CA2400391A1 - Method and apparatus for reading post codes of addresses on mail - Google Patents
Method and apparatus for reading post codes of addresses on mail Download PDFInfo
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- CA2400391A1 CA2400391A1 CA002400391A CA2400391A CA2400391A1 CA 2400391 A1 CA2400391 A1 CA 2400391A1 CA 002400391 A CA002400391 A CA 002400391A CA 2400391 A CA2400391 A CA 2400391A CA 2400391 A1 CA2400391 A1 CA 2400391A1
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- addresses
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B07—SEPARATING SOLIDS FROM SOLIDS; SORTING
- B07C—POSTAL SORTING; SORTING INDIVIDUAL ARTICLES, OR BULK MATERIAL FIT TO BE SORTED PIECE-MEAL, e.g. BY PICKING
- B07C3/00—Sorting according to destination
- B07C3/10—Apparatus characterised by the means used for detection ofthe destination
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B07—SEPARATING SOLIDS FROM SOLIDS; SORTING
- B07C—POSTAL SORTING; SORTING INDIVIDUAL ARTICLES, OR BULK MATERIAL FIT TO BE SORTED PIECE-MEAL, e.g. BY PICKING
- B07C3/00—Sorting according to destination
- B07C3/10—Apparatus characterised by the means used for detection ofthe destination
- B07C3/14—Apparatus characterised by the means used for detection ofthe destination using light-responsive detecting means
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06V—IMAGE OR VIDEO RECOGNITION OR UNDERSTANDING
- G06V10/00—Arrangements for image or video recognition or understanding
- G06V10/98—Detection or correction of errors, e.g. by rescanning the pattern or by human intervention; Evaluation of the quality of the acquired patterns
- G06V10/987—Detection or correction of errors, e.g. by rescanning the pattern or by human intervention; Evaluation of the quality of the acquired patterns with the intervention of an operator
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- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Quality & Reliability (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Multimedia (AREA)
- Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
- Character Discrimination (AREA)
- Sorting Of Articles (AREA)
Abstract
The invention relates to a method and a device for reading the postcodes of addresses on mail, said postcode (300) pinpointing the address to a part of a large road or several small roads. After an unsuccessful first read attempt (310), in which addresses could not be read clearly in the OCR unit (130), only the parts of the postcode (300) that roughly identify the addresses are first video-encoded (320) by operators employed for this purpose. The respective encoded result is then fed to the OCR unit (130) for a second read attempt (340), which takes into account the video-encoded result. If the read result of the OCR unit (130) is again unclear, the remaining parts of the postcodes (300) that identify the addresses in more detail are video-encoded (330) by operators employed for this purpose and in order to validate the result are respectively fed to the OCR unit (130) for a third read attempt (350), which takes into account the video-encoded result of the complete postcode (300).
Description
Description Method and apparatus for reading post codes of addresses on mail The invention relates to a method and an apparatus as claimed in the precharacterizing clauses of the independent patent claims.
Systems for automatically reading addresses (OCR) are well known in the field of letter processing and are described, for example, in DE 195 31 392. Modern OCR
letter sorting systems can achieve processing rates of 10 letters per second, that is to say 36 000 letters per hour, or more. However, the identification reliability varies sharply with the type of writing and the overall quality of the address information applied to the surface of the letters. If identified successfully, the relevant letter can be provided with a machine-legible bar code. This bar code allows further machine processing down to any desired sorting level. In particular, the use of bar codes allows the letters to be sorted down to the individual post round sorting level, in which letters are sorted on the basis of the sequence of their distribution by the postman.
Since the identification rates of automatic reading systems vary widely, they must be assisted by various forms of manual intervention.
In this case, the entered address is coded and is converted by means of a directory to a machine-legible sorting bar code, which is applied to the mail item.
In this case video images of the mail items are provided to operators for coding, in video coding systems. This may be done online and offline. In the , CA 02400391 2002-08-20 GR 2000P23783 - la -case of online video coding systems (OVS), the video image is shown to the operator, while the physical mail item is held in delay sections. In these delay sections, the mail item is normally stopped in its movement for a time period which is sufficient for the OVS operator to enter the necessary sorting information for the relevant image. The normal delay sections allow a delay of between 10 and 30 seconds. The longer the delay section, the greater are the costs and the requirements for maintenance, and the physical size of the system.
When using OVS, the available time is frequently sufficient only for one careful input of the post code ( PK) .
In the case of offline coding systems, such as those described in US Patent Specification 49 92 649, mail items with unidentified addresses are provided with additional information, a tracking identification (TID). The unidentified mail items are stored externally, while the images of these mail items are presented to operators for coding, without there being any time restrictions. The mail items are then passed over TID readers. The TID is linked to the entered address information. Based on this, conventional bar code sorting information can also be applied to the mail item, so that the relevant mail item can be processed in the same way as normal OCR-read mail items. Although the offline video coding method represents an effective method for coding all the components of the address, it requires additional capacity for the further processing of mail items which are provided with addresses that have not been read, and demands appropriately complex logistics.
In order to shorten the reading times further, it has been proposed in WO 97/49503 that the image of each complete address information item which has not been identified uniquely within a specific time by means of GR 2000P23783 - 2a-video coding be passed via identified address parts of the OCR unit on for further automatic evaluation, for address interpretation.
This method is used in the case of addresses in which only the destination area is also applied as a legible post code (for example a zip code) on the mail surface.
There are also countries in which other parts of the address are represented in the post code. If this post code then cannot be read automatically in the OCR unit, then, until now, the entire post code has then been video-coded. The input is in this case made using the left hand and the right hand.
The invention as specified in claims 1 and 10 is based on the object of shortening the video coding process for reading a post code, which is not identified uniquely by an OCR unit, in a mail address which identifies the address at least down to the road.
This is achieved by subdividing the post code into a part which describes the address roughly and a remaining part which describes the address. Each part is video-coded by operators provided for this part.
Firstly, after one failed attempt by the OCR unit to read the address, the left-hand part of the post code, which describes the address roughly, is video-coded at appropriate video coding locations and is passed to the OCR unit for a second attempt to read it. If, and only if, this attempt to read it also has a negative result, the remaining right-hand part of the post code is video-coded by operators provided for this purpose, at appropriate video coding locations, and, in addition to the respective image and the first part of the post code, the OCR unit receives the video-coded remaining part of the post code, so that the corresponding image of the respective mail item is evaluated a third time, GR 2000P23783 - 3a-for validation of the post code, in the OCR unit, together with the transmitted, complete, video-coded post code.
The time for video coding of each part of the post code is in this case shorter than if the post code had been video-coded in total by one operator, since each operator has to enter only some of the symbols. This therefore results in a further speeding-up effect since a second reading attempt is carried out with this result in the OCR unit after the video coding of the left-hand part of the post code, which describes the address roughly. If this is successful, the rest of the post code need no longer be video-coded at all.
Advantageous refinements of the invention are described in the dependent claims.
It is advantageous if that part of the post code which describes the address roughly identifies the destination area, and that part of the post code which describes the address in more detail identifies the road, a part of the road in the case of long roads, or a number of small roads.
In a further advantageous embodiment, the video-coded post code elements can be associated with the respective mail items or with their images on the basis of identification numbers.
For this purpose, it is advantageous to apply the identification numbers to the mail items and to read them together with the addresses, in which case it is particularly advantageous to apply the identification numbers such that they are machine-legible, in particular in the form of a bar code.
It is also advantageous to store the recorded images of the mail surfaces under identification numbers.
In order to increase the coding rate, it is advantageous to use a preview coding method in which GR 2000P23783 - 4a -a number of images of a number of mail items that follow one another are displayed on the screen at the same time.
The invention will be explained in more detail in the following text with reference to the drawings of one exemplary embodiment, in which:
Figure 1 shows a schematic illustration of an apparatus for reading post codes, Figure 2 shows the method sequence on the basis of a flowchart .
Figure 1 shows a schematic illustration of a letter distribution system by means of which the method according to the invention can be carried out . The OCR
letter sorter 100 comprises a feed device 110, which draws successive mail items from a magazine and transports them at a rate of about 10 mail items per second to a high-resolution video scanner 120. The mail items are then transported in a delay section 121. The mail items normally have address information on their surface, The address information from the images of the mail items, as obtained by the video scanner 120, is then evaluated in an OCR unit 130. Tf complete evaluation is carried out, a bar code printer 150 is actuated, and the mail item is provided with an appropriate bar code for subsequent sorting into sorting compartments 160. The OCR unit 130 comprises one or more microprocessors 131 with an associated memory 132, in order to store images of the mail items.
The OCR unit also contains an address data bank 134 with post codes, town names and road names, and possibly with other address-related information. During the evaluation of images which have address information, a feature-controlled reduction of the entry obtained from the address databank 134 is carried out, so that a sort of dictionary element is produced.
Credibility levels are in this case allocated in individual entries, so that a number of data items of correctly identified addresses are produced during the GR 2000P23783 - 5a -evaluation process. The apparatus also contains an image controller 170 as well as a number of video coding locations 200, which are connected to the image controller 170 directly or by means of a local area network (LAN) 171. If the OCR evaluation of an image was not, that is to say, completely successful, this image is transferred from the OCR unit 130 to the image controller 170, which firstly controls the TID bar code printer 151 and secondly sends the appropriate image to one of the video coding locations 200. The TID bar code printer 151 applies an identification code TID to the corresponding mail item, which identification code TID makes it possible to subsequently link the evaluated address information with the physical mail item. The images are in this case preferably evaluated offline, although, in principle, online evaluation by means of video coding is also possible, provided the delay time is sufficiently long. In the latter case, the TID may also be applied to the mail items at a later time, that is to say when the video coding has not led to complete evaluation within a specific, predetermined time.
In order to carry out the method as described in more detail in the following text, the image controller 170 is designed such that address information which is not evaluated completely by the video coding process using the results of the video coding process in the OCR unit 130, is supplied to a further automatic address evaluation process.
The recorded and stored image of the respective mail item with the address, containing a post code 300 which identifies the destination area and the road, the part of a road in the case of long roads or a number of small roads, is supplied to the OCR unit 130 for a first automatic reading attempt. This post code 300 is in this example a six-character code in canonic form with a sequential character sequence ANA NAN, where A
is a letter (alphabetic character) and N is a number The specific embodiment of the post code is, of course, not restricted to this example.
If the address can be read uniquely in the OCR unit 130 in the first reading attempt 310, the identification task is complete. If not, the image together with the post code 300 is transferred to a video coding location 200 for video coding of the left-hand ANA part, which characterizes the destination area, at which video coding location 200 an operator for the left-hand post code parts video-codes 320 the left-hand ANA part. To do this, the left-hand part of the post code can be especially identified on the screen at the video coding location 200 for example by a colored background or by a boundary, as shown in Figure 2. The coding result is then transferred to the OCR unit 130 in order to carry out a second reading attempt 340 with the coded ANA
part, in which the search area in the address databank is restricted to the NAN part, since the ANA part has been video-coded. If the post code and the address can be read uniquely, then the identification process is complete. If this is not the case, the image together with the post code is transferred to a video coding location 200 for video coding of the right-hand NAN
part, which characterizes the roads, at which video coding location 200 a responsible operator video-codes 330 the right-hand NAN part. In this case as well, that part of the post code which is to be coded is advantageously identified on the screen. The result of the video coding process is then transferred to the OCR
unit 130 for a third reading attempt 350. Since this reading attempt 350 is now carried out with the entire entered post code, the object of the OCR unit 130 in this case is to compare the post code with the content of the address databank, and possibly with the other address parts that have been read, and to validate whether the post code 300 has been entered correctly.
GR 2000P23783 - 7a -By splitting the post code 300 into two parts, which are video-coded separately, and by the linking with the OCR
reading process, this results in the following advantages:
1. The shorter sequence of characters to be coded for an operator (video coding location) results in a very much lower error rate and makes the preview coding process simpler, during which the address images of a number of mail items following one another are displayed at the same time.
Systems for automatically reading addresses (OCR) are well known in the field of letter processing and are described, for example, in DE 195 31 392. Modern OCR
letter sorting systems can achieve processing rates of 10 letters per second, that is to say 36 000 letters per hour, or more. However, the identification reliability varies sharply with the type of writing and the overall quality of the address information applied to the surface of the letters. If identified successfully, the relevant letter can be provided with a machine-legible bar code. This bar code allows further machine processing down to any desired sorting level. In particular, the use of bar codes allows the letters to be sorted down to the individual post round sorting level, in which letters are sorted on the basis of the sequence of their distribution by the postman.
Since the identification rates of automatic reading systems vary widely, they must be assisted by various forms of manual intervention.
In this case, the entered address is coded and is converted by means of a directory to a machine-legible sorting bar code, which is applied to the mail item.
In this case video images of the mail items are provided to operators for coding, in video coding systems. This may be done online and offline. In the , CA 02400391 2002-08-20 GR 2000P23783 - la -case of online video coding systems (OVS), the video image is shown to the operator, while the physical mail item is held in delay sections. In these delay sections, the mail item is normally stopped in its movement for a time period which is sufficient for the OVS operator to enter the necessary sorting information for the relevant image. The normal delay sections allow a delay of between 10 and 30 seconds. The longer the delay section, the greater are the costs and the requirements for maintenance, and the physical size of the system.
When using OVS, the available time is frequently sufficient only for one careful input of the post code ( PK) .
In the case of offline coding systems, such as those described in US Patent Specification 49 92 649, mail items with unidentified addresses are provided with additional information, a tracking identification (TID). The unidentified mail items are stored externally, while the images of these mail items are presented to operators for coding, without there being any time restrictions. The mail items are then passed over TID readers. The TID is linked to the entered address information. Based on this, conventional bar code sorting information can also be applied to the mail item, so that the relevant mail item can be processed in the same way as normal OCR-read mail items. Although the offline video coding method represents an effective method for coding all the components of the address, it requires additional capacity for the further processing of mail items which are provided with addresses that have not been read, and demands appropriately complex logistics.
In order to shorten the reading times further, it has been proposed in WO 97/49503 that the image of each complete address information item which has not been identified uniquely within a specific time by means of GR 2000P23783 - 2a-video coding be passed via identified address parts of the OCR unit on for further automatic evaluation, for address interpretation.
This method is used in the case of addresses in which only the destination area is also applied as a legible post code (for example a zip code) on the mail surface.
There are also countries in which other parts of the address are represented in the post code. If this post code then cannot be read automatically in the OCR unit, then, until now, the entire post code has then been video-coded. The input is in this case made using the left hand and the right hand.
The invention as specified in claims 1 and 10 is based on the object of shortening the video coding process for reading a post code, which is not identified uniquely by an OCR unit, in a mail address which identifies the address at least down to the road.
This is achieved by subdividing the post code into a part which describes the address roughly and a remaining part which describes the address. Each part is video-coded by operators provided for this part.
Firstly, after one failed attempt by the OCR unit to read the address, the left-hand part of the post code, which describes the address roughly, is video-coded at appropriate video coding locations and is passed to the OCR unit for a second attempt to read it. If, and only if, this attempt to read it also has a negative result, the remaining right-hand part of the post code is video-coded by operators provided for this purpose, at appropriate video coding locations, and, in addition to the respective image and the first part of the post code, the OCR unit receives the video-coded remaining part of the post code, so that the corresponding image of the respective mail item is evaluated a third time, GR 2000P23783 - 3a-for validation of the post code, in the OCR unit, together with the transmitted, complete, video-coded post code.
The time for video coding of each part of the post code is in this case shorter than if the post code had been video-coded in total by one operator, since each operator has to enter only some of the symbols. This therefore results in a further speeding-up effect since a second reading attempt is carried out with this result in the OCR unit after the video coding of the left-hand part of the post code, which describes the address roughly. If this is successful, the rest of the post code need no longer be video-coded at all.
Advantageous refinements of the invention are described in the dependent claims.
It is advantageous if that part of the post code which describes the address roughly identifies the destination area, and that part of the post code which describes the address in more detail identifies the road, a part of the road in the case of long roads, or a number of small roads.
In a further advantageous embodiment, the video-coded post code elements can be associated with the respective mail items or with their images on the basis of identification numbers.
For this purpose, it is advantageous to apply the identification numbers to the mail items and to read them together with the addresses, in which case it is particularly advantageous to apply the identification numbers such that they are machine-legible, in particular in the form of a bar code.
It is also advantageous to store the recorded images of the mail surfaces under identification numbers.
In order to increase the coding rate, it is advantageous to use a preview coding method in which GR 2000P23783 - 4a -a number of images of a number of mail items that follow one another are displayed on the screen at the same time.
The invention will be explained in more detail in the following text with reference to the drawings of one exemplary embodiment, in which:
Figure 1 shows a schematic illustration of an apparatus for reading post codes, Figure 2 shows the method sequence on the basis of a flowchart .
Figure 1 shows a schematic illustration of a letter distribution system by means of which the method according to the invention can be carried out . The OCR
letter sorter 100 comprises a feed device 110, which draws successive mail items from a magazine and transports them at a rate of about 10 mail items per second to a high-resolution video scanner 120. The mail items are then transported in a delay section 121. The mail items normally have address information on their surface, The address information from the images of the mail items, as obtained by the video scanner 120, is then evaluated in an OCR unit 130. Tf complete evaluation is carried out, a bar code printer 150 is actuated, and the mail item is provided with an appropriate bar code for subsequent sorting into sorting compartments 160. The OCR unit 130 comprises one or more microprocessors 131 with an associated memory 132, in order to store images of the mail items.
The OCR unit also contains an address data bank 134 with post codes, town names and road names, and possibly with other address-related information. During the evaluation of images which have address information, a feature-controlled reduction of the entry obtained from the address databank 134 is carried out, so that a sort of dictionary element is produced.
Credibility levels are in this case allocated in individual entries, so that a number of data items of correctly identified addresses are produced during the GR 2000P23783 - 5a -evaluation process. The apparatus also contains an image controller 170 as well as a number of video coding locations 200, which are connected to the image controller 170 directly or by means of a local area network (LAN) 171. If the OCR evaluation of an image was not, that is to say, completely successful, this image is transferred from the OCR unit 130 to the image controller 170, which firstly controls the TID bar code printer 151 and secondly sends the appropriate image to one of the video coding locations 200. The TID bar code printer 151 applies an identification code TID to the corresponding mail item, which identification code TID makes it possible to subsequently link the evaluated address information with the physical mail item. The images are in this case preferably evaluated offline, although, in principle, online evaluation by means of video coding is also possible, provided the delay time is sufficiently long. In the latter case, the TID may also be applied to the mail items at a later time, that is to say when the video coding has not led to complete evaluation within a specific, predetermined time.
In order to carry out the method as described in more detail in the following text, the image controller 170 is designed such that address information which is not evaluated completely by the video coding process using the results of the video coding process in the OCR unit 130, is supplied to a further automatic address evaluation process.
The recorded and stored image of the respective mail item with the address, containing a post code 300 which identifies the destination area and the road, the part of a road in the case of long roads or a number of small roads, is supplied to the OCR unit 130 for a first automatic reading attempt. This post code 300 is in this example a six-character code in canonic form with a sequential character sequence ANA NAN, where A
is a letter (alphabetic character) and N is a number The specific embodiment of the post code is, of course, not restricted to this example.
If the address can be read uniquely in the OCR unit 130 in the first reading attempt 310, the identification task is complete. If not, the image together with the post code 300 is transferred to a video coding location 200 for video coding of the left-hand ANA part, which characterizes the destination area, at which video coding location 200 an operator for the left-hand post code parts video-codes 320 the left-hand ANA part. To do this, the left-hand part of the post code can be especially identified on the screen at the video coding location 200 for example by a colored background or by a boundary, as shown in Figure 2. The coding result is then transferred to the OCR unit 130 in order to carry out a second reading attempt 340 with the coded ANA
part, in which the search area in the address databank is restricted to the NAN part, since the ANA part has been video-coded. If the post code and the address can be read uniquely, then the identification process is complete. If this is not the case, the image together with the post code is transferred to a video coding location 200 for video coding of the right-hand NAN
part, which characterizes the roads, at which video coding location 200 a responsible operator video-codes 330 the right-hand NAN part. In this case as well, that part of the post code which is to be coded is advantageously identified on the screen. The result of the video coding process is then transferred to the OCR
unit 130 for a third reading attempt 350. Since this reading attempt 350 is now carried out with the entire entered post code, the object of the OCR unit 130 in this case is to compare the post code with the content of the address databank, and possibly with the other address parts that have been read, and to validate whether the post code 300 has been entered correctly.
GR 2000P23783 - 7a -By splitting the post code 300 into two parts, which are video-coded separately, and by the linking with the OCR
reading process, this results in the following advantages:
1. The shorter sequence of characters to be coded for an operator (video coding location) results in a very much lower error rate and makes the preview coding process simpler, during which the address images of a number of mail items following one another are displayed at the same time.
2. The training time required for entering the characters in the preview mode is greatly reduced.
3. The OCR repetition attempt after the coding of the ANA part of the post code makes it possible to improve the reading process without destroying the operator's coding rhythm.
Claims (10)
1. A method for reading post codes of addresses on mail, in which the images of the mail surfaces which have the addresses are recorded, stored and supplied to an OCR unit (130) for identification of the addresses and generation of appropriate address codes, in which, if OCR unit (130) reading results are not unique, the relevant images are video-coded at at least one video coding location (200), and in which the post code (300) identifies the address down to a part of a relatively long road or to a number of small roads, in which - if it has not been possible to uniquely read addresses in the OCR unit (130) in a first reading attempt (310), the corresponding images of the mail surfaces with these addresses are transferred first of all to video coding locations (200) where only those parts of the post codes (300) which describe the addresses roughly are video-coded (320) by operators which are provided for this purpose, and the respective coding result is then supplied to the OCR unit (130) for a second reading attempt, including the video coding result, - and, if an OCR unit (130) reading result is once again not unique, the images of the mail surfaces with the corresponding addresses are transferred to further video coding locations (200), where the rest of the post code (300) which describes the addresses in more detail, is video-coded (330) by operators which are provided for this purpose, and is supplied to the OCR
unit (130) in each case, for a third reading attempt (350) including the video coding result of the complete post code (300), for validation of the result.
unit (130) in each case, for a third reading attempt (350) including the video coding result of the complete post code (300), for validation of the result.
2. The method as claimed in claim 1, with that part of the post code (300) which describes the address roughly indicating the destination area.
3. The method as claimed in claim 1, with that part of the post code (300) which describes the address in more detail identifying the road, a part of the road in the case of long roads, or a number of small roads.
4. The method as claimed in claim 1, with the video-coded post code elements being associated with the respective mail items or images on the basis of identification numbers, and being joined together to form complete post codes (300).
5. The method as claimed in claim 4, with the identification numbers being applied to the mail items and being read together with the addresses.
6. The method as claimed in claim 4, with the recorded images of the mail surfaces being stored under identification numbers.
7. The method as claimed in claim 5, with the identification numbers being applied as machine-legible codes to the mail items.
8. The method as claimed in claim 7, with the identification numbers being applied as a bar code to the mail items.
9. The method as claimed in claim 1, with a preview coding method being used for the video codings.
10. An apparatus for reading post codes of addresses on mail items using an automatic address reading system, which - has an apparatus for obtaining images of mail items (120) , - 10a -- has an OCR unit (130) for automatic evaluation of the images which have the address information on the mail surfaces, - has video coding locations (200) for video-coding of the images which contain the address information on the mail surfaces, - has an image controller (170) for controlling the data flow between the OCR unit (130) and the video coding locations, in which - if it has not been possible to uniquely read addresses in the OCR unit (130) in a first reading attempt (310), the corresponding images of the mail surfaces with these addresses are transferred first of all to video coding locations (200) where only those parts of the post codes (300) which describe the addresses roughly are video-coded (320) by operators which are provided for this purpose, and the respective coding result is then supplied to the OCR unit (130) for a second reading attempt, including the video coding result, - if an OCR unit (130) reading result is once again not unique, the images of the mail surfaces with the corresponding addresses are transferred to further video coding locations (200), where the rest of the post code (300) which describes the addresses in more detail, is video-coded (330) by operators which are provided for this purpose, and is supplied to the OCR
unit (130) in each case, for a third reading attempt (350) including the video coding result of the complete post code (300), for validation of the result.
unit (130) in each case, for a third reading attempt (350) including the video coding result of the complete post code (300), for validation of the result.
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| DE10064529A DE10064529C1 (en) | 2000-12-22 | 2000-12-22 | Mail address post code reading method has address scanned in parts when full address cannot be clearly read |
| DE10064529.1 | 2000-12-22 | ||
| PCT/DE2001/004813 WO2002052490A1 (en) | 2000-12-22 | 2001-12-20 | Method and device for reading the postcodes of addresses on mail |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2400391A1 true CA2400391A1 (en) | 2002-07-04 |
Family
ID=7668630
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002400391A Abandoned CA2400391A1 (en) | 2000-12-22 | 2001-12-20 | Method and apparatus for reading post codes of addresses on mail |
Country Status (4)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| EP (1) | EP1366461A1 (en) |
| CA (1) | CA2400391A1 (en) |
| DE (1) | DE10064529C1 (en) |
| WO (1) | WO2002052490A1 (en) |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US8973814B2 (en) | 2010-08-16 | 2015-03-10 | Siemens Aktiengesellschaft | Method for the verifiable delivery of an article |
Families Citing this family (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WO2004022253A1 (en) | 2002-09-03 | 2004-03-18 | Siemens Aktiengesellschaft | Method and device for reading the addresses of mailings |
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| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US4992649A (en) * | 1988-09-30 | 1991-02-12 | United States Postal Service | Remote video scanning automated sorting system |
| DE19531392C1 (en) * | 1995-08-26 | 1997-01-23 | Aeg Electrocom Gmbh | Handwritten character graphical representation system |
| JPH0975864A (en) | 1995-09-19 | 1997-03-25 | Toshiba Corp | Coding system and mail processing system |
| DE19624977A1 (en) * | 1996-06-22 | 1998-01-02 | Siemens Ag | Process for processing mail |
| DE19911116C1 (en) | 1999-03-12 | 2000-05-31 | Siemens Ag | Method of sorting sequences of transmissions with two-part addresses |
-
2000
- 2000-12-22 DE DE10064529A patent/DE10064529C1/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
-
2001
- 2001-12-20 EP EP01991650A patent/EP1366461A1/en not_active Ceased
- 2001-12-20 WO PCT/DE2001/004813 patent/WO2002052490A1/en active Application Filing
- 2001-12-20 CA CA002400391A patent/CA2400391A1/en not_active Abandoned
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US8973814B2 (en) | 2010-08-16 | 2015-03-10 | Siemens Aktiengesellschaft | Method for the verifiable delivery of an article |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| EP1366461A1 (en) | 2003-12-03 |
| DE10064529C1 (en) | 2002-01-24 |
| WO2002052490A1 (en) | 2002-07-04 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| EEER | Examination request | ||
| FZDE | Discontinued |