IMAGE-ENHANCED TRACKING SYSTEM

Abstract: A novel tracking system (20) is disclosed. In one embodiment, an image is linked (215) to tracking information in a database (201, 203). The image is used to assist a user in retrieving the tracking information. In another embodiment, a database (201, 203) of tracking information includes at least one link (215) to at least one image of a package (23). In response to entry (120) of a set of search criteria, a set of records is identified (130), and images corresponding to those records are displayed (170) for the user. The user then uses the images to select (180) a particular package (23) for which tracking information is desired. In response to that selection, the system displays (190) the requested tracking information.

Description: IMAGE-ENHANCED TRACKING SYSTEM BACKGROUND The present invention relates to shipment tracking, and more particularly, but not exclusively, relates to a query system for tracking the transit and delivery of parcels. Present methods of tracking shipments and confirming delivery thereof suffer from ease of use problems. One available procedure for a user to inquire as to the status of a particular package requires entry of a package identifier, which in some cases may be as many as twenty alphanumeric characters. Such an access system makes it difficult for organizations' mail room personnel to manage and monitor the delivery status of their shipments, tens or hundreds of which may be en route at any given time. Furthermore, such an access system makes it difficult for the intended recipients to monitor progress of their shipments. The package identifier for a given package is typically communicated by the sender to the recipient, who then uses that package identifier to query the carrier's system for the status of that particular package. The sender may even employ customer service staff to perform tracking queries on behalf of recipients. The communication of such package identifiers and/or employment of such staff can impose a significant burden. There is thus a need for further contributions to tracking system technology. SUMMARY It is thus an object of the present invention to provide a novel tracking system. Another object is to provide a tracking system that is easier to use than certain available systems. A still further object is to simplify access to tracking information. One form of the present invention is a unique tracking system. Further forms include query systems and methods for tracking the status of deliveries. Still further forms include a database of tracking information, wherein tracking records are linked to one or more images of the parcel being tracked. Yet other forms display one or more images of each of a plurality of packages for which tracking information is available, accept a user's selection of a package, and display that package' s tracking information. Other embodiments, forms, variations, objects, features, and applications may appear to those skilled in the art from the drawings and description contained herein. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a tracking system according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a flow chart of query session using a system according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a diagram of data tables according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a computer for use in one embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS For the purpose of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiment illustrated in the drawings, and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended; any alterations and further modifications of the described or illustrated embodiments, and any further applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated therein are contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates. The present invention relates to a system for providing tracking data regarding packages that are being or have been transported by a carrier from a shipper to a receiver. As used in this application, the terms "package," "parcel," "shipment," and "item" refer to any object or set of objects sent from one entity to another via a courier or delivery service, regardless of what (if anything) encloses the item (e.g., an envelope or box) or what entity transports it (e.g., postal service, Federal Express, United Parcel Service, local courier, etc.). In the illustrated embodiment, reference will be made to a "carrier" as a single organization that receives, transports, and delivers the parcel, and also provides additional services and functions as described herein. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that one or more of these functions may be performed by each of a plurality of entities without undue experimentation and with a reasonable expectation of success. Generally, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, sender 21 sends package 23 to recipient 25 via carrier 31. An image of the parcel or its contents is stored in server 41, along with parcel identity information and tracking information recorded upon acceptance, during transport, and at delivery. Tracking system users (e.g., sender 21 or recipient 25) use terminal 43 to access the image and tracking information on server 41 via network 45. System 20 will now be discussed in further detail with continuing reference to FIG. 1. Sender 21 provides package 23 to carrier 31 for delivery to recipient 25. At block 32, identification data regarding package 23 is collected, and one or more images of package 23 are acquired. The identification data may, for example, be recorded by traditional data entry methods based on a written form. In alternative embodiments, the identification data is imported into system 20 from a computer operated by sender 21. In still other embodiments, the identification data is acquired by optical character recognition (OCR) techniques from an image of, for example, the address block on the package, the shipping label, the entire package 23, or a combination of these. OCR software, such as ARS (marketed by Lockheed Martin Corporation, 1801 State Route 17C, Owego, New York, USA) may be used in this data acquisition process. The images may be acquired, for example, by a hand scanner, digital camera, video camera, or other image acquisition device as is known in the art. In various embodiments, such devices may be manually or automatically operated, and may be integrated at any point in the process with one or more portions of the transport mechanisms within block 32 or elsewhere. Carrier 31 then transports package 23 (shown in transit as package 23 a) to a transit checkpoint 33. At transit checkpoint 33, the identity of package 23 is noted along with the date and time of the notation and location of the checkpoint. The notation is transmitted to server 41 and stored in a database as discussed below. Transit checkpoint 33 might, for example, be situated on a truck, operated by carrier 31, that picks up packages from a retail center, consolidator, service bureau, or high- volume shipper. Package 23 (shown in transit as package 23b) is then taken by transport 34 to another transit checkpoint 35 (for example, a hub operated by carrier 31). The identity and location of package 23 are recorded along with the location of transit checkpoint 35, analogously to the record made at transit checkpoint 33. Package 23 is then transferred at transport block 36 to delivery unit 37. Delivery unit 37 delivers package 23 to recipient 25, recording the date and time of delivery with server 41. More or fewer checkpoints may be included in system 20, according to the preferences of carrier 31 and its customers. For example, it may be desirable to record the time and location as each package is loaded onto or unloaded from a vehicle, and/or as it arrives at and/or departs from a building or other facility. Furthermore, additional information may be recorded with these notations as needed or desired by the relevant parties. For example, an identification of the person and/or device(s) that are recording the presence of the package, or a collection, batch, or group identifier of the package may be stored. Further data, such as the identity, address, or other information regarding the sender 21 and/or recipient 25, may be collected at data collection block 32, and stored in server 41. A method according to one embodiment of the present invention for retrieving tracking information from server 41 will now be described with continuing reference to FIG. 1, and with additional reference to FIG. 2. This process begins at START block 100. At block 110, server 41 prompts the user for search criteria to be used in the retrieval of tracking information for a desired package. These criteria may include, for example, a ZIP code or postal code of the sender or recipient of the package, month and year of shipment, recipient's name, approximate weight of the parcel, and/or the recipient's street name. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, these and other criteria may be mandatory or optional as needed or desired in a particular system. At block 120, the user enters and submits one or more search criteria. The user's entries are preferably checked for proper formatting and substantive validity prior to actual submission to server 41. At block 130, the server filters records in its database according to the criteria submitted by the user (at block 120). The matching records are counted, then (at decision block 140) the count is compared to a maximum number MAXJQVIGS of images that may displayed in later steps. If the count is too high (positive result from decision block 140), the server reports the total number of matching records and requests additional criteria, which will be used to further filter the available tracking records. The user submits the additional criteria at block 160. Those criteria are preferably validated prior to submission as discussed above in relation to block 120. The method returns to block 130, at which the server again retrieves and counts the responsive records. When the count of responsive records is not (or is no longer) greater than MAX_ TMGS (negative result at decision block 140), the images associated with the matching records are displayed at block 170. These images preferably assist the user in identifying the package for which tracking information is desired. In some embodiments, the images are displayed in a page encoded in HTML (Hyper Text Markup Language), which is displayed at terminal 43 by a World-Wide Web browser application. In such embodiments, the user can select a package by "clicking" a pointing device (such as a mouse) or by pressing one or more appropriate keys to follow a link associated with the