1. A method of shipping, tracking, and delivering a shipment of packages over an Internet-based shipping, tracking, and delivery network including (i) a digital image capture and processing device with memory storage provided at a point of shipment pickup, (ii) at least a first scanning point capable of scanning packages in said shipment and routing said packages to a point of destination, (iii) sorting and routing hubs located along routes leading to said point of destination, and (iv) a central processing station having a network application server and a database management system (DBMS) operably connected to the infrastructure of the Internet, and wherein said shipment of packages has an original shipping document assigned an original shipment tracking number, and each package in said shipment has an original shipping label containing said original shipment tracking number, said method comprising the steps:
(A) at said point of shipment pickup,
(i) using said digital image capture and processing device to automatically capture a digital image of said original shipping document in connection with said shipment of packages, and then buffering said digital image in the memory storage of said digital image capture and processing device:
(ii) automatically processing said buffered digital image so as to read machine-readable information graphically represented in said digital image of the original shipping document, and produce data representative of said machine-readable information and a digital image file for said digital image of the original shipping document;
(iii) automatically encoding said data into said digital image file; and
(iv) transmitting said digital image file over said Internet to said network application server, and storing said digital image file in said DBMS; and
(B) while said shipment is being transported from said point of shipment pickup to said first scanning point,
(i) recognition processing said stored digital image file to read shipping information graphically represented in said digital image file, and
(ii) storing said recognized shipping information in said DBMS; and
(C) at said first scanning point, (i) reading the original shipment tracking number on said package in said shipment, and accessing said shipping information stored in said DBMS associated with said package, and (ii) using shipping information accessed from said DBMS to sort and route said package toward said point of destination, and
(D) at each said sorting and routing hub, (i) reading the original shipment tracking number on said package in said shipment, and accessing said shipping information stored in said DBMS associated with said package, and (ii) using shipping information accessed from said DBMS to sort and route said package to said point of destination,
whereby the delivery time of said shipment of packages to said point of destination is shortened by virtue of shipping information being extracted from said original shipping document and stored and made available in said DBMS while the shipment is being transported to said first scanning point, so that said shipping information is available for sorting and routing of each said package at the time when each said package in said shipment arrives at said first scanning point, and at each said sorting and routing hub.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein said first scanning point comprises a pickup and delivery terminal.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein said first scanning point comprises a sorting and routing hub.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein said Internet-enabled shipping, tracking, and delivery network further includes an Internet-enabled computer running a Web-enabled client application or a Web browser program, and wherein said step (B)(i) comprises using said Web-enabled client application or a Web browser program running on said Internet-enabled computer, to access and view at least one of said digital images and associated shipping information stored in said DBMS.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein said Internet-based shipping, tracking, and delivery network further includes a pickupdelivery vehicle, and wherein said digital image capture and processing device is mounted aboard said pickupdelivery vehicle and has a two-dimensional imaging array with a field of view (FOV) and an integrated illumination source for illuminating said FOV.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein step (B)(iii) further comprises detecting errors in said original shipping document before a courier returns to said first scanning point and while the customer is available.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein in step (A)(ii) said machine-readable information comprises said original shipment tracking number on said original shipping document.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein step (A)(iii) comprises automatically encoding said original shipment tracking number, as a tag, into the header of said digital image file.
9. The method of claim 8, wherein step (A)(iii) comprises using said original shipment tracking number to name or title said digital image file.
10. The method of claim 8, wherein step (A)(iii) comprises encoding said digital images of said original shipping document with the original shipment tracking number, and also using said original shipment tracking number to name or title said digital image file.
11. The method of claim 8, wherein step (A)(iii) comprises automatically encoding said digital images of said original shipping document with both the original shipment tracking number as well as shipping information contained in the original shipping document, and also using said shipment tracking number to name or title said digital image file.
12. The method of claim 1, wherein said Internet-enabled shipping, tracking, and delivery network further comprises a plurality of image processing application servers and a plurality of human-operated data-keying workstations for expediting the processing of said digital image, and the recognition of shipping information graphically encoded within the received digital image file, and storing recognized shipping information in said DBMS, while packages in said shipment are being transported from said point of shipment pickup to said first scanning point.
13. The method of claim 11, wherein said recognition of shipping information graphically encoded within the received digital image file is carried out using one or more of (i) automatic form and character recognition processes and (ii) human intelligence when needed.
14. The method of claim 1, wherein said Internet-based shipping, tracking and delivery network further includes one or more image processing application servers for extracting shipping information encoded within the received digital image file, and storing said extracted shipping information in said DBMS, while said pickupdelivery vehicle is transporting the shipment of package from said point of shipment pickup to said first scanning point.
