Systems and methods for implementing an address directory link

• US 8,165,970 B2
• Filed: 07/29/2004
• Issued: 04/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• 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: Avant, Oscar L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Rutao
• Application Number:
  US10/901,331
• Publication Number:
  US 20050187654A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,826 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 705/406
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management

Abstract

Methods and systems consistent with the present invention facilitate mailpiece processing by processing a mailpiece using an Address Directory Link (ADL) format. The present invention allows for mail to be sent when the sender may not know the delivery address of the desired recipient. In one embodiment, a method includes recognizing the ADL format on a mailpiece; reading ADL formatted data from the mailpiece; and determining a delivery address based on the ADL formatted data using an ADL database. Consistent with the present invention, this method may further include delivering the mailpiece to the delivery address associated with the ADL formatted data.

Claims

1. A method, implemented using a computer system, for processing a mailpiece using an Address Directory Link (ADL) format, comprising:

determining whether the mailpiece includes the ADL format, the ADL format including a recipient name and ADL formatted data, wherein the ADL formatted data comprises an un-encrypted telephone number that is human-readable,

wherein if the mailpiece includes the ADL format, an ADL address process is performed, the ADL address process comprising;

reading the ADL formatted data from the mailpiece; and

determining a delivery address based on the ADL formatted data using an ADL database,

wherein the ADL database is created by matching a reference telephone number in a telephone directory with a delivery bar code in an address database and storing the matched reference telephone number and the delivery bar code,

wherein if the mailpiece does not include the ADL format, the ADL address process is not performed,

wherein the mailpiece is received from a sender,

wherein, after the mailpiece is received from the sender, a service notification is sent to the sender if the ADL formatted data is added to or removed from the ADL database; and

automatically placing a telephone call, using the ADL formatted data on the mailpiece, to convey information about the mailpiece.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

delivering the mailpiece to the delivery address associated with the ADL formatted data.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the ADL format is a standardized block layout.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the information about the mailpiece is a notification of arrival.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the information about the mailpiece comprises an arrival time.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the ADL database comprises:

the ADL formatted data; and

the delivery address that corresponds to the ADL formatted data.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the ADL database comprises:

the ADL formatted data; and

a unique identifier that corresponds to the ADL formatted data.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the unique identifier is a bar code.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

affixing the unique identifier to the mailpiece.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

corroborating the reading of the ADL formatted data from the mailpiece.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein

the ADL database is created by matching a reference telephone number in a telephone directory with delivery point information in an address database and storing the matched reference telephone number and delivery point information.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein if there is no delivery address based on the ADL formatted data, the mailpiece is returned to the sender.

13. A system for processing a mailpiece using an Address Directory Link (ADL) format, comprising:

means for determining whether the mailpiece includes the ADL format, the ADL format including a recipient name and ADL formatted data, wherein the ADL formatted data comprises an un-encrypted telephone number that is human-readable;

means for sorting the mailpiece;

means for ADL processing; and

means for non-ADL processing,

wherein if the mailpiece includes the ADL format, the means for sorting sends the mailpiece to the means for ADL processing,

wherein if the mailpiece does not include the ADL format, the means for sorting sends the mailpiece to the means for non-ADL processing,

wherein the means for ADL processing comprises;

means for reading the ADL formatted data from the mailpiece; and

means for determining a delivery address based on the ADL formatted data using an ADL database,

wherein the ADL database is created by matching a reference telephone number in a telephone directory with a delivery bar code in an address database and storing the matched reference telephone number and the delivery bar code,

wherein the mailpiece is received from a sender,

wherein, after the mailpiece is received from the sender, a service notification is sent to the sender if the ADL formatted data is added to or removed from the ADL database; and

means for automatically placing a telephone call, using the ADL formatted data on the mailpiece, to convey information about the mailpiece.

14. The system of claim 13, further comprising:

means for delivering the mailpiece to the delivery address associated with the ADL formatted data.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the ADL format is a standardized block layout.

16. The system of claim 13, wherein the information about the mailpiece is a notification of arrival.

17. The system of claim 13, wherein the ADL database comprises:

the ADL formatted data; and

the delivery address that corresponds to the ADL formatted data.

18. The system of claim 13, wherein the ADL database comprises:

the ADL formatted data; and

a unique identifier that corresponds to the ADL formatted data.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the unique identifier is a bar code.

20. The system of claim 18, further comprising:

means for affixing the unique identifier to the mailpiece.

21. A computer-readable medium storing instructions to configure a data processor to perform a method for processing a mailpiece using an Address Directory Link (ADL) format, the method comprising:

determining whether the mailpiece includes the ADL format, the ADL format including a recipient name and ADL formatted data, wherein the ADL formatted data comprises an un-encrypted telephone number that is human-readable,

wherein if the mailpiece includes the ADL format, an ADL address process is performed, the ADL address process comprising;

reading the ADL formatted data from the mailpiece; and

determining a delivery address based on the ADL formatted data using an ADL database,

wherein the ADL database is created by matching a reference telephone number in a telephone directory with a delivery bar code in an address database and storing the matched reference telephone number and the delivery bar code point,

wherein if the mailpiece does not include the ADL format, the ADL address process is not performed,

wherein the mailpiece is received from a sender,

wherein, after the mailpiece is received from the sender, a service notification is sent to the sender if the ADL formatted data is added to or removed from the ADL database; and

automatically placing a telephone call, using the ADL formatted data on the mailpiece, to convey information about the mailpiece.

22. The computer-readable medium of claim 21, wherein the ADL format is a standardized block layout.

23. The computer-readable medium of claim 21, wherein the information about the mailpiece is a notification of arrival.

24. The computer-readable medium of claim 21, wherein the information about the mailpiece comprises an arrival time.

25. The computer-readable medium of claim 21, wherein the ADL database comprises:

the ADL formatted data; and

the delivery address that corresponds to the ADL formatted data.

26. The computer-readable medium of claim 21, wherein the ADL database comprises:

the ADL formatted data; and

a unique identifier that corresponds to the ADL formatted data.

27. The computer-readable medium of claim 26, wherein the unique identifier is a bar code.