EP2071520A1 - Method and system for handling postal packages - Google Patents

Abstract

The method involves creating datasets with data i.e. transmission number, for identifying a postal item (1). A mail is accepted at a receiving station (3), and graphical information is recorded on an upper surface of the postal item. The datasets with data for identifying the postal item are deposited at a server platform (5) with the recorded graphical information collected on the upper surface of the postal item. The datasets are provided for users (6, 10). The datasets with the data for identifying the mail are created at a user terminal (2). An independent claim is also included for a system for handling a postal item, comprising a datasets creating unit.

Description

The invention relates to a method and a system for processing mailpieces.

Currently, mail items, especially with additional services such as sending as registered mail, can be delivered to customer branches and receive a mailing number there, which is also communicated to the customer, usually the consignor. The consignment number enables consignment tracking on the Internet. In this case, a customer enters the item number on a corresponding website and can view the item status of a mail item, for example the status "delivered" or the status "delivered". Business customers can also use a personal access to view the status of several of the mailings they have delivered.

As a disadvantage of the known method, it turns out that only one item number and an associated item status for a customer are visible. The customer-relevant recipient address, which is usually used by the customer to identify a mail item, is not displayed, i. a customer must note down the recipient's address associated with the shipment number, which is cumbersome and time-consuming for him. If the associated recipient address is not noted by him, he can no longer determine the status of the item via the website provided to him.

Various methods and systems for categorizing and / or tracking postal items are known from the prior art. From the U.S. Patent 5,229,932 A method and apparatus for categorizing and verifying mail is apparent. For bulk mailings being delivered, the class, number, size, and weight of the mailings are detected, and the ZIP code contained in the address is read to determine the geographic target region and the readability of the address block and to verify the address. All information will be saved and a report will be produced, which will contain not only the information collected, but also the postage calculated from it. This report is compared with the customer's delivery details, in particular the postage is verified.

The U.S. Patent 4,821,195 discloses a method and apparatus for sequentially numbering mailpieces. For franking mailpieces, the customer of a postal company receives a postage amount, the postage being transmitted together with a transaction number. The shipments are provided with the postage, the transaction number and a sequential number, and for a bulk mailing, a report is printed containing the total postage and the number of shipments contained. Based on the transaction number and the consecutive numbering can be seen whether the mailings have valid frankings.

The invention is based on the object of giving a user of a postal service provider the possibility of monitoring the status of a mailpiece together with further data relevant to him, preferably via the Internet.

According to the invention the object is achieved by a method having the features of claim 1.

• Ein Datensatz mit Daten zur Identifizierung der Postsendung, z. B. mit einer Sendungsnummer, wird an einem ersten Nutzerterminal angelegt,
• die Postsendung wird an einer Empfangsstation entgegengenommen, und auf der Oberfläche der Postsendung befindliche graphische Informationen werden an einem zweiten Nutzerterminal erfasst,
• der Datensatz mit den Daten zur Identifizierung der Postsendung wird mit den auf der Oberfläche der Postsendung befindlichen erfassten graphischen Informationen auf einer mit den beiden Nutzerterminals verbundenen Serverplattform hinterlegt, und der Datensatz oder Teile davon werden einem Nutzer zur Verfügung gestellt.

The method according to the invention for processing a mail item comprises the following steps:

• A data record with data for identifying the mailpiece, z. B. with a shipment number is created at a first user terminal,
• the mail item is accepted at a receiving station, and graphic information located on the surface of the mail item is recorded at a second user terminal,
• the data record with the data for identifying the mail item is deposited with the recorded graphical information located on the surface of the mail item on a server platform connected to the two user terminals, and the data record or parts thereof are made available to a user.

In this way, after reading in graphical information, in particular a recipient address, this linked with a mailing number of the mailpiece, so that these two information combined with each other a user, for example, via a website, can be made accessible.

Usually, the data record is created for the mail item upon delivery and / or franking of the mailpiece and provided with a mailing number. The data record may include a field "status" which is set to "delivered" when the mail item is delivered.

The mailing number can be in the form of a code, and the recipient's address as part of the graphical information can be recorded, for example, by means of OCR (Optical Character Recognition) and / or stored as graphite. Based on the shipment number, the data record for the mailing is determined and the detected recipient address is added to the data record. A web server then reads from the record and the information contained therein to the recipient address and displays them on a corresponding website.

In any case, it is important that data and / or information about a mail item is detected, by means of which at least one item identifying the mail item and / or the mailer of the mail item is determined. The tracking number is particularly suitable for this, but other data for identification are also conceivable.

It is expedient to deposit the data record in a so-called customer data management system (KDM). The data record can then also be used, for example, for a later payroll of a postal company.

