Marketing bar code method for distribution of promotional pieces

• US 20040039634A1
• Filed: 02/24/2003
• Published: 02/26/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• 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: Cook, Thomas J
• Application Number:
  US10/362,505
• Publication Number:
  US 20040039634A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/14
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0225 Avoiding frauds
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0239 Online discounts or incentives
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0271 Personalized advertisement
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/0297 including a machine-readable marking, e.g. a bar code digitally marked record carriers in general G06K19/00

Abstract

A method of tracking parcels and assembling bulk mail parcels using barcodes.

Claims

1. A method for assembling bulk mail parcels each containing at least one printed piece to be returned to the sender or the sender'"'"'s designee, the method comprising the steps of:

printing a bar code on each of the printed pieces to be returned for each of the respective parcels, the bar code containing information including at least the mailing address of the parcel; and

reading the bar code upon return of the printed piece to obtain information about an addressee of the parcel.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the bar code including the mailing address on each of the printed pieces is an address bar code that differs in appearance from other bar codes used on the parcel.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the address bar code is a POSTNET or Confirm®

) bar code.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the address bar code is a universal product bar code

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the bar code including the mailing address on each of the printed pieces is a single coupon bar code that includes the mailing address.

6. A method for distributing at least one discount coupon to promote the sale of goods or services, comprising:

obtaining the name and address of a person to receive the at least one discount coupon;

placing a bar code on the at least one discount coupon representing an encoded version of the name and address of the person; and

reading the bar code to confirm that the person has used the at least one discount coupon.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the at least one discount coupon is distributed by mail.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the address is a mailing address.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the at least one discount coupon is distributed via the Internet.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the address is at least one of a mailing address and an e-mail address.