JP2000061406A - Address information correcting and complementing method and its apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To regulate the address information printed on customer barcodes and the delivery route address information within a postal automatic sorter, such as a final delivery sorter. SOLUTION: A customer barcode address data correction section 103 predicts the mistakes of the customer barcodes erroneously encoding the address information in accordance with an address information correction algorithm and corrects and complements the same. Further, the customer barcode data correction section 103 compares the customer barcodes with the address information read by an OCR reader 105 if the costume barcodes are the customer barcodes not registered in a delivery route address information data base in accordance with the learning function built therein. The state described above executes the learning to be registered and executes the data registration so as to correctly read the address information at the time of the next reading.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automatic mail sorting machine such as a route assembling machine that corrects address information for adjusting the address information printed on a customer bar code and the delivery route address information in the automatic mail sorting machine. The present invention relates to a complementary method and its device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In order to improve the efficiency of delivery of postal items, etc., at an office for delivering postal items, the address notation written on the collected postal items is read by an OCR reading device, and this information is sent to the postal item as a customer. A system has been developed in which a bar code is printed, and at a delivery place for mail, etc., the customer bar code printed on the mail is read and the mail is sorted according to the delivery route.

By the way, in an automatic mail sorting machine such as a route assembling machine used in the above-mentioned system, the address information printed on the customer bar code and the delivery route address information in the automatic mail sorting machine are different, and the delivery destination is determined. There is a possibility that an accident will occur.

[0004]

However, in the above-mentioned system, there is currently no measure taken when the address information printed on the customer bar code and the delivery route address information in the automatic mail sorting machine are different. And
Therefore, the system described above has the following problems.

That is, even when the address information encoded in the customer barcode is the address information encoded in the customer barcode slightly different from the delivery route address information in the automatic mail sorting machine, the address information is also obtained. There is a problem that cannot be used as classification information.

Furthermore, when the address information encoded in the customer barcode is slightly different from the delivery route address information in the automatic mail sorting machine, the address information encoded in the customer barcode is substantially the same. It can be handled as the same item, but in reality, many variations occur in the difference in address information, so it is necessary to incorporate data into the database of delivery route address information corresponding to many variations. Yes,
There is a problem that the database of delivery route address information becomes complicated.

An object of the present invention is, in an automatic mail sorting machine such as a route assembling machine, an address information correcting / complementing method for adjusting address information printed on a customer bar code and delivery route address information in the automatic mail sorting machine. And to provide the device.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above object, an address information correcting / complementing method according to the present invention provides a customer bar code address information in an automatic mail sorting machine such as a route assembling machine and an automatic mail sorting machine. A method for correcting / complementing address information for correcting the difference from the delivery route address information, wherein the address information printed on the customer barcode is corrected / complemented by referring to the delivery route address information database, and automatic mail classification is performed. The address is converted to match the delivery route address information on the plane.

Further, the address information correcting / complementing device according to the present invention has a customer bar code reading unit, a customer bar code address data correcting unit, a delivery route address information database, and an OCR reading unit. The device, which is a device, reads the customer barcode from the paper surface of the mail input to the automatic mail sorting machine, and reads the address information that is the printed content of the customer barcode reading unit. The correction unit corrects / complements the reading result of the customer barcode read by the customer barcode reading unit, and the delivery route address information database stores the customer barcode address data correction unit by the customer barcode. Correct and supplement the reading result of the customer barcode output from the reading unit That data of address information to be referenced has been recorded in, OCR reading unit reads an address information described in characters on paper of mail optically.

The customer bar code address data correction unit incorporates an address information correction algorithm,
It has a function of predicting an error and correcting / complementing a customer barcode in which address information is erroneously encoded.

Further, the customer bar code address data correction unit incorporates a learning function, and when the customer bar code is not registered in the delivery route address information database, it is compared with the address information read by the OCR reader. It has a function of learning to register and reading address information correctly at the next reading.

[0012]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an address information correcting / complementing device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 1, an address information correcting / complementing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises a mail input section 101,
Customer barcode reading unit 102, customer barcode address data correction unit 103, delivery route address information databases 104 and 107, OCR (Opti
Cal Character Reader) reading unit 1
05, a classification address final determination unit 106, and a mail classification unit 108.

The mail input unit 101 is adapted to input the collected and delivered mails to the automatic mail sorting machine.

The customer bar code reading unit 102 searches for the customer bar code on the paper surface of the mail input to the automatic mail sorting machine by the mail input unit 101, and reads the address information which is the print content.

The customer barcode address data correction section 103 is adapted to correct / complement the reading result of the customer barcode read by the customer barcode reading section 102.