In a preferred embodiment of the method, it is provided that the data record or parts thereof are made available to the user via a web-based server platform.

Likewise, it is expedient that the data record or parts thereof may be converted into another format and made available to a user via an electronic notification.

An electronic notification can be transmitted in particular via a so-called push process. Examples include Email, SMS (Short Message Service), Multimedia Messaging Service (MMS), Skype (Internet telephony) and Instant Messaging (so-called "chat").

Conversion of the format of the record or parts thereof may be for various reasons. In particular, for the transmission of an email, SMS and the like, however, it is necessary that, for example, digital image data are converted into a simple text format.

In a further expedient embodiment of the method, the data set or parts thereof are coded and can be decoded by the user.

This ensures that only an authorized user gains access to the data of a mailing.

In practice, coding takes place, for example, in such a way that a mailing number is applied as a code to the mailpiece. The so-called "post-matrix code" has proved particularly useful for this purpose.

This code is a two-dimensional code that has a significantly higher information density per area compared to one-dimensional barcodes. In addition, the post-matrix code is also suitable for franking a mail item and is subject to a standard.

A further expedient embodiment of the method provides that the data record or parts thereof are made available to a user in a report and / or an evaluation.

In particular, business customers have an interest in getting the mailings they have sent specially prepared displayed. The processing can be carried out, for example, in a breakdown by various recipient addresses, according to the shipping status, the date of posting and the like.

It is particularly expedient if the data record includes data on the status of the mail item, starting with the receipt of the mail item at the receiving station. These status data can be changed, in particular updated, from a third user terminal. As soon as a mail item reaches predetermined stations on its transport path, for example, a corresponding code located on the mailpiece is scanned and the status in the data record is updated accordingly. A web server has access to the record and specifies the updated content for a customer on a web page.

The graphic information expediently includes information about an addressee of the mailpiece.

The graphical information is preferably acquired by a means for scanning.

A scanner is used, for example, to read in the address, and depending on the type of scanner, the information read in is transmitted by radio or by cable. Common here are radio scanners with multi-line display and an output option as well as a touch screen and / or a keyboard with rudimentary input function.

Various scanners often use what is known as a scanner controller component, which interfaces with the scanners and the rest of the components of a system and manages incoming matrix codes from various scanners for further processing at different times at different times.

In general, an assignment of the various graphical information on the surface of the mail item to specialized readers is advantageous. In this case, the detection of the graphic information can be carried out by a central image processing device, which supplies the special readers with digitized information via standardized interfaces.

Examples of specialized readers are devices that detect codes contained in the graphical information by deciphering the code. For example, such specialized readers are for acquiring information from digital indicia in the post-matrix code already mentioned above.

An additional advantageous embodiment of the method is characterized in that the graphic information located on the surface of the mail item and recorded at the second user terminal is examined by an image processing device as to whether the acquired graphic information deviates from predetermined graphic information and that, in the case of Deviation a notification at the first and / or second user terminal is generated.

In this case, a processing center for mailpieces may contain a plurality of central image processing devices, or a central image processing device may process the graphical information of several letter or freight centers.

In addition, the processing of the graphic information present on the mailpieces can take place both sequentially and simultaneously with the aid of an image processing device. In particular, it is advantageous to carry out the method with the aid of the image processing device in such a way that existing image processing capacities are utilized as effectively as possible by effectively distributing the image processing tasks to various components of a central image processing device.

The term image processing, in particular the image processing device, is in no way limiting. In particular, the term encompasses the transformation of the graphic information into further graphic information, for example the conversion into another format, the forwarding of the graphic information and / or the evaluation of further information contained in the graphic information and / or obtained from the graphic information, such as reading a recipient address or deciphering coded information contained in the graphical information. In addition, the term image processing also includes the features sometimes referred to as image interpretation in the field of image processing. This includes, for example, the deciphering of recipient addresses by reading the recipient's address reproducing graphical information, for example in the form of a handwritten statement includes.

• ein erstes Nutzerterminal zum Anlegen eines Datensatzes mit Daten zur Identifizierung der Postsendung,
• eine Empfangsstation zur Entgegennahme der Postsendung,
• ein zweites Nutzerterminal zur Erfassung von auf der Postsendung befindlichen graphischen Informationen,
• eine Serverplattform zum Hinterlegen des Datensatzes mit den Daten zur Identifizierung der Postsendung und mit den auf der Postsendung befindlichen erfassten graphischen Informationen, die mit beiden Nutzerterminals verbunden ist und einem Nutzer Daten und/oder Informationen des Datensatzes zur Verfügung stellt.

The object of the invention is furthermore achieved by a system for processing a mail item with one of the above-mentioned methods, which comprises the following components:

• a first user terminal for creating a data record with data for identifying the mailpiece,
• a receiving station for receiving the mailpiece,
• a second user terminal for detecting graphical information on the mailpiece,
• a server platform for storing the data record with the data for identifying the mail piece and with the recorded on the postal item of recorded graphical information that is connected to both user terminals and a user provides data and / or information of the record.

An embodiment of the invention will be explained below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

It shows Fig. 1 a schematic diagram of system components of a system according to the invention. At a first user terminal 2, a data record with data for identifying a mailpiece 1 is created. The mail item 1 itself is accepted at a receiving station 3, and graphical information, in particular the recipient address, located on the surface of the mail item is recorded at a second user terminal 4, which optionally may be identical to the first user terminal 1. The data for identifying the mail item 1 and the graphic information, ie the recipient address, to the mail item 1 are forwarded from one of the user terminals 2, 4 respectively to a server platform 5 connected to both user terminals 2, 4 and deposited there.

The recipient address may or may not be recorded at both user terminals 2,4.

The data on the server platform 5 are accessible to a further user 10 via a web browser for a user 6 and via an electronic notification, in particular a push message. The acquisition of the graphic information at the second user terminal 4 is effected by means of a scanning device 8, in particular by means of a suitable detection means, for example a hand-held scanner or a permanently installed camera. The graphic information acquired by the scanning device 8 is forwarded to an image processing device 9 and from there to the server platform 5. Via a third user terminal 7, the data record can be changed, in particular updated, with regard to the data on the status of the mailpiece. The third user terminal 7 is operated, for example, by a courier 11 of a shipping service provider.

Alternatively and / or in addition to the manual influencing of the status described above, for example by a courier, it is expedient to update the status automatically at one or more other locations as well.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

mailing

2

First user terminal

3

receiving station

4

Second user terminal

5

server platform

6

user

7

Third user terminal

8th

Device for scanning

9

Image processing means

10

Another user

11

courier

Claims (20)

Method for processing a mailpiece with the following steps: a data record is created with data for identifying the mail item (1), in particular with a mailing number, - The mail item (1) is received at a receiving station (3), and located on the surface of the mailpiece (1) graphical information is detected, - The record with the data for identifying the mail piece is deposited with the located on the surface of the mailing captured graphical information on a server platform (5), and the record or parts thereof are provided to a user (6, 10). Method according to claim 1,
characterized,
that the record is created with data for identifying the mail item (1), in particular at a first user terminal (2). Method according to claim 1,
characterized,
that the data record with data for identifying the mail item (1), by a central system (server) is created. Method according to one of claims 1 to 3,
characterized,
in that graphic information located on the surface of the mail item (1) is recorded at a second user terminal (4). Method according to one of claims 1 to 4,
characterized,
in that graphical information located on the surface of the mail item (1) is acquired at a processing station. Method according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized,
that the data record or parts of the user (6) via a web-based server platform (5) are provided. Method according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized,
that the data record or parts thereof optionally converted into another format and the user (10) are made available via an electronic notification. Method according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized,
that the data set or parts thereof are coded and decodable for the user (6, 10). Method according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized,
that the data record or parts of the user (6, 10) are provided in a report and / or an evaluation. Method according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized,
that data on the status of the mail item (1) changes, in particular be updated. Method according to claim 10,
characterized,
that a process chain of status changes is generated. Method according to claim 11,
characterized,
that the process chain begins with a receipt of the mail item (1) at a receiving station (3). Method according to claim 11,
characterized,
that the process chain with a detection of the mailpiece (1) begins in a processing unit. Method according to one of claims 10 to 13,
characterized,
that the data on the status of the mail item (1) of a third user terminal (7) of modified, in particular updated. Method according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized,
in that the graphic information comprises data relating to an addressee of the mail item (1). Method according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized,
in that the graphic information is detected by means of a scanning device (8). Method according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized,
in that the graphic information located on the surface of the mail item (1) and recorded on the second user terminal (4) is examined by an image processing device (9) as to whether the acquired graphical information deviates from predetermined graphical information and in the event of a deviation Notification on the first and / or second user terminal (2, 4) is generated. System for processing a mailpiece by means of a method according to one of the preceding claims, comprising the following components: a first means for creating a data record with data for identifying the mail item (1), a receiving station (3) for receiving the mail item (1), a means for detecting graphical information on the mail piece (1), a server platform (5) for storing the data record with the data for identifying the mail item (1) and with the recorded graphical information on the mail item (1), which is connected to both user terminals (2, 4) and a user (6 , 10) provides data and / or information of the data record. System according to claim 18,
characterized,
in that the means for creating the data record is a first user terminal (2). System according to one or both of claims 18 or 19,
characterized,
in that the means for detecting the graphical information present on the mailpiece (1) is a second user terminal (4).

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