JP2007253005A - Mail processing system and mail processing method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a mail processing system capable of efficiently processing mail. <P>SOLUTION: The mail processing system is comprised of a recognition means for reading an image of a mail piece and recognizing individual items consisting of a position of a postage stamp, the kind of the postage stamp, a zip code number and address information from the image red, a display means for displaying the image of the mail piece based on a recognition error with respect to at least one of the items consisting of the position of the postage stamp, the kind of the postage stamp, the zip code number and the address information, and an input receiving means for helping input the information on the item(s) corresponding to the recognition error and receiving the information on the item(s) corresponding to the recognition error as the information on the mail piece displayed by the display means. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a mail processing system that reads an image of a postal matter such as a sealed letter or a postcard, recognizes classification information such as a postal code and address information from the read image, and classifies the postal matter based on the recognized classification information, and The present invention relates to a mail processing method.

  2. Description of the Related Art A mail processing system that sorts mail based on the recognition result of classification information written on mail such as sealed letters and postcards is known. The mail processing system includes, for example, a mail processing apparatus and a video coding system (VCS). The mail processing apparatus sorts the mail based on the recognition result of the sorting information described on the mail. On the other hand, the VCS temporarily stores in the mass storage device an image of the postal matter for which the category information could not be recognized when a classification information recognition error occurs by the postal processing device, and stores the postal matter stored in the mass storage device. Are selectively distributed to a plurality of video coding desks (VCDs).

Each video coding desk displays an image of the distributed mail piece, and the operator inputs a code corresponding to the classification information while viewing the display (coding process). As a result, the mail processing apparatus can classify mails that cannot be classified due to classification information recognition errors based on the classification information input via the VCD (see Patent Document 1).
JP2002-28574

  In order to process mail items more appropriately, it is necessary to recognize some important information also in the division information such as the postal code and address information. For example, it is necessary to recognize the stamp position on the postal item and the fee stamp type. It is difficult to recognize these stamp positions and fee stamp types without errors, and recognition errors can occur. However, if a recognition error of the stamp position and the fee stamp type occurs, the mail processing system cannot properly process the mail. As a result, the processing efficiency of the mail processing system decreases, and the processing load on the operator and the like increases.

  An object of the present invention has been made to solve the above-described problem, and a mail processing system and mail processing that can efficiently process mail without applying a large processing load on an operator or the like. It is to provide a method.

  The mail processing system and mail processing method of this invention are configured as follows.

  (1) A mail processing system according to the present invention comprises a recognition means for reading an image of a mail piece, recognizing each item of the fee stamp position, fee stamp type, zip code, and address information from the read image; Display means for displaying an image of the postal matter based on a recognition error of at least one item of the position of the amount stamp, the type of charge stamp, the postal code, and the address information, and the postal matter displayed by the display means Information receiving means for receiving information related to the item corresponding to the recognition error while supporting the input of information related to the item corresponding to the recognition error.

  (2) The mail processing system according to the present invention reads an image of a mail, recognizes each item of the fee stamp position, fee stamp type, zip code, and address information from the read image, and recognizes each item. Based on the result, the postal matter is processed, and identification information is given to the image of the postal matter based on the recognition error of at least one of the fee stamp position, fee stamp type, zip code, and address information. A mail processing machine that transmits the image of the mail piece and the identification information, and the image of the mail piece and the identification information transmitted from the mail processing machine, and displays the image of the mail piece. As the displayed postal information, the input of information related to the item corresponding to the recognition error is received while supporting the input of information related to the item corresponding to the recognition error. And an input processing for transmitting to the mail processing machine with information.

  (3) The postal matter processing method of the present invention reads an image of a postal matter, and from the read image, at least one of the items of the fee stamp position, fee stamp type, zip code, and address information Based on the recognition error, the image of the mail piece is displayed, and the information on the item corresponding to the recognition error is input as the mail piece information displayed by the display unit, and the image corresponds to the recognition error. Accept input of information about items.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, the mail processing system and mail processing method which can process mail efficiently can be provided, without applying many processing loads to an operator etc.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a mail processing system according to an example of the present invention and a data flow in the mail processing system.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the mail processing system includes a mail sorting and stamping machine 1 that functions as a mail processing machine, and a video coding system (VCS) 2 that functions as an input processing machine. The postal mail arranging and stamping machine 1 includes an operation panel 11, a main control unit PC 12, an OCR unit 13, a mechanism control unit 14, and a stamping machine (inkjet printer) 15. One video coding system 2 includes a storage / distribution device 21 and a plurality of video coding desks (VCD) 22.

  The operation panel 11, the main controller PC12, the OCR unit 13, the mechanism control unit 14, and the stamping machine 15 are connected via a bus, and a storage / distribution device 21 is also connected to the bus. In addition, the storage / distribution device 21 and each video coding desk 22 are connected via another bus.

