EP2094403A1

EP2094403A1 - Device and method for identifying mail items

Info

Publication number: EP2094403A1
Application number: EP07822128A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Georg Kinnemann; Gisbert Berger
Original assignee: Siemens AG
Current assignee: Siemens AG
Priority date: 2006-11-02
Filing date: 2007-10-31
Publication date: 2009-09-02
Also published as: CA2668381A1; DE102006051777B4; US20100111356A1; US8442266B2; DE102006051777A1; WO2008053024A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (24) for identifying mail items (16, 26-34, 70-74) comprising a memory (40) for storing mail item information of a mail item (16, 26-34, 70-74) and characteristic image features of the mail item (16, 26-34, 70-74) and comprising a control unit (38) for assigning the mail item information to image features that are recorded again. In order that the mail items can still be identified reliably even after a cancellation in print or a forwarding sticker has been applied, it is proposed that the control unit (38) is provided for carrying out the assignment with the aid of an identification code (14, 22, 48, 62-68, 76, 78) associated with the mail item (16, 26-34, 70-74).

Description

description

Apparatus and method for identifying shipments

The invention relates to a device for identifying transmissions with a memory for storing a transmission information of a transmission and of characteristic image features of the transmission, a means for applying an identification code to the transmission and with a control unit for assigning the transmission information to re-recorded image features using of the identification code. In addition, the invention relates to a method for identifying broadcasts, in which characteristic image features of a program are recorded and assigned to the program by comparison with stored characteristic image features of several programs of program information, this association taking place with the aid of an identification code applied to the program.

In consignment sorting systems for letters, parcels, receipts or other items, information about the items to be sorted is collected and assigned to the items so that the items can be sorted from this information. Obtaining such information can be associated with a considerable effort. Thus, it is known in the case of mail sorting installations to pass programs on a camera and to recognize an address on the program on the basis of one or more recordings of the program, so that the program can be sorted according to the address. In this case, the machine reading of the address requires a high-resolution camera and complex data processing, which can be associated with a complex maintenance of databases, for example postal code or address directories. If an address can not be read by machine, it is known to recognize it by means of a video coding method with a high personnel outlay.

In order to obtain the information thus obtained in a later sorting It is known from DE 40 00 603 C2, for example, to print a bar code from a sufficiently large stock of stocks with a code printer, so that the item can be sent at any time and at any place on the mail order sorting system on the basis of the

Barcodes are automatically recognized and linked to the stored in a memory address and can be sorted accordingly.

In order to save a high-speed printer and consumables required for such coding, the development is to realize a recognition of the programs by image processing. For this purpose, it is known to assign a so-called signature to be sorted broadcasts, which includes characteristic image features of the program, such as location, size and color of imprints, orientations of such image features to each other, and so on. For this purpose, shipment information, such as address, franking and the like, are stored together with the signature in a memory. In a later identification run, the characteristic image features of the program are recorded again and compared with the stored signatures. If there is sufficient agreement between the image features and a stored signature, the item can be assigned to the item information associated with the signature in the store. In this way, the shipment can be identified from a set of previously detected shipments, and the shipment information associated with it need not be retrieved again.

From US 2005/0269395 Al a consignment sorting system is known in which the items are identified by means of a printed bar code and in addition the signature of the programs is recorded. If a barcode is not completely readable in an identification, then the signature is used to aid in identifying the programs by means of the signature. EP 0 844 029 B1 mentions ways of making it possible to reduce the size of the barcode on the mailpieces by using the size of the mailing as an additional feature to the barcode for identification.

It is the object of the invention to provide an apparatus and a method for identifying shipments with which the shipments can be reliably identified.

The object directed to the device is achieved by a device of the type mentioned above, in which the control unit according to the invention is provided for selecting the identification code to be applied as a function of a distinctive character of the image features. In addition to a comparison of the characteristic image features recorded in a later identification run with previously recorded characteristic image features, the newly recorded identification code can be compared with the stored identification code. As a result, a very secure identification, that is to say an assignment of the item to be identified to a stored data record for this item, can be achieved.

