System and method for redirecting mail

• US 20040117328A1
• Filed: 10/02/2003
• Published: 06/17/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/2002
• 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: Andrew, Emily
• Granted Patent: US 8,255,339 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/410
• CPC Class Codes: B07C 3/00 Sorting according to destination collating the pages of a book B42C1/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/083 Shipping
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/32 Post and telecommunications franking apparatus G07B17/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/60 Business processes related to postal services shipping G06Q10/083; franking apparatus G07B17/00

Abstract

To temporarily redirect a customer'"'"'s mail from a current mailing address to a temporary mailing address a request to temporary redirect the customer'"'"'s mail is received. The request specifies at least one type of mail to redirect, the temporary mailing address, how to redirect the mail, and when to redirect the mail. The customer'"'"'s mail is directed to the temporary mailing address according to the request.

Claims

1. A method for temporarily redirecting a customer'"'"'s mail from a current mailing address to a temporary mailing address, the method comprising:

receiving a request to temporarily redirect the customer'"'"'s mail, wherein the request specifies at least one type of mail to redirect, the temporary mailing address, how to redirect the mail, and when to redirect the mail; and

redirecting the customer'"'"'s mail to the temporary mailing address according to the request.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the request is received via the Internet.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the one type of mail to redirect consists of at least one of:

all mail, bills, or periodicals.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the request specifies that the mail is to be redirected using an expedited mailing process.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the expedited mailing process is Priority Mail™

or Express Mail™

.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein when to redirect the mail is determined based on an arrival date and a departure date received, wherein the arrival date is the date the customer will arrive at the temporary mailing address and the departure date is the date the customer will depart from the temporary mailing address.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

creating a trust account to be debited an amount for redirecting the customer'"'"'s mail.

8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

informing at least one mail source of the request to redirect the mail from that mail source to the temporary mailing address.

9. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a notification that the customer has arrived at the temporary mailing address; and

informing at least one contact of the customer'"'"'s arrival.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the temporary mailing address is a hotel and the notification is received when the customer checks in at the hotel.

11. The method according to claim 9, wherein informing at least one contact of the customer'"'"'s arrival comprises:

emailing the at least one contact based on at least one email address received.

12. The method according to claim 9, further comprising:

informing the at least one contact of the customer'"'"'s contact information.

13. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

providing information on the contents of a post office box to the customer, wherein the mail is redirected to the post office box.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein information on the contents of the post office box comprises a number of mail pieces in the post office box.

15. The method according to claim 13, wherein the information on the contents of the post office box is provided to the customer via the Internet.

16. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

providing a package to the customer when the customer arrives at the temporary mailing address, wherein the package is based on profile information received from the customer.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the package includes coupons for services or goods or at least one map.

18. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

canceling mail redirection a predetermined amount of time before the customer departs from the temporary mailing address; and

holding the mail until the customer arrives at the current mailing address.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein the mail is delivered on demand when the customer arrives at the current mailing address.

20. A computer readable medium containing instructions for controlling a computer system to perform a method, the method comprising:

receiving a request to temporarily redirect the customer'"'"'s mail, wherein the request specifies at least one type of mail to redirect, the temporary mailing address, how to redirect the mail, and when to redirect the mail.

21. The computer readable medium according to claim 20, wherein the request is received via the Internet.

22. The computer readable medium according to claim 20, wherein the one type of mail to redirect consists of at least one of:

all mail, bills, or periodicals.

23. The computer readable medium according to claim 20, wherein the request specifies that the mail is to be redirected using an expedited mailing process.

24. The computer readable medium according to claim 23, wherein the expedited mailing process is Priority Mail™

or Express Mail™

.

25. The computer readable medium according to claim 20, wherein when to redirect the mail is determined based on an arrival date and a departure date received, wherein the arrival date is the date the customer will arrive at the temporary mailing address and the departure date is the date the customer will depart from the temporary mailing address.

