Method for a carrier to determine the location of a missing person

• US 20020143559A1
• Filed: 03/27/2001
• Published: 10/03/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pitney Bowes Incorporated (Böwe Systec AG)
• Original Assignee: Pitney Bowes Incorporated (Böwe Systec AG)
• Inventors: Sansone, Ronald P.
• Granted Patent: US 6,993,491 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/01 Social networking

Abstract

A method that enables a carrier to find the address of a missing person. The carrier accomplishes the foregoing by receiving the name of a missing person; receiving a list of parties that the missing person is likely to receive mail from or send mail to; scanning mail faces that have been deposited with the carrier by a sender; determining if the scanned mail includes the name of the missing person and a party appearing on the list of parties; producing a list of scanned names and addresses that include the name of the missing person and the party appearing on the list of parties; delivering the list to a party that is permitted by law to receive the list regarding the missing person; and reviewing the delivered list to determine if the missing person is the recipient or sender of mail that is likely to be the missing person.

Claims

1. A method for determining the location of a missing person, said method comprises the steps of:

receiving the name of a missing person;

receiving a list of parties that the missing person is likely to receive mail from or send mail to;

scanning mail faces that have been deposited with the carrier by a sender;

determining if the scanned mail includes the name of the missing person and a party appearing on the list of parties;

producing a list of scanned names and addresses that include the name of the missing person and the party appearing on the list of parties;

delivering the list to a party that is permitted by law to receive the list regarding the missing person; and

reviewing the delivered list to determine if the missing person is the recipient or sender of mail that is likely to be the missing person.

2. The method claimed in claim 1, further including the step of:

verifying that the likely person is the missing person.

3. The method claimed in claim 2, further including the step of charging the recipient for verifying that the likely person is the missing person.

4. The method claimed in claim 1, further including the step of charging the recipient for producing a list of scanned names and addresses.

5. The method claimed in claim 1, further including the step of delivering a reproduction of the scanned image of the mail face that includes the name of the missing person and a party appearing on the list of parties.

6. A method for determining the location of a missing person using an alias, said method comprises the steps of:

receiving the name of a missing person;

receiving a list of parties that the missing person is likely to receive mail from or send mail to;

scanning mail faces that have been deposited with the carrier by a sender;

determining if the scanned mail includes an alias of the missing person and a party appearing on the list of parties;

producing a list of scanned names and addresses that include an alias of the missing person and the party appearing on the list of parties;

delivering the list to a party that is permitted by law to receive the list regarding the missing person; and

reviewing the delivered list to determine if an alias of the missing person is the recipient or sender of mail that is likely to be the missing person.

7. The method claimed in claim 6, further including the step of:

verifying that the likely person is the missing person.

8. The method claimed in claim 7, further including the step of charging the recipient for verifying that the likely person is the missing person.

9. The method claimed in claim 6, further including the step of charging the recipient for producing a list of scanned names and addresses.

10. The method claimed in claim 6, further including the step of delivering a reproduction of the scanned image of the mail face that includes the name of the missing person and a party appearing on the list of parties.