Patent Application
20080027986
The accompanying drawings illustrate presently preferred embodiments of the invention, and together with the general description given above and the detailed description given below, serve to explain the principles of the invention. As shown throughout the drawings, like reference numerals designate like or corresponding parts.
The invention will be fully understood when reference is made to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
A method and system is provided for sorting mail. The method includes the steps of imaging a face surface of the mailpieces to acquire mailpiece delivery information and distributing the mailpiece image to a virtual sorting station. The virtual sorting station is operative to sort each mailpiece image into one of a plurality of database files based upon common mailpiece delivery information. Depending upon the number of virtual sorting stations required to perform the sorting operation, the mailpiece delivery information contained in each database file may be processed by a system controller and/or transmitted to an automated mailpiece sorting device where each mailpiece is physically sorted using automated sorting equipment. The system for sorting mail includes an imaging device, a virtual sorting station for virtually sorting the mailpiece images and an automated sorting station for physically sorting the actual mailpieces. The system may include a plurality of virtual sorting stations wherein operators at each station provide address interpretation data to sort the mailpieces.
The present invention is described in the context of a mailpiece sorting system for a mail delivery system which has certain infrastructure limitations/deficiencies such as multiple language or geographic barriers. It should be appreciated, however, that the hybrid sorting system disclosed herein may be employed in any mail delivery system wherein human knowledge may substitute for or functionally replace the processing power of a computer, computer software or other forms of artificial intelligence.
In the broadest sense of the invention and referring to
More specifically, and referring to a schematic of a mailpiece delivery system shown in
One of the principal features of the mixed mail sorter 14 relates to the use of a clamp assembly 16 operative to secure, transport and sort the mailpieces 10. In addition to its principle mechanical functions, each clamp assembly 16 includes a unique identifying mark 18 to identify the clamp assembly 16 and its associated mailpiece 10. The clamp assembly 16 may include a visible identifying mark or other identifying means, such as embedding an RFID chip in each clamp assembly. As such, the sorting operation may be performed by a combination of requisite information, i.e., electronically scanned information in connection with the mailpiece (e.g., its destination address), together with the identifying mark of the clamp assembly 16. Further, the sorting process may be performed without altering or marking the mailpiece such as via a printed barcode symbology or other identification mark. While a clamp assembly 16 is shown to perform the various escort operations, it should be appreciated that the mixed mail sorter may include any one of a variety of devices for escorting the mailpiece throughout the sorting operation such as conventional pocket sorters currently employed to sort flat mail.
In the described embodiment, the mailpiece 10 is optically scanned using a conventional optical scanner 20, i.e., scanning equipment typically employed on mailpiece sorting apparatus. The scanner obtains an image of the mailpiece 10 to acquire the requisite mailpiece delivery information 10DI printed thereon. Thereafter, each mailpiece 10 may be secured in one of the clamp assemblies 16 of the automated sorting device 14 to await the execution of several intermediate steps, i.e., steps B, C and D of
Notwithstanding the type of mailpiece sorting device employed, the scanned mailpieces or imaged mailpiece file 10ID is electronically distributed to at least one virtual sorting station 30. In the context used herein, a “virtual sorting station or device” includes an electronic apparatus/interface capable of displaying an electronic image of a mailpiece so an operator can sort/view/route mailpiece delivery information. The virtual sorting station may include a video display monitor capable of accepting an inputted interpretation of a user/operator. Another useful distinction relates to an operator's ability to apply knowledge of common mailpiece delivery information to sort the mailpieces into one of a plurality of database files (i.e., by a simple “drag and drop” feature of an input device). Additionally, such virtual sorting station 30 may be compared/contrasted to the “automated mailpiece sorter 14” which may be defined as handling/manipulating the actual mailpiece 10. The automated mailpiece sorter 14, therefore, sorts the actual mailpieces 10 based upon the mailpiece delivery information obtained from the virtual sorting station(s) 30.
