EP0613731A1 - Système d'acheminement du courrier - Google Patents

Système d'acheminement du courrier Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0613731A1
EP0613731A1 EP94200381A EP94200381A EP0613731A1 EP 0613731 A1 EP0613731 A1 EP 0613731A1 EP 94200381 A EP94200381 A EP 94200381A EP 94200381 A EP94200381 A EP 94200381A EP 0613731 A1 EP0613731 A1 EP 0613731A1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
mail
input
routing
items
output system
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP94200381A
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German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Jan Frederik Van Bilzem
Henricus Petrus Martinus Essink
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Koninklijke PTT Nederland NV
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Koninklijke PTT Nederland NV
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Publication date
Application filed by Koninklijke PTT Nederland NV filed Critical Koninklijke PTT Nederland NV
Publication of EP0613731A1 publication Critical patent/EP0613731A1/fr
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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

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a mail routing system comprising an input system (1), a postal transmission system (2) and an output system (3), the input system being provided with input means (4) for inputting items of mail, scanning means (5) for scanning the addressing information, such as postcode and destination address, which is physically present on the items of mail, and converting it into electronic or optical replicas, an identification code generator (6) for assigning identification codes to each input item of mail and corresponding replica, and means (7) for applying to each item of mail such an identification code in machine-readable form, the input system comprising conversion means (8) or being connected thereto, for converting said replicas into machine-readable control codes, and both the input system and the output system being provided with routing means (10) for routing, under the control of such machine-readable control codes, the items of mail to the place of destination.
  • the invention is based on the insight that, for those cases where on the input system side the address data of the items of mail cannot be converted automatically and in a short time into complete control codes (in electronic or optical or alternatively in bar code form) it is sufficient to use an incomplete control code as long as this is capable of driving the first routing step, the routing means of the input system, correctly. If that control code is sufficient to send the item of mail, by means of the routing means of the input system, into the right main direction (to the correct output system), the information which (only after considerable time) is necessary for driving the routing means in the output system, can be sent afterwards or even generated in that output system itself based on the "raw" information (the original addressing information or a replica thereof) which is sent to the output system by the input system.
  • the invention is based on the insight that in the input system as little processing time as possible should be used for generating control codes which only need be used at a later stage, namely in the output system, and which, as sending the item of mail does after all take considerable time, can be generated more effectively during that sending time.
  • a further consideration on which the invention presented below is based is that the present-day transmission techniques of electronic or optical signals make it possible to carry out the operations required for the automatic routing of items of mail, in particular the derivation of machine-processable control codes from the original address information of the items of mail or from electronic or optical replicas thereof, in a time-distributed or location-distributed manner.
  • a further advantage in so doing is that the load on the conversion elements can be distributed more uniformly and flexibly over the various points in the input system and the output system where that conversion is required. It is also possible for conversion, in particular manual conversion of "difficult" postal addresses (for example without postcodes) to be farmed out to "home-workers".
  • the invention therefore comprises a mail routing system comprising an input system (1), a postal transmission system (2) and an output system (3), the input system being provided with input means (4) for inputting items of mail, scanning means (5) for scanning the addressing information, such as postcode and destination address, which is physically present on the items of mail, and converting it into electronic or optical replicas, an identification code generator (6) for assigning identification codes to each input item of mail and corresponding replica, and means (7) for applying to each item of mail such an identification code in machine-readable form, the input system comprising conversion means (8) or being connected thereto, for converting said replicas into machine-readable control codes, and both the input system and the output system being provided with routing means (10) for routing, under the control of such machine-readable control codes, the items of mail to the place of destination, according to the invention the output system comprising a verification element (11) for verifying the machine-readable control codes originating on the input side, for suitability and completeness for controlling the routing means on the destination side, and also conversion means (8) for converting said address
  • the mail routing system preferably comprises transmission means (12) for transmitting said replicas from the input system to the output system, and an output system which likewise comprises conversion means (8) for converting, at least in the case where the machine-readable control codes originating from the input system are missing or are found to be unsuitable for controlling routing means of the output system, such transmitted replicas or a part thereof into machine-readable control codes for controlling said routing means of the output system.
  • the mail routing system is characterized in that said conversion means are formed by a network (13) to which a number of conversion elements (8) of various types are connected, to whose inputs said replicas of the original addressing information present on the items of mail are transmitted via said network, and whose output signals, likewise via the same network, are presented to an interpretation element (14) which derives from the output signals of said various conversion elements the most likely machine-readable control code and emits this to the downstream routing means.
  • said conversion means are formed by a network (13) to which a number of conversion elements (8) of various types are connected, to whose inputs said replicas of the original addressing information present on the items of mail are transmitted via said network, and whose output signals, likewise via the same network, are presented to an interpretation element (14) which derives from the output signals of said various conversion elements the most likely machine-readable control code and emits this to the downstream routing means.
  • both the input systems and the output systems comprise conversion elements - namely, in the input system, for generating the control information for at least the routing means within that input system, and in the output system for generating, where required, supplementary control information for the routing means of the output system - makes it eminently possible for the input system and the output system to be essentially identical and both to comprise said input means, said scanning means, said identification code printer, said conversion means, said interpretation element, said verification element and said routing means.
  • the present invention also supports another mail-processing policy, namely that which involves generating, in the input system, only the most significant part of the control code for all items of mail - the part required for driving the routing means on the input side.
  • another mail-processing policy namely that which involves generating, in the input system, only the most significant part of the control code for all items of mail - the part required for driving the routing means on the input side.
  • That part of the control code which is only used on the output side then has to be converted when the item of mail is en route to the output system defined by the most significant part of the control code.
  • the invention therefore comprises a mail routing system as indicated in the preamble, which is characterized in that the input system (1) comprises conversion means (8), or is connected thereto, for converting said replicas into machine-readable control codes for exclusively driving the routing means (10) in said input system, while the output system (3) likewise comprises conversion means (8), or is connected thereto, for converting the addressing information physically present on the items of mail, or converting a replica thereof into machine-readable control codes for controlling the routing means (10) of the output system.
  • the input system (1) comprises conversion means (8), or is connected thereto, for converting said replicas into machine-readable control codes for exclusively driving the routing means (10) in said input system
  • the output system (3) likewise comprises conversion means (8), or is connected thereto, for converting the addressing information physically present on the items of mail, or converting a replica thereof into machine-readable control codes for controlling the routing means (10) of the output system.
  • FIG. 1 shows a preferred embodiment of a mail routing system according to the invention.
  • FIG. 2 shows a more detailed elaboration of the input system of the mail routing system of FIG. 1.
  • FIG. 1 shows a mail routing system which is formed by three main components, viz. an input system 1, a (postal) transmission system 2 and an output system 3. The essence of the invention is retained in the input system and the output system.
  • These systems may, as will be discussed in more detail in connection with FIG. 2, be essentially identical to one another, as most functions are used both for input processing and for output processing.
  • the input system 1 is formed by an input element 4 which is connected to the "postal collection system", formed by letterboxes, pillarboxes and local post offices, via which letters and other items of mail are presented to the mail routing system. Connected to the postal transmission system 2 there are various input and output systems. In practice, an input system 1 can be used as an output system 3 and vice versa.
  • the input systems and output systems are accommodated in so-called "HUBs", large postal “processing factories”, in which, in each 24-hour period, many millions of items of mail are processed (in the Netherlands at present approximately 17 million of items of mail per 24-hour period).
  • the incoming stream of mail is received by the input element 4 which sends the items of mail on to a scanning element 5, in present-day practice a video camera with ancillary equipment, which makes an electronic, digitalized replica of the address information on the items of mail, in particular the postcode, but also of possible further destination, processing or sender codes.
  • a scanning element 5 in present-day practice a video camera with ancillary equipment, which makes an electronic, digitalized replica of the address information on the items of mail, in particular the postcode, but also of possible further destination, processing or sender codes.
  • an optical replica is also possible, which may be stored, for example, on an optical-memory disc and which can be transferred via an optical network.
  • a unique identification code is assigned which is both applied to the item of mail, printed by a printer 7, and appended to said replica as a "label", so that each replica can be linked to the associated item of mail.
  • the items of mail are then buffered temporarily in a buffer 9, before they are routed by a routing element 10, in practice one or more automatic mail sorting machines, to a particular main destination - a particular output system.
  • the digital replicas are fed to a number of conversion elements 8 via a broad-band "local area network" (LAN) 13.
  • LAN local area network
  • These conversion elements 8 serve to convert the digital video images into control codes which are suitable for driving the routing element 10 of the input system 1.
  • the control codes need not per se already be suitable for controlling routing element 10 in the output system 3. If the addressing information, in particular the postcode, is present on the items of mail in, for example, OCR characters, these can be converted readily and rapidly into a (digital) control code.
  • the conversion elements 8 consist of various types, namely one or more for converting OCR characters, one or more for converting typescript, one or more for converting handwritten characters within a "postcode frame", one or more for converting handwritten characters without "postcode frame” and one or more for converting "difficult addresses", the addresses in which the postcodes are entirely missing; this last type is at present formed by coding stations which are operated manually. All these types of conversion elements are connected to the LAN 13. The electronic replica is presented to all conversion elements, but not to the coding stations; these coding stations are only presented with those replicas which do not provide a usable result via the other conversion elements 8 ("rejects").
  • Whether or not a conversion result is usable is checked by an interpretation element 14 which is connected, via the LAN 13, to each conversion element 8.
  • This interpretation element 14 serves as the control element for the conversion process. Only if the conversion result meets certain criteria is that conversion result, an electronic (or, if the LAN is an optical LAN, an optical) control code transmitted via the LAN to the routing element 10.
  • the assessment criteria used by the interpretation element 14 are, for example: the resulting control code must meet a formal requirement, such as first a series of four digits, then a space and then a series of two letters.
  • the interpretation element 14 is preferably set in such a way that, if the left-hand two code elements already consist of digits, the control code is already transmitted to the routing element 10 (of the input system), as that element does not require more than these first two code elements for routing the item of mail to the correct output system.
  • the conversion elements 8 are generally given a certain time for converting the replicas supplied, a time which in many cases is sufficient for converting the complete postcode.
  • the interpretation element 13 also compares the conversion results of the various conversion elements 8 and is, for example, set in such a way that a conversion result is approved only if there are at least two conversion elements which give the same conversion result, with respect to the entire postcode or to the first two code elements. Another possibility is for the interpretation element still to derive from the conversion results of different conversion elements, even if these differ from one another, the most likely postcode, for example if a number of conversion elements emit the same first three code elements and a few other conversion elements emit the same last three code elements; the interpretation element 13 will then select, as the most likely postcode, a control code which is formed by the first three code elements on which the first mentioned conversion elements agreed, and the last three code elements on which the last mentioned conversion elements agreed.
  • the control codes thus generated are transmitted both to the routing element 10 and, via the WAN 12 to the output system.
  • a number of conversion elements 8 namely a number of operator-operated coding stations which therefore process, in particular, those replicas which have been rejected by the interpretation element 14, the rejects. If the first two code elements, required for controlling the routing element 10 of the input system, were approved by the interpretation element 14, but the further code elements were not, the associated item of mail can be routed by the routing element 10 to the correct output system 3, and the item of mail is thus transferred to the output system 3 via the postal transmission system 2.
  • the postal transmission system 2 is formed by a transport system, consisting of containers, lorries, trains etc.
  • the output system 3 comprises, like the input system 1, an input element 4, a scanning element 5, conversion elements 8, a buffer 9 and a routing element 10.
  • the conversion elements 8 are connected to the scanning element 5 via a LAN 13, and the routing element 10 is likewise connected to this LAN 13.
  • the LAN 13 is further connected to the WAN 12 (Wide Area Network), via which the control codes of the items of mail sent to the output system 3 are transmitted from the input system 1.
