Systems and methods for sorting in a package delivery system

Abstract

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.

1 . A package sortation system that associates a sort plan to a package in a delivery network, said system comprising: 
 a data capture device that captures shipping indicia from said package;    a hub assist tool that receives said shipping indicia from said data capture device and associates a sort plan to said package based at least in part on said shipping indicia; and    a labeling device that generates a sort label for said package based at least in part on said sort plan.    
   
   
       2 . The package sortation system of  claim 1 , wherein said shipping indicia comprises a delivery service level and a destination zip code.  
   
   
       3 . The package sortation system of  claim 2 , wherein said hub assist tool associates said sort plan to said package based at least in part on said service level, and said destination zip code.  
   
   
       4 . The package sortation system of  claim 3 , wherein said hub assist tool associated said sort plan to said package by querying a sort plan database with said service level and said destination zip code.  
   
   
       5 . The package sortation system of  claim 1 , wherein said labeling device includes a printer that generates a printed sort label for said package.  
   
   
       6 . The package sortation system of  claim 5 , wherein said labeling device is additionally configured to affix said printed sort label to said package.  
   
   
       7 . The package sortation system of  claim 1 , wherein said sort label is an RFID tag.  
   
   
       8 . The package sortation system of  claim 7 , wherein said labeling device is an interrogator.  
   
   
       9 . The package sortation system of  claim 1 , wherein said sort label is a virtual label that is projected on said package.  
   
   
       10 . The package sortation system of  claim 1 , wherein said label is a virtual label that is displayed on a monitor.  
   
   
       11 . The package sortation system of  claim 1 , wherein said label is a virtual label and said sortation instructions are delivered via audio.  
   
   
       12 . The package sortation system of  claim 1 , wherein said sort plan comprises a series of sortation instructions that identify a predetermined path through said delivery network.  
   
   
       13 . The package sortation system of  claim 12 , wherein said sort label includes indicia of said sort plan.  
   
   
       14 . The package sortation system of  claim 12 , wherein said sort label includes indicia of a package destination address.  
   
   
       15 . The package sortation system of  claim 12 , wherein said sort label includes indicia of a package service level.  
   
   
       16 . The package sortation system of  claim 12 , wherein said sort label includes sorting instructions for a destination facility.  
   
   
       17 . The package sortation system of  claim 12 , wherein at least a portion of said sort label is in a human readable format.  
   
   
       18 . The package sortation system of  claim 12 , wherein at least a portion of said sort label is in a machine readable format.  
   
   
       19 . The package sortation system of  claim 1 , wherein said shipping indicia is a package tracking number.  
   
   
       20 . The package sortation system of  claim 19 , wherein said hub assist tool queries a package detail database with said package tracking number to obtain a service level and a destination zip code.  
   
   
       21 . The package sortation system of  claim 20 , wherein said sort plan is based at least in part on said destination zip.  
   
   
       22 . A sort assist system for the delivery of a package via a delivery network to a destination address, comprising: 
 a data capture device configured to capture shipping indicia from said package;    a sort plan database having a plurality of sort plans, wherein each of said sort plans designates a route through said delivery network, wherein further said route comprises a list of one or more facilities in said delivery network through which said package will pass to reach said destination address; and    a hub assist tool configured to receive said shipping indicia from said data capture device and to associate one of said plurality of sort plans to said package based at least in part on said shipping indicia.    
   
   
       23 . The sort assist system of  claim 22 , further comprising a labeling device configured to receive said associated sort plan and to generate a hub assist label having indicia of said associated sort plan.  
   
   
       24 . A package labeling system to aid in moving a package through a delivery network, said package being bound for a consignee address, and said delivery network having a plurality of sortation facilities, said package labeling system comprising: 
 a means for generating a first label with said consignee address; and    a means for generating a second label that lists a sort plan for said package, wherein said sort plan comprises a sequence of sortation instructions that directs a movement of said package through one or more of said multiple sortation facilities in said delivery network.    
   
   
       25 . The system of  claim 24 , further comprising a means for generating a third label having indicia of a delivery vehicle and a location for placement of said package on said delivery vehicle.  
   
   
       26 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein said second label includes indicia of a service level.  
   
   
       27 . The system of  claim 24 , wherein said second label includes indicia of a preload process.  
   
   
       28 . A method for delivering a package comprising the steps of: 
 capturing shipping indicia for said package;    querying a sort plan database with said shipping indicia to obtain a sort plan that includes a first path through a delivery network;    generating a first hub assist label having indicia of said sort plan and associating said first hub assist label to said package;    changing said sort plan while said package is in route through said delivery network;    generating a second hub assist label that reflects said change to said sort plan; and associating said second hub assist label with said package.    
   
   
       29 . A method for sorting a package using a hub assist label comprising the steps of: 
 providing a hub assist label associated with a package, said hub assist label having indicia of a sequence of sorting locations;    capturing said indicia from said hub assist label; and    sorting said package based at least in part on said sequence of sorting locations.    
   
   
       30 . The method of sorting of  claim 29 , wherein said step of capturing indicia is automatic and said package is diverted automatically based at least in part on said captured indicia.  
   
   
       31 . The method of sorting of  claim 29 , further comprising the step of displaying said sorting instructions on a monitor.  
   
   
       32 . The method of sorting of  claim 29 , further comprising the step of synthesizing said sorting instructions to an audio signal and broadcasting said audio signal.  
   
   
       33 . The method of sorting of  claim 29 , further comprising the step of projecting said sorting instructions onto said package.  
   
   
       34 . The method of sorting in  claim 29 , further comprising the step of illuminating a light associated with a sorting location based at least in part on captured machine readable code.  
   
   
       35 . The method of sorting in  claim 29 , further comprises the step of providing a heads up display system and said indicia includes projecting a sorting location using said heads up display onto said package.  
   
   
       36 . A method for altering a sort plan comprising the steps of: 
 capturing a sort plan from a first hub assist label, said sort plan comprising a sequence of sorting locations; verifying presence of current location in said sort plan; and    in response to absence of current location, 
 capturing shipping indicia for said package;  
 querying a second sort plan; and  
 generating a second hub assist label.  
   
   
   
       37 . A method of changing a planned route of a package through a delivery network while said package is in route through said network, said method comprising the steps of: 
 associating a sort plan to said package that lists a sequence of sortation locations through which said package will travel in accordance with said planned route;    checking said sort plan at a hub facility in said network to determine if said hub facility is listed as one of said sortation locations in said sort plan; and    associating an updated sort plan to said package if said hub facility is not listed as one of said sortation locations in said sort plan.    
   
   
       38 . A method of delivering a package to a destination address via a delivery network that comprises a plurality of hub facilitities, said method comprising the steps of:generating a hub assist label that comprises sortation instructions for said package, wherein said sortation instructions describe a path through said delivery network, and wherein said path comprises a sequence of hub facilities through which said package will pass in route to said destination address, said path including a destination carrier facility; 
 moving said package through said delivery network in accordance with said sortation instructions;    generating a preload assist label at said destination carrier facility, said preload assist label including package handling instructions for loading said package on a delivery vehicle that is bound for said destination address;    loading said package onto said delivery vehicle in accordance with said package handling instructions; and    delivering said package to said destination address.