U.S. patent application number 13/619776 was filed with the patent office on 2013-01-10 for intelligent barcode systems.
This patent application is currently assigned to United States Postal Service. Invention is credited to Clayton Bonnell, Margaret Louise Choineire, Stephen M. Dearing, Jeffrey L. Freeman, Daryl S. Hamilton, Michael Lyons, Himesh Patel, David James Payne, Carla Fern Sherry.
Application Number | 20130013102 13/619776 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 42729825 |
Filed Date | 2013-01-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130013102 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Bonnell; Clayton ; et
al. |
January 10, 2013 |
INTELLIGENT BARCODE SYSTEMS
Abstract
Systems and methods using intelligent barcodes for processing
mail, packages, or other items in transport are provided. Systems
and methods allowing end-to-end visibility of a mail stream by
uniquely identifying and tracking mail pieces are also provided.
Systems and methods include the use of standardized intelligent
barcodes on mail pieces, a seamless process for mail acceptance,
continuous mail piece tracking, and feedback on mail quality in
real time. In one embodiment, systems and methods using intelligent
barcodes allow a mailing service to provide enhanced acceptance,
sorting, tracking, address correction, forwarding, and delivery
services. In another embodiment, systems and methods using
intelligent barcodes allow a mailing service to identify a mail
piece as undeliverable-as-addressed (UAA) and determine a final
disposition for the mail piece. In yet another embodiment, systems
and methods using intelligent barcodes allow mailers more
visibility into the mail stream and information on the quality of
their mailings.
Inventors: |
Bonnell; Clayton; (Fairfax,
VA) ; Freeman; Jeffrey L.; (Purcellville, VA)
; Lyons; Michael; (Port Saint Lucie, FL) ;
Dearing; Stephen M.; (Herndon, VA) ; Choineire;
Margaret Louise; (Gainesville, VA) ; Hamilton; Daryl
S.; (Upper Marlboro, MD) ; Patel; Himesh;
(Centerville, VA) ; Sherry; Carla Fern;
(Annandale, VA) ; Payne; David James;
(Collierville, TN) |
Assignee: |
United States Postal
Service
Washington
DC
|
Family ID: |
42729825 |
Appl. No.: |
13/619776 |
Filed: |
September 14, 2012 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
12405139 |
Mar 16, 2009 |
|
|
|
13619776 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
700/226 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y10S 209/90 20130101;
G06Q 10/083 20130101; B07C 3/18 20130101; G06Q 50/32 20130101; G06Q
2220/00 20130101; B07C 3/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
700/226 |
International
Class: |
G06F 17/30 20060101
G06F017/30 |
Claims
1. A method for facilitating location identification, the method
comprising: receiving an item comprising an encoded value located
thereon; reading the encoded value; decoding the encoded value;
identifying a coordinate indicating a location, wherein the
coordinate corresponds to the encoded value; querying a database
for a location address corresponding to the coordinate; and
providing routing direction to the location address.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 12/405,139, filed Mar. 16, 2009, the entire
disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein.
BACKGROUND
[0002] 1. Field
[0003] This development relates to a barcode and methods and
systems of processing mail pieces using the barcode.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Technology
[0005] Mailers that use the mail delivery systems typically apply
barcodes to their mail pieces to help the mailing system sort,
track, and deliver mail pieces. Conventionally, mailing systems
offer automation discounts for mailers that place barcodes on their
mail pieces. In addition to offering automation discounts, mailing
systems can provide additional services to meet the business needs
of mailers. Mailers, and in particular business mailers, typically
want to know where their mail is in the mail stream, how it is
being processed by the mailing system, when their mail pieces are
delivered, and how complete and accurate their addresses are.
Mailers also seek access to more data about their mail pieces as
they travel through the mail stream. Mailing services seek such
data to monitor processing, improve services, reduce costs, and
accurately calculate postal charges. Hence, improved acceptance,
sorting, tracking, and delivery systems and processing methods
using barcode technologies are desirable.
SUMMARY OF CERTAIN INVENTIVE ASPECTS
[0006] The system, method, and devices of the development each have
several aspects, no single one of which is solely responsible for
its desirable attributes. Without limiting the scope of this
development as expressed by the claims which follow, its more
prominent features will now be discussed briefly. After considering
this discussion, and particularly after reading the section
entitled "Detailed Description of Certain Embodiments" one will
understand how the features of this development provide advantages
that include reduced mailing costs for mailers, reduced processing
costs for mailing services, greater visibility into the mail stream
for mailers, and a greater number of mail pieces reaching their
intended destination.
[0007] One embodiment is a computerized method. The method includes
sorting mail, where sorting includes reading an encoded value
located on a mail piece; decoding the encoded value to determine an
identification of a class of the mail piece and an identification
of a service type of the mail piece; and performing an operation in
response to determining that the mail piece is an actual
undeliverable as addressed mail piece. The operation includes
determining a final disposition of the mail piece using at least
one of the identification of the class of the mail piece and the
identification of the service type of the mail piece derived from
the encoded value. In another embodiment, sorting includes decoding
the encoded value to determine an identification of a delivery
point for the mail piece, and the operation includes determining a
final disposition of the mail piece using the identification of the
delivery point and at least one of the identification of the class
of the mail piece and the identification of the service type of the
mail piece derived from the encoded value.
[0008] Another embodiment is a machine-readable medium including
instructions which when executed by a machine causes the machine to
perform operations. The operations include sorting mail for a mail
piece, where sorting includes reading an encoded value located on
the mail piece; decoding the encoded value to determine an
identification of a sender of the mail piece, an identification of
a recipient of the mail piece, an identification of a class of the
mail piece, an identification of any endorsements of the mail
piece, and an identification of a delivery point for the mail
piece; and determining whether the mail piece is a candidate
undeliverable as addressed mail piece using the identification of
the recipient of the mail piece within the encoded value and the
identification of the delivery point for the mail piece. Sorting
also includes performing an operation in response to determining
that the mail piece is a candidate undeliverable as addressed mail
piece. The operation includes retrieving a name of the recipient of
the mail piece using the identification of the recipient of the
mail piece within the encoded value; retrieving a return address of
the sender of the mail piece using the identification of the sender
of the mail piece within the encoded value; confirming that the
candidate undeliverable as addressed mail piece is an actual
undeliverable as addressed mail piece, using the name of the
recipient of the mail piece; and determining final disposition of
the mail piece using at least one of the identification of the
class of the mail piece within the encoded value or the
identification of any endorsements of the mail piece from the
encoded value.
[0009] Still another embodiment is an apparatus. The apparatus
includes a database to store a number of entries, where each of the
number of entries include a name of a recipient of mail and an
identification associated with the name of the recipient. The
apparatus also includes a mail sorter to read an encoded value
located on a candidate undeliverable as addressed mail piece. The
encoded value includes an identification for the recipient of the
candidate undeliverable as addressed mail piece, an identification
of a class of the candidate undeliverable as addressed mail piece,
and an identification of any endorsements of the candidate
undeliverable as addressed mail piece. The mail sorter retrieves
from the database a name of the recipient of the candidate
undeliverable as addressed mail piece from an entry of the number
of entries, where the entry includes the identification for the
recipient of the candidate undeliverable as addressed mail piece.
The mail sorter confirms that the candidate undeliverable as
addressed mail piece is an actual undeliverable as addressed mail
piece, using the name of the recipient of the candidate
undeliverable as addressed mail piece. The mail sorter also
determines final disposition of the confirmed undeliverable as
addressed mail piece using at least one of the identification of
the class within the encoded value and the identification of any
endorsements within the encoded value.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] FIG. 1 illustrates an intelligent barcode used in one
embodiment of a mailing system.
[0011] FIG. 2 illustrates prior art barcodes used in one embodiment
of a mailing system.
[0012] FIG. 3 illustrates the prior art barcodes of FIG. 2 in
greater detail.
[0013] FIG. 3A is a table translating the prior art barcodes of
FIG. 2 into digits.
[0014] FIG. 4 is a top level block diagram illustrating one
embodiment of a mailing system using barcodes such as those
illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2.
[0015] FIGS. 5A, 5B are system diagrams of services offered by the
mailing system of FIG. 4 according to one embodiment.
[0016] FIG. 6 illustrates a destination confirm intelligent barcode
according to one embodiment.
[0017] FIG. 7 illustrates an origin confirm intelligent barcode
according to one embodiment.
[0018] FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating one embodiment of a
method of planning, transmitting, and processing mail using an
intelligent barcode such as that illustrated in FIG. 1.
[0019] FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating one embodiment of a
method of preparing a mailing using an intelligent barcode such as
that illustrated in FIG. 1.
[0020] FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating one embodiment of a
mail processing system using an intelligent barcode such as that
illustrated in FIG. 1.
[0021] FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating one embodiment of a
method of processing mail using an intelligent barcode such as that
illustrated in FIG. 1.
[0022] FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating one embodiment of a
method of sorting and processing undeliverable-as-addressed mail
using an intelligent barcode such as that illustrated in FIG.
1.
[0023] FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating one embodiment of a
method of providing address correction services using an
intelligent barcode such as that illustrated in FIG. 1.
[0024] FIG. 14 is a continuation of the method illustrated in the
flowchart of FIG. 13.
[0025] FIG. 15 is a block diagram illustrating one embodiment of a
computer system that can be used in mail planning and processing
methods and systems such as those illustrated in FIGS. 8 through
14.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0026] The following detailed description is directed to certain
specific embodiments of the development. However, the development
can be embodied in a multitude of different ways as defined and
covered by the claims. In this description, reference is made to
the drawings wherein like parts are designated with like numerals
throughout.
[0027] Embodiments of the development can provide end-to-end
visibility of a mail stream by uniquely identifying and tracking
mail pieces, then using this visibility to enable a seamless
process for mail acceptance. Embodiments of the development can
include such features as, but not limited to, the use of
standardized intelligent barcodes on mail pieces, continuous mail
piece tracking, and feedback on mail quality in real time.
Individually or in combination, systems according to embodiments of
the development can optimize mail acceptance and delivery
processes.
[0028] In one embodiment, a mail processing system enables pieces
of mail processing equipment located at various mailing service
locations to continuously scan and track mail pieces from
acceptance through delivery. In another embodiment, a mailer sends
electronic manifest information that describes its mailing to the
mailing service before the mailing is transported to the mailing
service and inducted into the mail stream. In yet another
embodiment, the mailing service sends back a confirmation and an
estimate of postage to the mailer based on the pre-shipment
notification. In still another embodiment, scheduling information
is exchanged electronically between the mailer and the mailing
system. In a further embodiment, as mail pieces arrive at a mailing
service location, the mailer receives induction information
providing a true "start the clock" data point to measure and assess
the delivery process. In another embodiment, mail pieces are
seamlessly accepted by the mailing service, and processed using
intelligent barcodes as described herein. In yet another
embodiment, processing using intelligent barcodes allows real-time
mail validation to occur. In still another embodiment, mailers
immediately receive feedback on the quality of their mail, on
barcode quality, and on the location and final disposition of their
mail pieces in the mail stream. In a further embodiment, a mail
processing system provides address quality measurements that are
transmitted to mailers, enabling them to update mailing lists. In
yet a further embodiment, integration of the mail processing system
with financial systems allows payments and adjustments to be
performed electronically and automatically.
[0029] Persons of skill in the art will understand that mailing
systems are but one embodiment of the development, and described
herein for purposes of disclosure. Mailing systems, methods, and
processes as described herein can be broadly interpreted to
include, for example, shipping systems; warehouse receipt, storage,
and delivery systems; and baggage handling systems. Similarly, mail
pieces as described herein can be broadly interpreted to include,
for example, bags in a baggage handling system, packages in a
shipping system, shipping containers in a long distance transport
system, and objects in a warehousing system.
An Intelligent Barcode
[0030] FIG. 1 illustrates an intelligent barcode 10 that can be
used in systems according to an embodiment of the development. An
intelligent barcode 10 can be affixed on a mail piece and used to
sort and track the mail piece. In one embodiment, the intelligent
barcode 10 is printed directly on an outer surface of the mail
piece. In another embodiment, the intelligent barcode 10 is stamped
directly on an outer surface of the mail piece. In yet another
embodiment, a mailer prints the intelligent barcode 10 on a label,
then affixes the label to an outer surface of the mail piece. In
still another embodiment, the mailer prints intelligent barcode 10
on a piece of correspondence, then inserts the correspondence
inside an envelope such that the intelligent barcode 10 is visible
through a clear or see-through window in the envelope. In one
embodiment, the window is covered with clear cellophane and the
intelligent barcode 10 is visible through the cellophane. The
intelligent barcode 10 can be used with any mail piece having such
a window, not just envelopes. In addition to sorting and tracking
systems, intelligent barcode 10 can also be used in other systems
and methods described herein.
[0031] FIG. 2 illustrates an example of prior art barcodes 20, 30.
The barcodes 10, 20 are optical machine-readable representations of
data. Like barcodes of the prior art, the intelligent barcode 10
illustrated in FIG. 1 is height-modulated, in which the data
representation consists of evenly spaced bars of varying height.
The prior art barcode 20 illustrated in FIG. 2 is a two-state
barcode, however, in which data is encoded using two types of
bars--short bars 22 and tall bars 24. Unlike the prior art
barcodes, the intelligent barcode 10 in one embodiment of the
development is a four-state barcode, in which data is encoded using
four types of bars. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, the
four bar types are descender bars 12, tracker bars 14, full bars
16, and ascender bars 18.
[0032] The intelligent barcode 10 may be designed for use in
high-speed, automated mail sortation machines. In some embodiments,
information contained in multiple prior art barcodes such as the
barcode 20 can be combined into a single intelligent barcode 10.
For example, referring to FIG. 2, the barcode 20 may be configured
to include tracking information, while the barcode 30 may be
configured to include sorting information. A mailer may place both
barcodes on a single mail piece 40 to allow the mailing service to
sort the mail piece when it is first introduced into the mailing
system, as well as allow the mailing service and the mailer to
track the mail piece along its route to an ultimate destination.
Sorting information can include, for example, a ZIP.TM. Code, which
can be used to determine a delivery point mailing address. Tracking
information can generate, for example, mail piece processing data
used for tracking purposes when the mail piece is processed on
automated mail processing equipment. Because this same tracking and
sorting information can be combined into one intelligent barcode
10, one barcode can be used for both mail sorting and tracking.
Using one intelligent barcode instead of two prior art barcodes can
free up more open space on the mail piece 40, save printing costs
such as but not limited to ink costs, and simplify production.
[0033] In addition to the capability to combine data from multiple
barcodes, the intelligent barcode 10 may offer expanded data
capacity compared with prior art barcodes. This expanded data
capacity can include, for example, expanded tracking capabilities.
The current data capacity of prior art barcodes will first be
described.
