JP2010221094A - System for collecting data of postal matter misclassification, method for collecting data of postal matter misclassification, and control program thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To identify causes which bring about misclassification by a postal matter classification device and the like to answer for early detection and remedy of the causes. <P>SOLUTION: A system for collecting data of postal matter misclassification includes: a device 10 for classifying postal matter (a device for processing the postal matters) which prints ID tags on the postal matter, and classifies the postal matter according to address information of the postal matter having input using an OCR (a character reading device) 22 or a key board; a data temporary storage device (a processed data storage device) 30 which relates processed result data of each postal matter processed by the device 10 for classifying postal matter with an ID tag and stores; a misclassification data storage device 40 which stores processed result data of misclassified postal matter; and an ID tag reading device (misclassification ID tag reading device) 50 which reads an ID tag printed on postal matter misclassified, wherein the data temporary storage device 30 is retrieved using the ID tag having been read from the ID tag reading device as a search key, the processed result data of the relevant postal matter is extracted, and stored in the misclassification data storage device 40 as a misclassification datum. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a postal matter misclassification data collection system, a postal matter misclassification data collection method and a control program thereof, which are used in cooperation with a postal matter classification system, and more specifically, has a function of searching and storing misclassification data. The present invention relates to a postal matter misclassification data collection system, a postal matter misclassification data collection method, and a control program therefor.

  A typical mail sorting system includes a mail sorting machine having an image scanner that scans a mail, and an OCR that reads a mail address and address from an image scanned by the image scanner. Then, the mail is appropriately classified based on the reading result of the address / address read by the OCR. If the OCR fails to read the destination information, an image of the destination information is transmitted to the keying device, and the operator inputs the key of the correct correct address / address, and based on the keying result, Classification is performed.

  A technique for correcting misreading of destination information by OCR is also disclosed (see, for example, Patent Document 1). According to this technique, the reading result of the destination information by OCR is compared with the keying result by the operator, and if the two do not match, the reading result by OCR is determined to be misread and the misread result is accumulated. If the previous read result matches the misread result by a specified value or more (for example, if one character of the destination name does not match and all other characters match), the image information including the destination information read by OCR Is displayed on the display device and the operator confirms it. As a result, it is possible to reduce misclassification of postal items based on OCR misreading.

  Also disclosed is a technique for accumulating misread information of destination information by OCR and checking it at an appropriate time (see Patent Document 2). According to this technique, the reading result of the destination information by OCR is compared with the keystroke result by the operator, and if they do not match, the reading result by OCR is determined to be misread, and the image determined to be misread is stored. Keep it. Then, the mail piece of the image judged to be misread is checked in a time zone where the key hitter is not burdened. As a result, it is possible to check misreading efficiently without imposing an excessive burden on the keystroke person.

JP 2004-105921 A JP 2008-226066 A

  However, in the above-mentioned mail sorting system, when an OCR misread or a keying device miskey is generated, the mail is accumulated in the wrong sorting slot. Causes of such misclassification include the image scanner of the mail sorting device and abnormal transport status, miskeying of the keying device, or low OCR reading performance for specific mail, etc. It takes a lot of time and effort to identify the cause of the occurrence.

  In addition, mails are found to be misclassified when there is a manual misclassification check immediately after classification and when a postal delivery is delivered from the delivery office to the delivery destination. Therefore, it is necessary to make it possible to easily collect misclassified data from both the mail collection station and the delivery station. For this purpose, it is necessary to arrange ID tag readers (ID (Identification) tag readers) at the collection station and the delivery station so that misclassification data can be easily registered on the spot where the misclassification is found. However, if the delivery department finds a misclassification, the mail must be transferred to the correct destination again, so that the mail is delayed and the service to the customer is reduced.

  In addition, in the techniques of Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2, it is possible to reduce misreading by OCR, but when misreading by OCR occurs, mails may still be misclassified. Further, in order to investigate the cause of the misclassification, it is necessary to arrange ID tag readers at the collection station and the delivery station in the same manner as described above. Also, if the delivery department finds a misclassification, it will be delayed and the customer service will be reduced.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and efficiently collects various data of postal items that are misclassified due to misreading of the OCR, miskeying of the keystroke device, etc., and simplifies the cause of misclassification. It is an object of the present invention to provide a postal matter misclassification data collection system, a postal matter misclassification data collection method, and a control program for the postal matter misclassification data collection which can be traced to improve the postal matter classification.

  In order to achieve the above object, a first configuration of the present invention relates to a postal matter misclassification data collection system, which prints an ID tag on a postal matter and is input using a character reader or a keystroke device. A mail processing device that sorts the mail according to mail address information, a processing data storage device that stores processing result data of individual mail processed by the mail processing device in association with an ID tag, and misclassification A misclassification data storage device for accumulating processing result data of postal mails, a misclassification ID tag reader for reading ID tags printed on misclassified mail, and a misclassification ID tag reader Further, the processing data storage device is searched using the ID tag as a search key, the processing result data of the corresponding mail is extracted, and the misclassified data is stored as misclassified data. It is characterized by comprising a data acquisition control unit for storing the location.

  A second configuration of the present invention relates to a postal matter misclassification data collection method, wherein the postal matter processing device causes an ID tag to be printed on the postal matter and is input using a character reading device or a keystroke device. A step of sorting the postal items according to postal address information, a step of causing the data storage device to store processing result data of each postal matter processed by the postal matter processing device in association with an ID tag, and a data storage device Storing the processing result data of the misclassified mail, causing the ID tag reader to read the ID tag printed on the misclassified mail, and causing the control unit to read the ID tag. Using the ID tag read by the device as a search key, the processing data storage device is searched, the processing result data of the corresponding mail is extracted, and the misclassification data is used as misclassification data. It is characterized by being obtained and a step of storing the product device.

  According to the configuration of the present invention, even if it is the collection station or the delivery station that identifies the misclassification of the postal matter, the misclassification data storage device can easily misclassify the postal matter on the spot. It becomes possible to register the data of sorted mail items. Therefore, by looking at the misclassification database of the misclassification data storage device, it is possible to easily find a condition in which misclassification occurs intensively, and to solve the cause of the misclassification at an early stage. Thus, after the cause of the misclassification is clarified at an early stage, the misclassification on the delivery station side can be prevented in advance, so that it is possible to prevent a decrease in service to the customer due to the transfer of mail. Also, since the misclassified data storage device stores images of misclassified postal items etc. as part of the result of character reading recognition, it should also be used as data for improving the performance of character reading devices such as OCR. Can do.

It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the mail misclassification data collection system which is one Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the detailed structure content and data flow of the same mail piece misclassification data collection system.

  A mail sorting apparatus (installed in a plurality of stations) that prints an ID tag on a mail and also sorts the mail according to the address information of the mail that has been input using an OCR (character reader) or keystroke device. A mail processing device), a data temporary storage device (processing data storage device) for storing the processing result data of each mail processed by the mail sorting device in association with an ID tag, and a mis-sorted mail A misclassification data storage device for accumulating processing result data, an ID tag reader (misclassification ID tag reader) installed in a plurality of stations for reading an ID tag printed on a misclassified mail, and the ID The ID tag read by the tag reader is used as a search key, the data temporary storage device is searched, the processing result data of the corresponding postal matter is extracted, and the misclassification as the misclassification data By providing a data acquisition control unit for storing the over data storage device, to solve the problems of the present invention. That is, with the above-described configuration, data of misclassified postal items is efficiently collected, an image scanner of the postal matter classification apparatus or an abnormality in conveyance, a key presser with low skill, or an OCR misread for a specific postal item, The cause of misclassification such as can be easily traced to improve the classification of postal items.

It is preferable that the ID tag reader reads the ID tag printed on the misclassified mail and transfers the read ID tag to the data collection control unit via a network.
The OCR as an input device is preferably composed of an optical reader that reads destination information from image data of postal matter acquired using an image scanner.
A keystroke device as an input device is used for an operator to input the destination information for a mail piece in which the OCR has failed to read the destination information.
The processing result data stored in the misclassified data storage device preferably includes a character recognition result by OCR and / or a keystroke input result by the keystroke device.
The processing result data stored in the misclassification data storage device includes a unique device number assigned to the mail sorting device, a sorting processing station name or sorting processing station code, a key hitter number, and the destination information. The type of input device is preferably included.

When the number of processing result data including the same device number, the same keyer number, or the same division station exceeds a reference value, the misclassified data storage device has an alarm display terminal (notifying means) to notify. It is preferable to provide.
A postal matter misclassification data collection program for causing a computer to realize various functions of the printed matter classification system (postal matter misclassification data collection system) configured as described above.

