WO2010069346A1

WO2010069346A1 - Method for transport and delivery of postal items

Info

Publication number: WO2010069346A1
Application number: PCT/EP2008/010817
Authority: WO
Inventors: Terence Lee
Original assignee: Deutsche Post AG
Current assignee: Deutsche Post AG
Priority date: 2008-12-18
Filing date: 2008-12-18
Publication date: 2010-06-24
Anticipated expiration: 2011-06-18

Abstract

Method for transport and delivery of postal items (20) between a sender (10) and a recipient (11), which comprises at least the following steps: - importing at least a unique identification number (30), which has been printed on the packaging of the postal item (20), and address data about the recipient (11) associated to a postal item (20) into a computer means (40) at the sender's site; - transferring the unique identification number (30) and the address data about the recipient (11) from the computer means (40) to a central data management system (60) via the internet, and storing the association between the unique identification number (30) and the address data about the recipient (11) in a database (61); - recording the unique identification number (30) of the postal item (20) by optical reading means of a labeling station (70) in a mail distribution center and determining the address data about the recipient (11) associated to the recorded unique identification number (30); printing at least the address data about the recipient (11) on a label (31) by means of a printing device of the labeling station (70) and attaching said label (31) to the postal item (20); and - transporting the postal item (20) from the sender (10) to the recipient (11).

Description

Method for transport and delivery of postal items

Description:

The invention relates to a method for transport and delivery of postal items between a sender and a recipient via a courier, whereby a label is attached to the postal item. A courier person picks up the postal item at the sender's site and notifications about the current status of the postal item during its transport are sent to the sender and/or the recipient by means of a track & trace system.

The current process for transport and delivery of a postal item from a sender to a recipient by a courier usually asks for the sender to apply a label to the postal item comprising at least address information about the recipient. Usually, this kind of label will comprise a unique identification number coded in a barcode, for example. The postal item can easily be identified by this identification number within a track & trace system provided by the courier. The sender also has to request an air waybill number (AWB) from the courier and has to apply said air waybill number to the postal item, too. This is usually done by writing the AWB number on the postal item or on a label. The air waybill number is issued as a receipt by an international courier company for goods and an evidence of the contract of carriage. The AWB can have a tracking number which can also be used to check the status of delivery, and current position of the shipment.

When the courier picks up the postal item at the sender's site, the courier reads the unique identification number as well as the air waybill number from the postal item and enters these numbers into a mobile handheld device, for example, or the numbers/codes are scanned by the handheld device. Afterwards, the unique identification number and the AWB can be allocated to the postal item by the courier.

However, obtaining or creating the correct label for each postal item is very time- consuming for a sender and brings about a certain amount of paper which has to be handled by the customer. Furthermore, when the AWB is scanned, data errors can occur due to illegible writing, and the reading procedure slows down the speed and efficiency of pick up by the courier.

Therefore, the objective of the invention is to provide a method for transport and delivery of a postal item which allows for a fast pick up of postal items at the sender's site and simplifies the shipment of a postal item for the sender.

According to the invention, this objective is achieved by a method having the features of the independent Claim 1. Advantageous refinements of the method are set forth in the subordinate Claims 2 through 10.

The invention comprises a method for transport and delivery of postal items between a sender and a recipient, which comprises at least the following steps:

- importing at least a unique identification number, which has been printed on the packaging of the postal item, and address data about the recipient associated to a postal item into a computer means at the sender's site;

- transferring the unique identification number and the address data about the recipient from the computer means to a central data management system via the internet, and storing the association between the unique identification number and the address data about the recipient in a database; recording the unique identification number of the postal item by optical reading means of a labeling station in a mail distribution center and determining the address data about the recipient associated to the recorded unique identification number; printing at least the address data about the recipient on a label by means of a printing device of the labeling station and attaching said label to the postal item; and

- transporting the postal item from the sender to the recipient.

Thereby, the unique identification number can be coded in a barcode which has been printed on the packaging of the postal item. The unique identification number can also be printed on the packaging of the postal item in plain writing in addition to being encoded in a barcode. In a first embodiment of the invention, the unique identification number of the postal item recorded by the optical reading means of a labeling station is transmitted to the central data management, whereupon the central data management determines the address data about the recipient associated to the recorded unique identification number from its database, and the central data management transmits said address data about the recipient to the labeling station in the mail distribution center. In a second embodiment of the invention, the association between the unique identification number and the address data about the recipient is transmitted from the database of the central data management to a database of the mail distribution center which is connected to the labeling station, and the address data about the recipient associated to the recorded unique identification number is determined from the local database of the mail distribution center.

The recorded unique identification number of the packaging can again be printed on the label by the printing means of the labeling station. It can be printed as a sequence of numbers or coded in a barcode. The unique identification number can then be read at more than one location during transport of the postal item from the sender to the recipient, and information about the location of the identified postal item is sent to the central data management system, which sends the information about the current location of the postal item to the computing means of the recipient and/or of the sender. Thereby, a proactive track & trace system can be established.

Preferably, the central data management generates a transport identification number and allocates the unique identification number of the postal item to said transport identification number. The transport identification number is an air waybill number (AWB), for example, whereby at least the sender's identity and the address information about the recipient can be coded in the transport identification number.

One of the main advantages of the method according to the invention is the fact that the sender of a postal item is not required to create or fill in any labels or documents in order to send the postal item to a recipient. The sender simply has to use a packaging for his/her postal item which already has a unique identification number printed on its surface. This identification number can be used by the central data management and a labeling station of a mail distribution center for associating delivery information to the postal item and for printing and attaching a label comprising at least some of this delivery information to the postal item. This label only comprises information that can reliably be read by reading devices, because no handwritten information has to be read.

Furthermore, AWB reading errors at the sender's site can be avoided, when the AWB is generated by the central data management. When a courier person receives a postal item from a sender, no data has to be read except for the unique identification number on the packaging of the postal item. No allocation of an - possibly incorrectly scanned - AWB to a postal item has to take place after the postal item has been picked up. Instead, the allocation of an AWB to a postal item can even be carried out by the central data management even before a postal item is picked up by the courier. Since the sender has entered the required delivery information into a web portal before the postal item is picked up, this information can be used by the central data management and the AWB can be coded to an extent that the courier can even know which customer the postal item comes from and where it is heading. Therefore, theses embodiments of the new method can reduce the need for pre-allocation of transport identification numbers like AWBs and improve the pick up speed of the courier. Furthermore, the method allows for proactive notification of senders and recipients. Because no AWB documents have to be filled out by the customer anymore, the amount of paper is reduced which allows for paperless delivery.

Additional advantages, special features and practical refinements of the invention can be gleaned from the subordinate claims and from the presentation below of preferred embodiments making reference to Fig. 1 , which shows the main components used for carrying out the invention.

Preferred embodiments of the method according to the invention will be described in detail on the basis of Fig. 1. Thereby, when a sender 10 wishes to send a postal item 20 like a parcel to a recipient 11 via a courier service, the sender 10 purchases a packaging of the appropriate size from the courier and places goods and/or documents in the packaging. A unique identification number 30 has already been printed on the surface of the packaging. In addition to the plain writing of the unique identification number 30 on the packaging as a sequence of numbers, which can be read by the sender 10, said identification number can also be coded in a barcode which is printed on the packaging. Alternatively, the unique identification number 30 can be printed on the packaging in form of a barcode only. In this case, the customer needs a barcode scanner in order to read the coded identification number.

The sender 10 reads the unique identification number 30 from the packaging and enters it into an application running on a computer means 40 at the sender's site which is connected to a central data management 60 via the internet. This central data management 60 is run by the courier and presents a central component which collects data about every postal item processed by the courier in order to establish a track and trace system. Thereby, the central data management 60 can also be used for creating and transferring notifications to senders 10 and recipients 11 of postal items.

Preferably, the central data management 60 provides for a web portal that can be visited by the sender 10 via the internet. The web portal is run on a server, for example, which is connected to the central data management 60. Thereby, registered and non-registered customers can be given access to the web portal. Registered customers can enter the web portal with an ID and a password, for example, whereby the registered customers can use a personalized area already providing the customer's contacts, banking account data, notification rules, etc. Non- registered customers have to enter personal information, banking account data, etc. and/or have to fulfill an identification procedure first. Examples of such web portals are well known to a person skilled in the art and can be designed in various ways.

The computer means 40 at the sender's site can be an ordinary personal computer with a connection to the internet, and the application running on the computer means can be the web portal provided by the courier. In order to enter the unique identification number 30 of the postal item 20 into the web portal, the sender 10 can read the number from the packaging and insert it into the specified field of the web portal. Alternatively, the sender can use a barcode scanner connected to the computer means 40 for scanning a barcode from the packaging. Preferably, the unique identification number 30 that is coded in the barcode will then be communicated into the web portal of the courier automatically.

In addition to the unique identification number 30 of the postal item 20, the sender 10 enters delivery information into the web portal. Preferably, at least the recipient's address is entered or chosen from a contact database. Further information can comprise the sender's address, notification rules, information about the required delivery time, etc. Notification rules can comprise instructions if and when a notification about the current status of the postal item 20 during its transport from the sender 10 to the recipient 11 is to be sent to the sender 10 and/or recipient 11. The delivery data is allocated to the unique identification number 30 of the postal item 20 and is stored in a database 61 connected to the central data management 60.

After all information has been entered, the central data management 60 can generate a transport identification number for the postal item. The transport identification number is provided to the sender 10 as a receipt for goods and an evidence of the contract of carriage. This transport identification number can be an air waybill (AWB) number, for example, which is allocated to the unique identification number 30 of the postal item 20 by the central data management 60 itself, or by an external component connected to the central data management 60. For example, the AWB number can be pulled out from a global running sequence and can be coded to an extent that one can even know which customer/customer's site a postal item came from and where it is heading. Because the AWB can be created after the sender 10 has entered delivery information and the unique identification number 30 of the postal item into the web portal of the courier, this information can be used by the central data management 60 in order to code the AWB. Furthermore, the correct AWB is always allocated to the postal item 20.

After the required information has been entered into the web portal via the computer means 40 by the sender 10, the courier can pick up the postal item 20 at the sender's site. Thereby, the person picking up the postal item 20 can simply receive the postal item 20 from the sender without having to record or scan any handwritten information from the postal item 20. Usually, the courier will only have to scan the unique identification number 30 from the packaging. Since it has been printed, an OCR- scanner can reliably read the correct number. If the unique identification number is coded in a barcode, it can reliably be read by a barcode scanner. Thereby, the courier can verify that the postal item 20 has been picked up at the customer's site, which is the first step of tracking and tracing the postal item 20 during its transport from the sender 10 to the recipient 11.

Once the postal item 20 has been picked up, this information is transmitted to the central data management 60. The information about pick up can be sent directly from a mobile handheld device to the central data management 60, or the mobile handheld device is inserted into a cradle in the courier vehicle which has a wireless connection to the central data management 60, for example.

The postal item 20 is then transported to a mail distribution center which comprises at least one automated labeling station 70. The postal item 20 is fed into the automated labeling station 70 and the unique identification number 30 is read from the surface of the packaging by an optical reading device. An automated machine vision system either records the unique identification number 30 using a numeric pattern recognition software or simply scans a barcode from the packaging by means of a barcode scanner, if the unique identification number 30 has been coded in a barcode. The optical recognition devices can be positioned on six sides of the postal item in order to scan every surface of the packaging. Alternatively, the postal item 20 is turned and rotated according to the position of optical recognition means in order to bring the surfaces of the packaging in the correct position.

After the unique identification number 30 has been recorded from the packaging in the labeling station 70, at least the recipient's address associated to this unique identification number 30 is determined. Thereby, the recorded unique identification number 30 can be transmitted to the central database 60 which determines the required data from its database 61 and sends it back to the labeling station 70 in the mail distribution center. The connection between the central data management 60 and the labeling station 70 can be realized via the internet, for example. However, because of the need for a fast and reliable connection a leased line might be preferred. Once the labeling station 70 has received the associated delivery data from the central data management 60, it generates a label 31 and prints said data on the label 31 which is then attached to the postal item 20 by the labeling station 70.

Alternatively, the central data management 60 can have sent the association between unique identification numbers and delivery data of each postal item to a local database 71 of the mail distribution center. Since several mail distribution centers are used, the data is send to every mail distribution center's local database. When the unique identification number of a postal item is recorded in the labeling station 70, the delivery data associated to said unique identification number is determined from the local database 71. Since all information is stored in the local database 71 , the speed and reliability of the process can be enhanced compared to a central database 61.

