Sender elected messaging services

• US 20020143880A1
• 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: Cordery, Robert A., Mackay, Donald G., Sansone, Ronald P.
• Granted Patent: US 7,085,811 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 17/00016 Relations between apparatus, e.g. franking machine at customer or apparatus at post office, in a franking system
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 17/00024 Physical or organizational aspects of franking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/0004 Determining the location of mailpieces outside apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00072 Hybrid mail, i.e. mail delivered using different physical means along the mail delivery path, e.g. email and envelope
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00145 via the Internet
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00161 from a central, non-user location, e.g. for updating rates or software, or for refilling funds
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/066 Format adaptation, e.g. format conversion or compression

Abstract

A method that enables the recipient to receive notification of the letters, flats and/or packages (mail) that the recipient is going to receive prior to the delivery of the mail. The recipient is then able to inform a post or courier, e.g., Federal Express®, Airborne®, United Parcel Service®, DHL®, etc., of the manner in which the recipient would like the mail delivered if the sender elects to permit the recipient to divert the mail. The post and courier hereinafter will be referred to as “carrier”. For instance, the recipient may want the mail physically delivered to their house faster or slower, or the mail physically redirected to the recipient'"'"'s temporary address, or physically delivered to the recipient'"'"'s agent, or physically delivered to the recipient'"'"'s attorney, or physically returned to the mailer, or have the carrier open the physical mail and have the post email or fax the contents of the envelope to the recipient and/or parties designated by the recipient.

Claims

1. A method that enables a recipient to inform a carrier of the manner in which the recipient would like the mail delivered, said method comprises the steps of:

depositing with the carrier mail containing the recipient'"'"'s name and physical address and the sender'"'"'s name and address;

capturing the name and physical address of the recipient and the sender;

translating the name and physical address of the recipient into an e-mail address;

notifying the recipient of the availability of the deposited mail;

notifying the carrier of the manner in which the recipient would like the mail delivered;

notifying the carrier that the sender does not elect the deposited mail to be diverted; and

delivering mail to the recipient in the manner specified by the recipient to the carrier, if the sender elects to permit the recipient to divert the mail.

2. The method claimed in claim 1, wherein the sender places an indication on the mail specifying that the mail should not be diverted by the recipient.

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

charging the sender for placing an indication on the mail specifying that the mail should not be diverted by the recipient.

4. The method claimed in claim 1, wherein the sender places an indication on the mail specifying that the mail should be delivered only as specified by the sender.

5. The method claimed in claim 4, further including the step of:

charging the sender for placing an indication on the mail specifying that the mail should be delivered only as specified by the sender.

6. The method claimed in claim 1, wherein the recipient notifies a data center who notifies the carrier of the manner in which the recipient would like the mail delivered.