Audio proof of delivery system and method

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FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to item tracking systems and methods and more particularly to electronic systems and methods for tracking items.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The volume and success of delivery giants such as Federal Express Corporation, United Parcel Service, and others demonstrate how vital delivery service is to both the business community and individuals. Businesses have grown to rely on delivery companies to carry all types of documents and packages, collectively referred to herein as "items." A guarantee of on time delivery is key to the success of most of the private carriers. Some companies guarantee delivery before specific times on the delivery day, e.g., before 10:00 am, before 4:00 pm, etc. As a result of these delivery guarantees, sophisticated item tracking systems have been developed. Tracking systems benefit both the delivering company and the consumer by identifying the whereabouts of an item at all points along the delivery route.

Tracking systems often use portable tracking units to log receipt and delivery of an item. Two portable tracking units are the Microwand.RTM. scanner and Laserwand.RTM. scanner marketed by Hand Held Products, Inc. of Charlotte, N.C., the assignee of the present application. The Microwand.RTM. scanner and Laserwand.RTM. scanner allow a central or host computer to track items by individually scanning them at Certain waypoints on the delivery route. For example, upon receipt of an item, a courier can use a Microwand.RTM. scanner or Laserwand.RTM. scanner to scan a bar code on the item and enter the time of pickup into the scanning unit's memory. The bar code and other data may be transferred to a host computer. The host computer receives information throughout the delivery route and can verify where the item should be along the way. The item is also typically scanned at the time of delivery, verifying that the item has successfully reached its destination.

A signature is commonly obtained from the recipient when an item is delivered to indicate the item's receipt. This signature verification is called "proof of delivery" in the delivery industry. In a typical delivery, proof of delivery provides evidence that the item has been successfully delivered. The delivery could be to the intended party or to the custody of a party on behalf of the intended recipient.

The recipient's signature may be digitized and electronically stored. Electronic storage allows consumers to receive proof of the delivery's acceptance in written form or by electronic confirmation. One problem with capturing a signature, either in a physical or electronic form, is that signatures are often illegible. A person's signature is often written illegibly because they are in a hurry, or have developed a signing style which does not properly represent the letters in their name. Signatures captured on paper records suffer the additional hazard of potentially getting lost or misplaced. In many instances, however, proof of delivery may be accomplished by simply producing the recipient's name, or some other identifying information, without necessitating such physical evidence as a signature. For example, the Federal Express Corporation satisfies a large percentage of their proof of delivery requests telephonically with human operators. There still remains, however, an uncomfortable level of deniability using electronic or written reports as proof of delivery. That is, a recalcitrant party can comfortably deny receiving an item without sufficient evidence to prove otherwise.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide an improved electronic item tracking system and method.

It is another object of this invention to provide an improved proof of delivery system and method.

These and other objects are provided by an audio proof of delivery system and method which replaces or supplements a recipient's signature with a spoken message. The spoken message is captured along with other item identification indicia and can be replayed to provide an audio proof of delivery.

A portable tracking unit of the item tracking system has three primary components. First, an identification indicia capture device, such as a bar code reader, captures or obtains identification indicia related to an item. If the identification indicia is a bar code, then it can be captured by a bar code reader and converted into a digital representation of bar code data. The digital bar code data may then be compressed to maximize memory capacity.

The second component is a voice verification capture apparatus which captures or obtains an audio identification from a recipient of the item. The voice verification capture apparatus may be a microphone which converts the audio identification into an electrical signal. An analog to digital converter can convert the electrical signal into a digital electrical signal. As with the identification indicia data, the digital electrical signal data also may be compressed to maximize memory capacity.

The third component is a first memory which stores the obtained identification indicia and the obtained audio identification to provide audio proof of delivery of the item. In the preferred embodiment, the first memory associatively stores the digital electrical signal and the digital bar code data, so that they are linked together in the memory.

The portable tracking unit preferably includes a transfer circuit for transferring both the stored digital representation of the identification indicia and the stored digital representation of the audio identification to a host computer. Other components may also be included. For example, a display can present the stored identification indicia related to the item, and a speaker can audibly broadcast the electronically stored audio identification of the recipient of the item. A user input means, such as a keyboard, is preferably included with the portable tracking unit for verifying that the input of the identification indica and the audio identification are satisfactory. The term "user" is meant to describe the individual carrier or delivery person who uses the portable tracking unit in the transfer of items.

The host computer includes a second memory for associatively electronically storing a plurality of digital representations of identification indicia, with a respective plurality of digital representations of audio identifications, for a corresponding plurality of items. A telephone and a telephone network, i.e., data communications, preferably serve as a means for accepting consumer selection of one of the plurality of items. A reconstruction circuit, responsive to consumer selection, converts the digital identification indicia data and the digital audio identification data into first and second audible messages. A transmitter may then transmit the first and second audible messages to the consumer to provide audio proof of delivery of the item.