  • the LAN further has connected to it a verification element 11 for verifying the completeness and validity of the control codes received and, if necessary, for supplementing or correcting conversion - via the conversion elements 8 of the output system 3 - of the replicas of the items of mail received. These replicas may be generated (again) by the scanning element 5 of the output system 3 or, like the control codes, have been transmitted to the output system 3 via the WAN 12.
  • control codes which are generated in the input system 1 also to be apply to the item of mail by means of a printer 7, which then therefore prints both the identification code and the conversion result, the control code, on the item of mail; in that case it is not necessary per se to transmit the control code in electronic form as well (or in the case of an optical LAN, in optical form).
  • the control code is generated in machine-readable form and first transmitted to the routing element 10 of the input system 1 and then to the output system 3.
  • the control code, printed on the item of mail itself is therefore transmitted to the output system 3 via the postal transmission system 2, and in the other case, which was assumed in the above and will be assumed below, as an electronic or optical code signal via the WAN 12.
  • the item of mail is presented, via the input element 4, to the scanning element 5.
  • Said scanning element 5 detects the identification code applied to the item of mail in the input system 1. If the control code has been applied to the item of mail itself, the scanning element also detects this control code. If the control code has been converted in the input system 1 into an electronic (or optical) control code, the identification code detected by the scanning element 5 is used in the output system 3 by the verification element 11 for looking up, in a database (not shown), the control code - which was transmitted by system 1, via the WAN 12, to the output system 3 - associated with the item of mail.
  • the correctness of the most significant part of the control code was important - and, if required, was sufficient for driving the routing element 10 there - in the case of the output system the correctness of the least significant part of the control code is important, since that part has to drive the routing element 10 - consisting of one or more sorting machines for the sorting, in terms of district or even road, of the items of mail - of the output system 3. If the verification element 11 concludes that the control code of an item of mail is incorrect, an action is initiated for regenerat-ing the control code.
  • the conversion of replicas at the output system 3 can likewise be effected by employing conversion elements 8 (for example "home-workers") connected to the WAN 12. It is even possible to employ the conversion elements 8 of the input system 1 for the conversion in the output system 3 and also, vice versa, the conversion elements 8 of the output system 3 for the conversion in the input system 1.
  • the processing of items of mail is a cyclic process with a cycle time of 24 hours. In practice, as much as possible of the equipment of the input system 1 is used as the input system for a particular portion of a 24-hour period, and for the other part of that 24-hour period is used as an output system.
  • FIG. 2 shows a more detailed elaboration of the system 1 as it has been represented hereinabove as the input system.
  • This system can be used both as an input system and as an output system and, as has already been indicated, can be used, during a first part of the processing cycle, as an input system 1 for mail to be presented to the postal transmission system, and during a second part of the processing cycle, as an output system 3 for mail delivered by the postal transmission system.
  • the system is formed by all the system parts which have already been dealt with in the above, with the exception of a control element 16 which serves for coordinating the action of the various system components. From the postal collection system, a stream of items of mail is supplied to the system via a number of input channels a...n.
  • Each channel is provided with input elements 4, scanning 5, printers 7 and buffers 9. All these elements are connected to the LAN 13 and are controlled - via said LAN 13 - by the control element 16.
  • Each item of mail is assigned, from an identification code generator 6, a unique identification code which is printed on the item of mail by a printer 7.
  • the scanning elements 5 make replicas which, via the LAN 13 (and via the WAN 12) are presented to the conversion elements 8.
  • the control codes generated by the conversion elements are checked for correctness by the interpretation element 14 and are then transmitted to the routing element 10.
  • the identification codes, replicas and control codes are transmitted, via the LAN 13 and the WAN 12, to the output system (not shown).

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EP94200381A 1993-03-05 1994-02-14 Système d'acheminement du courrier Withdrawn EP0613731A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
NL9300403 1993-03-05
NL9300403A NL9300403A (nl) 1993-03-05 1993-03-05 Postrouteringssysteem.

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Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
NL1001862C2 (nl) * 1995-12-08 1997-06-10 Nederland Ptt Werkwijze voor het verzamelend en distributief verwerken van poststuk- ken.
WO2000000300A1 (fr) * 1998-06-29 2000-01-06 Crisplant A/S Procede et systeme de traitement d'envois postaux
WO2001064358A2 (fr) * 2000-03-03 2001-09-07 Akatech S.A. Procede permettant d'optimiser la gestion d'envois postaux et installation pour sa mise en oeuvre
WO2001074502A2 (fr) * 2000-04-05 2001-10-11 Solystic Adressage de courrier a l'aide de codes client etendus
FR2807348A1 (fr) * 2000-04-05 2001-10-12 Mannesmann Dematic Postal Automation Sa Suppression d'erreurs d'adressage dans un processus de tri, acheminement et distribution du courrier a l'aide de codes client sur les articles de courrier
WO2009007100A1 (fr) * 2007-07-10 2009-01-15 Deutsche Post Ag Procédé, dispositif, et système logistique d'expédition d'un envoi postal

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1990012660A1 (fr) * 1989-04-27 1990-11-01 Bertin & Cie Procede et systeme de tri d'objets portant des inscriptions, tels que des objets postaux, des cheques, des mandats
EP0424728A2 (fr) * 1989-10-24 1991-05-02 International Business Machines Corporation Système et procédé pour le traitement différé de courrier analysé par reconnaissance optique de caractères

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO1990012660A1 (fr) * 1989-04-27 1990-11-01 Bertin & Cie Procede et systeme de tri d'objets portant des inscriptions, tels que des objets postaux, des cheques, des mandats
EP0424728A2 (fr) * 1989-10-24 1991-05-02 International Business Machines Corporation Système et procédé pour le traitement différé de courrier analysé par reconnaissance optique de caractères

Cited By (12)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
NL1001862C2 (nl) * 1995-12-08 1997-06-10 Nederland Ptt Werkwijze voor het verzamelend en distributief verwerken van poststuk- ken.
EP0778090A1 (fr) * 1995-12-08 1997-06-11 Koninklijke KPN N.V. Procédé de traitement d'objets postaux
WO2000000300A1 (fr) * 1998-06-29 2000-01-06 Crisplant A/S Procede et systeme de traitement d'envois postaux
WO2001064358A2 (fr) * 2000-03-03 2001-09-07 Akatech S.A. Procede permettant d'optimiser la gestion d'envois postaux et installation pour sa mise en oeuvre
WO2001064358A3 (fr) * 2000-03-03 2002-03-07 Akatech S A Procede permettant d'optimiser la gestion d'envois postaux et installation pour sa mise en oeuvre
WO2001074502A2 (fr) * 2000-04-05 2001-10-11 Solystic Adressage de courrier a l'aide de codes client etendus
FR2807348A1 (fr) * 2000-04-05 2001-10-12 Mannesmann Dematic Postal Automation Sa Suppression d'erreurs d'adressage dans un processus de tri, acheminement et distribution du courrier a l'aide de codes client sur les articles de courrier
FR2807349A1 (fr) * 2000-04-05 2001-10-12 Mannesman Dematic Postal Autom Suppression d'erreurs d'adressage dans un processus de tri, acheminement et distribution du courrier a l'aide de codes client sur les articles de courrier
WO2001074502A3 (fr) * 2000-04-05 2002-06-06 Solystic Adressage de courrier a l'aide de codes client etendus
US6998558B2 (en) * 2000-04-05 2006-02-14 Solystic Suppresion of mail addressing errors using extended client codes
WO2009007100A1 (fr) * 2007-07-10 2009-01-15 Deutsche Post Ag Procédé, dispositif, et système logistique d'expédition d'un envoi postal
EP2017791A1 (fr) * 2007-07-10 2009-01-21 Deutsche Post AG Procédé, dispositif et système logistique destinés au transport d'envois postaux

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