System and method for predelivery notification using mail image

• US 10,346,891 B2
• Filed: 04/09/2002
• Issued: 07/09/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: United States Postal Service (Government of the United States of America)
• Original Assignee: United States Postal Service (Government of the United States of America)
• Inventors: Amato, Michael J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Erb, Nathan
• Application Number:
  US10/474,435
• Publication Number:
  US 20040139033A1
• Time in Patent Office: 6,300 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/083 Shipping
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0283 Price estimation or determination
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions

Abstract

A method and system is provided for notifying an addressee about a mail piece having an address. The system captures an image of the mail piece and determines a communication channel for the addressee using the address from the mail piece. The system provides the addressee with the image via the communication channel.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

performing a first sorting operation on an item having an address for an addressee;

during the first sorting operation;

capturing a first image of information available from a visual inspection of the item, the first image including the address,

based on the first image, recognizing the address and causing a barcode to be applied to the item, the barcode comprising an indication of the address, and

storing the first image in a database indexed by the address;

performing a second sorting operation on the item;

during the second sorting operation;

capturing a second image of the information available from the visual inspection of the item, the second image including the address and the barcode,

based on the second image, decoding the barcode to determine the address, and

storing the second image in the database indexed by the address;

based on the address, determining from the database a communication channel linked to the address;

sending a notification for the item via the communication channel; and

discarding the first image and the second image prior to a delivery of the item.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the item is a mail piece.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein capturing the first image includes:

capturing a digital image of the item and processing the digital image using an Optical Character Reader system.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the communication channel includes:

looking up an email address linked to the address in the database.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein sending the notification includes:

sending an email that includes the second image as an attachment.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein sending the notification includes:

sending an email that includes a website address to access the second image.

7. The method of claim 1, further including:

determining a sender from at least one of the first image and the second image.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the notification includes a physical location of the item.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the notification further includes a time when the item was located at the physical location.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein sending the notification comprises:

determining from at least one of the first image and the second image, whether the item is a flat or a package and providing information specifying whether the item is a flat or a package.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein each of the first image and the second image further includes postage of the item.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the notification further includes a location of the item and a date that the item was at the location.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising sending the first image or the second image at one or more predetermined times during the first and the second sorting operations.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising sending the first image during the first sorting operation.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising sending one or more images of the item during a final sorting operation performed on the item.

16. A method comprising:

receiving an indication of an address for an addressee, communication channel information, and notification information;

storing the communication channel information and the notification information based on the address;

performing a first sorting operation on a mail piece addressed to the address;

during the first sorting operation;

capturing a first image of information available from a visual inspection of the mail piece, the first image including the address,

based on the first image, recognizing the address and causing a barcode to be applied to the mail piece, the barcode comprising an indication of the address, and

storing the first image in a database indexed by the address;

performing a second sorting operation on the mail piece;

during the second sorting operation;

capturing a second image of the information available from the visual inspection of the mail piece, the second image including the address and the barcode,

based on the second image, decoding the barcode to determine the address, and

storing the second image in the database indexed by the address;

retrieving the stored communication channel information and the stored notification information based on the address;

determining, based on the retrieved notification information, that the addressee has requested to receive image notifications of the mail piece;

sending the first image and the second image to the addressee based on the retrieved communication channel information; and

discarding the first image and the second image prior to a delivery of the mail piece.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein:

the communication channel information includes an email address; and

sending the first image and the second image to the addressee based on the retrieved communication channel information includes emailing the first image and the second image to the addressee.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein storing the communication channel information based on the address includes:

storing the communication channel information in a database, indexed by the address.

19. A system comprising:

a processor; and

a memory storing instructions that are executed by the processor to perform a method comprising;

during a first sorting operation on an item having an address for an addressee;

capturing a first image of information available from a visual inspection of the item, the first image including the address,

based on the first image, recognizing the address and causing a barcode to be applied to the item, the barcode comprising an indication of the address, and

storing the first image in a database indexed by the address;

performing a second sorting operation on the item;

during the second sorting operation;

capturing a second image of the information available from the visual inspection of the item, the second image including the address and the barcode,

based on the second image, decoding the barcode to determine the address, and

storing the second image in the database indexed by the address;

based on the address, determining, from the database, a communication channel linked to the address;

sending a notification for the item via the communication channel; and

discarding the first image and the second image prior to a delivery of the item.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein sending the notification comprises:

determining from at least one of the first image and the second image, whether the item is a flat or a package and providing information specifying whether the item is a flat or a package.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein each of the first image and the second image further includes postage of the item.

22. The system of claim 19, wherein the notification further includes a location of the item and a date that the item was at the location.

23. The system of claim 19, the method further comprising:

sending the first image or the second image at one or more predetermined times during the first and the second sorting operations.

24. The system of claim 19, the method further comprising:

sending the first image during the first sorting operation.

25. The system of claim 19, the method further comprising:

sending one or more images of the item during a final sorting operation performed on the item.

26. A system comprising:

a processor; and

a memory storing instructions that are executed by the processor to perform a method comprising;

receiving an indication of an address for an addressee, communication channel information, and notification information;

storing the communication channel information and the notification information based on the address;

performing a first sorting operation on an item addressed to the address;

during the first sorting operation;

capturing a first image of information available from a visual inspection of the item, the first image including the address,

based on the first image, recognizing the address and causing a barcode to be applied to the item, the barcode comprising an indication of the address, and

storing the first image in a database indexed by the address;

performing a second sorting operation on the item;

during the second sorting operation;

based on the first image, recognizing the address and capturing a second image of the information available from the visual inspection of the item, the second image including the address and the barcode,

based on the second image, decoding the barcode to determine the address, and

storing the second image in the database indexed by the address;

retrieving the stored communication channel information and the stored notification information based on the address;

determining, based on the retrieved notification information, that the addressee has requested to receive image notifications of the item;

sending the first image and the second image to the addressee based on the retrieved communication channel information; and

discarding the first image and the second image prior to a delivery of the item.

27. A method, comprising:

performing a first sorting operation on an item having an address for an addressee;

during the first sorting operation;

capturing a first image of information available from a visual inspection of the item, the first image including the address,

based on the first image, recognizing the address and causing a barcode to be applied to the item, the barcode comprising an indication of the address,

encoding the first image as a first digital file, and

storing the first digital file in a database indexed by the address;

performing a second sorting operation on the item;

during the second sorting operation;

capturing a second image of the information available from the visual inspection of the item, the second image including the address and the barcode,

based on the second image, decoding the barcode to determine the address, and

encoding the second image as a second digital file;

determining an electronic mail address for the addressee using the address from the item;

sending the first and the second digital files to the electronic mail address for the addressee; and

discarding the first and the second digital files prior to a delivery of the item.

28. A method comprising:

performing a first sorting operation on an item having an address for an addressee;

during the first sorting operation;

capturing a first image of information available from a visual inspection of the item, the first image including the address,

based on the first image, recognizing the address and causing a barcode to be applied to the item, the barcode comprising an indication of the address, and

encoding the first image as a first digital file;

performing a second sorting operation on the item;

during the second sorting operation;

capturing a second image of the information available from the visual inspection of the item, the second image including the address and the barcode,

based on the second image, decoding the barcode to determine the address, and

encoding the second image as a second digital file;

determining an electronic mail address for the addressee using the address from the item;

determining that the addressee has requested to receive image notifications of items;

sending an electronic message to the electronic mail address for the addressee, wherein the electronic message includes a link to a server storing the first and the second digital files; and

discarding the first and the second digital files prior to a delivery of the item.