Systems and methods for redirecting items in a delivery system
First Claim
1. A method for providing an item redirection service, comprising the stages of:
- receiving registration information for registering one or more recipients for the item redirection service, the registration information including delivery schedules associated with the recipients and specifying one or more periods during which the recipients desire to redirect items addressed to the recipients to alternate addresses associated with the recipients;
receiving, at a first address plant, an item addressed to a recipient at a first address;
determining, by a computing system, whether the recipient is registered for the item redirection service; and
when it is determined that the recipient is registered for the item redirection service;
holding the received item at the first address plant without delivering the item to the recipient at the first address;
determining, by the computing system and based on a delivery schedule associated with the recipient, whether a present time corresponds to a period during which the recipient desires to redirect items to an alternate address associated with the recipient; and
when it is determined that the present time corresponds to a time period during which the recipient desires to redirect items to the alternate address;
readdressing the held item to the recipient at the alternate address; and
sending the readdressed item to the alternate address;
wherein the items are physical mail pieces, and the first address and the alternate address are physical addresses.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
In the redirection process, items (110a-110n) are sent through a delivery system (130) directed to a recipient (155) at a first address (150) served by a first address plant (140). The recipient (155), however, no longer desires to have items (110a-110n) delivered to the first address (150) served by the first address plant (140), but now desires to have items delivered to an alternative address (160). Items are collected at the first address plant (140) and are held for a period of time specified by the recipient (155). Once this period of time for holding and collecting has expired, the items (110a-110n) are placed in a package (115). This package (115) is then sent through the delivery system (130) to an alternative address plant (145). Once the package (115) is received at the alternative address plant (145), the package (115) is delivered to the recipient (155) at the alternative address (160).
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method for providing an item redirection service, comprising the stages of:
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receiving registration information for registering one or more recipients for the item redirection service, the registration information including delivery schedules associated with the recipients and specifying one or more periods during which the recipients desire to redirect items addressed to the recipients to alternate addresses associated with the recipients; receiving, at a first address plant, an item addressed to a recipient at a first address; determining, by a computing system, whether the recipient is registered for the item redirection service; and when it is determined that the recipient is registered for the item redirection service; holding the received item at the first address plant without delivering the item to the recipient at the first address; determining, by the computing system and based on a delivery schedule associated with the recipient, whether a present time corresponds to a period during which the recipient desires to redirect items to an alternate address associated with the recipient; and when it is determined that the present time corresponds to a time period during which the recipient desires to redirect items to the alternate address; readdressing the held item to the recipient at the alternate address; and sending the readdressed item to the alternate address; wherein the items are physical mail pieces, and the first address and the alternate address are physical addresses. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 19)
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9. A system for providing an item redirection service, comprising:
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a delivery system configured to deliver items addressed to recipients; a first address plant contained within the delivery system; an alternate address plant contained within the delivery system; and a computing subsystem associated with the first address plant and configured to; receive, at a database system, registration information for registering one or more recipients for the item redirection service, including delivery schedules associated with the recipients and specifying one or more periods during which the recipients desire to redirect items addressed to the recipients to alternate addresses associated with the recipients; receive an item addressed to a recipient at a first address; determine whether the recipient is registered for the item redirection service; and when it is determined that the recipient is registered for the item redirection service; hold the item at the first address plant without delivering the item to the recipient at the first address; determine, based on a delivery schedule associated with the recipient, whether a present time corresponds to a period during which the recipient desires to redirect items to an alternate address associated with the recipient; and when it is determined that the present time corresponds to a period during which the recipient desires to redirect items to the alternate address; readdress the held item to the recipient at the alternate address; and send the readdressed item to the recipient at the alternate address via the alternate address plant wherein the items are physical mail pieces, and the first address and the alternate address are physical addresses. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 20)
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18. A method for providing an item redirection service, comprising the stages of:
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receiving registration information for registering one or more recipients for the item redirection service via at least one of e-mail, facsimile, internet, and an interactive voice response system, the registration information comprising delivery schedules associated with the recipients specifying one or more periods during which the recipients desire to redirect items addressed to the recipients to alternate addresses associated with the recipients; receiving an item addressed to the recipient at a first address plant within the delivery system; determining, by a computing system, whether the recipient is registered for the item redirection service; and when it is determined that the recipient is registered for the item redirection service; holding the item at the first address plant; determining, by the computing system and based on a delivery schedule associated with the recipient, whether a present time corresponds to a period during which the recipient desires to redirect items to an alternate address associated with the recipient; and when it is determined that the present time corresponds to a period during which the recipient desires to redirect items to the alternate address; readdressing the held item to the recipient at the alternate address; and sending the readdressed item via a delivery service to the alternate address; and receiving payment from the recipient for the item redirection service by at least one of the following;
billing the recipient, debiting the recipient'"'"'s checking account, and debiting the recipient'"'"'s credit card account;wherein the items are physical mail pieces, and the addresses are physical addresses. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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Specification