[0034] Referring now to FIG. 3, the prior art barcodes 20, 30
contain human readable representations of numerical digits. In one
embodiment, the barcode 20 is a thirteen-digit barcode that can be
used in combination with the barcode 30, another thirteen-digit
barcode, to uniquely identify the mail piece 40. The barcodes may
begin and end with frame bars 26. The barcodes 20 and 30 can
include any number of digits, including but not limited to 11 or 13
digits.
[0035] As shown in table 45 illustrated in FIG. 3A, one combination
of five tall and short bars represents the digit 0, a different
combination of five tall and short bars represent the digit 1, and
so on to digit 9. The barcodes 20 and 30 may use different
combinations of short bars 22 and tall bars 24 to represent the
same digits, or, as demonstrated in the embodiment illustrated in
table 45, the digit symbology for the barcode 20 may be the inverse
of the digit symbology for the barcode 30. The barcodes 20, 30 may
also include a check-sum digit 28 configured to detect errors in
the barcodes.
[0036] The types of data that can be represented in the barcodes
20, 30 will now be described in further detail with reference to
the barcode 20 illustrated in FIG. 3. Following the framing bars
26, the first two digits in the barcode 20, "40," can represent
data such as, but not limited to, the service type and the
class/shape of the mail. Service types can include, for example,
First-Class Mail, Standard Mail, and Periodical Mail. The
class/shape of the mail can include, for example, letters, flats,
and cards. Thus, in one embodiment, the first two digits can
represent a Service Type Identification (ID) for the mail piece. A
Service Type ID of "40" can represent First-Class Mail letters,
while a Service Type ID of "43" can represent Standard Mail flats
in one example.
[0037] The next five digits in the barcode 20, "12345," can
identify a mail preparer, a mail owner, a subscriber to a
particular mailing system service, or a system for sending mail. In
one embodiment, this number is a Subscriber ID assigned by the
mailing service to a subscriber to identify that a particular mail
piece was mailed by a particular subscriber. Further, the
subscriber's particular tracking and handling preferences can be
stored in records kept by the mailing service. In some embodiments,
these preferences or settings can be used to identify the
particular handling a mail piece should receive. Systems to match a
particular mail piece with a particular mailer and the mailer's
preferences will be described in greater detail below.
[0038] The next six digits in barcode 20, "235636," can be made
available to the mailer to use for identification purposes. The
number may be used to identify a particular mail piece, client, or
account, for example. Mailers can use these six digits in
combination with the barcode 30 to identify the mail piece
uniquely. The last digit, "6," represents a check sum or correction
character to detect errors in the barcode. In some embodiments, the
check sum digit is the single-digit number (0 to 9) that, when
added to the sum of the other digits in the barcode 20, results in
a whole number that is a multiple of 10.
[0039] FIG. 4 is a top level block diagram illustrating one
embodiment of a mailing system 400 using barcodes such as the
intelligent barcode 10 and barcodes 20, 30. A mailer 410 transmits
mail pieces to a mailing service 420. In one embodiment, the mailer
410 transmits a mail piece to the mailing service 420 in order for
the mailing service 420 to deliver the mail piece to a mail
recipient 470. The mailer 410 is not limited to mail preparers and
mail owners, and can include a system for sending mail. Systems for
sending mail can include, for example, presort mailers who perform
automated processing of mail pieces from multiple mail owners or
customers. These systems can receive mail in batches from different
customers, combine and sort the batches to obtain postage
discounts, then transmit the combined mailing to the mailing
service 420. The mailer 410 may also transmit data or other
information to the mailing service 420, in addition to transmitting
a mailing to the mailing service 420. In one embodiment, the
mailing service 420 transmits mail pieces back to the mailer 410.
In another embodiment, the mailing service 420 transmits data or
information back to the mailer 410, indicating, for example,
receipt of a mailing.
[0040] The mailing service 420 can be configured to perform various
services on mail transmitted by the mailer 410. Such services are
represented by service modules 430, 440, 450, and 460. Services can
include but are not limited to sorting, tracking, address
correction, mail return, mail forwarding, and mail delivery
services. The service modules 430, 440, 450, and 460 can transmit
entire mailings or individual mail pieces to a different service
module. In one embodiment, a service module can transmit one or
more mail pieces back to the mailer 410. In the embodiment
illustrated in FIG. 4, the service module 450 transmits one or more
mail pieces to the mailer 410. In another embodiment, a service
module, such as but not limited to the service module 450,
transmits data or other information to the mailer 410. Such data or
other information can include for example, information on a service
that is planned to be performed, is currently being performed, or
has been performed on one or more mail pieces. Similarly, the
mailer 410 can transmit data or other information directly to the
service module 450, or any other suitable service module included
in the mailing service 420.
[0041] In one embodiment, the mailing service 420 delivers mail
pieces or a mailing to the mail recipient 470. The mail recipient
470 is not limited to individuals or businesses, and includes
systems for receiving mail. Academic institutions, hospitals,
prisons, and other facilities may encompass such systems for
receiving mail, for example. In one embodiment, the mailing service
420 transmits data or other information to the mail recipient 470,
including but not limited to data or information on mail pieces
scheduled to be delivered to the mail recipient 470. In another
embodiment, the mail recipient 470 transmits mail pieces or a
mailing to the mailing service 420. The mailing recipient 470 may
also transmit data or other information to the mailing service 420.
In yet another embodiment, the mailing service 420 transmits data
or information to the mailing recipient 470, indicating, for
example, receipt of a mailing from the mailing recipient 470. In
yet another embodiment, a service module, such as but not limited
to the service module 460, transmits data or other information to
the mail recipient 470. Similarly, the mail recipient 470 can
transmit data or other information directly to the service module
460, or any other suitable service module included in the mailing
service 420.
[0042] FIG. 5A illustrates a system diagram of one embodiment of a
destination confirm service 500, which uses the mailing system 400
and the configuration of digits described above with respect to the
barcode 20 to confirm a mail piece has reached a particular
destination. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5A, the mailing
service 420 provides a "destination confirm" service 500 to the
mailer 410. The system starts when the mailer 410 affixes a barcode
20 to a mail piece in a mailing (not illustrated). The barcode
indicates destination confirm service is requested for the mail
piece. The mailer 410 then transmits the mail piece to the mailing
service 420 at block 510. The mail piece is processed at the
mailing service 420 (not illustrated). At block 520, the mailing
service 420 delivers the mail piece to the mail recipient 470
indicated on the mail piece. As part of the destination confirm
service 500, the mailing service 420 additionally confirms to the
mailer 410 at block 530 that the mail piece has been delivered to
the mail recipient 470. In one embodiment, the mailing service 420
confirms delivery by sending information to the mailer 410. In
another embodiment, the information is an entry in a computer
database system the mailer 410 can access to determine the status
of its mailings. In yet another embodiment, the information
includes an image from a mail processing equipment (MPE) scan.
Systems to track a mail piece and notify a mailer 410 that a mail
piece has reached its destination will be described in greater
detail below.
[0043] The digits in the barcode 20 are not limited to those
described above, and can represent any number of pieces of data for
use in different tracking and notification systems. For example,
the barcodes 20, 30 may be used by the mailing service 420 to
inform a mailer 410 that a piece of reply mail has entered the mail
stream and is enroute to be delivered to the mailer 410. The piece
of reply mail can include, for example, a payment, order, or other
response from a customer. In one embodiment, the mailing service
420 provides an "origin confirm" service 600 to the mailer 410.
FIG. 5B illustrates a system diagram of one embodiment of an origin
confirm service 600. The system starts at block 610 when the mail
recipient 470 mails a reply mail piece bearing a preprinted origin
confirm barcode 20 and a preprinted barcode 30. In one embodiment,
the mail recipient 470 previously received a mailing from the
mailer 410 that included the replay mail piece bearing the
preprinted barcodes. The mail recipient 470 may be a customer of
the mailer 410, for example.
[0044] The mailing service 420 next processes the reply mail piece
(not illustrated). In one embodiment, the mailing service 420
identifies during processing that the barcode 30 and the origin
confirm barcode 20 are printed on the piece of reply mail. In
another embodiment, the mailing service 420 associates the mailer
410 with the reply mail piece by the barcodes 20, 30 preprinted on
the reply mail piece. In yet another embodiment, the mailer 410
registers a series of separate 9- or 11-digit barcodes 30 to which
it plans to mail reply mail pieces bearing origin confirm barcodes
20. The 9- or 11-digit barcode 30 can include ZIP.TM. Codes, for
example. In one embodiment, the mailing service 420 allows the
mailer 410 to register up to 200 9- or 11-digit ZIP.TM. Codes to
which the mailer 410 plans to mail Origin Confirm reply mail pieces
bearing origin confirm barcodes 20.
[0045] The mailing service 420 next notifies the mailer 410 at
block 620 that a mail piece with a specific origin confirm barcode
20 and barcode 30 has been inducted into the mail system. In some
embodiments, the first two digits of an origin confirm barcode 20
may represent a Service Type ID, the next 11 digits may be for the
mailer 410's use to identify the customer or other mailer of the
reply mail piece, and the last digit may be a check sum digit. At
block 630, the mailing service 420 delivers the mail piece to the
mailer 410.
[0046] Similarly, the barcode 30 can represent any number of pieces
of data useful in sorting mail, such as, but not limited to a
ZIP.TM. Code or an entire delivery point mailing address.
[0047] The expanded data and tracking capability of the intelligent
barcode 10 will now be described in greater detail with reference
to FIG. 1. Unlike the prior art barcodes 20, 30, the intelligent
barcode 10 does not contain human readable representations of
numerical digits. In one embodiment, the intelligent barcode 10
represents data in a fixed-length array of 31 digits. An encoding
algorithm translates these 31 digits into a series of 65 bars, as
illustrated in FIG. 1. In another embodiment, the inverse of the
intelligent barcode symbology illustrated in FIG. 1 is used to
create a different symbology. Mailers 410 who use the intelligent
code 10 on their mail pieces can, for example, obtain encoding
software that can print intelligent barcodes. Once the mail pieces
are inducted into the mail system 400, these intelligent barcodes
10 can then be scanned by, for example, automated mail processing
equipment. Once scanned, a decoding algorithm translates the 65
bars into the array of 31 digits. Thus, the intelligent barcode 10
can offer a data payload of 31 digits, whereas the barcodes 20, 30
typically offer data payloads of 11 to 13 digits. Combining the
barcodes 20, 30 on a mail piece typically offers a maximum of 26
digits of data.
[0048] The intelligent barcode's increased number of digits can
allow more digits to be assigned to mailers for their own
individual use, such as but not limited to their own unique coding
purposes. In one embodiment, the mailing service 420 offers mailers
410 up to 9 digits in a Destination Confirm intelligent barcode 10
and up to 15 digits in an Origin Confirm intelligent barcode 10 for
their own use to track mail pieces. Thus, the expanded data
capacity of the intelligent barcode 10 can allow for a greater
number of uniquely identifiable mail pieces. In another embodiment,
the expanded tracking capability of the intelligent barcode 10
allows mailers greater visibility into the mail stream.
[0049] The expanded data capacity of the intelligent barcode 10 can
also allow a mailing service to use intelligent barcodes for more
applications, beyond mail sorting and tracking services currently
available through the use of prior art barcodes 20, 30. For
example, in one embodiment, the intelligent barcode 10 contains
information allowing the mail service 420 to provide address change
services to the mailer 410, in addition to information for sorting
and tracking purposes. Such address change services are described
in greater detail below. In another embodiment, the intelligent
barcode 10 contains information allowing the mailing service 420 to
identify a mail piece as undeliverable-as-addressed (UAA) and
dispose of the mail piece, forward the mail piece to the correct
address, or return the mail piece to the sender, such as the mailer
410. In yet another embodiment, the intelligent barcode 10 allows
mailers 410 more visibility into the mail stream and information on
the quality of their mailings. Thus, the intelligent barcode 10 can
be encoded such that multiple services may be supported by a single
barcode. In one embodiment, the intelligent barcode 10 can also
relate multiple services to a single mail piece and a single mailer
410.
[0050] The types of data that can be represented in the intelligent
barcode 10 will now be described in further detail. FIG. 6
illustrates a destination confirm intelligent barcode 10 according
to embodiments of the development. The intelligent barcode 10 can
be divided into multiple fields, such as but not limited to fields
50, 60, 70, 80, and 90. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 6,
the field 90 contains 11 digits which represent routing or
destination data that can be used to sort and route a mail piece.
In other embodiments, field 90 contains 0, 5, or 9 digits. For
example, the field 90 can accommodate 0, 5, 9, or 11 digits of
ZIP.TM. Code information, also known as a delivery point ZIP.TM.
Code, associated with a mail recipient 470, or addressee.
[0051] A field 80 may contain 9 digits representing a mailing
identification (ID), or serial number. In some embodiments, the
field 80 is available to the mailer 410 to use for its own
identification purposes and is thus considered "open" by the
mailing service 420. The digits can uniquely identify, for example,
a particular mail piece, a particular mailing, or a particular
client.
[0052] A field 70 may contain a six-digit code which, in some
embodiments, is not considered "open" by the mailing service 420.
The field 70 may include, for example, a mailer identification
(ID), also known as a subscriber ID. This Mailer ID/Subscriber ID
can be assigned to the mailer 410 by the mailing service 420 to
identify a particular mailer or a particular subscriber to a
service offered by the mailing service 420. In some embodiments,
mailers 410 who were assigned a five-digit Subscriber ID to use in
barcodes 20, as discussed above, can add a leading zero to their
Subscriber ID to represent a six-digit Subscriber ID for use in the
intelligent barcode 10.
[0053] In one embodiment, the mailer ID is a six-digit number that
uniquely identifies the mailer 410. According to one example, if
the mailer ID is a six-digit number, the mailing ID is limited to
nine digits. Thus, according to one example, there are 1 billion
unique nine-digit mailing IDs available for mailers 410 using a
six-digit mailer ID. In another embodiment, the mailer ID is a
nine-digit number that uniquely identifies the mailer 410.
According to one example, if the mailer ID is a nine-digit number,
the mailing ID is limited to six digits. Thus, according to one
example, there are 1 million unique six-digit mailing IDs available
for mailers 410 using a nine-digit mailer ID.
[0054] According to one aspect of the present development, the
mailing service 420 assigns the mailer 410 a mailer ID based on the
volume of mail the mailer 410 transmits annually to the mailing
service 420. In one embodiment, a mailer 410 who mails 10 million
or more mail pieces annually will be assigned a six-digit mailer
ID. The mailer 410 can request additional six-digit mailer IDs to
satisfy additional mailing needs. In another embodiment, a mailer
who mails less than 10 million mail pieces annually will be
assigned a nine-digit mailer ID. The mailer 410 can request
additional nine-digit mailer IDs to satisfy additional mailing
needs. In yet another embodiment, six-digit mailing IDs assigned by
the mailing service 420 begin with numbers "0" through "8," and
nine-digit mailing IDs assigned by the mailing service begin with
the number "9."
