System and method for redirecting mail

• US 8,255,339 B2
• Filed: 04/02/2002
• Issued: 08/28/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/2002
• 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: Andrew, Emily
• Primary Examiner(s): Erb, Nathan
• Application Number:
  US10/473,736
• Publication Number:
  US 20040117328A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,801 Days
• Field of Search: 705/401
• US Class Current: 705/401
• CPC Class Codes: B07C 3/00 Sorting according to destination collating the pages of a book B42C1/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/083 Shipping
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/60 Business processes related to postal services shipping G06Q10/083; franking apparatus G07B17/00

Abstract

To temporarily redirect a customer'"'"'s mail from a current mailing address to a temporary mailing address a request to temporary redirect the customer'"'"'s mail is received. The request specifies at least one type of mail to redirect, the temporary mailing address, how to redirect the mail, and when to redirect the mail. The customer'"'"'s mail is directed to the temporary mailing address according to the request.

Claims

1. A method, implemented using a processor, for temporarily redirecting a customer'"'"'s mail from a current mailing address to a temporary mailing address, the method comprising:

receiving, by the processor, a request to temporarily redirect the customer'"'"'s mail, wherein the request specifies a user profile, a first type of mail to redirect, a second type of mail, the temporary mailing address, how to redirect the first type of mail, an arrival date, and a departure date, the arrival date being the date the customer will arrive at the temporary mailing address and the departure date being the date the customer will depart from the temporary mailing address;

determining, by the processor, a first date to begin mail redirection based on the arrival date and a number of days in advance required to redirect the first type of mail to the temporary mailing address, and determining a second date to cancel mail redirection based on the departure date and the number of days in advance required to redirect the first type of mail to the temporary mailing address;

creating, by the processor, an electric trust account funded by the customer to cover a cost to redirect the first type of mail;

redirecting, using data from the processor, the first type of mail to the temporary mailing address according to the request and the first date and the second date;

electronically debiting, by the processor, the electric trust account an amount to cover a cost of the redirecting;

instructing a delivery service provider to provide, based on the user profile, a package to the customer after the customer arrives at the temporary mailing address, wherein the package includes coupons for services or goods, selected based on the user profile, and a confirmation that the first type of mail will be redirected to the temporary mailing address;

calculating, by the processor, a time period to hold the second type of mail based on the request;

instructing the delivery service provider to hold the second type of mail during the time period;

receiving a notification that the customer has arrived at the temporary mailing address; and

informing at least one contact specified by the customer that the customer has arrived at the temporary mailing address.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the request is received via the Internet.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first type of mail to redirect consists of at least one of:

all mail, bills, or periodicals.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the request specifies that the first type of mail is to be redirected using an expedited mailing process.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

wherein the estimated cost is based on how, how often, and where the first type of mail is redirected.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

informing at least one mail source of the request to redirect the first type of mail from the mail source to the temporary mailing address.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an email address of the contact from the customer through the request.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the temporary mailing address is a hotel and the notification is received when the customer checks in at the hotel.

9. The method according to claim 7, wherein informing at least one contact of the customer'"'"'s arrival comprises:

emailing the at least one contact based on at least one email address that is received.

10. The method according to claim 7, further comprising:

informing the at least one contact of the customer'"'"'s contact information.

11. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

providing information on the contents of a post office box to the customer, wherein the first type of mail is redirected to the post office box.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein information on the contents of the post office box comprises a number of mail pieces in the post office box.

13. The method according to claim 11, wherein the information on the contents of the post office box is provided to the customer via the Internet.

14. The method according to claim 1, wherein the package is provided based on profile information that is received from the customer.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the package includes at least one map of a location that is related to the customer'"'"'s interests and near the temporary mailing address, and is based on the profile information.

16. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

canceling the redirecting a predetermined amount of time before the customer departs from the temporary mailing address; and

holding the first type of mail until the customer arrives at the current mailing address.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the first type of mail and the second type of mail are delivered on demand when the customer arrives at the current mailing address.

18. A solid computer-readable storage medium storing instructions for controlling a computer system to perform a method, the method comprising:

receiving by a processor, a request to temporarily redirect a customer'"'"'s mail, wherein the request specifies a user profile, a first type of mail to redirect, a second type of mail, the temporary mailing address, how to redirect the first type of mail, an arrival date, and a departure date, the arrival date being the date the customer will arrive at the temporary mailing address and the departure date being the date the customer will depart from the temporary mailing address; and

determining, by the processor, a first date to begin mail redirection based on the arrival date and a number of days in advance required to redirect the first type of mail to the temporary mailing address, and determining a second date to cancel mail redirection based on the departure date and the number of days in advance required to redirect the first type of mail to the temporary mailing address;

creating, by the processor, an electric trust account funded by the customer to cover a cost to redirect the first type of mail;

redirecting the first type of mail to the temporary mailing address according to the request and the first date and the second date;

electronically debiting, by the processor, the electric trust account an amount to cover a cost of the redirecting;

instructing a delivery service provider to provide, based on the user profile, a package to the customer after the customer arrives at the temporary mailing address, wherein the package includes coupons for services or goods, selected based on the user profile, and a confirmation that the first type of mail will be redirected to the temporary mailing address;

calculating a time period to hold the second type of mail based on the request;

instructing the delivery service provider to hold the second type of mail during the time period;

receiving a notification that the customer has arrived at the temporary mailing address; and

informing at least one contact specified by the customer that the customer has arrived at the temporary mailing address.