26. The computer readable medium according to claim 20, the method further comprising:

creating a trust account to be debited an amount for redirecting the customer'"'"'s mail.

27. The computer readable medium according to claim 20, the method further comprising:

informing at least one mail source of the request to redirect the mail from that mail source to the temporary mailing address.

28. The computer readable medium according to claim 20, the method further comprising:

receiving a notification that the customer has arrived at the temporary mailing address; and

informing at least one contact of the customer'"'"'s arrival.

29. The computer readable medium according to claim 28, wherein the temporary mailing address is a hotel and the notification is received when the customer checks in at the hotel.

30. The computer readable medium according to claim 28, wherein informing at least one contact of the customer'"'"'s arrival comprises:

emailing the at least one contact based on at least one email address received.

31. The computer readable medium according to claim 28, the method further comprising:

informing the at least one contact of the customer'"'"'s contact information.

32. The computer readable medium according to claim 20, the method further comprising:

providing information on the contents of a post office box to the customer, wherein the mail is redirected to the post office box.

33. The computer readable medium according to claim 32, wherein information on the contents of the post office box comprises a number of mail pieces in the post office box.

34. The computer readable medium according to claim 32, wherein the information on the contents of the post office box is provided to the customer via the Internet.

35. The computer readable medium according to claim 20, the method further comprising:

canceling mail redirection a predetermined amount of time before the customer departs from the temporary mailing address.

36. The computer readable medium according to claim 35, the method further comprising:

receiving a request to deliver the mail on demand when the customer arrives at the current mailing address.

37. A system for temporarily redirecting a customer'"'"'s mail from a current mailing address to a temporary mailing address, the method comprising:

a processor for receiving a request to temporary redirect the customer'"'"'s mail, wherein the request specifies at least one type of mail to redirect, the temporary mailing address, how to redirect the mail, and when to redirect the mail; and

a mail redirection system for redirecting the customer'"'"'s mail to the temporary mailing address according to the request.

38. The system according to claim 37, wherein the request is received via a communication link.

39. The system according to claim 38, wherein the communication link is the Internet.

40. The system according to claim 37, further comprising an expedited mailing system for redirecting the customer'"'"'s mail.

41. The system according to claim 37, wherein the processor determines when to redirect the mail based on an arrival date and a departure date received, wherein the arrival date is the date the customer will arrive at the temporary mailing address and the departure date is the date the customer will depart from the temporary mailing address.

42. The system according to claim 37, further comprising:

an electric trust account.

43. The system according to claim 37, further comprising:

a communication link for informing at least one mail source of the request to redirect the mail from that mail source to the temporary mailing address.

44. The system according to claim 37, further comprising:

a communication link for receiving a notification that the customer has arrived at the temporary mailing address; and

a message informing at least one contact of the customer'"'"'s arrival.

45. The system according to claim 44, wherein the communication link is to a hotel.

46. The system according to claim 44, wherein the message is an email message informing the at least one contact of the customer'"'"'s arrival.

47. The system according to claim 46, wherein the message includes contact information.

48. The system according to claim 37, further comprises:

means for providing information on the contents of a post office box to the customer, wherein the mail is redirected to the post office box.

49. The system according to claim 48, wherein a communication link provides information on the contents of the post office box.

50. The system according to claim 49, wherein the communication link is the Internet.

51. The system according to claim 37, further comprising:

a package, wherein the package is based on profile information received from the customer and wherein the package is provided to the customer when the customer arrives at the temporary mailing address.

52. The system according to claim 51, wherein the package includes coupons for services or goods or at least one map.

53. The system according to claim 37, further comprising:

for a processor for canceling mail redirection a predetermined amount of time before the customer departs from the temporary mailing address; and

means for holding the mail until the customer arrives at the current mailing address.

54. The system according to claim 53, further comprising:

means for delivering the mail on demand when the customer arrives at the current mailing address.