Methods and media for processing mailpiece information in a mail processing device using sorter application software

• US 7,765,024 B2
• Filed: 08/30/2007
• Issued: 07/27/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/1999
• 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: Brandt, Bruce A., Fadely, Jay David
• Primary Examiner(s): Mackey; Patrick
• Assistant Examiner(s): Butler; Michael E.
• Application Number:
  US11/896,148
• Publication Number:
  US 20080086233A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,062 Days
• Field of Search: 700/224
• US Class Current: 700/224
• CPC Class Codes: B07C 3/00 Sorting according to destination collating the pages of a book B42C1/00
• CPC Class Codes: B07C 3/18 Devices or arrangements for indicating destination, e.g. by code marks applying data to information carriers G06K1/12
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/60 Business processes related to postal services shipping G06Q10/083; franking apparatus G07B17/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06V 10/22 by selection of a specific region containing or referencing a pattern; Locating or processing of specific regions to guide the detection or recognition
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 209/90 Sorting flat-type mail

Abstract

Apparatus and methods consistent with the present invention provide for processing mailpiece information in a mail processing device using sorter application software. In one embodiment, a mail processing device uses the sorter application software to communicate with an identification code server. In this embodiment, different types of mail processing devices can use the common sorter application software to communicate with the same or different identification code servers.

Claims

1. A method of identifying a mailpiece having a first identification code using a second identification code on the mailpiece and sorter application hardware, comprising:

failing to identify the mailpiece based on a first identification code, wherein the failing occurs when the first identification code is illegible;

receiving a first prompt from an operator of a mail processing device;

initiating a connection between the mail processing device and an identification code server, via the sorter application hardware, in response to the first prompt;

processing mailpiece information between the mail processing device and the identification code server based, at least in part, on the second identification code and via the sorter application hardware;

receiving a second prompt from the operator of the mail processing device; and

terminating the connection between the mail processing device and the identification code server, in response to the second prompt,

wherein the first identification code is printed on a first side of the mailpiece and the second identification code is printed on a second side of the mailpiece.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the identification code server is a PICS server.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the identification code server is a SICS server.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the mail processing device is a bar code sorter.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the first prompt is a start-run message.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the second prompt is an end-run message.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein processing further comprises:

transmitting information from the mail processing device to the identification code server; and

receiving information from the identification code server at the mail processing device.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the mail processing device is a Mail Processing Bar Code Sorter.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the mail processing device is a Delivery Bar Code Sorter.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the mail processing device is a Carrier Sequence Bar Code Sorter.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the mail processing device is an Output Subsystem/Bar Code Sorter.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the mailpiece information includes a postal code.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the postal code is a POSTNET code.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first identification code and the second identification code is an ID tag.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

passing a parameter from the sorter application hardware to the identification code server to indicate a mail processing device type.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the sorter application hardware is on a network.

17. A method of identifying a mailpiece having a first identification code using a second identification code on the mailpiece and sorter application hardware, comprising the steps of:

failing to identify the mailpiece based on a first identification code, wherein the failing occurs when the first identification code is illegible;

receiving a first prompt from an operator of a mail processing device;

initiating a connection between the mail processing device and an identification code server, via the sorter application hardware, in response to the first prompt;

processing mailpiece information between the mail processing device and the identification code server based, at least in part, on the second identification code and via the sorter application hardware;

receiving a second prompt from the operator of the mail processing device; and

terminating the connection between the mail processing device and the identification code server, in response to the second prompt,

wherein the first identification code is on a front of the mailpiece and the second identification code is on a back of the mailpiece.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the mailpiece information includes a postal code.

19. A tangible computer-usable medium having computer-executable code embodied therein that, when executed by a computer system, performs a method for identifying a mailpiece having a first identification code using a second identification code on the mailpiece, the method comprising:

identifying the mailpiece based on the second identification code after it is determined that the first identification code is illegible;

receiving a first prompt from an operator of a mail processing device;

initiating a connection between the mail processing device and an identification code server, via the sorter application hardware, in response to the first prompt;

processing mailpiece information between the mail processing device and the identification code server based, at least in part, on the second identification code and via the sorter application hardware;

receiving a second prompt from the operator of the mail processing device; and

terminating the connection between the mail processing device and the identification code server, in response to the second prompt,

wherein the first identification code is printed on a first side of the mailpiece and the second identification code is printed on a second side of the mailpiece.

20. The tangible computer-usable medium of claim 19, wherein the first side is a front of the mailpiece and the second side is a back of the mailpiece.