By selecting the identification code to be applied depending on a distinctive character of the image features, an intelligent assignment of the identification code can be easily achieved. The distinctive character is, for example, a distinctive character between broadcasts, as described below, or between signatures. For example, distinctive signatures can be assigned a small value store with frequent repetition of the identification code, and less distinctive signatures are assigned such identification codes that are seldom awarded. A distinctive feature between signatures may be a vectorial distance between the signatures represented by feature vectors. The invention is based on the consideration that an identification only or predominantly on the basis of the signature, ie the characteristic image features of the shipment, is made more difficult by impressions or stickers applied on the shipment in the meantime, such as a cancellation mark or a forwarding sticker. These additional characters are not contained in the stored signature, but are part of the image features recorded in the later identification run, so that they may possibly deviate considerably from the earlier signature. In such cases, the recognition rate or the identification rate of the consignments can be significantly lower and the error rate significantly higher. The identification code, which is stored assigned to the signature and can be read error-free and uninfluenced by additional characters during the later identification run, can significantly increase the recognition rate and keep the error rate low.

The items can be postal items, such as letters, parcels, parcels or large letters such as catalogs or the like. Likewise, items to be sorted - ie, for example, to be sent to a destination container - can be flat items such as receipts or forms. The characteristic image features may be data obtained from brightness patterns or color patterns of the broadcast, geometric parameters of imprints such as length or shape or mutual arrangement, or the like, with which the broadcast is charac- terizable. These data can be obtained from a captured image according to predetermined parameters. The shipment information may be an address of the shipment and indicate a shipment destination or sort destination. Also possible are weight, franking, stiffness or other parameters of the shipment. The identification code is a mark applied for the purpose of distinguishing the mail item on its surface and may be imprinted, affixed or otherwise attached. The identification code may be a printed character in the form of a matrix, a dot field, numbers or a bar code. It would also be possible to have a printed sticker a magnetic element or an RFID (radio frequency identifier). The connection of the identification code with the item is of a natural nature and can be such that it can be scanned by the item, for example optically, mechanically magnetically or by radiation.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the identification code is so coarse that its possible variations are less than possible variations of the message information. The identification code is not intended here as a substitute for the signature or a known bar code for the sole identification of the shipment, but as a supplement, so that its possible variations, so the size of a stock of values from which the identification code can be selected, is small in relation to all, for example possible addresses or postal codes or other sorting criteria. The identification code can thereby be easily printable and / or easily readable. In addition, it can be compact so that it does not significantly affect the appearance of the broadcast. It is expediently designed so that it alone is not sufficient for shipment identification.

It is also advantageous if the device is provided not only for reading the identification code but also for applying the identification code. For this purpose, the device expediently comprises a means for applying the identification code to the item. The means may be a printer or a means for adhering an object.

An additional printing device can be saved if the means for applying a mailing mark is provided on the shipment. Such a mailing mark may be a debossed imprint or an imprint on a sticker, for example a resend label. Conveniently, the identification code and the shipping mark are applied with the same print head. So can the validated a stamp or when printing the sticker an identification code can be printed next to the stamp or on the sticker, which then supports the signature system when recognizing. In particular, the control unit is for controlling the application of the identification code and the

Shipping label provided in a printing by the agent.

The control unit may comprise one or more arithmetic units, for example one for controlling the application of the identification code and another for associating the item information with the signature using the identification code.

The invention can also be developed advantageously in that the control unit is provided to control the application of an identification code to all individual shipments of a shipment stream. In this way, a shipment without an identification code can be detected without doubt as a double deduction, making it unnecessary to search for its signature in the memory.

When assigning the newly recorded image features to the stored shipment information, the image features that have been taken again are compared with stored image features or signatures. Here, for example, newly recorded with stored characteristics are compared with each other according to a predetermined scheme. For secure identification, the identification code can be used as an additional feature to be compared. For this purpose, the control unit is expediently provided to use the identification code in the assignment as an additional feature to the characteristic image features.

