Apparatus for improved sortation and delivery point processing of military mail

• US 20040220888A1
• Filed: 05/02/2003
• Published: 11/04/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Korber Supply Chain LLC
• Original Assignee: Siemens Industry Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: OʼMartin, Alan, Macia, Carlos, Fisher, Robert, Sipe, Wayne
• Granted Patent: US 7,949,613 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/401
• 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 10/0831 Overseas transactions
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0832 Special goods or special handling procedures, e.g. handling of hazardous or fragile goods
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08355 Routing methods

Abstract

The invention seeks to improve the effectiveness of sortation and delivery point processing of military mail on behalf of the U.S. military. A method for distributing military mail includes the steps of compiling military unit and associated delivery code information into a computer searchable military address management system database which associates a military unit zip code with a current geographic location for that unit; obtaining military unit personnel change of address information from a number of sources including a national change of address database maintained by a federal postal service and input from a military unit to which a military mail recipient belongs, which information is compiled into a computer searchable military change of address database, which information includes change of address information more recent than change of address information reflected in a federal national change of address database; and using information from the military address management system database and the military change of address database to redirect incorrectly addressed mail pieces to a military mail recipient'"'"'s current address.

Claims

1. A method for distributing military mail, comprising

(a) compiling military unit and associated delivery code information into a computer searchable military address management system database which associates a military unit zip code with a current geographic location for that unit;

(b) obtaining military unit personnel change of address information from a number of sources including a national change of address database maintained by a federal postal service and input from a military unit to which a military mail recipient belongs, which information is compiled into a computer searchable military change of address database, which information includes change of address information more recent than change of address information reflected in a federal national change of address database; and

(c) using information from the military address management system database and the military change of address database to redirect incorrectly addressed mail pieces to a military mail recipient'"'"'s current address.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein step (c) is carried out while sorting mail addressed to military recipients into batches based on military zip codes, whereby incorrectly addressed mail pieces can be redirected without first being delivered to the incorrect address.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the federal national change of address database is the USPS NCOA database.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein step (b) comprises receiving change of address information through a network.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising a step (d) of distributing information from the military address management system database and the military change of address database to users.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising allowing online access to information from the military address management system database and the military change of address database to users through a secure network.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein step (d) further comprises:

receiving an address list from a customer;

preparing a revised version of the address list using data corresponding to addresses on the customer'"'"'s address list from the military address management system database and the military change of address database enhanced database; and

sending the revised address list to the customer.

8. A system for distributing change of address information more current than a master postal change of address database, comprising:

a computer searchable military address management system database which associates a military unit zip code with a current geographic location for that unit;

a computer searchable military change of address database containing military unit personnel change of address information from a number of sources including a national change of address database maintained by a federal postal service and input from a military unit to which a military mail recipient belongs, which information includes change of address information more recent than change of address information reflected in a federal national change of address database; and

means for using information from the military address management system database and the military change of address database to redirect incorrectly addressed mail pieces to a military mail recipient'"'"'s current address.

9. The system of claim 8, further comprising means for compiling recent address change information in order to create updated versions of the military address management system database and military change of address database.

10. The system of claim 8, further comprising means for distributing information from the military address management system database and military change of address database.

11. A system for distributing military change of address information, comprising:

a computer searchable military address management system database containing military unit and ZIP code information from a number of sources including a USPS ZIP+4 database, which information includes information more recent than address information reflected in the USPS ZIP+4 database;

means for obtaining military unit, personnel and dependent change of address information from a number of sources including a USPS NCOA database, which information is compiled in a computer searchable military change of address database, which information includes information more recent than address information reflected in the USPS NCOA database; and

means for distributing information from the military address management system database and the military change of address database to military customers via a network.

12. A method for delivering military mail outside the United States, comprising:

receiving mail addressed to military personnel at addresses outside the United States through the U. S Postal Service;

collecting such mail at a plurality of collection centers operated by the U. S Postal Service, which collection centers are each designated to receive mail for one or more overseas military postal codes;

transferring control of such mail at each center to a private service bureau associated with that collection center, there being one service bureau for each collection center;

determining if each piece of such mail should be forwarded to a different destination than one to which it was originally addressed, as indicated by military unit location determined from a military address management system database and location of a military recipient determined from a military change of address database;

sorting mail to be forwarded into groups according to the designated collection center for the different destination;

transferring each group of mail to be forwarded to its designated collection center for each group; and

then transporting mail from each collection center to one or more predetermined locations for delivery to a branch of the military for distribution to military personnel outside the United States.