Method and system for confirming/verifying receipt of a mailpiece using radio frequency identification (RFID)
First Claim
1. A method for confirming and/or verifying receipt of a mailpiece by an intended mail recipient, the mail recipient in possession of a Radio Frequency IDentification (RFID) enabled phone operative to read an RFID tag, comprising the steps of:
- establishing a relationship between an intended mail recipient and an RFID tag affixed to the mailpiece,storing the relationship information on the RFID tag;
delivering the mailpiece;
having an actual mail recipient effect communication between the RFID enabled phone and the RFID tag of the mailpiece; and
determining whether the intended mail recipient is the actual mail recipient by evaluating information acquired from the RFID enabled phone and the RFID tag.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and system is provided for confirming and/or verifying receipt of a mailpiece by an intended mail recipient. The method includes the step of establishing a relationship between the intended mail recipient and an RFID tag affixed to the mailpiece. Upon delivery of the mailpiece, the actual mail recipient is caused to affect communication between an RFID enabled phone in the possession of the actual mail recipient and the RFID tag of the mailpiece. By comparing the information acquired by the RFID enabled phone and the RFID tag, (i.e., the relationship information stored on the RFID tag), a determination can be made as to whether the intended mail recipient is the actual mail recipient. Alternate embodiments of the invention effect confirmation/verification by capturing various biometric characteristics of the mail recipient and comparing such information to previously stored biometric data of the intended mail recipient.
21 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A method for confirming and/or verifying receipt of a mailpiece by an intended mail recipient, the mail recipient in possession of a Radio Frequency IDentification (RFID) enabled phone operative to read an RFID tag, comprising the steps of:
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establishing a relationship between an intended mail recipient and an RFID tag affixed to the mailpiece, storing the relationship information on the RFID tag; delivering the mailpiece; having an actual mail recipient effect communication between the RFID enabled phone and the RFID tag of the mailpiece; and determining whether the intended mail recipient is the actual mail recipient by evaluating information acquired from the RFID enabled phone and the RFID tag. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A system for confirming and/or verifying that a mailpiece has been sent to an intended mail recipient, the mail recipient in possession of a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) enabled phone operative to read an RFID tag, comprising:
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an RFID tag affixed to a mailpiece, the RFID tag having a unique identifier related to the intended mail recipient of the mailpiece; a processor operative to store the relationship between the RFID tag and the intended mailpiece recipient in a relational database, and an RFID enabled phone operated by an actual mail recipient and operative to read the RFID tag, the RFID enabled phone establishing communication with the processor when in near field communication with the RFID tag and wherein the processor is operative to compare information derived from the RFID enabled phone with the relationship information stored on the RFID tag to determine whether the RFID enabled phone of an actual mail recipient is being operated by the intended mail recipient. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification