Abstract:
An automated mail sorting system including a display for displaying the image of an item of mail belonging to a carrier route, and input device for associating the image with any of a plurality of stations in a walking sequence of the carrier route, and a sorter having a reader for identifying the item of the mail, the sorter for placing the item of mail in a location corresponding to the station in the walking sequence.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention relates to sorting mail in general, and more particularly to sorting mail pieces according to a mail carrier walk sequence. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Automated mail sorting systems that are employed to facilitate the delivery of mail pieces, such as letters, postcards, and other parcels, typically scan each mail piece and utilize optical character recognition (OCR) hardware and software to read the destination mailing address indicated on the mail piece. Such systems typically sort mail pieces down to the level of the individual mail carrier at the local post office. The individual mail carrier typically then manually “cases” the mail in the carrier&#39;s route by reading the destination mailing address on a mail piece and placing the mail piece into a “case” having many pockets in an order consistent with the order or “walk sequence” of the delivery stops, or stations, on the carrier&#39;s route. 
   What typically prevents automated mail sorting from being performed down to the level of the carrier walk sequence is that the addresses on some mail pieces simply cannot be read using OCR. Thus, the mail carrier must either read and case such mail pieces manually, or must enter the addresses of such mail pieces into the sorting machine and associate the address entered with its associated mail piece, whereupon it may be cased automatically. Manually casing mail is labor intensive, often taking up to half of a mail carrier&#39;s work day. An automated mail sorting system that would sort mail down to the level of the carrier walk sequence while minimizing the amount of manual casing or data entry required would therefore be advantageous. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention discloses an automated mail sorting system that sorts mail down to the level of the carrier walk sequence. 
   In one aspect of the present invention an automated mail sorting system is provided including a display for displaying the image of an item of mail belonging to a carrier route, an input device for associating the image with any of a plurality of stations in a walking sequence of the carrier route, and a sorter having a reader for identifying the item of mail, the sorter for placing the item of mail in a location corresponding to the station in the walking sequence. 
   In another aspect of the present invention the display is operative to display a visual representation of the stations. 
   In another aspect of the present invention the visual representation is of a sorting case having a plurality of pockets representing the stations. 
   In another aspect of the present invention the input device is operative to associate the image with any of the displayed pockets. 
   In another aspect of the present invention the sorter is operative to place the item of mail in a pocket in the sorting case corresponding to the station associated with the item of mail. 
   In another aspect of the present invention each of the stations is displayed with an associated station identifier. 
   In another aspect of the present invention the input device is operative to receive the, station identifier as input. 
   In another aspect of the present invention the reader is operative to read an identifier indicated on the item of mail. 
   In another aspect of the, present invention the display and input device are in off-site communication with the sorter. 
   In another aspect of the present invention the system further includes a database associating items of mail and addresses read therefrom, and a carrier walk sequence database associating addresses in the carrier route with their stations in the walking sequence. 
   In another aspect of the present invention the reader is operative to read any of the addresses from the first database and associate the address with any of the stations as indicated by the carrier walk sequence database. 
   In another aspect of the present invention the reader is operative to read an address from the item of mail and associate the address with any of the stations as indicated by the carrier walk sequence database if the reader successfully reads the address. 
   In another aspect of the present invention the carrier walk sequence database associates the addresses in the carrier route with pockets in a sorting case having a plurality of pockets representing the stations. 
   In another aspect of the present invention an automated mail sorting method is provided including displaying the image of an item of mail belonging to a carrier route, associating the image with any of a plurality of stations in a walking sequence of the carrier route, and identifying the item of mail, and placing the item of mail in a location corresponding to the station in the walking sequence. 
   In another aspect of the present invention the displaying step includes displaying a visual representation of the stations. 
   In another aspect of the present invention the displaying step includes displaying a visual representation of a sorting case having a plurality of pockets representing the stations. 
   In another aspect of the present invention the associating step includes associating the image with any of the displayed pockets. 
   In another aspect of the present invention the placing step includes placing the item of mail in a pocket in the sorting case corresponding to the station associated with the item of mail. 
   In another aspect of the present invention the displaying step includes displaying each of the stations with an associated station identifier. 
   In another aspect of the present invention the associating step includes receiving the station identifier as input. 
   In another aspect of the present invention the identifying step includes reading an identifier indicated on the item of mail. 
   In another aspect of the present invention the displaying and associating steps are performed in off-site communication with the sorter. 
