Abstract: A digital image capture and processing module for use with an Internet-based shipping, tracking and delivery network. The module includes a housing having a light transmission aperture with an optically transparent imaging window mounted thereover. A digital camera board supports an area-type color image sensing array, sensing array control electronics, and image capture and buffering electronics. An imaging lens assembly supported within said housing and having image forming optics with a field of view (FOV) on the area-type color image sensing array. A plurality of broad-band LEDs are supported within said housing for producing a field of broad-band illumination. A light focusing reflector is operably mounted for focusing the field of broad-band illumination. A digital image-processing subsystem supports image capture, processing and display functions, as well as digital image file transmission functions within the module.

Abstract: A mobile image capture and processing system including a digital image capture and processing instrument for capturing digital images of shipping documents associated with shipments to be delivered to an intended destination over a Web-based shipping, tracking, and delivery information network, and automatically processing such images to read a 1D or 2D bar-coded shipment tracking number graphically represented therein, and automatically encode the shipment tracking number within the header of the digital image file and the name or title of the digital image file.

Abstract: An Internet-based shipping, tracking, and delivery network including a data collection and processing center operably connected to the infrastructure of the Internet, and including a RDBMS for storing and managing shipping information, and a plurality of pickup/delivery vehicles. Each pickup/delivery vehicle is equipped with a mobile digital image capture and processing (MICAP) system for (i) capturing and processing digital images of shipping documents, bearing embedded bar codes, at the point of pickup, (ii) automatically decoding embedded bar codes in said shipping documents, and performing optical character recognition (OCR) on text presented therein, (iii) formatting captured digital images of the shipping labels with such decoded/recognized information, and (iv) transmitting the formatted digital images to said data collection and processing center, for automatic recognition processing and population of the RDBMS maintained by said network.

Abstract: A method of translating a shipping document regarding one or more shipment items being shipped, tracked and delivered to a final destination using a Web-based shipping, tracking, and delivery information network. At the point of shipment pickup, the method involves digitally imaging an original shipping document (or shipping label) in connection with a shipment, at one or more image resolutions. The bar-coded shipment tracking number graphically represented in the original shipping document is automatically read, and its character data string is automatically encoded into the header of the corresponding digital image file and/or the name of the digital image file. While the shipment is being delivered to the first scanning point in the network, the digital image file is transmitted over a wireless communication link to one or more digital image processing application servers supported on the network.

Abstract: An Internet-based shipping, tracking, and delivery network supporting the capture of shipping document images and recognition-processing thereof initiated from a point of shipment pickup and completed while shipments are transported to its first scanning point in said network so as to significantly increase velocity of shipping information through the network, as well as reduce delivery time over the network.

Abstract: Method of and Apparatus for an Internet-based network for shipping, tracking and delivering a shipment of packages from a point of shipment pickup to point of destination. At the point of shipment pickup a digital image of the shipping documents are captured and processed to extract the original shipment tracking number and optional shipping information. This information is automatically encoded into digital image files prior to transmission to an application server, and stored in a shipping information DBMS. While the shipment of packages is in transit, from the point of shipment pickup to the first scanning point in the Internet-based network, early billing processing of the shipment is initiated and facilitated to speed up time of payment.

Abstract: Method of and an Internet-based network for shipping, tracking and delivering a shipment of packages from a point of shipment pickup to point of destination. At the point of shipment pickup, digital images of the shipping documents are captured and processed to extract the original shipment tracking number and optionally shipping information. This information is automatically encoded into digital image files prior to transmission to an application server, and stored in a shipping information DBMS. While the shipment of packages is in transit, from the point of shipment pickup to the first scanning point in the Internet-based network, early customs clearance of the shipment is initiated and facilitated to speed up delivery of the package shipment to the point of destination.

Abstract: An Internet-based shipping, tracking and delivery network is deployed, wherein at the point of shipment pickup, digital images of shipping documents are captured and processed, shipping information graphically represented the digital images is extracted and encoded into digital image files, and these digital image files are transmitted to an application server and for storage in an information DBMS and subsequent recognition and processing, while the shipment is in transit, from the point of shipment pickup to the first scanning point. At the first scanning point, and subsequent sorting and routing hubs in the network, the original shipment number assigned to the package shipment and graphically represented in said shipping document images, is used to access the DBMS and retrieve recognized shipping information for use in sorting and routing each package in the shipment to its point of destination.

Abstract: A method of and apparatus for an Internet-based network configured for facilitating rapid re-labeling of a shipment of packages at the first scanning point in the Internet-based network. The network employs the capture of shipping document images and recognition-processing thereof initiated from the point of shipment pickup and completed while the shipment is being transported to the first scanning point. Shipping information extracted from the original shipping document is extracted from the shipping document images and stored in a DBMS. At the first scanning point, the shipping tracking number encoded within the original shipping document or original shipping label on the package in the shipment is used to access shipping information stored in the DBMS, and this shipping information is used to generate a new shipping label for each package in the shipment.

