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  Systems and methods for sorting in a package delivery systemRelated Patent Categories: Adhesive Bonding And Miscellaneous Chemical Manufacture, Methods, Surface Bonding And/or Assembly Therefor, With Measuring, Testing, Or InspectingThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20050252596. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates generally to the delivery of packages through a delivery network. More specifically, this invention relates to systems and methods for improving the flow of packages though a package carrier's sorting process using a hub assist label. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] The delivery of a package from a consignor to a consignee typically requires sorting the package at several locations before the package reaches the final destination. A conventional delivery network typically includes a series of customer service centers that receive and deliver packages, and several intermediate hubs that provide links between the service centers. The flow of a package through this delivery network typically begins at a service center. From there, the package flows through a series of intermediate hubs before reaching the destination facility responsible for delivering the package to the destination address. Within each intermediate hub, the package is sorted according to the destination address for the package and consolidated for transport to the next intermediate hub or service center in the delivery process. [0003] The tremendous volume of packages flowing through the intermediate hubs creates a logistical challenge. To date, sorting at the intermediate hubs is a highly manual process that relies heavily on the knowledge-base of the sorting operator. The sorting operator reads the destination address zip code from a shipping label on a package and sorts the package to the appropriate conveyor belt, bin, or chute. The appropriate sorting location for each zip code is specified in standard sorting charts. Sorting charts are well known in the art and specify the next sorting facility in the delivery chain based on the destination zip code and the service level of the package, wherein the service level of a package represents the committed delivery time for the package. The efficiency of the sorting operation depends on how quickly the sorting operator determines the appropriate sorting location for a package. To improve the efficiency, sorting operators memorize the zip codes associated with each sorting location and use the sorting charts sparingly. This highly manual process often results in sorting errors. [0004] Due to the reliance on a knowledge-based sorting process, changing a sort plan may create signification inefficiencies and increase the opportunity for sorting mistakes. Accordingly, a proposed sorting chart change is weighed against the confusion caused by the change. As a result, many timesaving adjustments to sorting charts are discarded due to the learning curve necessary to implement the change. [0005] In addition, sometimes it is necessary to know the path a package has taken through a delivery network. This may arise in a mistake-tracking context where a carrier desires to monitor sorting mistakes from their sorting hubs or it may be valuable if packages from a particular sorting location become contaminated. The current systems known in the art provide sorting charts at each location that specify the next sorting stop. But once a package is sorted and consolidated, the prior sorting locations for a particular package often cannot be readily determined. [0006] Therefore an unsatisfied need exists for improved systems and methods for sorting packages within a delivery network that overcome the deficiencies in the prior art, some of which are discussed above. BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0007] The present invention provides novel systems and methods for processing packages through a delivery network using a hub assist label. Generally described, the hub assist label includes indicia of a sequence of sorting locations that designates the flow of a package through a delivery network. [0008] In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a package sortation system is described that associates a sort plan to a package in a delivery network. This system includes a data capture device that captures shipping indicia from the package; a hub assist tool that receives the shipping indicia from the data capture device and associates a sort plan to the package based at least in part on the shipping indicia; and a labeling device that generates a sort label for the package based at least in part on the sort plan. [0009] In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a sort assist system is described for the delivery of a package via a delivery network to a destination address. This system includes a data capture device configured to capture shipping indicia from the package; a sort plan database having a plurality of sort plans, wherein each of the sort plans designates a route through the delivery network, wherein further the route includes a list of one or more facilities in the delivery network through which the package will pass to reach the destination address; and a hub assist tool configured to receive the shipping indicia from the data capture device and to associate one of the plurality of sort plans to the package based at least in part on the shipping indicia. The system may also include a labeling device configured to receive the associated sort plan and to generate a hub assist label having indicia of the associated sort plan. [0010] In accordance with a further embodiment of the present invention, a package labeling system to aid in shipping a package bound for consignee address via a delivery network having multiple sortation facilities is described. This system includes a means for generating a first label with the consignee address; and a means for generating a second label that lists a sort plan for the package, wherein the sort plan includes a sequence of sortation instructions that directs a movement of the package through one or more of the multiple sortation facilities in the delivery network. The system may also include a means for generating a third label having indicia of a delivery vehicle and a location for placement of the package on the delivery vehicle. [0011] In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a method for delivering a package is described that includes the steps of: capturing shipping indicia for the package; querying a sort plan from a sort plan database based at least in part on the shipping indicia, wherein the sort plan includes a sequence of sorting locations; generating a first hub assist label having indicia of the sort plan; associating the sort plan with the package; creating a second sort plan; generating a second hub assist label having indicia of the second sort plan; associating the second sort plan with the package; and sorting the package based at least in part on the indicia on the second hub assist label. [0012] In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, a method for sorting a package using a hub assist label is described that includes the steps of: providing a hub assist label associated with a package, the hub assist label having indicia of a sequence of sorting locations; capturing the indicia from the hub assist label; and sorting the package based at least in part on the sequence of sorting locations. [0013] In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a method for altering a sort plan is described that includes the steps of: capturing a sort plan from a first hub assist label, the sort plan including a sequence of sorting locations; verifying presence of current location in the sort plan; and in response to absence of current location, capturing shipping indicia for the package; querying a second sort plan; and generating a second hub assist label. [0014] In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a method for altering a sort plan for a package is described that includes the steps of: capturing a sort plan from a first hub assist label, the sort plan comprising a sequence of sorting locations; capturing shipping indicia from a shipping label associated with the package; generating a second sorting plan based at least in part on the shipping indicia; comparing the first sort plan with the second sort plan; and in response to a discrepancy, generating a second hub assist label having indicia of the second sort plan. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS [0015] Having thus described the invention in general terms, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, and wherein: [0016] FIG. 1 illustrates a delivery network in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. [0017] FIG. 2 illustrates the flow of a package through a delivery network in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. [0018] FIG. 3 illustrates a sort assist system in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. [0019] FIG. 4 illustrates a hub assist label containing indicia of a sorting process in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. [0020] FIG. 5 illustrates a destination facility configured in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Continue reading... Full patent description for Systems and methods for sorting in a package delivery system Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Systems and methods for sorting in a package delivery system patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. 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