   In another aspect of the present invention the method further includes providing a first database associating the items of mail and addresses read therefrom, and providing a carrier walk sequence database associating addresses in the carrier route with their stations in the walking sequence. 
   In another aspect of the present invention the method further includes reading any of the addresses from the first database and associating the address with any of the stations as indicated by the carrier walk sequence database. 
   In another aspect of the present invention the method further includes reading an address from the item of mail and associating the address with any of the stations as indicated by the carrier walk sequence database if the reader successfully reads the address. 
   In another aspect of the, present invention the providing the carrier walk sequence database step includes providing where the carrier walk sequence database associates the addresses in the carrier route with pockets in a sorting case having a plurality of pockets representing the stations. 
   In another aspect of the present invention a computer program is provided embodied on a computer-readable medium, the computer program including a first code segment operative to display the image of an item of mail belonging to a carrier route, a second code segment operative to associate the image with any of a plurality of stations in a walking sequence of the carrier route, and a third code segment operative to identify the item of mail, and a fourth code segment operative to place the item of mail in a location corresponding to the station in the walking sequence. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The present invention will be understood and appreciated more fully from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the appended drawings in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a simplified conceptual diagram of an automated mail sorting system, constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a simplified conceptual diagram of an automated mail sorting system, constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 3  is a simplified flowchart illustration of an exemplary method of operation of the system of  FIG. 2 , operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 4  is a simplified conceptual diagram of an automated mail sorting system, constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 5  is a simplified flowchart illustration of an exemplary method of operation of the system of  FIG. 4 , operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 6  is a simplified conceptual diagram of an automated mail sorting system, constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; and 
       FIG. 7  is a simplified flowchart illustration of an exemplary method of operation of the system of  FIG. 6 , operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   Reference is now made to  FIG. 1 , which is a simplified conceptual diagram of an automated mail sorting system, constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. In the system of  FIG. 1 , a sorter  100  receives an item of mail  102 , such as a letter, postcard, parcel, or other mail item in a batch, generally designated  104 , of mail parcels, and employs a reader  106  for reading the destination mailing address  108  indicated on item  102 . Sorter  100  may be any suitable automated mail sorting device know in the art, while reader  106  may employ any suitable OCR hardware and/or software known for reading mail addresses. Sorter  100  preferably sorts each item of mail in batch  104  down to the level at which it belongs to a particular carrier route, shown as a batch  104 ′, but which has not yet been sorted into a carrier walk sequence. This is typically accomplished by reading each item&#39;s ZIP code or equivalent using OCR or other techniques and by sorting accordingly. Sorter  100  also preferably places on each item of mail in batch  104  an identifier  110 , such as a bar code, that uniquely identifies the item, and creates an image  112  of the item&#39;s destination mailing address, which may be in any known image format, such as TIFF or JPEG. Each identifier  110  is preferably associated with its image  112 , which may then both be stored in a database  114 . 
   Reference is now made to  FIG. 2 , which is a simplified conceptual diagram of an automated mail sorting system, constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and additionally to  FIG. 3 , which is a simplified flowchart illustration of an exemplary method of operation of the system of  FIG. 2 , operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. In the system of  FIG. 2  and method of  FIG. 3 , the image  112  of each item of mail  102  in batch  104 ′ ( FIG. 1 ) that belongs to a particular carrier route are displayed, preferably one at a time, on a display  200  of a computer terminal  202 . A visual representation of stations in a carrier walk sequence may also be displayed on display  200  at the same time. For example, a visual representation  204 ′ of a physical sorting case  204  may be displayed on display  200 , where sorting case  204  has one or more pockets  206 , shown on display  200  as pockets  206 ′. Case  204  represents the route&#39;s corresponding carrier walk sequence as is preferably indicated in a carrier walk sequence database  220  that has been preconfigured to associate addresses in the carrier&#39;s route with their stations in the walking sequence and preferably also with their associated pockets  206  in sorting case  204 . Visual representation  204 ′ may be designed to portray the physical appearance of sorting case  204 , where each pocket  206 / 206 ′ may have an associated station identifier  208 , or may simply provide a list of locations in the walking sequence together with station identifiers  208 . 