Embodiment

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a postal matter misclassification data collection system according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the detailed configuration contents and data flow of the postal matter misclassification data collection system.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the postal matter misclassification data collection system (hereinafter also referred to as postal matter classification system) 1 implements a search / storing function for misclassification data. Sorting device 10, discriminating device 20 for discriminating destination information, temporary data storage device 30 for temporarily storing mail images, misclassified data storing device 40 for storing misclassified postal data, and mail An ID tag reading device 50 that reads an ID tag attached to an object is connected to a local network 61 such as a LAN. The intra-office network 61 is connected to a wide area network 60 and further connected to an external network 62. The external network 62 is also connected to the ID tag reader 50.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the mail sorting device 10 is a device for sorting mail into sorting boxes according to destination information such as address and address, and includes an image scanner 11, an ID tag printer 12, and a sorting control unit 13. And.

  The image scanner 11 optically scans the surface of a mail piece (image scan) to generate an image of a surface on which postal address information is described. The ID tag printer 12 prints an ID tag in the form of a barcode with ink containing a fluorescent component. The sorting control unit 13 controls the mail sorting device 10 as a whole.

  The discriminating unit 20 is a device that discriminates an address / address from an image of destination information generated by image scanning by the image scanner 11, and includes an image distribution device 21, an OCR 22, and a keystroke device 23.

  The image distribution device 21 sends the data (image) sent from the image scanner 11 to the OCR 22, and sends the image that failed to be read by the OCR 22 to the keystroke device 23. The OCR 22 automatically recognizes the address and address from the image sent from the image distribution device 21. The keystroke device 23 is a device in which a keystroke person inputs a destination for an image of a mail piece that the OCR 22 has failed to read.

  The data temporary storage device 30 is a device for storing images of all mail pieces sorted by the mail piece sorting apparatus 10 and data of destination determination results (mail piece data A). Part 32.

  The temporary image storage unit 31 temporarily stores the postal matter image processed by the postal matter sorting apparatus 10 in association with the ID tag. The result temporary storage device 32 determines the destination code output from the OCR 22 or the keystroke device 23, the name of the post office or post office code that performed the classification, the device number of the postal classification unit 10 that processed the postal matter, and the destination code. The recorded device (that is, the OCR 22 or the key-pressing device 23) and the key hitter number are recorded in association with the ID tag.

  Note that the destination code is a code of the delivery destination of the postal matter determined by the address and address. The device number of the mail sorting apparatus 10 is a unique number of the mail sorting apparatus 10 uniquely assigned to each country or region where the mail processing of the mail is performed. The key hitter number is a unique number of the key presser assigned so as to be unique within the region.

  The misclassified data storage device 40 is a device for storing misclassified postal images and destination determination result data (postal data B). The misclassified image / result storage unit 41 and the alarm display terminal 42 are connected to each other. I have. The misclassified image / result storage unit 41 stores the image and data associated with the ID tag requested to be stored from the ID tag reading device 50 among the data stored in the temporary data storage device 30. The alarm display terminal 42 has a constant value for the number of data related to a specific mail sorting device 10, a specific key hitter, and a mail that is not misread (a mail whose address information is legitimately recognized) within a certain period. When it exceeds, an alarm display is performed on the alarm display terminal 42 of the misclassified data storage device 40.

  The ID tag reading device 50 is a device that reads an ID tag attached to a mail piece, and includes an ID tag reading unit 51 and a result display unit 52. In this ID tag reading device 50, the ID tag reading unit 51 reads the ID tag of the mail piece, requests the data temporary storage device 30 for information associated with the ID tag, and displays the information on the result display unit 52. .

  Further, the ID tag reading device 50 can request the data temporary storage device 30 to store information associated with the ID tag, and the data temporary storage device 30 receiving the storage request from the ID tag reading device 50 The information and image associated with the ID tag are stored in the misclassified data storage device 40.

  The misclassification data storage device 40 is used when a predetermined number or more of data of the same mail classification device 10 and the same keyer number are stored within a certain period, or a short period of tens of minutes to several hours. When a certain number of misclassified data processed at a specific post office is generated during this period, an alarm is displayed on an alarm display terminal 42 connected directly to the misclassified data storage device 40 or via the network 40. .

