Patent ID: 7516889

Claim:
A method comprising: scanning, via a scanner, a radio-frequency identification (RFID) tag on a package to generate scanned data including a package identifier; transmitting the scanned data including the package identifier to a hub control system remote from the scanner; receiving the scanned data including the package identifier at the hub control system; in response to receiving the scanned data at the hub control system for which package information can be determined by the hub control system: (a) generating a handling instruction for the package by the hub control system, and (b) transmitting the handling instruction from the hub control system to machine controllers associated with conveyors and sorting devices along a sortation path, in response to receiving scanned data at the hub control system for which no package information can be determined by the hub control system: (a) transmitting the package identifier from the hub control system to an indexed data server, (b) receiving the package identifier at the indexed data server, (c) accessing, via the indexed data server, a package information database containing package information indicating destinations of packages identified by package identifiers, (d) transmitting at least a portion of the package identifiers and corresponding destinations to the hub control system, (e) generating a handling instruction for the package by the hub control system, and (f) transmitting the handling instruction from the hub control system to machine controllers associated with conveyors and sorting devices alone a sortation path, and updating a package tracking database based on the hub control system delivering the package to a tip position in a hub facility.