Recipient elected messaging services for mail that is transported in trays or tubs

• US 7,386,458 B2
• Filed: 03/27/2001
• Issued: 06/10/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Pitney Bowes Incorporated (Böwe Systec AG)
• Original Assignee: Pitney Bowes Incorporated (Böwe Systec AG)
• Inventors: Sansone, Ronald P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Borissov; Igor N
• Application Number:
  US09/818,480
• Publication Number:
  US 20020143428A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,632 Days
• Field of Search: 705400-411, 705/60, 705/1, 209/584, 209/900, 709/206, 709/1
• US Class Current: 705/346
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0281 Customer communication at a business location, e.g. providing product or service information, consulting
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 17/00016 Relations between apparatus, e.g. franking machine at customer or apparatus at post office, in a franking system
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 17/00024 Physical or organizational aspects of franking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/0004 Determining the location of mailpieces outside apparatus
• 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 2017/00145 via the Internet
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00161 from a central, non-user location, e.g. for updating rates or software, or for refilling funds

Abstract

A method that enables a recipient to inform a carrier of the manner in which the recipient would like mail that is transported in trays or tubs delivered. The recipient is then able to inform a post or courier e.g., Federal Express®, Airborne®, United Parcel Service®, DHL®, etc., of the manner in which the recipient would like the mail delivered. The post and courier hereinafter will be referred to as “carrier”. For instance, the recipient may want the mail physically delivered to their house faster or slower, or the mail physically redirected to the recipient'"'"'s temporary address, or physically delivered to the recipient'"'"'s agent, or physically delivered to the recipient'"'"'s attorney, or physically returned to the mailer, or have the carrier open the physical mail and have the carrier email or fax the contents of the mailpiece to the recipient and/or parties designated by the recipient.

Claims

1. A method that enables a recipient to inform a carrier of the manner in which the recipient wants some or all of their mail delivered, said method comprises the steps of:

placing by the sender the mail in at least one of trays and tubs for delivery;

scanning the name and physical address of the recipient and the sender of the mail after the mail has been sealed;

capturing by the sender the name and physical address of the recipient and the sender in the form of an image;

transmitting the image to a data center where the image is processed by translating the image consisting of text and graphics to selected alphanumerics;

translating the name and physical address of the recipient into an e-mail address;

notifying the recipient of the expected delivery of the sealed mail and indicating the selected alphanumerics of the translated image;

depositing with the carrier the sealed mail containing the recipient'"'"'s name and physical address and the sender'"'"'s name and address;

notifying a data center by the recipient of the manner in which the recipient wants some or all of their mail delivered;

if the recipient desires to destroy the mail, notifying the carrier by the recipient to destroy the mail, if the recipient does not want to destroy the mail,

notifying by the data center the carrier of the manner in which the recipient wants the mail delivered; and

delivering by the carrier mail to the recipient in the manner specified by the recipient to the carrier.

2. The method claimed in claim 1, wherein the recipient is notified of the estimated time in which the mail is going to be delivered.

3. The method claimed in claim 1, wherein the recipient notifies the carrier to deliver the mail to a specified name and address.

4. The method claimed in claim 1, wherein the recipient notifies the carrier to open the mail.

5. The method claimed in claim 1, further including the steps of:

informing the carrier to e-mail the contents of the mailpiece to the recipient; and

mailing by e-mail the contents of the mailpiece to the recipient.

6. The method claimed in claim 5, wherein the recipient notifies the carrier to recycle the material comprising the mail.

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

informing the carrier to e-mail the contents of the mailpiece to one or more specified e-mail addresses; and

mailing by e-mail the contents of the mailpiece to the specified email addresses.

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

informing the carrier to send by facsimile the contents of the mailpiece to the recipient; and

mailing by facsimile the contents of the mailpiece to the recipient.

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

informing the carrier to facsimile the contents of the mailpiece to one or more specified facsimile numbers; and

sending by facsimile the contents of the mailpiece to the specified facsimile numbers.

10. The method claimed in claim 1, wherein the recipient notifies the carrier to deliver the mail to the recipient at a different address.

11. The method claimed in claim 1, wherein the recipient notifies the carrier to deliver the mail to the recipient by a slower delivery method than that paid for by the sender.

12. The method claimed in claim 1, wherein the recipient notifies the carrier to deliver the mail to the recipient by a faster delivery method than that paid for by the sender.

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

charging the recipient for receiving notification of the availability of the deposited mail.

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

charging the recipient for delivering mail to the recipient in the manner specified by the recipient to the carrier.

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

charging the recipient for receiving notification of the availability of the deposited mail; and

charging the recipient for delivering mail to the recipient in the manner specified by the recipient to the carrier.

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

informing the sender of the delivery of the mail.

17. The method claimed in claim 1, wherein the recipient notifies the carrier to hold the mail for a specified period of time.

18. The method claimed in claim 1, wherein the recipient is notified via e-mail of the availability of the deposited mail.

19. The method claimed in claim 1, wherein the recipient is notified via telephone of the availability of the deposited mail.

20. The method claimed in claim 1, wherein the recipient is notified via facsimile of the availability of the deposited mail.

21. The method claimed in claim 1, wherein the recipient is notified via television of the availability of the deposited mail.

22. The method claimed in claim 1, wherein the carrier is notified via e-mail of the manner in which the recipient wants the mail delivered.

23. The method claimed in claim 1, wherein the carrier is notified via facsimile of the manner in which the recipient wants the mail delivered.

24. The method claimed in claim 1, wherein the carrier is notified via telephone of the manner in which the recipient wants the mail delivered.

25. The method claimed in claim 1, wherein the recipient notifies a data center who notifies the carrier of the manner in which the recipient wants the mail delivered.

26. The method claimed in claim 1, wherein the mail deposited with the carrier contains a graphic.

27. The method claimed in claim 26, wherein the graphic is a stamp.

28. The method claimed in claim 26, wherein the graphic is a postal indicia.

29. The method claimed in claim 26, wherein the graphic is a permit.

30. The method claimed in claim 26, wherein the graphic is carrier symbology.

31. The method claimed in claim 26, wherein the graphic is captured and translated.

32. The method claimed in claim 31, wherein the graphic is stored.