An item tracking method according to the invention obtains identification indicia related to an item. The identification indicia related to the item is then electronically stored. A recipient of the item is then prompted to speak an audible identification message. The spoken audible identification message is electronically stored to provide audio proof of delivery for the item. The step of obtaining identification indicia related to an item may include capturing a bar code associated with the item and converting the captured bar code into a digital representation of bar code data.

After prompting a recipient of the item to speak an audible identification message, the audible identification message is converted to an electrical signal which itself is transformed into a digital electrical signal. The electronic storing of the identification indicia and the identification message is preferably an associative electronic storing of the digital representation of the bar code data and the digital electrical signal representing the identification message. To maximize memory use, the method may include the step of compressing the digital electrical signal and the step of compressing the digital bar code data. After storing the relevant data, the stored identification indicia related to the item may be displayed, and the stored audio identification of the recipient for the item may be audibly broadcast. A user may then verify that the input of both the identification indica and the audio identification is satisfactory.

The method preferably includes the steps of transferring the electronically stored identification indicia related to the item and transferring the electronically stored audio identification message of the recipient to a host computer. The host computer then associatively electronically stores a plurality of digital representations of identification indicia, with a respective plurality of digital representations of audio identifications, for a corresponding plurality of items. The host computer may accept selection of one of the plurality of items, for example, telephonically. Thus, the host computer may accept telephone keypad information identifying one of the plurality of items. After selection of an item, the host computer converts the digital representation of the identification indicia and the digital representation of the audio identification, for the selected item, into first and second audible messages. A transmitter then transmits the first and second audible messages to provide audio proof of delivery of the item.

Thus, the invention permits the digital recording of an audio identification and provides an audio proof of delivery to a consumer via a telephone without requiring operator intervention. The audio recording is sufficient to identify the receiving party and perhaps the company whom the party represents. Dependable audio proof of delivery adds a new layer of integrity and security to the item delivery industry.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing and other objects, advantages, and features of the invention, and the manner in which the same are accomplished, will become more readily apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate preferred and exemplary embodiments, and wherein:

FIGS. 1A and 1B illustrate perspective views of a Microwand.RTM. scanner incorporating the present invention;

FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of a Laserwand.RTM. scanner incorporating the present invention;

FIG. 3 illustrates a hardware block diagram of a portable data capture unit according to the invention;

FIG. 4 illustrates a system block diagram of a host computer according to the invention;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating operations of the portable data capture unit illustrated in FIG. 3; and

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating operations of the host computer illustrated in FIG. 4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings in which preferred embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the illustrated embodiments set forth herein; rather, these illustrated embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout.

FIGS. 1A and 1B illustrate a portable tracking unit 100 of an item tracking system according to the invention. The portable tracking unit 100 of FIGS. 1A and 1B is a modified Microwand.RTM. scanner marketed by Hand Held Products, Inc. in Charlotte, N.C. An alternative embodiment of the portable tracking unit 100', illustrated in FIG. 2, is a modified Laserwand.RTM. scanner also marketed by Hand Held Products, Inc. As depicted in FIG. 3, the portable tracking unit 100 includes an identification indicia capture device, e.g., a bar code reader 101, for obtaining identification indicia, such as a bar code 102, related to an item. Of course, the identification indicia need not be limited to a bar code 102. In other embodiments, the invention may use two dimensional or other multi-dimensional identification indicia, numerical codes, or the like. Bar codes, and bar code scanners, are used throughout the present application because of their nearly universal acceptance and use in the delivery industry.

Preferably, the bar code reader 101 captures a bar code 102 associated with an item and conveys an electrical signal, representing the reflectivity of the various light and dark "bars" of the bar code, on line 114 to a conversion circuit 103. The conversion circuit 103, i.e., first converter, is electrically connected to the bar code reader 101 and converts the captured bar code 102 into digital bar code data. More specifically, the conversion circuit 103 converts the captured bar code 102 into a digital representation of bar code data on line 115. A data compressor 104 may then compress the digital representation of bar code data to optimize energy used in transferring data and digital storage. The design and operation of the bar code reader 101, the conversion circuit 103, and the data compressor 104 are well known to those with skill in the art and need not be discussed further herein.