Specifically, the customer bar code address data correction unit 103 has a basic configuration incorporating an address information correction algorithm, and corrects / complements a customer bar code in which address information is erroneously encoded by predicting an error. It has a function to do.

Further, the customer bar code address data correction unit 103 incorporates a learning function in addition to the above functions, and when the customer bar code is not registered in the delivery route address information database, the OCR reading device 10 is provided.
It has a function of learning to register by comparing with the address information read in 5, and reading address information correctly at the next reading. These functions will be described later using specific examples.

Delivery route address information database 104
Is the customer barcode address data correction unit 103.
The address information data to be referred to when correcting / complementing the reading result of the customer barcode output from the customer barcode reading unit 102 is recorded.

OCR (Optical Character)
The er reader) reading unit 105 optically reads the address information written in characters on the paper surface of the mail.

The final sorting address determination unit 106 is used for final sorting based on the address information output from the customer barcode address data correction unit 103 and the address information output from the OCR reading unit 105. It is designed to determine the address information of the delivery destination.

Delivery route address information database 107
In this area, the delivery route address information referred to when the sorted address final determination unit 106 finally determines the address information of the delivery destination is recorded.

The mail sorting unit 108, based on the address information finally determined by the sorted address final determination unit 106,
The mail is classified according to the delivery route address information in the delivery route address information database 107.

Next, the operation of the address information correcting / complementing device according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

The customer bar code reading unit 102 searches for a customer bar code printed on the paper surface of the mail input by the mail input unit 101.

When the customer bar code is printed, the customer bar code reading unit 102 reads the customer bar code on the paper surface of the mail (step A in FIG. 2).
1) The customer barcode read address data is output to the customer barcode address data correction unit 103 (step A2 in FIG. 2).

The customer bar code address data correction unit 103 compares the customer bar code read address data output from the customer bar code reading unit 102 and predicts an error in the customer bar code in which the address information is erroneously encoded. Then, it works to correct / complement.

If the customer bar code reading address is present in the address information of the delivery route address information database 104, the customer bar code address data correction unit 10 is provided.
3 outputs the data of the customer bar code reading address output from the customer bar code reading unit 102 to the classified address final determination unit 106 as it is without correcting or supplementing it.

Based on the address information output from the customer barcode address data correction unit 103 and the address information output from the OCR reading unit 105, the section address final determination unit 106 delivers the delivery route address information database 107. By referring to the route address information, the address information of the delivery destination to be finally used for classification is determined, and this is used.
It is output to the mail sorting unit 108 as delivery information by the customer barcode (step A3 in FIG. 2).

When the customer bar code is not printed on the paper surface, the customer bar code address correction unit 1
03 corrects / complements the customer barcode reading address information.

Next, the customer barcode address correction unit 103 corrects / corrects the customer barcode read address information.
The supplementary method will be specifically described with reference to a simple example of a customer barcode scheduled to be implemented in Japan from February 1998.

Customer bar code address correction unit 103
There are basically two methods for correcting / complementing customer barcode read address information by.

The first method is a method based on an address information correction algorithm registered to correct a coding error expected in advance. The second method is a learning method that uses the reading result by the OCR reading unit 105.

First, the method based on the address information correction algorithm is a method for correcting a customer barcode coding error that is expected in advance.
-0016 To convert the address information of "5-6-3 Taito-ku, Taito-ku, Tokyo, ABC Building 10F DEF Co., Ltd. Gochu" into a customer barcode, it is correct to take out the following elements and convert them (see: New Regarding the improvement of the charge reduction system with the introduction of the postal code system, the same shall apply hereinafter).

"11000165-6-3-10" (when the conversion is correct)

On the other hand, the following pattern is an example of a coding error that can be easily corrected.

Case 1: "110-00165-6-3"
-10 ": When there is a hyphen between the first 3 digits and the last 4 digits of the postal code.

Case 2: "1100016-5-6-3
-10 ": When there is a hyphen between the 7th digit of the postal code and the cue.

Case 3: "110-0016-5-6-"
3-10 ”: In the case of a compound mistake of case 1 and case 2.

Case 4: "1100165-6-3-
10F ": In the case of a mistake with the F on the 10th floor.

Case 5: "110-00165-6-3"
-10F ": In case 1, F is attached.

Case 6: "1100016-5-6-3
-10F ": Case 2 with F.

Case 7: "110-0016-5-6-"
3-10F ”: In case 3, F is attached.

There are the following examples as those that cannot be completely corrected but can be corrected to some extent.

Case 8: "110-00165-6-
3 ": In case 1, 10 is missing.

Case 9: "1100016-5-6-
3 ”: In case 2, 10 is missing.

