EP1622091B1 - Mail processing terminal with monitoring of the mail content - Google Patents

Description

Field of the art

The present invention relates to the field of mail processing and more particularly relates to a mail processing system allowing a link between the data, postal or not, printed on a mail item and those contained in this article.

Prior art

Traditionally, postal items to be processed by postal administrations are provided with a postal stamp which, in the most recent standards, can present a complex form (2D barcodes) to increase the density of the information printed on the articles of the postal service. mail and relating not only to the shipping and sorting of these mail items but also to their monitoring, valuation or securing in particular. The growing number of this information could encourage postal administrations to encourage the replacement of this printed postal fingerprint by an electronic tag (RFID tag) pasted on the mail piece and incorporating all of this information. Unfortunately, the postal imprint as the postal indicator does not support data relating to the content of the mail article on which this postal imprint is printed or this postal indicator is pasted. As a result, it is not possible for the user to follow the path of this article of mail with reference to the content of this article.

US6282525 discloses a mail processing system comprising means for affixing to a mail item a postal mark and a unique identification number representative of a carrier or a cost center. It also includes digital reading means for reading on the mail item the address of the recipient. It further comprises means for converting this address of the recipient and the identification code in a specific format for storage in a tracking database in which are also stored said postal data.

There is therefore a need, today unmet, for a mail processing system allowing the user to make a link between the postmark printed or pasted on the mail piece and the content of this mail article.

Definition and object of the invention

The present invention aims to overcome this disadvantage by proposing a mail processing system incorporating a mail processing terminal according to claim 1.

Thus, by this recognition of the sequential identification code and its storage in the tracking database, it becomes possible to link the postal data generated in the terminal with the data relating to the content of the mail item generated during the creating the documents it contains and transmitting them to a remote network.

Preferably, said determined part of the tracking database includes at least information necessary for the verification of the payment of the postage or the port and the external monitoring of this article of mail.

Said digital reading means and said means for affixing said postal mark and said unique identification number may be formed by a single RFID read / write means. Said postal mark and said unique identification number are then registered by said RFID read / write means in an RFID indicator stuck on or in the mail piece or on a label to be affixed to the mail piece.

When said postal mark is a postal imprint, said affixing means of said postal mark then comprise digital printing means of said postal imprint on the mail piece or on a label intended to be stuck on the mail piece. and said unique identification number is advantageously a sequence of alphanumeric characters, preferably of the OCR type, or a bar code, obtained from an encrypted combination of said identification sequential code and said postal data and printed by said means digital printing on the mail item or on a label to be pasted on the mail piece.

Preferably, said digital reading means is removable for reading recipient addresses and unique identification numbers carried on thick envelopes or packets that can not be introduced into said terminal.

The invention also relates to a method for tracking articles of mail according to their content according to claim 8.

According to the embodiment envisaged, said postal mark may be a postal indicia and the reading step then comprises a digitization of said address of the addressee and said sequential identification code arranged near said address of the addressee or may be a RFID indicator and the reading step then comprises a successive reading of said recipient address and said identification sequential code registered in this RFID indicator.

Brief description of the drawings

• la figure 1 montre un exemple d'architecture d'un système de traitement de courrier selon l'invention, et
• la figure 2 est un organigramme illustrant les différentes étapes de fonctionnement du système de la figure 1.

Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will emerge more clearly from the following description, given by way of non-limiting indication, with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

• the figure 1 shows an example of architecture of a mail processing system according to the invention, and
• the figure 2 is a flowchart illustrating the different stages of operation of the system of the figure 1 .

Detailed description of a preferred embodiment

The figure 1 schematically illustrates the architecture according to the invention of an electronic system for the processing of mail items. By mail article, it is appropriate to hear both an envelope (of any size) or a label to be then glued on a thick envelope or package.

This mail processing system comprises a terminal for processing mail items 10 connected on the one hand through an external wired or wireless communication network 12, to a computer server 14 of the dealer of this terminal and other part by a dedicated line 16 to a computer server 18 of the user.

The computer server of the user 18 may be constituted by a single computer or a set of computers organized around an internal network and provided with common resources, including a database 18A. This database is a database of published letters fed during the creation of the documents to be sent by the computer (s) on which they were prepared. It initially contains, for each article of mail to be sent referred by a sequential identification code (order number in the database), at least the following fields: the reference of the document contained in the mail article, the one or more references of any inserts to be attached to the document, and the recipient's address. Other information, without this list being exhaustive, such as the date of creation of the document, the name or personal number of the sender or service concerned by this shipment, the postal service desired, or an additional descriptive field may to be added to this database. The search and indexing of this database can be done on each of these fields.

The dealer's computer server 14 is a computer server comprising, as is known, conventional software means for sending an installation authorization, the checking of postage, the possible reloading of a postal credit, the verification of encryption data, accounts receivable management and statistical control for example via a customer database. Remote maintenance and teleshopping operations, in particular the payment of postage paid, can also be envisaged with such a computer structure. Note that the dealer's server can be connected to a server of the postal administration by a dedicated line and that under certain operating conditions, the latter server can be connected directly to the terminal and therefore used in place of the previous one for perform all of the above operations.

The terminal for processing mailpieces is a communicating machine of similar design to a conventional franking machine of closed type, that is to say classically comprising (the following list not being limiting): means 20 of supply of mail items, means 22 for selecting one by one of these articles, possibly means 24 for determining the format and / or the weight of the selected mail article, secure means for affixing a postal mark (or any other registration, such as "carriage paid", in accordance with postal specifications) on the mail (for example digital printing means 26), and means 28 for transporting the mail item through the terminal. Of course, this terminal also comprises interface means (not shown of the modem or wireless communication type) with the communication network 12 and the dedicated line 16, interface means with the user (not shown), type screen and keyboard for example, and processing means (particularly memory and microprocessor) for the control and control of the terminal (also not shown).

According to the invention, this terminal further comprises a digital readout means for reading the destination address of the different mail items and converting it into a specific format allowing appropriate storage. In a first embodiment, these digital reading means which are formed by a digitizer and associated software recognition means 30 are advantageously arranged after the means 22 for individual selection of the mail items and preferably above the means 24 for determining format and / or weight, when this terminal is provided. Indeed, in some countries, the amount of postage can be determined from the dimensions of the article of mail without taking into account its weight. On the other hand, in France for example, it is essential to weigh the article of mail to determine the amount of postage. However, a direct keyboard entry of the terminal postage amount exempts this determination of the format and / or the weight of the item to be franked.

When the mailpiece is provided with an RFID tag (RFID tag), these digital reading means are advantageously formed by an RFID read / write means 32 preferably also arranged after the means 22 for individual selection of the mail items and which in this second embodiment can also act as means of affixing the postal mark.

Advantageously, the digital reading means (digitizer 30 or RFID read / write means 32) may be removable to enable a reading of labels to be glued on envelopes of high thicknesses (that can not be introduced into the terminal) or packages. The connection of this reading means with the terminal can then be wired or wireless type.

The method implemented in the mail processing system of the figure 1 is now explained in relation to the organization chart of the figure 2 .

The first step 100 of this method consists of the creation of the mail item database 18A, this database being then enriched by the users (step 102) as and when the documents to be sent are created. The registration in the database is performed sequentially by mail article which is initially assigned a sequential identification code. This code is then printed (step 104), preferably in the form of a barcode, as close as possible to the recipient's address, directly on the document before it is inserted into the envelope, on the envelope itself. same or simply on a self-adhesive label (case of packages). When the document or envelope is equipped with an RFID indicator, this code is stored in this electronic indicator.

These envelopes thus informed can then, in a next step 106, be introduced into the terminal 10 after an individual selection by the means 22 undergo the marking process and / or franking. This begins with a step 108 of determining the size and / or weight of the mail item to be franked. Then, in a step 110, the address of the addressee is read by one of the reading means 30 or 32, according to the type of marking used, as well as that of the sequential identification code. Parallel or previously, in a step 112, the terminal acquires the data relating to the services requested by the user entered on the keyboard of the terminal or received by the dedicated line 16 or contained in the RFID indicator when it exists.

From these elements, the processing means 28 of the terminal will typically generate, in a step 114, the postal data. including the postage amount but also a unique identification number which is advantageously obtained from the sequential identification code assigned to the article of mail to be sent and some of these postal data relating to this article of mail, typically a concatenated combination of the postal terminal number, the amount and date of postage, the number of the deposit institution, and the sequential number of the object for example, without these data being limiting (It is indeed possible to add elements of the address of the recipient or the number of a service associated with this article of mail or non-postal data such as real time stamping data). This identification number will then be printed with the postage stamp in a step 116, inside or near this postal fingerprint, in the form of numeric or alphanumeric characters, preferably readable by an OCR reader, or in the form of a one-dimensional (1D) or two-dimensional (2D) barcode readable with a suitable one or two-dimensional barcode reader. When the document or the envelope comprises an RFID electronic indicator, this identification number is stored in this indicator by the read / write means 32 as are also the postal data.

Concomitantly or subsequently, it is carried out, in a step 118, the enrichment of a tracking database 10A associated with the terminal and which will have been created beforehand, for example when the terminal or the first terminal is started up. introduction of a mail item in this terminal at step 106. This database can be stored in the memory means of the processing means 28 of the terminal or independently of them outside the terminal, for example at level of the common resources of the user's computer means accessible by the dedicated line 16. It comprises a large number of fields with of course all the usual postal data (amount and date of franking, postal number of the franking terminal, name and deposit institution number, object sequential number, etc.) but also all the information relating to one or more services requested by the user (recommended, mention of the carrier, etc.) as well as any other data useful for the processing of the mail item by the postal administration (reception, follow-up, delivery). Most importantly, it includes the sequential identification code that links this article of mail to its content stored in the database of mail items edited 18A. Of course, the tracking database also includes security information for authentication by the dealer server 14 postal data and other information contained in this database. Indeed, in a last step 120, it is proceeded to the extraction of this tracking data database necessary to verify the payment by the user of the postage or the port in the case of a shipment in "Postage paid" and the external tracking of this article of mail to allow their sending to the dealer of the terminal via the communication network 12. This secure communication is made prior to the mail to the postal administration (possibly after several successive tests in case of failure of communication). It is also possible, when the mail piece includes an RFID indicator, to store this information directly in this indicator.

Thus, when a mail piece is received at a reception office of the postal administration, it is proceeded to an automatic capture (by a reading device OCR, barcode, or RFID depending on the type of markings retained) the unique identification number (to its possible deciphering if it was the subject of an earlier coding), which will then give access to the various associated fields of the tracking database. The logistics system of the postal administration can then proceed to the processing of this article of mail according to the services requested by the user-sender and possibly return to the dealer's server and / or make accessible to the user, via means of seizures adapted as a seizure at the level of the website of the postal administration, various tracking information relating to the article of mail processed.

Of course, the previously described mail processing system can also operate as a "manifest" batch system.

Claims (10)

1. A mail handling terminal (10) for tracking mail items based on their content comprising means (26, 32) for affixing, on a mail item, firstly a postal mark obtained in said terminal on the basis of determined postal data and secondly a unique identity number obtained in said terminal, said mail handling terminal further comprising digital reader means (30, 32) for reading, off the mail item, firstly the destination address and secondly a sequential identity code disposed in the vicinity of said destination address, and for converting said destination address and said sequential identity code into a determined format enabling them to be stored in a tracking database (10A) in which said postal data and said unique identity number associated with the mail item are also stored, means further being provided for communicating a determined portion of said tracking database to a remote computer server (14) via a secure communications network (12), characterized in that said unique identification number is obtained from said sequential identity code and some postal data thereof and in that, to achieve the tracking of said mail items based on their content, said sequential identity code in said tracking database is extracted from a database comprising the content of edited mail items (18A), namely at least a reference of the document contained in said mail item, a reference of any insert to join said document and said address of the recipient.
2. A mail handling terminal according to claim 1, wherein said determined portion of the tracking database includes at least information necessary for checking that the postage amount or the carriage has been paid, and for externally tracking said mail item.
3. A mail handling terminal according to claim 1, wherein said digital reader means and said means for affixing said postal mark and said unique identity number are formed by common RFID tag read/write means (32).
4. A mail handling terminal according to claim 3, wherein said postal mark and said unique identity number are recorded by said RFID read/write means in an RFID tag stuck on or in the mail item or on a label for sticking onto the mail item.
5. A mail handling terminal according to claim 1, wherein said postal mark is a postal imprint and said means for affixing said postal mark comprise digital printer means (26) for printing said postal imprint on the mail item or on a label for sticking onto the mail item.
6. A mail handling terminal according to claim 5, wherein said unique identity number is a series of alphanumeric characters, preferably of the OCR type, or a bar code, obtained on the basis of an enciphered combination of said sequential identity code and of said postal data, and printed by said digital printer means on the mail item or on a label for sticking onto the mail item.
7. A mail handling terminal according to claim 1, wherein said digital reader means are removable in order to make it possible to read the destination addresses and the unique identification numbers borne by thick envelopes or parcels that cannot be inserted into said terminal.
8. A method of tracking mail items based on their content consisting: in reading (30, 32), off a mail item, both a destination address and also a sequential identity code disposed in the vicinity of said destination address, in converting said destination address and said sequential identity code into a determined format enabling it to be stored in a tracking database (10A), in affixing on said mail item both a postal mark obtained on the basis of determined postal data, and also a unique identity number obtained from said sequential identity code and some postal data thereof, and in storing in said tracking database said postal data and said unique identity number associated with said mail item, a determined portion of the information stored in said tracking database being transmitted to a remote computer server (14) prior to sending the mail item to the postal administration, said method being characterized in that for achieving the tracking of said mail items based on their content, said sequential identity code in said tracking database is extracted from a database comprising the content of edited mail items (18A), namely at least a reference of the document contained in said mail item, a reference of any insert to join said document and said address of the recipient.
9. A method according to claim 8, wherein said postal mark is a postal imprint and wherein the read step includes digitizing said destination address and said sequential identity code disposed in the vicinity of said destination address.
10. A method according to claim 8, wherein said postal mark is an RFID tag, and wherein said read step includes successively reading said destination address and said sequential identity code as written in said RFID tag.

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