System and method for mail verification

• US 7,818,268 B2
• Filed: 10/15/2002
• Issued: 10/19/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Secured Mail Solutions LLC
• Original Assignee: Todd E Fitzsimmons
• Inventors: Fitzsimmons, Todd E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jabr, Fadey S
• Application Number:
  US10/271,471
• Publication Number:
  US 20030140014A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,926 Days
• Field of Search: 705/1, 705/28, 705/29, 705/1.1, 705/64, 705401-402, 705/408, 713/186
• US Class Current: 705/401
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/24573 using data annotations, e.g. user-defined metadata
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2477 Temporal data queries
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/083 Shipping
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0832 Special goods or special handling procedures, e.g. handling of hazardous or fragile goods
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/382 insuring higher security of transaction
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0241 Advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/00 User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/212 using filtering or selective blocking
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements

Abstract

A system and method is provided for transmitting mail verification data over a wide area network, such as the Internet, in response to receiving and authenticating at least a portion of mail identification (ID) data. In one embodiment of the present invention, a mail verification application is adapted to store at least a verifying portion (e.g., an identifiable code portion, a shipping portion, a recipient portion, etc.) of mail ID data in memory. The mail ID data is then affixed to a mail object. The mail object is then manually delivered to a recipient. At least an authenticating portion of the mail ID data is then provided to a reception device. The reception device, which communicates with the mail ID device over a wide area network, transmits at least the authenticating portion of the mail ID data to the mail verification application operating on the mail ID device. The mail verification application then compares the authenticating portion of the mail ID data with the verifying portion stored in memory. If the authenticating portion of the mail ID data is authenticated, mail verification data is sent to the reception device. In one embodiment of the present invention, at least a portion of the mail verification data includes authenticating data, securing data, sender data, recipient data, mail-content data, downloadable-product data, sender-web-page data, and/or third-party-web-page data.

Claims

1. A method of verifying mail identification data, comprising:

affixing mail identification data to at least one mail object, said mail identification data comprising a single set of encoded data that includes at least a unique identifier, sender data, recipient data and shipping method data, wherein said unique identifier consists of a numeric value assigned by a sender of said at least one mail object;

storing at least a verifying portion of said mail identification data;

receiving by a computer at least an authenticating portion of said mail identification data from at least one reception device via a network, wherein said authenticating portion of said mail identification data comprises at least said sender data and said shipping method data; and

providing by said computer mail verification data via said network when said authenticating portion of said mail identification data corresponds with said verifying portion of said mail identification data.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of affixing mail identification data further comprises affixing a bar code on said at least one mail object.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of affixing mail identification data further comprises printing said mail identification data at least indirectly on said at least one mail object.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of affixing mail identification data further comprises storing said mail identification data on a device attached to said at least one mail object.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of receiving at least an authenticating portion of said mail identification data further comprises receiving at least said authenticating portion of said mail identification data from said at least one reception device via said network, wherein said authenticating portion of said mail identification data further comprises at least said unique identifier.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said step of affixing mail identification data further comprises affixing at least a human readable version of said unique identifier on said at least one mail object.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein said step of affixing mail identification data further comprises affixing at least a human readable version of recipient data on said at least one mail object.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein said step of affixing mail identification data further comprises affixing at least a human readable version of said sender data on said at least one mail object.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of receiving at least an authenticating portion of said mail identification data further comprises receiving at least said authenticating portion of said mail identification data from said at least one reception device via said network, wherein said authenticating portion of said mail identification data further comprises at least said recipient data.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of receiving at least an authenticating portion of said mail identification data further comprises receiving at least said authenticating portion of said mail identification data from said at least one reception device via said network, wherein said authenticating portion of said mail identification data further comprises at least said recipient data and said unique identifier.

11. The method of claim 1, where said step of providing mail verification data further comprises providing said mail verification data to said at least one reception device.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of providing mail verification data further comprises providing at least authenticating data to said at least one reception device.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of providing mail verification data further comprises providing said mail verification data to a recipient of said at least one mail object.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said step of providing mail verification data further comprises providing said mail verification data to said recipient of said at least one mail object via an email.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein said step of providing mail verification data further comprises providing at least said sender data to said recipient of said at least one mail object.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of sending a web page to a sender of said at least one mail object, said web page including data related to said at least one mail object.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of sending an email to a sender of said at least one mail object, said email including data related to said at least one mail object.

18. A method of verifying mail identification data, comprising:

receiving said mail identification data from a mail object, said mail identification data comprising a single set of encoded data that includes at least a unique identifier, recipient data, shipping method data and sender data, wherein said unique identifier consists of a numeric value that is assigned by a sender of said mail object;

providing by at least one computer at least said sender data and said shipping method data to a mail identification device over a network;

receiving by said at least one computer mail verification data from said mail identification device when said at least said sender data and said shipping method data are stored on said mail identification device, said mail verification data indicating, at least in part, that said at least one mail object was sent by an identifiable entity, and therefore traceable to a source; and

routing said at least one mail object to be delivered to a recipient if said mail verification data is received.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein said steps of providing at least said sender data and said shipping method data and receiving mail verification data further comprises providing at least said recipient data to said mail identification device over said network and receiving said mail verification data from said mail identification device if said sender data, said shipping method data and said at least said recipient data are stored on said mail identification device.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein said steps of providing at least said sender data, said shipping method data and said recipient data and receiving mail verification data further comprises providing at least said unique identifier to said mail identification device over said network and receiving said mail verification data from said mail identification device if said sender data, said unique identifier, said recipient data and said shipping method data are stored on said mail identification device.

