Interactive process for applying or printing information on letters or parcels

• US 6,178,411 B1
• Filed: 07/10/1998
• Issued: 01/23/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Pitney Bowes Incorporated (Böwe Systec AG)
• Original Assignee: Joshua J. Reiter
• Inventors: Reiter, Joshua J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cosimano, Edward R.
• Application Number:
  US09/113,200
• Time in Patent Office: 928 Days
• Field of Search: 705/401, 705/408, 705/410
• US Class Current: 705/408
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2301/4311 Making personalised books or mail packets according to personal, geographic or demographic data
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 17/00508 Printing or attaching on mailpieces printing mechanisms B41J; security printing B41M3/14; marking methods B41M5/00; inks C09D11/00; record carriers with at least a part designed to carry digital markings G06K19/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00161 from a central, non-user location, e.g. for updating rates or software, or for refilling funds
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/0058 Printing of code
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00604 Printing of advert or logo
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00725 Reading symbols, e.g. OCR

Abstract

A computer system for providing commercial advertisements, messages, coupons, or other types of information on letters, parcels, and other written communications to a receiver of the letter, parcel, or other written communications includes a processor coupled to the letter or parcel delivery network. The processor is configured to print or apply messages on letters or packages and to gather statistics regarding actions performed by the receivers of the communications; the processor is further configured to process the statistics to generate user data and to provide commercial advertisements to the receivers of letters and packages based on user data. The system also includes a processor coupled to the delivery network, and is configured to send advertisements to an apparatus to print or apply them on appropriate, targeted letters or packages during any of the phases of letter or parcel delivery, and to gather statistics regarding actions performed by the user. The processor will be configured to process statistics and to generate user data. The processor will further be configured to provide commercial advertisements to the user based on user data. The system is also used to calculate postage and apply postage indications to the letters or parcels.

Claims

1. A method for operating a system for preparing letters and parcels for shipment, the system having a database having data, targeted information and delivery charges stored therein, the method comprising steps for:

(a) reading recipient data from one of the letters and parcels;

(b) determining if there is a match between the recipient data and the data in the database;

(c) when a match is determined, applying targeted information to the one of the letters and parcels; and

(d) updating the database to reflect the results of step (c).

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said database further comprises non-targeted information, and wherein the method further comprises:

(e) when no match is determined, applying non-targeted information to the one of the letters and parcels.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said step (c) comprises applying targeted information to the one of the letters and parcels by printing the targeted information.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein step (c) comprises applying the targeted information to the one of the letters and parcels by attaching a removable coupon.

5. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

(f) calculating a specific delivery charge based on said recipient data and recording said specific delivery charge associated with the one of the letters and parcels.

6. A method for operating a system for preparing letters and parcels for shipment, the system having a database having data, targeted information and delivery charges stored therein, the method comprising steps for:

(a) reading sender data from one of the letters and parcels;

(b) determining if there is a match between the sender data and the data in the database;

(c) when a match is determined, applying targeted information to the one of the letters and parcels; and

(d) updating the database to reflect the results of step (c).

7. The method as recited in claim 6, wherein said database further comprises non-targeted information, and wherein the method further comprises:

(e) when no match is determined, applying non-targeted information to the one of the letters and parcels.

8. The method as recited in claim 6, wherein said step (c) comprises applying targeted information to the one of the letters and parcels by printing the targeted information.

9. The method as recited in claim 6, wherein step (c) comprises applying the targeted information to the one of the letters and parcels by attaching a removable label.

10. The method as recited in claim 6, further comprising:

(f) calculating a specific delivery charge based on said sender data and recording said specific delivery charge associated with the one of the letters and parcels.

11. A method for operating a system for preparing letters and parcels for shipment, the system having a database having data, targeted information and delivery charges stored therein, the method comprising steps for:

(a) reading sender data and recipient data from one of the letters and parcels;

(b) determining if there is a match between at least one of the sender data and the data in the database and the recipient data and the data in the database;

(c) when a match is determined applying targeted information to the one of the letters and parcels; and

(d) updating the database to reflect the results of step (c).

12. The method as recited in claim 11, wherein said database further comprises non-targeted information, and wherein the method further comprises:

(e) when no match is determined, applying non-targeted information to the one of the letters and parcels.

13. The method as recited in claim 11, wherein said step (c) comprises applying targeted information to the one of the letters and parcels by printing the targeted information.