As described above, the identification code expediently comes with a relatively small stock of values, so that the same identification code could be allocated several times in the course of a sorting operation. To be a reliable To ensure identification, it is therefore advantageous to assign the identification code not randomly but intelligently. Advantageously, the control unit is therefore provided for selecting the identification code as a function of a parameter of the image features. For example, an identical identification code is assigned to two such broadcasts that are otherwise as different as possible.

For example, the control unit can be provided for selecting the identification code as a function of a similarity of the parameters of the image characteristics of a plurality of transmissions. In this way, programs that have a similar signature can receive different identification codes and thus be easily distinguished. In front of you

Multiple allocation of a same identification code, the control unit can determine how different the signature of the shipments with the same identification code and the same identification code only again when the difference is above a predetermined value, such as a probability value. If the difference is smaller, a new identification code is taken and the comparison procedure is restarted until an identification code for only different transmissions has been found.

The identification code is advantageously small and inconspicuous in the appearance of the program. To get along with a printer as low as possible resolution, therefore, a coarse identification code is expediently chosen, which - with a limited size - has only a small stock of values. A small stock of inventories may not be sufficient for a reliable distinction if a large number of very similar bulk mailings are to be sorted. This disadvantage can be counteracted if the control unit is provided for selecting a data volume of the identification code as a function of a parameter of the image features. Are, for example, the image features of a plurality of sen- fertilize the same or similar, the control unit can control the allocation of larger identification codes, which are indeed more eye-catching, but form a larger stock of value.

Another possibility for an intelligent allocation of the identification code is that the control unit is provided for selecting the identification code in dependence on the shipment information. Thus, broadcasts with similar address or sort destination, e.g. Sorting containers are assigned a different identification code, so that consignments that are after the sorting process together, e.g. in a container, carry different identification codes. In this way, shipments can be reliably distinguished from a container in a next fine sorting run. If the bin number is added as an additional feature of the signature in this sorting run, all shipments can also be reliably distinguished from several bins.

The object directed to the method is achieved by a method of the type mentioned at the beginning, in which, according to the invention, the assignment of the image features to a mailing information of the mail item takes place with the aid of an identification code associated with the mailing. In addition to the comparison of the characteristic image features, the recorded identification code can be compared with the stored identification code and very secure identification can be achieved.

The invention will be explained in more detail with reference to exemplary embodiments, which are illustrated in the drawings.

Show it:

1 shows a shipment with an identification code next to a cancellation mark, FIG. 2 shows another shipment with an identification code on a forwarding sticker, FIG.

3 shows a device for identifying shipments and

4 shows a stack of bulk mail with identification codes.

1 shows a mailing 2 in the form of a mail item with a window envelope, through whose window 4 an address 6 and a sender address 8 are visible. On the window envelope a stamp 10 is glued, which is canceled by a devaluation print 12. In addition to the cancellation print 12, an identification code 14 is applied consisting of a field of 5x5 square dots, some of which are printed and others are omitted.

FIG. 2 shows a further mail item 16, which is identical to the mail item 2 except for a forwarding label 18, on which a forwarding address 20 and an identification code 22 in the form of a bar code are printed, which replaces the identification code 14.

Both the identification code 14 and the identification code 22 are kept very compact in the embodiment and comprise only relatively few individual elements, so that the value store of all possible identification codes 14, 22 is so small that it does not lead to a sole identification of the transmissions 2, 16 sufficient. For example, the address 6 can not be expressed in the form of the identification codes 14, 22. In addition, both identification codes 14, 22 are made quite coarse, so that they can be readily printed by a printer together with the validation imprint 12 and the forwarding address 20, respectively.

3 shows a device 24 for identifying broadcasts 26, 28, 30, 32, 34 with a camera 36, a control unit. unit 38, a memory 40 and a high-speed printer means 42 for applying identification codes 48, 62, 64, 66, 68 to the mailings 26-34.