Abstract: A Web-enabled mobile image capturing and processing (MICAP) cell-phone for use on a Web-based shipping, tracking and delivery network. The cell-phone include a hand-supportable housing, and a digital image capture and processing engine for capturing and processing digital images of shipping documents at a point of shipment pickup. An image-based bar code reading engine is integrated with the housing for recognizing 1D and/or 2D bar-coded labels in captured digital images. A display panel displays digital images. An RF transceiver circuit, with an RF antenna, supports wireless data communication protocols. A microprocessor and memory aboard the cellphone provides a computing platform supporting an operating system (OS) and one or more application programs, including a Web browser program, and a client application program.

Abstract: A mobile image capture and processing system including a digital image capture and processing instrument for capturing digital images of shipping documents associated with shipments to be delivered to an intended destination over a Web-based shipping, tracking, and delivery information network, and automatically processing such images to read a 1D or 2D bar-coded shipment tracking number graphically represented therein, and automatically encode the shipment tracking number within the header of the digital image file and the name or title of the digital image file.

Abstract: An Internet-based shipping, tracking, and delivery network supporting a plurality of mobile digital image capture and processing instruments deployed on a plurality of pickup and delivery couriers. Each mobile digital image capture and processing instrument can upload digital images of shipping documents to one or more application servers and/or human-operated data-keying workstations supported on the network for machine and/or human-assisted recognition-processing, and acquisition of shipping information contained in the digital images and the entry of shipping information into an RDBMS maintained on the network for the purpose of supporting its shipping, tracking, and delivery operations.

Abstract: The Internet-based shipping, tracking, and delivery network supporting a plurality of digital image capture and processing instruments deployed aboard a plurality of pickup/delivery vehicles, wherein each digital image capture and processing instrument can upload digital images of shipping documents wirelessly to a cellular telephone which, in turn, transmits the digital images to one or more application servers and/or human-operated data-keying workstations supported on the network for machine and/or or human-assisted recognition-processing, and acquisition of shipping information contained in the digital images and the entry of said shipping information into an RDBMS maintained on the network for the purpose of supporting its shipping, tracking, and delivery operations.

Abstract: An Internet-based shipping, tracking, and delivery network including a data collection and processing center operably connected to the infrastructure of the Internet, and including a RDBMS for storing and managing shipping information, and a plurality of pickup/delivery vehicles. Each pickup/delivery vehicle is equipped with a mobile digital image capture and processing (MICAP) system for (i) capturing and processing digital images of shipping documents, bearing embedded bar codes, at the point of pickup, (ii) automatically decoding embedded bar codes in said shipping documents, and performing optical character recognition (OCR) on text presented therein, (iii) formatting captured digital images of the shipping labels with such decoded/recognized information, and (iv) transmitting the formatted digital images to said data collection and processing center, for automatic recognition processing and population of the RDBMS maintained by said network.

Abstract: A Web-enabled mobile image capturing and processing (MICAP) cell-phone for use on a Web-based shipping, tracking and delivery network. The cell-phone include a hand-supportable housing, and a digital image capture and processing engine for capturing and processing digital images of shipping documents at a point of shipment pickup. An imaging-based bar code reading engine is integrated with the housing for recognizing 1D and/or 2D bar-coded labels in captured digital images. A display panel displays digital images. An RF transceiver circuit, with an RF antenna, supports wireless data communication protocols. A microprocessor and memory aboard the cellphone provides a computing platform supporting an operating system (OS) and one or more application programs, including a Web browser program, and a client application program.

Abstract: A method of translating a shipping document regarding one or more shipment items being shipped, tracked and delivered to a final destination using a Web-based shipping, tracking, and delivery information network. At the point of shipment pickup, the method involves digitally imaging an original shipping document (or shipping label) in connection with a shipment, at one or more image resolutions. The bar-coded shipment tracking number graphically represented in the original shipping document is automatically read, and its character data string is automatically encoded into the header of the corresponding digital image file and/or the name of the digital image file. While the shipment is being delivered to the first scanning point in the network, the digital image file is transmitted over a wireless communication link to one or more digital image processing application servers supported on the network.

Abstract: An Internet-based shipping, tracking, and delivery network supporting the capture of shipping document images and recognition-processing thereof initiated from a point of shipment pickup and completed while shipments are transported to its first scanning point in said network so as to significantly increase velocity of shipping information through the network, as well as reduce delivery time over the network.

Abstract: A digital image capture and processing module for use with an Internet-based shipping, tracking and delivery network. The module includes a housing having a light transmission aperture with an optically transparent imaging window mounted thereover. A digital camera board supports an area-type color image sensing array, sensing array control electronics, and image capture and buffering electronics. An imaging lens assembly supported within said housing and having image forming optics with a field of view (FOV) on the area-type color image sensing array. A plurality of broad-band LEDs are supported within said housing for producing a field of broad-band illumination. A light focusing reflector is operably mounted for focusing the field of broad-band illumination. A digital image-processing subsystem supports image capture, processing and display functions, as well as digital image file transmission functions within the module.

Abstract: A global-extensive Internet-based shipping, tracking, and delivery network supporting the capture of shipping document images and recognition-processing thereof initiated from the point of pickup and completed while shipment is transported to the first scanning point in the network so as to significantly reduce delivery time, and enable early clearance of international customs documents, early billing and improved customer service operations over the network.