KR100715676B1 - Postal Registration Apparatus and Method using RFID Technology and Automatic Postal Information Acquisition - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a mail receiving apparatus and method for recognizing the postal information of a mail and automatically recording the RFID tag and attaching the RFID tag to the mail.

The present invention, the image acquisition unit for obtaining an image of the received mail; A text recognition unit for recognizing postal information as a text from the obtained mail image; An information input unit for inputting the recognized postal information character into a predetermined part of a document having a format capable of issuing an RFID tag; An RFID tag recording unit for recording the postal information on an RFID tag using the document in which the postal information is input; And an output unit for outputting an RFID tag in which the postal information is recorded.

According to the present invention, it is possible to greatly improve the speed and accuracy of the postal information input, so that fast postal reception is possible.

Mail, postal information, RFID tags, text recognition

Description

Postal Registration Apparatus and Method using RFID Technology and Automatic Postal Information Acquisition}

1 is a block diagram of a postal reception device through automatic RFID acquisition and postal accuracy according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2 is an example of implementation of a postal reception device through automatic RFID information acquisition and postal information according to the present invention.

3 is a diagram illustrating an example of dividing postal information of a postal item by area according to the present invention.

4 is an exemplary view of a document in which postal information is recorded according to the present invention.

5 is a flowchart illustrating a mail receiving method through automatic RFID information acquisition and postal information according to an embodiment of the present invention.

 Explanation of symbols on the main parts of the drawings

10: mail 110: image acquisition unit

120: character recognition unit 130: information input unit

131: document execution unit 132: document recording unit

140: RFID tag recording unit 150: output unit

160: memory 170: display unit

The present invention relates to a mail receiving apparatus and method, in particular, automatically recognizes the postal information at the postal window and automatically records the postal information on the RFID tag using a radio frequency identification (hereinafter referred to as RFID) system and The present invention relates to a mail receiving apparatus and method for attaching an RFID tag to a mail item to receive a mail item.

At present, the receptionist receives an average of 260 registered mails a day, and all the registered mails are handled by hand except large quantities. In this situation, the input of postal information takes an average of 16.5 seconds, including typos and corrections, and it is a burden in terms of customer service satisfaction due to an increase in waiting time at postal windows in the pig user's window.

In addition, the barcode level attached to the registered mail currently in use is likely to be damaged due to inadvertent work in the postal mail processing process, and an individual scanning operation is required for each mail during the handover process, resulting in an increase in labor load. The result is a decrease in work efficiency.

In the prior art, Korean Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2004-105284 (published Dec. 16, 2004) discloses a method and apparatus for receiving mail using a wireless tag. The prior patent discloses a mail receiving method and apparatus for attaching a sticker-type RF tag to a mail first, calculating a fee according to additional information such as postal information, and recording information related to delivery to the RF tag. However, the prior patent may cause confusion of tasks related to the method of attaching the existing bar code label later, and there is a burden of manual mail information.

In addition, Korean Patent Publication No. 2004-105283 (published Dec. 16, 2004) discloses an 'unmanned logistics reception method and apparatus'. The preceding patent proposes an apparatus for receiving mail without an administrator. However, the prior patent does not require a postal operator, so labor costs can be reduced, but the customer has to manually enter postal information.

Therefore, in the technical field, there is an urgent need for an automated technology that enables a batch of mail information to be recognized in each mail processing process for mail reception at a mail reception window.

The present invention has been proposed to solve the above-mentioned problems, and automatically obtains the postal information at the postal reception window, records the RFID information, and attaches the RFID tag to the postal information to automatically acquire the postal information. It is an object of the present invention to provide a postal service device and a method thereof.

In addition, another object of the present invention through RFID technology and automatic postal information acquisition to enable fast and accurate postal information by recognizing the mail information at the time of receiving the mail collectively recorded on the RFID tag and attaching the RFID tag to the mail The present invention provides a postal service device and a method thereof.

In order to achieve the above object, a postal reception device using automatic RFID technology and postal information acquisition includes: an image acquisition unit acquiring an image of a received postal item; A text recognition unit for recognizing postal information as a text from the obtained mail image; An information input unit for inputting the recognized postal information character into a predetermined part of a document having a format capable of issuing an RFID tag; An RFID tag recording unit for recording the postal information on an RFID tag using the document in which the postal information is input; And an output unit for outputting an RFID tag in which the postal information is recorded.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the postal receiving apparatus of the present invention may further include a memory unit for storing a document in which the postal information is input.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the postal service apparatus of the present invention may further include a display unit for displaying a document on which the postal information is recorded.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the image acquisition unit preferably includes a scanner that acquires an image by scanning the mail.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the mail image acquisition acquires an image of one side of a mail item in which postal information is recorded.