In addition to the identification indicia capture device, a voice verification capture apparatus, such as a microphone 105, or other audio transducer, preferably is used for capturing or obtaining an audio identification from a recipient of the item. The microphone 105 is one means for converting the audio identification into an electrical signal on line 112. The electrical signal may then be passed to an analog to digital converter 106, i.e., a second converter, for converting the electrical signal into a digital electrical signal on line 113. As with the digital representation of bar code data, the data compressor 104 may compress the data of the digital electrical signal. The design and operation of the microphone and the analog to digital converter 106 are well known to those having skill in the art and need not be described further herein.

A first memory 107 stores the obtained identification indicia related to the item and the obtained audio identification from the recipient of the item to provide audio proof of delivery of the item. The preferred storage of information in the first memory 107 is an associative storing of the digital electrical signal and the digital representation of bar code data. In other words, bar code data and the audio identification tendered upon receipt of an item are electronically stored in such a way as to be linked together to facilitate an audio proof of delivery. Associative storage may use pointers, tables, links, or other well known techniques to link the item identification indicia and the audio identification and need not be described further herein.

After bar code and audio identification information are stored in the memory 107, a display 108 can visually display the electronically stored identification indicia related to the item. The display 108 can be of any variety, including LCD or LED displays, but is preferably a low power LCD display. A speaker 109 is preferably provided for audibly broadcasting the electronically stored audio identification. Thus, after scanning a bar code 102 and storing an audio identification, the display 108 and speaker 109 can confirm proper storage of the relevant information. User input means, such as a keyboard 110, or other user interface, is electrically connected to the first memory 107 so that a user can verify that the input of the identification indicia and the audio identification is satisfactory. It will be understood that operations of the keyboard 110 are typically controlled by a controller, such as a microprocessor (not shown) having predetermined command through a combination of hardware and software configurations and arrangements, the design and operation of which are well known to those having skill in the art. A battery 116 supplies power to the various components of the portable tracking unit 100.

A transferring circuit 111, e.g., a transmitter, transceiver, or the like, may transfer the electronically stored identification indicia related to the item and the electronically stored audio identification of the recipient to a host computer 120. The transfer may be telephonic, radio frequency, or other means available to those skilled in the art. For example, the portable tracking unit 100 could periodically transmit real time information to a carrier vehicle which then responds to central polling from a base station, i.e., tracking system, with its own radio frequency transmission of data. Alternatively, when an individual carrier returns to his or her carrier vehicle and places the portable tracking unit 100 in a receiving stand, the unit may download its stored information into the receiving stand for later retrieval.

The host computer 120, illustrated in FIG. 4, receives the digitally transferred information through a receiving circuit 125. The receiving circuit 125 then transfers the received digital information to a second memory 121. The second memory 121 is provided for associatively electronically storing a plurality of digital representations of identification indicia, with a respective plurality of digital representations of audio identifications, for a corresponding plurality of items. The public is then able to access the host computer 120 to verify item delivery. Accordingly, a consumer selection accepting means, which could be a telephone 126 and a telephone network 122, is used for accepting consumer selection of one of the plurality of items.

A reconstruction circuit 123 is responsive to the consumer selection means for converting the digital identification indicia for the consumer selected item into a first audible message. Also, the reconstruction circuit 123 converts the digital representation of the audio identification into a second audible message. It will be understood that operations of the host computer 120 are typically controlled by a controller, such as a microprocessor (not shown) as described above herein, the design and operation of which is well known to those having skill in the art. A transmitter 124 connected between the reconstruction circuit 123 and the telephone network 122, i.e., data communications network, can then transmit the first and second audible messages to the consumer over the consumer's telephone 126 to provide audio proof of delivery of the item.

Referring now to FIG. 5, operation of an item tracking system using the portable item tracking unit 100 to capture an audio proof of delivery is disclosed. The first step, at Block 130, is obtaining identification indicia related to an item. This can involve bar code scanning, operator input, or otherwise selecting the reference number associated with the item involved in the current delivery transaction. These operations are well known to those having skill in the art. The next step, as indicated at Block 131, is electronically storing a representation of the identification indicia related to the item in the first memory 107. The reference number will become a lookup key for subsequent transaction data retrieval. The stored bar code information need only be a digital representation of bar code data that is sufficient to catalog the item in question. The stored identification indicia related to the item may then be displayed on display 108 for review or approval. In addition, the digital representation of bar code data may be compressed in data compressor 104 to maximize memory storage.

By triggering the portable unit 100, either by key depression, voice activation, or other means understood by those in the art, an application program will begin recording the audio information that constitutes the audio proof of delivery. Thus, as indicated at Block 132, a recipient of the item must be prompted to speak an audible identification message. Recording may continue, for example, until the depressed key is released or after five seconds, whichever occurs first. The time limit is configurable depending on available memory.

