Processing shiny mail pieces
First Claim
1. A non-transitory machine-readable digital memory device comprising:
- a series of executable instructions stored in the machine-readable digital memory device, wherein the executable instructions are adapted for operating a reject encoding machine (REM); and
wherein the executable instructions include;
first instructions for the REM to identify a mailpiece as being shiny mail;
second instructions for the REM to, in response to identifying the mailpiece as being shiny mail, over-label the mailpiece with at least one non-shiny label;
third instructions for the REM to recognize a destination address of the mailpiece based on a captured digital image;
fourth instructions for the REM to print a barcode corresponding to the destination address onto the non-shiny label; and
fifth instructions for the REM to output the mailpiece for return to downstream processing.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Methods, apparatus, software and systems are disclosed for improved processing of mailpieces in order to reduce expensive manual steps. Shiny mail, i.e., mailpieces having glossy surfaces that sometimes interfere with printing of barcodes and or ID Tags may lead to rejects. In some embodiments, shiny mailpieces are identified, and at least one new (non-shiny) label is over-labeled in the POSTNET clear zone (108), the ID Tag zone (202), or both. In one embodiment, a specially-configured Reject Encoding Machine (REM) (1142) is employed to label or over-label a POSTNET clear zone (1110), resolve the destination address (1112) if possible, and print the barcode (1114) in a single operation. Thereafter, the mailpiece may be transferred from the REM into a downstream DBCS (1144), thereby re-introducing the mailpiece into the automated mail stream rather than being relegated to a manual stream.
83 Citations
16 Claims
-
1. A non-transitory machine-readable digital memory device comprising:
-
a series of executable instructions stored in the machine-readable digital memory device, wherein the executable instructions are adapted for operating a reject encoding machine (REM); and
wherein the executable instructions include;first instructions for the REM to identify a mailpiece as being shiny mail; second instructions for the REM to, in response to identifying the mailpiece as being shiny mail, over-label the mailpiece with at least one non-shiny label; third instructions for the REM to recognize a destination address of the mailpiece based on a captured digital image; fourth instructions for the REM to print a barcode corresponding to the destination address onto the non-shiny label; and fifth instructions for the REM to output the mailpiece for return to downstream processing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
-
-
5. A reject encoding machine (REM) including a digital processor configured to execute a series of executable instructions stored in a non-transitory machine-readable digital memory device, wherein the executable instructions include:
-
instructions for the REM to identify a mailpiece as being shiny mail; instructions for the REM to, in response to identifying the mailpiece as being shiny mail, over-label the mailpiece with at least one non-shiny label; instructions for the REM to recognize a destination address of the mailpiece based on a captured digital image; instructions for the REM to print a barcode corresponding to the destination address onto the non-shiny label; and instructions for the REM to output the mailpiece for return to downstream processing. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
-
-
13. A reject encoding machine (REM) including a digital processor configured to execute a series of executable instructions stored in a non-transitory machine-readable digital memory device, the REM further comprising:
-
means for identifying a mailpiece as being shiny mail; means for over-labeling the mailpiece with at least one non-shiny label in response to identifying the mailpiece as being shiny mail; means for recognizing a destination address of the mailpiece based on a captured digital image; means for printing a barcode corresponding to the recognized destination address onto the non-shiny label; and means to output the mailpiece for return to downstream processing. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
-
Specification