FR3101466A1 - Folder distribution system - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for tracking a postal item in a postal item distribution system (1) comprising a step of obtaining (E220) a recipient postal key (CLE_D) associated with a subscribed user to whom it is obtained. postal letter is addressed to him. Figure for abstract: Fig 1

Description

Letter distribution system

The present invention relates to the field of processing postal items, such as letters and parcels. More particularly, the invention relates to methods and devices for tracking and intercepting postal items.

In the current state of the art, methods are known in particular for redirecting postal items, for example in the event of a recipient user moving.

However, in the current state of the art, there are no methods and devices making it possible to warn the recipient user, on the move or not, of the arrival of a letter and allowing him to be able to immediately redirect the letter. to a postal address different from the destination address that may be entered on the envelope.

One of the aims of the invention is to remedy the shortcomings of the methods and devices for processing postal items of the state of the art.

According to a first aspect, the invention relates to a method for tracking a postal item in a postal item distribution system comprising
- a device for intercepting folds;
- a fold tracking device;
- a first system for managing a first database, called a directory, comprising a set of records, each record comprising
▪ a unique identifier of a subscribed user, called postal key;
▪ civil identification information of the subscribed user;
▪ at least one postal address of the subscribed user;
each postal item processed by the distribution system being
- identified in the distribution system by a letter number;
- addressed to the subscribed user, identified in the directory by an associated postal key;
the tracking method being performed by the fold tracking device and comprising:
- a step of acquiring a letter number to be distributed identifying a postal envelope followed;
- A step of obtaining a recipient postal key associated with a subscribed user to whom the tracked postal item is addressed, said recipient user;
- a step of sending a request comprising the recipient postal key and/or civil identification information of the recipient user to the first management system;
- A step of receiving from the first management system a response comprising at least one postal address of the recipient user, called the destination address;
- A step of assigning an effective address for distributing the tracked postal item, depending on the destination address.

It should be noted that when the response includes several postal addresses of the recipient user, the destination address is chosen from among said postal addresses.

According to this first aspect, the invention makes it possible, on the one hand, to warn the recipient user who happens to be potentially on the move, of the arrival of a tracked postal item and, on the other hand, to allow him to be able to immediately redirect the tracked postal item to a destination address which depends on the information associated with the postal key.

Correlatively, the invention also relates to a tracking device belonging to a postal item distribution system, the distribution system further comprising
- a device for intercepting folds;
- a first system for managing a first database, called a directory, comprising a set of records, each record comprising
▪ a unique identifier of a subscribed user, called postal key;
▪ civil identification information of the subscribed user;
▪ at least one postal address of the subscribed user;
each postal item processed by the distribution system being
- identified in the distribution system by a letter number;
- addressed to the subscribed user, identified in the directory by an associated postal key,
the tracking device comprising:
- Means for acquiring a letter number to be distributed identifying a postal envelope followed;
- Means for obtaining a recipient postal key associated with a subscribed user to whom the follow-up postal item is addressed, said recipient user;
- means for sending a request comprising the recipient postal key and/or civil identification information of the recipient user to the first management system;
- Means for receiving from the first management system a response comprising at least one postal address of the recipient user, called the destination address;
- Means for assigning an effective address for distributing the tracked postal item, depending on the destination address.

In a particular embodiment, when the recipient user is actually on the move, before or after signaling the arrival of a tracked postal item, he can choose to redirect the tracked postal item to a postal address chosen from among several depending type of fold and for a desired duration. Consequently, in this embodiment, the response comprises several destination addresses, a destination address being associated with a delivery time range and/or with at least one type of postal item, and in which the step of assigning understand
- a sub-step of identifying a type of postal item followed and/or a sub-step of estimating a time range for delivery of the postal item;
- a sub-step of choosing from among the destination addresses, depending on the type of postal item identified and/or the estimated time range, a destination address chosen as the actual delivery address.

By type of fold, within the meaning of the present invention, is meant a fold transmitted according to a particular mode and/or a particular form. For example, as type of folds, one can have, a mail or parcel followed, a mail or priority parcel, a mail or parcel in recommended with or without counter-signature, a mail or non-urgent parcel or any other type of sending and sending mail or packages known to those skilled in the art.

Preferably, the identification sub-step and the choice sub-step are executed by the tracking device.

In a particular embodiment, when a postal address is written on the tracked postal envelope which is different from the actual delivery address or when only the postal key and/or information civil identification of the recipient user but no address, it is desirable that the effective address of distribution appears on the postal envelope followed. In this case :
- if the postal item followed includes an entry of a postal address of the recipient user different from the actual delivery address,
Or
- if the postal envelope followed does not include a postal address of the registered recipient user,
the allocation step further comprises a first sub-step of sending to the device for intercepting folds a message comprising the actual delivery address. For example, the actual delivery address can be printed on the postal item tracked by the item intercepting device.

In addition, it is possible to have an additional step of verifying the civil identification of the recipient subscriber user on the tracked postal envelope before modifying the postal address entered on the envelope or adding one when the envelope lacks it.

In a particular embodiment, data exchanges can take place between the distribution system and a sender to provide each envelope with additional details, for example the type of envelope or even the identity of the sender. Consequently, the distribution system further comprises a computerized data interchange system able to transmit to the envelope tracking device a list of envelope numbers sent, with each envelope number sent corresponding to a postal key, and in which
- the tracking method comprises, prior to the obtaining step,
▪ a step of recording said list of envelope numbers sent and the corresponding postal keys; And
- the obtaining step includes a substep of searching for the item number to be distributed in the list of item numbers sent and of the corresponding postal keys, and a substep of designating its corresponding postal key as a key postal recipient.

It should be noted that the recording step can be implemented prior to the obtaining step only or prior to both the acquisition step and the obtaining step.

Furthermore, it should be noted that by recording, we mean within the meaning of the present invention, the reception of one or more messages comprising all or part of said list.

As a variant, the subscribed user being able to indicate the postal key of the recipient before sending the envelope, the postal key can be written on the postal envelope intercepted by the interception device. Consequently, according to this variant, the tracked postal item includes an entry of the recipient postal key and the step of obtaining comprises a first sub-step of receiving from the item intercepting device a message comprising information representative of the recipient postal key.

Note that the representative information may include a computer representation of the recipient postal key or an image of the inscription or mail piece captured by the mail interception device. The image will then be processed according to known methods to obtain the recipient postal key and send the latter or the image in its entirety to the tracking device.

Alternatively, the subscribed user may have omitted to write the addressee's postal key on the envelope. In this case, the tracked postal item includes an entry of the recipient user's civil identification information, said civil identification information entered and in which the obtaining step comprises
- a second sub-step of receiving from the envelope interception device a message comprising information representative of the registered civil identification information;
- a sub-step of sending the registered civil identification information to the first management system;
- A third sub-step of receiving from the first management system a message comprising the recipient postal key associated with the recipient user.

In a preferred mode of this variant, the method further comprises a second sub-step of transmission to the envelope interception device of a message comprising the recipient postal key, for, for example, printing on the envelope. Thus, the processing of postal items by the following interception device(s) is simplified. By following interception device(s), within the meaning of the present invention, is meant interception device(s) included in different distribution systems which may be present after the one referred to in this request.

In a particular embodiment, the envelope distribution system can use the postal key of a user as the sender of the envelope because the recipient of the followed postal envelope can very well also be a sender of another envelope. In this case, the method further comprises a step of determining a sender postal key associated with a subscribed user sender of the tracked postal item.

It should be noted that the step for determining the sender postal key is similar to the step for obtaining the recipient postal key. In particular, the same determination variants are applicable. It should also be noted that the sender key can take the same form as the recipient key.

In a particular embodiment, the subscribed user can access the record associated with his postal key specific to him at any time to modify the record, complete it or configure it. Consequently, the distribution system comprises a second system for managing a second database, called the virtual mailbox database, comprising a set of records, each record being associated with a postal key, and comprising
- a unique identifier of a subscribed user, called postal key;
- civil identification information of said subscriber user;
- at least one postal address of said subscriber user;
and wherein the tracking method further comprises a first step of transmitting to the second management system a message comprising
- the recipient postal key;
- the envelope number to be distributed;
- optionally the actual delivery address, and/or
- optionally the estimated time range, and/or
- optionally an image of the postal item followed, and/or
- optionally the type of fold associated with the postal fold followed, and/or
- optionally an identification of the interception device.

By setting, within the meaning of the present invention, is meant indicating parameters that are actually valid during a time range.

Preferably, the tracking method may further comprise a second step of transmission to the second management system of a message comprising
- the sender postal key;
- the envelope number to be distributed;
- optionally an identification of the interception device;
- optionally the civil identification of the addressee of the envelope;
- optionally an effective date of distribution of the envelope.

The message may include an effective date of delivery of the envelope, in the event that the sender wishes to know on what date the postal envelope sent was actually delivered to the recipient.

According to a second aspect, the invention relates to a method for intercepting a postal item in a postal item distribution system comprising
- a device for intercepting folds;
- a fold tracking device;
- a first system for managing a first database, called a directory, comprising a set of records, each record comprising
▪ a unique identifier of a subscribed user, called postal key;
▪ civil identification information of the subscribed user;
▪ at least one postal address of the subscribed user;
each postal item processed by the distribution system being
- identified in the distribution system by a letter number;
- addressed to the subscribed user, identified in the directory by an associated postal key;
the intercepting method being performed by the mail intercepting device and comprising:
- a step of identifying or allocating a letter number to be distributed identifying a follow-up letter comprising
▪ an entry representative of a recipient postal key associated with a subscribed user to whom the tracked postal item is addressed, said recipient user; and or
▪ an entry representative of the recipient user's civil identification information, referred to as the registered civil identification information;
- a step of transmitting to the device for tracking folds a message comprising
▪ the envelope number to be distributed;
▪ information representative of
◦ the recipient postal key; and or
◦ registered civil identification information;
- a step for triggering the sorting of the follow-up envelope.

The identification step is implemented when the distribution system further comprises the computerized data interchange system capable of transmitting to the item tracking device a list of item numbers shipped, while the step of attribution is implemented when the distribution system does not include one.

According to this second aspect, the invention makes it possible to trigger a sorting of the follow-up envelope without necessarily having a destination postal address written on it.

In a particular embodiment, when no address is entered on the tracked postal envelope, or when the postal address entered on the tracked envelope is different from the actual delivery address, it is preferable to enter the latter on the follow-up postal item. Therefore, in a particular embodiment, the interception method further comprises
- A second step of receiving from the fold tracking device a message comprising an effective distribution address;
- a step of printing on the envelope followed by the actual delivery address.

Correlatively, the invention also relates to a device for intercepting mail items belonging to a postal item distribution system, the distribution system further comprising
- a fold tracking device;
- a first system for managing a first database, called a directory, comprising a set of records, each record comprising
▪ a unique identifier of a subscribed user, called postal key;
▪ civil identification information of the subscribed user;
▪ at least one postal address of the subscribed user;
each postal item processed by the distribution system being
- identified in the distribution system by a letter number;
- addressed to the subscribed user, identified in the directory by an associated postal key;
the fold intercepting device comprising
- means of identification or allocation of a letter number to be distributed identifying a follow-up letter comprising
▪ an entry representative of a recipient postal key associated with a subscribed user to whom the tracked postal item is addressed, said recipient user; and or
▪ an entry representative of the recipient user's civil identification information, referred to as the registered civil identification information;
- means for transmitting to the device for tracking folds a message comprising
▪ the envelope number to be distributed;
▪ information representative of
◦ the recipient postal key; and or
◦ registered civil identification information;
- Means for triggering the sorting of the follow-up envelope.

The invention further proposes a postal item distribution system comprising the item tracking device and the item interception device described above.

The invention will be better understood on reading the following description, given solely by way of example, and with reference to the appended figures in which:

FIG. 1 schematically represents the steps of the tracking and interception methods according to different embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 2 schematically represents the steps of the tracking and interception methods according to different embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 3 schematically represents the steps of the tracking and interception methods according to different embodiments of the invention.

The postal item distribution system 1 comprises one or more item intercepting devices 10, and one or more item tracking devices 20. A item interception device 10 can be integrated into a sorting center. The interception devices 10 can be distributed over a territory served by the distribution system 1. According to the embodiments, the tracking system can be centralized or distributed over said territory.

The distribution system 1 also includes a first system 40 for managing a first database of subscribed users, called the directory.

By subscribed user, we mean within the meaning of the present invention, a user who has previously taken the step to have a postal key CLE associated with him, which is a unique identifier of the user in the distribution system 1. The postal key CLE corresponds to the identity of the subscribed user, whether the latter is a recipient of a letter and/or its sender EXP. The postal key CLE can take the form of a succession of characters such as letters and/or numbers.

The directory database comprises a set of Record_j records, each comprising
- the unique identifier of a subscribed user, called postal key CLE;
- civil identification information of said subscriber user; example surname, first name, title for natural persons and other significant information for legal persons,
▪ at least one postal address of said subscriber user,
▪ possibly the preferences by postal address, that is to say the time slots for delivery and/or type of postal item.

