Method for determining if mail contains life harming materials
First Claim
1. A method for a carrier to determine whether or not mail contains life harming materials, said method comprises the steps of:
- receiving mail that is addressed to a recipient which contains material that may or may not be life harming;
capturing an image of the face of the mail, which includes the name and physical address of the recipient;
determining whether the carrier has been notified that mail addressed to particular recipients should be checked to see if it contains life harming material;
processing the image on the face of the mail to determine if characteristics of the image match characteristics of known mail that may contain life harming materials;
testing the mail if the image contains characteristics of life harming material; and
delivering the mail to the recipient if the image does not contain life harming characteristics.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method that enables the carrier of letters, flats and/or packages (mail) that are addressed to a recipient to determine if the mail contains life harming materials, before the mail is delivered to the recipient. The invention accomplishes the foregoing by receiving mail that is addressed to a recipient which contains material that may or may not be life harming; capturing an image of the face of the mail, which includes the name and physical address of the recipient; processing the image on the face of the mail to determine if characteristics of the image match characteristics of known mail that may contain life harming materials; testing the mail if the image contains characteristics of life harming material; and delivering the mail to the recipient if the image does not contain life harming characteristics.
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Citations
8 Claims
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1. A method for a carrier to determine whether or not mail contains life harming materials, said method comprises the steps of:
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receiving mail that is addressed to a recipient which contains material that may or may not be life harming;
capturing an image of the face of the mail, which includes the name and physical address of the recipient;
determining whether the carrier has been notified that mail addressed to particular recipients should be checked to see if it contains life harming material;
processing the image on the face of the mail to determine if characteristics of the image match characteristics of known mail that may contain life harming materials;
testing the mail if the image contains characteristics of life harming material; and
delivering the mail to the recipient if the image does not contain life harming characteristics. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
capturing an image of the face of the mail, which includes the name and physical address of sender and;
determining whether the carrier has been notified that mail sent by particular senders should be checked to see if it contains life harming material.
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3. The method claimed in claim 1, further including the step of placing a unique number on the mail to positively identify the mail.
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4. The method claimed in claim 1, wherein the testing step further includes the step of weighing the mail.
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5. The method claimed in claim 1, wherein the testing step further includes the steps of x-raying the mail.
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6. The method claimed in claim 1, wherein the testing step further includes the step of detecting the emission of volatile organic chemicals from the mail.
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7. The method claimed in claim 1, further including the step of charging the recipient for determining whether or not recipient mail is likely to contain life harming materials.
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8. The method claimed in claim 1, further including the step of charging the recipient for disposing of mail that is likely to contain life harming materials.
Specification