[0055] A field 60 may contain a 3-digit code identifying the
specific service the mailer 410 has selected for the mail piece.
For example, the field 60 may contain a service type identification
(ID) that identifies the mailer 410 requests destination confirm
service for the mail piece, or alternatively, origin confirm
service for the mail piece. The Service Type ID can also identify
the mail class of the mail piece, such as but not limited to
First-Class, Standard, and Periodicals mail. The mail class can
indicate, among other things, what class of service or treatment
the mail piece should be given, based on the mailer 410's
indication of a particular mail class. Table 1 illustrates possible
classes of service for a mail piece according to one
embodiment.
TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Service Type ID Class/Shape of Mail 040
First-Class Mail letters 041 First-Class Mail flats 042 Standard
Mail letters 043 Standard Mail flats 044 Periodicals letters 045
Periodicals flats 046 First-Class Mail cards 047 Standard Mail
cards
[0056] Thus, for example, a Service Type ID of "040" in the field
60 can represent the mailer 410's selection of Destination Confirm
First Class treatment for a letter mail piece. Similarly, a Service
Type ID of "042" can represent the mailer 410's selection of
Destination Confirm Standard Mail treatment for a flat mail piece.
In one embodiment, all mail pieces requesting origin confirm
service have "050" in the field 60, regardless of the mail class of
the mail piece.
[0057] In one embodiment, the mailer 410 identifies a mail class
for a mail piece using a specific Service Type ID, and thereby
requests special services for the mail piece such as tracking or
address correction services. Special services can include tracking
and address correction services for mailers 410 who use the
intelligent barcode 10, such as for example, OneCode Confirm.TM.
and OneCode ACS.TM.. According to one embodiment, OneCode
Confirm.TM. is a tracking service, such as a destination and/or
origin confirm service, offered to the mailer 410 who requests such
tracking and/or confirm services in the Service Type ID of the
intelligent barcode 10 applied to its mail pieces. According to
another embodiment, OneCode ACS.TM. is an address correction
service, such as that described in greater detail below with
reference to FIGS. 10 and 12-14, offered to the mailer 410 who
requests such address correction services in the Service Type ID of
the intelligent barcode 10 applied to its mail pieces.
[0058] In another embodiment where the mailer 410 does not identify
a mail class for the mail piece or request special services, the
Service Type ID can be used by the mailing service 420 to apply
automation rate discounts. Thus, the mailer 410 who does not
request special services may still receive an automation rate
discount in accordance with the Service Type ID in the intelligent
barcode 10 applied to a mail piece.
[0059] A field 50 may contain a 2-digit code for internal use by
the mailing service 420. In one embodiment, mailers 410 may
populate the field 50 with two zeroes. In some embodiments, the
field 50 is reserved for indicating an optional endorsement line
sort level and exception handling. For example, in one embodiment,
optional endorsement line and exception handling information
encoded in the intelligent barcode 10 provide instructions to the
mailing service 420 on disposition of a mail piece. In another
embodiment, the mailing service 420 treats a mail piece in
accordance with optional endorsement line and exception handling
instructions for a fee.
[0060] In one embodiment, the mailer 410 "seeds" outgoing mailings
with a destination confirm intelligent barcode 10 attached to some
mail pieces, but not every mail piece. The mailer 410 can use data
from the seeded mail pieces to make assumptions about the entire
mailing. For example, in one embodiment, the mailer 410 seeds every
tray of a mailing with five destination confirm intelligent
barcodes 10 attached to five mail pieces. The mailer 410 can
receive information from the mailing service 420 about the seeded
mail pieces to make assumptions about the entire tray. The mailer
410 can choose the seed quantity and coverage to meet its specific
needs.
[0061] In another embodiment, the mailer 410 seeds outgoing
mailings by placing destination confirm intelligent barcodes 10 on
Confirm Smart Seed mail pieces in the mailing. In one embodiment,
Confirm Smart Seed is a service offered by the mailing service 420
that allows the mailer 410 to receive mail processing equipment
scan data for the mailing without applying the intelligent barcode
10 to mail pieces that will be delivered to customers. Thus, in one
embodiment, the mailer 410 obtains the benefit of seeding using
intelligent barcode technology without attaching the intelligent
barcode 10 to its mail pieces. Further embodiments and details of
destination confirm services offered by the mailing service 420
according to one embodiment are described in U.S. POSTAL SERVICE,
CONFIRM SERVICE FEATURING ONE CODE CONFIRM: PUBLICATION 197 (2008),
which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.
[0062] In some embodiments, the combination of Mailing ID digits in
the field 80 and the Subscriber ID digits in the field 70 make the
intelligent barcode 10 unique to the particular mail piece to which
it is affixed. Thus, the combination of Mailing ID and Subscriber
ID in the intelligent barcode 10 may be a unique mail piece
identifier. In some aspects, it is desirable to maintain mail piece
uniqueness for a specific period of time. Maintaining mail piece
uniqueness can assist the mailing service 420 to sort and track
mail pieces, for example. In one embodiment, the mailing service
420 instructs the mailer 410 to maintain mail piece uniqueness for
a specific period of time, including but not limited to 10, 25, 30,
45, 50, or 60 days. In another embodiment, the specific period of
time during which mail piece uniqueness must be maintained is 45
calendar days.
[0063] In another embodiment, the mailer 410 uses the intelligent
barcode 10 bearing Mailing ID "X" and Subscriber ID "Y" on a first
mail piece. The mailing service 420 instructs the mailer 410 not to
reuse this same intelligent barcode 10 bearing Mailing ID "X" and
Subscriber ID "Y" on a second mail piece within 45 calendar days of
the date the first mail piece was inducted into the mailing system
400. In yet another embodiment, the mailer 410 may not use the
intelligent barcode 10 bearing Mailing ID "X" and Subscriber ID "Y"
on two pieces of mail in the same mail category within 45 calendar
days, but may use the same intelligent barcode 10 bearing Mailing
ID "X" and Subscriber ID "Y" on two mail pieces in different mail
categories within 45 calendar days. Thus, in this embodiment, mail
piece uniqueness is not maintained across mail classes, and two
mail pieces can carry the same Mailing ID and Subscriber ID
combination within the same 45-day uniqueness period as long as
they are in different mail classes.
[0064] Persons of skill in the art will understand that multiple
fields in the intelligent barcode 10 can be used to maintain mail
piece uniqueness, not just the Mailing ID and Mailer/Subscriber ID.
Thus, in one embodiment, the combination of Service Type ID,
Mailer/Subscriber ID, and Mailing ID is used to maintain mail piece
uniqueness across mail classes, but not within the same mail class.
For example, in one embodiment the same Mailing ID and Subscriber
ID is used on two mail pieces in different classes of mail, and the
mail pieces bear different Service Type IDs in the intelligent
barcode 10. In this example, the Service Type ID, and particularly
the combination of Service Type ID, Mailer/Subscriber ID, and
Mailing ID, is used to uniquely identify the mail pieces.
[0065] Because maintaining mail piece uniqueness can improve the
mailing service's sorting and tracking services and systems, the
mailing service 420 may incentivize mailers 410 to use unique,
intelligent barcodes 10 on their mailings. Such incentives may be
called "automation discounts." In one embodiment, the mailing
service 420 offers reduced postal rates to mailers 410 who apply
the intelligent barcodes 10 to their mailings. Other incentives,
such as but not limited to the provision of advanced tracking
information to the mailer 410, the provision of address correction
information at no or reduced cost, and forwarding of
undeliverable-as-addressed (UAA) mail at no or reduced cost, will
be described in greater detail below.
[0066] In one embodiment, the mailer 410 applies unique,
intelligent barcodes 10 to individual mail pieces. In another
embodiment, the mailer 410 also applies unique, intelligent
barcodes to each handling unit used to transport individual mail
pieces to the mailing service 420. Handling units can include, for
example, trays, tubs, sacks, or bundles. The intelligent barcode 10
that is applied to a handling unit may take the same or similar
form to that described above with respect to the intelligent
barcode 10 for mail pieces, or it may take another form. In some
cases, the mailer 410 has a large number of handling units and uses
containers to transport the handling units to the mailing service
420. In yet another embodiment, the mailer 410 also applies unique,
intelligent barcodes to mail pieces, handling units, and the
containers used to transport handling units to the mailing service
420. Containers can include, for example, pallets, gaylords, and
All Purpose Containers (APCs).
[0067] In some aspects described in greater detail below, the
mailer 410 generates and transmits postage statements to the
mailing service 420 using an approved electronic method. These
postage statements can be transmitted before or at the same time
the mail pieces are transmitted to the mailing service 420. In
other aspects, the mailer 410 generates and transmits mailing
documentation to the mailing service 420 using an approved
electronic method. This mailing documentation can be transmitted
before or at the same time the mail pieces are transmitted to the
mailing service 420. In one embodiment, the mailing documentation
describes how individual mail pieces are linked to handling units,
and how handling units are linked to containers, when containers
are used.
[0068] In another embodiment, the mailer 410 may use the
intelligent barcode 10 on its mail pieces, handling units, and
containers (if any), but the mailing service 420 will not offer
incentives to the mailer 410 unless the mailer 410 also transmits
postage statements and/or mailing documentation to the mailing
service 420 describing how the mail pieces, handling units, and
containers are linked. In yet another embodiment, the mailing
service 420 offers a "basic service" for a limited period of time,
during which the mailer 410 can use the intelligent barcodes 10 on
its mail pieces without maintaining barcode uniqueness and without
the provision of postage statements and/or mailing documentation to
the mailing service 420. During this period of time, the mailer 410
can transition to new systems allowing it to maintain barcode
uniqueness and can become familiar with the preparation of postage
statements and mailing documentation. The mailing service 420 may
offer this simplified use of the intelligent barcodes 10 for a
limited period of time to incentivize the mailer 410 to obtain and
become familiar with systems that will allow it to maintain
intelligent barcode uniqueness for a specific period of time, such
as but not limited to 45 days, and to obtain and become familiar
with the preparation and transmission of postage statements and
mailing documentation using the intelligent barcodes 10.
[0069] At the expiration of the limited period of time, the mailing
service 420 may require all mailers 410 to comply with all or a
subset of "full service" requirements in order to qualify for
incentives such as reduced postage rates and the provision of
additional postal services. Such full service requirements can
include but are not limited to: (1) applying the intelligent
barcodes 10 to mail pieces, handling units, and containers; (2)
maintaining barcode uniqueness for a specific period of time; (3)
transmitting postage statements for each mailing to the mailing
service using approved electronic methods; and (4) transmitting
mailing documentation for each mailing to the mailing service using
approved electronic methods. In one embodiment, mailers 410 who
satisfy full service requirements receive additional tracking and
address correction services for their intelligent barcode-marked
mail pieces free of charge. Start-the-clock tracking services and
address correction services according to one embodiment are
described in greater detail below with reference to FIGS.
10-14.
[0070] Persons of skill in the art will understand full service
requirements are not limited to those just described, but can
include any requirement that assists the mailing service 420 in the
provision of acceptance, sorting, tracking, address correction,
forwarding, and delivery services. For example, in one embodiment,
the mailer 410 must comply with some or all of the full service
requirements outlined above, as well as use a delivery point code
in the field 90 of the intelligent barcode 10 in order to qualify
for incentives and benefits of the full service system.
[0071] In one embodiment, the mailer 410 must comply with all four
full service requirements in order to qualify for advantageous
postage rates and/or additional postal services. In another
embodiment, the mailing service 420 does not require the mailer 410
to comply with all full service requirements for all mailings in
order to qualify for reduced postage rates or other incentives. In
one embodiment, for example, the mailer 410 need not comply with
all full service requirements if its mailing contains less than
10,000 mail pieces and correct postage is affixed to each piece. In
this example, a unique intelligent barcode 10 is not required on
every mail piece for the mailing to qualify for full service
incentives. In another example, a unique intelligent code 10 is
required on every mail piece for the mailing to qualify for
incentives, but the mailer 410 need not maintain barcode uniqueness
for a specific period of time, transmit postage statements to the
mailing service 420, or transmit mailing documentation to the
mailing service 420.
[0072] In another embodiment, the mailer 410 need not comply with
all full service requirements if its mailing contains less than
10,000 mail pieces, each mail piece is of identical weight, and
mail pieces are separated by price. Persons of skill in the art
will understand that the specific standards by which a mailing that
does not meet all full service requirements but nonetheless
qualifies for full service benefits are not limited to those just
described. Any combination of factors may be used to allow a
mailing to qualify for full service treatment and incentives, such
as but not limited to the size of the mailing, the degree of
sorting present in the mailing, the degree to which correct postage
is affixed to mail pieces in the mailing, and the degree to which
mail pieces in the mailing are similar in weight, size, or postage
rate.
[0073] Persons of skill in the art will also understand that the
development is not limited to the "basic" and "full" service
systems described above. Any combination of requirements can be
used to develop, for example, basic, mid-level, and full service
requirements. In one embodiment, requirements are cumulative as a
mailer progresses to the next highest level, such that the mailer
410 must meet all basic level requirements in addition to mid-level
requirements to qualify for mid-level service. Further embodiments
and details of services offered by the mailing service 420
according to one embodiment are described in Implementation of New
Standards for Intelligent Mail Barcodes, 73 Fed. Reg. 49, 333 (Aug.
21, 2008), which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.
[0074] Persons of skill in the art will understand that the
intelligent barcode 10 need not be unique to qualify for full
service benefits. For example, FIG. 7 illustrates an origin confirm
intelligent barcode 10 according to embodiments of the development.
As explained in greater detail above, origin confirm service can be
used to notify the mailer 410 that a piece of reply mail has
entered the mail stream and is enroute to the mailer 410. Origin
confirm intelligent barcode 10 can be preprinted, for example, on a
piece of reply mail sent to a customer or the mail recipient 470.
When the mail recipient 470 places the reply mail in the mail
stream, the mailing service 420 identifies it as a mail piece
bearing an origin confirm intelligent barcode 10 and should
therefore receive origin confirm services. Such services include
but are not limited to notifying the mailer 410 that a mail piece
bearing origin confirm intelligent barcode 10 has entered the mail
stream and is enroute to the mailer 410.
[0075] The origin confirm intelligent barcode 10 can be divided
into multiple fields, such as but not limited to fields 50, 60, 80,
and 90. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 7, a field 90
contains 11 digits which represent routing or destination data that
can be used to sort and route a mail piece. In other embodiments,
the field 90 contains 0, 5, or 9 digits. For example, the field 90
can accommodate 0, 5, 9, or 11 digits of ZIP.TM. Code information,
also known as a delivery point ZIP.TM. Code, for the mail recipient
470, or addressee.
