Method and system for notifying mail users of mail piece contamination

• US 7,085,746 B2
• Filed: 12/19/2001
• Issued: 08/01/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Pitney Bowes Incorporated (Böwe Systec AG)
• Original Assignee: Pitney Bowes Incorporated (Böwe Systec AG)
• Inventors: Russo, Karin A., Cordery, Robert A., Sansone, Ronald P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dixon, Thomas A.
• Application Number:
  US09/683,381
• Publication Number:
  US 20030115161A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,686 Days
• Field of Search: 705/401, 705/400, 705/404, 705/406, 705/407, 705/408, 705/410, 209/584, 235/375, 382/101
• US Class Current: 705/408
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 1/2202 involving separation of sample components during sampling
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 2001/2223 aerosol sampling devices
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 17/00661 Sensing or measuring mailpieces weighing G01G19/00

Abstract

A method and system for notifying users of a mail system that a mail piece has been quarantined is provided. A plurality of incoming mail mailboxes each include a sampler to sample air from a letter that is tested using a first sensor. Source information corresponding to hazard flagged mail pieces and other quarantined mail is utilized to notify the affected users of the mail system.

Claims

1. A system of hazard detector systems for detecting hazards in a mail piece and notifying remote users including senders and recipients having quarantined mail comprising:

a plurality of detectors each including a contaminant detection hazard detector for triggering a mail piece quarantine indication, an image scanner for scanning the face of a mail piece, a communications system, and a scan detection system for providing sender and recipient information for quarantined mail pieces; and

a server connected to the plurality of hazard detectors for receiving the mail piece quarantine indication and scan detection data, determining a notification method and for communicating the quarantine notification to at least one of the sender and the recipient.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

a secure Internet connection between each hazard detector system and the server.

3. A method for communicating a quarantine condition to remote users including senders and recipients of a mail system having a plurality of hazard detector systems with hazard detection systems connected to a central server comprising:

detecting the presence of a mail piece;

detecting source information from the mail piece;

testing the mail piece for hazards to determine an initial mail piece quarantine condition;

alerting the central server upon detection of a hazard and providing source information to the central server;

determining a notification method; and

notifying at least one user of the mail piece quarantine.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the source detection includes detecting a destination address.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein the source detection includes detecting a return address.

6. The method of claim 3 wherein the determination of a notification method comprises determining if a valid email address is available for the user.

7. The method of claim 3 wherein the determination of a notification method comprises determining if a valid telephone number is available for the user.

8. The method of claim 3 wherein the determination of a notification method comprises determining if the mail piece address is a valid postal address for the user.

15. The method of claim 3 wherein the sender information comprises a meter number.

16. The method of claim 3 further comprising:

scanning the mail piece to obtain recipient information.

17. The method of claim 3 further comprising:

detecting destination information from the mail piece.

9. A mail receiving system for detecting hazards in a mail piece and notifying users including senders and recipients having quarantined mail comprising:

a plurality of mailboxes each including a contaminant detection hazard detector for triggering a mail piece quarantine indication, an image scanner for scanning the face of a mail piece, a communications system, and a scan detection system for providing source and recipient information for quarantined mail pieces; and

a server connected to the plurality of mailboxes for receiving scan detection data, determining a notification method and for communicating the notification to at least one of the sender and the recipient.

10. A method for communicating a quarantine condition to users including senders and recipients of a mail system having at least one mailbox including hazard detection systems connected to a central server comprising:

detecting the presence of a mail piece in the mailbox;

detecting sender information from the mail piece;

testing the mail piece in the mailbox for hazards to determine an initial mail piece quarantine condition;

alerting the central server upon detection of a hazard and providing source information to the central server;

determining a notification method; and

notifying at least one user of the mail piece quarantine using the sender information.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the sender information includes detecting a destination address.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein the sender information includes detecting a return address.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein the sender information includes detecting a meter number.

14. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

storing a plurality of sender information records relating to a plurality of mail pieces placed in the at least one mailbox; and

if the initial mail piece quarantine condition is detected, notifying at least two users indicated by the plurality of sender information records.