Case 10: "110-0016-5-6
-3 ": In case 3, 10 is missing.

In the above cases 1 to 10, the customer barcode address data correction unit 103 predicts an error in the customer barcode in which the address information is erroneously coded based on the address information correction algorithm, and converts it. Corrects / complements the correct "1100165-6-3-10".

The second method is a learning method using the reading result by the OCR reading unit 105. For example, "Ayabe 6 Aono-cho, Ayabe-shi, Kyoto 623-0011, Japan" is used.
-7 L Plaza B106 DEF Co., Ltd. Gochu "is converted to the customer barcode by extracting the following elements.

"62300116-7LB106" (when conversion is correct)

However, the coding result of the customer bar code changes depending on the address notation.

For example, the expression "6-3 Ayabe, Aono-cho, Ayabe-shi, Kyoto, 6-7 LPlaza106 DEF Co., Ltd. Gochu" is as follows.

"62300116-7-106"

Therefore, based on the incorporated learning function, the customer bar code address data correction unit 103 reads the address read by the OCR reader 105 when the customer bar code is not registered in the delivery route address information database. The data is registered so that the address information can be correctly read at the next reading by learning to register the information in contrast with the information.

In the above-mentioned example, the customer bar code address data correction unit 103 uses the learning function "6
23-0011 6-7-10 Ayabe, Aono-cho, Ayabe-shi, Kyoto
6 ".

It is confirmed whether the address information obtained as a result of this information reading is an address registered in the delivery route address information (see FIG. 2).
Step A3), if it is registered, it is output as delivery address information by the customer barcode (step A7 in FIG. 2).

When the address information of the information reading result is not registered, it is determined that the customer barcode coding error and the reading result of the OCR reading unit 105 is referred to.

If the OCR reading unit 105 determines that the above reading result is "62300116-7LB106", "62300116-7-106" = "62300".
116-7LB106 ”and stored in the customer barcode address correction unit 103 (step A6 in FIG. 2).

Thereafter, "62300116-7-10"
When the address information of "6" is input to the customer barcode address correction unit 103, "62300116-7"
LB106 ”, and correct address information can be obtained. However, here, it is assumed that the delivery route address information database 104 is correctly updated to the latest information.

[0061]

As described above, according to the present invention, since the address information correction algorithm is incorporated in the customer bar code address data correction unit, the customer bar code in which the address information is erroneously encoded has some error. If it can be predicted, it can be corrected.

Further, since the learning function is incorporated in the customer bar code address data correction section, even the customer bar code not registered in the delivery route address information database is compared with the address information read by the OCR reading section. Then, by learning to register, the address can be read correctly from the next time.

Furthermore, since the customer bar code address data correction unit has the address data correction function, it is not necessary to have various address registration patterns for each address data, and the delivery route address information database can be simplified and delivered. The route address information database can be simplified.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing an address information correction / complementation device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an operation of the address information correction / complementation device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

101 Email input section 102 Customer Bar Code Reader 103 Customer barcode address data correction unit 104 Delivery route address information database 105 OCR reader 106 Classification address final decision unit 107 Delivery route address information database 108 Mail division section

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An address information correction / complementation method for correcting the difference between the address information of a customer bar code in an automatic mail sorting machine such as a route assembling machine and the delivery route address information in the automatic mail sorting machine, wherein the customer bar The address information printed on the code is corrected and supplemented by referring to the delivery route address information database, and address conversion is performed to match the delivery route address information in the automatic mail sorting machine. Address information correction / completion method. 2. An address information correcting / complementing device having a customer barcode reading section, a customer barcode address data correcting section, a delivery route address information database, and an OCR reading section, wherein the customer barcode reading section comprises: The customer bar code is searched for from the paper surface of the mail input to the automatic mail sorting machine, and the address information that is the printed content is read, and the customer bar code address data correction unit uses the customer bar code reading unit. This is to correct / complement the read result of the read customer barcode, and the delivery route address information database has the read result of the customer barcode output from the customer barcode address correction unit by the customer barcode address data correction unit. Address information data to be referenced when correcting / complementing The address information correcting / complementing device is characterized in that the OCR reading unit optically reads the address information written in characters on the paper surface of the postal matter. 3. The customer bar code address data correction unit has a function of incorporating an address information correction algorithm and correcting / complementing a customer bar code in which address information is erroneously encoded by predicting an error. The address information correcting / complementing device according to claim 2, wherein 4. The customer barcode address data correction unit incorporates a learning function, and compares the address information read by the OCR reader when the customer barcode is not registered in the delivery route address information database. 3. The address information correction / complementation device according to claim 2, wherein the device has a function of performing learning for registration and reading address information correctly at the next reading.