Preregistered tracking labels

The present invention overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art by enabling a sender to easily and automatically track mail. The foregoing is accomplished by first requiring the sender to register the sender's acquisition and possession of a booklet of tracking labels. Sender may indicate to the system the nature of the automated tracking sender wishes (delivery only, failure only, mailing events forwarding, etc.) Sender may override the system for specific mail. Sender is in possession of the labels contained in the booklet which may be wrapped with tamper evidencing material, may register the labels by entering the booklet security code as well as the first sequential label tracking code in a system. The booklet security code is not obtained until the tampering evidencing material is opened.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates generally to tracking items and, more particularly, to methods for tracking mail.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Previously, when a sender wanted to track letter, flats, or packages, (hereinafter referred to as “mail”), the sender attached a tracking sticker to the mail. The sender recorded the tracking number that appeared on the tracking sticker before the mail was sent. In some cases, the tracking label provided a receipt, which made it easier to remember this information, but in all cases, it was necessary for the sender to “pull” the information by entering the tracking number into a computer system to track the mail. Typically, the tracking number had 22 digits; thus, someone had to be careful to enter the correct tracking number.

If a postage meter was used for the payment of the postage of the mail, the operator of the meter would enter the tracking label number into the meter, and the meter would upload information to a database. Then the operator would log onto a system and enter an account number that would indicate all the mail that was recorded for that meter and all the mail that was processed under that Postage-By-Phone account number. One of the problems with the foregoing procedure is that the operator would receive a list of all of the mail received from the meter.

Currently, carriers are placing serialized tracking numbered labels at outlets that may be obtained by senders. One of the difficulties of the foregoing is that nefarious people may record the serialized tracking numbered labels and utilize the tracking numbers to track other peoples' mail.

Another disadvantage of the prior art is that a nefarious person may predict the serialized tracking number and use the number to track mail in an authorized fashion.

A further disadvantage of the prior art is that, in tracking systems that utilize predicable serialized tracking numbers and which allow exclusive tracking for the first person who enters the tracking label number permit nefarious people to disable the utility of the system by registering predictable blocks of numbers since the tracking numbers have a predictable order.

An additional disadvantage of the prior art is that, when carriers include accounting information on the label and use the label to facilitate the payment of mail, nefarious people may enter known account numbers which will redirect the payment of items mailed to unsuspecting carrier account holders.

Another disadvantage of the prior art is that the sender is not able to specify in which medium the sender would receive notification of the status of the tracked mail.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art by enabling a sender to easily and automatically track mail. The foregoing is accomplished by first requiring the sender to register his/her acquisition and possession of a booklet of tracking labels. Senders may indicate to the system the nature of the automated tracking they wish (delivery only, failure only, mailing events forwarding, etc.) Senders may override the system for specific mail. Senders in possession of the labels contained in the booklet which may be wrapped with tamper evidencing material may register the labels by entering the booklet security code as well as the first sequential label tracking code. The booklet security code is not obtained until the tampering evidencing material is opened.

Senders would obtain booklets of labels that allow them to continue to either provide a receipt or from the page to a ledger type page that remains in the book when the label is removed from the page. In the case of tracking systems that do not provide the full destination address, the users may enter only the information necessary to remember the destination of the mail. For forms such a bills of lading used with shipping systems, this information is residual, retained by the customer by means of NCR or carbon paper. This information also may be recorded online.

Before the first use of the book of labels, the sender goes to an online system to register the labels as being “owned” by them. To prevent fraud, a booklet security code, which is attached to the book, must be provided to the system. This prevents nefarious people from randomly guessing and registering other sender's labels. As illustrated in the Figures, the system allows the user a wide amount of flexibility as to what mailing events will be reported for mail that has attached to it a tracking label from the sender's registered booklet. The sender may specify default reporting of mail events for all mail that has a booklet tracking label attached thereto. For any specific piece of mail that has a tracking label attached to the mail piece, the sender may specify reporting options that overide the default reporting options previously specified by the sender for the tracking labels in the booklet.

Therefore, the overall operation is as follows:1. A sender acquires a booklet of labels.2. The sender removes the tamper evidencing material to use the booklet.3. The sender obtains the booklet security code.4. The sender notifies the carrier of the senders booklet security code.5. The sender, optimally, may overide default mail event reporting options with alternate reporting options.6. Mail system scans label.7. Mail system matches label to registered sender.8. Mail follows registered sender's requests in notification of mailing events for the mail.

If the mail was forwarded, the carrier could send the new address to the sender via email, in some sort of standard address format such as vCard. Furthermore, if the carrier does not or cannot provide that information, a third party operating the system, upon noticing the mail has been forwarded, may look up the old address in a mail forwarding database and provide the new address to the sender utilizing a standard file format such as vCard.

