Abstract: The present invention is an automated baggage tracking and sorting system having a conveyor system controlled by a system controller, and a distributed baggage identification system. The distributed baggage identification system comprises a plurality of zone content identifiers coupled to one or more of a plurality of conveyors at predetermined locations to create a plurality of zones. Each of the zones is associated with one of the plurality of zone content identifiers, and each of the zone content identifiers is configured to store information pertaining to the object located in the associated zone. The distributed baggage identification system further comprises a plurality of information retrievers positioned adjacent to the conveyors at predetermined transition regions. The information retrievers are configured to retrieve information from the zone content identifiers as the associated zone is at the transition region.

Abstract: An apparatus for sorting items includes a plurality of receiving stations for receiving the unsorted items. Each of the receiving stations has associated with it a scale for sensing the weight of each item as it is received. The weight of each item is transmitted to a memory device associated with the receiving stations along with destination information for each particular item. The weight and destination is stored in the memory device for retrieval at a later time. The sorting apparatus further includes a conveyor operating to move the items from the receiving stations to their destinations. A recognition unit associated with the conveyor is located intermediate the receiving stations and the destinations and includes a scale in assocation with the memory device. The items are weighed a second time on the recognition unit scale and the weight information is transmitted to the memory device.