In one embodiment of the invention, the postal information preferably comprises the sender's and recipient's postal code, address, telephone number and name.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the character recognition unit may include an optical character reader (OCR).

In one embodiment of the present invention, the character recognition unit may include a division means for dividing the postal information by the sender and the recipient by the mail image from the mail image, the division means is a postal code by the sender and the recipient , Address, phone number and name area respectively.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the information input unit comprises: a document execution unit for executing a document to which the postal information is input; And a document recording unit for recording postal information classified for each area in a corresponding part of the document for issuing an RFID tag.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the document may preferably record postal information including sender and recipient postal code, address, telephone number and name.

In addition, the postal reception method through the RFID technology and automatic postal information acquisition of the present invention for achieving the above object, the image acquisition step of acquiring the image of the received mail; An area classification step of distinguishing a sender and a recipient area from the obtained mail image; A text recognition step of recognizing the sender and the recipient postal information by text; An information input step of inputting the sender and recipient postal information into a predetermined part of a document having a format capable of issuing an RFID tag; A tag recording step of recording the postal information in an RFID tag by using the document in which the postal information is input; And a tag outputting step of outputting an RFID tag in which the postal information is recorded.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the postal mail receiving method of the present invention may further include a step of checking postal information recorded in the document after the information input step.

In one embodiment of the invention, the image acquisition step preferably acquires an image by scanning the mail item using a scanner.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the image acquisition acquires an image of one side of a postal item on which postal information is recorded.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the postal mail receiving method of the present invention may further include a step of storing a document in which the postal information is input after the information input step, and further, after the information input step, The method may further include displaying a document in which the postal information is recorded.

In one embodiment of the invention, the postal information may preferably include the postal code, address, telephone number, name of the sender and recipient.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the area classification step may be preferably classified by the postal code, address, telephone number, name area of the sender and the recipient.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the information input step includes: executing a document to which the sender and recipient postal information are to be input; And recording postal information in a corresponding portion of the document for each sender and recipient area for issuing an RFID tag.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the document may preferably record postal information including sender and recipient postal code, address, telephone number and name.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the postal receipt method of the present invention comprises the steps of: after the tag recording step, checking postal information recorded on the RFID tag; The method may further include correcting the recorded postal information if the recorded postal information does not match the actual postal information.

The present invention provides a mail receiving apparatus and method. In particular, the present invention automatically recognizes the postal information required for issuing an RFID tag at the postal reception window and automatically receives the postal information by recording the recognized postal information on the RFID tag to be attached to the postal mail using RFID technology. And methods.

The present invention can be installed in the current postal reception window without any structural changes, and can be quickly obtained and entered without fear of inaccurate information input that may occur due to a typo for a mailer. . In addition, the present invention records the postal information on the RFID tag and attaches it to the postal mail so that the postal mail processing process including the postal central office and the delivery post office can recognize the various postal mails collectively instead of individually recognizing the mail. It can lay the foundation for breakthrough automation.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood by the embodiments described below. Hereinafter, a detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description of the present invention, in the case where it is determined that detailed descriptions of related well-known functions or configurations may unnecessarily obscure the subject matter of the present invention, detailed descriptions thereof will be omitted so as not to obscure the subject matter of the present invention. will be.

1 is a block diagram of a postal reception device through automatic RFID acquisition and postal accuracy according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to Figure 1, the postal receiving apparatus 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention, the image acquisition unit 110, character recognition unit 120, information input unit 130, RFID tag recording unit 140 and output It is configured to include a portion 150. In addition, in another embodiment of the present invention, the above-described postal service apparatus 100 may further include a memory unit 160 and / or a display unit 170.

The image acquisition unit 110 acquires an image of the received mail 10. For example, the image acquisition unit 110 may include a scanner (not shown) that acquires a high resolution image by scanning the mail 10. In this case, although not shown in the drawing, the image acquisition unit 110 of the present invention basically includes a scanner driver for controlling the scanner and a scanner manager for diagnosing the state of the scanner and setting a scanning environment. (10) includes basic devices that enable scanning and as a result obtaining high resolution images of the mail. The image acquisition in the image acquisition unit 110 for the postal matter 10 acquires an image of one side of the postal matter 10 in which postal information is recorded.