The system also may be extended to allow the registered owner of the booklet of labels, i.e., sender, to “give” a label from his/her booklet to another user of the system and allow that user of the system to “take ownership” of the label. Each individual label has a security label code on it. If Alice gives Bob a label from her previously registered booklet containing a security code, Bob logs into the system, enters the numeric confirmation code of the label in his possession and the security label code, Bob could not have guessed the label security code. The system knows that Bob is now in possession of the label, removes it from Alice's list of previously registered labels, and places it on Bob's list. Of course, the system could allow Alice to assign the label to Bob. The system may also allow Alice to provide Bob's email for a label which was previously registered, which causes tracking information to be sent to Bob as well as, or instead of, Alice.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to the drawings in detail, and more particularly toFIG. 1, the reference character11represents a prior art label that is attached to mail piece12. Label11has a sender address field13, a delivery confirmation bar code14, and a numeric confirmation code15. Mail piece12has a recipient address field16and a place for postal payment17.

FIG. 2is a drawing of cover page20of the booklet of labels19. Page20is made of an opaque material, i.e., cardboard.

FIG. 3is a drawing of booklet of labels19contained in a tamper evidencing material. Cover page20and sheets21are encapsulated with a tamper evidencing material22, i.e., plastic shrink-wrap.

FIG. 4is a drawing showing one of the labels23that is attached to sheet21that is contained within booklet of labels19(FIG. 2). Label23may be removed from sheet21by peeling it from Sheet21. Label23has a delivery confirmation bar code26, a numeric confirmation code27, and a security code28. Each label in booklet of labels19has a different label security code28, that are not in sequential order. The security codes28may contain alphanumeric characters and be cryptographically generated using known cryptographic algorithms like MD5 (Message Digest 5 which is disclosed in the R. L. Rivest RFC 1321 distributed by the Internet Activities Board in 1992, incorporated herein by reference). Side29of sheet21includes numeric confirmation code27, label security code28, and booklet security code50. Booklet security code50may contain alphanumeric characters. Side29also includes space51where the sender may enter information into space51regarding the intended recipient of the mail piece.

FIG. 5is s a block diagram showing the process flow of this invention. Sender30obtains booklet of labels19and removes the booklet's tamper evidencing wrapper (shown inFIG. 3). Then the sender goes to sender's computer31and notifies carrier's computer33via the Internet, of the acquisition of booklet of labels19specifying the security booklet code and the sender's name and other sender personal information. It would be obvious to one skilled in the art that the sender may give the carrier the abovementioned information via facsimile, telephone, physical mail, etc. At some point the sender affixes a label23(FIG. 4) to mail piece34and deposits mail piece34in postal receptacle35.

Carrier truck36transfers mail piece34to mail acceptance facility37, and scanner38scans the face of mail piece34including label23. The information scanned from mail piece34, including the time of scanning and the location of scanner38, is transmitted to carrier computer33. Carrier computer33will notify sender's computer31via e-mail of the location and time of scanning. It would be obvious to one skilled in the art that carrier computer33may give the sender the location and time of scanning via facsimile, telephone, physical mail, etc., if so requested. Information from other scanners39during the delivery process will be sent to the sender via carrier computer33. Postal deliver agent41may scan mail piece34with scanner40when agent41delivers mail piece34to recipient42. The time of scanning and the location of scanner40are transmitted to carrier computer33. Carrier computer33will notify sender's computer31via e-mail of the location and time of scanning.

FIGS. 6A-6Cis a flow charts showing how booklets of labels are managed. The program begins in block100where the sender accesses carrier's computer33. Then the program goes to decision block101. Block101determines whether the sender is a registered user of the carrier's system. If block101determines that the sender is not a registered user, the program goes to block102. Block102prompts the sender to enter personal information and to select a password. After the sender has entered the information requested in block102, or if block101determines that the sender is a registered user, the program goes to block103. Block103asks the sender to enter sender's e-mail address and their password. Now the program goes to decision block104. Block104whether or not the sender entered the proper e-mail address and password. If block104determines that the sender did not enter the proper e-mail address and password, the program goes back to the input of block103. If block104determines that the sender entered the proper e-mail address and password, the program goes to block105. Block105presents a menu to the sender, i.e., register booklet, register label, change reporting defaults, change label reporting, and show tracking.