While, in the broadest sense of the invention, a single Virtual Sorting (VS) station may be employed, in most common applications of the inventive method, a plurality of Virtual Sorting Stations (VSS's) 30 are utilized. More specifically, and referring to
Inasmuch as each VSS operator has a sphere of knowledge regarding his/her geographic region, a first VSS operator at, for example, VS Station 30A may be responsible for determining whether mailpieces remain in-country or are to be delivered to internationally, i.e., to other countries abroad. For those mailpieces 10MI remaining in-country, another VSS operator at a second VS station 30B may be responsible for determining the city or geographic region where in-country that mailpieces are to be handled/delivered. Upon determining the city, yet other VSS operators at third, fourth and fifth VS stations 30C, 30D, 30E may be responsible to determine the zone, district and/or mailpiece carrier (route) where a mailpiece is to be forwarded.
While in the prior art, operators or mail carriers physically handled each mailpiece 10 to sort the mailpieces for subsequent delivery, the VS stations 30A-30E eliminate the requirement for handling the actual mailpieces (and associated transport from one post office to another) by presenting the VSS operators (not shown) with an image 10MI of the mailpiece and a means to electronically sort each mailpiece by assigning the mailpieces to one of a plurality of database files 40DF (seen in
Referring again to
While the mailpiece data (i.e., delivery information 10MD, clamp identifier 18, etc.), scanned image data 10ID, database files 40DF, and routing data may be controlled by a plurality of individual processors tied or otherwise connected to its associated system element, the method and system for sorting mail 10 contemplates a master system controller 50 to process/manipulate the various electronic files. Specifically, the system controller 50 is operative to store the mailpiece image data 10ID and route the same to the first VSS 30A which, in the described embodiment, virtually sorts the mailpiece images 10MI into domestic or international database files 40DF. Inasmuch as the virtually sorted international mailpieces 10 have no further in-country destinations (and, consequently, no lower tier sort requirements), this database file 40DF may be immediately forwarded to the automated mailpiece sorter 14. As such, these mailpieces 10 may be identified, diverted, sorted and bundled for delivery to an international mailpiece distribution center (not shown). This intermediate step highlights one of the advantages of the inventive hybrid sorting system wherein sorting operations can begin or continue despite the fact that all mailpieces subject to being physically sorted have not been virtually sorted. That is, the system controller 50 can forward database files 40DF for use by the automated mailpiece sorter 14 when a particular database file is fully developed or completed at any time in the virtual sorting process.
As the mailpiece images 10MI are virtually sorted at each of the VSS's 30A-30E, new or additional information is appended to the database files 40DF by the system controller 50. Finally, when the mailpiece images 10MI have been sorted to the lowest tier practicable, the mailpiece delivery information, i.e., contained in the mailpiece data files 40DF, is electronically routed/transmitted by the system controller 50 to the automated mailpiece sorting device 14 (step D in
In step E of
With the actual mailpieces 10 sorted, the mailpieces 10 are transported to a destination proximal to or very near the mailpiece destination address. For example, the mailpieces 10 may be transported directly to local post offices 60 (see
In summary, the present invention handles mailpiece 10 by a combination of physical and virtual sorting operations, i.e., a hybrid sorting system employing both physical and virtual sorting stations 14, 30. By imaging the mailpieces 10 and distributing the electronic mailpiece images 10MI, the mailing operation eliminates the intermediate transportation requirements of the prior art. As such, mailpiece delivery may be expedited by however number of days which was previously required to deliver the mailpieces 10 to the intermediate sorting stations/operations. Therefore, if five (5) sorting operations were previously required, e.g., country→state→county→town→route, and at least four (4) of these sorting operations represented intermediate sorting steps, each requiring the physical delivery of mail 10 to a subsequent sorting station/location, then as many as four (4) delivery steps may be eliminated by the sorting method and system of the present invention. That is, the virtual sorting stations 30 of the present invention can eliminate the four (4) delivery steps by transporting mail between intermediate sorting stations required by the method of the prior art.
Inasmuch as additional mail may be distributed by the inventive method/hybrid sorting system in less time, greater customer satisfaction may be achieved. Further, as the speed of delivery is more competitive with that of private mail distribution carriers, business volume and, accordingly, mailstream revenue may also rise.
Although the invention has been described with respect to a preferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing and various other changes, omissions and deviations in the form and detail thereof may be made without departing from the scope of this invention.