The label 31 that is attached to the packaging of the postal item 20 by the labeling station 70 preferably comprises at least the recipient's address. However, of course additional information like the sender's address and the unique identification number 30 can also be printed on the label 31. In one embodiment of the invention, the recipient's address is coded in a destination code and the destination code is printed on the label, too. Then, the postal item 20 can be sorted within a sorting machine according to this destination code. Afterwards, the postal item 20 is transported to the recipient's site, whereby it can be handled by various transfer stations of the courier.

According to the delivery information and notification rules entered into the web portal by the sender 10, the central data management 60 can send a notification of forthcoming delivery to a computer means 50 at the recipient's site via the internet whenever the postal item 20 has passed an important transfer station during its transport. When the postal item 20 is detected at these stations by scanning a barcode from the label 31 , for example, corresponding information is sent to the central data management 60 which can send notifications both to the sender 10 and/or the recipient 11. This allows for a proactive notification system. If there is any delay, the system will advise the next best option for the customer or even trigger a person to contact the customer. List of reference numerals

10 sender, customer

11 recipient 20 postal item, parcel

30 unique identification number, barcode

31 label, identification label

40 computer means at sender's site, web portal

50 computer means at recipient's site, web portal 60 central data management

61 central database

70 labeling station

71 local database

Claims

What is claimed:

1. Method for transport and delivery of postal items (20) between a sender (10) and a recipient (1 1 ), which comprises at least the following steps:

importing at least a unique identification number (30), which has been printed on the packaging of the postal item (20), and address data about the recipient (11 ) associated to a postal item (20) into a computer means (40) at the sender's site; transferring the unique identification number (30) and the address data about the recipient (1 1 ) from the computer means (40) to a central data management system (60) via the internet, and storing the association between the unique identification number (30) and the address data about the recipient (11 ) in a database (61 ;71 ); recording the unique identification number (30) of the postal item (20) by optical reading means of a labeling station (70) in a mail distribution center and determining the address data about the recipient (1 1 ) associated to the recorded unique identification number (30); - printing at least the address data about the recipient (1 1 ) on a label (31 ) by means of a printing device of the labeling station (70) and attaching said label (31 ) to the postal item (20); and transporting the postal item (20) from the sender (10) to the recipient (1 1 ).

2. The method according to Claim 1 , characterized in that, the unique identification number (30) of the postal item (20) recorded by the optical reading means of a labeling station (70) is transmitted to the central data management (60), whereupon the central data management (60) determines the address data about the recipient (1 1 ) associated to the recorded unique identification number (30) from a central database (61 ), and the central data management (60) transmits said address data about the recipient (1 1 ) to the labeling station (70) in the mail distribution center.

3. The method according to Claim 1 , characterized in that, the association between the unique identification number (30) and the address data about the recipient (11 ) is transmitted from a central database (61 ) of the central data management (60) to a local database (71 ) of the mail distribution center which is connected to the labeling station (70), and the address data about the recipient (11) associated to the recorded unique identification number (30) is determined from the local database (71) of the mail distribution center.

4. The method according to one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, the recorded unique identification number (30) is printed again on the label (31 ) by the printing means of the labeling station (70).

5. The method according to one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that, the unique identification number (30) is read at more than one location during transport of the postal item (20) from the sender to the recipient (11 ) and information about the location of the identified postal item (20) is sent to the central data management system (60), which sends the information about the current location of the postal item (20) to the computing means (40;50) of the recipient (11 ) and/or of the sender (10).

6. The method according to one of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that, the unique identification number (30) is coded in a barcode which has been printed on the packaging of the postal item (20).

7. The method according to Claim 6, characterized in that, the unique identification number (30) has been printed on the packaging of the postal item (20) in plain writing in addition to being encoded in a barcode.

8. The method according to one of Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that, the central data management (60) generates a transport identification number and allocates the unique identification number of the postal item (20) to said transport identification number.

9. The method according to Claim 8, characterized in that, the transport identification number is an air waybill number (AWB).

10. The method according to one of Claims 8 and 9, characterized in that, at least the sender's identity and the address information about the recipient (11 ) are coded in the transport identification number.