WO2021011478A1

WO2021011478A1 - Unified shipping label

Info

Publication number: WO2021011478A1
Application number: PCT/US2020/041816
Authority: WO
Inventors: John Gullo; Matthew JP MELVIN
Original assignee: International Bridge, Inc.; Chit Chats Express, Inc.
Priority date: 2019-07-12
Filing date: 2020-07-13
Publication date: 2021-01-21

Abstract

A shipping label includes a first carrier zone containing first carrier information for use by a first carrier in shipping an item; a second carrier zone containing second carrier information for use by a second carrier in shipping the item; and at least one tracking component for use by the one or more carriers for recording shipment information and for use by a sending party for tracking the shipped item. All first carrier information is limited to only the first carrier zone, and all second carrier information is limited to only the second carrier zone. The at least one tracking component may include two separate tracking components, including a first carrier tracking component provided in the first carrier zone for use by the first carrier, and a second carrier tracking component provided in the second carrier zone for use by the second carrier.

Description

UNIFIED SHIPPING LABEL

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field and practices of package handling and shipping, and particularly the labeling and tracking of shipped items that require transportation by multiple carriers between a sending party and a recipient party.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The shipping of packages, parcels and items in general by postal carriers, couriers, consolidators, etc. (collectively, carriers) is a long-standing and well-known practice. In a basic example, a sending party ships an item by delivering the item to a carrier at a location A, and the carrier then transports the item to a location B for delivery to an intended recipient party. In such basic examples, location A may be the sending party’s residence or place of business, or a drop-off location of the carrier; and location B may be the recipient party’s residence or place of business, or a pick-up location of the carrier. In such a basic shipment process, a shipping label is applied to the shipped item with basic shipping information such as sender information ( e.g ., identification and address), recipient information (e.g., identification and address), and a tracking component that enables the carrier to record shipment events in a shipment record and enables a sending party to access the shipment record for tracking shipment of the shipped item.

In some instances, it may be necessary for two or more carriers to handle transportation of a shipped item between sending and recipient parties. This may occur, for example, when shipping an item internationally with a first carrier providing services in the country of the sending party and a second carrier providing services in the country of the recipient party. In such multi-carrier shipment processes, a sending party conveys an item for shipping to a first carrier at a location A, and the first carrier then transports the shipped item to a location B where the shipped item is transferred to a second carrier, and the second carrier then transports the shipped item to a location C for delivery to an intended recipient party. In such a multi-carrier example, location A may be the sending party’s residence or place of business, or a drop-off location of the first carrier; location B is a package transfer location, such as a transfer entity facility, customs processing at a country border, or a location of the second carrier; and location C may be the recipient party’s residence or place of business, or a pick-up location of the second carrier. In a multi-carrier shipments it is conventional practice for the first carrier to apply a first unique shipping label for transporting the shipped item from point A to point B; thereafter, when transferring the shipped item at location B, the second carrier then applies a second unique shipping label for transporting the shipped item from point B to point C. This practice of using separate unique shipping labels is commonly referred to as“over-labeling”. Typically, in such over-labeling practices, the first unique shipping label contains a first tracking component that enables tracking of the shipped item between location A and location B; and the second unique shipping label contains a second tracking component that enables tracking of the shipped item between location B and location C. Generally, the first tracking component is generated at the time of printing the first unique shipping label, and the second tracking component is generated at a later time, when printing the second unique shipping label, after the shipped item has been transferred at location B. Because the first and second tracking components are applied and used by the different first and second carriers, the two tracking components are different from one another.

Because the second tracking component is generated only at the time of printing the second unique shipping label, and because the second tracking component differs from the first tracking component, the second tracking component is not available to the sending party at the time the shipped item is delivered to the first carrier at location A. As a result, in order for the sending party to track the shipped item along the entire shipping process, additional steps must then be taken to either link the second tracking component with the first tracking component, or to otherwise provide the sending party with separate means for accessing a separate shipment record associated with the second tracking component. This places additional burdens on the carriers, and may in some instances require the services of a third-party (e.g., a third-party specializing in transition of shipped items between carriers at location B). In instances where the two separate tracking components are not linked, and the sending party is simply provided with separate means for accessing a shipment record associated with the second tracking component at a later time, then there is also a further burden placed on the sending party to match and synchronize multiple tracking components that are received at different times in the shipping process.

