Abstract:
Radio frequency identification tags are placed on mail pieces to uniquely identify registered mail pieces. The unique identifier is stored in a first computer and then communicated to a second computer. The radio frequency identification tag is then scanned at selected locations as the mail piece travels through the delivery process. Then the information scanned at the selected locations including the location of the scanner is communicated to the second computer as the mail piece travels through the delivery process.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
         [0001]    Reference is made to commonly assigned co-pending patent applications Docket No. F-457 filed herewith entitled “Method For Detecting And Redirecting Misdirected Mail” in the names of Ronald P. Sansone, Claude Zeller, Robert A. Cordery, Marc Morelli, Arthur Parkos, Leon A. Pintsov, Ronald Reichman; Docket No. F-484 filed herewith entitled “Method For Detecting And Redirecting Major Mailer&#39;s Special Service Mail” in the name of Ronald P. Sansone; and Docket No. F-538 filed herewith entitled “Method For Maintaining The Integrity Of A Mailing Using Radio Frequency Identification Tags” in the names of Leon A. Pintsov, Kenneth G. Miller, Kwan Cheung Wong and John H. Winkelman.  
         FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    The invention relates generally to the field of mailing systems and, more particularly, to systems for locating mail.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    Governments have created post offices for collecting, sorting and distributing the mail. The post offices typically charges mailers for delivering the mail. Mailers may pay the post office for this service by purchasing a stamp, i.e., a printed adhesive label, issued by the post office at specified prices that is affixed to all letters, parcels or other mail matter to show prepayment of postage.  
           [0004]    The United States Postal Service (USPS) currently handles large volumes of normal mail, i.e., first class mail, standard A mail, standard B mail, etc. However when it comes to special service mail, i.e., registered mail, etc., the USPS uses gummed service stickers and forms to indicate and process the special service mail. The use of gummed service stickers and completion of forms by hand is time consuming, error prone and raises the expense for receiving these services. Furthermore, the use of registered mail requires the mailer to physically deliver the mail piece to the clerk in the lobby of the USPS.  
           [0005]    Registered mail is the most secure service that the USPS offers. It incorporates a system of written receipts to monitor the movement of the mail from the point of acceptance by the postal lobby clerk to delivery to the recipient.  
           [0006]    Registered mail service provides the sender with a mailing receipt and at least a minimal insurance for the value of the article being mailed. The USPS also maintains a written record of the custody of the mail as the mail travels through the postal system to the recipient.  
           [0007]    A disadvantage of the prior art is that once a registered mail piece is accepted by the USPS and placed in a bag, the USPS has to open the bag to determine that the mail piece is in the bag or provide assurances to that effect by inspectors who monitor the sealed bag containing registered mail. The foregoing process is labor intensive, time consuming and expensive.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0008]    This invention overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art by utilizing a system that enables registered mail to be detected automatically at various locations and then storing the location of places that the mail was detected as the mail moves through the delivery process.  
           [0009]    The foregoing is accomplished by placing radio frequency identification tags on mail pieces to uniquely identify registered mail pieces. The unique identifier information is stored in a first computer and then communicated to a second computer. The radio frequency identification tag is then scanned at selected locations as the mail piece travels through the mail sorting, transportation and delivery processes. Then the information scanned at the selected locations, including information indicative of the location of the scanner, is communicated to the second computer as the mail piece travels through the delivery process. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]    [0010]FIG. 1 is a drawing of a mail piece having a radio frequency identification tag;  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 2 is a drawing showing the steps in the delivery of registered mail;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 3 is a drawing showing the record computer  50  (FIG. 2) has stored for mail piece  11  (FIG. 1) as mail piece  11  exited a typical destination Post Office; and  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 4 is a drawing of RFID data processing block  200  of FIG. 2 in greater detail. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0014]    Referring now to the drawings in detail and more particularly to FIG. 1, the reference character  11  represents a mail piece that has a sender address field  12 , a recipient address field  13 , a postal indicia  14 , a radio frequency identification tag  15 , and a bar code  16  that contains specified information. Radio frequency identification (RFID) tag  15  may be the 4×6 RFID Smart Label Philips manufactured by RAFEC USA of 999 Oakmont Plaza Drive, Suite 200, Westmont, Ill. 60559. The information contained in tag  15  is the sender address field  12 , recipient address field  13 , the type of special service to be performed by the carrier, i.e., registered mail, and the mailer&#39;s declared value of the contents of the mail piece. The information contained in tag  15  may be encrypted or digitally signed for the purpose of protecting the information stored in tag  15  from unauthorized use. It would be obvious to one skilled in the art that other information may be used to uniquely define mail piece  11 . The information written into tag  15  may be by a radio frequency identification tag printer (not shown). The radio frequency identification tag printer may be the Zebra R140 printer manufactured by Zebra Technologies Corporation of 333 Corporate Woods Parkway, Vernon Hills, Ill., 60061. Indicia  14  and tag  15  may be placed on a paper tape  17  that is adhered to mail piece  11 , or indicia  14  may be printed directly on mail piece  11 , and tag  15  adhered to mail piece  11 .  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 2 is a drawing showing the steps in the delivery of registered mail. When a mailer wanted to send a mail piece by using registered mail service, the mailer would bring the mail piece to counter lobby  21  of local post office  20 . The mailer would inform the postal clerk of the value of the contents of the mail piece. Then the clerk at counter  21  would utilize local post office computer  24  to determine the amount of postage required to mail the mail piece as registered mail. Postage meter or value label printer  22  would print postal or similar indicum  14  (FIG. 1) with the correct amount of postage and bar code  16  on paper tape  17  (FIG. 1). Local computer  24  will communicate with post office central computer  50  and postage meter  22  to determine the information that will be placed in tag  15 . RFID tag printer  23  would place the aforementioned information into tag  15 . Tag  15  would then be affixed to paper tape  17 . Printer  23  may be the Zebra model R140 manufactured by Zebra Technologies Corporation of 333 Corporate Woods Parkway Vernon Hills, Ill. 60061-3109.  
         [0016]    At this point, the postal clerk would place mail piece  11  (FIG. 1) in mail bag  25 . Other registered mail pieces going to the same destination as mail piece  11  will be placed in mail bag  25 . Mail bag  25  would then be sealed, and RFID reader  26  would read the information contained in one or more tags  15  and transmit the information to RFID data processing block  200  (which is hereinafter described in the description of FIG. 4) where the information would be protected against unauthorized use. RFID data processing block  200  would send the information that was read as well as identify the location of reader  26  to local computer  24  and central computer  50 . Computers  24  and  50  would store the aforementioned information, time stamp the information to indicate when the information was read, and to identify and locate reader  26 . As mail bag  25  exits post office  20 , RFID reader  27  at the post office exit would read the information contained in one or more tags  15  and transmit the information to RFID data processing block  200  where the information would be protected against unauthorized use. Block  200  would send the information that was read, as well as the identity and location of reader  27  to central computer  50 . Central computer  50  will acknowledge to local computer  24  the information it receives concerning all RFID tags on all registered mail pieces posted at local post office  20 .  
         [0017]    A plurality of RFID readers during transport  60  is positioned at various locations along the delivery path  29 . At a minimum, at least one RFID reader  60  is positioned at every location in which mail bag  25  is expected to experience a change in mode of transportation, i.e., from truck to airplane, from truck to train, from airplane to truck, or other significant changes, for example a change in control from one entity to another. At least one RFID reader  60  is positioned at the entrance and exit of every postal facility that mail bag  25  will enter and exit. RFID readers  60  may also be in the physical possession of every postal employee that will handle mail bag  25 . Every time a RFID reader  60  reads the tags  15  that are contained in mail bag  25 , that RFID reader  60  will communicate the information stored in tags  15  to RFID data processing block  200  for protection of the information. RFID data processing block  200  will transmit the information scanned from tags  15  and the location of RFID reader  60  to central computer  50 . Computer  50  will store the time that it receives a communication from any RFID reader by time stamping the receiving event.  