The text recognition unit 120 divides the postal information into the sender and the recipient region by the mail image, and recognizes the postal information as the text for each region by using a predetermined text recognition technology. To this end, the character recognition unit 120 may include a division means (not shown) for classifying the postal information by the sender and the recipient from the mail image. At this time, more preferably, the sorting means may be classified into a postal code, an address, a telephone number, and a name area for each sender and the payee from the image of the mail 10.

Here, the character recognition technique may use, for example, an optical character reader (OCR). This character recognition technology is recently recognized by postal code for automatic mail classification, product inspection or classification in the field, document recognition, drawing recognition, facsimile character recognition in images, word processor OCR, slips in financial institutions Or it is practically used in various fields such as automatic check input, and is effectively used in real life. In the present invention, a known character recognition technique may be used, and a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

The information input unit 130 inputs postal information respectively classified by the sender and the recipient in a predetermined portion of a document having a predetermined specific format. More specifically, the information input unit 130 records the document execution unit 131 for executing the document to which the postal information is input and the postal information classified for each area in the corresponding part of the document for issuing the RFID tag. The document recording unit 132 may be included. The postal information may preferably include the postal code, address, telephone number, name of the sender and recipient. The postal information may be determined as needed. For example, it may further include information such as a social security number and a surrogate payee.

The information input unit 130 writes the postal information recognized for each area of the sender and the recipient in a predetermined format document. Such a document has a format for issuing an RFID tag and a form in which postal information including sender and recipient postal code, address, telephone number and name can be recorded. The document may be variously implemented by a predetermined program. For example, it may be implemented as a predetermined word processor program. Here, it should be noted that the postal information recorded in the document has a format that can be recorded in the RFID tag. The document executing unit 131 performs a function of executing the document by a program so that the postal information can be recorded in a predetermined part in a specific document, and the document recording unit 132 is provided for each corresponding part of the executed document. Record postal information for each area.

At this time, in another embodiment of the present invention, the document in which the postal information is recorded is stored in the memory unit 160, and the document in which the postal information is recorded is displayed on the display unit 170 so that the postal worker can view it. The memory unit 160 may be implemented by, for example, a hard disk, and the display unit 170 may be implemented by a predetermined display device.

The RFID tag recording unit 140 records the postal information in an RFID tag by using the document in which the postal information is input. The RFID technology for recording data in the RFID tag is a well-known technology and is beyond the scope of the present invention, and thus a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

The output unit 150 outputs an RFID tag in which the postal information is recorded.

2 is an example of implementation of a postal reception device through automatic RFID information acquisition and postal information according to the present invention.

Figure 2 shows an example of providing a postal service device of the present invention that can be installed without a separate structural change in the current postal window. Referring to FIG. 2, an image acquiring unit 110 capable of acquiring an image of a postal mail 10 is provided without additional modification to the electronic balance 20 that measures the weight of a postal mail. In this case, the support 30 is provided to fix the image acquisition unit 110 to the electronic balance 20. The mail image acquired by the image acquisition unit 110 is transmitted to a predetermined computer 50 equipped with a microprocessor through the image data exchange interface 40. Preferably, as shown in the drawing, the computer 50 may include a text recognition unit 120, an information input unit 130, and an RFID tag recording unit 140 as a program or software. Accordingly, the mail image is transmitted to the character recognition unit 120, and passes through the functions of the information input unit 130 and the RFID tag recording unit 140, and the RFID tag information recorded with the postal information is a postal information data exchange interface. It is delivered to the output unit 150 through 60, the output unit 150 is to output the RFID tag recorded the postal information.

3 is a diagram illustrating an example of dividing postal information of a postal item by area according to the present invention.

Referring to the exemplary diagram shown in FIG. 3, the postal information of the mail 10 may be largely classified into a sender postal information 310 and a payee postal information 320. Sender's postal information 310 includes the sender's postal code 311, address 312, name 313, and phone number 314. Recipient's postal information includes the recipient's postal code 321, address 322. , Name 323 and phone number 324.

The long term character recognition unit 120 classifies such postal information into a sender area 310 and a payee area 320 from the mail image, and uses the predetermined character recognition technology to identify each area 310. In 320, the postal information is recognized as text. More preferably, the character recognition unit 120 separates the sender and the recipient's postal information 310 and 320 from the image of the postal item 10 by zip code, address, telephone number, and name.

4 is an exemplary view of a document in which postal information is recorded according to the present invention. FIG. 4 (a) shows a document before postal information is recorded, and FIG. 4 (b) shows a document in which postal information is recorded. It is.

First, referring to FIG. 4A, a document according to the present invention includes a portion 410 capable of recording sender postal information 310 and a portion 420 capable of recording consignee postal information 320. Include. FIG. 4A illustrates an example of a document, and may be variously implemented, including portions 410 and 420 in which postal information 310 and 320 are recorded. Referring to FIG. 4B, sender and recipient postal information 310 and 320 are recorded in document 400. In more detail, as described above, the character recognition unit 120 sends the sender's postal information 310 and the recipient's postal information 320 to the sender's and the recipient's postal code, address, telephone number and name area, respectively. In each case, the information input unit 130 executes the document 400 of FIG. 4 (a), and the information divided by the zip code, address, telephone number, and name area, respectively, is previously designated in the document 400. Record at (411-415) (421-425). That is, the sender postal information 310 is recorded in the predetermined portions 411-415 in the document 400, and the recipient postal information 320 is recorded in the predetermined portions 421-425 in the document 400. do. FIG. 4B is an example of a document, and may further add information required for the other column.

5 is a flowchart illustrating a mail receiving method through automatic RFID information acquisition and postal information according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 5, an image of the postal item 10 is obtained by scanning the postal item 10 using the image acquisition unit 110 of the present invention at the postal reception window (S500).

From the obtained mail image, the postal information is classified into sender and recipient regions (S504), and the sender and recipient postal information classified by each region is recognized as text using a predetermined character recognition technique (S506). More preferably, in step S504, the postal information of the sender and the recipient is distinguished from each other by the postal information from the postal image.

Subsequently, the recognized sender and the recipient postal information are input to predetermined parts 411 to 415 and 421 to 425 in the document 400 having a predetermined specific format (S508). At this time, more specifically, the step (S508) may include the step of executing the document 400 and recording the sender and recipient postal information recognized in the executed document (400). In addition, although not shown in the drawing, a document on which the currently executing document and postal information is recorded may be displayed on the display unit 170, and the document on which the postal information is recorded may be stored in the memory unit 160. The document preferably has a format for issuing an RFID tag, and postal information including sender and recipient postal code, address, telephone number and name can be recorded.

Subsequently, the postal information is recorded on the RFID tag using the postal information recorded in the document (S510). After confirming the postal information recorded in the RFID tag (S512), if it matches the actual postal information outputs the RFID tag (S518), if it does not match the actual postal information corrects the postal information recorded in the document ( In operation S516, the RFID tag is output.

The postal information preferably includes the postal code, address, telephone number, name of the sender and recipient.

The drawings and detailed description of the invention are merely exemplary of the invention, which are used for the purpose of illustrating the invention only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims or claims. Therefore, those skilled in the art will understand that various modifications and equivalent other embodiments are possible from this.

Therefore, the true technical protection scope of the present invention will be defined by the technical spirit of the appended claims.

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to greatly improve the speed and accuracy of the postal information input as compared to inputting the postal information through the keyboard while the postal operator receives the postal mail.

In addition, according to the present invention it is possible to shorten the input time by automating the input process of the postal information that has been manually performed in the prior art to prevent inaccurate information input that may occur due to a typo.

In addition, according to the present invention can reduce the work reduction and customer waiting time of the postal counter clerk can be expected to improve customer service.

Furthermore, according to the present invention, it is possible to automate the batch recognition of postal information in subsequent postal mail processing by replacing a bar code previously used with an RFID tag, thus achieving postal service enhancement and external competitiveness.

In addition, according to the present invention, it is possible to implement the apparatus and method of the present invention without additional modifications to the current postal reception window, and can also be used as a base system for constructing a postal unmanned window with improved customer convenience.