During a registration run of the mailings 26-34 by a mail sorting system, of which the device 24 is a part, the mailings 26-34 are guided past the camera 36 and optically scanned by them. The camera 36 sends the sampled data 44 to the control unit 38, which captures image features characteristic of a resultant image of each broadcast 26-34, such as the size and location of the window 4, address 6 and sender address 8 and color and Shape of the stamp 10, as well as the relative position of these elements to each other. From these characteristic image features of the program 26-34, a characteristic vector 46, also called a signature, is obtained by the control unit 38 by means of suitable image processing for each program 26-34, which is characteristic of the respective program 26-34. In addition, the control unit 38 determines the addresses 6 of the individual transmissions 26-34 which are obtained from the image processing. In addition, the control unit 38 determines the nature of the stamps 10 and is given further data, such as weight, stiffness and dimensions of the mailings 26-34. The address 6 and this data are transmitted with the feature vector 46 from the control unit 38 to the memory 40, which is executed in the form of a database.

Furthermore, the control unit 38 determines for each of the transmissions 26-34 an identification code 48, 62-68 which it transmits both to the memory 40 and to the means 42 for applying the identification code 48, 62-68 to which the control unit 38 also sends an invalidation command 50. The mail items 26-34 are now guided past the means 42, which with its print head applies both the cancellation print 12 and the identification code 48, 62-68 to a mail item 26-34 in one printing operation. In this way you can do without an additional printer become. Finally, the programs 26-34 are presorted to a sorting command 52 of the control unit 38.

In a subsequent run, for example, already presorted mailings 26-34 are arranged in a different order and e.g. mixed with other broadcasts. In order to enable a further sorting without a renewed determination of the address 6 and all data 44, the programs 26-34 must again be identified, ie the data stored in the memory 40 and the addresses 6 are to be reassigned. For this purpose, they are guided in an identification run in another part of the device 24 or in another device or in the same part of the device 24 on another camera 54 or again the same camera 36. In FIG. 3 it is another camera 54 in another part of the device 24. The data 56 formed by the camera 54 are fed to a further arithmetic unit 58 of the control unit 38 and processed there. The arithmetic unit 58 may also be a separate control unit.

The control unit 38 determines from the data 56 the feature vector 46 and the identification code 48, 62-68 and compares both with the data stored in the memory 40. In this case, the identification code 48, 62-68 is treated by the control unit 38 as a further feature of the feature vector 46. By this additional feature, the address 6 and the other data can be reliably assigned to the respective program 26-34, even if the stationery in the window envelope and thus the address 6 in the window 4 has slipped and thus the features somewhat different from the originally recorded features and despite the additional validation imprint 12. It is also possible that the identification is done by a routine in the database, which then outputs the address and can be considered part of the control unit 38. From the address 6 and optionally the other data, the control unit 38 determines the further course of action and outputs, for example, a new sorting command 60. The control unit 38 is programmed in such a way that an identification code 48, 62-68 is applied to all individual items 26-34 in the registration run. In this way, a double-peeled broadcast from which no image was taken by the camera 36 can be immediately recognized as such, because it lacks the identification code, or is applied incompletely, for example, when an identification code applied to two overlapping, overlapping broadcasts is.

The identification codes 48, 62-68 for the transmissions 26-34 are intelligently assigned by the control unit 38. Thus, the mailer 30 receives an identification code 62 as a matrix of 4x4 printed or non-printed dots. This mail item 30 has two stamps and has thereby a relatively distinctive signature. The program 26, however, has a little distinctive signature of a mass mailing. It is assigned a spatially larger identification code 64 of 5x5 points in order to be able to reliably distinguish a large number of such letters. The program 28 is slightly shorter than usual and comes with an identification code 66 from a 4x4 matrix. The program 34 is very conspicuous and has a very distinctive signature, so that this program 34 is assigned only a very small and inconspicuous identification code 68 of 2x2 points. Exactly the same identification code 68 is quite often found in the transmission stream of the programs 26-34 and further programs in the device 24. However, due to the high discrimination power of the feature vector 46 of the transmission 34, basically no identification code 68 is required. It is therefore also possible to completely dispense with an identification code in some programs and to equip, for example, programs that are difficult to distinguish with an identification code. The transmitter 32, because of its unusual format, has only a simple identification code 48 consisting of a matrix of 3 × 3 dots. FIG. 4 shows a stack of very similar bulk mailings which, in an isolated form, passes through the camera 36 and passes through the mail sorting system as the mail stream. Each of the programs 70, 72, 74 receives an identification code 76, 78. Finally, the program 74 should also be provided with an identification code, but all available codes have already been allocated from the available stock of values. The control unit 38 intelligently assigns a code to the transmission 74. For this purpose, it selects an already assigned identification code 78 and additionally searches out all the feature vectors 46 of those transmissions 72 which just carry this identification code 78. If there is a program 72 that has a feature vector 46 that is very similar to the feature vector 46 of the program 74 to be labeled, the assignment of this identification code 78 could be

