Standardizing intelligent mail processing

• US 20050197974A1
• Filed: 09/28/2004
• Published: 09/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/2004
• 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: Keller, John J., Matthews, Bill J., McGinnis, Barbara J., Schenck, Karen E.
• Application Number:
  US10/950,630
• Publication Number:
  US 20050197974A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/401
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management

Abstract

Standardizing a mail processing system. An intelligient mail processing system provides a mail tracking code affixed to each mail piece and a mail tracking procedure using the mail tracking code. Tasks that comprise the mail processing system are identified, and the mail processing system is implemented through documentation and training. After implementation, testing insures compliance with the implemented mail processing system.

Claims

1. A method for standardizing a mail processing system, the mail processing system providing a mail tracking code for each mail piece and a mail tracking procedure using the mail tracking code, the mail tracking procedure including the steps of storing mail tracking data in an integrated data system and processing the mail tracking data in a processor, the method comprising the steps of:

identifying tasks that comprise the mail processing system;

implementing the mail processing system; and

testing for compliance with the implemented mail processing system.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the mail processing system is the CONFIRM®

system.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the identified tasks include standard customer features, standard administrative features, and standard operational features.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the standard customer features include barcode creation and application, pre-shipment notification, and customer data access.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of testing for compliance includes the step of smart seed tracking.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein said implementation step includes the step of documenting the identified tasks in a central storage location.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the documentation includes a training manual.

8. A method for standardizing a mail processing system, the mail processing system providing a mail tracking code for each mail piece and a mail tracking procedure using the mail tracking code, the mail tracking procedure including the steps of storing mail tracking data in an integrated data system and processing the mail tracking data in a processor, the method comprising the steps of:

identifying tasks that comprise the mail processing system;

identifying stakeholders related to each of the tasks;

documenting the identified tasks; and

training the stakeholders using the documentation.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the mail processing system is the CONFIRM®

system.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the stakeholders include customers.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the identified tasks include standard customer features, standard administrative features, and standard operational features.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the standard customer features include barcode creation and application, pre-shipment notification, and customer data access.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the documentation includes a training manual.

14. A method for standardizing a mail processing system, the mail processing system providing a mail tracking code for each mail piece and a mail tracking procedure using the mail tracking code, the mail tracking procedure including the steps of storing mail tracking data in an integrated data system and processing the mail tracking data in a processor, the method comprising the steps of:

identifying tasks that comprise the mail processing system;

documenting the identified tasks in a central storage location; and

creating computer aided training materials using the documentation, the training materials being accessible from a location remote from the central storage location.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the mail processing system is the CONFIRM®

system.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the identified tasks include standard customer features, standard administrative features, and standard operational features.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the standard customer features include barcode creation and application, pre-shipment notification, and customer data access.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the documentation includes a training manual.

19. The method of claim 14, further comprising the steps of identifying stakeholders related to each of the tasks and training the stakeholders using the documentation.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the mail processing system is the CONFIRM®

system.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the identified tasks include standard customer features, standard administrative features, and standard operational features.

22. An apparatus for standardizing a mail processing system, the mail processing system providing a mail tracking code for each mail piece and a mail tracking procedure using the mail tracking code, the mail tracking procedure including the steps of storing mail tracking data in an integrated data system and processing the mail tracking data in a processor, the apparatus comprising:

means for documenting tasks in a central storage location, the documented tasks comprising the mail processing system;

means for creating computer aided training materials using the documentation, the training materials being accessible from a location remote from the central storage location; and

means for training stakeholders related to each of the tasks using the documentation.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the mail processing system is the CONFIRM®

system.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the identified tasks include standard customer features, standard administrative features, and standard operational features.

25. A computer readable medium having contents for causing a computer-based information handling system to perform steps for standardizing a mail processing system, the mail processing system providing a mail tracking code for each mail piece and a mail tracking procedure using the mail tracking code, the mail tracking procedure including the steps of storing mail tracking data in an integrated data system and processing the mail tracking data in a processor, the steps comprising:

documenting tasks in a central storage location, the documented tasks comprising the mail processing system;

creating computer aided training materials using the documentation, the training materials being accessible from a location remote from the central storage location; and

training stakeholders related to each of the tasks using the documentation.

26. The medium of claim 25, wherein the mail processing system is the CONFIRM®

system.

27. The medium of claim 26, wherein the identified tasks include standard customer features, standard administrative features, and standard operational features.