System and method for management of correspondence

• US 6,897,973 B1
• Filed: 03/18/1999
• Issued: 05/24/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Neopost Technologies S.A. (Quadient SA)
• Original Assignee: Ascom Hasler Mailing Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: Schwartz, Robert G., Brookner, George
• Primary Examiner(s): Grant II, Jerome
• Application Number:
  US09/646,404
• Time in Patent Office: 2,259 Days
• Field of Search: 358/1.4, 358/1.6, 358/1.12, 358/1.15, 358/3.29, 358/468, 358/400, 358/401, 358/406, 358/407, 379/100.01, 379/100.05, 379/102.02
• US Class Current: 358/1.15
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 17/00024 Physical or organizational aspects of franking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00072 Hybrid mail, i.e. mail delivered using different physical means along the mail delivery path, e.g. email and envelope
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00379 Calculation of different sending options for a mail piece

Abstract

In the system of the invention, a user provides inputs at a user interface (51). The user'"'"'s inputs relate to the expected type of delivery (2, 3, 4, 5, 6). Alternatively, the system may already have information stored as to the type of delivery (2, 3, 4, 5, 6) to be used with particular correspondents. Based on the type of delivery (2, 3, 4, 5, 6), the system (50, 52, 53, 54, 55) determines for each item of correspondence, whether the delivery will be by physical delivery of a printed document (2, 3, 4), by fax (5) or by e-mail (6). The system (50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55) further determines for each item of correspondence, which is to be delivered by physical delivery a printed document (2, 3, 4), whether an envelope (10, 11) is required and if the address information is to be printed on the envelope or on a label (12) that is to be applied to the envelope. Further in the case of an item of correspondence, which is to be delivered by physical delivery a postage indicia is printed on the envelope or on a label (12) that is to be applied to the envelope. If the system (50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55) determines for an item of correspondence that the delivery will be by fax (5), then the correspondence is sent using fax (55). If the system (50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55) determines for an item of correspondence that the delivery will be by e-mail (6), then the correspondence is sent using a SMTP server (54).

Claims

1. A system for management of correspondence, comprising a processor having a user interface, said processor communicatively coupled with a printer, said printer disposed to print adhesive labels, said processor also communicatively coupled with a correspondence means, said processor also communicatively coupled with a simple mail transport protocol server;

said system further comprising means receiving information indicative of items of correspondence to be delivered, the information regarding each item further indicative of at least one means of delivery for said item;

said system further comprising means responsive to the information indicative of the at least one means of delivery for causing transmission by the correspondence means in the event that the information indicative of the at least one means of delivery indicates a specific type of correspondence means, for causing transmission by a specific means in the event that the information indicative of the at least one means of delivery indicates a specific correspondence means, and in the event that the information indicative of the at least one means of delivery indicates mail requiring labels, causing the postal security device to generate a postage indicium, and causing the printer to print the postage indicium on a label.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein in the event that the information indicative of the at least one means of delivery indicates mail requiring labels, the system prints an address label responsive to the information indicative of the item to be delivered, along with the label bearing the postage indicium.

3. A system for management of correspondence, comprising a processor having a user interface, said processor communicatively coupled with a printer, said processor also communicatively coupled with a correspondence means, said processor also communicatively coupled with a simple mail transport protocol server;

said system further comprising means receiving information indicative of items of correspondence to be delivered, the information regarding each item further indicative of at least one means of delivery for said item;

said system further comprising means responsive to the information indicative of the at least one means of delivery for causing transmission by fax via the correspondence means in the event that the information indicative of the at least one means of delivery indicates a specific type of correspondence means, for causing transmission by a specific means in the event that the information indicative of the at least one means of delivery indicate a specific correspondence means, and in the event that the information indicative of the at least one means of delivery indicate mail, causing the postal security device to generate a postage indicium, and causing the printer to print the postage indicium.

4. A method for management of items of correspondence comprising:

receiving information that identifies at least one item of correspondence to be delivered;

identifying from the information a type of delivery for the at least one item of correspondence; and

automatically transmitting the at least one item of correspondence for delivery using the identified type of delivery.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the at least one item of correspondence is transmitted by fax.

6. The method of claim 4 wherein the at least one item of correspondence is transmitted via electronic mail.

7. The method of claim 4 further comprising, prior to transmitting, inserting the correspondence into an envelope, sealing the envelope and addressing the envelope.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising printing a postal indicium that is adhered to the envelope.