  That is, when the number of misclassification data of the same device number exceeds a certain number within a certain period, it can be predicted that a misclassification due to an abnormality in the mail sorting apparatus 10 has occurred. Further, when the data of the same keyer number exceeds a certain number within a certain period, it can be predicted that the skill of the keyer is low. In addition, if a large number of misclassifications occur in a specific post office in a short period of time, it can be predicted that a specific mail that is easy to misread is supplied, and OCR for a specific mail that is easy to misread based on this image data. The reading performance can be improved.

  That is, the mail sorting system 1 according to the present embodiment scans the mail sorting apparatus 10 having the image scanner 11 and the ID tag printer 12 and the image scanner 11 in order to realize a function of searching and storing misclassified data. The OCR 22 that reads the address / address of the mail from the scanned image, the keying device 23 that inputs the address / address written in the mail by looking at the image scanned by the image scanner 11, and the mail sorting device 10 A temporary data storage device 30 for storing all the images of the postal items, the recognition result of the OCR 22 and the keying result of the keying device 23, the image of the postal matter that has been misclassified, the recognition result of the OCR 22, and the keying device 23 The misclassification data storage device 40 that stores the keystroke results for a long period of time and the ID tag printed on the mail are read and And a ID tag reader 50 that communicates with the processing request and mailpiece data to and from the data temporary storage device 30.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the operation of the mail sorting system 1 for realizing the function of searching and storing erroneous sorting data will be described. Since the mail sorting system 1 has the above-described configuration, the data temporary storage device 30 searches for the read information associated with the ID tag based on the ID tag read by the ID tag reading device 50 and searches. Read information is transmitted to the ID tag reader 50.

  The operator of the ID tag reading device 50 determines whether or not the reading result is an erroneous determination by looking at the searched reading information, and issues a request to store the reading result and the image in the misclassified data storage device 40. As a result, the data temporary storage device 30 stores the image associated with the ID tag and the discrimination information in the misclassified data storage device 40 in accordance with a request from the ID tag reading device 50.

  On the other hand, the ID tag reading device 50 is installed in the intra-office network 61 and the delivery station, and is connected to the temporary data storage device 30 through the network 60. Registration is possible. This makes it possible to efficiently collect data on postal items that have been misclassified.

  In addition, the misclassified data storage device 40 is specified when a certain number of data of the same device number or the same keyer number is stored within a certain period, or during a short period of several tens of minutes to several hours. When the number of misclassification data processed by the post office exceeds a certain number, an alarm is displayed on the alarm display terminal 42 connected directly to the misclassification data storage device 40 or via the network 60. As a result, it is possible to easily track the state in which a misclassification occurs under a specific condition and the cause of the misclassification.

  As described above, the mail sorting system according to the present invention is a data temporary storage device that associates image information, address information, device number of the mail sorting device 10, keystroke number, etc. with ID tags. 30. Then, a postal item that has been misclassified later is read by the ID tag reading device 50, the database of the data temporary storage device 30 is searched based on the ID tag, and information of the search result is stored in the misclassified data storage device 40. Then, the information collected in the misclassification data storage device 40 discovers early that there are many errors in the specific postal matter classification device 10 and the specific keyer, and the adjustment of the postal matter classification device 10 and the keyer It is possible to provide guidance. In addition, it is possible to use the OCR 22 to check a postal matter that is easily misread and use the image to improve the reading rate of the OCR 22.

  The postal matter misclassification data collection method (postal matter classification method) described above is realized by a computer reading a program. Therefore, each process of the mail sorting method described above is stored in a computer-readable recording medium in the form of a program, and the above-described processes are performed by the computer reading and executing the program. . Here, the computer-readable recording medium means a magnetic disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM (Compact Disk-Red Only Memory), a DVD-ROM (Digital Versatile Disk-Red Only Memory), a semiconductor memory, or the like.

  The embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the specific configuration of the present invention is not limited to these embodiments, and the design is within the scope of the present invention. Even if there are changes etc., they are included in this invention. For example, even if the mail to be delivered is an international mail, by using a mail sorting system having a reading function corresponding to each national language, the same effect as the mail sorting system of the above embodiment can be obtained. Can be presented.

  The mail sorting system of the present invention can be used at a specific local post office or the like because the cause of misclassification of the mail can be clarified at an early stage with a relatively simple configuration.

1 Printed matter classification system (postal mail misclassification data collection system)
10 Mail sorting device (mail processing device)
11 Image scanner (Character reading device, part of mail processing device)
12 ID tag printer (part of mail processing equipment)
13 Classification control unit 20 Discrimination unit 21 Image distribution device 22 OCR (Character reading device, part of mail processing device)
23 Keystroke device (part of mail processing device)
30 Data temporary storage device (process data storage device, data storage device)
31 Image temporary storage unit 32 Result temporary storage unit 40 Misclassified data storage device (data storage device)
41 Misclassified image / result storage unit 42 Alarm display terminal (notification means)
50 ID tag reader (misclassified ID tag reader)
51 ID tag reader (misclassified ID tag reader)
52 Result display section 60 Network 61 In-station network 62 Out-of-station network

Claims (13)

A mail processing device that prints an ID tag on a mail, and sorts the mail according to destination information of the mail that is input using a character reader or a keystroke device;
A processing data storage device that stores processing result data of individual pieces of mail processed by the mail processing device in association with ID tags;
A misclassified data storage device that stores processing result data of misclassified mail;
A misclassified ID tag reader that reads an ID tag printed on a misclassified mail;
Using the ID tag read by the misclassification ID tag reader as a search key, search the processing data storage device, extract the processing result data of the corresponding mail, and store the misclassification data as misclassification data A postal matter misclassification data collection system comprising a data collection control unit stored in the apparatus. A mail processing device installed in a plurality of stations, which prints an ID tag on a mail, and sorts the mail according to destination information of the mail input using a character reading device or a keystroke device;
A processing data storage device that stores processing result data of individual pieces of mail processed by the mail processing device in association with ID tags;
A misclassified data storage device that stores processing result data of misclassified mail;
A misclassified ID tag reader installed in a plurality of stations, which reads ID tags printed on misclassified mail,
Using the ID tag read by the misclassification ID tag reader as a search key, search the processing data storage device, extract the processing result data of the corresponding mail, and store the misclassification data as misclassification data A postal matter misclassification data collection system comprising a data collection control unit stored in the apparatus.   3. The misclassified ID tag reader reads the ID tag printed on a misclassified mail piece, and transfers the read ID tag to the data collection control unit. Mail sorting system.   3. The postal matter misclassification according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the character reading device as an input device comprises an optical reader that reads destination information from image data of postal matter acquired using an image scanner. Data collection system.   The keystroke device as an input device is used for an operator to input the destination information with respect to a mail piece in which the character reading device has failed to read the destination information. 2. Mail misclassification data collection system described in 2.   3. The processing result data stored in the misclassified data storage device includes a character recognition result by the character reading device and / or a keystroke input result by the keystroke device. The postal mail misclassification data collection system described.   The processing result data stored in the misclassification data storage device includes a unique device number assigned to the postal matter processing device, a classification processing station name or classification processing station code, a key hitter number, and the destination information. 3. The postal matter misclassification data collection system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the type of input device is included.   The misclassified data storage device is provided with notifying means for notifying when the number of processing result data including the same device number, the same keyer number, or the same division station exceeds a reference value. 8. The postal matter misclassification data collection system according to claim 7. Causing the mail processing apparatus to print an ID tag on the mail, and to classify the mail according to the address information of the mail input using a character reader or a keystroke device;
Causing the data storage device to store the processing result data of each piece of mail processed by the mail processing device in association with an ID tag;
A process of storing processing result data of misclassified mail items in a data storage device;
Causing the ID tag reader to read the ID tag printed on the misclassified mail piece;
The control unit causes the ID tag read by the ID tag reading device to be used as a search key to search the processing data storage device, extracts processing result data of the corresponding mail piece, and sets the erroneous classification data as erroneous classification data. A method for collecting postal matter misclassification data, comprising the step of storing in a storage device.   10. The postal error according to claim 9, wherein the processing result data stored in the data storage device includes a character recognition result by the character reading device and / or a keystroke input result by the keystroke device. Classification data collection method.   The processing result data to be stored in the data storage device includes a unique device number assigned to the mail processing device, a classification processing station name or a classification processing station code, a keystroke number, and a destination information input device. The mail misclassification data collection method according to claim 9, wherein types are included.   The data storage device causes the notification means to notify when the number of processing result data including the same device number, the same keyer number, or the same division station exceeds a reference value. 11. The postal mail misclassification data collection method according to 11.   A postal matter misclassification data collection program that causes a computer to realize various functions of the postal matter misclassification data collection system according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

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