Shipment Label Data Block Payload Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current shipping label preparation methods are error-prone, limited in network communication, and often tightly coupled to specific carriers or e-commerce platforms, leading to reduced functionality and inefficiencies in preparing shipments.
Innovation Solution
A Shipment Management System (SMS) interacts with Shipment Preparation Systems (SPS) to generate and print shipping labels using machine-readable data blocks with reduced payload size, employing shortened identifiers and URI management to access remote code modules for shipment information, enabling efficient communication and reduced payload size.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If machine-readable data blocks contain complete shipment information, then reliability of shipment preparation is improved, but payload size increases leading to larger surface area and costs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential identifier (order ID or package ID) from the complete shipment information and places it in the machine-readable data block. The remaining shipment details are retrieved separately from the remote code module, thereby reducing payload size while maintaining the ability to access complete information when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a single-dimensional approach (embedding all shipment information directly in the data block) to a multi-dimensional approach by separating the identifier (in the data block) from the detailed shipment information (in the remote code module), effectively distributing information across different dimensions or locations.
2Adaptability or versatility
If machine-readable data blocks contain complete shipment information, then functionality is improved, but surface area increases leading to higher costs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential identifier from the complete shipment information and places it in the machine-readable data block. The remaining shipment details are retrieved separately from the remote code module, thereby reducing surface area while maintaining the ability to access complete information when needed.
3Ease of operation
If stand-alone applications are used for shipping label preparation, then ease of operation is improved, but network communication capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a remote code module as an intermediary that bridges the stand-alone application and the network. The application can continue to operate independently while the remote code module handles network communication, allowing the system to maintain ease of operation while gaining network communication capability through the intermediary component.
4Manufacturing precision
If shipping label applications are tightly coupled to specific carriers, then manufacturing precision is improved, but adaptability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the shipping label preparation process into distinct components: a stand-alone application that handles the core preparation logic with high precision, and a remote code module that manages carrier-specific details. This segmentation allows the main application to maintain manufacturing precision while the modular remote code module provides adaptability to different carriers through configuration rather than hard-coded coupling.
Data Source
AI summary
Example embodiments provide a Shipment Preparation System (“SPS”), which facilitates the preparation of shipments, such as by producing shipping labels. In one embodiment, the SPS is configured to receive shipment preparation information from a bar code or other machine-readable data block in a packing list. The shipment preparation information identifies a uniform resource identifier (“URI”) that identifies a code module that is remote from the SPS. The SPS determines the URI based on the shipment preparation information, such as by performing a local lookup or requesting the URI from a URI shortening service. The SPS then uses the URI to communicate with the code module in order to obtain information for the preparation of the shipment (e.g., obtaining a destination shipping address) and/or for transmission of information about the preparation of the shipment (e.g., posting an indication that a shipment is ready for pick up).