The recipient of the item speaks an audio proof of delivery, at Block 133, which may include their name and their company name, into the microphone 105 of the portable unit 100. As the spoken audio identification information is received, the portable tracking unit 100 digitizes the information and electronically stores it in the first memory 107, as shown by Block 134, to provide audio proof of delivery for the item. Accordingly, the audio identification message is converted into an electrical signal, which in turn is converted into a digital electrical signal for storage.

After the audio recording is complete, the recording device plays back the entire recording to verify recording clarity and content, as indicated by Block 135. Block 136 indicates that the user accepts or rejects, by keyboard selection, the audio recording input. If the audio recording is unacceptable, then the audio recording is erased from memory and a new audio recording may be created at the prompt of Block 132. The digital electrical signal representing the audio recording may then be compressed, as shown at Block 137, so that the least amount of storage memory is used in the portable unit 100. The choice of compression techniques depends on the portable unit and any subsequent platforms that will receive, playback, store, or otherwise utilize the audio recording.

The electronic storing of the identification indicia and the audio identification message is an associative storing of the digital electrical signal and the digital representation of bar code data, as seen at Block 138. The compressed digitized audio recording is tagged with the same or a related data identifier to relate the audio recording with the current delivery transaction number(s). Thus, multiple items picked up or delivered from one location may only require a single audio proof of delivery for the entire pick up or delivery. Then, as shown at Block 139, the time and date that the transaction record is completed may be retrieved from the portable tracking unit's internal clock (not shown) for time stamping of the integrated record. The data for the current transaction, including item identification, audio recording, and other relevant information, as appropriate for the application, preferably are either stored in the first memory 107 such that they may be subsequently recalled as an integral transaction and replayed via the speaker 109 and display 108 or communicated as real time information to the host computer 120.

The last operation, at Block 140, is transferring the electronically stored representation of the identification indicia along with the electronically stored audio identification message as an integrated record to the host computer 120. As discussed above, the transfer of information from the portable tracking unit 100 to the host computer 120 may take any known form, for example, via MODEM or RF. The host computer 120 associatively electronically stores a plurality of digital representations of identification indicia, with a respective plurality of digital representations of audio identifications, for a corresponding plurality of items.

As illustrated by FIG. 6, operations performed by the host computer 120 to retrieve the audio proof of delivery will now be described. In an unattended audio proof of delivery system, access is provided through an ordinary touch-tone telephone. First, at Block 150, a consumer uses a touch-tone telephone to gain access to an "automated attendant" of the host computer 120. The host computer 120 answers the incoming call and plays a welcome message to indicate that the correct phone number has been reached. After playing the welcome message, the automated attendant guides the consumer through choices that may be selected from the touch-tone telephone keypad.

The automated attendant then requests, at Block 151, that the consumer key enter, through the touch-tone keypad of the telephone, a reference number. For example, the reference number may be an airbill reference number of the desired item delivery transaction record. The consumer is typically requested to press a non-numeric key such as the pound (#) or asterisk (*) key after entering all digits of the airbill reference number to indicate the completion of the data entry process. The consumer therefore enters each digit of the reference number in sequence and presses the requested non-numeric key, as shown at Block 152. Using the DTMF signature of each individual keystroke, the identity of each number is determined. Decoding techniques of this type are well known to those with skill in the art. If the key identity is numeric (0-9), then the value is concatenated with any prior values to build the reference number. If the key identity is determined to be the correct non-numeric key value, then the concatenated value is the reference number and is used to proceed with the item delivery transaction retrieval. Thus, at Block 153, the host computer 120 either accepts or rejects consumer selection of one of the plurality of items. If rejected, the consumer is instructed to reenter the transaction number at Block 151.

With the item reference number, the host computer 120 retrieves the corresponding record from a database of delivery transaction records, as indicated at Block 154. The retrieved delivery transaction record preferably consists of the item reference number, the time and date that the transaction record was created, and the audio recording that constitutes proof of delivery. The host computer then separates, or parses, the transaction record into its unique fields of item reference number, time, date, and compressed audio recording.

As shown at Block 155, the transaction record is converted into an audible format and played to the consumer. To ensure that proof of delivery for the correct transaction is being provided to the consumer, the item reference number text is preferably converted to digital speech and played to the consumer over the telephone connection. The delivery time is also converted from text to speech and played to the consumer. In the text to speech conversion of the time, the numbers and punctuation representing the time may be enhanced to their customary spoken format so that "11:00" may be spoken as "Eleven O'Clock." The date is also converted from text to speech and played to the consumer. In the text to speech conversion of the date, the numbers and punctuation representing the date may be enhanced to their customary spoken format so that "09/20/93" may be spoken as "September twentieth nineteen ninety three." Finally, the compressed audio recording is decompressed to render an audio recording format that may be played. Compression may be used to reduce sto