Method for detecting and redirecting misdirected mail

• US 20040049315A1
• Filed: 09/10/2002
• Published: 03/11/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pitney Bowes Incorporated (Böwe Systec AG)
• Original Assignee: Pitney Bowes Incorporated (Böwe Systec AG)
• Inventors: Cordery, Robert A., Pintsov, Leon A., Sansone, Ronald P., Zeller, Claude, Parkos, Arthur, Reichman, Ronald, Morelli, Marc
• Granted Patent: US 6,911,910 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/226
• 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 2017/00629 Circuit, e.g. transponder

Abstract

Radio frequency identification tags are placed on mail contained in trays or tubs to locate and reroute mail that is misdirected, i.e., being routed to the incorrect destination. The method involves the carrier reading the identifying information contained in the radio frequency identification tags on each mail piece while each mail piece is in the trays or tubs and removing one or more mail pieces in the tray or tub that are to be routed differently than that routing information contained on the outside of the trays or tubs.

Claims

1. A method for detecting and redirecting mail that is transported in trays or tubs, said method comprises the steps of:

A. preparing a radio frequency identification tag that identifies a mail piece delivery address and the services to be performed by a carrier;

B. placing the radio frequency identification tag on mail pieces that will be transported in trays or tubs;

C. reading by the carrier the identifying information contained in the radio frequency identification tags on each mail piece while each mail piece is in the trays or tubs;

D. verifying that each mail piece in the tray or tub should be routed in the same manner; and

E. removing one or more mail pieces in the tray or tub that are to be routed differently than that specified in step D.

2. The method claimed in claim 1, further including the step of:

placing information regarding the routing of trays or tubs on the outside of the trays or tubs.

3. The method claimed in claim 2, further including the step of:

reading the delivery information on the outside of the trays or tubs;

comparing the routing information on the outside of the trays or tubs with the routing information on each mail piece; and

removing one or more mail pieces in the tray that are not routed in the manner specified by the routing information on the outside of the trays or tubs and the delivery information on each mail piece.

4. The method claimed in claim 3, further including the step of:

placing the removed mail pieces in a tray or tub that is going to be routed on or about the delivery address specified in the radio frequency identification tag.

5. The method claimed in claim 2, further including the step of:

reading the delivery information on the outside of the trays or tubs;

comparing the routing information on the outside of the trays or tubs with the routing and service information on each mail piece; and

removing one or more mail pieces in the tray that are not routed in the manner specified by the routing information on the outside of the trays or tubs and the delivery and service information on each mail piece.

6. The method claimed in claim 3, further including the step of:

placing the removed mail pieces in a tray or tub that is going to receive the service specified in the radio frequency identification tag.

7. The method claimed in claim 1, further including the step of:

transporting the mail pieces in the trays or tubs to a destination carrier office.

8. The method claimed in claim 1, further including the step of:

placing the removed mail pieces in a tray or tub that is going to be transported to a common destination carrier office.

9. The method claimed in claim 1, further including the step of:

placing the removed mail pieces in a tray or tub that is going to have the same postal service.

10. The method claimed in claim 9, further including the step of:

placing the same postal service mail pieces in a tray or tub that is going to be transported to a common destination carrier office.

11. The method claimed in claim 1, further including the step of:

reading the information in the radio frequency identification tags while each mail piece is being transported in the trays or tubs.

12. The method claimed in claim 11, further including the step of:

reporting the location of each read radio frequency identification tag to the carrier.

13. The method claimed in claim 1, further including the step of:

sealing the tray with a cover to protect the mail pieces in the tray from the environment.

14. The method claimed in claim 13, further including the step of:

reading the information contained in the radio frequency identification tags while the mail pieces are contained in the sealed tray.

15. The method claimed in claim 14, further including the step of:

reporting the information read from the mail pieces in the sealed tray to the carrier.