[0076] A field 80 may contain 15 digits representing a customer
identification (ID). In some embodiments, the field 80 is available
to the mailer 410 to use for its own identification purposes and is
thus considered "open" by the mailing service 420. The digits can
uniquely identify, for example, a particular reply mail piece or a
particular customer who mails the reply mail piece back to the
mailer 410.
[0077] A field 60 may contain a 3-digit code identifying the
specific service the mailer 410 has selected for the mail piece.
For example, the field 60 may contain a service type identification
(ID) that identifies that the mailer 410 requests destination
confirm service for the mail piece, or alternatively, origin
confirm service for the mail piece. In one embodiment, all mail
pieces requesting origin confirm service have "050" in the field
60, regardless of the mail class of the mail piece.
[0078] A field 50 may contain a 2-digit code for internal use by
the mailing service 420. For example, mailers 410 may populate this
field. In some embodiments, the field 50 is reserved for indicating
an optional endorsement line sort level and exception handling. For
example, in one embodiment, optional endorsement line and exception
handling information encoded in the intelligent barcode 10 provide
instructions to the mailing service 420 on disposition of a mail
piece. In another embodiment, the mailing service 420 treats a mail
piece in accordance with optional endorsement line and exception
handling instructions for a fee.
[0079] As demonstrated in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 7, the
origin confirm intelligent barcode 10 may not contain a field 70,
or a 6-digit Subscriber ID in the field 70. In such an embodiment,
there may be no unique Subscriber ID to combine with the Customer
ID in the field 80. Thus, in some embodiments, the origin confirm
intelligent barcode 10 is not a unique mail piece identifier,
because multiple reply mail pieces may be marked with, for example,
the intelligent barcode 10 illustrated in FIG. 7.
[0080] In some embodiments, the mailing service 420 instructs
mailers 410 using origin confirm services to use a 9- or 11-digit
routing ZIP.TM. Code in the field 90. The mailing service may also
instruct origin confirm mailers 410 that the 9- or 11-digit routing
ZIP.TM. Code in the field 90 also serves as a Subscriber ID for the
origin confirm mailing. The origin confirm mailer 410 may register
up to, for example, 200 separate 9- or 11-digit ZIP.TM. Codes to
which Origin Confirm reply mail pieces will be mailed. The origin
confirm mailer 410 can identify, or register for, these ZIP.TM.
Codes by transmitting the codes to the mailing service 420 and
having the codes stored in an account associated with the mailer
410.
[0081] In some embodiments, an origin confirm mail piece bearing
the intelligent barcode 10 such as that illustrated in FIG. 7 will
be mailed to the mailing service 420 by a mail recipient 470 and
identified as an origin confirm mail piece by automated processing
equipment located at the mailing service 420. The Service Type ID
in the field 60 may notify the mailing service 420 that the mail
piece is an origin confirm reply mail piece. The mailing service
420 may then identify the 9- or 11-digit ZIP.TM. Code as a code for
which the mailer 410 has registered, and notify the mailer 410 that
a reply mail piece bearing the intelligent barcode 10 is in the
mail stream and enroute to the mailer 410.
[0082] In addition to using the intelligent mail barcode 10 to
request and receive destination confirm and origin confirm services
from the mailing service 420, the mailer 410 can request to receive
address corrections for any undeliverable-as-addressed (UAA) mail
pieces using the intelligent mail barcode 10. In addition, the
mailer 410 can also instruct the mailing service 420 on how it
wants any UAA mail pieces to be handled. For example, the mailer
410 can indicate its desire to have any UAA mail pieces forwarded,
returned-to-sender, or treated as waste and disposed.
[0083] Different mail classes have different "default" treatments
of UAA mail. Within the First-Class Mail class, for example, the
"default" treatment for a mail piece that cannot be delivered is
for the mail piece to be either forwarded or returned to the mailer
410 ("return to sender"). In the Periodicals class, the "default"
treatment of UAA mail is to forward mail pieces for the first 60
calendar days following an addressee's move date and dispose of all
other UAA mail pieces as waste. For Standard Mail and Bound Printed
Matter, the "default" treatment of UAA mail is to dispose of the
mail piece as waste.
[0084] The mailer 410 can instruct the mailing service 420 to
handle any UAA mail pieces in a manner different than the default
treatment provided for the class of mail. For example, First-Class
Mail mailers 410 can tell the mailing service 420 to dispose of
undeliverable-as-addressed mail pieces rather than forwarding or
returning the mail pieces. Standard Mail mailers 410 can indicate
their desire to have any undeliverable mail that can be forwarded
sent to the addressee's new address and all other mail disposed as
waste.
[0085] In one embodiment, the mailer 410 instructs the mailing
service 420 of its intent to have its UAA mail treated in a manner
different than the default treatment by providing an ancillary
service endorsement that describes how to handle any UAA mail
pieces. In some embodiments, the mailer 410 prints the ancillary
service endorsement on a mail piece and the mailing service 420
recognizes the ancillary service endorsement when it processes UAA
mail. Table 2 provides ancillary service endorsements used in one
embodiment of the development.
TABLE-US-00002 TABLE 2 Address Service Requested (ASR) Change
Service Requested (CSR) Forwarding Service Requested (FSR) Return
Service Requested (RSR) Temp-Return Service Requested (TRSR)
Electronic Service Requested (ESR)
[0086] In one embodiment, the mailing service 420 only allows
certain ancillary service endorsements to be used with certain
classes of mail. For example, in one embodiment, the Temp-Return
Service Requested (TRSR) ancillary service endorsement can only be
used on First-Class Mail mail pieces. In another embodiment, the
Electronic Service Requested (ESR) ancillary service endorsement
can only be used on mail pieces requesting specific address
correction services. Such services include, but are not limited to,
the ACS and the OneCode ACS.RTM. services provided by the United
States Postal Service.
[0087] In another embodiment, the mailer 410 uses an ancillary
service endorsement on a mail piece to request additional services
in conjunction with the handling of its UAA mail than is typically
provided by the mailing service 420. In still another embodiment,
the presence of an ancillary service endorsement on the mail piece
is the mailer's acknowledgement that it agrees to pay to receive
these extra services, if an additional charge applies. For example,
if the mailer 410 uses the Address Service Requested endorsement on
a Standard Mail mail piece, the mailing service 420 will provide a
service to the Standard Mail mail piece. In one embodiment, the
mailing service 420 provides forwarding services if a
change-of-address is on file. In another embodiment where no
change-of-address is on file, the mailing service 420 returns the
undeliverable mail piece to the mailer 410 for a fee, which is
charged to the mailer 410. In one aspect of the development, the
fee is based on the weight of the mail piece. Since forwarding is
not provided as part of Standard Mail processing offered by the
mailing service 420 in this embodiment, the mailer 410 must pay an
additional fee to have mail pieces forwarded and/or returned.
[0088] In yet another embodiment, the mailer 410 uses ancillary
service endorsements in conjunction with an address correction
service provided by the mailing service 420. Such services include,
but are not limited to, the ACS and the OneCode ACS.RTM. services
provided by the United States Postal Service. In some embodiments,
the mailer 410 subscribes to the address correction service and
uses prior art barcodes 20, 30 on its mail pieces to receive
address correction notices as part of its subscription. Such
services include, but are not limited to, the ACS service provided
by the United States Postal Service. In other embodiments, the
mailer 410 subscribes to the address correction service and uses
the intelligent barcode 10 on its mail pieces to receive address
correction notices as part of its subscription. Such services
include, but are not limited to, the OneCode ACS.RTM. service
provided by the United States Postal Service.
[0089] In one embodiment, the mailer 410 changes the default
treatment that will be applied to its mail piece by choosing a
Service Type ID and an ancillary service endorsement that together
describe how to handle the mail piece. In another embodiment, the
mailer 410 uses a particular ancillary service endorsement and a
particular Service Type ID in the intelligent barcode 10 to
indicate to the mailing service 420 which additional services the
mailer 410 requests for the mail piece. The Service Type ID can be
indicated, for example, in field 60 of the intelligent barcode 10
as illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 7. Further embodiments, details, and
combinations of ancillary service endorsements and Service Type
IDs, and the resulting treatment applied to the mail piece by the
mailing service 420, are described in Appendix A of the publication
U.S. POSTAL SERVICE, A GUIDE TO INTELLIGENT MAIL FOR LETTERS AND
FLATS (2008), which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.
[0090] According to one embodiment, a mailer 410 that has
subscribed to the address correction service and uses an ancillary
service endorsement on its mail piece receives an electronic
notification from the mailing service 420. The electronic
notification can indicate, for example, that a mail piece was UAA.
In one embodiment, the electronic notification also provides the
addressee's new address or the reason why the mail piece could not
be delivered. In another embodiment, the only ancillary service
endorsements that can be used in conjunction with the address
correction service are Address Service Requested and Change Service
Requested.
[0091] In some embodiments, the mailer 410 has not subscribed to
the address correction service provided by the mailing service 420,
but still uses an ancillary service endorsement on its mail pieces.
In such embodiments, the mailing service 420 notifies the mailer
that a mail piece was UAA by sending the mailer 410 a hard copy
notice or by returning the mail piece to the mailer 410. The hard
copy notice may provide a photocopy of the UAA mail piece with
either the addressee's new address or the reason why the mail piece
could not be delivered.
[0092] In one embodiment of the present development, the mailing
service 420 provides tracking and address correction services free
of charge to mail pieces that satisfy full service requirements. In
another embodiment, the mailing service 420 changes the default
service applied to a full service mail piece free of charge when
the change in service or treatment is requested in an ancillary
service endorsement and/or Service Type ID in the intelligent
barcode 10. In yet another embodiment, the mailing service 420
provides start-the-clock service, described in greater detail below
with reference to FIG. 11, free of charge to full service mail
piece regardless of the Service Type ID identified in the
intelligent barcode 10. In still another embodiment, the mailing
service 420 offers tracking, start-the-clock, and address
correction services to mail pieces that satisfy basic service
requirements for an additional fee.
A Mail Processing System
[0093] Mail processing systems and methods using the intelligent
barcode 10 will now be described in greater detail. Mail processing
systems and methods as described herein may be performed by the
mailer 410, the mailing service 420, and/or the mail recipient 470,
as described above with reference to FIG. 4.
[0094] FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating one embodiment of a
method 800 for processing mail using the intelligent barcode 10.
The method 800 begins at block 801 in which the mailer 410 plans
and prepares a mailing. The mailer 410 may be the owner of the
mailing, or alternatively, it may be a mail preparer whom the owner
of the mail has designated to prepare and transmit the mailing. The
mailer 410 is not limited to mail preparers and mail owners,
however, and can include a computerized or electronic system for
sending mail. Systems for sending mail can also include, for
example, presort mailers who perform automated processing of mail
pieces from multiple mail owners or customers. These systems can
receive mail in batches from different customers, combine and sort
the batches to obtain postage discounts, then transmit the combined
mailing to the mailing service 420.
[0095] Moving to a block 802, the mailer 410 submits a pre-shipment
notification to the mailing service 420. The notification informs
the mailing service 420 that the mailer 410 plans to induct a
mailing into the mail stream, and provides information on the
mailing to the mailing service 420. In one embodiment, the mailing
service 420 sends a confirmation to the mailer 410 confirming
receipt of the pre-shipment notification. In another embodiment,
the mailing service 420 analyzes the pre-shipment notification and
sends back an estimate of postage to the mailer 410. In still
another embodiment, scheduling information is exchanged
electronically between the mailer 410 and the mailing service 420.
Next at block 803, the mailing is transported to the mailing
service 420 and inducted into the mail stream.
[0096] Moving next to block 804, the mailing service 420 processes
the mailing. In one embodiment, mail processing includes sorting
the mail pieces, then delivering them to their intended
destination, such as the mail recipients 470. In another
embodiment, mail processing includes tracking the mail pieces as
they move to their intended destination. In yet another embodiment,
mail processing includes identifying that a mail piece is
undeliverable-as-addressed (UAA), and notifying the mailer 410 that
the mail piece is UAA. In still another embodiment, mail processing
includes providing address correction services to the mailer 410
for the UAA mail piece. In yet still another embodiment, mail
processing includes forwarding the piece of address-corrected mail
to its intended destination, such as the mail recipient 470.
[0097] Next at block 805, the mailer 410 accesses and interprets
data resulting from the mail processing at block 804. In one
embodiment, data access and interpretation includes accessing and
interpreting tracking records indicating the location of one or
more mail pieces in the mail stream. In another embodiment, data
access and interpretation includes accessing and interpreting
records and/or notices that a mail piece was
undeliverable-as-addressed. In yet another embodiment, the mailer
410 accesses and interprets address correction notices and/or
records. In still another embodiment, the mailer 410 incorporates
the address correction notices into its address records for future
mailings. In yet still another embodiment, the mailer 410 accesses
and interprets information that a piece of address-corrected mail
has been forwarded to its intended destination.
[0098] As noted above with regard to address correction notices,
the mailer 410 can access various pieces of data on its mailing,
including but not limited to the quality of its mail preparation,
the accuracy of its address records, and the actual time and cost
for delivery compared to anticipated time and cost. Thus, in one
embodiment, the method 800 does not end and progresses from block
805 back to block 801. In this embodiment, the mailer 410 uses data
gleaned from a first mailing at block 805 to improve the planning
and preparation for a subsequent mailing at block 801.
[0099] FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating in greater detail the
mail preparation and planning step at block 801 in FIG. 8. One
embodiment of a method 900 for planning and preparing a mailing
using the intelligent barcode 10 is illustrated. The method 900
begins at block 901 in which a mailer 410 generates intelligent
barcodes 10 for an anticipated mailing. Any suitable encoder tool
may be used to encode the numeric representation of a mailer's
tracking and delivery point ZIP.TM. Code information into the
graphic representation of the intelligent barcode 10. In one
embodiment, the mailing service 420 provides an online encoder tool
that allows the mailers 410 to encode numeric values into the
intelligent barcodes 10, as well as an online decoder tool allowing
the mailers 410 to enter an intelligent barcode sequence and
receive the numeric representation of that barcode.
[0100] In another embodiment, the mailing service 20 offers more
advanced services to encode the intelligent mail barcode 10 in a
production environment. The mailing service 420 can offer an
extended library of encoder source and binary code that a mailer
410 can download and install on a range of platforms. Table 3 lists
operating systems and language and application environments the
mailing service 420 supports according to one embodiment of the
development, where "Y" indicates a combination is supported and "N"
indicates a combination is not supported.
