System and methods for mail security

• US 20020083022A1
• Filed: 12/27/2001
• Published: 06/27/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Symbol Technologies, LLC (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc. (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Inventors: Algazi, Allan Stuart
• Granted Patent: US 7,343,299 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/408
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 17/00508 Printing or attaching on mailpieces printing mechanisms B41J; security printing B41M3/14; marking methods B41M5/00; inks C09D11/00; record carriers with at least a part designed to carry digital markings G06K19/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 17/00733 Cryptography or similar special procedures in a franking system
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/0004 Determining the location of mailpieces outside apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00145 via the Internet
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00588 Barcode
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00838 Personal data, i.e. biometrics
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/37 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voice recognition

Abstract

A method of securing the mails is described. Using a mail information retrieval system and a the use of data-rich, machine readable barcodes to make each mailing piece unique by including data that ‘lives’ with the mail piece or package allows mail to become traceable. Since traceable mail is less likely to become tainted, resources may be focused on mail that is not traceable.

Claims

1. A method of sending a package, comprising

printing an electronic stamp including a two-dimensional bar code encoding previously provided biometric information of the receiver and biographical information of the sender;

scanning the two-dimensional bar code;

decoding the two-dimensional bar code to obtain the receiver'"'"'s previously provided biometric information and conveying the receiver'"'"'s current biometric information; and

if the receiver'"'"'s current biometric information is equivalent to the receiver'"'"'s previously provided biometric information, providing the package and the biographical information of the sender to the receiver . . .

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the use receiver'"'"'s previously provided biometric information and the receiver'"'"'s current biometric information include data related to the receiver'"'"'s fingerprint.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the use receiver'"'"'s previously provided biometric information and the receiver'"'"'s current biometric information include data related to the receiver'"'"'s handprint.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the use receiver'"'"'s previously provided biometric information and the receiver'"'"'s current biometric information include data related to the receiver'"'"'s voice print.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiver'"'"'s previously provided biometric information and the receiver'"'"'s current biometric information include data related to the receiver'"'"'s facial features.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiver'"'"'s previously provided biometric information and the receiver'"'"'s current biometric information include data related to the receiver'"'"'s signature.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein conveying the receiver'"'"'s current biometric information is accomplished by:

affixing the receiver'"'"'s signature to a signature bar code; and

scanning the signature bar code.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the two-dimensional bar code utilizes the PDF 417 symbology.

9. An apparatus for delivering goods, comprising:

a notifier for notifying a user electronically that a package has arrived at a predetermined location;

a scanner for scanning a two-dimensional bar code provided by a user at the predetermined location, wherein the two-dimensional bar code encodes information relating to the user'"'"'s identification;

a decoder for decoding the user'"'"'s previously provided biometric information from the two-dimensional bar code;

a collector for collecting the user'"'"'s current biometric information;

a comparator for comparing the user'"'"'s current biometric information and the user'"'"'s previously provided biometric information; and

a provider for providing the package to the user if the user'"'"'s current biometric infonnation matches the user'"'"'s previously provided biometric information.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising:

a presenter for presenting the package for visual inspection by the user prior to providing the package to the user by the provider.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the notifier operates via a cell phone.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the notifier operates via a PDA.

13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the notifier operates via a two-way pager.

14. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the user'"'"'s previously provided biometric information and the user'"'"'s current biometric information include data related to the user'"'"'s fingerprint.

15. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the user'"'"'s previously provided biometric information and the user'"'"'s current biometric information include data related to the user'"'"'s handprint.

16. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the user'"'"'s previously provided biometric information and the user'"'"'s current biometric information include data related to the user'"'"'s voiceprint.

17. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the user'"'"'s previously provided biometric information and the user'"'"'s current biometric information include data related to the user'"'"'s facial features.

18. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the user'"'"'s previously provided biometric information and the user'"'"'s current biometric information include data related to the user'"'"'s signature.

19. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the two-dimensional bar code utilizes the PDF 417 symbology.

20. A method of establishing a service for package delivery, comprising:

a user providing to a service provider select biometric information, select contact information, select recipient information, and select financial information in a secure fashion;

insuring that the select financial information and the select biometric information are stored in a secure manner apart from the select contact information; and

encoding the select biometric information and select recipient information so as to be capable of being printed in a two-dimensional bar code.

21. The method as in claim 20, further comprising:

the user ordering a package from a package provider and directing the provider to send the package to the service provider;

the package provider contacting the service provider to obtain the user'"'"'s select contact information;

the service provider notifying the user electronically that the package has arrived at a predetermined location.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the step of the user ordering a package is accomplished via the Internet.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the select biometric information include data related to the user'"'"'s facial features.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein the select biometric information include data related to the user'"'"'s voiceprint.

25. The method of claim 21, wherein the select biometric information include data related to the user'"'"'s fingerprint.

26. The method of claim 21, wherein the select biometric information include data related to the user'"'"'s signature.

27. The method of claim 21, wherein the select biometric information include data related to the user'"'"'s handprint.