Cloud-based address processing

• US 9,741,180 B2
• Filed: 12/02/2011
• Issued: 08/22/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Korber Supply Chain LLC (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Industry Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Mungo, Joseph C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Osifade, Idowu O
• Application Number:
  US13/310,353
• Publication Number:
  US 20130044350A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,090 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 17/00435 Details specific to central, non-customer apparatus, e.g. servers at post office or vendor
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00451 Address hygiene, i.e. checking and correcting addresses to be printed on mail pieces using address databases

Abstract

Mail processing systems and methods. A method includes receiving a plurality of mailpieces in the mail processing system and associating a unique identifier with each of the plurality of mailpieces. The method includes obtaining destination address information for each of the plurality of mailpieces and comparing the destination address information with a potential move table to determine destination addresses for which there is a potential change of address. The method includes sending the destination address information to a change of address (COA) server and receiving COA results from the COA server. The method includes printing destination information on each mailpiece according to the COA results.

Claims

1. A method for processing mail, performed by a mail processing system, comprising:

receiving a plurality of mailpieces in the mail processing system;

associating a unique identifier with each of the plurality of mailpieces;

obtaining destination address information for each of the plurality of mailpieces;

comparing the destination address information with a potential move table to determine destination addresses for which there is a potential change of address;

sending the destination address information including a recipient name to a change of address (COA) server;

receiving COA results from the COA server; and

printing destination information on each mailpiece according to the COA results, including correlating the COA results to the unique identifiers.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the printed destination information includes an indicia corresponding to address data received from the COA server as part of the COA result.

3. The method of claim 1, further sorting the plurality of mailpieces according to the printed destination information.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the printed destination information includes a change of address line.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the COA server maintains a COA database of address changes for specific recipients.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein any destination address information that is not found in the potential move table is not sent to the COA server.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein sending the destination address information to a change of address (COA) server, receiving COA results from the COA server, and printing destination information on each mailpiece according to the COA results are performed by the mail processing system in a second pass while the mail processing system is in a second operational mode.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein sending the destination address information to a change of address (COA) server, receiving COA results from the COA server, and printing destination information on each mailpiece according to the COA results are performed by the mail processing system in a single pass operational mode.

9. A mail processing system, comprising:

a processor;

a memory connected to be accessed by the processor; and

mail handling equipment connected to be controlled by the processor, the mail processing system configured to receive a plurality of mailpieces;

associate a unique identifier with each of the plurality of mailpieces;

obtain destination address information for each of the plurality of mailpieces;

compare the destination address information with a potential move table to determine destination addresses for which there is a potential change of address;

send the destination address information including a recipient name to a change of address (COA) server;

receive COA results from the COA server; and

print destination information on each mailpiece according to the COA results, including correlating the COA results to the unique identifiers.

10. The mail processing system of claim 9, wherein the printed destination information includes an indicia corresponding to address data received from the COA server as part of the COA result.

11. The mail processing system of claim 9, further configured to sort the plurality of mailpieces according to the printed destination information.

12. The mail processing system of claim 9, wherein the printed destination information includes a change of address line.

13. The mail processing system of claim 9, wherein the COA server maintains a COA database of address changes for specific recipients.

14. The mail processing system of claim 9, wherein any destination address information that is not found in the potential move table is not sent to the COA server.

15. The mail processing system of claim 9, wherein sending the destination address information to a change of address (COA) server, receiving COA results from the COA server, and printing destination information on each mailpiece according to the COA results are performed in a second pass while the mail processing system is in a second operational mode.

16. The mail processing system of claim 9, wherein sending the destination address information to a change of address (COA) server, receiving COA results from the COA server, and printing destination information on each mailpiece according to the COA results are performed in a single pass operational mode.

17. A non-transitory machine-readable medium encoded with instructions that, when executed, cause a mail processing system to:

receive a plurality of mailpieces;

associate a unique identifier with each of the plurality of mailpieces;

obtain destination address information for each of the plurality of mailpieces;

compare the destination address information with a potential move table to determine destination addresses for which there is a potential change of address;

send the destination address information including a recipient name to a change of address (COA) server;

receive COA results from the COA server; and

print destination information on each mailpiece according to the COA results, including correlating the COA results to the unique identifiers.

18. The machine-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the printed destination information includes an indicia corresponding to address data received from the COA server as part of the COA result.

19. The machine-readable medium of claim 17, further encoded with instructions that, when executed, cause the mail processing system to sort the plurality of mailpieces according to the printed destination information.

20. The machine-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the printed destination information includes a change of address line.