Residential delivery indicator

• US 8,131,652 B2
• Filed: 05/05/2011
• Issued: 03/06/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: United States Postal Service (Government of the United States of America)
• Original Assignee: United States Postal Service (Government of the United States of America)
• Inventors: Gullo, John F., Wilson, James D., Snapp, Robert F., Payne, David J.
• Primary Examiner(s): JABR, FADEY S
• Application Number:
  US13/101,223
• Publication Number:
  US 20110213727A1
• Time in Patent Office: 306 Days
• Field of Search: 705/1.1, 705/402, 705/404, 705/338
• US Class Current: 705/338
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0834 Choice of carriers
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08345 Pricing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08355 Routing methods
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/02 Banking, e.g. interest calculation or account maintenance credit or loans G06Q40/03
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 17/00435 Details specific to central, non-customer apparatus, e.g. servers at post office or vendor

Abstract

This invention provides methods, apparatus, and systems for classifying addresses. An address is evaluated based upon a postal code or standardized postal code, such as a U.S. Postal Service ZIP+4 code, serving the address. If the address cannot be classified based on the standardized postal code, the address is classified based on additional information, such as a U.S. Postal Service delivery point code. A mailer may then determine whether the address is a business or residential (or non-business) address. Furthermore, a mailer may predict when surcharges may apply and compare the rates of various carriers.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for providing a classification of an address, comprising:

determining, by a processor, a standardized postal code for the address;

searching a table for the standardized postal code;

providing the classification for the address from information in the table, when the standardized postal code is found within the table;

determining, by the processor, a probability of the classification for the address, when the standardized postal code is not found within the table;

providing the classification for the address based on the probability; and

selecting at least one of a plurality of carriers to deliver the piece of mail based on the classification for the address and the determined probability.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the probability of the classification for the address, when the standardized postal code is not found within the table comprises:

calculating a portion of the plurality of addresses having a same classification in the standardized postal code; and

determining the probability of the classification for the address based on the portion of the plurality of addresses having the same classification.

3. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions for determining a carrier to deliver a piece of mail that when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

receiving address information indicating a destination for the piece of mail, the destination including a standardized postal code for the destination;

searching a table for the standardized postal code;

providing a classification for the destination from information in the table when the standardized postal code is found within the table;

determining a probability of the destination having the classification when the standardized postal code is not found within the table;

when the determined probability is greater than a predetermined threshold, providing the classification for the address; and

selecting at least one of a plurality of carriers to deliver the piece of mail based on the classification for the destination and the determined probability.

4. The computer-readable medium of claim 3, wherein selecting the at least one carrier to deliver the piece of mail comprises:

calculating at least one fee for each of the one or more of the plurality of carriers in the group based on the classification for the destination; and

selecting the carrier to deliver the piece of mail based on the at least one fee.

5. An apparatus for determining a carrier to deliver a piece of mail, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising;

receiving address information indicating a destination for the piece of mail, the destination including a standardized postal code for the destination,

searching a table for the standardized postal code;

providing a classification for the destination from information in the table when the standardized postal code is found within the table;

determining a probability of the destination having the classification when the standardized postal code is not found within the table,

providing the classification for the address, when the determined probability is greater than a predetermined threshold, and

selecting at least one of a plurality of carriers to deliver the piece of mail based on the classification for the destination and the determined probability.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the operation of selecting the at least one carrier to deliver the piece of mail comprises:

calculating at least one fee for each of the one or more of the plurality of carriers in the group based on the classification for the destination; and

selecting the carrier to deliver the piece of mail based on the at least one fee.