         [0018]    RFID reader  35  located at the entrance of the destination post office  37  will read the information stored in tags  15  and communicate in a secure manner via block  200 , e.g., digitally signed the read information as well as the identity of the location of reader  35  to computer  50 . Computer  50  will store the aforementioned information together with its time of arrival. Mail bag  25  will be opened in destination post office  37 , and mail piece  11  (FIG. 1) will be removed from mail bag  25  and given to a local postal carrier for delivery to the recipient identified in recipient address field  13 . When mail piece  11  departs from destination post office  37 , RFID reader  36  at the exit of destination post office  37  will read the information stored in tag  15  and communicate the read information stored in tags  15  to RFID data processing block  200  for protection of the information. Block  200  will transmit the above information as well as the location of reader  35  to computer  50 . Computer  50  will store the aforementioned information together with its time of arrival. When the local letter carrier delivers mail piece  11  to the recipient identified in recipient address field  13 , the local letter carrier may have a RFID reader that reports the delivery of mail piece  11  to the recipient and/or have the recipient sign a receipt that indicates the acceptance of mail piece  11 . Radio frequency identification (RFID) readers  26 ,  27 ,  35 ,  36  and  60  may be the model SL EV900 reader manufactured by Philips Semiconductors of 1109 McKay Drive, San Jose, Calif. 95131.  
         [0019]    Local post office  30  is coupled to computer  50 , and local post office  40  is coupled to computer  50 . Computer  50  and local post offices  30  and  40  will operate in the same manner described for local post office  20 .  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 3 is a drawing showing the record  100  computer  50  (FIG. 2) has stored for mail piece  11  (FIG. 1) as mail piece  11  exited a typical destination post office, for example, Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. The recipient&#39;s name is stored in block  101 , and the recipient&#39;s address is stored in block  102 . The sender&#39;s name is stored in block  103 , and the sender&#39;s address is stored in block  104 . Block  105  stores the RFID tag number as well as the declared and insured value of mail piece  11  and block  106  stores information regarding the location of RFID reader  26  and the date and time reader  26  read tag  15  that was affixed to mail piece  11 . Block  107  stores information regarding the location of RFID reader  27  and the date and time reader  27  read tag  15  that was affixed to mail piece  11 . Block  108  stores information regarding the date and time the reader  60  located on a vehicle, i.e. truck at Stamford, Conn., read tag  15  that was affixed to mail piece  11 . Block  109  stores information regarding the date and time the reader  60 , located at JFK Airport, Queens, N.Y., read tag  15 . Block  110  stores information regarding the date and time the reader  60 , located on United Airlines Plane No. 123 at JFK Airport, Queens, N.Y., read tag  15 . Block  111  stores information regarding the date and time the reader  60 , located on United Airlines Plane No. 123 at Ft. Lauderdale Airport, Fla., read tag  15 . Block  112  stores information regarding the date and time the reader  60  located on a vehicle, i.e., truck at Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., read tag  15  that was affixed to mail piece  11 . The location of RFID reader  35  and the date and time reader  35  read tag  15  are stored in block  113 . The location of RFID reader  36  and the date and time reader  36  read tag  15  is stored in block  114 .  
         [0021]    The record  100  is continuously protected in computer  50  from accidental or deliberate modification by using information security techniques such as hashing, encryption and digital signatures.  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 4 is a drawing of RFID data processing block  200  of FIG. 2 in greater detail. RFID block  200  is provided with I/O device  201 , non-volatile memory  202 , cryptographic computation and secure storage for keys  203  and processor  204 . After the information stored in RFID tags  15  is scanned by readers  26 ,  27 ,  35 ,  36  and  60  (FIG. 2), the information enters block  200  via I/O  201 . Then the information is stored in non-volatile memory  202 . At this point the tag  15  information cannot be changed or altered deliberately or by accident. In the foregoing manner, the information stored in tags  15  concerning all mail in mail bag  25  is entered into non-volatile memory  202 . When there is no more mail in bag  25 , i.e., all mail has been scanned, non-volatile memory  202  supplies RFID tags  15  information to processor  204 . Processor  204  also receives a (private) cryptographic key from cryptographic computation and secure storage for keys  203 . Then processor  204  performs digital signature computations on the information that was stored in tags  15  before outputting the information through I/O  201 . In this manner, all of the information is protected against alteration, and post office central computer  50  receives unaltered information from scanners  26 ,  27 ,  35 ,  36  and  60 .  
         [0023]    The method described in the present specification automatically monitors the progress of all registered mail through the postal delivery system. In doing so, a central computer can identify lost or stolen mail in a timely manner and alert postal personnel by sending automatic notices through any appropriate communication system, e.g., e-mail, telephone, facsimile, pagers, etc. The automatic notices may contain the identity and value of the lost or stolen mail together with the location of where the mail was last seen, the time it was last seen and when it was expected to arrive, if it had arrived. The manual investigation of the mail that did not arrive may then commence.  
         [0024]    The above specification describes a new and improved method for processing registered 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.