Then the program goes to decision block106. Decision block106determines whether the sender wishes to register booklet19. If block106determines that the sender wishes to register booklet19, the program goes to block200(FIG. 6B). In block200, carrier computer33prompts the sender to enter booklet security code50and the first label security code28in booklet of labels19. Then in block201, computer33uses cryptographic algorithm MD5 to compute a hash for the first label security code28in booklet of labels19. Now the program goes to decision block202. Decision block202decides whether booklet security code50matches the MD5 hash. If block202determines that booklet security code50does not match the MD5 hash, the program goes back to block200. If block202determines that booklet security code50matches the MD5 hash, the program goes back to block203to prompt the sender for default mail event reporting. Now the program goes to decision block205. Block205determines whether booklet19has been registered. If block205determines that booklet19has not been registered, the program goes to the input of block203. If block205determines that booklet19has been registered, the program goes to block206. Block206logs the fact that someone is trying to register a previously registered booklet and is attempting to attach the system's integrity. Now the program goes back to block200. Then the program stores the booklet registration in database204. Now the program goes back to the input of block105(FIG. 6A).

Block105presents a menu to the sender, i.e., register booklet, register label, change reporting defaults, change label reporting, and show tracking.

Then the program goes to decision block106. Decision block106determines Whether the sender wishes to register booklet19. If block106determines that the sender does not wish to register booklet19, the program goes to decision block107. Block107determines whether the sender registered a label. If block107determines that the sender wishes to register a label, the program goes to block210(FIG. 6B).

In block210, carrier computer33prompts the sender to enter label security code28and confirmation code27. Then in block211, computer33uses cryptographic algorithm MD5 to compute a hash for the label security code28on the label that is going to be used in booklet of labels19. Now the program goes to decision block212. Decision block212decides whether label security code28matches the MD5 hash. If block212determines that label security code28does not match the MD5 hash, the program goes back to block210. If block212determines that label security code28matches the MD5 hash, the program goes back to block213to prompt the sender for mail event reporting. Then the program stores the label registration in database214. Now the program goes back to the input of block105(FIG. 6A).

Block105presents a menu to the sender, i.e., register booklet, register label, change reporting defaults, change label reporting, and show tracking. If block106determines that the sender did not wish to register booklet19and block107determines that the sender did register a label, the program goes to decision block108. Decision block108determines whether the sender wants to change the reporting defaults. If block108determines that the sender wants to change the reporting defaults the program goes to block220(FIG. 6C). In block220information regarding the senders booklet of labels19currently registered is displayed on the senders computer screen and the sender is allowed to pick one of the displayed items.

Then in block221, the sender's current event reporting options are reported, i.e., via e-mail, telephone, facsimile, physical mail, etc for the mail piece that is going to be posted having a label23from booklet19. Now the program goes to block222to prompt the sender to specify new reporting options for this booklet of labels19. Then the program stores the default reporting options in database223.

Now the program goes back to the input of block105(FIG. 6A). If block106determines that the sender did not wish to register booklet19, and block107determines that the sender did not wish to register a label, and block108determines that the sender does not wish to change reporting defaults, the program goes to decision block109.

Decision block109determines whether the sender wants to change the label reporting. If block109determines that the sender wants to change the label reporting, the program goes to block230(FIG. 6C). In block230, information regarding the sender's labels23that are currently registered to the sender individually or from booklets19is displayed on the sender's computer screen. Then in block231, the sender is prompted to specify the label sender wishes to change. Now the program goes to block232to prompt the sender to specify new reporting options for this label. Then the program goes to block233to store the label reporting option in database233.

At this point the program goes back to the input of block105(FIG. 6A). If block106determines that the sender did not wish to register booklet19, and block107determines that the sender did not wish to register a label, and block108determines that the sender did not wish to change the reporting defaults, and block109determines that the sender does not want to change the label reporting, the program goes to decision block110. Decision block110determines whether the sender wants to show tracking.

If decision block110determines that the sender wants to show tracking the program goes to block240(FIG. 6C). In block240, information regarding the sender's labels23that are currently registered to the sender individually or from booklets19is displayed on the sender's computer screen. Then in block241, the sender is prompted to specify the label sender wishes to track. Now the program goes to block242to display tracking information for the sender.

At this point the program goes back to the input of block105(FIG. 6A). If block106determines that the sender did not wish to register booklet19, sender did not wish to register a label, and block108determines that the sender does not wish to change the reporting defaults, and block109determines that the sender does not want to change the label reporting, and block110determines that the sender does not want to change the tracking, the program goes to block111and signs off.

The above specification describes a new and improved method for tracking mail. It is realized that the above description may indicate to those skilled in the art additional ways in which the principles of this invention may be used without departing from the spirit. Therefore, it is intended that this invention be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.