US 11,858,005 B2
Systems, devices, and methods for enhanced sortation of delivery items
Michael A. Nagy, Warrenton, VA (US); and Dirk H. Sattler, Gainesville, VA (US)
Assigned to UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE, Washington, DC (US)
Filed by UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE, Washington, DC (US)
Filed on Nov. 18, 2022, as Appl. No. 18/056,950.
Application 18/056,950 is a continuation of application No. 16/838,214, filed on Apr. 2, 2020, granted, now 11,504,746.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/828,860, filed on Apr. 3, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2023/0083482 A1, Mar. 16, 2023
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. B07C 3/14 (2006.01); B07C 3/00 (2006.01); B07C 3/18 (2006.01)
CPC B07C 3/14 (2013.01) [B07C 3/008 (2013.01); B07C 3/18 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A delivery item sorting system for designating an output location to a scanner operator, the system comprising:
a scanner that captures address information from delivery items;
a plurality of indicator devices at a plurality of sort output locations;
a storage device that contains a sort plan; and
a processor that is operably connected to the scanner, the plurality of indicator devices, and the storage device, and that is configured to perform operations comprising:
receiving, from the scanner, address information from a delivery item;
determining, based on the address information and the sort plan, a sort output location for the delivery item from among the plurality of sort output locations;
determining which indicator device from among the plurality of indicator devices is at the sort output location for the delivery item;
sending a command to the indicator device that is at the sort output location which causes the indicator device to present a designator that represents the scanner;
receiving, from the scanner, second address information from a second delivery item;
sending a cease command to the indicator device in response to receiving the second address information, wherein the cease command causes the indicator device to cease presenting the designator,
detecting a second scanner that captures address information from delivery items; and
sending commands to the plurality of indicator devices which causes a second indicator device among the plurality of indicator devices to present a second designator that represents the second scanner.