Despite the long-standing practices in the handling and transporting of shipped items to date, there remains a need for improvements to further facilitate handling and transporting of shipped items by multiple carriers, and for further advancing the state of the art generally. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A shipping label, comprises a first carrier zone containing first carrier information for use by a first carrier in association with shipping an item, the first carrier information comprising sending party information and first destination information; a second carrier zone containing second carrier information for use by a second carrier in association with shipping the item, the second carrier information comprising recipient party information; and at least one tracking component for use by one or more carriers for recording shipment information and for use by a sending party for accessing recorded shipment information. All first carrier information for use by the first carrier is limited to only the first carrier zone, and all second carrier information for use by the second carrier is limited to only the second carrier zone.

The at least one tracking component may comprise two tracking components, including a first carrier tracking component and a second carrier tracking component, the first carrier tracking component being provided in the first carrier zone for use by the first carrier, and the second carrier tracking component being provided in the second carrier zone for use by the second carrier.

The first carrier zone comprises first carrier information for use by a first carrier in a first country, and the second carrier zone comprises second carrier information for use by a second carrier in a second country, the second country differing from the first country. The first carrier zone, the second carrier zone, or both the first and the second carrier zone may further contain customs information for use in customs clearance in the corresponding country. Information in separate carriers zones may be presented with different orientations, with the first carrier information in the first carrier zone displayed with a first orientation, and the second carrier information in the second carrier zone is displayed with a second orientation.

Information in separate carrier zones may also be presented in different formats, with the first carrier information in the first carrier zone displayed in a first format based on standards required by the first carrier, and the second carrier information in the second carrier zone displayed in a second format based on standards required by the second carrier. The different formats may include the use of a first machine readable language in a first format, and a different second machine readable language in a second format; or the use of a first human readable language in the first format, and a second human readable language in the second format.

Shipping labels according to the present invention may be made by: (a) generating first carrier information in the first carrier zone; (b) generating second carrier information in the second carrier zone; and (c) generating all tracking components for use by all carriers in shipping the item; wherein each of steps (a)-(c) is performed before or upon conveying the item to the first carrier, and prior to conveyance of the shipped item to the second carrier. Step (a) may comprise generating first carrier information for use by a first carrier in a first country, and step (b) may comprise generating second carrier information for use by a second carrier in a second country, the second country differing from the first country. Step (a), step (b), or both steps (a) and (b) may comprise generating customs information for use in customs clearance in the corresponding country. Step (c) may comprise generating a first carrier tracking component in the first carrier zone for use by the first carrier, and generating a second carrier tracking component in the second carrier zone for use by the second carrier.

Methods of shipping items using a shipping label according to the present invention include comprise: (i) conveying an item to a first carrier, the item having a shipping label as described herein attached thereto. Step (i) may further comprise the sending party receiving relevant tracking component information for accessing shipment records for all carriers of the shipped item; and the method may further comprise: (ii) the first carrier using the first carrier information in the first carrier zone for transporting the shipped item; (iii) the first carrier conveying the shipped item to a second carrier; and (iv) the second carrier using the second carrier information in the second carrier zone for transporting the shipped item. In these methods, the second carrier does not over-label the shipping label present on the item in step (i).

In methods according to the present invention, the at least one tracking component may comprise two tracking components, including a first carrier tracking component and a second carrier tracking component, the first carrier tracking component being provided in the first carrier zone for use by the first carrier, and the second carrier tracking component being provided in the second carrier zone for use by the second carrier. The first carrier zone may comprise first carrier information for use by a first carrier in a first country, and the second carrier zone may comprise second carrier information for use by a second carrier in a second country, the second country differing from the first country. The first carrier zone, the second carrier zone, or both the first and the second carrier zone may further contain customs information for use in customs clearance in the corresponding country.

Both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed. The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the invention; are incorporated in and constitute part of this specification; illustrate embodiments of the invention; and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further features and advantages of the invention can be ascertained from the following detailed description that is provided in connection with the drawings described below:

FIG. 1 shows one example of a shipping label according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows another example of a shipping label according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 shows another example of a shipping label according to the present invention; and

FIG. 4 shows another example of a shipping label according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following disclosure discusses the present invention with reference to the examples shown in the accompanying drawings, though does not limit the invention to those examples.