TABLE-US-00003 TABLE 3 Language and Applications Supported MS MS
Operating System C Java 2 COBOL PL/1 Access Excel MVS, z/OS, and
OS/390 Y Y Y Y N N VSE/ESA Y N Y Y N N OS/400 Y Y Y N N N AIX Y Y N
N N N Linux for pSeries Y Y N N N N Linux for Intel.sup.2 Y Y N N N
N Programmer Version Y Y N N N N for Windows MS Office Version N N
N N Y Y for Windows
[0101] In one embodiment, the encoding software package for each
operating system can be distributed as a standard zip file. In
another embodiment for printing the intelligent barcode 10 in a
production environment, a variety of intelligent barcode fonts are
available for five major production printing environments: AFP
(MVS, AS/400, VM, and VSE); HP PCL; PostScript; Xerox.TM. Metacode,
and TrueType.
[0102] Moving to block 902, the mailer 410 affixes the intelligent
barcodes 10 to the mail pieces. Next at block 903, the mailer 410
attaches the intelligent barcodes 10 to handling units, if any,
used to transport individual mail pieces to the mailing service
420. Handling units can include, for example, trays, tubs, sacks,
or bundles. Moving next to block 904, the mailer 410 next attaches
the intelligent barcodes 10 to containers, if any, used to
transport handling units to the mailing service 420. Containers can
include, for example, pallets, gaylords, and All Purpose Containers
(APCs).
[0103] At block 905, the mailer 410 generates postage statements
using an electronic method approved by the mailing service 420.
This can ensure the postage statements are compatible with and
readable by the mailing service's electronic systems. In one
embodiment, postage statements provide information on the postage
applied to each mail piece. In another embodiment, postage
statements provide information such as, but not limited to, the
mail class of one or more mail pieces, the weight per item in the
mailing, the number of items in the mailing, the mail shape of one
or more mail pieces, how mail pieces are sorted, the base rate,
discounts claimed by the mailer 410, and the mail deposit location.
Moving to block 906, the mailer 410 generates electronic mailing
documentation for the mailing prepared in the preceding blocks
using an electronic method approved by the mailing service 420.
This can ensure the mailing documentation is compatible with and
readable by the mailing service's electronic systems. In one
embodiment, the mailing documentation describes how individual mail
pieces are linked to handling units, if any, and how handling units
are linked to containers, if any.
[0104] Referring again to FIG. 8, upon the completion of the mail
preparation and planning step at block 801, the mailer 410 can now
transmit a pre-shipment notification to the mailing service 420 at
block 802. In one embodiment, the pre-shipment notification
includes the postage statements and mailing documentation prepared
at blocks 904 and 905 in FIG. 9. In another embodiment, the mailing
service 420 sends back a confirmation and an estimate of postage to
the mailer 410 based on the pre-shipment notification. In yet
another embodiment, scheduling information is exchanged
electronically between the mailer 410 and the mailing service 420.
At block 803, the mailing is transported to the mailing service 420
and inducted into the mail stream.
[0105] FIG. 10 is a top level block diagram illustrating in greater
detail the mail processing which occurs at block 804 in FIG. 8. One
embodiment of a mail processing system 100 for processing mail
using the intelligent barcode 10 is illustrated. The mail
processing system 100 includes mail pieces 102, a mail processing
module 124, a general processing module 104, a sorting module 106,
candidate UAA mail pieces 108, a UAA processing module 110, an
address correction module 112, a mail forwarding module 114,
address-corrected mail pieces 116, UAA mail pieces returned to
sender 117, UAA mail pieces for disposal 118, non-UAA mail pieces
120, and a machine-readable medium 122. The mail pieces 102 that
have been inducted into the mail stream at block 803 in FIG. 8 are
introduced into the mail processing module 124 according to one
embodiment. In one embodiment, the mail processing module 124 is a
mail sorter. The mail pieces 102 are next evaluated at the general
processing module 104. Methods performed by the general processing
module 104 according to one embodiment are described in greater
detail below with reference to FIG. 11. The mail pieces next move
to the sorting module 106. The sorting module 106 may be a letter
mail sorter, a flat mail sorter, a mixed mail sorter, a parcel mail
sorter, or any other type of device that sorts mail pieces. Non-UAA
mail pieces 120 leave the sorter 106 and the mail processing module
124 for final disposition through the mail stream.
[0106] In one embodiment, candidate UAA mail pieces 108 are mail
pieces which are suspected to be UAA mail pieces but are not yet
confirmed to be UAA mail pieces. The candidate UAA mail pieces 108
move from the sorting module 106 to the UAA processing module 110,
or UAA module. In one embodiment, the candidate UAA mail pieces 108
are evaluated by the UAA processing module 110. In another
embodiment, the UAA processing module 110 confirms the candidate
UAA mail piece 108 is a confirmed UAA mail piece. In yet another
embodiment, the UAA processing module 110 generates a report that a
mail piece is undeliverable-as-addressed and transmits the report
to the mailer 410 via the machine-readable medium 122. In some
embodiments, these undeliverable-as-addressed reports are called
"Nixie" reports.
[0107] In some aspects of the development, the UAA processing
module 110 determines a UAA mail piece should be treated as waste
and disposed. The UAA mail pieces for disposal 118 leave the UAA
processing module 110 for disposal. In some aspects of the
development, the UAA processing module 110 determines a UAA mail
piece should be returned to the sender, or the mailer 410. The UAA
mail pieces returned to sender 117 leave the UAA processing module
110 for return to the sender or the mailer 410.
[0108] In still other embodiments, the UAA processing module 110
determines address correction services are to be provided to a UAA
mail piece. The addresses of the UAA mail pieces 108 can be
corrected at the address correction module 112 in one embodiment,
or, in another embodiment, at the UAA processing module 110. In
some embodiments, address correction notices can also be generated
at the address correction module 112 and transmitted to the mailer
410 via the machine-readable medium 122. In another embodiment,
address correction notices are generated at the UAA processing
module 110 and transmitted to the mailer 410 via the
machine-readable medium 122. Other services that can be performed
at the address correction module 112 will be described in greater
detail below.
[0109] In some embodiments, address-corrected mail pieces 116 are
moved to the mail forwarding module 114. One embodiment includes a
mail forwarding module 114 that can generate and transmit a report
to the mailer 410 that a mail piece will be or has been forwarded
to a specific address. Such mail forwarding reports can include,
but are not limited to, destination confirm services. The
address-corrected mail pieces 116 leave the mail forwarding module
114 for final disposition through the mail stream.
[0110] A more detailed description of the systems and methods for
sorting and determining the final disposition of mail will now be
described. The mail processing module 124 includes the sorting
module 106 and the UAA processing module 110. The sorting module
106 and the UAA processing module 110 may be software, hardware,
firmware or a combination thereof. While the UAA processing module
110 is shown as being part of the mail processing module 124,
embodiments are not so limited. In some embodiments, the UAA
processing module 110 is separate from the sorting module 106.
Alternatively or in addition, the functionality of the UAA
processing module 110 may be incorporated into the sorting module
106.
[0111] The sorting module 106 receives mail pieces from the general
processing module 104 and sorts the mail pieces. In some
embodiments, the sorting module 106 sorts the mail pieces based on
the intelligent barcode 10 or other encoded value, a delivery point
bar code, or a combination thereof. The encoded value may be
pre-printed onto the mail pieces by the mailer 410.
[0112] In some embodiments, the encoded value is used to perform
some or all of the operations of UAA processing. The sorting module
106 can scan encoded values in the intelligent barcodes 10 affixed
to mail pieces. As discussed above, encoded values may include
different types of mail parameters for a mail piece, such as
routing data (e.g., the delivery point), the mail class, the
service type, the mailer identification number, identification of
recipient, and address of the mailer 410. In some embodiments, the
delivery point (decoded from the encoded value) may be used to
determine whether a mail piece is a candidate UAA mail piece 108.
In one embodiment, this determination is made at the sorting module
106. In some embodiments, the data decoded from the encoded value
is also used to confirm that a candidate UAA mail piece 108 is an
actual UAA mail piece, such as, for example, an address-corrected
mail piece 116, a UAA mail piece returned to sender 117, or a UAA
mail piece for disposal 118. In one embodiment, this confirmation
is performed at the UAA processing module 110. In some embodiments,
the data decoded from the encoded value is also used to determine
final disposition of the confirmed actual UAA mail piece. In one
embodiment, this determination is made at UAA processing module
110.
[0113] In some embodiments, the data decoded from the encoded value
is also used to determine a return address of the mailer 410, or a
sender of the mail piece (which may be used if the mail is an
actual UAA mail piece). These example embodiments may be used in
any combination. For example, in some embodiments, the data from
the encoded value is used to determine whether the mail piece is a
candidate UAA mail piece 108; used to confirm that a candidate UAA
mail piece 108 is an actual UAA mail piece (such as, for example,
an address-corrected mail piece 116, a UAA mail piece returned to
sender 117, or a UAA mail piece for disposal 118); used to
determine final disposition of the actual UAA mail piece; and used
to determine a return address. In other examples, the data from the
encoded value may be used to perform only one operation or less
than all of the operations of UAA processing (as described above).
For example, data from the encoded value may only be used to
confirm that a candidate UAA mail piece 108 is an actual UAA mail
piece. In another example, the data from the encoded value may only
be used to determine final disposition of the actual UAA mail
piece. Accordingly, if the encoded value is used for less than all
of the operations for UAA processing, other data or other
techniques may be used to perform these other operations.
[0114] In some embodiments, the encoded value (and/or the data
decoded from the encoded value) may be correlated with the name of
the mail recipient 470, or the recipient of the mail piece. For
example, the encoded value, the data decoded from the encoded
value, and the name of the recipient for a mail piece may be stored
in a data structure within a database. This database may be stored
in the machine-readable medium 122 that is local or remote to the
mail processing facility. In some embodiments, parts of this data
may be populated by the mailers 410, while others parts of this
data may be populated by operations performed by mail processing
equipment at the mailing service 420. For example, the mailers 410
may store the encoded value and the name of the recipient for a
mail piece, while the operations of the mail processing equipment
may cause storage of the data decoded from the encoded value. This
data is then accessible by mail processing equipment during UAA
processing at the UAA processing module 110. For example, the
encoded value may be used as a key for looking up the name of the
recipient in the machine-readable medium 122. The name of the
recipient can then be used to determine at UAA processing module
110 whether a candidate UAA mail piece is confirmed to be an actual
UAA mail piece.
[0115] Such embodiments are in contrast to conventional techniques
for UAA processing of mail pieces. In particular, using
conventional techniques, mail sorters can only detect if a mail
piece is UAA. However, some mail sorters cannot determine final UAA
disposition (Forward, Return to Sender, Treat as Waste and Dispose,
etc.) for mail pieces. In particular, in order to determine final
disposition other characteristics such as the mail class and
service type need to be taken into account. Using conventional
techniques, these additional characteristics can only be obtained
by capturing and analyzing the image of a UAA mail piece using
pattern recognition, Optical Character Recognition (OCR)
methodologies or video coding techniques. As a result, the UAA mail
pieces are re-processed on other OCR capable mail processing
equipment to capture and analyze the mail class, service type, and
return address. Subsequently, the final disposition of a UAA mail
piece may be determined. This required additional processing
results in a significant cost to mail processing.
[0116] In one embodiment illustrated in FIG. 10, the mail pieces
102 are passed to the sorting module 106 during a mail sort
operation. The sorting module 106 may decode an encoded value
located on a mail piece. The sorting module 106 and the UAA
processing module 110 may perform some or all of the operations of
UAA processing using the decoded data from the encoded value. For
example, the sorting module 106 may identify mail pieces as
candidate UAA mail pieces 108 by comparing a delivery point
(encoded in the encoded value) to a table, list, or other data
compilation of addresses of recipients of mail whose address has
changed (hereinafter referred to as a change of address table). In
particular, based on the delivery point, the sorting module 106 may
be able to identify that one or more persons have changed addresses
for this particular location. Multiple persons/entities may be
having mail delivered to this particular location. Accordingly, one
person for a given location may have changed addresses, while other
persons for this location have not changed addresses. Therefore,
until the recipient is identified, the mail piece is only a
candidate UAA mail piece 108.
[0117] In some embodiments, the sorting module 106 may update a
data entry in the machine-readable medium 122 for a given encoded
value. As described above, in some embodiments, the mailers 410 may
input data into the machine-readable medium 122 for access by the
sorting module 106 or the UAA processing module 110. For example,
the mailers 410 may create an entry, table, array or any other type
of data structure for a given encoded value. Within that entry in
the machine-readable medium 122, the mailers 410 may include the
name of the recipient of the mail piece for the given encoded
value. In some embodiments, this input of data by the mailers 410
may be performed prior to the mail pieces being sorted by the mail
processing module 124. In some embodiments, the mailers 410 may
perform updates to the machine-readable medium 122 on a periodic
basis or as mailers 410 submit new mail pieces for sorting.
[0118] In conjunction with decoding the encoded value, the sorting
module 106 may add the decoded data into the associated data
structure for the encoded value. In particular, the sorting module
106 may store some or all of the parts of the decoded data for this
encoded value. Moreover, in some embodiments, the decoded data is
provided to the mailers 410. For example, the mailers 410 may have
subsequent access to the machine-readable medium 122 to access
their encoded values. Alternatively or in addition, this decoded
data may be transmitted electronically or provided in a hard copy
format to the mailers 410. Accordingly, the sorting module 106 may
perform the updates to the machine-readable medium 122 and transmit
the decoded data to the associated mailers 410, as part of the
decoding operation. The sorting module 106 may perform the updates
and/or the data transmission in real time or non-real time relative
to the decoding operation. For example, the sorting module 106 may
perform the updates to the machine-readable medium 122 in real
time. Subsequently, the sorting module 106 may transmit the decoded
data to the mailers 410 in non-real time.
[0119] If the sorting module 106 identifies the mail piece as a
candidate UAA mail piece 108, the sorting module 106 may pass the
UAA mail pieces 108 to the UAA processing module 110 for further
processing. The sorting module 106 outputs non-UAA mail pieces 120
for final disposition through the mail stream. In one embodiment,
the UAA processing module 110 determines that a candidate UAA mail
piece 108 is actually a non-UAA mail piece 120, and outputs the
non-UAA mail piece 120 from the mail processing module 124 for
final disposition through the mail stream. For a candidate UAA mail
piece 108, the UAA processing module 110 determines whether the UAA
mail piece is confirmed to be an actual UAA mail piece. In some
example embodiments, the UAA processing module 110 uses data
decoded from the encoded value to perforin this confirmation.
Moreover, for those actual UAA mail pieces, the UAA processing
module 110 determines a final disposition for the UAA mail piece.
In some example embodiments, the UAA processing module 110 uses
data decoded from the encoded value to determine this final
disposition.
