While the system would, in general, retain the same delivery point destination for each tag mail piece in a given cycle, it would be possible for the system to reassign and redirect tag mail pieces when necessary to meet area testing requirements. 
         [0028]    The system of the invention can exercise several levels of test methodology in the control of the routing through which tag mal pieces navigate the system. The most basic, highest level method is a simple, essentially random pairing of sectional center facilities in a test scenario. The actual test in such an SCF to SCF scenario would, of course, encompass DU&#39;s and carriers beyond the SCF, but the principal focus of this high-level test methodology would be testing the performance of the SCF pair. It is determined how well mail proceeds from one SCF to another and is then delivered to recipients in the zone served by the second facility. In another example, a batch of markers (tags) at SCF#1 are designated for delivery to delivery points served by the paired SCF#2, and a batch of tags at SCF#2 are designated for delivery to delivery points served by SCF#1. The statistics can be compared: does it take the same amount of time to send an item between points A and B in either direction? Transit time between P &amp; DC&#39;s is measured and compared by scanning of a tag on departure and arrival at each SCF. 
         [0029]    At a second, more detailed level, specific performance problems are explored by initiating tests to circulate tag mail pieces in areas where problems have either been detected or reported. It is envisioned that the second level would be initiated automatically by the system when predetermined criteria applied by the control computer are met, which criteria indicate a specific problem exists. For example, tags circulated to a certain zip code disappear (are lost) from the system more than average, but failure by carriers is not indicated. Scanning for the tags at more frequent check points may indicate where the loss of tags is occurring. The second stage review shows that one sorting machine at an SCF loses an abnormal number of tags. These may have been damaged when passing through the machine. 
         [0030]    At a third level, the system would specify targeted scenarios exploring the validated and characterized performance problem using a GPS system such as a Siemens Global Positioning System-enabled test letter to collect data that would support careful analysis of the problem, i.e. it can be determined where a tag mail piece is at a given time and the information compared to tag scan times according to the cycle a)-d) above. 
         [0031]    Using a hierarchical test structure, the total number of Tag cards can be greatly reduced. The total number of tag mail pieces required in the system is driven by the permutations in SCF to SCF pairing, the desired duration over the course of which the entire system will have been subject to testing, and the number of problems present in the system. According to the parameters, the system manages the total tag mail pieces required and where those tag mail pieces need to be at any given time. The system of the invention also monitors the total number of cycles each tag mail piece completes, so that worn out tag mail pieces can be automatically removed from the system and replenished with the correct number of replacement tags. 
         [0032]    Assuming a 5% coverage (5% of the carriers nationwide would get at least one tag mail piece), the total number of tag mail pieces required is relatively low, and the rate at which any given carrier has the slight added labor of scanning a tag mail piece would be very low. With a manageable number of tag mail pieces, it is possible to include a range of value-added enhancements. Preferably from 1% to 5% of all carriers in the postal system get at least one tag mail piece per cycle, assuming the testing is conducted more or less evenly over the entire postal system. Frequency of testing depends on the need for improvement in the system and/or the need to follow up on the results of previous tests. One nationwide cycle per month may be sufficient. 
         [0033]      FIGS. 4 and 5  show two enhancements to a tag mail piece. In the first example, a tag mail piece  10 A has graphical features  17  printed on its face, which could be used to determine the functionality of the mail sortation scanning system. The detection of the tag mail piece  10 A initiates algorithms to analyze the test patterns printed on the tag mail piece  10 A, and sequential tag mail piece scans indicating similar problems could initiate maintenance on the scanner. 
         [0034]    In a second example of a tag mail piece  10 B, in the tag forefront, the tag mail piece  10 B includes an RFID tag  11  for use as described in the Redford patent publication cited above. This enhancement provides the basis for leveraging the tag mail pieces, along with RFID gateways, to provide tracking outside of the basic mail processing equipment scanning of IMB&#39;s. This adds additional data points for tracking within the facility, and could even aid in the online detection of misrouted all-purpose carriers. 
         [0035]    A further enhancement not shown in  FIGS. 4-5  involves increasing the ruggedness of the tag mail pieces to increase their service life. The budget for enhanced ruggedness would be a straightforward return on investment determination. Tags  10 ,  10 A and  10 B are created using a material such as paper card stock. It is important that the tag be low cost and capable of being processed in sorting operations many times. The nature of sorting tends to destroy the document when subjected to multiple sort runs primarily due to the impact of the mail against a physical stop in the sorter pocket. The mail is typically traveling at 4 meters/second and most sorting systems do not decelerate the mail piece before it impacts the stop. In the present invention physical handling by the carriers is also a wear factor. 
         [0036]    The improved tag marker document can be constructed of plastic but this would cost several times the cost of a paper-based document. Tests have shown that a good quality paper card stock document will last 10-15 sorts. Treating the leading edge of the card stock with a plastic layer such as tape can increase the number of sorts possible to over one hundred because the resulting edge is resistant to damage from the impact in the sorter pocket. 
         [0037]    In an improved durability tag  10 C according to the invention, an optional RFID tag  11  such as the Avery Dennison AD-222 is often sent to a qualified converter where the tag is applied to an adhesive backing creating a label. To create the tag marker document, the card is printed with the needed bar code(s) and other information, and the label affixed using the adhesive plastic backing. Plastic tape can be applied in a third step to protect the front edge. 
         [0038]    Application of the RFID label to the tag marker document and protection of the leading edge can be accomplished in a single step. The RFID tag is  11  affixed to an adhesive plastic sheet or substrate  40  that is sufficient to cover the tag marker leading edge  42  from top to bottom. The sheet  40  is wide enough to cover the underlying rectangular piece of card stock  43  and provide an inch of plastic material as a flap  44  to be folded over the leading edge  42 . The resulting tag  10 C has improved durability during sorting and thus can be used in the present invention even without the RFID tag functions described in Redford US patent publication 20090048704. It may be sufficient, for example, to cover at least one side of the leading edge  42  with a stripe of adhesive tape, preferably transparent plastic tape. 
         [0039]    Although several embodiments of the present invention have been described in the foregoing detailed description and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the invention is not limited to the embodiments disclosed but is capable of numerous rearrangements, substitutions and modifications without departing from the spirit of the invention. Such modifications are within the scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.