Client-server system, method and computer product for managing database driven insertion (DDI) and mail piece tracking (MPT) data
First Claim
1. A system for managing abase mailpiece processing comprising:
- (a) a server computer including a database comprising a plurality of records including instruction sets for handling individual mailpieces;
(b) at least one reader for reading key code marked mailpieces each key code corresponding to one instruction set of the instruction sets in the database; and
(c) a client computer, responsive to the reader, for requesting the instruction set for handling a mailpiece corresponding to a key code on the mailpiece as the key code is read and causing performance of at least one mail processing task in accordance with the instruction set, the client computer immediately updating the record in the server computer database corresponding to the mailpiece being processed as the at least one mail processing task is performed to indicate the status of the mailpiece and track the mailpiece in real time.
15 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A client/server architecture for database driven insertion and mail piece tracking system, method, and computer program product is disclosed. A database is populated with database driven insertion data comprising instructions for handling mailpiece material. A server manages the database by responding to requests for mail processing instructions from clients and storing mailpiece data received from clients. A scanning device reads key code marked mailpiece material in which the key code corresponds to a database location containing instructions for handling mailpiece material. A client processor receives the key code from the scanning device, and transmits a request to the server for accessing the database location containing the instructions for handling mailpiece material. The server retrieves the instructions for handling mailpiece material, and transmits the instructions to the client. The client causes the performance of a mail processing task in accordance with the instructions, gathers mailpiece tracking data as the mailpiece material is processed, and forwards mailpiece tracking data to the server. The database information is accessible to report writing and generating software applications which cull data pertaining to a given mail processing job into a desired format.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system for managing abase mailpiece processing comprising:
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(a) a server computer including a database comprising a plurality of records including instruction sets for handling individual mailpieces; (b) at least one reader for reading key code marked mailpieces each key code corresponding to one instruction set of the instruction sets in the database; and (c) a client computer, responsive to the reader, for requesting the instruction set for handling a mailpiece corresponding to a key code on the mailpiece as the key code is read and causing performance of at least one mail processing task in accordance with the instruction set, the client computer immediately updating the record in the server computer database corresponding to the mailpiece being processed as the at least one mail processing task is performed to indicate the status of the mailpiece and track the mailpiece in real time. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A system for managing database driven insertion and mailpiece tracking data comprising:
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(a) a server populating a database with data comprising a plurality of records including instruction sets for handling individual mailpieces; a reader for reading, from a mailpiece, a key code corresponding to a database location containing an instruction set for handling the mailpiece; (c) a client, responsive to the reader, for requesting the instruction set for handling the mailpiece from the server, such that the server receives the request from the client, accesses the instruction set for handling the mailpiece and forwards the instruction set to the client; (d) a mail processing device coupled to the client for performing at least one mail processing task on the mailpiece in accordance with the instruction set; and (e) means, responsive to the mail processing device, for immediately updating a record in the database corresponding to the mailpiece being processed. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method for managing database driven insertion and mailpiece tracking data comprising:
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(a) populating a database with data comprising a plurality of records including instruction sets for handling individual mailpieces; (b) reading, from a mailpiece, a key code corresponding to an instruction set for handling the mailpiece; requesting the instruction set for handling the mailpiece from the database; (d) at a server; (i) receiving requests from one or more clients for instruction sets for handling individual mailpieces and, in response, accessing the requested instruction set for handling the mailpiece from the database; and (ii) forwarding the requested instruction set to the one or more clients; and (e) at a client; (i) receiving the requested instruction set for handling the mailpiece from the server; (ii) performing at least one mail processing task in accordance with the requested instruction set; (iii) gathering mailpiece tracking data as the mailpiece is processed during said at least one mail processing task; and (iv) immediately updating a record in the database corresponding to the mailpiece being processed. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A client/server system for managing mail processing and mailpiece tracking data, the system comprising:
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(a) a database server computer comprising a central repository for mail processing data including instruction sets for processing individual mailpieces and mailpiece tracking data for tracking the individual mail pieces; (b) a machine client computer for requesting one of the instruction sets for processing an individual mailpiece from the database server computer based on account information read from a mailpiece and for transmitting updates to the database server computer in real-time as the mailpiece is processed; (c) a supervisory computer for communicating with the database server computer and the machine client computer to allow users to determine status and location information relating to mailpieces being processed; and (d) a network for linking the database server computer, the machine client computer, and the supervisory computer. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification