EP1089831B1 - Procede et systeme de traitement d'envois postaux - Google Patents

Procede et systeme de traitement d'envois postaux Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1089831B1
EP1089831B1 EP99931014A EP99931014A EP1089831B1 EP 1089831 B1 EP1089831 B1 EP 1089831B1 EP 99931014 A EP99931014 A EP 99931014A EP 99931014 A EP99931014 A EP 99931014A EP 1089831 B1 EP1089831 B1 EP 1089831B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
item
items
identification code
destination
sortation
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Expired - Lifetime
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EP99931014A
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German (de)
English (en)
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EP1089831A1 (fr
Inventor
Jan Didriksen
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FKI Logistex AS
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Crisplant AS
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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 present invention relates to a method and a system for processing postal items at an item processing installation such as, e.g., a postal terminal.
  • OCR optical character recognition
  • US-A-4832204 discloses a method and a system for handling and sorting packages.
  • the packages are sent by a consignor to a consignee via mail centres.
  • the consignor affixes a bar code to the packages and delivers the packages to an origin terminal or a sortation hub, the sortation of which is controlled by a sortation management system.
  • a bar code label and an address label of each package is also passed from the consignee to the origin terminal or sortation hub.
  • the destination code of each package is keyed into an information network at the sortation hub.
  • the sortation of packages involves transporting the packages along a tilt tray sorter system comprising a plurality of discharge stations.
  • the sortation of the packages further involves an overhead package scanner which identifies each package from its bar code label. Following the scanning of the bar code, a destination area of each package is determined, and each package is sorted in accordance with the package's area destination.
  • the invention provides a method and a system for processing postal items, as defined by claims 1 and 39, the method and system of the invention being characterized mainly in that an identification code provided at the departure location corresponds to a unique address identification code stored at a storage means comprised in a computer system comprised in or connected to a first control system comprised in a first item processing installation, and in that means for obtaining this function are provided.
  • the sorting conveyor may be any kind of suitable conveyor, such as, e.g., a tilt tray conveyor or a cross-belt conveyor known per se from the prior art.
  • the identification code may comprise a radio frequency tag.
  • radio frequency tag or “frequency tag” may, e.g., comprise a micro chip as described in "Ein MikrochipDNA den Reisekoffer mecanic ans Ziel” by Manuela Stabagy in “Welt dermaschine", 27 December 1995 issue.
  • the term "unique address identification code” should be understood as any code which at a given stage is sufficient in order to process an item.
  • the unique address identification code may, e.g., comprise only the country and/or the city and/or the zip code of the destination location, whereas in a fine sorting operation which may, e.g. be carried out at a further item processing installation, the unique address identification code may, e.g., further comprise street name, street number and optionally name of the addresse.
  • Step (d) may comprise the step of verifying the destination code and/or the unique address identification code.
  • a person or an entity sending a postal item may know the unique address identification code of one or more items and may optionally pass the unique address identification code to the one or more first control systems.
  • a particular advantage of a method according to the invention is that it combines the benefits of providing items with a pre-printed or pre-written standard code, such as a bar code, and the benefits of known OCR-systems or other systems for automatic capturing of address blocks.
  • the method may further comprise, prior to or during step (e), the step of determining whether the identification code is present on the item and in such case whether it is readable by the code scanning device.
  • the method according to the invention may further comprise the step of processing the item in question by a method according to the first aspect of the invention in case step (e) or (f) of the method according to the second aspect fails or in case the identification code is not present or unreadable, the first item processing installation of the method according to the first aspect being the first item processing installation of the method according to the second aspect.
  • the identification code may be scanned while the item in question is being conveyed along the sorting conveyor.
  • the identification code is being scanned by means of the same device as the device by means of which an image of the address block is being captured, i.e., preferably by the OCR-device or the OCR-system.
  • the method may further comprise the step of weighing at least some of the items being processed at the first installation.
  • items are weighed by means of an electronic weight operationally connected to one or more of the control systems.
  • the method according to the invention may further comprise the step of passing weight information representing the weight of the item in question to a computer system comprised in the at least one first control system.
  • the method may comprise the step of automatically measuring or scanning the volume of at least some of the items being processed at the first installation, the measuring or scanning being performed by means of a volume scanning system.
  • a volume scanning system known per se from the prior art is preferably provided for scanning or measuring volume of items.
  • the measuring or scanning may be performed on the sorting conveyor while the item in question is being conveyed along the sorting conveyor.
  • the volume scanning system may be operationally connected to the one or more control systems, so as to allow for volume information representing the volume of the item in question to be passed to a computer system comprised in the at least one first control system.
  • the method may further comprise, subsequent to step (j), transporting a plurality of items from the first installation to a second item processing installation, the second item processing installation being adapted to further process the items.
  • the first item processing installation is typically a main mail center, such as, e.g., the main mail center of a city, a district or an airport
  • the second item processing installation is typically a main center or a post office of a city or a region.
  • the processing of items at the second mail processing installation may be the final processing, and the items may be delivered directly to their respective destination locations from the second mail processing installation.
  • items may be transported to one or more further item processing installations optionally provided.
  • the items may be delivered to their respective destinations by courier service or by mail delivery service.
  • any item processing installation may comprise a postal item singulating system for singulating items.
  • Any item processing installation in particular the first item processing installation may comprise a postal item check-in system.
  • the unique address identification code preferably represents one or more of the following particulars of the destination location: city or local district, street name, street number, country or country code.
  • the unique address identification code may further represent or contain other information, such as data related to sortation patterns, sortation sequences and/or information about a given discharge station assigned or associated to the item in question for use during the further processing of the item.
  • the unique address identification code may further represent the name of the addressee.
  • the method may further comprise, subsequent to step (c) of the method according to the invention, comparing the destination code and/or the unique address identification code to second address data previously stored in a first database comprised in or connected to the one or more first control systems in order to verify the destination location of an item. This may include that, if a change of address of an addressee of an item in question has been recorded in the control system, the unique address identification code which is assigned or associated to the item in question represents the updated address of the addressee.
  • the method may further comprise that the address provided on the item is compared to the unique address identification code assigned to the item, e.g. at the discharge stations of the sorting conveyor.
  • the method may further comprise that an address label is printed on or attached to an item if, e.g., a change of address of an addressee has been recorded.
  • the method may also comprise that, if an item has been discharged at a wrong discharge station or is believed to have been discharged at a wrong discharge station, the item in question is returned to the address capturing system and that steps (b)-(j) are repeated, or that an address label is printed and attached to the item.
  • the one or more first control systems comprised in the first installation are connected to an exterior database in which names and addresses of a large number of persons is stored, the first control system or the exterior database comprising or being connected to a database comprising non-modified second address data and modified second address data, the method further comprising:
  • the exterior database may comprise or be connected to any public or non-public database or register, such as, e.g., an administrative person or company register of a country, a region or a city.
  • the exterior database is preferably updated at regular intervals in accordance with updates of, e.g., company or entity names, or addresses.
  • the exterior database is preferably updated or modified when a person or an entity/a company moves from one location to another.
  • both the updated/modified as well as the old or unmodified data/particulars are stored at the exterior database or at a database comprised in or connected to the first control system.
  • the method according to the invention may comprise that an item having a destination location whose particulars have been recently modified are being flagged. Items may be flagged physically be means of, e.g., a label attached to an item, or they may be flagged electronically in the control system.
  • the postal items may be any kind of items, including mail items, such as envelopes or parcels, and the first and second systems for optically capturing an image of the address block may comprise auto focusing systems.
  • the method may further comprise, prior to step (g), bypassing all or some of steps (b)-(j) in case the weight and/or the dimensions of a postal item exceeds previously determined limits. Weight and/or volume beyond the previously determined limits may be determined either automatically or manually. Furthermore, information indicating volume and/or weight of items may be passed from a sender of an item to the one or more control systems.
  • the method may comprise carrying out determining the identification code of an item or capturing the first and/or the second image of the item while performing other operations, e.g., measuring/scanning the volume of an item or weighing it.
  • an item may be placed on or moved past a transparent surface through which, e.g. optical equipment may capture one or more images.
  • the method may further comprise, subsequent to step (j), transporting at least some of the items to a second item processing installation for further processing of the items.
  • the second mail processing installation may, e.g., be an installation of the above-mentioned type.
  • the second item processing installation may comprise a second control system for controlling processing of items, the second control system being connected to the one or more first control systems, and the method may further comprise, subsequent to step (c) in a method according to the invention:
  • the method may comprise capturing the optically readable item identification code at the second item processing installation and deriving therefrom the corresponding item identification data and destination information. Items may be further processed or sorted items according to the respective destination information.
  • the method may further comprise passing a table comprising item identification information and destination information associated to a plurality of items from the one or more first control systems to the second control system or from the second control system to a third control system comprised in a third item processing installation optionally provided.
  • the method may comprise, at the second or the third control system, processing the destination information assigned or associated to each item, so as to derive the address of the destination location from the destination information.
  • the method may further comprise printing the table and/or a list of addresses of destination locations of items and delivering the items associated to the item identification information listed or stored in the table at the respective destination locations of the items, so as to facilitate distributing of items, in case the items are not automatically transported to their respective destination locations.
  • step (I) as described above preferably comprises passing the destination information together with item identification data from the first control system to the respective second control systems in accordance with the destination information, whereby destination information and item identification information associated to an item being transported to a certain second item processing installation is being passed to that second item processing installation.
  • a main mail center i.e. the first item processing installation
  • a city mail center i.e. the second item processing installation
  • the step of capturing the first image of a printed or written address block provided on items and/or the step of scanning the optically readable identification code may be carried out by means of an optical character recognition system which may comprise an automatic auto focusing facility.
  • the method may further comprise the step of passing data to an item tracking database connected to or comprised in the one or more first control systems, in the second and/or in the third control system when an item has been delivered at a destination location or at other events during the steps of processing an item.
  • the item tracking database may be used for tracking items during processing thereof or for tracking of lost items. It may further be used for automatic billing or invoicing of carriage costs.
  • the method may further comprise passing volume and/or weight data from the one or more first control systems to an account database connected to or comprised in an account computer system.
  • the account computer system may be connected to or comprised in the item tracking database, and in such case the method according to the invention may comprise automatically invoicing carriage costs by:
  • a plurality of item tracking databases and/or a plurality of account computer systems are preferably provided, and the steps of passing data to/from the tracking databases and/or the account computer systems may comprise passing the data to a selected one of the plurality of item tacking databases and/or to a selected one of the plurality of account computer systems, respectively.
  • the method may further comprise generating a sortation sequence or sortation pattern in the one or more first control systems or in the second control system, the sortation sequence or sortation pattern comprising information as to the sequence of further sortation of a plurality of items.
  • the sortation sequence or sortation pattern may be used at the first and/or at the second item processing installation as well as in distributing of items and during final delivery of items at the respective destination locations.
  • the sortation sequence or pattern is preferably generated in the one or more first control systems, and the method may comprise passing the sortation sequence or sortation pattern from the one or more first control systems to the second control system or to another control system.
  • the sortation sequence or sortation pattern may be determined from the unique address identification code.
  • the country and/or any other particular of the destination location of an item represented by the unique identification code may determine the discharge station of that item.
  • the sortation sequence or sortation pattern may at any stage be determined in accordance with one or more parameters in order to provide for an optimal and maximally efficient distribution of the items.
  • the method may comprise taking into consideration the size and/or weight of an item, the route for the final distribution/transportation of the item, the size of a given car or truck which is being used in the final distribution/transportation.
  • the method may further comprise generating sortation data or sortation information for a plurality of items at the departure location prior to step (b) in the method according to the invention and passing such data or information to the one or more first control systems directly or through a sortation data generating computer system.
  • a customer such as, e.g., a corporate entity, has the opportunity to define the sortation sequence and/or the sortation pattern of items sent by him/her.
  • the sortation data or sortation information may be generated at a central computer which may, e.g., be connected to a plurality of first control systems of a plurality of item processing installations.
  • a plurality of sortation data generating computer systems are preferably provided, and the method may comprise passing sortation data from the plurality of sortation data generating computer systems to the one or more first computer systems.
  • the account computer system(s), the sortation data generating computer systems and/or one or more other systems or database may be placed at a location different from the first and the second item processing installation.
  • such systems may be placed at, e.g., corporate customers, or at parcel distributing entities owning or collaborating with the entity running the first, second and/or other item processing installations.
  • Fig. 1 is an illustration of a system for processing postal items according to the invention which is suitable for carrying out a method according to the invention.
  • the system is suitable for processing a postal item, such as a parcel 201, being sent from a departure location 200 to a destination location 300.
  • the parcel 201 is transported by a transporting means, such as a truck 220, from the departure location to a first item processing installation, such as a mail center 202.
  • a transporting means such as a truck 220
  • a first item processing installation such as a mail center 202.
  • the parcel 201 is conveyed along a conveyor section 221.
  • the parcel 201 is conveyed along an OCR-system 51a for optically capturing a first image of a printed or written address block provided on the parcel 201.
  • the OCR system is capable of capturing and successfully processing an image of the address block
  • the data resulting from the OCR capturing is passed to a first computer system 207 as indicated by the flash arrow 402, and the parcel 201 is processed further as described below.
  • an indication thereof is passed to a VC system 51b as indicated by the flash arrow 401.
  • the address block is automatically or semiautomatically captured, and the data resulting from the processing of capturing the image at the VC system is passed to the first computer system 207 as indicated by the flash arrow 403.
  • the first computer system 207 and any processor and/or data storage means comprised in the OCR-system 51a and in the VC-system 51b is comprised in or connected to a first control system which controls the processing of items or parcels 201 at the mail center 202.
  • the first computer system 207 comprises or is connected to a first database in which second address data have previously been stored. Each entry of second address data in the first database corresponds to a unique address identification code.
  • the address data resulting from the processing of capturing the image at the OCR or at the VC system is compared to the second address data, and if possible a unique address identification code is associated to each item. Otherwise, another address identification code, such as, e.g., a country code, is associated to each item.
  • An item identification code is associated to each item, and a table of item identification codes and corresponding address identification codes is created and stored at the first computer system 207.
  • a label representing the item identification code of each item 201 is printed on or attached to each item 201 prior to or subsequent to the OCR- and/or VC-scanning of the item as described above.
  • the label represents the item identification code in a standard optical format.
  • the label may, for example, comprise a bar code.
  • the label representing the item identification code may be provided on the items 201 at the departure location 200.
  • a table containing a list of item identification codes and corresponding destination address data may be passed from the departure location 200 either directly or via a distributing entity's computer system 211 to the first computer system 207, as indicated by flash arrows 409 and 405.
  • the destination address data may comprise the unique address identification code or other address identification data, such as, e.g., name of a recipient, street name and street number, city, zip code, country name or country code and/or other appropriate data.
  • the destination address data do not comprise the unique address identification code
  • the destination address data are processed at the first computer system 207 in order to associate the unique address identification code to each item 201. If an item identification code has been provided on an item before the item has reached the mail center 202, only the item identification code is captured by the OCR-system 51a which is capable of capturing the item identification code.
  • An item which has been provided with an item identification code before the item has reached the mail center 202 is referred to as and IT-item.
  • the parcel 201 is conveyed to a weighing section 222.
  • the weighing section 222 is preferably equipped with an electronic weighing system which is capable of passing weight data to the first computer system 207.
  • an optically readable parcel identification code is attached or printed on the parcel 201.
  • the parcel 201 is fed onto the sorting conveyor 204 for sorting items.
  • the parcel 201 is conveyed along or past a volume scanning system 213 for measuring or scanning the volume of the parcel 201.
  • the volume scanning system 213 is capable of passing volume data to the first computer system 207 together with parcel identification information.
  • the parcel identification information is preferably derived from the parcel identification code.
  • each parcel 201 is discharged at a selected one of a plurality of discharge stations, as indicated by arrows at 205.
  • the discharge station at which a given item is to be discharged is selected by the first control system, e.g., by the first computer system 207.
  • the first computer system 207 sends a signal to control means comprised in the discharge stations 205.
  • means are provided for capturing the optically readable identification code so as to identify any parcel being conveyed along a discharge station.
  • the mail center 202 is a main mail center of, e.g., a region, a city or country, at which mail from a plurality of departure locations 200 is collected. Items 201 may be transported either directly from their respective departure locations 200 to the mail center 202, or items 201 may be transported from their respective departure locations 200 to a mail box, a post office or another location (not shown) and from there to the mail center.
  • a first processing and sortation of the items 201 is carried out as described above.
  • the first processing and sortation results e.g., in sortation of items 201 according to city, region or country of the respective destination locations of the items 201.
  • each discharge station 205 represents a city, region or country, and a plurality of items 201 is collected at each discharge station.
  • special discharge stations 205 e.g., for special items, such as fragile items, may be provided.
  • the items are transported by a transport means, such as a truck 220, to a second item processing installation, such as a second mail center 203.
  • the second mail center 203 may, e.g., be a regional post office.
  • the second mail center 203 comprises a second control system which comprises a second computer system 208.
  • the second computer system is operationally connected to the first computer system 207.
  • the items 201 are automatically sorted and distributed to a number of discharge stations as indicated by arrows at 206.
  • sorting of items 201 at the second mail center 203 is carried out automatically and is controlled by the second computer system 208 which is operationally connected to the discharge stations 206, as indicated by flash arrow 415.
  • the items 201 are sorted, e.g., according to cities, streets, companies or other appropriate sortation data.
  • the items 201 are transported by a transporting means, such as, e.g., a truck 220, to the destination location 300.
  • accounting means for automatically billing or invoicing carriage costs comprises a tracking and invoicing computer system 209 operationally connected to the first and the second computer systems 207 and 208, respectively, as indicated by flash arrows 407 and 411.
  • Invoicing data or invoicing factors such as weight and/or volume of items 201 and/or travelling distance of items are passed from the first and/or the second computer systems 207 and 208, respectively.
  • delivery information is passed from a delivery means, such as delivery person 214 to the tracking and invoicing computer system 209, as indicated by flash arrow 412.
  • the delivery information comprises a table of item identification information together and corresponding delivery addresses. In most case, the delivery address is identical to the address of the destination location. However, if an error has occurred during the processing of an item 201, the delivery address of an item 201 may be different from the address of the destination location.
  • the computer systems 209, 210 and 211 may, e.g., be located at an item distributing entity.
  • information is passed from the computer system 209 to a billing or invoicing means or entity 215.
  • an invoice is electronically passed or sent to a debtor or a debtor entity which, in the example shown, has his address or place of business at the departure location 200.
  • a sequence generating computer system 210 is adapted to generate sortation and/or distributing sequences or sortation patterns for items.
  • the sender of an item, or a distributing entity may generate the sortation and/or distributing sequences for a plurality of items.
  • Such sequences are passed from the sequence generating computer system 210 to the first and second computer systems, respectively, as indicated by flash arrows 406 and 410.
  • the sequence generating computer system 210 is operationally connected to the distributing entity's computer system, as indicated by flash arrow 408.

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Claims (39)

  1. Procédé de traitement d'envois postaux, chaque envoi étant envoyé à partir d'un lieu de départ vers un lieu de destination via un centre postal, le lieu de départ étant un lieu d'un type différent d'un centre postal et étant situé à un lieu à distance du centre postal, le procédé comprenant les étapes consistant à :
    (a) proposer un envoi avec un code d'identification dans un format standard au lieu de départ, le code d'identification correspondant à un code d'identification d'adresse unique stocké au niveau de moyens de stockage compris dans un système informatique compris dans ou raccordé à un premier système de contrôle compris dans une première installation de traitement d'envoi,
    (b) distribuer les envois à une partie de réception d'envoi de la première installation, la première installation étant adaptée pour collecter et traiter les envois provenant d'une pluralité de lieux de départ et comprenant un ou plusieurs premiers systèmes de contrôle pour contrôler le traitement des envois,
    (c) faire passer le code d'identification conjointement à un code de destination de l'envoi du lieu de départ vers au moins l'un parmi un ou plusieurs des premiers systèmes de contrôle, le code de destination identifiant l'adresse du lieu de destination de l'envoi,
    (d) stocker le code de destination dans les moyens de stockage et traiter le code de destination afin d'associer le code de destination au code d'identification d'adresse unique correspondant,
    (e) capturer le code d'identification au niveau de l'installation de traitement d'envoi au moyen d'un dispositif de capture de code adapté pour faire passer le code d'identification dans au moins l'un parmi un ou plusieurs des premiers systèmes de contrôle,
    (f) traiter le code d'identification afin d'associer le code d'identification d'adresse unique correspondant à l'envoi,
    (g) transporter chaque envoi sur un convoyeur de tri adapté pour trier les envois, le convoyeur de tri comprenant une pluralité de stations de décharge et des moyens pour décharger les envois qui sont transportés sur le convoyeur de tri, décharger les envois qui ont été contrôlés par un premier système informatique compris dans un ou plusieurs premiers systèmes de contrôle,
    (h) décharger chaque envoi au niveau d'une station de décharge, la station de décharge étant automatiquement choisie par le premier système informatique selon le code d'identification associé à l'envoi en question.
  2. Procédé selon la revendication 1, dans lequel le code d'identification peut être lu de manière optique et dans lequel l'étape (c) comprend le scannage du code d'identification au moyen d'un dispositif de scannage de code.
  3. Procédé selon la revendication 1 ou 2, comprenant en outre, avant ou pendant l'étape (e), l'étape consistant à déterminer si le code d'identification est présent sur l'envoi et dans un tel cas s'il est lisible par le dispositif de scannage de code.
  4. Procédé selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1-3, dans lequel un autre code d'identification est prévu dans ou sur tous ou sur certains des envois pour une identification supplémentaire de l'envoi (des envois).
  5. Procédé selon la revendication 4, dans lequel le code d'identification et le code d'identification supplémentaire comprennent au moins un code barres.
  6. Procédé selon la revendication 4 ou 5, dans lequel le code d'identification et le code d'identification supplémentaire comprennent au moins un indicateur de radiofréquence.