The use of any and all examples, or exemplary language ( e.g .,“such as”) provided herein is intended merely to better illuminate the invention and does not pose a limitation on the scope of the invention unless otherwise claimed. No language in the specification should be construed as indicating any non-claimed element as essential or otherwise critical to the practice of the invention. Unless made clear in context,

As used herein, the singular forms“a,”“an,” and“the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Unless indicated otherwise by context, the term“or” is to be understood as an inclusive“or.” Terms such as“first”,“second”,“third”, etc. when used to describe multiple devices or elements, are so used only to convey the relative actions, positioning and/or functions of the separate devices, and do not necessitate either a specific order for such devices or elements, or any specific quantity or ranking of such devices or elements.

It will be understood that the terms“comprises” and/or“comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof, unless indicated herein or otherwise clearly contradicted by context.

Unless indicated otherwise, or clearly contradicted by context, methods described herein can be performed with the individual steps executed in any suitable order, including: the precise order disclosed, without any intermediate steps or with one or more further steps interposed between the disclosed steps; with the disclosed steps performed in an order other than the exact order disclosed; with one or more steps performed simultaneously; and with one or more disclosed steps omitted.

Shipping labels according to the present invention are provided as a single planar sheet having a first surface with an adhesive material provide thereon for adhering the shipping label to an item to be shipped and a second surface that presents shipping information for use by one or more postal carriers, couriers, consolidators, etc. (collectively, carriers). The shipping informational on the shipping label is divided into multiple zones that includes at least a first carrier zone and a second carrier zone, the two carrier zones being distinct from one another and positioned vertically or horizontally apart from one another. The first carrier zone includes shipping information for a first carrier, the second carrier zone includes shipping information for a second carrier, and the shipping information for each carrier is limited to a single carrier zone. In some examples, further carrier zones may be included for third or further additional carriers; and in some examples additional zones may be included for presentation of information that may be used for coordinating the joint services of two or more carriers.

Information that may be included in each carrier zone includes, though is not limited to: sending party information (identifying and address information); recipient party information (identifying and address information); carrier information (identifying and address information); service level information; carrier processing information; carrier service processing information; customs clearance information; Harmonized Item Description and Coding System (HS); tracking information; third-party information (e.g., stock keeping unit (SKU) identifying information); order identifying information; and customized messages and/or graphics. Each carrier zone may be independent of each other, information contained in one carrier zone need not be consistent with information contained in any other carrier zone, and each carrier zone may adopt unique formatting (e.g., organizational layout, language, information technologies, etc.) from each other.

Information presented on the shipping label may be presented by any suitable means, including though not limited to: human-readable text; numerical sequences; alphanumeric sequences; two or three dimensional barcode images (e.g., flat barcodes, raised barcodes), including conventional line barcodes and matrix barcodes; and near-field communication (NFC) protocols. Information presented on the shipping label may be presented in either a human-readable format or a machine-readable format (e.g., information detectable and/or informative only through use of an electronic scanning device). Division of the shipping label into multiple zones that include at least two distinct and independent carrier zones readily enables shipment payment processing by two or more independent carriers that may adopt different processes and technologies from one another. This is useful in instances where a shipped item may be handled by two or more carriers that have unique processes and handling standards; and is especially useful for international (i.e., cross-border) shipments where a shipped item is transported by carriers in different countries that have postal services with distinct and unique processes and handling standards as well as different languages.

In some examples, a single tracking component ( e.g ., an alphanumeric tracking code, a barcode, etc.) included in the shipping label is provided in a format adopted by multiple carriers, and thereby enables tracking of a shipped item along an entire shipping process, from sender to recipient, regardless of the number of carriers and services involved in handling and transporting the shipped item (i.e., end-to-end tracking). In other examples, the shipping label may be provided with multiple tracking components, with separately dedicated tracking components provided in association with each of the two or more carriers, and with each tracking component generated on the shipping label at the time of initial printing of the shipping label when or prior to conveying the item for shipping to the first carrier.

FIGS. 1-2 show examples of shipping labels according to the present invention. In each example, there is provided a first carrier zone 10a and a second carrier zone 10b. As seen in these figures, the example illustrated in FIG. 1 is shown with both carrier zones 10 sharing a common orientation, whereas the example illustrated in FIG. 2 is shown with the carrier zones 10 having different, inverted orientations.

