Unique virtual dynamically-capable addressing system and method of mail and parcel delivery and forwarding

• US 7,130,803 B1
• Filed: 10/12/2001
• Issued: 10/31/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Global Package Solutions, LLC
• Original Assignee: John P. Couch, Stephen E. Johnson
• Inventors: Johnson, Stephen E., Couch, John P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Weiss, John G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Thai, Cang (James) G.
• Application Number:
  US09/974,863
• Time in Patent Office: 1,845 Days
• Field of Search: 705/1, 705/401, 705/408, 705/410
• US Class Current: 705/1.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/60 Business processes related to postal services shipping G06Q10/083; franking apparatus G07B17/00

Abstract

A system and method for unique virtual dynamically-capable (UVDC) addressing relating to mail and parcel delivery and forwarding. The UVDC addressing system comprises at least one data collection processing and storage Host that creates a unique virtual dynamically-capable (UVDC) address for a subscriber be it an individual, business or other entity, that contains a UVDC address code, and an associated informational data set and a mechanism for conveying this data when the Host is queried by a mail/parcel processing facility. The informational data set corresponding to the UVDC address code is changeable to adapt to the changing needs and desires of the subscriber. By virtue of their UDVC address, the subscriber can have a mail/parcel delivered to any facility by any means and have them sent to any final delivery point by any means with the final delivery point being changeable at any time while mail/parcel remains within the UVDCA system. The UVDC addressing system provides the only addressing system that allows a seamless interface between all elements of current, conventional mail and parcel delivery infrastructure, such as between the U.S. Postal System and other non-postal parcel carriers, like United Parcel Services and Federal Express. Now free from problems of the conventional legacy address model of one address per person per physical location or per delivery point of mail and parcels, people and other entities can get mail and parcels delivered wherever they want, whenever they want, no matter the delivery method, no matter what. All they need is a UVDC Address and the UVDC addressing system will take care of the rest.

Claims

1. A mail/parcel processing system for implementing unique virtual dynamically capable addressing of mail/parcels, comprising:

means for enrolling at least one subscriber into the system, whereby an associated unique, virtual dynamically capable address (UVDCA) code is assigned to the subscriber;

means for enrolling at least one processing facility into the system that processes mail/parcels containing an address that includes a UVDCA code corresponding to the at least one subscriber;

means for creating and maintaining a compilation of unique virtual dynamically capable address (UVDCA) codes containing a plurality of informational data sets, each informational data set relating to a specific subscriber, which pertains to processing instructions for disposition of a mail/parcel initially addressed with an address that contains a UVDCA code that has been received by the at least one processing facility;

means for inputting processing instructions into an informational data set corresponding to the UVDCA code at least once prior to processing mail/parcel at the at least one processing facility;

means for querying the compilation of (UVDCA) codes at least once prior to final disposition of the mail/parcel to obtain the informational data set corresponding to the UVDCA code found on the mail/parcel; and

means for instructing the at least one processing facility on processing the mail/parcel, including identification of a final destination point and at least one of method of delivery and method of handling based on the corresponding informational data set associated with the subscriber'"'"'s UVDCA code queried by the query means.

2. The mail/parcel processing system of claim 1, wherein the informational data set contains contact information for the particular subscriber associated with the UVDCA code.

3. The mail/parcel processing system of claim 2, wherein the contact information includes an email address.

4. The mail/parcel processing system of claim 2, wherein the contact information includes a telephone number.

5. The mail/parcel processing system of claim 1, wherein the informational data set contains billing information for the subscriber associated with the UVDCA code.

6. The mail/parcel processing system of claim 5, wherein the billing information includes identification of statement billing.

7. The mail/parcel processing system of claim 5, wherein the billing information includes identification of credit card information.

8. The mail/parcel processing system of claim 1, wherein the informational data set contains a list of at least one named person associated with a legal entity subscriber'"'"'s UVDCA code.

9. The mail/parcel processing system of claim 1, wherein the informational data set contains at least one final destination point for mail/parcels associated with subscriber'"'"'s UVDCA code so processed by a facility, including a primary delivery address other than the subscriber'"'"'s own delivery address.

10. The mail/parcel processing system of claim 1, wherein the informational data set contains handling instructions for mail/parcels associated with subscriber'"'"'s UVDCA code so processed by the facility.

11. The mail/parcel processing system of claim 10, wherein the handling instructions include at least one of hold all mail/parcels, forward all mail/parcels, hold specific mail/parcel X and forward specific mail/parcel Y.

12. The mail/parcel processing system of claim 1, wherein the informational data set contains subscriber designated instructions for delivery methods for mail/parcels associated with the subscriber'"'"'s UVDCA code so processed by the facility.

17. The mail/parcel processing system of claim 1, wherein at least two processing facilities are enrolled and may query the (UVDCA) code assigned to each subscriber.

13. A method for implementing disposition of a mail/parcel upon receiving mail/parcels at a processing facility, the mail/parcels containing an address that contains a unique virtual dynamically capable address (UVDCA) code associated with a subscriber, comprising:

enrolling at least one subscriber into the system, whereby an associated unique, virtual dynamically capable address (UVDCA) code is assigned to the subscriber;

enrolling at least one processing facility into the system that processes mail/parcels containing an address that includes a UVDCA code corresponding to the at least one subscriber;

creating and maintaining a compilation of unique virtual dynamically capable address (UVDCA) codes containing a plurality of informational data sets, each informational data set relating to a specific subscriber, which pertains to processing instructions for disposition of a mail/parcel initially addressed with an address that contains a UVDCA code that has been received by the at least one processing facility;

inputting processing instructions into associated informational data sets at least once prior to processing mail/parcel at the at least one processing facility;

querying the compilation of (UVDCA) codes at least once prior to final disposition of the mail/parcel to obtain the informational data set corresponding to the UVDCA code found on the mail/parcel; and

instructing the at least one processing facility on disposition of the mail/parcel, including identification of the final destination point and at least one of method of delivery and method of handling based on the corresponding informational data set associated with the subscriber'"'"'s UVDCA code queried by the query means.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the informational data set includes subscriber designated instructions on method of delivery by the facility.

15. The method according to claim 13, wherein the informational data set includes subscriber billing information, further comprising billing the subscriber based on the subscriber billing information.

16. The method according to claim 13, wherein the information data set includes handling instructions including at least one of hold all mail/parcels, forward all mail/parcels, hold specific mail/parcel X, and forward specific mail/parcel Y.

18. The method according to claim 13, wherein at least two processing facilities are enrolled and querying of the (UVDCA) code assigned to each subscriber is performed by the at least two processing facilities.