15. An Internet-based network for shipping, tracking, and delivering a shipment of packages from a point of shipment pickup to a point of destination, wherein said shipment of packages has an original shipping document assigned an original shipment tracking number, and each package in said shipment has an original shipping label containing said original shipment tracking number, said Internet-based network comprising:
a digital image capture and processing device with memory storage provided at said point of shipment pickup;
at least a first scanning point capable of scanning packages in said shipment and routing said packages to said point of destination;
sorting and routing hubs located along routes leading to said point of destination, and capable of scanning packages in said shipment and routing said packages to said point of destination;
a central processing station having a network application server; and
a database management system (DBMS) operably connected to said network application server and the infrastructure of the Internet;
wherein said digital image capture and processing device is configured to perform a number of operations at said point of shipment pickup, including (i) automatically capturing a digital image of said original shipping document in connection with said shipment of packages, (ii) buffering said digital image in the memory storage of said digital image capture and processing device, (iii) processing said buffered digital image so as to read machine-readable information graphically represented in said digital image of the original shipping document, (iv) producing data representative of said machine-readable information and a digital image file for said digital image of the original shipping document, (v) encoding said data into said digital image file, and (vi) transmitting said digital image file over said Internet to said network application server, for storage in said DBMS; and
wherein said central processing station is configured so that while said shipment is being transported from said point of shipment pickup to said first scanning point, said stored digital image file is recognition processed to read shipping information graphically represented in said digital image file, and said extracted shipping information is stored in said DBMS;
wherein said first scanning point is configured so that at said first scanning point, each said package in said shipment is scanned, the original shipment tracking number on said package is read, shipping information stored in said DBMS and associated with said package is accessed, and the accessed shipping information is used to sort and route said package toward said point of destination, and
wherein each said sorting and routing hub is configured so that each said package in said shipment is scanned, the original shipment tracking number on said package is read, the shipping information stored in said DBMS and associated with said package is accessed, and accessed shipping information is used to sort and route said package to said point of destination,
whereby the delivery time of said shipment of packages to said point of destination is shortened by virtue of shipping information being extracted from said original shipping document and stored and made available in said DBMS while the shipment is being transported to said first scanning point, so that said shipping information is available for sorting and routing of each said package at the time when each said package in said shipment arrives at said first scanning point, and at each said sorting and routing hub.
16. The Internet-based network of claim 15, wherein said first scanning point comprises a pickup and delivery terminal.
17. The Internet-based network of claim 15, wherein said first scanning point comprises a sorting and routing hub.
18. The Internet-based network of claim 15, which further includes an Internet-enabled computer running a Web-enabled client application or a Web browser program, and wherein said step (B)(i) comprises using said Web-enabled client application or a Web browser program running on said Internet-enabled computer, to access and view at least one of said digital images and associated shipping information stored in said DBMS.
19. The Internet-based network of claim 15, which further includes a pickupdelivery vehicle, and wherein said digital image capture and processing device is mounted aboard said pickupdelivery vehicle and has a two-dimensional imaging array with a field of view (FOV) and an integrated illumination source for illuminating said FOV.
20. The Internet-based network of claim 15, wherein errors in said original shipping document are detected before a courier returns to said first scanning point and while the customer is available.
21. The Internet-based network of claim 15, wherein said machine-readable information comprises the original shipment tracking number on said original shipping document.
22. The Internet-based network of claim 15, wherein said original shipment tracking number is automatically encoded, as a tag, into the header of said digital image file.
23. The Internet-based network of claim 22, wherein said original shipment tracking number is used to name or title said digital image file.
24. The Internet-based network of claim 22, wherein said digital image of the original shipping document is encoded with the original shipment tracking number, and wherein said original shipment tracking number is used to name or title said digital image file.
25. The Internet-based network of claim 22, wherein said digital image of the original shipping document is automatically encoded with both the original shipment tracking number and shipping information contained in said original shipping document, and wherein said original shipment tracking number is used to name or title said digital image file.
26. The Internet-based network of claim 15, which further comprises a plurality of image processing application servers and a plurality of human-operated data-keying workstations for expediting the processing of said digital image, and the recognition of shipping information graphically encoded with the received digital image file, and storing recognized shipping information in said DBMS, all while packages in said shipment are being transported from said point of shipment pickup to said first scanning point.
27. The Internet-based network of claim 15, wherein said recognition of shipping information graphically encoded within the received digital image file is carried out using one or more of (i) automatic form and character recognition processes and (ii) human intelligence when needed.
28. The Internet-based network of claim 15, which further includes one or more image processing application servers for extracting shipping information encoded within the received digital image file, and storing said extracted shipping information in said DBMS, while said pickupdelivery vehicle is transporting the shipment of package from said point of shipment pickup to said first scanning point.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A construction, comprising:
conductive structures spaced from one another by intervening regions;
insulative structures within the intervening regions, the insulative structures comprising dielectric spacers along sidewalls of the conductive structures, and comprising air gaps between the dielectric spacers; and
the insulative structures comprising dielectric capping material over the air gaps; the dielectric capping material being between the dielectric spacers and not over upper surfaces of the dielectric spacers; the dielectric capping material comprising a different composition than the dielectric spacers.
