Method and system for information distribution

• US 8,051,038 B1
• Filed: 07/28/2006
• Issued: 11/01/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Korber Supply Chain LLC (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Industry Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Mampe, John J., Allen, Gary, Kiani, Shahrom, Bruce, Ben F., O'Martin, Alan E., Sipe, Wayne
• Primary Examiner(s): Lie; Angela
• Assistant Examiner(s): MINA, FATIMA P
• Application Number:
  US11/495,019
• Time in Patent Office: 1,922 Days
• Field of Search: 707/625, 707/624, 707/610
• US Class Current: 707/625
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising

Abstract

A computer-implemented system for maintaining a set of databases includes a first server that stores a master database of records that is updated on an intermittent basis, a second server that stores a computer-searchable, enhanced database of the same records as the master database, means for receiving intermittent updates from the master database and incorporating the updates into the enhanced database, means for electronically inputting information from sources other than the master database into the enhanced database, the information from other sources is more recent than information in the master database means and for revising the enhanced database to contain such more recent information and means for distributing information from the enhanced database to one or more subscriber servers.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented system for maintaining a set of databases, which databases contain postal address information concerning postal mail recipients comprising:

a first server that stores a master database of address information records that is updated on an intermittent basis;

a second server that stores a computer-searchable, enhanced database of the same records as the master database, where the enhanced database includes additional information for each of the records that is not replicated to the master database, the additional information including at least one of more recent data than is found in the master database, mailing statistics, address updates from financial institutions, nicknames, educational titles, military titles, addressee gender information, identity theft information, hot list status, addressee death records, real property ownership records, or business incorporation records,

wherein the second server is configured to receive intermittent address change updates from the master database and incorporate the updates into the enhanced database, and

wherein the second server is configured to electronically input address change information from sources other than the master database into the enhanced database between intermittent updates of the master database, which information from other sources is more recent than information then reflected in the master database, and to revise the enhanced database to contain such more recent information; and

at least one subscriber server storing records containing information of the same type as stored in the enhanced database and master database,

wherein the second server is configured to distribute information from the enhanced database to one or more of the subscriber servers, and

wherein the second server updates the enhanced database with local change of address information forwarded to the enhanced database by subscribers.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the subscriber server stores a copy of the enhanced database.

3. The system of claim 1 further comprising:

one or more slave servers which each contain a copy of the enhanced database from the subscriber server.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the master database is updated on a weekly basis.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the master database is the National Change of Address database maintained by the U.S. Postal Service and the sources other than the master database are sources other than the national postal service and other than from postal patrons who are submitting address change information.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the sources other than the master change of address database including one or more of an address alias database, a name alias database, a temporary moves database, credit card company change of address records, theft of identity records, police hot lists, death records, real estate records, records of federal agencies other than the postal service, state government databases, and electronic telephone listings on the Internet.

5. A computer-implemented system for maintaining a set of databases, which databases contain postal address information concerning postal mail recipients, comprising:

a first server that stores a master database of records that is updated on an intermittent basis;

a second server that stores a computer-searchable, enhanced database of the same records as the master database, where the enhanced database includes additional information for each of the records that is not replicated to the master database, the additional information including at least one of more recent data than is found in the master database, mailing statistics, address updates from financial institutions, nicknames, educational titles, military titles, addressee gender information, identity theft information, hot list status, addressee death records, real property ownership records, or business incorporation records,

wherein the second server is configured to receive intermittent updates from the master database and incorporate the updates into the enhanced database, and

wherein the second server is configured to electronically input address change information from sources other than the master database into the enhanced database between intermittent updates of the master database, which information from other sources is more recent than information then reflected in the master database, revise the enhanced database to contain such more recent information,

wherein the second server is configured to prepare a revised mailing list using data from the enhanced database that corresponds to a mailing list received from a subscriber, and

wherein the second server updates the enhanced database with local change of address information forwarded to the enhanced database by subscribers;

at least one subscriber server storing records containing information of the same type as stored in the enhanced database and master database,

wherein the second server is configured to distribute information from the enhanced database to one or more of the subscriber servers.

6. System of claim 5, wherein the second server sends the revised mailing list to the subscriber.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein the second server creates a mailing address look up table corresponding to the information stored in the enhanced database and provides access to the lookup table to subscribers.

10. The system of claim 5, wherein the master database is the National Change of Address Database maintained by the U.S. Postal Service and the sources other than the master database are sources other than the national postal service and other than from postal patrons who are submitting address change information.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the sources other than the master change of address database including one or more of an address alias database, a name alias database, a temporary moves database, credit card company change of address records, theft of identity records, police hot lists, death records, real estate records, records of federal agencies other than the postal service, state government databases, and electronic telephone listings on the Internet.