Systems and methods for tracking items

Abstract

Systems and methods for tracking items are provided. According to one method, a dispatcher receives from a courier, serving a customer, a request over a network to pickup an item addressed to the customer. A determination is made to see whether the dispatcher is available to process the item. If the dispatcher is available, the dispatcher notifies the courier, over the network, that the item is available for pickup by the courier when the dispatcher completes processing of the item. If the dispatcher is busy, the dispatcher notifies the courier, over the network, that the item is available for pick up by the courier at a later time.

1 . A method for tracking items, the method comprising: 
 a dispatcher receiving from at least one courier serving at least one customer a request over a network to pickup one or more items addressed to the at least one customer;    determining whether the dispatcher is available to process the one or more items;    if the dispatcher is available, the dispatcher notifying the at least one courier over the network that one or more items are available for pickup by the at least one courier when the dispatcher completes processing the one or more items; and    if the dispatcher is busy, the dispatcher notifying the at least one courier over the network that the one or more items are available for pickup by the at least one courier at a later time.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising tracking a number of one or more items picked up by the at least one courier.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein tracking the one or more Items further comprises storing information concerning the one or more items picked up by the at least one courier.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein tracking the one or more items further comprises storing information concerning one or more items remaining to be picked up by the at least one courier.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2  further comprising generating reports concerning the one or more items available for pickup and concerning the one or more items picked up by the at least one courier.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein notifying the at least one courier, over the network, that one or more items are available for pickup by the at least one courier at a later time, includes providing an estimated later time for pickup to the at least one courier.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 2  further comprising generating reports concerning the one or more items picked up by the at least one courier.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 2  further comprising assigning at least one color-coded bag to the at least one courier for storing misdirected items.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  further comprising receiving misdirected items from the at least one courier.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  further comprising determining one or more reasons for the misdirection.  
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 2  further comprising scheduling at least one time for pickup by the at least one courier based on a flow pattern of one or more items for the at least one customer served by the at least one courier.  
     
     
         12 . A method for tracking items, the method comprising: 
 receiving from at least one courier serving at least one customer a request over a network to pickup one or more items addressed to the at least one customer;    receiving over the network information concerning availability of at least one dispatcher to process the one or more items addressed to the at least one customer;    if the at least one dispatcher is available, providing a notification to the at least one courier, over the network, that the one or more items are available for pickup by the at least one courier when the at the least one dispatcher completes processing the one or more items; and    if the at least one dispatcher is busy, providing a notification to the at least one courier, over the network, that the one or more items are available for pickup by the at least one courier at a later time.    
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising tracking a number of one or more items picked up by the at least one courier.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein tracking the one or more items further comprises storing information concerning the one or more items picked up by the at least one courier.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein tracking the one or more items further comprises storing information concerning one or more Hems remaining to be picked up by the at least one courier.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising generating reports concerning the one or more items available for pickup and concerning the one or more items picked up by the at least one courier.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13  further comprising generating reports concerning the one or more items picked up by the at least one courier.  
     
     
         18 . A system for tracking items, the system comprising: 
 means for receiving from at least one courier serving at least one customer a request over a network to pickup one or more items addressed to the at least one customer;    means for receiving over the network information concerning the availability of at least one dispatcher to process the one or more items addressed to the at least one customer;    means for providing a notification over the network to the at least one courier that one or more items are available for pickup by the at least one courier when the at least one dispatcher completes processing the one or more items; and    means for providing a notification over the network to the at least one courier that the one or more items are available for pickup by the at least one courier at a later time.    
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18  further comprising means for tracking a number of one or more items picked up by the at least one courier.  
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , further comprising means for storing information concerning the one or more items picked up by the at least one courier.  
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 19 , further comprising means for storing information concerning one or more items remaining to be picked up by the at least courier.  
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 19  further comprising means for generating reports concerning the one or more items picked up by the at least one courier.  
     
     
         23 . A system comprising: 
 a memory including code that: 
 receives from at least one courier serving at least one customer a request, over a network, to pickup one or more items addressed to the at least one customer,  
 receives over the network information concerning the availability of at least one dispatcher to process the one or more items addressed to the at least one customer,  
 if the at least one dispatcher is available, provides a notification over the network to the at least one courier that one or more items are available for pickup by the at least one courier when the at least one dispatcher completes processing the one or more items, and  
 if the at least one dispatcher is busy, provides a notification over the network to the at least one courier that one or more items are available for pickup by the at least one courier at a later time; and  
   a processor that executes the code.