Mobile Shipping Automation via Optical Character Recognition
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current shipping processes require manual entry of tracking numbers and information, which is cumbersome and inefficient, especially for individuals shipping packages using smartphones, as they need to fill out forms, affix labels, and manually track packages, lacking a seamless integration for notification and data transfer between devices and carrier systems.
Innovation Solution
A system and method utilizing a wireless computing device with imaging capabilities to capture, verify, and transmit shipping form images and tracking numbers to a common carrier's systems, enabling automated processing, notification setup, and data transfer, allowing users to manage shipping tasks more efficiently through a smartphone application.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual entry of tracking numbers and shipping information is used, then users can ship packages with common carriers, but the process becomes cumbersome and inefficient requiring multiple transactions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual mechanical data entry with automated optical character recognition (OCR) technology. The system captures images of shipping forms and automatically extracts tracking numbers and other shipping information, eliminating the need for users to manually type data into multiple systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service by allowing users to automatically capture and process their own shipping information through mobile device cameras and integrated applications, without requiring carrier representatives to manually enter data or users to perform multiple manual transactions.
2Ease of operation
If users manually track packages and request notifications through carrier systems, then shipping tracking is available, but additional transactions and manual steps are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges package tracking and notification setup functions into a single integrated application on the user's mobile device. The system combines shipping form capture, tracking number extraction, automatic carrier system communication, and notification preferences into one seamless workflow, eliminating separate manual transactions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by automatically capturing shipping information at the moment the shipping form is created or received, and proactively setting up tracking and notifications in advance, rather than requiring users to manually initiate these functions later.
3Productivity
If shipping information is manually entered into expense account applications, then expense tracking is updated, but manual data transfer between systems is required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal platform that interfaces with multiple systems (carrier tracking systems and expense account applications) through a single integrated application. This multi-functional system handles shipping information capture, carrier communication, tracking, and expense report generation within one application, eliminating the need for separate manual data entry into each system.
4Ease of manufacture
If paper shipping manifest forms are used at carrier drop boxes, then packages can be submitted for shipment, but tracking requires separate key entry of tracking numbers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical process of manually keying in tracking numbers with automated optical recognition. The mobile application captures images of the paper shipping manifest forms at the carrier drop box and automatically extracts tracking numbers through OCR, eliminating the need for separate manual data entry.
Data Source
AI summary
Various embodiments of present invention provide systems, methods, and computer-program products containing executable code for processing a package for shipping with a common carrier. Various embodiments include a wireless computing device that may be one of several types of devices such as smartphones, mobile telephones, mobile computers, portable digital assistants, laptop computers, gaming devices, electronic tablets, or other types of similar devices that may be used to facilitate the shipping and expedited tracking of objects having a tracking number via multimedia capture and processing.