21. The method of claim 18, wherein said steps of providing at least said sender data and said shipping method data and receiving mail verification data further comprises providing at least said unique identifier to said mail identification device over said network and receiving mail verification data from said mail identification device if said sender data, said shipping method data and said at least said unique identifier are stored on said mail identification device.

22. The method of claim 18, further comprising using said mail identification data to generate an email addressed to said mail identification device.

23. The method of claim 18, further comprising using said mail identification data to generate an email addressed to a sender of said mail object.

24. The method of claim 18, further comprising booting a mail authenticating application in response to receiving said mail identification data.

25. The method of claim 18, further comprising producing an authenticating image on a display after said mail verification data is received.

26. The method of claim 18, further comprising producing an authenticating-sound on at least one speaker after said mail verification data is received.

27. The method of claim 18, further comprising the step of sending a web page to a sender of said mail object, said web page including data related to said mail object.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein said steps of providing at least said sender data and said shipping method data and receiving mail verification data further comprises providing at least said unique identifier to said mail identification device over said network and receiving said mail verification data from said mail identification device if said sender data, said shipping method data and said at least said unique identifier are stored on said mail identification device.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein said steps of providing at least said sender data, said shipping method data and said unique identifier and receiving mail verification data further comprises providing at least said recipient data to said mail identification device over said network and receiving said mail verification data from said mail identification device if said sender data, said shipping method data, said unique identifier and said at least said recipient data are stored on said mail identification device.

30. The method of claim 18, further comprising the step of storing a shipping location of said mail object on said mail identification device.

31. The method of claim 18, further comprising the step of storing a shipping date of said mail object on said mail identification device.

32. The method of claim 18, further comprising the step of sending an email to a sender of said mail object, said email including data related to said mail object.

33. A mail verification system for authenticating at least one mail object, said at least one mail object being a physical object and including mail identification data, comprising:

at least one mail verification device adapted to communicate with at least one reception device via a network, said at least one mail verification device comprising;

a memory; and

a mail verification application adapted to;

store at least a verifying portion of mail identification data in said memory, said mail identification data comprising a single set of encoded data that includes at least a unique identifier, sender information, recipient information and shipping method information, wherein said unique identifier consists of a numeric value assigned by a sender of said at least one mail object;

receive at least an authenticating portion of said mail identification data from said at least one reception device via said network, wherein said authenticating portion comprises at least said sender information and said shipping method information; and

provide mail verification data via said network if at least said authenticating portion of said mail identification data corresponds to said verifying portion of said mail identification data.

34. The mail verification system of claim 33, wherein a portion of said mail verification application under said sender'"'"'s control is further adapted to generate at least said verifying portion of said mail identification data.

35. The mail verification system of claim 34 further comprising an output device adapted to affix said mail identification data on said at least one mail object.

36. The mail verification system of claim 35, wherein said output device is adapted to affix said mail identification data on said at least one mail object by printing said mail identification data on at least one label.

37. The mail verification system of claim 35, wherein said output device is adapted to affix said mail identification data on said at least one mail object by storing said mail identification data on at least one tag.

38. The mail verification system of claim 33 further comprising an input device adapted to receive at least said verifying portion of said mail identification data.

39. The mail verification system of claim 33, wherein said authenticating portion of said mail identification data further includes at least said unique identifier.

40. The mail verification system of claim 39, wherein said authenticating portion of said mail identification data further includes at least said recipient information.

41. The mail verification system of claim 33, wherein said mail identification data is encoded on said at least one mail object through a bar code.

42. The mail verification system of claim 33, wherein a portion of said mail verification application under said sender'"'"'s control is further adapted to generate at least said unique identifier.

43. The mail verification system of claim 33, wherein said mail identification data further includes at least postage data.

44. The mail verification system of claim 33, wherein said mail verification data includes at least authenticating data.

45. The mail verification system of claim 33, wherein said mail verification data includes at least said sender information.

46. The mail verification system of claim 33, wherein said mail identification data includes at least mail-object-content data.

47. The mail verification system of claim 33, wherein said mail verification data includes at least securing data.

48. The mail verification system of claim 33, wherein said mail verification application is further adapted to send an email in response to receiving said authenticating portion of said mail identification data.

49. The mail verification system of claim 33, wherein said mail verification application is further adapted to send an email if said authenticating portion of said mail identification data corresponds to said verifying portion of said mail identification data.

50. The mail verification system of claim 33, further comprising said at least one reception device.

51. The mail verification system of claim 50, wherein said at least one reception device comprises an input device for receiving at least a portion of said mail identification data from said at least one mail object.

52. The mail verification system of claim 51, wherein said at least one reception device further comprises a mail authenticating application adapted to:

receive said at least a portion of said mail identification data from said input device; and

provide at least said authenticating portion of said mail identification data to said at least one mail verification device.

53. The mail verification system of claim 52, wherein said at least one reception device further includes a display, said mail authenticating application being further adapted to display at least one authenticating image on said display if said mail verification data is not received.

54. The mail verification system of claim 52, wherein said at least one reception device further includes at least one speaker, said mail authenticating application being further adapted to produce at least one authenticating sound on said at least one speaker if said mail verification data is not received.

55. The mail verification system of claim 52, wherein said mail authenticating application is further adapted to send an email in response to receiving said mail identification data.

56. The mail verification system of claim 52, wherein said mail authenticating application is further adapted to send an email in response to receiving said mail verification data.