[0120] The machine-readable medium 122 may be volatile and/or
non-volatile media, such as but not limited to read only memory
(ROM), random access memory (RAM), magnetic disk storage media,
optical storage media, and flash memory devices. The
machine-readable medium 122 may be local or remote relative to the
mail processing module 124. For example, in some embodiments, the
machine-readable medium 122 may be representative of
machine-readable media distributed at different locations under the
control of the mailers 410. Accordingly, the mailer 410 may have
its own machine-readable medium 122 that is accessible remotely by
the mailing service 420. Alternatively or in addition, the
machine-readable medium 122 may be located at the mail processing
facility (which is local to the mail processing module 124). In
some embodiments, the machine-readable medium 122 stores data
related to, extracted from, etc. the encoded values. For example,
for a given encoded value, an entry in the machine-readable medium
122 may include the encoded value, the name of the recipient of the
mail piece, customer identification number for the mailer, and the
mail class, service type, and return address for the mail piece. In
some example embodiments, parts of this data (e.g., the encoded
value and the name of the recipient) are populated by the mailer
410. For example, the populating of this data may be a requirement
for qualification for incentives, such as those associated with
full service mailings. Some mailers 410 may desire to keep the
names of the recipients of the mail pieces confidential. In some
embodiments, the names of the recipients may be stored in a
separate machine-readable medium 122 (e.g., a machine-readable
medium under the control of the mailer 410). Alternatively or in
addition, the names of the recipients may be encrypted.
[0121] In certain embodiments, the operations are performed by
instructions residing on machine-readable media (e.g., software),
while in other embodiments, the methods are performed by hardware
or other logic (e.g., digital logic).
[0122] FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating in greater detail a
method 1100 performed by the general processing module 104 in FIG.
10. One embodiment of a method 1100 for generally processing a
mailing using intelligent barcode 10 is illustrated. The method
1100 begins at block 1110 in which the mailing service 420 accepts
a mailing inducted into the mail stream. Moving to a block 1120,
the mailing service 420 preliminarily determines if the mailing
using the intelligent barcodes 10 and meets full service
requirements, as described in greater detail above. Persons of
skill in the art will understand full service requirements are not
limited to those described, and any single requirement or
combination of requirements that assists the mailing service 420 in
the provision of acceptance, sorting, tracking, address correction,
forwarding, and delivery services can be used to qualify a mailing
as "full service." In one embodiment, if the mailing is not
preliminarily identified as a full service mailing at block 1120,
general processing terminates and the mailing moves to the sorting
module 106 in FIG. 10. If the mailing is preliminarily identified
as a full service mailing at block 1120, the mailing is entered
into the full service system at block 1130.
[0123] Moving next to block 1140, the mailing service 420 verifies
the mailing meets all full service requirements. This verification
can include, for example, verifying that postage statements and
mailing documentation for this mailing have been received by the
mailing service 420. This verification can also include, for
example, verifying that mail pieces are linked to handling units as
indicated in the mailing documentation, and handling units are
linked to containers as indicated in the mailing documentation.
Persons of skill in the art will understand the mailing service 420
may evaluate a sample of mail pieces in a mailing to verify
compliance with full service requirements. If the mailing does not
meet all full service requirements, the mailing service 420 next
verifies if the mailing meets basic service requirements at block
1150. This verification can include, for example, verifying that
the intelligent barcodes 10 have been affixed to all mail pieces.
Verification can also include, for example, that the intelligent
barcodes 10 are properly positioned on and affixed to the mail
piece, are readable, and conform to formatting requirements for the
intelligent barcodes 10. Persons of skill in the art will
understand the mailing service may evaluate a sample of mail pieces
in a mailing to verify compliance with basic service
requirements.
[0124] If the mailing does not meet basic service requirements at
block 1150, general processing terminates and the mailing moves to
the sorting module 106 in FIG. 10. If the mailing does meet basic
service requirements at block 1150, the mailing service 420 may
offer all or subset of services offered to full service mailings to
the basic service mailing. For example, in the embodiment
illustrated in FIG. 11, the mailing service 420 provides at block
1160 a start-the-clock service to mailings that meet basic service
requirements, wherein the start-the-clock service is also provided
to full service mailings. In one embodiment, basic service mailings
receive some, but not all, of the incentives and/or additional
services provided to mailings that meet all full service
requirements. In another embodiment, the mailing service 420 does
not offer any additional services to basic service mailings, and
merely tracks and analyzes the number of incoming mail pieces that
meet basic service requirements.
[0125] If the mailing service 420 verifies the mailing meets all
full service requirements at block 1140, the process moves to block
1160, wherein full service mail pieces receive the benefit of a
start-the-clock service. In one embodiment of the start-the-clock
service, the mailing service 420 transmits start-the-clock data to
the mailer 410, including but not limited to the mail preparer
and/or mail owner identified in the By/For line in the mailing
documentation associated with the mailing. In one embodiment, the
start-the-clock data includes information that a mailing or
specific pieces of mail in a mailing have been inducted into the
mail stream. In another embodiment, the start-the-clock data
includes information that a mailing or specific pieces of mail in a
mailing have been verified and accepted into the full service
system.
[0126] Moving to block 1170, the mailer 410, including but not
limited to the mail preparer and/or mail owner, accesses the
start-the-clock data via the machine-readable medium 122. In one
embodiment, a mail preparer plans, prepares, and transmits a
mailing to the mailing service 420 for a mail owner. The mail owner
can access the start-the-clock data on its mailings to evaluate the
performance of the mail preparer, including but not limited to the
timeliness and quality of the mailing and the quality of the
intelligent barcodes 10 used in the mailing.
[0127] FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating one embodiment of a
method 1200 performed by the sorting module 106 and/or the UAA
processing module 110 in FIG. 10. In some embodiments, the method
1200 is performed by at least one of the sorting module 106 and the
UAA processing module 110. The method 1200 begins at block 1202 in
which the sorting module 106 receives a mail piece for sorting. The
mail pieces may comprise both UAA and non-UAA mail pieces. In some
example embodiments, the mailer 410 prints, marks, attaches, etc.
an encoded value onto an outside part of the mail pieces. Moving to
a block 1204, the sorting module 106 reads the encoded value
located on the mail piece. The encoded value may be a bar code, an
alphanumeric value, etc. For example, in some embodiments, the
encoded value is the intelligent barcode 10. Therefore, in some
examples, the sorting module 106 uses some type of bar code scan
operation to read the encoded value.
[0128] Next at block 1206, the sorting module 106 decodes the
encoded value to determine some or all of the following data: (1)
the delivery point for the mail piece; (2) an identification and
return address of the mailer 410; (3) the class of the mail piece
and (4) any endorsements (service types) for the mail piece. Other
types of data (e.g., mailing sequence number) may also be decoded
from the encoded value.
[0129] In some embodiments, the sorting module 106 may update the
data entry in the machine-readable medium 122 for this given
encoded value. In conjunction with decoding the encoded value, the
sorting module 106 may add the decoded data into the associated
data structure for the encoded value. In particular, the sorting
module 106 may store some or all of the parts of the decoded data
for this encoded, value. Moreover, in some embodiments described in
greater detail above, the decoded data is provided to the mailers
410.
[0130] Moving next to block 1208, the sorting module 106 determines
whether the mail piece is a candidate UAA mail piece 108 using the
identification of the delivery point decoded from the encoded
value. The sorting module 106 may compare the delivery point bar
code to a table, list, etc. of addresses of recipients of mail
whose address has changed. Such data may be stored in the
machine-readable medium 122 or some other form of machine-readable
media. If the delivery point bar code for a mail piece is within
this list of addresses, the sorting module 106 identifies the mail
piece as a candidate UAA mail piece 108. As described below,
further confirmation and final disposition of a candidate UAA mail
piece 108 is performed in subsequent operations. While described
such that the sorting module 106 obtains the delivery point from
the encoded value, embodiments are not so limited. In some example
embodiments, the delivery point may be obtained from a delivery
point bar code that is also located on the mail piece. Barcode 30
of FIG. 2 is one example of a delivery point bar code according to
one embodiment. If the mail piece is not a candidate UAA mail piece
108, the method 1200 continues at block 1216, described in more
detail below.
[0131] If the mail piece is a candidate UAA mail piece 108, the
method 1200 continues at block 1210. At block 1210, the UAA
processing module 110 retrieves the name of the recipient of the
mail piece using the identification of the recipient of the mail
piece in the encoded value. The UAA processing module 110 may
retrieve the name of the recipient of the mail piece from the
machine-readable medium 122. In particular, as described above, in
some embodiments, the mailer 410 stores the name of the recipient
into the machine-readable medium 122. Accordingly, the UAA
processing module 110 may retrieve the recipient name from the
machine-readable medium 122. In some embodiments, the UAA
processing module 110 may perform the lookup based on the
identification of the recipient (that was part of the decoded data
from the encoded value), the encoded value, etc.
[0132] Moving next to block 1211, the UAA processing module 110
retrieves the return address of the mailer 410 of the mail piece
using the identification of the mailer 410 of the mail piece in the
encoded value. The UAA processing module 110 may retrieve the
return address of the mailer 410 from the machine-readable medium
122. In particular, in some embodiments, the mailer 410 of the mail
piece stored its return address into the machine-readable medium
122. Accordingly, the UAA processing module 110 may retrieve the
return address from the machine-readable medium 122. In some
embodiments, the UAA processing module 110 may perform the lookup
based on the identification of the mailer 410 (that was part of the
decoded data from the encoded value), the encoded value, etc. In
some embodiments, the return address may be used if the mail piece
is returned to the mailer 410 as part of the final disposition of
the actual UAA mail piece. Embodiments are not limited to obtaining
the return address of the mailer 410 as described in the operation
at block 1211. Alternatively or in addition, in some example
embodiments, the return address of the mailer 410 may be obtained
by other techniques, such as OCR.
[0133] Next at block 1212, the UAA processing module 110 determines
whether the candidate UAA mail piece 108 is confirmed to be an
actual UAA mail piece using the name of the recipient. In some
embodiments, the UAA processing module 110 determines if the
recipient's name for this mail piece is in an entry in the change
of address table for this delivery point. As described above,
multiple recipients of mail pieces may be associated with a given
delivery point. If the recipient's name on the mail piece is in the
change of address table, the mail piece is considered to be a UAA
mail piece. Otherwise, the mail piece is processed as a non-UAA
mail piece. If the mail piece is not confirmed to be a UAA mail
piece, the method continues at block 1216, which is described in
more detail below.
[0134] If the mail piece is confirmed to be a UAA mail piece, the
method continues at block 1214. The UAA processing module 110
determines final disposition of the actual UAA mail piece using the
identification of the class and any endorsements of the mail piece
that are indicated on the mail piece, including but not limited to
any endorsements in the encoded value. Because the UAA mail piece
is confirmed as an actual UAA mail piece, final disposition may
occur. As illustrated in FIG. 10, UAA mail pieces for disposal 118,
UAA mail pieces returned to sender 117, and address-corrected mail
pieces 116 are confirmed as actual UAA mail pieces. In some example
embodiments, final disposition may include returning the mail piece
to the mailer 410, forwarding to a new address, or treating as
waste. Final disposition may depend on the class of mail, the
length of time since the address has changed, mailer applied
endorsements, etc. For example, if the mail piece is first class
mail and the length of time is less than N number of months, the
mail piece is labeled for forwarding to the new address. In another
example, if the mail piece is standard A class mail and the length
of time is greater than X number of days and there are no services
requested (endorsements), the mail piece is treated as waste. As
illustrated in FIG. 10, the final disposition of UAA mail pieces
for disposal 118 is treatment as waste and disposal. The final
disposition of UAA mail pieces 117 is to be returned to the mailer
410. The final disposition of address-corrected mail pieces 116 is
forwarding to the mail recipient 470 at a new, corrected
address.
[0135] Moving next to block 1215, the UAA processing module 110
sorts the mail piece based on the final disposition. The UAA
processing module 110 can sort the mail piece in accordance with
the type of final disposition. For example, the UAA mail piece may
sort into three different groups depending on the type of final
disposition: return the mail piece to the mailer 410; forward to a
new address; or treat the mail piece as waste. Once sorted, the UAA
mail pieces may then be processed differently depending on their
grouping. For example, if the mail piece is returned to the mailer
410, the mail piece could be mailed to the return address for the
mailer 410. In some example embodiments, the return address may be
retrieved based on the mailer identification that is decoded from
the encoded value. In another embodiment, the UAA processing module
110 transmits actual UAA mail pieces sorted for forwarding to a new
address to the address correction module 112 for address correction
services. The process then moves to block 1217 and ends.
[0136] From block 1208 if the mail piece is not a candidate UAA
mail piece 108 or from block 1212 if the mail piece is not
confirmed to be a UAA mail piece, the process moves to block 1216,
wherein the sorting module 106 sorts the mail piece as a non-UAA
mail piece 120. The sorting module 106 may perform this sort using
the delivery point, which may or may not be derived from the
encoded value. The process then moves to block 1217 and ends.
[0137] FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of a
method 1300 performed by the address correction module 112 in FIG.
10. The method 1300 can be used to generate, transmit, update, and
receive address correction notices in real time or non-real time.
As used herein, address correction notices are not limited to
reports indicating an address correction. Address correction
notices, as used herein, can include but are not limited to reports
that a piece of mail is undeliverable-as-addressed ("Nixie"
report); reports indicating the final disposition of a UAA mail
piece (i.e., forward with address correction, return to sender,
treat as waste and dispose); reports indicating a change of address
has been applied to a UAA mail piece and providing the new address;
and reports indicating an address-corrected mail piece has been
forwarded to the new address. The method 1300 can be used to
provide any single report, or a combination of reports, to a mailer
410. Persons of skill in the art will understand the method 1300 is
not limited to the address correction reports detailed above, but
can be used to furnish any other suitable type of data or
information to a mailer 410 that will assist a mailing service 420
in the provision of acceptance, sorting, tracking, address
correction, forwarding, and delivery services.
[0138] The method 1300 begins at block 1305 in which a mailing
service 420 transmits address correction notices for a first full
service mailing to a mailer 410 at no additional charge. As
described herein, the mailer 410 can include but is not limited to
a mail preparer, a mail owner, or a system for sending mail. Thus,
in one embodiment, the mailer 410 will not be charged an additional
fee for address correction notices over the full service postage
rate already applied to the mail pieces in the first full service
mailing. In one embodiment, the provision of address correction
notices at no additional charge is an incentive offered by the
mailing service 420 to mailers 410 to encourage their use of the
intelligent barcode 10 and compliance with full service
requirements. As described in greater detail above, the sorting
module 106, the UAA processing module 110, the address correction
module 112, and/or the mail forwarding module 114 may transmit data
or reports to the machine-readable medium 122, transmit hardcopy
reports to the mailer 410, or both.