  The OCR unit 13 reads an image of a mail piece, and recognizes each item of the fee stamp position, the fee stamp type, the zip code, and the address information from the read image. The mechanism control unit 14 and the stamping machine 15 process the postal matter (stamping and sorting processing) based on the recognition result of each item.

  The OCR unit 13 gives identification information (ID) to the image of the mail based on the recognition error of at least one item of the fee stamp position, the fee stamp type, the zip code, and the address information, The mail image and identification information are transmitted to the storage / distribution device 21. For example, a plurality of sets of mail images and identification information are transmitted to the storage / distribution device 21. That is, the storage / distribution device 21 receives images and identification information of a plurality of sets of postal items, stores images and identification information of these sets of postal items, and further stores images and identification information of these sets of postal items. Distribute to each video coding desk 22.

  The video coding desk 22 has a keyboard 22a and a display 22b. The video coding desk 22 receives the postal image and identification information transmitted from the storage / distribution device 21, and displays the received postal image on the display 22a. At this time, the video coding desk 22 supports the input of information related to the item corresponding to the recognition error (supporting the input of information so as not to put a burden on the operator), and the information of the item related to the recognition error. The operator input is received, and the received input information is transmitted to the storage / distribution device 21 together with the identification information.

  The storage / distribution device 21 receives the input information and the identification information from the video coding desk 22, and transmits them to the postal matter arrangement stamping machine 1 (main control unit PC12). The postal arrangement arrangement stamping machine 1 (mechanism control unit 14, stamping machine 15) identifies the mail piece based on the transmitted identification information, compensates for the recognition error based on the transmitted input information, and based on the recognition result of each item. Process mail (sort processing).

  FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing an outline of the mail processing by the mail arranging and stamping machine 1. FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of display on the video coding desk 22. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an outline of input processing by the video coding desk 22. Here, with reference to the flowcharts of FIG. 2 and FIG. 4, the mail processing by the mail arrangement stamping machine and the input processing by the video coding desk 22 will be described.

  If the OCR unit 13 of the postal arrangement stamping machine 1 is unable to recognize the position of the fee stamp (ST101, NO), the postal image and the postal mail are sent to the storage / distribution device 21 of the video coding system 2. The information (information indicating that the fee stamp position is unrecognized) is transmitted with respect to the item that could not be recognized as the ID (identification information) given to.

  In addition, even when the OCR unit 13 of the postal arrangement stamping machine 1 cannot recognize the fee stamp type (NO in ST102), the postal image and the postal mail are stored in the storage and distribution device 21 of the video coding system 2. The information (information indicating that the fee stamp type is unrecognized) related to the item that could not be recognized as the ID (identification information) given to the object is transmitted.

  In addition, even when the OCR unit 13 of the postal arrangement stamping machine 1 cannot recognize the postal code and address information (ST103, NO), the postal image and the postal image are stored in the storage and distribution device 21 of the video coding system 2. Information (information indicating that the postal code and address information are unrecognized) related to an item that could not be recognized is transmitted as an ID (identification information) given to the mail.

  That is, the OCR unit 13 of the postal arrangement stamping machine 1 determines that the video coding system 2 is based on the recognition error of at least one of the items of the fee stamp position, fee stamp type, zip code, and address information. The mail image, ID, and recognition error item information are transmitted to the storage / distribution device 21.

  The storage / distribution device 21 distributes the mail image, ID, and recognition error item information to each video coding desk 22 based on the activation status and congestion status of each video coding desk 22. As a result, the video coding desk 22 receives the postal image, ID, and recognition error item information, and the postal image is displayed on the display 22b (ST201). When the video coding desk 22 detects an unknown (unrecognized) fee stamp position based on the recognition error item information (ST202, YES), the fee stamp designation cursor 22d is validated (the fee stamp designation cursor 22d is displayed). In addition, the input of the fee stamp position is supported (ST203). When the video coding desk 22 detects unknown (unrecognized) fee stamp type based on the recognition error item information (YES in ST204), the fee stamp designation menu 22e is validated (the fee stamp designation menu 22e is displayed). In addition, it supports the input of the fee stamp type (ST205). When the video coding desk 22 detects an unknown (unrecognized) zip code and address information based on the recognition error item information (ST206, YES), the zip code and address information input area 22f is validated (zip code and address information). The input area 22f is displayed) and the input of the zip code and address information is supported (ST207).

  As shown in FIG. 3, the display 22 b is equipped with a pointing device 22 c such as a touch panel, and the operator can use the pointing device 22 c and the keyboard 22 a via the fee stamp position, the fee stamp type, the zip code, And address information can be entered. For example, when the fee stamp position is designated by the displayed fee stamp designation cursor 22d via the pointing device 22c (ST208), the video coding desk 22 receives the designated fee stamp position (ST209). Alternatively, when the type of the fee stamp is designated from the displayed fee stamp designation menu 22e via the pointing device 22c (ST208), the video coding desk 22 accepts the designated fee stamp type (ST210). ). Alternatively, when the postal code and address information are input to the postal code and address information input area 22f via the keyboard 22a (ST208), the video code desk 22 receives the input postal code and address information (ST211).

