Electronic mail box

• US 4,106,060 A
• Filed: 12/15/1975
• Issued: 08/08/1978
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/1975
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Original Assignee: RCA Corporation
• Inventors: Chapman, Herbert H. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Griffin, Robert L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Coles, Edward L.
• Application Number:
  US05/641,137
• Time in Patent Office: 967 Days
• Field of Search: 178/5.1, 178/6, 178/5, 178/DIG. 9, 343/100 ST, 340/146.3 F, 358/256, 358/86, 358/257, 358/259, 325/4
• US Class Current: 358/402
• CPC Class Codes: B07C 3/02 Apparatus characterised by the means used for distribution
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 17/0022 arrangements or provisious for transferring data to distant stations, e.g. from a sensing device "transfer between computer elements G06F13/00 "; data-transmission H04L
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 17/0008 Communication details outside or between apparatus coin-freed apparatus for franking per se G07F17/26
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00072 Hybrid mail, i.e. mail delivered using different physical means along the mail delivery path, e.g. email and envelope
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00225 Vending machine or POS (Point Of Sale) apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/26 for printing, stamping, franking, typing or teleprinting apparatus ticket printing or the like apparatus G07F17/42
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00352 Input means H04N1/00411 takes precedence; input arrangements for computers G06F3/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00384 Key input means, e.g. buttons or keypads electromechanical details of key input means in general H01H13/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00397 Switches, knobs or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00437 Intelligent menus, e.g. anticipating user selections
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00962 Input arrangements for operating instructions or parameters, e.g. updating internal software program loading in general G06F9/445; network-specific protocols involving the movement of software or configuration parameters H04L67/34
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32037 Automation of particular transmitter jobs, e.g. multi-address calling, auto-dialing
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/32702 using digital control signals H04N1/32704, H04N1/32614, H04N1/32771 take precedence

Abstract

An electronic mail box includes an entry slot for receiving a letter to be transmitted electronically to a remote point, an optical reader for converting the letter text to electronic signals, and a keyboard for receiving the address of the addressee. The address is checked for consistency. Then the text and the address are sent to the destination as determined by the address, where the letter is recreated to be delivered in the conventional manner.

Claims

1. Apparatus for electronically mailing a document comprising in combination:

means for receiving said document containing information in printed form to be transmitted to a remote point;

means for reading said information and converting it to electronic signals;

keyboard means permitting entry by an operator of the address to which said information is to be transmitted, said address being manifested as electronic address signals;

storage means receptive of said information electronic signals and said electronic address signals for storing the same;

means coupled to said storage means and responsive to said signals stored therein for transmitting to said remote point, determined by said electronic address signals corresponding to an address entered into said keyboard, said electronic address signals and said information electronic signals;

wherein said address includes postal zip code, city and state of the addressee, and wherein said apparatus for electronically mailing a document further includes means for verifying that said city and state correspond to said zip code and means for prohibiting said transmission to said remote point in the absence of said correspondence and further including means for notifying said operator of at least one of the lack or presence of said correspondence; and

means for producing a signal indicative of the determination that said electronic address signals and said information electronic signals are stored in said storage means and wherein said transmitting means includes means for permitting said transmission only when said determination indicating signal has been produced.

2. The combination as set forth in claim 1, further including at said remote point, means for reproducing said information on a document in printed form.

3. The combination as set forth in claim 1, wherein said information is in the form of alphanumeric characters and wherein said reading means includes means for converting each alphanumeric character to a corresponding digital code.

4. The combination as set forth in claim 1, further including means for ejecting said document after it has been read.

5. The combination as set forth in claim 1 further including means for accepting money and for permitting said reading means to read only after a required amount of money has been inserted in said money accepting means.

6. An electronic mailbox comprising in combination:

means for accepting a letter comprising alphanumeric characters which are to be transmitted to a remote point;

means for optically reading said letter and for translating each alphanumeric character therein contained to digital form;

means for storing in digital form each alphanumeric character read from said letter to be transmitted to said remote point;

keyboard means permitting entry by an operator of addressee information comprising the name, address, and zip code of the person to whom said letter is to be transmitted said information upon entry being manifested in electronic form;

means for storing said addressee information;

means for comparing the address with the zip code to ascertain that said zip code corresponds with said address and for notifying said operator if correspondence is not obtained;

means for producing a signal indicating that said alpha-numeric characters and said addressee information are stored;

means responsive to said signal from said signal producing means for transmitting to said remote point, corresponding to said address and zip code, addressee information as stored in said addressee storage and information stored in digital form;

means located at said remote point for recreating a letter copy similar to that entered into said electronic mailbox; and

means for ejecting said letter after it has been read.