Method and system for sorting mail
First Claim
1. A method for sorting mailpieces comprising the steps of:
- imaging a face surface of the mailpieces to acquire mailpiece delivery information;
distributing the mailpiece image to a plurality of virtual mailpiece sorting stations;
virtually sorting the mailpiece images into one of a plurality of database files based upon common mailpiece delivery information;
transmitting the mailpiece delivery information contained in each database file to an automated mailpiece sorting station; and
physically sorting each mailpiece via the automated mailpiece sorting station,wherein a first of the plurality of virtual sorting stations is configured to virtually sort the mailpieces to a first level sort and provides the first level sort to a second of the plurality of virtual sorting stations configured to virtually sort the mailpieces to a second level sort which is of a lower tier.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and system for sorting mail includes the steps of imaging a face surface of the mailpieces to acquire mailpiece delivery information and distributing the mailpiece image to a virtual sorting station. The virtual sorting station is operative to sort each mailpiece image into one of a plurality of database files based upon common mailpiece delivery information. Depending upon the number of virtual sorting stations required to perform the sorting operation, the mailpiece delivery information contained in each database file may be processed by a system controller and/or transmitted to an automated mailpiece sorting device where each mailpiece is physically sorted into one of a plurality of mailpiece containers. The system for sorting mail includes an imaging device, a virtual sorting station for virtually sorting the mailpiece images and an automated sorting station for physically sorting the actual mailpieces. The system may include a plurality of virtual sorting stations wherein operators at each station provide address interpretation data to sort the mailpieces.
100 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A method for sorting mailpieces comprising the steps of:
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imaging a face surface of the mailpieces to acquire mailpiece delivery information; distributing the mailpiece image to a plurality of virtual mailpiece sorting stations; virtually sorting the mailpiece images into one of a plurality of database files based upon common mailpiece delivery information; transmitting the mailpiece delivery information contained in each database file to an automated mailpiece sorting station; and physically sorting each mailpiece via the automated mailpiece sorting station, wherein a first of the plurality of virtual sorting stations is configured to virtually sort the mailpieces to a first level sort and provides the first level sort to a second of the plurality of virtual sorting stations configured to virtually sort the mailpieces to a second level sort which is of a lower tier. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for delivering mail comprising the steps of:
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receiving a plurality of mailpieces; imaging a face surface of the mailpieces to acquire mailpiece delivery information; distributing the mailpiece image to a network having at least one virtual sorting station; virtually sorting the mailpiece images into one of a plurality of database files based upon common mailpiece delivery information; transmitting the mailpiece delivery information contained in each database file to an automated mailpiece sorting device; sorting each mailpiece via the automated mailpiece sorting device; and delivering the sorted mailpieces, wherein physical sorting operations begin or continue despite that all mailpieces subject to being physically sorted have not been virtually sorted. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A hybrid system for sorting mail comprising:
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an imaging device operative to acquire mailpiece delivery information from a face surface of a mailpiece; a network of at least one virtual sorting station operative to receive the imaged mailpieces and sort each mailpiece image into one of a plurality of database files based upon common mailpiece delivery information; an automated mailpiece sorting station operative to receive the virtually sorted mailpiece delivery information contained in each database file and sort each mailpiece using sorting algorithms, and a system controller operative to acquire and store mailpiece delivery information from the imaging device, send a mailpiece image file to the network of virtual sorting stations and record the database files produced therefrom, and route the database files to the automated mailpiece sorting station to physically sort the mailpieces, wherein the at least one virtual sorting stations includes a plurality of virtual stations configured to provide a different sort level based on common mailpiece delivery information. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification