| CPC G06Q 10/083 (2013.01) [G06Q 30/04 (2013.01)] | 20 Claims |

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1. A method for processing a plurality of parcels and which adaptively accommodates different encoding formats for machine-readable indicia via mapping, the plurality of parcels including a plurality of scannable parcel identifiers thereon, the method comprising:
scanning machine-readable indicia on the plurality of parcels to generate scanned machine-readable indicia data, wherein the machine-readable indicia encodes destination zip codes and parcel identifiers for the parcels;
a processor determining customers for the plurality of parcels;
the processor accessing stored mapping data structures, wherein the stored mapping data structures identify how parcel identifiers and destination zip codes are encoded in a plurality of different encoding formats for the machine-readable indicia, and wherein the stored mapping data structures comprise data specifying lengths and start values where the parcel identifiers and destination zip codes are found in scanned machine-readable indicia data for the different encoding formats;
the processor accessing stored customer profile data structures for the determined customers, wherein each of a plurality of the stored customer profile data structures is associated with a different customer and sets a plurality of rules for parcels to be shipped on behalf of its associated customer;
the processor translating the scanned machine-readable indicia data into decoded parcel identifiers and destination zip codes based on the accessed mapping data structures using the data from the mapping data structures that specifies lengths and start values where the parcel identifiers and destination zip codes are found in the scanned machine-readable indicia; and
for each decoded parcel identifier, the processor (1) applying the plurality of rules from the accessed customer profile data structures that are applicable to a parcel corresponding to the decoded parcel identifier and (2) generating shipping label data for the parcel corresponding to the decoded parcel identifier that defines shipping and handling for the parcel that is compliance with the applied rules.
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