Claims (22)

An image obtaining unit obtaining an image of the received mail; A text recognition unit for recognizing postal information as a text from the obtained mail image; An information input unit for inputting the recognized postal information character into a predetermined part of a document having a format capable of issuing an RFID tag; An RFID tag recording unit for recording the postal information on an RFID tag using the document in which the postal information is input; And An output unit for outputting an RFID tag in which the postal information is recorded; Mail receiving device through the automatic RFID technology and postal information acquisition comprising a. The method of claim 1, And a memory unit for storing the document in which the postal information is input. The method according to claim 1 or 2, And a display unit for displaying a document in which the postal information is recorded. The method of claim 1, wherein the image acquisition unit, And a scanner for acquiring an image by scanning the postal mail, and a postal reception device through automatic acquisition of postal information. According to claim 1, wherein the mail image acquisition, An RFID technology and a postal reception device using automatic postal information acquisition, characterized in that to obtain an image of one side of a postal item in which postal information is recorded. According to claim 1, wherein the postal information, A mail reception device through automatic acquisition of RFID technology and postal information, characterized by including the zip code, address, telephone number and name of the sender and the recipient. The method of claim 1, wherein the character recognition unit, An apparatus for receiving mail through automatic acquisition of RFID technology and postal information, comprising an optical character reader (OCR). The method of claim 1, wherein the character recognition unit, And a mail receiving device through automatic acquisition of RFID technology and postal information, characterized in that it comprises a means for distinguishing the postal information by the sender and the recipient from the postal image. The method of claim 8, wherein the separating means, And a postal receiving device through automatic acquisition of RFID technology and postal information, wherein the postal information is classified into a postal code, an address, a telephone number, and a name area for each sender and recipient. The method of claim 1, wherein the information input unit, A document execution unit that executes a document to which the postal information is input; And A document recording unit for recording postal information classified for each area in a corresponding part of the document for issuing an RFID tag; Mail receiving device through the automatic RFID technology and postal information acquisition comprising a. The method of claim 1, wherein the document, Mailing device through automatic acquisition of RFID technology and postal information, characterized in that the postal information including the postal code, address, telephone number and name by sender and recipient. An image acquiring step of acquiring an image of the received mail; An area classification step of distinguishing a sender and a recipient area from the obtained mail image; A text recognition step of recognizing the sender and the recipient postal information by text; An information input step of inputting the sender and recipient postal information into a predetermined part of a document having a format capable of issuing an RFID tag; A tag recording step of recording the postal information in an RFID tag by using the document in which the postal information is input; And A tag output step of outputting an RFID tag in which the postal information is recorded; Mail reception method through automatic RFID technology and postal information acquisition comprising a. The method of claim 12, wherein after the information input step, The method for receiving mail through automatic acquisition of RFID technology and postal information, characterized in that it further comprises the step of confirming the postal information recorded in the document. The method of claim 12, wherein the image obtaining step comprises: A method for receiving mail through automatic acquisition of RFID technology and postal information, characterized in that to obtain an image by scanning the mail using a scanner. The method of claim 12, wherein the image acquisition, An RFID technology and a method of receiving mail through automatic acquisition of postal information, characterized in that an image of one side of a postal item in which postal information is recorded is obtained. The method of claim 12, wherein after the information input step, And a mail receiving method through automatic acquisition of RFID technology and postal information, further comprising the step of storing a document in which the postal information is input. The method of claim 12, wherein after the information input step, The method for receiving mail through the automatic RFID information acquisition and postal information, characterized in that it further comprises the step of displaying the document recorded the postal information. The method of claim 12, wherein the postal information, Mailing method through automatic acquisition of RFID technology and postal information, characterized in that it includes the zip code, address, telephone number, name of the sender and recipient. The method of claim 12, wherein the area classification step, Method for receiving mail through the automatic acquisition of RFID technology and postal information, characterized in that the postal information is divided by the zip code, address, telephone number, name area of the sender and the recipient. The method of claim 12, wherein the information input step, Executing a document into which the sender and the recipient postal information are to be input; And Recording postal information in a corresponding portion of the document for each sender and recipient area for issuing an RFID tag; Mail reception method through automatic RFID technology and postal information acquisition comprising a. The method of claim 12, wherein the document, Mailing method through automatic acquisition of RFID technology and postal information, characterized in that the postal information including the postal code, address, telephone number and name by sender and recipient. The method of claim 12, wherein after the tag recording step, Checking postal information recorded on the RFID tag; And if the recorded postal information and the actual postal information do not match, correcting the recorded postal information.

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