Remote mailbox management system and method

• US 20040030722A1
• Filed: 05/05/2003
• Published: 02/12/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2000
• 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: Garey, Ronald
• Granted Patent: US 7,797,280 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/104.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• 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 2017/00096 via phone lines
• 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: G07B 2017/00443 Verification of mailpieces, e.g. by checking databases
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00483 Batch processing of mailpieces
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00709 Scanning mailpieces

Abstract

Methods and systems consistent with this invention manage a database of delivery destination information. Such methods and systems identify an item to be delivered to a destination; determine a batch of items for delivery having the item to be delivered to the destination; determine when the batch of items has been delivered: and update the database to indicate a delivery of the item destined to the destination after determining when the batch of items has been delivered.

Claims

1. A method of managing a database of delivery destination information, comprising the steps of:

identifying an item to be delivered to a destination;

determining a batch of items for delivery having the item to be delivered to the destination;

determining when the batch of items has been delivered; and

updating the database to indicate a delivery of the item destined to the destination after determining when the batch of items has been delivered.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising

identifying the destination for delivery;

and

querying the database for the item to be delivered to the destination.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the destination for delivery is a post office box.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising

identifying a customer associated with the destination;

and

notifying the customer that the item was delivered to the destination.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the step of notifying includes the step of notifying the customer by telephone.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the step of notifying includes the step of notifying the customer by email.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising

identifying a customer associated with the destination;

and

configuring the database of delivery destination information to be accessed by the customer.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of querying the database for a current location of the item.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of querying the database includes querying the database for a type of the item.

10. The method of claim 8, further including the step of updating the database of delivery destination information of the current location of the item.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein the method further comprises

identifying a customer associated with the destination;

notifying the customer that the item was delivered to the destination.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 14, wherein the step of notifying includes the step of notifying the customer by telephone.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 14, wherein the step of notifying includes the step of notifying the customer by email.

11. A computer-readable medium containing instructions for controlling a computer system to perform a method of operating a processor, the method comprising the steps of:

identifying an item to be delivered to a destination;

determining a batch of items for delivery having the item to be delivered to the destination;

determining when the batch of items has been delivered; and

updating the database to indicate a delivery of the item destined to the destination after determining when the batch of items has been delivered.

12. The computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein the method further comprises the steps of

identifying the destination for delivery;

and

querying the database for the item to be delivered to the destination.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein the destination for delivery is a post office box.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein the method further comprises

identifying a customer associated with the destination;

configuring the database of delivery destination information to be accessed by the customer.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein the method further comprises the step of querying the database for a current location of the item.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein the method further comprises the step of querying the database for a type of the item.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein the method further comprises the step of updating the database of delivery destination information of the current location of the item.

21. An apparatus for managing a database of delivery destination information, the apparatus comprising:

means for identifying an item to be delivered to a destination;

means for determining a batch of items for delivery having the item to be delivered to the destination;

means for determining when the batch of items has been delivered; and

means for updating the database to indicate a delivery of the item destined to the destination after determining when the batch of items has been delivered.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, further comprising

means for identifying the destination for delivery;

and

means for querying the database for the item to be delivered to the destination.

23. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the destination for delivery is a post office box.

24. The apparatus of claim 21, further comprising

means for identifying a customer associated with the destination;

and

means for notifying the customer that the item was delivered to the destination.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the means for notifying includes means for notifying the customer by telephone.

26. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the means for notifying includes means for notifying the customer by email.

27. The apparatus of claim 21, further comprising

means for identifying a customer associated with the destination;

and

means for configuring the database of delivery destination information to be accessed by the customer.

28. The apparatus of claim 21, further comprising means for querying the database for a current location of the item.

29. The apparatus of claim 21, further comprising means for querying the database includes querying the database for a type of the item.

30. The apparatus of claim 28, further including means for updating the database of delivery destination information of the current location of the item.

31. A system comprising:

a database of delivery destination information; and

a processor configured to identify an item to be delivered to a destination, determine a batch of items for delivery having the item to be delivered to the destination, determine when the batch of items has been delivered, and updating the database to indicate a delivery of the item destined to the destination after determining when the batch of items has been delivered.

32. The system of claim 31, wherein the processor is further configured to identify the destination for delivery, and query the database for the item to be delivered to the destination.

33. The system of claim 31, wherein the destination for delivery is a post office box.

34. The system of claim 31, wherein the processor is further configured to identify a customer associated with the destination, and notify the customer that the item was delivered to the destination.

35. The system of claim 34, wherein the processor is further configured to notify the customer by telephone.

36. The system of claim 34, wherein the processor is further configured to notify the customer by email.

37. The system of claim 31, wherein the processor is further configured to identify a customer associated with the destination, and configuring the database of delivery destination information to be accessed by the customer.

38. The system of claim 31, wherein the processor is further configured to query the database for a current location of the item.

39. The system of claim 31, wherein the system is further configured to query the database includes querying the database for a type of the item.

40. The system of claim 38, wherein the processor is further configured to update the database of delivery destination information of the current location of the item.