Method and system to provide address services with a document processing system

• US 20090159509A1
• Filed: 12/21/2007
• Published: 06/25/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DMT Solutions Global Corporation
• Original Assignee: Bowe Bell & Howell Company
• Inventors: Conard, Walter S., Wojdyla, Richard
• Granted Patent: US 8,150,547 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 209/584
• CPC Class Codes: B07C 3/00 Sorting according to destination collating the pages of a book B42C1/00
• CPC Class Codes: B07C 3/18 Devices or arrangements for indicating destination, e.g. by code marks applying data to information carriers G06K1/12
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 209/90 Sorting flat-type mail

Abstract

A method and system are provided for updating address information and using document processing equipment to print delivery point information, including a barcode or readable text, on mail pieces. The address data is processed and updated by a service provider or by an address service provider. When the mailpieces are processed on document processing equipment, the printed address data is compared with an updated address data record to retrieve the updated address and apply the correct delivery point information. The delivery point information representing the most current and accurate address for the addressee of the mail piece.

Claims

1. A method for updating address data for a plurality of mailpieces processed by a document processing system prior to delivery by a postal authority, the method comprising the steps of:

using an address list at a document service provider, the address list being associated with a grouping of mailpieces associated with a client;

updating at least some of the address data contained in the address list for compliance with one or more regulations of the postal authority or any requirement of the client;

converting the updated address list into a format required by an imaging system associated with the document processing system;

storing the converted address list onto the document processing system;

processing the mailpieces on the document processing system;

capturing an image of an address positioned on each mailpiece by the imaging system;

comparing information from the captured image of each mailpiece with the stored address list; and

printing delivery information approved by the postal authority on mailpieces requiring an address update as indicated by the comparing of information to updated client address data.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing the address list electronically to the document processing facility by the client.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the printing step include applying a barcode approved by the postal authority on mailpieces requiring an address update as indicated by the comparing of information to updated client address data.

4. The method of claim 3, where the barcode contains delivery point information.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the barcode further contains one or more of the following:

address change service request, confirmation request, unique identifier and matchback code.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the processing step includes processing the mailpieces on the document processing system selected from a mail sorter or a mail inserter.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the printing step includes applying readable text on each mailpiece requiring an address update as indicated by the comparing of information to updated client address data.

8. The method of claim 1, where the updating step includes updating address information selected from one or more of the following:

move update information, address resolution of undeliverable as addressed addresses, delivery point updates, suppression service information, and address list merge and purge data.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

capturing address data from each of a plurality of mailpieces processed on the document processing system by the image system; and

generating the client address list based on the captured address data.

10. A system for updating address data for a plurality of mailpieces, the system comprising:

a client address list including address data associated with each mailpiece;

an address maintenance service adapted to receive the client address list and update the address data contained in the client address list;

a document processing system including an image capturing system associated with the document processing system, the image capturing system capable of;

capturing information from an image of an address positioned on each mailpiece processed by the document processing system; and

comparing the captured image of each mailpiece with any corresponding updated client address data received from the address maintenance service; and

a printer adapted to print corrected address delivery information on each mailpiece requiring an address update as indicated by the comparing of information to updated client address data.

11. The system according to claim 10, wherein the document processing system further includes a mail sorter or a mail inserter.

12. The system according to claim 10, wherein the printer is adapted to print a barcode on each mailpiece requiring an address update as indicated by the comparing of information to updated client address data.

13. The system according to claim 10, wherein the printer is adapted to print readable text on each mailpiece requiring an address update as indicated by the comparing of information to updated client address data.

14. The system according to claim 10, wherein the barcode contains delivery point information.

15. The system according to claim 10, wherein the client address list is generated by capturing an image of the address data positioned on each mailpiece by way of the document processing system.

16. A method for updating address data for a plurality of mailpieces processed by a document processing system prior to delivery by a postal authority, the method comprising the steps of:

storing an updated address list onto a document processing system;

processing the mailpieces on the document processing system;

capturing an image of an address positioned on each mailpiece by the image capturing system;

comparing information from the captured image of each mailpiece with the stored updated address list; and

printing delivery information approved by the postal authority on mailpieces requiring an address update as indicated by the comparing of information to updated client address data.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the printing step include applying a barcode approved by the postal authority on mailpieces requiring an address update as indicated by the comparing of information to updated client address data.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the barcode contains delivery point information.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the barcode further contains one or more of the following:

address change service request, confirmation request, unique identifier and matchback code.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the printing step include applying readable text on mailpieces requiring an address update as indicated by the comparing of information to updated client address data.

21. The method of claim 16, wherein the processing step includes processing the mailpieces on the document processing system selected from a mail sorter or a mail inserter.

22. A system for updating address data for a plurality of mailpieces, the system comprising:

a document processing system including an image capturing system;

an address maintenance service adapted to receive a client address list and update the address data contained in the client address list, wherein

the image capturing system capable of;

capturing an image of an address positioned on each mailpiece processed by the document processing system; and

comparing the captured image of each mailpiece with any corresponding updated client address data received from the address maintenance service by the document processing system; and

a printer adapted to print corrected address delivery information on each mailpiece requiring an address update as indicated by the comparing of information to updated client address data.

23. The system according to claim 22, wherein the document processing system further includes a mail sorter or a mail inserter.

24. The system according to claim 22, wherein the printer is adapted to print a barcode on each mailpiece requiring an address update as indicated by the comparing of information to updated client address data.

25. The system according to claim 22, wherein the barcode contains delivery point information.

26. The system according to claim 25, wherein barcode further contains and one or more of the following:

address change service request, confirmation request, unique identifier and matchback code.

27. The system according to claim 22, wherein the printer is adapted to print readable text on each mailpiece requiring an address update as indicated by the comparing of information to updated client address data.