A destination postal address can be associated with a delivery time range and/or with a type of postal item. For example, for a subscribed mobile user, a postal address will be associated with his main residence, and another with a temporary residence, for example vacation. Thus, the user can, for example, associate his main residence with the receipt of parcels and his vacation residence with the receipt of mail, only during a time period of presence in his temporary residence, for example during his holidays and for selected weekdays. Another example of a type of postal envelope is a registered envelope with counter-signature. A subscribed user can define delivery time slots corresponding to chosen dates/times. It should be noted that a time range associated with a postal address may consist of continuous or discontinuous time intervals.

A postal address within the meaning of the invention can also be a mail safekeeping address, within the distribution system 1, during temporary absences of the subscribed user.

In the remainder of this example, it is assumed that the database is a directory database which lists the postal keys and which associates with each of them, the civil identification information of the subscribed user and one or more addresses which are associated.

In a preferred embodiment, the distribution system 1 comprises a second system 30 for managing a second database, called the virtual mailbox database.

A subscribed user, identified by his CLE postal key, has a virtual mailbox, allowing him to be informed of his letters/parcels which will be delivered to his/her associated physical mailbox(es) ( s) to his/her postal address(es).

The subscribed user can also have a virtual tracking mailbox, allowing him to track his letters/parcels sent and including a sender postal key entry CLE_E corresponding to his postal key CLE.

The virtual mailboxes are accessible to the user via a computer portal and a man-machine interface 50, according to methods known to those skilled in the art, for example applications executed by telecommunications, such as connected smartphones or tablets.

A postal item processed by the distribution system 1 is a postal item tracked PLI and is identified in this system by a item number, assigned according to the embodiments by the item interception device 10 or by a separate device. This envelope number will be registered, after attribution, on the postal envelope, in a conventional form, for example a bar code.

In addition to the envelope number, other entries may be present, for example the recipient postal key CLE_D associated with a DEST subscriber user to whom the said PLI tracking postal envelope is addressed, the sender postal key CLE_E associated with a sender subscriber user EXP of said postal item, civil identification information of the recipient subscriber user and/or of the subscriber sender user EXP, a postal address of the recipient user DEST, or even a postal address of the sender user EXP.

The fold interception device 10 comprises means for identifying a fold number to be distributed No_PLI identifying a fold followed in the distribution system 1 of postal folds. These means may for example be means for reading a bar code and/or a string of characters inscribed on the fold, or for capturing at least one image of the fold so as to allow the visualization of the inscriptions present thereon.

The fold interception device 10 may further comprise means for assigning a fold number to a tracked fold which does not include a fold number inscription. Preferably, the fold intercepting device 10 also comprises printing means for printing an assigned fold number on the intercepted fold.

The fold interception device 10 also includes means for transmitting to the fold tracking device 20, information making it possible to identify the fold number, for example the character string and/or the captured images.

It should be noted that the postal address of the recipient can be written on the postal envelope, or not. In both cases, the tracking and interception methods offer a solution for determining, from the recipient postal key CLE_D associated with a subscribed user to whom said PLI tracked postal item is addressed, the postal address to which this item to be distributed, referred to as the "effective delivery address". The different use cases will be described later.

A first embodiment of the tracking and interception methods implemented respectively by the fold tracking device 20 and by the fold interception device 10 in the distribution system 1 will be described below with reference to the figure 1.

In this first embodiment, the distribution system 1 further comprises a computerized data exchange system 60 capable of transmitting to the item tracking device 20, during a step E600, a list of item numbers sent, at each mailing number corresponding to a postal key CLE. The fold tracking device 20 records in memory, during a recording step E200, said list of the numbers of folds sent and the corresponding postal keys.

The fold interceptor 10 detects a fold. If this fold includes a fold number entry, the fold interception device 10 executes a step E110 for identifying this fold number, according to the information entered, as already explained. Once identified, the ply number No_PLI is sent to the device 20, in a message transmitted by the device 10, during a transmission step E120. In this first embodiment, the message transmitted includes the item number to be distributed No_PLI identified previously.

Following receipt of this message from the envelope interception device 10, the tracking device 20 executes an acquisition step E210 of an envelope number to be distributed No_PLI identifying the postal envelope followed PLI.

Then the fold tracking device 20 executes a step E220 for obtaining a recipient postal key CLE_D associated with a subscribed user to whom said PLI tracked postal item is addressed, called recipient user DEST.

In this first embodiment, the step of obtaining E220 comprises a substep E221 of searching for said item number to be distributed No_PLI in said list of item numbers sent and of the corresponding postal keys CLE, and a substep of designation E223 of its corresponding postal key CLE as recipient postal key CLE_D.

Still in this first embodiment, the fold tracking device 20 then executes a step E240 of sending a request REQ comprising said recipient postal key CLE_D to said first management system 40. Thus, the first management system 40 receives during a step E400 this request REQ.

In the event that the directory database lists the postal keys and associates one or more addresses with each of them, following receipt of the request REQ comprising the recipient postal key CLE_D, the management system 40 extracts from the database of directory data the associated address or addresses and sends to the fold tracking device 20 an RSP response to this request REQ, comprising the address or addresses associated with the recipient postal key CLE_D. The RSP response may also include the civil identification information of said recipient user DEST and the information associated with the destination addresses: destination time range and/or mail type.

The fold tracking device 20 receives the response RSP comprising the address or addresses of the first management system 40 during a reception step E250. Thus, the first management system 40, during a transmission step E410, sends the response RSP to the mailing device 20. As explained, the response RSP includes at least one postal address of said recipient user DEST, called the destination address.

Then the fold tracking device 20 executes a step E260 of allocating an effective address of distribution of said postal fold followed by PLI, according to said destination address.

If said RSP response includes several destination addresses, a destination address being associated with a delivery time range and/or with at least one type of postal item, said allocation step E260 comprises an identification sub-step E262 d a type of said postal item followed by PLI, for example in the case where the item intercepting device 10 sends an image of the item or a digital indication allowing such identification.

It should be noted that the type of fold can be identified only by viewing the image of the fold.

The item tracking device 20 can then execute a sub-step E264 of estimating a delivery time range of said PLI tracked postal item. This estimate can be calculated by the distribution system 1 as a function of the type of postal item followed by PLI and of the distribution preferences to the various postal addresses of the recipient user DEST, linked to the type of item identified and to the estimated time range, but also depending on various other parameters which may be intrinsic to the distribution system 1 or extrinsic

For example, this estimate can also take into account the mail delivery times, any information on the location of the envelope interception device 10 which processes the postal envelope PLI; and routing information of said PLI tracked postal item.

The envelope tracking device 20 then executes a sub-step E266 of choosing from among said destination addresses, depending on the type of postal item identified and/or the estimated time range, a destination address chosen as the effective address of distribution.

The effective delivery address thus chosen therefore corresponds to the user's preferences for the type of envelopes and the estimated delivery time slot, which ensures immediate redirection of postal envelopes, even for users on the move.

The interception and tracking processes ensure, through the use of the postal key CLE, the distribution of the postal item considered in the physical mailbox associated with the actual delivery address, regardless of the address information postal address listed on the cover.

Several use cases can illustrate the application of interception and tracking methods:
1) The postal envelope has a registered destination mailing address, and this address corresponds to the actual delivery address. In this case the fold tracking device 20 allows the validation of the destination address written on the fold, and the compatibility with the classic distribution of the postal fold, by a factor who is responsible for delivering the postal fold according to the destination address entered.
2) Said PLI tracked postal item includes an entry of a postal address of said recipient user DEST different from the actual delivery address. In this case, the fold tracking device 20 can send, during a first transmission sub-step E268 to the fold interception device 10, a message comprising the actual distribution address. This message will be received by the fold interception device 10 during a second reception step E130. The mail interception device 10 can then execute a printing step E140 on said mail followed PLI by said actual delivery address.
3) Said PLI tracked postal item does not include a registered postal address of said recipient user DEST, only the recipient postal key CLE_D appearing on the PLI tracked postal item. In this case also the fold tracking device 20 can send, during the execution of the first transmission sub-step E268 to the fold interception device 10, a message comprising the actual delivery address. This message will be received and processed by the fold interception device 10 as in the previous case.

Optionally, the distribution system 1 may comprise a second system 30 for managing a second database, called the virtual mailbox database, comprising a set of records, each record being associated with a postal key CLE.

The tracking method may further include
- a first step E270 of transmission to said second management system 30 of a message, the second management system 30 then then receiving in a reception step E300 this last message, this message comprising the following information:
▪ the recipient postal key CLE_D;
▪ the envelope number to distribute No_PLI;
▪ optionally the actual delivery address, and/or
▪ optionally the estimated time range, and/or
▪ optionally an image of the postal item followed by PLI, and/or
▪ optionally the type of fold associated with the postal fold followed by PLI, and/or
▪ optionally an identification of the fold interception device 10.

