Description:FIELD OF INVENTION
[001] The present invention relates to a method for reducing the rate of shipment rejection. Particularly, the invention relates to a pattern recognition system that reads a crumpled barcode and helps in the timely placement of the orders and reducing the rejection rate.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[002] A barcode is a representation of data in a visual and machine-readable form. In simple terms, the information is condensed from numbers and characters into a series of lines or symbols that can be automatically translated into their full meaning by an instrument known as barcode scanner or reader.
[003] Barcodes play a vital role in logistics and shipping. Barcode labels contain detailed information about order and its delivery information that can be quickly scanned by a barcode reader as the shipment moves through the order-to-delivery process. They are used for fast and accurate verification of product descriptions, warehouse locations, SKU numbers, and more. Multi-carrier shipping systems can be configured to produce carrier-specific barcoded shipping labels, as well as many other shipping documents, such as the bill of lading, manifest, and commercial invoice.
[004] The barcode system has also improved shipment delivery procedures by speeding up processing steps and eliminating data entry errors due to the rekeying of shipping information. For example, parcel delivery shipping labels now routinely contain a 2-D or 2D barcode that is scanned by the carrier as it picks up and delivers a package. The 2-D barcode contains information such as the destination name and address, return address, package weight and more. This information can be scanned by a barcode reader when the drive drops off the shipment, eliminating the need to rekey and verify details.
[005] One of the USA patent application US5144118A titled “Bar code scanning system with multiple decoding microprocessors” discloses a system for scanning bar code labels and for providing data related thereto includes scanning means for optically scanning bar code labels and providing an electrical, binary scan signal in response thereto. The scanning means includes a scanner and a scanner controller, and an integrated circuit. The integrated circuit includes a converter means, responsive to the scanning means, for translating the electrical, binary scan signal into a related sequence of digital words. The integrated circuit further includes a microprocessor means, responsive to the converter means, for translating the related sequence of digital words into data. The microprocessor means has first and second microprocessor circuits for independently translating the sequence of digital words into data. The microprocessor means also has a random access memory for storing the appropriate software to control operation of the first and second microprocessor circuits.
[006] Another USA patent application US8282002B2 titled “Barcode reader” discloses scanning multiple barcodes, storing different code types, in a single scanning operation and automatically recording the data derived from the barcodes. The data can be stored in a form or database having designated locations for each different code type. In some embodiments, the present technology is useful in conducting a retail transaction and facilitates a simplified transaction when the product for purchase has multiple barcodes printed thereon.
[007] None of the aforesaid prior arts provide solutions related to barcodes readers are not able to read the damaged or crumpled barcodes which results in delays in the shipment of orders
[008] In order to overcome the challenge associated with the state of the art, a system and method for scanning damaged barcodes for early shipment sorting are required.
[009] Therefore, there is a need for a system and technique to reduce shipping rejection rates owing to damaged or crumpled barcodes.
OBJECTIVES OF THE INVENTION

[0010] The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a system and method for reducing shipment rejection rates.

[0011] Another objective of the present invention is to provide a system and method comprising of pattern recognition technology.

[0012] Another objective of the present invention is to provide a system and method that scans the damaged barcodes.

[0013] Another objective of the present invention is to provide a system and method that recognizes number patterns for sorting of shipments.

[0014] Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein, by way of illustration and example, the aspects of the present invention are disclosed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0015] The present invention discloses a method of pattern recognition of damaged barcodes of cross belt sorters (CBS) that are used for sorting the shipments as per destination address. The method involves scanning of the damaged barcodes, crumpled barcodes through a scanning device. The scanning device initiates the pattern recognition process; and recognition algorithm installed in the software module extracts the information from the barcode and simultaneously provides information to a processing unit to perform various combinations to exact missing information for getting a perfect number so that shipment gets sorted accordingly without going into rejection bin, as well as helping in timely delivery of goods by avoiding delays.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0016] An understanding of the present invention may be obtained by reference to the accompanying drawings, when taken in conjunction with the description herein and in which:
[0017] Figure 1 illustrates the flow chart of methods for reducing shipment rejection rate.

There is a vendor system (for e.g Kengic) which has two main functions. Once the barcode is read by the SICK scanner, the vendor app looks at the expectation of that shipment in the sql database and assigns the chut to the shipment. Each shipment is on a carrier which has a unique id. The second function is for PLC programming which ejects the shipment when a particular chute comes on the loop. This is a happy flow.
In my invention, Damaged barcode is detected by Scanner. So it is assigned the rejection chute. Now my algorithm starts. Vendor system will send the image payload to me in base 64 format and I will apply my OCR algorithm and regex function to find the text from the image. Once I get the AWB number, my algorithm will send it to the vendor system in json format and the vendor will update the database. Now the vendor system has the information of AWB number (extracted from OCR engine) and the correct chute is assigned to that shipment with the help of the carrier's unique id of the carrier. This shipment will go to correct chute instead of going to reject.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0018] The following description describes various features and functions of the disclosed system with reference to the accompanying figures. In the figures, similar symbols identify similar components, unless context dictates otherwise. The illustrative aspects described herein are not meant to be limiting. It may be readily understood that certain aspects of the disclosed system can be arranged and combined in a wide variety of different configurations, all of which have not been contemplated herein.
[0019] Accordingly, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that various changes and modifications of the embodiments described herein can be made without departing from the scope of invention. In addition, descriptions of well-known functions and constructions are omitted for clarity and conciseness.
[0020] Features that are described and/or illustrated with respect to one embodiment may be used in the same way or in a similar way in one or more other embodiments and/or in combination with or instead of the features of the other embodiments.
[0021] The terms and words used in the following description are not limited to the bibliographical meanings, but are merely used to enable a clear and consistent understanding of the invention. Accordingly, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that the following description of exemplary embodiments of the present invention are provided for illustrative purposes only and not for the purpose of limiting the invention.
[0022] It is to be understood that the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.
[0023] The term “OCR” used in the present disclosure refers to Optical character recognition.
[0024] The term “AWB” used in the present disclosure refers to Airways bill number.
[0025] It should be emphasized that the term “comprises/comprising” when used in this specification is taken to specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps or components but does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, components or groups thereof.
[0026] Accordingly, the present invention relates to a method for reducing the rate of shipment rejection. Particularly, the invention relates to a pattern recognition system that reads crumpled barcodes and helps in timely placement of the orders and reduction in the rejection rate.
[0027] In an embodiment, the system comprises a scanning device, a software module installed in a scanning device and a processing unit integrated within the scanning device.
The system comprises of the following components:
(a) Scanning device serving as the scanner for damage barcodes.
(b) Software module installed in the scanning device.
(c) OCR algorithm embedded in the software module for extracting information from the barcode.
(d) Processing unit integrated within the scanning device for performing various combinations to exact missing information for getting a perfect AWB.
[0028] In an exemplary embodiment, the scanning device may be selected from a group consisting of, such as, but not limited to, mobile device, computer, laptop, and the like.
[0029] In an embodiment, the scanning devices in the present invention captures and read information contained in a barcode and also captures the information of the damaged barcodes, crumpled barcodes
[0030] The software module embedded with the OCR algorithm extracts and recognizes the text information from the scanned barcode and analyzes the visual characteristics of characters in an image, text accurately extracted and convert it into a format that is editable, searchable.
[0031] The processor unit integrated within the scanning device analyses the text information on the shipments and perform various permutations and combinations for getting the exact AWB number and missing information from the information provided by the software module which would have caused rejection and place it order for sorting of the shipments .
[0032] In an exemplary embodiment, AWB (AirWayBill) number has a pattern. The pattern is 14 digit alphanumeric where the first 4 are alphabets and last 10 are digits. An example out of 14 alphanumeric codes. The 1D barcode is able to decode 1 to 3rd character and 5 to 8 digits and 13, 14 digits. So to complete the AWB (Airway Bill Number) and then find and fill 4th character and 9 to 12 digits so that AWB number is completed and this information can be used by CBS vendors to sort shipments correctly.

[0033] In an embodiment, as shown in Figure 1, the present invention provides a method for reducing rate of shipment rejection.
The method comprises the following steps:
(a) Scanning of damaged barcodes by a scanning device;
(b) Providing of scanned information to a software module; and
(c) Running of OCR algorithm installed in the software module for extraction information from the barcode and simultaneously providing information to a processing unit for performing various combinations to exact missing information for getting a perfect AWB number for sorting of shipment.
[0034] In an embodiment, the damaged barcode is selected from but not limited to polythene parcels, Image reflection, hidden barcode and poor quality barcode.
[0035] In an embodiment, the scanning unit scans the barcodes possessing 1D barcode, 2D barcode and text like addresses.
[0036] While this invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but, on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the scope of the appended claims.
, Claims:1. A method of reducing shipment rejection rate, comprising steps of:
(a) scanning of damaged barcodes by a scanning device;
(b) providing of scanned information to a software module; and
(c) running of OCR algorithm installed in the software module for extraction information from the barcode and simultaneously providing information to a processing unit for performing various combinations to exact missing information for getting a perfect AWB number for sorting of shipment.
(d) The most novel feature in my invention is to make a shipment which was rejected to get sorted because of damaged barcodes on it will get sorted in the correct chute. So each shipment corresponds to a COC code which is mapped to a chute in Cross belt sorter. When a shipment is having damaged barcodes, in that case in general, shipment will go to a rejected chute and it has to go through a manual sortation process. With my invention, after getting AWB number, shipment will get sorted in a correct chute thereby reducing the manpower effort to sort it manually.
2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the damaged barcode is selected from but not limited to polythene parcels, Image reflection, hidden barcode and poor quality barcode.
3. The method as claimed in claim1, wherein the scanning unit scans the barcodes possessing 1D barcode, 2D barcode and text like addresses.
4. A system for performing method of reducing shipment rejection rate as claimed in claim 1, comprising:
(a) scanning device serving as the scanner for damage barcodes;
(b) software module installed in the scanning device
(c) OCR algorithm embedded in the software module for extracting information from the barcode
(d) processing unit integrated within the scanning device for performing various combinations to exact missing information for getting a perfect AWB number
5. The system as claimed in claim 4, wherein the scanning device is selected from a group consisting of mobile device, computer, or laptop.