19. The computer-readable medium according to claim 18, wherein the request is received via the Internet.

20. The computer-readable medium according to claim 18, wherein the first type of mail to redirect consists of at least one of:

all mail, bills, or periodicals.

21. The computer-readable medium according to claim 18, wherein the request specifies that the first type of mail is to be redirected using an expedited mailing process.

22. The computer-readable medium according to claim 18, the method further comprising:

wherein the estimated cost is based on how, how often, and where the first type of mail is redirected.

23. The computer-readable medium according to claim 18, the method further comprising:

informing at least one mail source of the request to redirect the first type of mail from the mail source to the temporary mailing address.

24. The computer-readable medium according to claim 18, the method further comprising:

receiving an email address of the contact from the customer through the request.

25. The computer-readable medium according to claim 24, wherein the temporary mailing address is a hotel and the notification is received when the customer checks in at the hotel.

26. The computer-readable medium according to claim 24, wherein informing at least one contact of the customer'"'"'s arrival comprises:

emailing the at least one contact based on at least one email address that is received.

27. The computer-readable medium according to claim 24, the method further comprising:

informing the at least one contact of the customer'"'"'s contact information.

28. The computer-readable medium according to claim 18, the method further comprising:

providing information on the contents of a post office box to the customer, wherein the first type of mail is redirected to the post office box.

29. The computer-readable medium according to claim 28, wherein information on the contents of the post office box comprises a number of mail pieces in the post office box.

30. The computer-readable medium according to claim 28, wherein the information on the contents of the post office box is provided to the customer via the Internet.

31. The computer-readable medium according to claim 18, the method further comprising:

canceling the redirecting a predetermined amount of time before the customer departs from the temporary mailing address.

32. The computer-readable medium according to claim 31, the method further comprising:

receiving a request to deliver the first type of mail and the second type of mail on demand when the customer arrives at the current mailing address.

33. A system for temporarily redirecting a customer'"'"'s mail from a current mailing address to a temporary mailing address, the system comprising:

a processor; and

a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to;

receive a request to temporarily redirect the customer'"'"'s mail, wherein the request specifies a user profile, a first type of mail to redirect, a second type of mail, the temporary mailing address, how to redirect the first type of mail, an arrival date, and a departure date, the arrival date being the date the customer will arrive at the temporary mailing address and the departure date being the date the customer will depart from the temporary mailing address;

determine a first date to begin redirection of the first type of mail based on the arrival date and a number of days in advance required to redirect the first type of mail to the temporary mailing address;

determine a second date to cancel redirection of the first type of mail based on the departure date and the number of days in advance required to redirect the first type of mail to the temporary mailing address;

create an electric trust account funded by the customer to cover a cost to redirect the first type of mail;

redirect the first type of mail to the temporary mailing address according to the request and the first date and the second date;

electronically debit the electric trust account an amount to cover a cost to redirect the first type of mail;

instruct a delivery service provider to provide, based on the user profile, a package to the customer after the customer arrives at the temporary mailing address, wherein the package includes coupons for services or goods, selected based on the user profile, and a confirmation that the first type of mail will be redirected to the temporary mailing address;

calculate a time period to hold the second type of mail based on the request;

instruct the delivery service provider to hold the second type of mail during the time period;

receive a notification that the customer has arrived at the temporary mailing address; and

inform at least one contact specified by the customer that the customer has arrived at the temporary mailing address.

34. The system according to claim 33, wherein the request is received via a communication link.

35. The system according to claim 34, wherein the communication link is the Internet.

36. The system according to claim 33, further comprising an expedited mailing system for redirecting the first type of mail.

37. The system according to claim 33,

wherein the estimated cost is based on how, how often, and where the first type of mail is redirected.

38. The system according to claim 33, further comprising:

a communication link for informing at least one mail source of the request to redirect the first type of mail from the mail source to the temporary mailing address.

39. The system according to claim 33, further comprising:

a communication link for receiving a notification that the customer has arrived at the temporary mailing address, and for receiving an email address of the contact from the customer.

40. The system according to claim 39, wherein the communication link is to a hotel.

41. The system according to claim 39, wherein the message is an email message informing the at least one contact of the customer'"'"'s arrival.

42. The system according to claim 41, wherein the message includes contact information.

43. The system according to claim 33, further comprising:

means for providing information on the contents of a post office box to the customer, wherein the first type of mail is redirected to the post office box.

44. The system according to claim 43, wherein a communication link provides information on the contents of the post office box.

45. The system according to claim 44, wherein the communication link is the Internet.

46. The system according to claim 33, further comprising:

a package, wherein the package is provided based on profile information that is received from the customer and wherein the package is provided to the customer when the customer arrives at the temporary mailing address.

47. The system according to claim 46, wherein the package includes at least one map of a location that is related to the customer'"'"'s interests and near the temporary mailing address, and is based on the profile information.

48. The system according to claim 33, further comprising instructions that cause the processor to:

cancel mail redirection a predetermined amount of time before the customer departs from the temporary mailing address; and

cause holding of the mail until the customer arrives at the current mailing address.

49. The system according to claim 48, further comprising:

means for delivering the first type of mail and the second type of mail on demand when the customer arrives at the current mailing address.