  7. Procédé selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1-6, dans lequel le code d'identification est capturé alors que l'envoi en question est transporté sur le convoyeur de tri.
  8. Procédé selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1-7, comprenant en outre l'étape consistant à peser au moins certains des envois qui sont traités au niveau de la première installation.
  9. Procédé selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1-8, comprenant en outre l'étape consistant à mesurer ou scanner automatiquement le volume d'au moins certains des envois qui sont traités au niveau de la première installation, la mesure ou le scannage étant réalisé au moyen d'un système de scannage du volume.
  10. Procédé selon la revendication 9, dans lequel la mesure ou le scannage est réalisé sur le convoyeur de tri alors que l'envoi en question est transporté sur le convoyeur de tri.
  11. Procédé selon la revendication 8, comprenant en outre l'étape consistant à faire passer l'information de poids représentant le poids de l'envoi en question dans un système informatique compris dans le au moins un premier système de contrôle.
  12. Procédé selon la revendication 9 ou 10, comprenant en outre l'étape consistant à faire passer l'information de volume représentant le volume de l'envoi en question dans un système informatique compris dans le au moins un premier système de contrôle.
  13. Procédé selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1-12, comprenant en outre, successivement à l'étape (j), l'étape consistant à transporter une pluralité d'envois provenant de la première installation vers une deuxième installation de traitement d'envois, la deuxième installation de traitement d'envois étant adaptée pour traiter en outre les envois.
  14. Procédé selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1-13, dans lequel le code d'identification d'adresse unique représente un ou plusieurs des détails suivants du lieu de destination : ville ou district local, nom de la rue, numéro de la rue, pays.
  15. Procédé selon la revendication 14, dans lequel le code d'identification d'adresse unique représente en outre le nom du destinataire.
  16. Procédé selon l'une quelconque des revendications 14 ou 15, comprenant en outre, successivement à l'étape (c), l'étape consistant à comparer le code de destination et/ou le code d'identification d'adresse unique aux deuxièmes données d'adresse préalablement stockées dans une première base de données comprise dans ou raccordée à un ou plusieurs des premiers systèmes de contrôle afin de vérifier le lieu de destination d'un envoi.
  17. Procédé selon la revendication 16, dans lequel les un ou plusieurs premiers systèmes de contrôle compris dans la première installation sont raccordés à une base de données extérieure dans laquelle on stocke les noms et les adresses d'un grand nombre de personnes, le premier système de contrôle ou la base de données extérieure comprenant ou étant raccordé à une base de données comprenant des deuxièmes données d'adresses non modifiées et des deuxièmes données d'adresses modifiées,
       le procédé comprenant en outre l'étape consistant à :
    associer automatiquement le code d'identification d'adresse unique correspondant aux deuxièmes données d'adresses modifiées à un envoi dans le cas où les premières données d'adresses ou le code de destination correspondent aux deuxièmes données d'adresses non modifiées.
  18. Procédé selon la revendication 11 ou 12, le procédé comprenant en outre, avant l'étape (g), l'étape consistant à contourner toutes ou certaines des étapes (b) - (j) dans le cas où le poids et/ou les dimensions d'un envoi postal dépassent les limites déterminées au préalable.
  19. Procédé selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1-18, comprenant en outre, successivement à l'étape (j), l'étape consistant à transporter au moins certains des envois vers une deuxième installation de traitement d'envois pour un traitement supplémentaire des envois.
  20. Procédé selon la revendication 19, dans lequel la deuxième installation de traitement d'envois comprend un deuxième système de contrôle pour contrôler le traitement des envois, le deuxième système de contrôle étant raccordé à l'un ou plusieurs des premiers systèmes de contrôle, le procédé comprenant en outre, successivement à l'étape (c), les étapes consistant à :
    (1) faire passer l'information de destination, telle que le code d'identification d'adresse unique, conjointement aux données d'identification d'envoi du premier système de contrôle au deuxième système de contrôle, et
    (11) doter chaque envoi avec un code d'identification d'envoi lisible de manière optique.
  21. Procédé selon la revendication 20, comprenant en outre l'étape consistant à capturer le code d'identification d'envoi lisible de manière optique au niveau de la deuxième installation de traitement d'envois et d'en retirer les données d'identification d'envois correspondantes et l'information de destination et les envois triés selon l'information de destination respective.
  22. Procédé selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1-21, comprenant en outre l'étape consistant à faire passer un tableau comprenant l'information d'identification d'envois et l'information de destination associées à une pluralité d'envois de l'un ou de plusieurs des premiers systèmes de contrôle au deuxième système de contrôle ou du deuxième système de contrôle à un troisième système de contrôle compris dans une troisième installation de traitement d'envois prévue facultativement.
  23. Procédé selon la revendication 22, comprenant, au niveau du deuxième ou du troisième système de contrôle, le traitement de l'information de destination associée à chaque envoi, afin de retirer l'adresse du lieu de destination de l'information de destination.
  24. Procédé selon la revendication 22 ou 23, comprenant en outre l'étape consistant à imprimer le tableau et/ou une liste d'adresses de lieux de destination des envois et distribuer les envois associés à l'information d'identification d'envoi listée ou stockée dans le tableau aux lieux de destinations respectifs des envois.
  25. Procédé selon la revendication 22, comprenant en outre l'étape consistant à distribuer automatiquement les envois associés à l'information d'identification d'envoi listée ou stockée dans le tableau aux lieux de destination respectifs des envois.
  26. Procédé selon la revendication 20, dans lequel plusieurs deuxièmes installations de traitement d'envois sont prévues, l'étape (1) comprenant l'étape consistant à faire passer l'information de destination conjointement aux données d'identification d'envoi du premier système de contrôle aux deuxièmes systèmes de contrôle respectifs selon l'information de destination, moyennant quoi l'information de destination et l'information d'identification d'envoi associées à un envoi qui est transporté vers une certaine deuxième installation de traitement d'envois passe à cette deuxième installation de traitement d'envois.
  27. Procédé selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1-26, dans lequel l'étape consistant à capturer la première image d'un bloc d'adresse imprimé ou manuscrit prévu sur les envois et/ou l'étape consistant à scanner le code d'identification lisible de manière optique sont réalisées au moyen d'un système de reconnaissance de caractère optique.
  28. Procédé selon la revendication 27, dans lequel le système de reconnaissance de caractère optique comprend un système de mise au point automatique, l'étape consistant à capturer la première image et/ou l'étape consistant à scanner le code d'identification comprenant la mise au point automatique sur une partie essentielle de l'envoi en question.
  29. Procédé selon l'une quelconque des revendication 1-28, comprenant en outre l'étape consistant à faire passer des données dans une base de données de suivi d'envoi raccordée à ou comprise dans un ou plusieurs des premiers systèmes de contrôle, dans le deuxième et/ou le troisième système de contrôle, lorsqu'un envoi a été distribué à un lieu de destination ou dans d'autres cas, pendant les étapes consistant à traiter un envoi.
  30. Procédé selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1-29, comprenant en outre l'étape consistant à faire passer des données de volume et/ou de poids de l'un ou de plusieurs des premiers systèmes de contrôle dans une base de données de compte raccordée à ou comprise dans un système informatique de compte.
  31. Procédé selon la revendication 30, dans lequel le système informatique de compte est raccordé à ou compris dans la base de données de suivi d'envoi, le procédé comprenant l'étape consistant à facturer automatiquement les frais de port, par les étapes consistant à :
    calculer les frais de port selon le poids et/ou le volume d'un envoi et facultativement selon un ou plusieurs facteurs supplémentaires,
    imprimer une facture et l'envoyer à un débiteur et/ou envoyer électroniquement la facture au débiteur et/ou prélever automatiquement la dette d'un compte du débiteur.
  32. Procédé selon l'une quelconque des revendications 29-31, dans lequel une pluralité de bases de données de suivi d'envoi et/ou une pluralité de systèmes informatiques de compte sont prévues, les étapes consistant à faire passer des données des revendications 29-31 comprenant l'étape consistant à faire passer des données dans une base de données choisie parmi la pluralité de bases de données de suivi d'envoi et/ou dans un système choisi parmi la pluralité de systèmes informatique de compte, respectivement.
  33. Procédé selon l'une quelconque des revendications 13-32, comprenant en outre l'étape consistant à :
    générer une séquence de tri ou un modèle de tri dans un ou plusieurs des premiers systèmes de contrôle ou dans le deuxième système de contrôle, la séquence de tri ou modèle de tri comprenant l'information en tant que séquence de tri supplémentaire d'une pluralité d'envois.
  34. Procédé selon la revendication 33, dans lequel la séquence de tri ou le modèle de tri comprend l'information en tant que séquence de tri supplémentaire d'une pluralité d'envois au niveau de la deuxième installation de traitement d'envois ou au niveau d'autres lieux, la séquence de tri ou modèle de tri étant générée dans un ou plusieurs des premiers systèmes de contrôle, le procédé comprenant l'étape consistant à faire passer la séquence de tri ou modèle de tri d'un ou de plusieurs premiers systèmes de contrôle au deuxième système de contrôle ou à un autre système de contrôle.
  35. Procédé selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1-34, comprenant en outre l'étape consistant à générer des données de tri ou information de tri pour une pluralité d'envois à un lieu de départ avant l'étape (b) et faire passer de telles données ou information dans un ou plusieurs premiers systèmes de contrôle directement ou par le biais d'un système informatique de génération de données de tri.
  36. Procédé selon la revendication 35, comprenant en outre l'étape consistant à faire passer l'information du système informatique de génération de tri au système informatique de compte ou à la base de données de suivi ou faire passer l'information du système informatique de compte ou de la base de données de suivi au système informatique de génération de tri.
  37. Procédé selon la revendication 36, dans lequel plusieurs systèmes informatiques de génération de données de tri sont prévus, le procédé comprenant l'étape consistant à faire passer des données de tri de la pluralité de systèmes informatiques de génération de données de tri à un ou plusieurs des premiers systèmes informatiques.
  38. Procédé selon l'une quelconque des revendications 29-37, dans lequel une ou plusieurs des bases de données de suivi d'envoi, le(les) système(s) informatique(s) de compte, les systèmes informatiques de génération de données de tri et/ou un ou plusieurs des autres systèmes ou base de données sont placés dans un lieu différent de la première et de la deuxième installation de traitement d'envois.
  39. Système de traitement des envois postaux, chaque envoi étant envoyé depuis un lieu de départ vers un lieu de destination via un centre postal, le lieu de départ étant un lieu d'un type différent d'un centre postal et étant situé dans un lieu à distance du centre postal, le système comprenant :
    des moyens pour doter un envoi avec un code d'identification lisible de manière optique dans un format standard au lieu de départ, le code d'identification correspondant à un code d'identification d'adresse unique stocké dans des premiers moyens de stockage compris dans un système informatique compris dans ou raccordé à un premier système de contrôle compris dans une première installation de traitement d'envois,
    des moyens de distribution pour distribuer les envois vers une partie de réception d'envois de la première installation, la première installation étant adaptée pour collecter et traiter les envois provenant d'une pluralité de lieux de départ et comprenant un ou plusieurs premiers systèmes de contrôle pour contrôler le traitement des envois,
    des moyens pour faire passer le code d'identification conjointement à un code de destination de l'envoi du lieu de départ vers au moins un ou plusieurs des premiers systèmes de contrôle, le code de destination identifiant l'adresse du lieu de destination de l'envoi,
    des deuxièmes moyens de stockage pour stocker le code de destination dans le premier système de contrôle et des moyens pour traiter le code de destination afin d'associer le code de destination au code d'identification d'adresse unique correspondant,
    des moyens de scannage pour scanner le code d'identification lisible de manière optique au niveau de l'installation de traitement d'envois au moyen d'un dispositif de scannage de code adapté pour faire passer le code d'identification dans au moins l'un d'un ou de plusieurs des premiers systèmes de contrôle,
    des moyens de traitement pour traiter le code d'identification afin d'associer le code d'identification d'adresse unique correspondant à l'envoi,
    des moyens pour transporter chaque envoi sur un convoyeur de tri adapté pour trier les envois, le convoyeur de tri comprenant une pluralité de stations de décharge et des moyens pour décharger les envois qui sont transportés sur le convoyeur de tri, décharger les envois qui sont contrôlés par un premier système informatique compris dans un ou plusieurs des premiers systèmes de contrôle,
    des moyens pour décharger chaque envoi au niveau d'une station de décharge, la station de décharge étant automatiquement choisie par le premier système informatique selon le code d'identification associé à l'envoi en question.
EP99931014A 1998-06-29 1999-06-29 Procede et systeme de traitement d'envois postaux Expired - Lifetime EP1089831B1 (fr)

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Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DK98008 1998-06-29
DK85198 1998-06-29
DKPA199800851 1998-06-29
DK112698 1998-09-08
DKPA199801126 1998-09-08
DK98011 1998-09-08
PCT/DK1999/000369 WO2000000300A1 (fr) 1998-06-29 1999-06-29 Procede et systeme de traitement d'envois postaux

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EP1089831B1 true EP1089831B1 (fr) 2004-05-06

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AU4768399A (en) 2000-01-17
WO2000000300A1 (fr) 2000-01-06
EP1089831A1 (fr) 2001-04-11
DE69917027D1 (de) 2004-06-09
ATE265899T1 (de) 2004-05-15

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