In both illustrated examples in FIGS. 1-2, the first carrier zone 10a is provided with: a mail class identifier 11; a permit imprint 12; sending party information 13 (e.g., identity and address); first delivery information 14; and a first carrier tracking component 15a, including a primary tracking element 15ai and a secondary tracking element 15a2. In these examples, the mail class identifier 11 is illustrated as a U.S. postal Service (USPS) identifier, and the permit imprint 12 is illustrated as a USPS proof of postage; however, other identifiers and imprints may be substituted as appropriate. Also in these examples, the first delivery information 14 includes the identity and address of a transfer entity (e.g., International Bridge) that assists in transferring shipped items between carriers; however, the first delivery information 14 may instead present the identity and address of any other package transfer entity or facility, and may also present the identity and address of the second carrier for direct transfer thereto. It is noted that the example illustrated in FIG. 1 includes additional first carrier identification information 16 (e.g., identifying USPS), whereas the example illustrated in FIG. 2 lacks such additional information.

In both illustrated examples in FIGS. 1-2, the second carrier zone 10b is provided with: a second carrier identification information 17; a second carrier tracking component 15b, including a primary tracking element 15bi, a secondary tracking element 15b2, and a product classification 15b3; recipient party information 18 (e.g., identity and address); sending party information 19 (e.g., identity and address); shipping order information 20; and a signature field 21.

In these examples, the second carrier identification information 17 identifies“FarLo DI”, however, other carrier identifiers may be substituted as appropriate. Also in these examples, the shipping order information 20 includes both an order confirmation number, as well as contents of the shipment and corresponding quantities thereof. In use, one or more signature fields 21 may be used for any of: confirmation of shipping by a sending party; confirmation of handling by a first carrier and/or second carrier, confirmation of customs approval by a customs agent, and confirmation of receipt by a recipient party.

In the illustrated examples in FIGS. 1-2, the first and second carrier tracking components 15 include primary tracking elements 15ai/15bi in the form of machine readable barcodes, and secondary tracking elements 15a2/15b2 the form human readable alphanumeric codes. In use, the primary tracking elements 15ai/15bi may be used by the first and second carriers for updating the status of the shipped item throughout the shipping process, and the secondary tracking elements 15a2/15b2 may be used by the sending party (or any other party with this information) to access and track the status of the shipped item throughout the shipping process. Though the illustrated examples in FIGS. 1-2 depict barcode and alphanumeric code formats, other code formats may be used as appropriate; and though these illustrated examples show the second carrier tracking component 15b including a product classification 15b3, in other examples the product classification 15b₃ may be omitted and/or the first carrier tracking component 15a may further include a similar product classification.

It is noted that the example shown in FIG. 2 includes an optional supplemental information region 22 that includes a reproduction of the second carrier tracking component 15b, and which is included within the second carrier zone 10b and presented with a similar orientation (e.g., relatively inverted) as the other information in the second carrier zone 10b. In other examples, the optional supplemental information region 22 may include other information, such as a reproduction of the first carrier tracking component 15a; or custom information entered by the sending party, such as: an order number, a retail store code, an item identification number (e.g., a SKU), notes for a carrier and/or recipient; and/or graphics, such as brand logos and trademarks. In some examples, the optional supplemental information region 22 may be included within the first carrier zone 10a and presented with a similar orientation as the other information in the first carrier zone 10a. In examples where a shipping label 1 is to be provided with only a single tracking component 15 that will be shared with all carriers, then the shared tracking component 15 may be provided in the optional supplemental information region 22. In other examples, a supplemental information region 22 may be included for providing customs information and/or cross-border information for use in checking, verifying and validating a package for passing from one country to another.

FIGS. 3-4 show further examples of shipping labels according to the present invention. In these examples there is again provided a first carrier zone 10a and a second carrier zone 10b, and in both examples the separate carrier zones 10 are provided with different, inverted orientations. In these examples, the first carrier zone 10a is provided with: a first carrier service banner/level identifier 23; sending party information 13; first transfer entity information 14a; first carrier handling information 24a, including: a postal code, zip code 24ai, package information 24a2 (e.g., dimensions, weight), and special care instructions 24a3 (e.g., handling notes, delivery methods); and a first carrier tracking component 15a, including: a primary tracking element 15ai, and a secondary tracking element 15a2. The second carrier zone 10b is provided with: second carrier identification information 17 (identifying Canada Tracked); a second carrier service banner/level identifier 23b; second transfer entity information 14b (e.g., identity and address); recipient party information 18; second carrier package information 24b2 (e.g., dimensions, weight); and and a second carrier tracking component 15b, including: a primary tracking element 15bi, and a secondary tracking element 15b2.