14. The method as recited in claim 11, wherein step (c) comprises applying the targeted information to the one of the letters and parcels by attaching a label.

15. The method as recited in claim 11, further comprising:

(f) calculating a specific delivery charge based on said sender data and said recipient data and recording said specific delivery charge associated with the one of the letters and parcels.

16. A method for operating a system generating labels for letters and parcels prior to shipment, the system having a database having data, targeted information and delivery charges stored therein, the method comprising steps for:

(a) identifying recipient data associated with one of the letters and parcels;

(b) determining if there is a match between the recipient data and the data in the database; and

(c) when a match is determined, generating a targeted label including targeted information for the one of the letters and parcels.

17. The method as recited in claim 16, further comprising the step of:

(d) updating the database to reflect the results of step (c).

18. The method as recited in claim 16, further comprising the step of:

(e) calculating a specific delivery charge based on said recipient data and recording said specific delivery charge associated with the one of the letters and parcels.

19. The method as recited in claim 16, wherein said database further comprises non-targeted information, and wherein the method further comprises:

(f) when no match is determined, generating a label including non-targeted information for the one of the letters and parcels.

20. A system for generating labels for letters and parcels prior to shipment, the system having a database having data, targeted information and delivery charges stored therein, the system comprising:

first means for identifying recipient data associated with one of the letter and parcels;

second means for determining if there is a match between the recipient data and the data in the database; and

third means for generating a targeted label including targeted information for the one of the letters and parcels when a match is determined.

21. The system as recited in claim 20, further comprising:

fourth means, operatively connecting said third means to the database, for updating the database following operation of said third means.

22. The system as recited in claim 20, further comprising:

fifth means for calculating a specific delivery charge based on said recipient data and recording said specific delivery charge associated with the one of the letters and parcels in the database.

23. The system as recited in claim 20, wherein said database further comprises non-targeted information, and wherein the system further comprises:

sixth means for generating a label including non-targeted information for the one of the letters and parcels when no match is determined.

24. A method for operating a system generating labels for letters and parcels prior to shipment, the system having a database having data, targeted information and delivery charges stored therein, the method comprising steps for:

(a) identifying sender data associated with one of the letters and parcels;

(b) determining if there is a match between the sender data and the data in the database; and

(c) when a match is determined, generating a label including targeted information for the one of the letters and parcels.

25. The method as recited in claim 24, further comprising the step of:

(d) updating the database to reflect the results of step (c).

26. The method as recited in claim 24, further comprising the step of:

(e) calculating a specific delivery charge based on said sender data and recording said specific delivery charge associated with the one of the letters and parcels.

27. The method as recited in claim 24, wherein said database further comprises non-targeted information, and wherein the method further comprises:

(f) when no match is determined, generating a label including non-targeted information for the one of the letters and parcels.

28. A system for generating labels for letters and parcels prior to shipment, the system having a database having data, targeted information and delivery charges stored therein, the system comprising:

first means for identifying sender data associated with one of the letters and parcels;

second means for determining if there is a match between the sender data and the data in the database; and

third means for generating a label including targeted information for the one of the letters and parcels when a match is determined.

29. The system as recited in claim 28, further comprising:

fourth means, operatively connecting said third means to the database, for updating the database following operation of said third means.

30. The system as recited in claim 28, further comprising:

fifth means for calculating a specific delivery charge associated with the one of the letters and parcels and recording said specific delivery charge in the database.

31. The system as recited in claim 28, wherein said database further comprises non-targeted information, and wherein the system further comprises:

sixth means for generating a label including non-targeted information for the one of the letters and parcels when no match is determined.

32. A process for handling mail comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a database having data and targeted information therein;

(b) reading sender data from a piece of mail;

(c) comparing the sender data with the data in the database to determine if there is a match;

(d) if there is a match, applying targeted information to the piece of mail; and

(e) updating the database to reflect the results of step (c).

33. The process according to claim 32, wherein said database further comprises non-targeted information, and wherein the process further comprises, after step (c), if there is no match, the step of applying non-targeted information to the piece of mail.

34. The process according to claim 33, wherein said database further comprises non-application data of senders on whose mail information is not to be applied, and wherein said step (d) is skipped, when there is a match with nonapplication data.

35. The process according to claim 33, further comprising the step, after said step (b) of calculating postage based on said sender data and applying postage data to said piece of mail.