images displayed at block 170 above. After the user has selected a package for which to retrieve tracking information (in block 180), the server generates a display of tracking information for the selected parcel (block 190). The method ends at END point 199. FIG. 3 shows a record structure for one embodiment of the present invention and will now be discussed with continuing reference to items in FIG. 1. Package Record Table 201, preferably stored in server 41, is a database table that stores a record for each parcel processed through system 20. Each parcel in system 20 has a unique Package Identifier, which is stored in PkglD column 211 of table 201. Data regarding each parcel is stored in remaining columns 213 of table 201. As discussed above, this data may include an account number for sender 21; the name, address, city, state, and ZIP code of the recipient 25; and date, time, and location of the parcel's entry into system 20. ImgLink column 215 contains at least one link to at least one image associated with the parcel represented by a given record. This at least one image is used in the display and selection steps shown in block 170 and block 180 in FIG. 2. The data in one or more fields of table 201 may be encoded in any suitable manner, for example, in a compressed form for more efficient storage, retrieval, and transmission. Checkpoint event table 203 stores data concerning each package's transport through the various checkpoints of carrier 31. When a package is scanned at a transit checkpoint 33, 35, a new record is added to table 203. The new record includes an identifier for the package, the date and time at which the package was noted to be at transit checkpoint 33, 35, and the location at which the notation was made. For example, a record might reflect that the package with Package ID 001349 had its bar code scanned at 4:57 a.m. on January 27, 2001, by scanning unit 62314. Another table or other file (not shown) in digital storage unit 219 might reflect that scanning unit 62314 was at that time aboard a particular delivery truck in a particular city. In some embodiments of the present invention, when a user queries the system and server 41 filters and counts responsive records (see block 130 in FIG. 2), it may do so by submitting a query to the database containing table 201, for example using SQL. The system then follows the links in the ImgLink field 215 of the matching records, displaying the images, for example, in an HTML response page. The user selects the package for which he or she desires tracking information by selecting the appropriate image. This may be done by any suitable input means, for example, by "clicking" a button of a mouse-style pointing device while an on-screen cursor is over the appropriate image or associated text, by pressing one or more keys on a keyboard that are associated with the display related to the desired package, or any other method that would occur to one skilled in the art. When a package is selected, the package identifier for that record (in column PkgID 211 in table 201) is used to find associated tracking event records in table 203. Those records are then, for example, sorted by date and time, and displayed in an HTML result page. A computer that functions as server 41 in one embodiment of the invention will now be discussed in relation to FIG. 4. In this example embodiment, the various hardware and software components that implement the above systems are combined in workstation 240. The programs, modules, and tasks described above are encoded on hard disc 242 for execution by processor 244. Workstation 240 may include more than one processor or CPU and more than one type of memory 246, where memory 246 is representative of one or more types. Furthermore, it should be understood that while one workstation 240 is illustrated, more workstations may be utilized in alternative embodiments. Processor 244 may be comprised of one or more components configured as a single unit. Alternatively, when of a multi-component form, processor 244 may have one or more components located remotely relative to the others. One or more components of processor 244 may be of the electronic variety defining digital circuitry, analog circuitry, or both. In one embodiment, processor 244 is of a conventional, integrated circuit microprocessor arrangement, such as one or more PENTIUM II or PENTIUM III processors supplied by INTEL Corporation of 2200 Mission College Boulevard, Santa Clara, California, 95052, USA. Memory 246 may include one or more types of solid-state electronic memory, magnetic memory, or optical memory, just to name a few. By way of non-limiting example, memory 246 may include solid-state electronic Random Access Memory (RAM), Sequentially Accessible Memory (SAM) (such as the First-In, First-Out (FIFO) variety or the Last-In First-Out (LIFO) variety), Programmable Read Only Memory (PROM), Electrically Programmable Read Only Memory (EPROM), or Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory (EEPROM); an optical disc memory (such as a DVD or CD ROM); a magnetically encoded hard disc, floppy disc, tape, or cartridge media; or a combination of any of these memory types. Also, memory 246 may be volatile, nonvolatile, or a hybrid combination of volatile and nonvolatile varieties. Monitor 250 provides visual output from workstation 250 to any human operators or attendants (not shown) of server 41. Additional input device(s) 252 and output device(s) 254 provide interfaces with other computing and/or human entities. Further, workstation 240 may include additional and/or alternative components as would occur to one skilled in the art. In some alternative embodiments, additional information regarding package 23 and/or the shipment thereof is displayed with the images to which the links in column 215 of table 201 point. Such an arrangement might assist the user of the query system in properly identifying the package for which tracking information is desired. In further embodiments, reduced-size ("thumbnail") images are displayed at block 170 (see FIG. 2), and full-size images are displayed with the tracking information at block 190. In other embodiments, images associated with packages are stored as BLOBs (binary large objects) in the same table or database as other package shipment and identity information. In yet other embodiments, images are stored in files separately from the information in the package identity and tracking database. In still other embodiments, a single image or set of images can be re-used for multiple packages. This type of embodiment might find one particularly useful application, for example, in the context of a mail-order company, for which many packages may be shipped but a few standard sizes and shapes of shipping carton are used. Other network topologies; database, table, and storage structures; and query schemes may be used as appropriate for a particular implementation of the present invention and would occur to one skilled in the art. Modifications of the present disclosure and claims, as would occur to one skilled in the art, may be made within the scope of the present invention. While the disclosure above has been made in relation to preferred embodiments, the scope of the invention is defined by the claims appended hereto.

Claims: What is claimed is: 1. A system, comprising: a database comprising: tracking information about a first package; and a first image relating to the first package; a first query against said database, the query being generated in response to a selection event associated with a second image relating to the first package; and a first response signal comprising said tracking information. 2. The system of claim 1, wherein said first image and said second image are the same. 3. The system of claim 1, wherein said second image is a reduced-size version of said first image. 4. The system of claim 1 , wherein said first image is an image of the first package. 5. The system of claim 1 , wherein said first image is not an image of the first package. 6. The system of claim 1, wherein said database further comprises an identifier for the first package, wherein said identifier is unique within said database. 7. The system of claim 1 , further comprising: a second query, applied against said database before said first query, having query parameters; and a second response signal, generated in answer to said second query, comprising a plurality of thumbnail images related to a plurality of packages described by said query parameters; wherein said plurality of packages comprises the first package. 8. An apparatus, comprising: a database comprising: tracking information about a package; and an image associated with the package; a microprocessor in communication with said database; and a computer-readable medium encoded with instructions executable by said processor to: store additional tracking information regarding the package; display said image to a user; accept an input signal related to said image from the user; and generate a response signal indicative of said tracking information. 9. The apparatus of Claim 8, wherein said response signal is usable to create a display of said tracking information. 10. The apparatus of Claim 8, wherein said image represents at least one view of the contents of the package. 11. The apparatus of Claim 8, wherein said image represents at least one view of the package as shipped. 12. The apparatus of Claim 8, wherein said database comprises at least one additional field of data regarding the package. 13. The apparatus of Claim 12, wherein said data indicates the size of the package in one or more dimensions. 14. The apparatus of Claim 12, wherein said data indicates the weight of the package. 15. The apparatus of Claim 12, wherein said data indicates the destination of the package. 16. The apparatus of Claim 12, wherein said data indicates the date of shipment of the package. 17. A method comprising: storing tracking information relating to each of a plurality of packages; and an image of each package in the plurality of packages; displaying each of the images to a user; showing the tracking information relating to one or more packages in the plurality of packages. 18. The method of claim 17, wherein said showing is adjacent to said displaying on a monitor visible to the user. 19. The method of claim 17, further comprising: after said displaying, accepting a selection signal from the user, the selection signal being indicative of a selected package; and wherein said showing is responsive to the selection signal.

Inventors: BAKER CHRISTOPHER A, BAKER, CHRISTOPHER, A.
Applicants: BAKER CHRISTOPHER A, MAILCODE INC, BAKER, CHRISTOPHER, A., MAILCODE INC.
Application year: 2000
Main classification: G06F17
IPC codes: G06Q10