In the examples shown in FIGS. 3-4, an optional supplemental information region 22 is provided with customs control components 25. In the example of FIG. 3 the supplemental information region 22 includes a single customs control component 25a, in the form of cross-border cargo control codes, with a primary customs control element 25ai (e.g., a cargo control barcode) and a secondary customs control element 25a2 (e.g., a Cargo Control Number (CNN), with a Standard Carrier Alpha Code (SCAC)). In the example of FIG. 4 the supplemental information region 22 is provided with both a first customs control component 25a and a second customs control component 25b, both in the form of cross-border cargo control codes. The first customs control component 25a comprises a primary customs control element 25ai and a secondary customs control element 25a2; and the second customs control component 25b comprises a primary customs control element 25b i and a secondary customs control element 25b2.

In the examples shown in FIGS. 3-4, the optional supplemental information region 22 is separate from both carrier zones 10, though shares a common orientation with the first carrier zone 10a. In other examples, the supplemental information region 22 may remain separate from both carrier zones 10, though share a common orientation with the second carrier zone 10b; and in other examples the supplemental information region 22 may be a part of either the first carrier zone 10a or the second carrier zone 10b.

Shipping labels illustrated in the examples of FIGS. 3-4 may be used when a sending party 13 in a first country seeks to ship an item to a recipient party 18 in a second different country. For example, the sending party 13 may use such shipping labels to have a first carrier transport the shipped item to a first transfer entity 14a in the first country, with the first transfer entity 14a then transferring the shipped item to a second transfer entity 14b in the second country, and the second transfer entity 14b then transferring the shipped item to a second carrier in the second country or transporting to the intended recipient 18. In these examples, the shipping label in FIG. 3, with a single customs control component 25a, may be used when one country in the shipment process has customs and border regulations that require validation of packages that cross the country border; and the shipping label in FIG. 4, with two customs control components 25a/25b, may be used when two countries in the shipment process have customs and border regulations that require validation of packages that cross their respective country borders. Of course, other examples may include three or more customs control components 25.

In the foregoing examples, the two carrier zones 10 are spaced vertically apart from one another, though in FIGS. 2-4, the information presented in the two carrier zones 10 is provided with inverted orientations (e.g., a 180° rotation) relative to one another. In other examples, the information presented in the two carrier zones 10 may be presented with different orientations from one another, though in orientations other than inverted. For example, the information in the second carrier zone 10b may be presented at a transverse orientation (e.g., a 90° rotation) relative to the information in the first carrier zone 10a. In yet further examples, the first and second carrier zones lOa/lOb may be positioned horizontally adjacent one another, and/or there may be three or more carrier zones 10 providing information for three or more different carriers. Shipping labels according to the present invention may be any suitable size, including, though not limited to a planar 4 x 6 in. Shipping labels according to the present invention may be printed from and suitable printer, at a residence or place of business of the sending entity, or at a carrier location, and then applied to the item to be shipped. At the time of printing, all relevant information to be printed on the shipping label may either be entered by a user or selected by a user from information previously stored in a memory of a database that is accessible to the user, for example, through a user interface that communicates with the internet or a local area network. In a preferred practice, shipping labels according to the present are generated through use of application programming interface (API) that is supported and linked with multiple carriers and services, and preferably all major carriers and services, such that the information generated on the shipping labels is generated with direct integration of each independent carrier that will handle the shipped item, and with further integration of any and all third party service technology and/or service providers that will further assist in processing, handling or transporting of the shipped item.

