System and method for predelivery notification using mail image

• US 20040139033A1
• Filed: 10/09/2003
• Published: 07/15/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/2001
• 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: Amato, Michael J.
• Granted Patent: US 10,346,891 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/400
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/083 Shipping
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0283 Price estimation or determination
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions

Abstract

A method and system is provided for notifying an addressee about a mail piece having an address. The system captures an image of the mail piece and determines a communication channel for the addressee using the address from the mail piece. The system provides the addressee with the image via the communication channel.

Claims

1. A method for notifying an addressee about an item having an address and being processed by a delivery service, comprising the steps of:

capturing an image of the item after receipt of the item by the delivery service;

determining a communication channel for the addressee using the address from the item; and

notifying the addressee of the item via the communication channel.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the item is a mail piece.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein notifying comprises providing the addressee with the image.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the step of capturing an image includes the step of:

capturing a digital image of the item and processing the digital image using an Optical Character Reader system.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining a communication channel includes the step of:

looking up an email address for the addressee in a database using the address from the item.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein the step of providing the addressee with the image includes the step of:

emailing the image to the addressee.

7. The method of claim 3, wherein the step of providing the addressee with the image includes the step of:

emailing a website address to the addressee; and

accessing the website address to view the image.

8. The method of claim 1, further including the step of:

determining the sender from the captured image.

9. The method of claim 1, further including the step of:

determining the character of the mail piece from the provided image.

10. A method for informing an addressee having an address about a mail piece having the address and being processed by a delivery service, comprising the steps of:

supplying communication channel information to a delivery service;

storing the communication channel information based on the address;

capturing an image of the mail piece during processing by the delivery service;

retrieving the stored communication channel information based on the mail piece'"'"'s address; and

sending the image to the addressee via the retrieved communication channel.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of supplying communication channel information includes the step of:

supplying an email address, and

wherein the step of sending the image to the addressee via the retrieved communication channel includes the step of;

emailing the image to the addressee.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of storing the communication channel information based on the address;

includes the step of;

storing the communication channel information in a database, indexed by the address.

13. A system for notifying an addressee about a item having an address and being processed by a delivery service, comprising:

means for capturing an image of the item after receipt of the item by the delivery service;

means for determining a communication channel for the addressee using the address from the item; and

means for notifying the addressee of the item via the communication channel.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the notifying means comprises means for providing the addressee with the image.

15. A system for informing an addressee having an address about a item having the address and being processed by a delivery service, comprising:

means for supplying communication channel information to a delivery service;

means for storing the communication channel information based on the address;

means for capturing an image of the item by the delivery service;

means for retrieving the stored communication channel information based on the item'"'"'s address; and

means for sending the image to the addressee via the retrieved communication channel.