Providing a corrected delivery address

• US 7,391,781 B2
• Filed: 09/18/2003
• Issued: 06/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: United States Postal Service (Government of the United States of America)
• Original Assignee: United States Postal Service (Government of the United States of America)
• Inventors: Wilson, James D., Payne, David J., Snapp, Robert F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Phan; Man U.
• Application Number:
  US10/665,456
• Publication Number:
  US 20040177305A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,741 Days
• Field of Search: 370392-402, 705 10- 13, 705401-410, 707101-104
• US Class Current: 370/396
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management

Abstract

Providing a corrected delivery address comprises receiving a plurality of first data elements, each of the plurality of first data elements comprising a first portion and a second portion. Next providing a corrected delivery address comprises providing a second data element, the second data element corresponding to one of the plurality of first data elements and comprising a corrected version of the second portion of the corresponding first data element. Then providing a corrected delivery address comprises receiving an indication that none of the second portions of the plurality of first data elements match the second data element and providing, in response to the indication, a link associating the second data element with the first data element corresponding to the second data element.

Claims

1. A method for providing corrected data, the method comprising:

receiving a plurality of first data elements, each of the plurality of first data elements comprising a first portion and a second portion;

providing a second data element, the second data element corresponding to one of the plurality of first data elements and comprising a corrected version of the second portion of the corresponding first data element;

comparing the plurality of first data elements to the second data element;

receiving an indication that none of the second portions of the plurality of first data elements match the corrected version of the second portion of the second data element;

in response to the indication, producing a first set of condensed versions of the plurality of first data elements and comparing the first set of condensed versions to a proprietary database comprising a second set of condensed versions of a second plurality of first data elements and corresponding plurality of second data elements;

verifying that at least one of the condensed versions of the first set matches at least one of the condensed versions of the second set; and

providing, based on the verifying, a link associating the second data element with the first data element.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of first data elements respectively correspond to a plurality of items configured to be delivered in an item delivery system.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the plurality of first data elements are respectively indicated on the exterior of the plurality of items and are machine readable.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the plurality of first data elements are respectively indicated on the exterior of the plurality of items and are optically scanable.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the plurality of first data elements are respectively indicated on the exterior of the plurality of items using at least one of a bar code or a PLANET code.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the item delivery system comprises the United States Postal Service.

7. The method of claim 2, wherein the plurality of items comprises at least one of a mailpiece, a United States Postal Service Priority Mail package, a United States Postal Service Express Mail Package, a United States Postal Service Global Express Mail Package, or a United States Postal Service Global Express Guarantee Package.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the first portion identifies a sender of an item.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the second portion identifies a recipient address of an item.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the second data element identifies a corrected recipient address of an item.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of receiving the plurality of first data elements, providing the second data element, receiving the indication, or providing, in response to the indication, the link, further comprises utilizing at least one of regular mail, e-mail, facsimile, internet, or an interactive voice response system.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of receiving the plurality of first data elements, providing the second data element, receiving the indication, and providing, in response to the indication, the link, further comprises communicating over a network.

13. A system for providing corrected data, the system comprising:

a first component for receiving a plurality of first data elements, each of the plurality of first data elements comprising a first portion and a second portion;

a second component for providing a second data element, the second data element corresponding to one of the plurality of first data elements and comprising a corrected version of the second portion of the corresponding first data element;

a third component for comparing the plurality of first data elements to the second data elements;

a fourth component for;

receiving an indication that none of the second portions of the plurality of first data elements match the corrected version of the second portion of the second data element;

producing a first set of condensed versions of the plurality of first data elements;

comparing the first set of condensed versions to a proprietary database comprising a second set of condensed versions of a second plurality of first data elements and corresponding plurality of second data elements; and

verifying that at least one of the condensed versions of the first set matches at least one of the condensed versions of the second set; and

a component for providing, based on the verifying, a link associating the second data element with the first data element.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the plurality of first data elements respectively correspond to a plurality of items configured to be delivered in an item delivery system.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the plurality of first data elements are respectively indicated on the exterior of the plurality of items and are machine readable.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein the plurality of first data elements are respectively indicated on the exterior of the plurality of items and are optically scanable.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein the plurality of first data elements are respectively indicated on the exterior of the plurality of items using at least one of a bar code or a PLANET code.

18. The system of claim 14, wherein the item delivery system comprises the United States Postal Service.

19. The system of claim 14, wherein the plurality of items comprises at least one of a mailpiece, a United States Postal Service Priority Mail package, a United States Postal Service Express Mail Package, a United States Postal Service Global Express Mail Package, or a United States Postal Service Global Express Guarantee Package.

20. The system of claim 13, wherein the first portion identifies a sender of an item.

21. The system of claim 13, wherein the second portion identifies a recipient address of an item.

22. The system of claim 13, wherein the second data element identifies a corrected recipient address of an item.

23. The system of claim 13, wherein at least one of the component for receiving the plurality of first data elements, the component for providing the second data element, the component for receiving the indication, or the component for providing, in response to the indication, the link, is further configured for utilizing at least one of regular mail, e-mail, facsimile, internet, or an interactive voice response system.

24. The system of claim 13, wherein at least one of the component for receiving the plurality of first data elements, the component for providing the second data element, the component for receiving the indication, or the component for providing, in response to the indication, the link, is further configured for communicating over a network.

25. A program on a computer-readable medium encoded with a set of instructions for providing corrected data, which, when executed by a computer, perform stages comprising:

receiving a plurality of first data elements, each of the plurality of first data elements comprising a first portion and a second portion;

providing a second data element, the second data element corresponding to one of the plurality of first data elements and comprising a corrected version of the second portion of the corresponding first data element;

comparing the plurality of first data elements to the second data element;

receiving an indication that none of the second portions of the plurality of first data elements match the corrected version of the second portion of the second data element;

in response to the indication, producing a first set of condensed versions of the plurality of first data elements and comparing the first set of condensed versions to a proprietary database comprising a second set of condensed versions of a second plurality of first data elements and corresponding plurality of second data elements;

verifying that at least one of the condensed versions of the first set matches at least one of the condensed versions of the second set; and

providing, based on the verifying, a link associating the second data element with the first data element.

26. The program on the computer-readable medium of claim 25, wherein the plurality of first data elements respectively correspond to a plurality of items configured to be delivered in an item delivery system.

27. The program on the computer-readable medium of claim 26, wherein the plurality of first data elements are respectively indicated on the exterior of the plurality of items and are machine readable.

28. The program on the computer-readable medium of claim 26, wherein the plurality of first data elements are respectively indicated on the exterior of the plurality of items and are optically scanable.

29. The program on the computer-readable medium of claim 26, wherein the plurality of first data elements are respectively indicated on the exterior of the plurality of items using at least one of a bar code or a PLANET code.

30. The program on the computer-readable medium of claim 26, wherein the item delivery system comprises the United States Postal Service.

31. The program on a computer-readable medium of claim 26, wherein the plurality of items comprises at least one of a mailpiece, a United States Postal Service Priority Mail package, a United States Postal Service Express Mail Package, a United States Postal Service Global Express Mail Package, or a United States Postal Service Global Express Guarantee Package.

32. The program on the computer-readable medium of claim 25, wherein the first portion identifies a sender of an item.

33. The program on the computer-readable medium of claim 25, wherein the second portion identifies a recipient address of an item.

34. The program on the computer-readable medium of claim 25, wherein the second data element identifies a corrected recipient address of an item.

35. The program on the computer-readable medium of claim 25, wherein at least one of receiving the plurality of first data elements, providing the second data element, receiving the indication, or providing, in response to the indication, the link, further comprises utilizing at least one of regular mail, e-mail, facsimile, internet, or an interactive voice response system.

36. The program on the computer-readable medium of claim 25, wherein at least one of receiving the plurality of first data elements, providing the second data element, receiving the indication, or providing, in response to the indication, the link, further comprises communicating over a network.

37. A system for providing corrected data, the system comprising:

means for receiving a plurality of first data elements, each of the plurality of first data elements comprising a first portion and a second portion;

means for providing a second data element, the second data element corresponding to one of the plurality of first data elements and comprising a corrected version of the second portion of the corresponding first data element;

means for comparing the plurality of first data elements to the second data elements;

means for;

receiving an indication that none of the second portions of the plurality of first data elements match the corrected version of the second portion of the second data element;

producing a first set of condensed versions of the plurality of first data elements;

comparing the first set of condensed versions to a proprietary database comprising a second set of condensed versions of a second plurality of first data elements and corresponding plurality of second data elements; and

verifying that at least one of the condensed versions of the first set matches at least one of the condensed versions of the second set; and

means for providing, based on the verifying, a link associating the second data element with the first data element.

38. The system of claim 37 wherein the plurality of first data elements respectively correspond to a plurality of items configured to be delivered in an item delivery system.

39. The system of claim 38, wherein the plurality of first data elements are respectively indicated on the exterior of the plurality of items and are machine readable.

40. The system of claim 38, wherein the plurality of first data elements are respectively indicated on the exterior of the plurality of items and are optically scanable.

41. The system of claim 38, wherein the plurality of first data elements are respectively indicated on the exterior of the plurality of items using at least one of a bar code or a PLANET code.

42. The system of claim 38, wherein the item delivery system comprises the United States Postal Service.

43. The system of claim 38, wherein the plurality of items comprises at least one of a mailpiece, a United States Postal Service Priority Mail package, a United States Postal Service Express Mail Package, a United States Postal Service Global Express Mail Package, or a United States Postal Service Global Express Guarantee Package.

44. The system of claim 37, wherein the first portion identifies a sender of an item.

45. The system of claim 37, wherein the second portion identifies a recipient address of an item.

46. The system of claim 37, wherein the second data element identifies a corrected recipient address of an item.

47. The system of claim 37, wherein at least one of the means for receiving the plurality of first data elements, the means for providing the second data element, the means for receiving the indication, or the means for providing, in response to the indication, the link, is further configured for utilizing at least one of regular mail, e-mail, facsimile, internet, or an interactive voice response system.

48. The system of claim 37, wherein at least one of the means for receiving the plurality of first data elements, the means for providing the second data element, the means for receiving the indication, or the means for providing, in response to the indication, the link, is further configured for communicating over a network.