Cause confusion. Thus, the identification code 78 is discarded and a new identification code 76 is selected. Again, the feature vectors 46 of all transmissions 70 carrying this identification code 76 are compared to the feature vector 46 of the transmission 74. If there is no great similarity, the identification code 76 is assigned again and this time to the transmission 74. If no matching identification code 76, 78 is found, then a critical identification code 78 is assigned and all data records of the corresponding programs 72, 74 are provided with a warning marker. This leads to the fact that high identification values for the programs 72, 74 are required in a later identification.

Claims

claims

A device (24) for identifying transmissions (16, 26-34, 70-74) having a memory (40) for storing transmission information of a transmission (16, 26-34, 70-74) and of characteristic image features the transmission (16, 26-34, 70-74), means (42) for applying an identification code (14, 22, 48, 62-68, 76, 78) to the transmission (16, 26-34, 70- 74) and with a control unit (38) for associating the message information to newly recorded image features using the identification code (14, 22, 48, 62-68, 76, 78), characterized in that the control unit (38) for selection the applied identification code (14, 22, 48, 62-68, 76, 78) is provided depending on a distinctive character of the image features.

2. Device (24) according to claim 1, characterized in that the identification code (14, 22, 48, 62-68, 76, 78) is so coarse that its variation possibilities are less than possible variations of the shipment information.

3. Device (24) according to claim 2, characterized in that the means (42) for applying a mailing mark on the mail item (16, 26-34, 70-74) is provided.

A device (24) according to claim 3, characterized in that the control unit (38) controls the application of the identification code (14, 22, 48, 62-68, 76, 78) and the mailing label in a printing operation by the means (14). 42) is provided.

5. Device (24) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control unit (38) is provided for applying an identification code (14, 22, 48, 62-68, 76, 78) to control all individual transmissions (16, 26-34, 70-74) of a broadcast stream.

6. Device (24) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control unit (38) is provided to the identification code (14, 22, 48, 62-68, 76, 78) in the assignment as a to the characteristic Image features additional feature to use.

7. Device (24) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control unit (38) for selecting the identification code (14, 22, 48, 62-68, 76, 78) in dependence of a similarity of the parameters of the image characteristics of several Consignments (16, 26-34, 70-74) is provided.

8. Device (24) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control unit (38) for selecting a data volume of the identification code (14, 22, 48, 62-68, 76, 78) in dependence on a parameter of the image characteristics is provided.

9. Device (24) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control unit (38) for selecting the identification code (14, 22, 48, 62-68, 76, 78) is provided in dependence on the shipment information.

10. A method for identifying broadcasts (16, 26-34, 70-74), in which characteristic image features of a program (16, 26-34, 70-74) are recorded and compared with stored characteristic image characteristics of several programs

(16, 26-34, 70-74) are associated with a broadcast information of the program (16, 26-34, 70-74), this allocation being made by means of a program (16, 26-34, 70-74) Identification codes (14, 22, 48, 62-68, 76, 78), characterized in that the identification code (14, 22, 48, 62-68, 76, 78) prior to application to the mail item (16, 26, 78) 34, 70-74) by a control unit (38) depending of a distinctive character of the image features is selected.