When printing a shipping label, each tracking component created on the shipping label is associated with a corresponding shipment record that stores information entered on the shipping label, the shipment record being created in a database that is accessible to the sending party, via a secondary tracking element, for example, through a user interface that communicates with the internet or a local area network. In examples where a separate tracking component is created for each of multiple carriers, then each tracking component may be associated with a separate shipment record having information relative to the corresponding carrier, and the services to be provided by each, with the separate shipment records being stored and accessible, via a corresponding secondary tracking element, at separate databases. In examples where a single tracking component is created for sharing by all carriers, then that single tracking component may be associated with a single corresponding record having all information relative to all carriers, with the record being accessible, via a single secondary tracking element, at a single database.

As all tracking components on the shipping label are generated at the time of printing, the sending party is immediately provided with the corresponding tracking components. Thereafter, as the separate carriers process and handle the shipped item, they each scan the one or more tracking components and update the one or more corresponding shipping records that are accessible to the sending party through use of the previously known tracking component. In this way, the sending party is immediately provided access to all shipping records for the shipped item before conveying the item to the first carrier. In use, a shipping label according to the present invention is generated and applied to an item for shipping with all relevant information, including all tracking components for each carrier to handle the item. As all tracking components are generated at the time of printing the shipping label, the sending party is provided with relevant information for all tracking components needed for accessing shipment records of the item. The item to be shipped is then conveyed to a first carrier. It will be understood that the shipping label may be printed and applied by the first carrier upon conveyance from the sending party, and the first carrier may provide the details of the tracking components to the sending party at that time.

Having received the item from the sending party, the first carrier processes, handles and transports the shipped item and makes use of a tracking component to update a corresponding shipment record. The first carrier subsequently conveys the shipped item to a second carrier, either directly or through services of a package transfer facility or entity, and updates the corresponding shipment record to reflect such transfer. The second carrier then processes, handles and transports the shipped item and makes use of a tracking component previously printed on the original shipping label to update a corresponding shipment record. The second carrier subsequently conveys the shipped item to the intended recipient. The sending party may, throughout the entire shipping process, access all relevant shipment records through use of the tracking components that were made available upon initially conveying the shipped item to the fist carrier. It will be understood that variations of the foregoing shipment process are contemplated in which three or more carriers provide services in transporting the shipped item, with the processing, handling, transporting and transferring of the shipped item between successive carriers occurring as described above until such time that a final carrier conveys the shipped item to the intended recipient.

In some examples, the shipping label may be provided with separate tracking components for each carrier, with each carrier using a respective tracking component for updating corresponding shipment records, and the sending party using respective tracking elements for accessing the separate shipment records. In other examples, the shipping label may be provided with a single tracking component that is shared by all carriers, with all carriers use the single tracking component for updating a single corresponding shipment record, and the sending entity using a single tracking element for accessing the shipment record.

A unified shipping label according to the present invention provides important advantages over conventional practices. For example, a unified shipping label eliminates the over-labeling practice, foregoing the need for separate carriers to generate separate unique shipping labels, and avoids complications that arise from the generation of separate tracking components that routinely accompany separate unique shipping labels. A unified shipping label also provides the sending party with each of the one or more tracking components needed for monitoring the entire shipment process of the shipped item, via multiple carriers, with all tracking components available to the sending party prior to or upon delivering the item to the first carrier. As a result, there is a decreased burden on each carrier and third party service, and there is removed a potential point of failure in the shipping process, for example, where a second carrier’s services in transporting a shipped item might not be properly linked with a first carrier’s services in previously handling the same shipped item, in which instance a sending party would not be able to access the shipment record and track shipment of the shipped item. A sending party also benefits from shipping labels according to the present invention by being able to generate a shipping label, and draw postage, from multiple separate and independent carriers and third party services in a single transaction, while also being provided with all relevant information needed for accessing the shipment record and tracking the shipped item along the entire shipping process, end-to-end, without having to match and synchronize multiple tracking components for separate stages of the shipping process.

In use, a unified shipping label according to the present invention enables the use of a single shipping label that readily presents all required shipping information for two or more distinct carriers. In this way, each carrier may readily access the shipping information needed for their own processing, handling and transportation of the shipped item, without requiring re-labeling. This facilitates handling of the shipped item by the different carriers, expediting overall shipment processing. Information collected for creating the shipping label may also provide the data required for submission of payment manifesting and tracking to the carrier(s) responsible for transporting the shipped item. The shipping label may also include customs clearance information that further expedites clearance of the shipped item through customs processing in separate countries when shipping internationally.

