System for delivering mail

• US 6,549,892 B1
• Filed: 05/21/1999
• Issued: 04/15/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Pitney Bowes Incorporated (Böwe Systec AG)
• Original Assignee: Pitney Bowes Incorporated (Böwe Systec AG)
• Inventors: Sansone, Ronald P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cosimano, Edward R.
• Application Number:
  US09/316,403
• Time in Patent Office: 1,425 Days
• Field of Search: 705/1, 705/26, 705/401, 705/408, 705/410, 705/27
• US Class Current: 705/401
• 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 2017/0058 Printing of code
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00822 including unique details
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/0083 Postal data, e.g. postage, address, sender, machine ID, vendor
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00838 Personal data, i.e. biometrics

Abstract

A method that enables the post to deliver letters, flats, post cards and packages (mail) addressed to a recipient name and unique code to be delivered directly to the recipient. Mail addressed to a name and a unique code would be captured by the post during the posts sortation process and rerouted to the delivery address of the unique code.

Claims

1. A method for delivering mail that is addressed to a named recipient, said method comprises the steps of:

receiving recipient'"'"'s name and recipient'"'"'s current delivery address;

assigning a unique code for individual recipients;

relating in a database recipient'"'"'s unique code with recipient'"'"'s name and current delivery address;

delivering information to recipient'"'"'s that represents their assigned unique codes;

placing by the sender of mail information that represents recipient'"'"'s name and unique code on mail;

reading information on mail to capture recipients name and unique code, when present;

changing recipient'"'"'s current delivery address in the data base in accordance with recipient'"'"'s instructions;

determining recipient'"'"'s current delivery address from recipients name and unique code;

printing by a mail carrier on mail recipient'"'"'s current delivery address if the current delivery address on the mail differs from the recipient'"'"'s delivery address currently in the data base; and

delivering mail to recipient'"'"'s current delivery address.

2. The method claimed in claim 1, wherein in the changing step:

recipient specifies the time when mail will be delivered to the changed delivery address.

3. The method claimed in claim 1, further including the step of:

billing for the number of times recipient'"'"'s changed their desired delivery address.

4. The method claimed in claim 1, wherein recipients unique code is represented in alphanumeric characters.

5. The method claimed in claim 1, further including in the changing step, the steps of:

assigning a biometrics to recipients;

delivering a biometrics to recipients;

receiving recipient'"'"'s biometrics and recipient'"'"'s intention to change their delivery address;

changing recipients delivery address upon conformation of recipients biometrics.

6. The method claimed in claim 1, further including the steps of:

receiving a request from mailers for recipients current delivery address;

receiving from mailers recipients name and unique code;

delivering recipients current delivery address to mailers.

7. The method claimed in claim 1, wherein recipient'"'"'s unique code is encrypted.

8. The method claimed in claim 1, further including the step of:

metering the number of times recipient'"'"'s desired delivery address was determined.

9. The method claimed in claim 8, further including the step of:

billing for the number of times mailers requested recipient'"'"'s current delivery address.

10. The method claimed in claim 1, wherein recipient'"'"'s current delivery address is placed on mail in coded form.

11. The method claimed in claim 10, wherein recipient'"'"'s current delivery address is placed on mail in human-readable form.

12. The method claimed in claim 10, wherein recipient'"'"'s desired delivery address is placed on mail in coded form and human-readable form.