Systems and methods for sorting mail using a name/firm database

• US 7,397,009 B2
• Filed: 09/10/2001
• Issued: 07/08/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• 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: O'Donohue, Gerard, Johnson, Lori
• Primary Examiner(s): Mackey; Patrick
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hageman; Mark
• Application Number:
  US10/363,684
• Publication Number:
  US 20030182017A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,493 Days
• Field of Search: 209/584, 209/900, 700223-227, 382/101, 382/102
• US Class Current: 209/584
• CPC Class Codes: B07C 3/00 Sorting according to destination collating the pages of a book B42C1/00
• CPC Class Codes: B07C 3/14 using light-responsive detecting means for information carriers G06K7/14
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 209/90 Sorting flat-type mail

Abstract

A system (100) and method for sorting mail (112) includes a first database (106) containing addresses and zipcodes for a plurality of mail item recipients, a second database (104) containing a plurality of individual and firm names and their associated addresses, and an imaging device (114) for capturing an image of address information on a mail item (112). Based on identified elements from the captured address information image, a subsystem (110) containing an algorithm compares the elements with the first database (106) and determines if there is a match of all elements. If one or more address information elements are unmatched, the algorithm compares the elements to the second database (104), and applies a set of criteria to the address information elements matched in the second database (104) to determine if a match exists.

Claims

1. A system for sorting mail items, comprising:

a first database containing addresses and ZIP codes for a plurality of mail item recipients;

a second database containing a plurality of individual and firm names and their associated addresses;

an imaging device for capturing an image of address information on the mail item; and

one or more subsystems containing an algorithm that;

compares the address information with the first database and determines if there is a match,

only if the address information and the first database is unmatched, compares the address information to the second database,

determines, according to a set of criteria, whether a match exists between the address information and a listing in the second database, and

if a match exists between the address information and a listing of either the first or second database, deems the message deliverable, and resolves the address information based on the matched listing.

2. The system of claim 1, including a plurality of subsystems each containing an associated algorithm that executes the comparisons of address information with the first and second databases.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the associated algorithm within the plurality of subsystems receives the address information and executes comparisons on the first database in parallel to determine if a match exists and, if the address information is unmatched, executes comparisons with listings of the second database in parallel to determine if a match exists.

4. A method for sorting mail items having address information comprised of a plurality of elements including a name element, the method comprising the steps of:

identifying the plurality of elements on a mail item;

comparing each element of the plurality of elements on the mail item to listings of a first database and identifying matched and unmatched elements, wherein if all of the plurality of elements on the mail item match a listing in the first database, the address information is resolved based on the listing in the first database, and the mail item is deemed deliverable; and

wherein only if less than all of the plurality of elements on the mail item match a listing in the first database, comparing the plurality of elements on the mail item to a second database and identifying matched and unmatched elements; and

applying an algorithm to the matched and unmatched elements of the mail item with respect to listings of the second database, to determine if a set of criteria of the algorithm are met, and if the set of criteria are met, deeming the mail item to be deliverable and resolving the address information based on a listing in the second database.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the identifying step comprises capturing the address elements with an optical device.

6. The method according to claim 4, wherein the identifying step comprises manually identifying the address elements.

7. A system for sorting mail items with address information having a plurality of elements, the system comprising:

means for identifying the plurality of elements on a mail item;

means for comparing each identified element of the plurality of elements of the mail item to listings of a first database and identifying matched and unmatched elements; and

for, if the plurality of elements of the mail item match a listing in the first database, resolving the address information based on the listing in the first database, and deeming the mail item to be deliverable;

means for comparing the elements of the mail item to listings of a second database only if less than all of the plurality of elements of the mail item match a listing in the first database, and for identifying matched and unmatched elements of the mail item;

means for applying an algorithm to the matched and unmatched elements of the mail item with respect to listings of the second database, to determine if a set of criteria of the algorithm are met, and if the set of criteria are met, deeming the mail item to be deliverable and resolving the address information based on a listing in the second database.

8. The system according to claim 7, wherein the identifying means comprises means for capturing the address information with an optical device.

9. The system according to claim 7, wherein the identifying means comprises means for manual data entry.

10. A system for sorting mail items, comprising:

a first database containing addresses and ZIP codes for a plurality of mail item recipients;

a second database containing a plurality of recipient names, and addresses associated therewith;

an imaging device for capturing an image of address information on the mail item; and

one or more subsystems executing a process that;

compares the address information with the first database and determines if there is a match,

only if the address information is unmatched, compares the address information to the second database, and

determines, according to a set of criteria, whether a match exists between the address information and the recipient names of only the second database, and

if a match exists between the address information in either the first or second database, deems the message deliverable, and resolves the intended address information based on the match.

11. The system according to claim 10, wherein the recipient names comprise individual and business names.