Sender elected messaging services

• US 7,085,811 B2
• Filed: 03/27/2001
• Issued: 08/01/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Pitney Bowes Incorporated (Böwe Systec AG)
• Original Assignee: Pitney Bowes Incorporated (Böwe Systec AG)
• Inventors: Cordery, Robert A., Mackay, Donald G., Sansone, Ronald P.
• Primary Examiner(s): VU, THONG H
• Application Number:
  US09/818,721
• Publication Number:
  US 20020143880A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,953 Days
• Field of Search: 709203-206, 709/217, 709/224, 709/236, 709/239, 379/216, 379/67, 379/88, 379/211, 379/93, 705/26, 705/401, 705/50, 358/402, 358/1.15, 358/440, 713/201, 380/282, 370/524, 370/392, 382/101, 700/90, 700/226, 707/9, 718/104, 715/515
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 17/00016 Relations between apparatus, e.g. franking machine at customer or apparatus at post office, in a franking system
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 17/00024 Physical or organizational aspects of franking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/0004 Determining the location of mailpieces outside apparatus
• 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 2017/00145 via the Internet
• 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: H04L 51/066 Format adaptation, e.g. format conversion or compression

Abstract

A method that enables the recipient to receive notification of the letters, flats and/or packages (mail) that the recipient is going to receive prior to the delivery of the mail. The recipient is then able to inform a post or courier, e.g., Federal Express®, Airborne®, United Parcel Service®, DHL®, etc., of the manner in which the recipient would like the mail delivered if the sender elects to permit the recipient to divert the mail. The post and courier hereinafter will be referred to as “carrier”. For instance, the recipient may want the mail physically delivered to their house faster or slower, or the mail physically redirected to the recipient'"'"'s temporary address, or physically delivered to the recipient'"'"'s agent, or physically delivered to the recipient'"'"'s attorney, or physically returned to the mailer, or have the carrier open the physical mail and have the post e-mail or fax the contents of the envelope to the recipient and/or parties designated by the recipient.

Claims

1. A method utilizing a computer system that enables a recipient to inform a carrier of the manner in which the recipient would like the mail delivered, said method comprises the steps of:

depositing with the carrier physical mail containing the recipient'"'"'s name and physical address and the sender'"'"'s name and address;

capturing by electronic and optical means the name and physical address of the recipient and the sender from the physical mail;

translating the name and physical address of the recipient into an e-mail address;

by checking a postal address database and the recipient'"'"'s e-mail database;

notifying the recipient electronically by the recipient of the availability of the deposited physical mail;

notifying the carrier electronically by the carrier of the manner in which the recipient would like the physical mail delivered;

notifying the carrier that the sender wants the deposited physical mail to be delivered directly to the recipient or that the sender elects to permit the recipient to divert the physical mail; and

delivering physical mail to the recipient by the carrier in the manner specified by the recipient to the carrier, if the sender elects to permit the recipient to divert the physical mail.

2. The method claimed in claim 1, wherein the sender places an indication on the physical mail specifying that the physical mail should not be diverted by the recipient.

3. The method claimed in claim 2, further including the step of:

charging the sender for placing an indication on the physical mail specifying that the physical mail should not be diverted by the recipient.

4. The method claimed in claim 1, wherein the sender places an indication on the physical mail specifying that the physical mail should be delivered only as specified by the sender.

5. The method claimed in claim 4, further including the step of:

charging the sender for placing an indication on the physical mail specifying that the physical mail should be delivered only as specified by the sender.

6. The method claimed in claim 1, wherein the recipient notifies a data center who notifies the carrier of the manner in which the recipient would like the physical mail delivered.