The second management system 30, in a step E320, then sends information mentioned above to a computer portal. The virtual mailboxes are accessible to the user, after reception by the man-machine interface 50 of the information mentioned above in a step E500, via the computer portal and a man-machine interface 50 according to methods known to those skilled in the art. Through this virtual mailbox, it should be noted that the subscribed user can, among other things, modify at least part of the record associated with his own postal key, complete it or configure it as sender as well as receiver.

Furthermore, it should be noted that to allow a sender user EXP to track the routing of his mail items sent, preferably, the tracking method further comprises a step E230 for determining the sender postal key CLE_E, similar to the step E220 for obtaining the recipient postal key CLE_D. In particular, the same determination variants are applicable.

Moreover, the method can also further comprise a second step E280 of transmission to said second management system 30 of a message which then receives in a reception step E310 this last message, this message comprising
- said sender postal key CLE_E;
- said ply number to be distributed No_PLI;
- optionally an identification of the fold interception device 10 to identify and/or locate the fold interception device 10;
- optionally the civil identification of the addressee of the envelope;
- optionally an effective date of distribution of the envelope.

A second embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to Figure 2.

In this embodiment, said PLI tracked postal item includes the item number and an entry of said recipient postal key CLE_D. The method of obtaining the postal key CLE by the fold tracking device 20 is different. It should be noted that the other steps of the interception and tracking methods are similar to the first embodiment and these steps, as well as their variants, will not be described.

The fold interception device 10 comprises means for identifying the postal key CLE, similar or confused with the means for identifying the fold number. These means may for example be means for reading a bar code and/or a string of characters inscribed on the fold, or for capturing at least one image of the fold so as to allow the visualization of the inscriptions present thereon. Thanks to these means, the device 10 can pick up information representative of said recipient postal key CLE_D written on the postal item followed by PLI. This information is then sent by the fold interception device 10 to the fold tracking device 20, via a message.

The step of obtaining E220 of the tracking method comprises a first sub-step of receiving E229 from said device for intercepting folds 10 said message comprising information representative of said recipient postal key CLE_D, the device for intercepting folds 10 then transmitting in a step E160 information representative of said recipient postal key CLE_D.

It should be noted that this representative information may include a computer representation of the recipient postal key CLE_D or an image of the inscription OR OF THE MAIL captured by the mail interception device 10. The image will then be processed according to known methods to obtain the recipient postal key CLE_D.

A third embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to FIG. 3. The method of obtaining the postal key CLE by the item tracking device 20 is different from the first two embodiments. It should be noted that the other steps of the interception and tracking methods are similar to the first and second embodiments.

In this third embodiment, said PLI tracked postal item includes an entry of the civil identification information of said recipient user DEST, called registered civil identification information and in which the obtaining step E220 comprises
- a second sub-step E222 of reception from said fold interception device 10 of a message comprising information representative of said registered civil identification information, the fold device (in a step E190) then transmits to the tracking device of 20 folds this message;
- A sub-step E224 of sending said registered civil identification information to said first management system 40, the first management system 40 then receiving this information in a step E420;
a third sub-step E226 of reception from said first management system 40 of a message comprising the recipient postal key CLE_D associated with said recipient user DEST, the first management system 40 then transmitting this message in a step E430.

The postal key CLE can be obtained following exchanges of messages between the fold tracking device 20 and the first management system 40. For example, the fold tracking device 20 can send civil identification information of the subscribed user to the first management system 40 (E224) so that the management system 40 can return to it, in a single message, the set of records associated with a subscribed user, i.e. i.e. the postal key CLE, the civil identification information of the subscriber user and at least one postal address of the subscriber user (E250). In this case, step E250 can be confused with sending substep E224 (part of obtaining step E220).

In the case where a postal address is entered on the postal envelope followed by PLI, and in the case where there are homonymous subscriber users, the first management system 40 can return as many recipient postal keys CLE_D as homonymous subscriber users. The fold tracking device 20, in an optional step, will be able to associate the subscribed user with his correct recipient portal key CLE_D according to the postal address entered on the postal envelope followed by PLI.

Optionally, a second sub-step of transmission E228 to said envelope interception device 10 of a message comprising said recipient postal key CLE_D, for printing on the envelope, can be implemented. Thus, the processing of postal items by the following interception device(s) is simplified.

Claims (14)

Method for tracking a postal item in a postal item distribution system (1) comprising
- a device for intercepting folds (10);
- a fold tracking device (20);
- a first system (40) for managing a first database, called a directory, comprising a set of records, each record comprising
▪ a unique identifier of a subscribed user, called postal key;
▪ civil identification information of said subscribed user;
▪ at least one postal address of said subscriber user;
each postal item processed by said distribution system (1) being
- identified in said distribution system (1) by a ply number;
- addressed to the subscribed user, identified in the directory by an associated postal key (CLE);
said tracking method being performed by said ply tracking device (20) and comprising:
- a step of acquisition (E210) of a letter number to be distributed (No_PLI) identifying a tracked postal envelope (PLI);
- a step of obtaining (E220) a recipient postal key (CLE_D) associated with a subscribed user to whom said tracked postal item (PLI) is addressed, called recipient user (DEST);
- a step of sending (E240) a request (REQ) comprising said recipient postal key (CLE_D) and/or civil identification information of said recipient user (DEST) to said first management system (40);
- a step of receiving (E250) from said first management system (40) a response (RSP) comprising at least one postal address of said recipient user (DEST), called the destination address;
- a step of assigning (E260) an effective delivery address of said tracked postal item (PLI), as a function of said destination address. Tracking method according to claim 1, in which said response (RSP) comprises several destination addresses, a destination address being associated with a delivery time range and/or with at least one type of postal item, and in which said step allocation (E260) includes
- a sub-step of identifying (E262) a type of said tracked postal item (PLI) and/or a sub-step of estimating (E264) a delivery time range of said postal item (PLI);
- a sub-step of choosing (E266) from among said destination addresses, depending on the type of postal item identified and/or the estimated time range, a destination address chosen as the actual delivery address. Tracking method according to one of the preceding claims, in which
- if said tracked postal item (PLI) includes an entry of a postal address of said recipient user (DEST) different from the actual delivery address,
Or
- if said tracked postal item (PLI) does not include a registered postal address of said recipient user (DEST),
the allocation step (E260) further comprises a first sub-step of transmission (E268) to the envelope interception device (10) of a message comprising the actual delivery address. Tracking method according to one of the preceding claims, in which said distribution system (1) further comprises a computerized data interchange system (60) capable of transmitting to the item tracking device (20) a list of numbers of envelopes sent, with each number of envelope sent corresponding to a postal key, and in which
- the tracking method comprises, prior to the obtaining step (E220),
▪ a recording step (E200) of said list of envelope numbers sent and of the corresponding postal keys; And
- the step of obtaining (E220) comprises a substep (E221) of searching for said item number to be distributed (No_PLI) in said list of item numbers sent and of the corresponding postal keys, and a designation substep (E223) of its corresponding postal key as recipient postal key (CLE_D). Tracking method according to one of claims 1 to 3, in which said tracked postal item (PLI) comprises an entry of said recipient postal key (CLE_D) and in which the step of obtaining (E220) comprises a first sub- step of receiving (E229) from said device for intercepting envelopes (10) a message comprising information representative of said recipient postal key (CLE_D). Tracking method according to one of Claims 1 to 3, in which said tracked postal item (PLI) comprises an entry of the civil identification information of said recipient user (DEST), called civil identification information entered and in which the obtaining step (E220) includes
- a second sub-step (E222) of receiving from said device for intercepting folds (10) a message comprising information representative of said registered civil identification information;
- a sub-step of sending (E224) said registered civil identification information to said first management system (40);
- a third sub-step of receiving (E226) from said first management system (40) a message comprising the recipient postal key (CLE_D) associated with said recipient user (DEST). Tracking method according to one of the preceding claims, further comprising
- a step of determining (E230) a sender postal key (CLE_E) associated with a sender subscriber user (EXP) of said tracked postal item (PLI). Tracking method according to one of the preceding claims, in which the distribution system (1) comprises a second system (30) for managing a second database, called the database of virtual mailboxes, comprising a set of records, each record being associated with a postal key, and comprising
- a unique identifier of a subscribed user, called postal key;
- civil identification information of said subscriber user;
- at least one postal address of said subscriber user;
and wherein the tracking method further comprises
- a first step of transmission (E270) to said second management system (30) of a message comprising
▪ the recipient postal key;
▪ the envelope number to be distributed;
▪ optionally the actual delivery address, and/or
▪ optionally the estimated time range, and/or
▪ optionally an image of the tracked postal item, and/or
▪ optionally the type of fold associated with the postal fold followed and/or
▪ optionally an identification of the interception device (10). Tracking method according to one of Claims 7 or 8, further comprising a second step of transmission (E280) to said second management system (30) of a message comprising
- said sender postal key (CLE_E);
- said ply number to be distributed (No_PLI);
- optionally an identification of the interception device (10);
- optionally the civil identification of the addressee of the envelope;
- optionally an effective date of distribution of the envelope. Method for intercepting a postal item in a postal item distribution system (1) comprising
- a device for intercepting folds (10);
- a fold tracking device (20);
- a first system (40) for managing a first database, called a directory, comprising a set of records (Reg_j), each record comprising
▪ a unique identifier of a subscribed user, called postal key;
▪ civil identification information of said subscribed user;
▪ at least one postal address of said subscriber user;
each postal item processed by said distribution system (1) being
- identified in the distribution system (1) by a ply number;
- addressed to the subscribed user, identified in the directory by an associated postal key (CLE);
said intercepting method being performed by said mail intercepting device (10) and comprising:
- a step of identification or allocation (E110) of a letter number to be distributed (No_PLI) identifying a follow-up letter (PLI) comprising
▪ an entry representative of a recipient postal key (CLE_D) associated with a subscriber user to whom said tracked postal item (PLI) is addressed, known as recipient user (DEST); and or
▪ an entry representative of the civil identification information of said recipient user (DEST), referred to as the registered civil identification information;
- a step of sending (E120) to the fold tracking device (20) a message comprising
▪ the envelope number to distribute (No_PLI),
▪ information representative of
◦ said recipient postal key (CLE_D); and or
◦ said registered civil identification information;
- a step of triggering (E150) the sorting of said follow-up fold (PLI). Interception method according to the preceding claim, further comprising:
- a second step of receiving (E130) from the fold tracking device (20) a message comprising an effective delivery address;
- a step of printing (E140) on said follow-up fold (PLI) of said effective delivery address. Fold tracking device (20) belonging to a postal item distribution system (1), the distribution system (1) further comprising
- a device for intercepting folds (10);
- a first system (40) for managing a first database, called a directory, comprising a set of records, each record comprising
▪ a unique identifier of a subscribed user, called postal key;
▪ civil identification information of said subscribed user;
▪ at least one postal address of said subscriber user;
each postal item processed by said distribution system (1) being
- identified in said distribution system (1) by a ply number;
- addressed to the subscribed user, identified in the directory by an associated postal key (CLE),
the tracking device (20) comprising:
- Means for acquiring a mailing number to distribute (No_PLI) identifying a tracked postal mail (PLI);
- means for obtaining a recipient postal key (CLE_D) associated with a subscriber user to whom said tracked postal item (PLI) is addressed, called recipient user (DEST);
- means for sending a request (REQ) comprising said recipient postal key (CLE_D) and/or civil identification information of said recipient user (DEST) to said first management system (40);
- Means for receiving from said first management system (40) a response (RSP) comprising at least one postal address of said recipient user (DEST), called the destination address;
- Means for assigning an effective address of distribution of said tracked postal item (PLI), according to said destination address. A device (10) for intercepting a letter belonging to a postal item distribution system (1), the distribution system (1) further comprising
- a fold tracking device (20);
- a first system (40) for managing a first database, called a directory, comprising a set of records (Reg_j), each record comprising
▪ a unique identifier of a subscribed user, called postal key;
▪ civil identification information of said subscribed user;
▪ at least one postal address of said subscriber user;
each postal item processed by said distribution system (1) being
- identified in the distribution system (1) by a ply number;
- addressed to the subscribed user, identified in the directory by an associated postal key (CLE);
the fold intercepting device (10) comprising
- means of identification or allocation of a letter number to be distributed (No_PLI) identifying a follow-up letter (PLI) comprising
▪ an entry representative of a recipient postal key (CLE_D) associated with a subscriber user to whom said tracked postal item (PLI) is addressed, known as recipient user (DEST); and or
▪ an entry representative of the civil identification information of said recipient user (DEST), referred to as the registered civil identification information;
- means for transmitting to the fold tracking device (20) a message comprising
▪ the envelope number to distribute (No_PLI)
▪ information representative of
◦ said recipient postal key (CLE_D); and or
◦ said registered civil identification information;
- Means for triggering the sorting of said follow-up fold (PLI). A mailpiece delivery system (1) comprising a mailpiece tracking device (20) according to claim 12 and a mailpiece intercepting device (10) according to claim 13.