Patent ID: 7739201
Filing Date: 2010-06-15
Classification: G06Q,G07B

Abstract:
1. A method for tracking a mailpiece that includes a two-dimensional barcode and a one-dimensional barcode, the two-dimensional barcode including an identification of a metering device that generated the two-dimensional barcode, and the one-dimensional barcode including a vendor identifier, a customer identifier, and an article identifier that is unique for each mailpiece in a batch of mailpieces, the method comprising: a first scanning of information from both the two-dimensional barcode and the one-dimensional barcode during an initial processing step in a mailpiece delivery system; storing the scanned information in a database after the information is scanned, the stored information including the identification of the metering device, the vendor identifier, the customer identifier, and the article identifier; linking in the database the stored information scanned from the two-dimensional barcode with the stored information scanned from the one-dimensional barcode; a second scanning of the one-dimensional barcode during successive processing steps in the mailpiece delivery system; updating the database during the successive processing steps with information relating to the progress of the mailpiece; determining at a mail-processing center that a recipient address on the mailpiece is changed; transmitting new recipient address information to the database; associating in the database the new recipient address information with the scanned one-dimensional barcode; receiving a query based on information associated with the two-dimensional code; in response to the query, sending the new recipient address information based on information associated with the two-dimensional code; and after the first scanning, providing recipient address information to a sender of the mailpiece based on the one-dimensional barcode, wherein at least a part of the one-dimensional barcode is printed on the mailpiece before the recipient address for the mailpiece is established.