2. The construction of claim 1 wherein the dielectric spacers are configured as pillars having substantially constant thickness along entireties of their heights.
3. The construction of claim 1 wherein the dielectric capping material comprises silicon oxynitride.
4. The construction of claim 1 wherein the dielectric capping material comprises silicon oxynitride; and wherein the dielectric spacers comprise one or more of aluminum oxide, hafnium oxide, silicon oxide, zirconium oxide and silicon nitride.
5. The construction of claim 1 having substantially right angle corners at locations where the dielectric capping material joins the dielectric spacers.
6. The construction of claim 1 wherein the conductive structures comprise copper.
7. The construction of claim 1 wherein the dielectric spacers comprise one or more of aluminum oxide, hafnium oxide, silicon oxide, zirconium oxide and silicon nitride.
8. The construction of claim 1 wherein the dielectric spacers comprise only a single homogeneous composition.
9. The construction of claim 1 wherein the dielectric spacers comprise a laminate of two or more different compositions.
10. The construction of claim 1 wherein the dielectric spacers comprise a laminate of silicon nitride and an oxide.
11. The construction of claim 10 wherein the oxide is selected from the group consisting of aluminum oxide, hafnium oxide, silicon oxide and zirconium oxide.
12. The construction of claim 1 wherein the conductive structures are conductive lines.
13. The construction of claim 12 wherein the conductive lines are on a uniform pitch.
14. The construction of claim 12 wherein the conductive lines are on a non-uniform pitch.
15. A construction, comprising:
a first conductive structure having an upper surface;
a plurality of second conductive structures electrically coupled with the upper surface of the first conductive structure and spaced from one another by intervening regions;
air gapspacer insulative structures within the intervening regions between the second conductive structures, the air gapspacer insulative structures comprising dielectric spacers along sidewalls of the second conductive structures, and comprising air gaps between the dielectric spacers; and
dielectric capping material over the air gaps; the dielectric capping material being between the dielectric spacers and not over upper surfaces of the dielectric spacers.
16. The construction of claim 15 wherein the second conductive structures are conductive interconnects having wide upper regions over narrow lower regions; wherein an insulative material is between the narrow lower regions of the conductive interconnects; and wherein the air gapspacer insulative structures are over the insulative material and between the wide upper regions of the interconnects.
17. The construction of claim 16 wherein the insulative material comprises one or both of silicon dioxide and silicon nitride.
18. The construction of claim 15 wherein the second conductive structures are conductive interconnects having wide upper regions over narrow lower regions; wherein the air gapspacer insulative structures are second insulative structures, and the dielectric spacers are second dielectric spacers; wherein first insulative structures are between the narrow lower regions of the conductive interconnects; the first insulative structures comprising first dielectric spacers along sidewalls of the second conductive structures; and wherein the second insulative structures are over the first insulative structures and between the wide upper regions of the interconnects.
19. The construction of claim 18 wherein the second dielectric spacers are different compositions than the first dielectric spacers.
20. The construction of claim 19 wherein the first dielectric spacers comprise one or both of silicon nitride and silicon dioxide; and wherein the second dielectric spacers comprise one or more of aluminum oxide, hafnium oxide, silicon oxide, zirconium oxide and silicon nitride.
21. The construction of claim 19 wherein the first dielectric spacers comprise only a single homogenous material; and wherein the second dielectric spacers are laminates of two or more different materials.
22. A construction, comprising:
a conductive line having an upper surface;
a plurality of conductive interconnects electrically coupled with the upper surface of the conductive line and spaced from one another by intervening regions; the conductive interconnects having wide upper regions over narrow lower regions;
first air gapspacer insulative structures within the intervening regions between the narrow lower regions of the conductive interconnects, the first air gapspacer insulative structures comprising first dielectric spacers along sidewalls of the conductive interconnects, and comprising air gaps between the first dielectric spacers; and
second air gapspacer insulative structures within the intervening regions between the wide upper regions of the conductive interconnects, the second air gapspacer insulative structures comprising second dielectric spacers along sidewalls of the conductive interconnects, and comprising the air gaps between the second dielectric spacers.
23. The construction of claim 22 wherein the conductive line comprises a different composition than the conductive interconnects.
24. The construction of claim 23 wherein the conductive line comprises copper and the conductive interconnects comprise tungsten.
25. The construction of claim 22 wherein the first dielectric spacers comprise a different composition than the second dielectric spacers.
26. The construction of claim 25 wherein the first dielectric spacers comprise one or both of silicon nitride and silicon dioxide; and wherein the second dielectric spacers comprise one or more of aluminum oxide, hafnium oxide, silicon oxide, zirconium oxide and silicon nitride.
27. The construction of claim 25 wherein the first dielectric spacers are a single homogenous material; and wherein the second dielectric spacers are a laminate of two or more different materials.
28. The construction of claim 25 wherein the first dielectric spacers are wider than the second dielectric spacers.
29. The construction of claim 28 wherein the first air gaps are narrower than the second air gaps.