  The video coding desk 22 transmits the input recognition error item (input information) to the storage / distribution device 21 together with the ID based on the input confirmation for all the recognition error items (ST212). The storage / distribution device 21 transmits the input recognition error item together with the ID to the postal mail arranging and stamping machine 1.

  The postal mail arrangement stamping machine 1 receives the input recognition error item and the ID from the video coding system (storage / distribution device 21), and identifies the postal object by the ID. For mail pieces that do not have the items necessary for mail processing, that is, the postage stamp position, the postage stamp type, the postal code, and the address information, a rejection judgment is made (ST106, YES). Objects are classified into rejects (ST110).

  Rejection judgment is not made for postal items that have the information necessary for mail processing, that is, postage stamp position, postage stamp type, postal code, and address information (ST106, NO) If the stamp is not stamped (ST107, NO), the fee stamp is stamped (ST108) based on the received fee stamp position and fee stamp type information (ST109).

  As described above, the postal arrangement stamping machine 1 can reject a postal item immediately even if it cannot recognize at least one of the fee stamp position, fee stamp type, postal code, and address information. In addition, with the input support by the video coding system, information on items that could not be recognized is acquired, and the mail is processed (stamping and sorting). Thereby, the processing rate of the mail arrangement stamping machine 1 can be improved.

  Note that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention in the implementation stage. In addition, the embodiments may be appropriately combined as much as possible, and in that case, the combined effect can be obtained. Further, the above embodiments include inventions at various stages, and various inventions can be extracted by appropriately combining a plurality of disclosed constituent elements. For example, even if some constituent requirements are deleted from all the constituent requirements shown in the embodiment, the problem described in the column of the problem to be solved by the invention can be solved, and the effect described in the column of the effect of the invention Can be obtained as an invention.

It is a figure which shows the schematic structure of the mail processing system of an example of this invention, and shows the data flow in a mail processing system. It is a flowchart which shows the outline of the mail processing by a mail arrangement stamping machine. It is a figure which shows an example of the display display of a video coding desk. It is a flowchart which shows the outline of the input process by a video coding desk.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Mail arrangement stamping machine, 2 ... Video coding system (VCS), 11 ... Operation panel, 12 ... Main control part PC, 13 ... OCR unit, 14 ... Mechanism control unit, 15 ... Stamping machine, 21 ... Accumulation / distribution device , 22 ... Multiple video coding desks (VCD)

Claims (8)

Recognizing means for reading an image of a postal item and recognizing each item of the fee stamp position, fee stamp type, zip code, and address information from the read image;
Display means for displaying an image of the postal matter based on a recognition error of at least one item of a fee stamp position, fee stamp type, postal code, and address information;
Input accepting means for accepting input of information related to the item corresponding to the recognition error, while supporting input of information related to the item corresponding to the recognition error, as the postal matter information displayed by the display means;
A mail processing system characterized by comprising:   The input receiving means validates a fee stamp designation cursor based on a fee stamp position recognition error, and accepts designation of the fee stamp position by the validated fee stamp designation cursor. Item 2. A mail processing system according to item 1.   The input receiving means validates a fee stamp designation menu based on a fee stamp type recognition error, and accepts designation of a fee stamp type from the validated fee stamp designation menu. Item 2. A mail processing system according to item 1.   2. The input accepting unit validates a postal code input area based on a postal code recognition error, and accepts input of information relating to the postal code through the validated postal code input area. Mail processing system.   2. The input accepting means validates an address information input area based on an address information recognition error, and accepts input of information related to address information through the validated address information input area. Mail processing system. It reads the image of the mail, recognizes each item of the fee stamp position, fee stamp type, zip code, and address information from the read image, processes the mail based on the recognition result of each item, and charges Based on a recognition error of at least one of the mark position, the fee stamp type, the postal code, and the address information, identification information is given to the image of the postal matter, and the postal image and the identification information are A mail processing machine to send,
Receiving the image of the mail piece and the identification information transmitted from the mail processing machine, displaying the image of the mail piece, and regarding the item corresponding to the recognition error as the displayed mail piece information An input processor that accepts input of information related to the item corresponding to the recognition error while supporting input of information, and transmits the received input information to the mail processing machine together with the identification information;
A mail processing system characterized by comprising:   The mail processing machine specifies the mail based on the identification information transmitted from the input processing machine, compensates for the recognition error based on the input information transmitted from the input processing machine, and recognizes each item. The mail processing system according to claim 8, wherein the mail is processed based on the mail. Reads the image of the postal item and displays the image of the postal item based on the recognition error of at least one of the items of the fee stamp position, fee stamp type, zip code, and address information from the read image. And
As the information of the postal matter displayed by the display means, the input of information about the item corresponding to the recognition error is accepted while supporting the input of information about the item corresponding to the recognition error.
The mail processing method characterized by the above-mentioned.

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