[0139] Moving to a block 1310, the mailer 410 may receive and
analyze address correction information on the first mailing from
the mailing service 420. In some embodiments, for example, block
1310 in FIG. 13 corresponds with block 805 in FIG. 8. In one
embodiment, the mailer 410 may access the data and/or reports at
the machine-readable medium 122 in real time, receive hardcopy data
and/or reports in non-real time, or both. If the mailer 410 updates
its address records with the transmitted address correction
information from the mailing service 420, the method 1300 moves
back to block 1305. At block 1305, the mailing service 420
transmits address correction notices for a second or subsequent
full service mailing to the mailer 410 at no additional charge. In
some embodiments, the mailing service 420 can determine that the
mailer 410 has updated its address records at block 1310 by
tracking whether the mailing service 420 has generated and
transmitted a repeat address correction report to the same mailer
410 for the same address. In other embodiments, the mailing service
420 can determine that the mailer 410 has updated its address
records at block 1310 by analyzing all or a portion of the address
records associated with the mailer 410 in the machine-readable
medium 122.
[0140] If the mailing service 420 determines the mailer 410 has not
updated its address records for the first mailing at block 1310,
the method continues to block 1315. In one embodiment, the mailing
service 420 determines at block 1315 if the second or subsequent
full service mailing from the mailer 410 is First-Class mail. In
one embodiment, the mail service 420 determines the service type of
the mailing based on the encoded value for Service Type in the
intelligent barcode 10 affixed to a mail piece, a handling unit, or
container of the mailing. If the second or subsequent mailing is
First-Class, the method moves back to block 1305. At block 1305,
the mailing service 420 transmits address correction notices for
the second or subsequent full service mailing to the mailer 410 at
no additional charge. In one embodiment, the mailing service 420
will transmit address correction notices at no additional charge
for subsequent full service First-Class mailings, with no limit on
the number or length of time address correction notices will be
provided. In some embodiments, the unlimited provision of address
correction notices for First-Class full service mailings, despite
the mailer's failure to update its address correction records, is a
benefit of using a service type that requires payment of a higher
postage rate than other service types, such as the First-Class
service type.
[0141] If it is determined in block 1315 that the second or
subsequent mailing is not First-Class, the method moves next to
block 1320. In one embodiment, the mailing service 420 determines
at block 1320 if the second or subsequent full service mailing is
Standard Mail or Bound Printed Matter (BPM). In one embodiment, the
mail service 420 determines the service type of the mailing based
on the encoded value for Service Type in the intelligent barcode 10
affixed to a mail piece, a handling unit, or container of the
mailing. If the second or subsequent mailing is Standard Mail or
BPM, the method moves to block 1325.
[0142] At block 1325, the mailing service 420 continues to transmit
address correction notices to the same mailer 410 for the same
address at no additional charge for a period of time. In one
embodiment, the provision of address correction notices at no
additional charge continues for 30 days. Method 1300 then continues
to block 1330, described in greater detail below.
[0143] If it is determined in block 1320 that the second or
subsequent mailing is not Standard Mail or BPM, the method
continues to block 1335. In one embodiment, the mailing service 420
determines at block 1335 if the second or subsequent full service
mailing is Periodicals or Full Service Mailers. In one embodiment,
the mail service 420 determines the service type of the mailing
based on the encoded value for Service Type in the intelligent
barcode 10 affixed to a mail piece, a handling unit, or container
of the mailing. If the second or subsequent mailing is not
Periodicals or Full Service mailers, the method moves to block
1340, described in greater detail below. If the second or
subsequent mailing is Periodicals or Full Service Mailers, the
method moves to block 1345. At block 1345, the mailing service 420
continues to transmit address correction notices to the same mailer
410 for the same address at no additional charge for a period of
time. In one embodiment, the provision of address correction
notices at no additional charge continues for 60 days.
[0144] Next at block 1350, the mailing service 420 determines if
the mailer 410 has updated its address records based on the
transmission of address correction records by the mailing service
420. In one embodiment, the mailing service 420 determines if the
mailer 410 has updated its address records within 60 calendar days
of transmission of the first address correction report for a given
address. If the mailer 410 has updated its address records using
address correction reports provided by the mailing service 420, the
method continues to block 1305.
[0145] Next at block 1305, the mailing service 420 transmits
address correction notices for a third or subsequent full service
mailing to the mailer 410 at no additional charge. In some
embodiments, the mailing service 420 can determine that the mailer
410 has updated its address records at block 1350 by tracking
whether the mailing service 420 has generated and transmitted a
repeat address correction report to the same mailer 410 for the
same address more than 60 calendar days after the transmission of
the first address correction report for that address. In other
embodiments, the mailing service 420 can determine that the mailer
410 has updated its address records at block 1350 by analyzing all
or a portion of the address records associated with the mailer 410
in the machine-readable medium 122 on the 61st day after the
transmission of the first address correction report to the mailer
410 for a particular address.
[0146] If it is determined in block 1350 that the mailer 410 has
not updated its address records using address correction reports
provided by the mailing service 420, the process moves to block
1340 wherein the mailing service 420 transmits address correction
reports for the same address in subsequent full service mailings at
an additional charge to the mailer 410. Method 1300 then continues
to block 1355, discussed in greater detail below with reference to
FIG. 14.
[0147] Referring again to block 1330, the mailing service 420
determines if the mailer 410 has updated its address records based
on the transmission of address correction records by the mailing
service 420. In one embodiment, the mailing service 420 determines
if the mailer 410 has updated its address records within 30
calendar days of transmission of the first address correction
report for a given address. If the mailer 410 has updated its
address records using address correction reports provided by the
mailing service 420, the method continues to block 1305.
[0148] Next at block 1305, the mailing service 420 transmits
address correction notices for a third or subsequent full service
mailing to the mailer 410 at no additional charge. In some
embodiments, the mailing service 420 can determine that the mailer
410 has updated its address records at block 1330 by tracking
whether the mailing service 420 has generated and transmitted a
repeat address correction report to the same mailer 410 for the
same address more than 30 calendar days after the transmission of
the first address correction report for that address. In other
embodiments, the mailing service can determine that the mailer 410
has updated its address records at block 1330 by analyzing all or a
portion of the address records associated with the mailer 410 in
the machine-readable medium 122 on the 31st day after the
transmission of the first address correction report to the mailer
410 for a particular address.
[0149] If it is determined in block 1330 that the mailer 410 has
not updated its address records using address correction reports
provided by the mailing service 420, the process moves to block
1340 wherein the mailing service 420 transmits address correction
reports for the same address in subsequent full service mailings at
an additional charge to the mailer 410. Method 1300 then continues
to block 1355, discussed in greater detail below with reference to
FIG. 14.
[0150] Referring again to block 1335, if the mailing service 420
determines the second or subsequent full service mailing is not
Periodicals or Full Service Mailers, the process moves to block
1340 wherein the mailing service 420 transmits address correction
reports for the same address in subsequent full service mailings at
an additional charge to the mailer 410. Method 1300 then continues
to block 1355, discussed with reference to FIG. 14.
[0151] FIG. 14 is a continuation of the flowchart in FIG. 13
illustrating an embodiment of a method 1300 performed by the
address correction module 112 in FIG. 10. The method 1300 continues
at block 1355 in which the mailing service 420 determines
applicable additional charges for address correction services, such
as those described above with reference to FIG. 13. Moving to a
block 1360, the mailing service 420 determines the payment account
of the mailer 410 who prepared the mailing incurring additional
charges. In one embodiment, the mailing service 420 determines the
payment account by reference to a permit number. The permit number
can be a unique number assigned, for example, to the mailer 410 as
a condition of using the mailing service or a prerequisite for
inducting full service mailings into the mail stream. In one
embodiment, the mailing service 420 determines the permit number
based on the Subscriber/Mailer ID identified in the intelligent
barcode 10 affixed to mail pieces in the mailing, or to handling
units or containers in the mailing.
[0152] Next at block 1365, the mailing service 420 applies the
applicable additional charges determined at block 1355 to the
payment account associated with the permit number or other unique
identifier determined at block 1360. Moving to block 1370, the
permit holder associated with the permit number, including but not
limited to the mailer 410, accesses its payment account and pays
the additional charges for address correction services on its
mailing. The permit holder may be the mail preparer, the mail
owner, or a system for sending mail as described in greater detail
above.
[0153] Next at block 1375, the mailing service 420 tracks the
number of address correction notices and additional charges
associated with a particular payment account and/or permit holder.
Moving next to block 1380, the mailing service 420 generates and
transmits a report tracking the number of address correction
notices charged to the payment account and/or permit holder
associated with the account. The report can be, for example, a
metrics report providing data or information on the additional
charges incurred. Such data or information can include, but is not
limited to, information identifying the mailing that incurred
additional charges, the number of mail pieces in the mailing that
incurred additional charges, the reason additional charges were
applied, the number of repeat address correction reports that have
been transmitted for a particular address on a mail piece in the
mailing, actual time between transmission of an address correction
report and correction of the mailer's address records, and average
time between transmission of an address correction report and
correction of the mailer's address records. In one embodiment, the
report includes data or information that reflects or affects
payments and/or fees to be paid by the mailer 410.
[0154] Next at block 1385, the permit holder, such as but not
limited to the mailer 410, accesses the metrics or other report
associated with its payment account and receives information on the
quality of its mailings. Persons of skill in the art will
understand that the operations described with reference to blocks
1375, 1380, and 1385 can occur in real-time with the use of the
machine-readable medium 122. Thus, the mailing service 420 can
offer sorting, tracking, address correction, and mail forwarding
services to the mailer 410, while also allowing the mailer 410
real-time visibility into the services being provided and real-time
feedback on the quality of its mailings. Those of skill in the art
will understand the method 1300 is not limited to the provision of
address correction services and address correction notices, but can
include any service or notice that will assist a mailing service
420 in the provision of acceptance, sorting, tracking, address
correction, forwarding, and delivery services.
[0155] Persons of skill in the art will also understand that the
systems and methods described herein are not limited to those using
the intelligent barcode 10. The systems and methods can use any
encoded value or numerical representation that offers a sufficient
data payload to support one or more mailing services.
[0156] A detailed block diagram of an example computer environment,
according to some embodiments, is now described. In particular,
FIG. 15 illustrates a computer that may be used for processing of
UAA mail pieces, according to some example embodiments. In some
example embodiments, the computer system 1500 may be representative
of parts of the mail processing module 124, the sorting module 106,
or the UAA processing module 110.
[0157] As illustrated in FIG. 15, the computer system 1500
comprises a processor(s) 1502. The computer system 1500 also
includes a memory unit 1530, a processor bus 1522, and an
Input/Output controller hub (ICH) 1524. The processor(s) 1502, the
memory unit 1530, and the ICH 1524 are coupled to the processor bus
1522. The processor(s) 1502 may comprise any suitable processor
architecture. The computer system 1500 may comprise one, two,
three, or more processors, any of which may execute a set of
instructions in accordance with embodiments of the development.
[0158] The memory unit 1530 may store data and/or instructions, and
may comprise any suitable memory, such as a dynamic random access
memory (DRAM). The computer system 1500 also includes an IDE
drive(s) 1508 and/or other suitable storage devices. A graphics
controller 1504 controls the display of information on a display
device 1506, according to some embodiments of the development.
[0159] The input/output controller hub (ICH) 1524 provides an
interface to I/O devices or peripheral components for the computer
system 1500. The ICH 1524 may comprise any suitable interface
controller to provide for any suitable communication link to the
processor(s) 1502, the memory unit 1530, and/or to any suitable
device or component in communication with the ICH 1524. In one
embodiment of the development, the ICH 1524 provides suitable
arbitration and buffering for each interface.
[0160] For some embodiments of the development, the ICH 1524
provides an interface to one or more suitable integrated drive
electronics (DE) drives 1508, such as a hard disk drive (HDD) or
compact disc read only memory (CD ROM) drive, or to suitable
universal serial bus (USB) devices through one or more USB ports
1510. For one embodiment, the ICH 1524 also provides an interface
to a microphone 1511, a keyboard 1512, a mouse or buttons 1514, a
CD-ROM drive 1518 (not illustrated), and one or more suitable
devices through one or more Firewire ports (not illustrated). For
one embodiment of the development, the ICH 1524 also provides a
network interface 1520 though which the computer system 1500 can
communicate with other computers and/or devices.
[0161] In some embodiments, the computer system 1500 includes a
machine readable medium that stores a set of instructions (e.g.,
software) embodying any one, or all, of the methodologies described
herein. Furthermore, software may reside, completely or at least
partially, within the memory unit 1530 and/or within the
processor(s) 1502.
[0162] In view of the above, one will appreciate that the
development overcomes the problem of accepting, sorting, tracking,
forwarding, delivering, and correcting addresses of mail pieces in
an efficient, cost-effective manner. For example, embodiments
provide reduced mailing costs for mailers, reduced processing costs
for mailing services, greater visibility into the mail stream for
mailers, and a greater number of mail pieces reaching their
intended destination.
[0163] Those of skill will recognize that the various illustrative
logical blocks, modules, circuits, and algorithm steps described in
connection with the embodiments disclosed herein may be implemented
as electronic hardware, software stored on a computer readable
medium and executable by a processor, or combinations of both. To
clearly illustrate this interchangeability of hardware and
software, various illustrative components, blocks, modules,
circuits, and steps have been described above generally in terms of
their functionality. Whether such functionality is implemented as
hardware or software depends upon the particular application and
design constraints imposed on the overall system. Skilled artisans
may implement the described functionality in varying ways for each
particular application, but such implementation decisions should
not be interpreted as causing a departure from the scope of the
present invention.
[0164] The various illustrative logical blocks, modules, and
circuits described in connection with the embodiments disclosed
herein may be implemented or performed with a general purpose
processor, a digital signal processor (DSP), an application
specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmable gate array
(FPGA) or other programmable logic device, discrete gate or
transistor logic, discrete hardware components, or any combination
thereof designed to perform the functions described herein. A
general purpose processor may be a microprocessor, but in the
alternative, the processor may be any conventional processor,
controller, microcontroller, or state machine. A processor may also
be implemented as a combination of computing devices, e.g., a
combination of a DSP and a microprocessor, a plurality of
microprocessors, one or more microprocessors in conjunction with a
DSP core, or any other such configuration.
[0165] The steps of a method or algorithm described in connection
with the embodiments disclosed herein may be embodied directly in
hardware, in a software module executed by a processor, or in a
combination of the two. A software module may reside in RAM memory,
flash memory, ROM memory, EPROM memory, EEPROM memory, registers,
hard disk, a removable disk, a CD-ROM, or any other form of storage
medium known in the art. An exemplary storage medium is coupled to
the processor such the processor can read information from, and
write information to, the storage medium. In the alternative, the
storage medium may be integral to the processor. The processor and
the storage medium may reside in an ASIC.
