Systems and methods for implementing an address directory link

• US 20050187654A1
• Filed: 07/29/2004
• Published: 08/25/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/2003
• 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: Avant, Oscar L.
• Granted Patent: US 8,165,970 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/215
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management

Abstract

Methods and systems consistent with the present invention facilitate mailpiece processing by processing a mailpiece using an Address Directory Link (ADL) format. The present invention allows for mail to be sent when the sender may not know the delivery address of the desired recipient. In one embodiment, a method includes recognizing the ADL format on a mailpiece; reading ADL formatted data from the mailpiece; and determining a delivery address based on the ADL formatted data using an ADL database. Consistent with the present invention, this method may further include delivering the mailpiece to the delivery address associated with the ADL formatted data.

Claims

1. A method for processing a mailpiece using an Address Directory Link (ADL) format, comprising:

recognizing the ADL format on a mailpiece;

reading ADL formatted data from the mailpiece; and

determining a delivery address based on the ADL formatted data using an ADL database.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

delivering the mailpiece to the delivery address associated with the ADL formatted data.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the ADL format is a standardized block layout.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the ADL formatted data is a telephone number.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

notifying the delivery address, via a telephone call, of information about the mailpiece.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the information about the mailpiece is an arrival time.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the ADL database is created by comparing ADL formatted data to a delivery address database.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the ADL database comprises:

the ADL formatted data; and

the delivery address that corresponds to the ADL formatted data.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the ADL database comprises:

the ADL formatted data; and

a unique identifier that corresponds to the ADL formatted data.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the unique identifier is a bar code.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

affixing the unique identifier to the mailpiece.

12. A system for processing a mailpiece using an Address Directory Link (ADL) format, comprising:

means for recognizing the ADL format on a mailpiece;

means for reading ADL formatted data from the mailpiece; and

means for determining a delivery address based on the ADL formatted data using an ADL database.

13. The system of claim 12, further comprising:

means for delivering the mailpiece to the delivery address associated with the ADL formatted data.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the ADL format is a standardized block layout.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein the ADL formatted data is a telephone number.

16. The system of claim 15, further comprising:

means for notifying the delivery address, via a telephone call, of an information about the mailpiece.

17. The system of claim 12, wherein the ADL database is created by comparing ADL formatted data to a delivery address database.

18. The system of claim 12, wherein the ADL database comprises:

the ADL formatted data; and

the delivery address that corresponds to the ADL formatted data.

19. The system of claim 12, wherein the ADL database comprises:

the ADL formatted data; and

a unique identifier that corresponds to the ADL formatted data.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the unique identifier is a bar code.

21. The system of claim 19, further comprising:

means for affixing the unique identifier to the mailpiece.

22. A computer-readable medium containing instructions to configure a data processor to perform a method for processing a mailpiece using an Address Directory Link (ADL) format, the method comprising:

recognizing the ADL format on a mailpiece;

reading ADL formatted data from the mailpiece; and

determining a delivery address based on the ADL formatted data using an ADL database.

23. The computer-readable medium of claim 22, wherein the ADL format is a standardized block layout.

24. The computer-readable medium of claim 22, wherein the ADL formatted data is a telephone number.

25. The computer-readable medium of claim 24, wherein the method further comprises:

notifying the delivery address, via a telephone call, of information about the mailpiece.

26. The computer-readable medium of claim 25, wherein the information about the mailpiece is an arrival time.

27. The computer-readable medium of claim 22, wherein the ADL database is created by comparing ADL formatted data to a delivery address database.

28. The computer-readable medium of claim 22, wherein the ADL database comprises:

the ADL formatted data; and

the delivery address that corresponds to the ADL formatted data.

29. The computer-readable medium of claim 22, wherein the ADL database comprises:

the ADL formatted data; and

a unique identifier that corresponds to the ADL formatted data.

30. The computer-readable medium of claim 29, wherein the unique identifier is a bar code.