Although the present invention is described with reference to particular embodiments, it will be understood to those skilled in the art that the foregoing disclosure addresses exemplary embodiments only; that the scope of the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments; and that the scope of the invention may encompass additional embodiments embracing various changes and modifications relative to the examples disclosed herein without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims and equivalents thereto. To the extent necessary to understand or complete the disclosure of the present invention, all publications, patents, and patent applications mentioned herein are expressly incorporated by reference herein to the same extent as though each were individually so incorporated.

The present invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments illustrated herein, but is instead characterized by the appended claims, which in no way limit the scope of the disclosure.

Claims

CLAIMS What is claimed is:

1. A shipping label, comprising:

a first carrier zone containing first carrier information for use by a first carrier in association with shipping an item, the first carrier information comprising sending party information and first destination information;

a second carrier zone containing second carrier information for use by a second carrier in association with shipping the item, the second carrier information comprising recipient party information; and

at least one tracking component for use by one or more carriers for recording shipment information and for use by a sending party for accessing recorded shipment information.

2. The shipping label according to claim 1, wherein

all first carrier information for use by the first carrier is limited to only the first carrier zone, and all second carrier information for use by the second carrier is limited to only the second carrier zone.

3. The shipping label according to claim 1, wherein

the at least one tracking component comprises two tracking components, including a first carrier tracking component and a second carrier tracking component, the first carrier tracking component being provided in the first carrier zone for use by the first carrier, and the second carrier tracking component being provided in the second carrier zone for use by the second carrier.

4. The shipping label according to claim 1, wherein

the first carrier zone comprises first carrier information for use by a first carrier in a first country, and the second carrier zone comprises second carrier information for use by a second carrier in a second country, the second country differing from the first country.

5. The shipping label according to claim 4, wherein the first carrier zone, the second carrier zone, or both the first and the second carrier zone further contains customs information for use in customs clearance in the corresponding country.

6. The shipping label according to claim 1, wherein

the first carrier information in the first carrier zone is displayed with a first orientation, and the second carrier information in the second carrier zone is displayed with a second orientation, the second orientation differing from the first orientation.

7. The shipping label according to claim 1, wherein

the first carrier information in the first carrier zone is displayed in a first format based on standards required by the first carrier, and the second carrier information in the second carrier zone is displayed in a second format based on standards required by the second carrier; the second format differing from the first format.

8. The shipping label according to claim 7, wherein

the first format uses a first machine readable language, and the second format uses a second machine readable language, the second machine readable language differing from the first machine readable language.

9. The shipping label according to claim 7, wherein

the first format uses a first human readable language, and the second format uses a second human readable language, the second human readable language differing from the first human readable language.

10. A method of making a shipping label according to claim 1, comprising

a) generating first carrier information in the first carrier zone;

b) generating second carrier information in the second carrier zone; and

c) generating all tracking components for use by all carriers in shipping the item, wherein each of steps (a)-(c) is performed before or upon conveying the item to the first carrier, and prior to conveyance of the shipped item to the second carrier.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein step (c) comprises generating a first carrier tracking component in the first carrier zone for use by the first carrier, and generating a second carrier tracking component in the second carrier zone for use by the second carrier.

12. The method according to claim 10, wherein

step (a) comprises generating first carrier information for use by a first carrier in a first country, and step (b) comprises generating second carrier information for use by a second carrier in a second country, the second country differing from the first country.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein

step (a), step (b), or both steps (a) and (b) comprises generating customs information for use in customs clearance in the corresponding country.

14. A method of shipping an item, comprising:

i) conveying an item to a first carrier, the item having a shipping label according to claim 1 attached thereto.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein

16. The method according to claim 14, wherein

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein

the first carrier zone, the second carrier zone, or both the first and the second carrier zone further contains customs information for use in customs clearance in the corresponding country.

18. The method according to claim 14, wherein

step (i) further comprises the sending party receiving relevant tracking component information for accessing shipment records for all carriers of the shipped item.

19. The method according to claim 14, further comprising

ii) the first carrier using the first carrier information in the first carrier zone for transporting the shipped item;

iii) the first carrier conveying the shipped item to a second carrier; and

iv) the second carrier using the second carrier information in the second carrier zone for transporting the shipped item.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein

the second carrier does not over-label the shipping label present on the item in step (i).