Applications Using the Intelligent Barcode
[0166] Embodiments of the intelligent barcode 10 described herein
can be integrated into and improve various applications, systems,
and services offered by the mailing service 420 and use of those
systems by the mailer 410. In one embodiment, for example, the
intelligent barcode 10 is used to validate systems designed to help
mailers 410 identify inaccurate or incomplete addresses. Such
systems include, but are not limited to, the "DPV.RTM. System"
provided by the United States Postal Service. The DPV System
according to one embodiment assists mailers 410 in obtaining
accurate delivery address information and facilitates
identification of erroneous addresses contained in mailer address
files. Mailer use of DPV, and in particular use of the intelligent
barcode 10 to validate the DPV System, can help to reduce the
number of UAA pieces, which can in turn result in more efficient
mail processing and delivery operations. In another embodiment, the
intelligent barcode 10 is used to validate or confirm the quality
of sorting services performed by the mailer 410. Thus, in one
embodiment the intelligent barcode 10 is used to determine if the
mailer 410 applied the finest depth of sort to mail pieces in a
mailing, such as, for example, an 11-digit sort depth. In another
embodiment, the mailing service 420 provides sorting validation
and/or confirmation reports to the mailer 410.
[0167] In yet another embodiment where the mailing service 420
processes a mail piece with an automated processing system, the
intelligent barcode 10 can be used to determine, for example, the
length of time since a change of address form was sent to the
mailing service 420, which can in turn be used to assess the
accuracy of a particular mailer 410's sorting services and address
information. One example of an automated processing system that can
be improved using the intelligent barcode 10 is a mail redirection
system, such as but not limited to the Postal Automated Redirection
System, or "PARS," provided by the United States Postal Service.
According to one embodiment, using the intelligent barcode 10 in
PARS can improve the mailing service's performance by allowing the
mailing service 420 to more quickly and accurately intercept and
reroute forwardable mail during processing of that mail. In another
embodiment, using the intelligent barcode 10 in PARS significantly
reduces the time it takes forwardable mail pieces to get to a new
address.
[0168] The intelligent barcode 10 can also be used to identify mail
pieces that remain in the processing systems of the mailing service
420 for extended periods of time, also known as "loop" mail. The
intelligent barcode 10 can also be used to resolve operational
problems that may have led to extended processing times. In one
embodiment, for example, the intelligent barcode 10 is used to
identify mail pieces that have been processed multiple times on
mail processing equipment, have been or are being processed for an
extended time on mail processing equipment, and/or have extended
counts on mail processing equipment. For example, the sorting
module 108, the UAA processing module 110, the address correction
module 112, and/or the mail forwarding module 114 described with
reference to FIG. 10 can determine that a mail piece with a
specific intelligent barcode 10 has been processed multiple times
or has been processed for an extended time on mail processing
equipment. In another embodiment, identification of "loop" mail
using the intelligent barcode 10 allows the mailing service 420 to
investigate and resolve operational problems in the mail processing
system.
[0169] In yet another embodiment, the intelligent barcode 10 is
used to identify forwarding or return instructions on labels. One
example of labels containing forwarding or return instructions are
yellow labels applied to mail pieces by forwarding operations and
systems of the United States Postal Service. In still another
embodiment, the intelligent barcode 10 is used to program mail
processing equipment to identify the intelligent barcode 10 on a
mail piece and use the intelligent barcode 10 for sorting when
multiple barcodes are used on the mail piece. In yet a further
embodiment, these additional identification capabilities minimize
the amount of "loop" mail in the mail processing system.
[0170] The intelligent barcode 10 according to embodiments
described herein can also be used to determine which operation or
plant or processing station of the mailing service 420 processed a
particular mail piece, as well as which optical character reader
(OCR) or barcode sorter at the processing station scanned the mail
piece. Such information can be used by the mailing service 420 for
diagnostic purposes and to resolve operational problems with mail
processing equipment.
[0171] In another embodiment, the intelligent barcode 10 is used by
the mailing service 420 to enable additional or extra services. For
example, the mailing service 420 can offer previously unavailable
certified mail services, registered mail services, and return
receipt services for letters and flats as a result of expanded
capabilities and savings associated with use of the intelligent
barcode 10. In one embodiment, the mailing service 420 offers
additional services by expanding the list of available Service Type
IDs the mailers 410 can use in the intelligent barcode 10.
[0172] According to some embodiments, the intelligent barcode 10 is
used to determine what entities, businesses, and/or mailing systems
are sending mail to a resident, or the mail recipient 470. For
example, the intelligent barcode 10 can be used to identify that
one or more mailers 410 are sending or have sent mail pieces to a
particular resident, determine how many pieces are enroute to the
resident, and provide this data to the resident in a notice or
report to the resident. The notice and/or report may be in
electronic or nonelectronic form. In another embodiment, the
mailing service 420 uses intelligent barcode 10 scan data from mail
processing equipment to determine where a mail piece entered the
mail stream, or a "point of entry," and historical service
performance for mail transmitted from one specific point, such as a
point of entry, to another specific point, such as the mail
recipient's address. In yet another embodiment, the intelligent
barcode 10 is used to generate a mail profile that is sent to a
mail recipient 470, outlining what mail pieces are expected to be
or will be delivered to the mail recipient's mail box that day, the
next day, or in the next week, etc. In still another embodiment,
the intelligent barcode 10 is used to develop an industry profile
that informs customers, such as the mail recipient 470, about the
entities that have sent them mail pieces.
[0173] The intelligent barcode 10 can be used for advanced and
expanded tracking and data collection services. According to one
embodiment, for example, the intelligent barcode 10 is used to
track reply pieces by mail processing plant in order to determine
how many reply pieces are being returned to the mailer 410 from a
specific geographic area. In another embodiment, this data is
provided to the mailer 410 to allow it to determine and/or estimate
response rates by geographic region. In yet another embodiment,
return rate data based on geographic region is particularly useful
to mailers 410 who use business reply mail. In still another
embodiment, an eleven-digit delivery routing code in the
intelligent barcode 10 is used by the mailing service 420 to
provide volume and/or geographical data on business reply mail
responses to a particular mailer 410. In yet a further embodiment,
the intelligent barcode 10 is used to determine data, such as but
not limited to date, time, location, serial number or mailing ID,
for time and/or motion studies. The intelligent barcode 10 can also
enable the mailing service 420 to provide data by geographic
unit.
[0174] The intelligent barcode 10 can also be used to improve
financial systems of the mailing service 420. Thus, for example,
the intelligent barcode 10 can be used to automate accounting for
business reply mail (BRM). In one embodiment, the mailing service
420 uses the intelligent barcode 10 and other scan data from mail
processing equipment, including but not limited to a facing
identification mark (FIM), to improve the efficiency of business
reply mail. In another embodiment, the mailing service 420 uses the
intelligent barcode 10 and FIMs to reduce business reply mail false
positives. In yet another embodiment, the mailing service 420 uses
mail processing scan data, including but not limited to a FIM, the
eleven-digit delivery point code in the intelligent barcode 10, and
data on the date and time a mail piece was scanned to calculate
account deductions for BRM activity. In still another embodiment,
the mailing service 420 develops a variation factor based on
identified margins of error and applies the variation factor to the
account deductions and/or BRM activity. In yet a further
embodiment, the mailing service 420 uses the intelligent barcode 10
to enable prepaid First Class Mail or reply mail services.
[0175] In one embodiment, the intelligent barcode 10 is used by the
mailing service 420 to change the service applied to a mail piece
"on the fly," or during the time period in which the mail piece is
being processed. Thus, for example, the mailing service 420 can
offer a service to the mailer 410 that allows the mailer 410 to
upgrade the class of mail of a mail piece from Standard to
Priority, after the mailer 410 has transmitted the mail piece to
the mailing service 420 and before the mail recipient 470 receives
the mail piece. In one embodiment, the mailer 410 instructs the
mailing service 420 to give a mail piece priority handling after
the mail piece has already been transmitted to the mailing service
420. Embodiments of address correction and mail forwarding services
described in greater detail above can be used to offer such an
in-transmit change-of-service system to the mailer 410.
[0176] Embodiments of the intelligent barcode 10 described herein
can be used to allow a mailer 410 to customize premium forwarding
services provided by the mailing service 420. For example, the
mailer 410 can use the intelligent barcode 10 to transmit
forwarding instructions to the mailing service 420 based on a class
or type of mail. In one embodiment, the mailer 410 uses the
intelligent barcode 10 to transmit specific forwarding instructions
to the mailing service 420 for different types or classes of the
mailer's mail, such as but not limited to the mailer's bills, the
mailer's First Class Mail, specific periodicals the mailer
subscribes to, specific catalogs the mailer 410 expects to receive,
and important documents the mailer 410 expects to receive. In
another embodiment, the mailer 410 and/or the mail recipient 470
uses the intelligent barcode 10 to link forwarding instructions to
a specific date the mailer 410 and/or the mail recipient 470
expects to return to an address.
[0177] In another embodiment, the intelligent barcode 10 is used to
identify the share of work performed by mail processing equipment
for a specific type of mail, such as but not limited to flats. In
yet another embodiment, work share information enables the mailing
service 420 to inject mail pieces at a different level of
sortation, or to instruct mailers 410 to sort to a specific pass
level, such as the first pass level.
[0178] The intelligent barcode 10 according to aspects described
herein can serve as a coupon from a mailer 410, or as means for a
customer to place an order. In one embodiment, the mailer 410 uses
the intelligent barcode 10 as a unique identifier for a specific
mail piece, enabling mailers 410 and, for example, participating
vendors, to scan the intelligent barcode 10 on a mail piece as part
of a coupon or advertisement offer. The mailer 410 can scan the
intelligent barcode 10, then apply the coupon, discount, or
advertisement offer, or the mailing service 420 can scan the
intelligent barcode 10 and provide the scan data to the mailer 410,
thereby allowing the mailer 410 to apply the coupon or other offer.
In another embodiment, the mailer 410 identifies that an
intelligent barcode 10 has been scanned, applies a coupon or other
offer to a customer, then "invalidates" the specific scanned
intelligent barcode 10 such that the customer cannot obtain a
second coupon, discount, or offer using the same intelligent
barcode 10. In yet another embodiment, the intelligent barcode 10
can serve as a second barcode on the mail piece to include literal
data, or to enable direct look up or use.
[0179] In one embodiment, the intelligent barcode 10 is used to
capture information and send data to a customer or mailer 410 in
lieu of sending a mail piece to the customer or mailer 410. For
example, in one embodiment, a mail recipient 470 transmits a
business reply mail piece to the mailing service 420 and/or the
mailer 410. The mailing service 420 scans the intelligent barcode
10, and, in one example, the origin confirm information identified
in the intelligent barcode 10. The mailing service 420 then
transmits the scanned data to the mailer 410, in lieu of
transmitting the business reply mail piece to the mailer 410. In
another embodiment, information scanned from the intelligent
barcode 10 is used by the mailing service 420 to determine that the
mailer 410 wishes scan data to be transmitted in lieu of the mail
piece. Identifying the mailer's service request in the intelligent
barcode 10 can initiate mail processing equipment at the mailing
service 420 to perform an image capture and correlating OCR
character read. The mailing service 420 can then provide this
information to the mailer 410 in lieu of the physical mail piece,
saving labor on data entry and in other respects.
[0180] Yet another application of the intelligent barcode 10 as
described herein is detection of environmental hot spots. For
example, chemically sensitive inks or paper can be used as a sensor
and the mailing service 420 can be a reporting unit. In addition,
the intelligent barcode 10 can be used to track deliveries of
emergency drugs, such as but not limited to Cipro or iodine "Lick
this" dots on letters.
[0181] The intelligent barcode 10 can also be used by the mailing
service 420 to provide the mailer 410 with an acceptance scan by a
mail carrier. Thus, for example, in one embodiment the mailer 410
places a mail piece with an intelligent barcode 10 in its mail box
for transmittal to the mailing service 420 and a mail recipient
470. The mail carrier accepts the mail piece from the mail box and
scans the intelligent barcode 10 on the mail piece. The mailing
service 420 then transmits this scan data to the mailer 410,
indicating to the mailer 410 that the mail piece has been accepted
by the mail carrier. Additional scan data can also be provided to
the mailer 410 as the mail piece is scanned at a mail processing
facility and inducted into the mail stream, as described in greater
detail above.
[0182] In addition, the intelligent barcode 10 can be used to sort
mail in a mailer's mail box, or place "special mail" at the top of
a plurality of mail pieces placed in the mailer's mail box by a
mail carrier. In one embodiment, the mailing service 420 offers a
Service Type ID for use in the intelligent barcode 10 to allow the
mailer 410 to request special mail box sorting services. In another
embodiment, the mailing service 420 modifies a delivery point
sequence (DPS) sort plan of an automated mail processing system to
recognize the mail box-sort Service Type ID and sort mail pieces in
a priority sequence. In yet another embodiment, the mailing service
420 trains mail carriers on handling and placement of mail
box-sorted mail pieces in mail boxes.
[0183] Embodiments of the intelligent barcode 10 described herein
can be used for advanced delivery services. In one embodiment, a
mail carrier scans a parcel with an intelligent barcode 10. The
scan initiates a link to a GPS location and/or provides routing
directions to complete the delivery. In another embodiment, the
intelligent barcode 10 is used in conjunction with a scan device
equipped with GPS capability to enable mail carriers to scan an
11-digit delivery point code in the intelligent barcode 10 on a
mail piece or parcel. The scan device provides a GPS XY coordinate,
which is used with geographic information system (GIS) mapping
software to pinpoint delivery addresses using, for example, a
database. This is in contrast to conventional algorithms currently
used in mapping technologies such as Google.TM.Maps and
Mapquest.RTM. that provide coordinates based on street addresses.
In yet another embodiment, the intelligent barcode 10 is used to
replace a fixed MSP point, such as randomize location or a virtual
MSP. The intelligent barcode 10 can also be used to develop an
international monitoring service and product.
[0184] Various embodiments, functions, services, and applications
using the intelligent barcode 10 are described herein. It will be
appreciated that those functions, services, and applications can in
one embodiment be implemented by a system comprising one or more
computer systems and/or databases that receive intelligent barcode
data and other mail processing data from any suitable mail
processing equipment or mail processing system. For example,
embodiments of the intelligent barcode services and applications
described herein can be implemented using a computer system, such
as the computer system 1500 and/or the processor 1502 illustrated
in FIG. 15.
[0185] While the above detailed description has shown, described,
and pointed out novel features of the development as applied to
various embodiments, it will be understood that various omissions,
substitutions, and changes in the form and details of the device or
process illustrated may be made by those skilled in the art without
departing from the spirit of the invention. As will be recognized,
the development may be embodied within a form that does not provide
all of the features and benefits set forth herein, as some features
may be used or practiced separately from others. The scope of the
invention is indicated by the appended claims rather than by the
foregoing description. All changes which come within the meaning
and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within
their scope.
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