System for eliminating duplicate entries from a mailing list

• US 5,303,149 A
• Filed: 10/28/1991
• Issued: 04/12/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Giles Data LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Paul C. Janigian
• Inventors: Janigian, Paul C.
• Primary Examiner(s): HAYES, GAIL O
• Application Number:
  US07/783,119
• Time in Patent Office: 897 Days
• Field of Search: 364/401, 364/408, 364/570, 340/825.3
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/00 Payment architectures, schemes or protocols apparatus for performing or posting payment transactions G07F7/08, G07F19/00; electronic cash registers G07G1/12
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/042 characterized in that the payment protocol involves at least one cheque
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99936 Pattern matching access
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99937 Sorting

Abstract

Contributor/customer lists are created with a merge/purge program that identifies duplicate records even though key elements of the records (e.g. name/address or zip code) differ.

Claims

1. A method of creating lists comprising the steps of:

creating a file, said file comprising a plurality of records, each record including a name and address of an individual,

selecting portions of each record,

making a first comparison between a first predetermined portion of a first record and a first predetermined portion of at least one second record to determine if said first portions match,

if said first portions do not match, making a subsequent comparison between a second predetermined portion of said first record and a second predetermined portion of said at least one second record to determine if said second portions match,

if said first portions do match, making a subsequent comparison between a third predetermined portion of said first record and a third predetermined portion of said at least one second record to determine if said third portions match,

identifying at least one duplicate record in said file when a predetermined combination of said first, second, and third portions match,

eliminating identified duplicate records from said file and creating a second file of unique records, wherein no two unique records identify the same individual,

creating a list of individuals from said second file of unique records, and

wherein if said first and subsequent comparisons do not identify a duplicate record, the steps of making a number of additional comparisons between additional predetermined portions of said first record and said at least one second record until a duplicate record is identified or until said additional comparisons are complete, and

wherein said number of rotational comparisons are performed in one of a plurality of sequences, a particular sequence being selected in accordance with the results of said first, subsequent and additional comparisons.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein said first predetermined portions of said first record and said at least one second record comprise street names.

3. A method according to claim 1 wherein said second predetermined portions of said first record and said at least one second record comprise street numbers.

4. A method according to claim 1 wherein said additional predetermined portions include said first and last names, zip codes, and apartment numbers.

5. Apparatus for creating lists comprising:

means for creating a file, said file comprising a plurality of records, each record including a name and address of an individual,

means for selecting portions of each record,

means for making a first comparison between a first predetermined portion of a first record and a first predetermined portion of at least one second record to determine if said first portions match,

means for making a subsequent comparison, if said first portions do not match, between a second predetermined portion of said first record and a second predetermined portion of said at least one second record to determine if said second portions match,

means for making a subsequent comparison, if said first portions do match, between a third predetermined portion of said first record and a third predetermined portion of said at least one second record to determine if said third portions match,

means for identifying at least one duplicate record in said file when a predetermined combination of said first, second and third portions match,

means for eliminating identified duplicate records from said file and means for creating a second file of unique records, wherein no two records identify the same individual,

means for creating a list of individuals from said second file of unique records, and further including

means for making a number of additional comparisons between additional predetermined portions of said first record and said at least one second record until a duplicate record is identified or until said additional comparisons are complete, and wherein

said number of additional comparisons are performed in one of a plurality of sequences, a particular sequence being selected in accordance with the results of said first, subsequent and additional comparisons.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said first predetermined portions of said first record and said at least one second record comprise street names.

7. Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said second predetermined portions of said first record and said at least one second record comprise street numbers.

8. Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said additional predetermined portions include said first and last names, zip codes, and apartment numbers.