   Once displayed, each image  112  that corresponds to an item  102  may then be associated with its appropriate station in the carrier walk sequence via an input device, such as by entering the appropriate station identifier  208  into terminal  202 , such as via a keypad or keyboard  210 , or by positioning a cursor  212  on display  200  with a pointing device  214  and pressing a selector on pointing device  214  to indicate the selection of a particular pocket  206 ′. If item  102  is not assignable to any station, such as where the address is correct but the carrier knows that the recipient has moved, this may likewise be indicated via keypad or keyboard  210  or pointing device  214  using any suitable predefined action. This ‘virtual casing’ may be performed by the carrier or other person who is familiar with the carrier&#39;s route, and may be performed at the post office or off-site, such as at the carrier&#39;s home via network link. The station to which item  102  is associated is then communicated as carrier walk sequence pre-sort information to a sorter  216 . Sorter  216  typically employs a reader  218  for identifying each item  102  in batch  104 ′, such as by reading the identifier  110  indicated on each item  102  in batch  104 ′. Sorter  216  then places item  102  in a location corresponding to the station in the carrier walk sequence with which item  102  is associated as indicated by the carrier walk sequence pre-sort information, such as in the pocket  206  corresponding to the pocket  206 ′ with which item  102  is associated. 
   Reference is now made to  FIG. 4 , which is a simplified conceptual diagram of an automated mail sorting system, constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and additionally to  FIG. 5 , which is a simplified flowchart illustration of an exemplary method of operation of the system of  FIG. 4 , operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. In the system of  FIG. 4  and method of  FIG. 5 . an attempt is made by reader  106  to read the destination mailing address, beyond just the ZIP code or equivalent, on each item  102  in batch  104  using OCR ( FIG. 1 ). Thus, each item of mail in batch  104 ′ whose address is OCR-readable preferably arrives at sorter  216  ( FIG. 2 ) with an already-read address, preferably stored in database  114 . Those items of mail in batch  104 ′ whose address is not OCR-readable may be displayed on display  200  and associated with their appropriate stations as described hereinabove with reference to  FIGS. 2 and 3 . This information is then communicated as carrier walk sequence pre-sort information to a sorter  400 , which may then employ a reader  402  to read each identifier  110  of each item  102  in batch  104 ′. If item  102  has already been assigned to a station, sorter  400  may directly place item  102  in a location, corresponding to the station in the carrier walk sequence with which item  102  is associated, such as in the pocket  206  corresponding to the station. If not, reader  402  may read each identifier  110  indicated on each item  102  in batch  104 ′, retrieve its already-read address from database  114 , and find the address in carrier walk sequence database  220  that has been preconfigured to associate addresses in the carrier&#39;s route with their stations in the walking sequence and preferably also with their associated pockets  206  in sorting case  204 . Sorter  400  may then associate the address with the proper pocket  206  and place item  102  in a location corresponding to the station in the carrier walk sequence with which item  102  is associated, such as in the pocket  206  corresponding to the station. 
   Reference is now made to  FIG. 6 , which is a simplified conceptual diagram of an automated mail sorting system, constructed and operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and additionally to  FIG. 7 , which is a simplified flowchart illustration of an exemplary method of operation of the system of  FIG. 6 , operative in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. In the system of  FIG. 6  and method of  FIG. 7  a sorter  600  receives items of mail  102  in batch  104 ′ ( FIG. 1 ) that belongs to a particular carrier route, and employs a reader  602  which reads identifier  110 , retrieves its associated image  112  from database  114 , and reads the destination mailing address  108 , either from image  112  directly from item  102 . If reader  602  successfully reads the address it preferably finds the address in carrier walk sequence database  220  that has been preconfigured to associate addresses in the carrier&#39;s route with their stations in the walking sequence and preferably also with their associated pockets  206  in sorting case  204  ( FIG. 2 ). Reader  602  then signals sorter  600  to place item  102  in a location corresponding to the station in the carrier walk sequence with which item  102  is associated, such as in the pocket  206  corresponding to the station. If reader  602  does not successfully read the address, image  112  of item  102  may be displayed on display  200  and associated with its appropriate station as described hereinabove with reference to  FIGS. 2 and 3 . This information is then communicated to sorter  600  which then places item  102  in a location corresponding to the station in the carrier walk sequence with which item  102  is associated, such as in the pocket  206  corresponding to the station. 
   The assigning of unsuccessfully read mail items to their place in the carrier walk sequence may be performed while sorter  600  sorts successfully read mail items into their assigned locations, such as in sorting case  204 . Alternatively, the processing and sorting of unsuccessfully read mail items as described hereinabove may be performed as a batch, after all successfully read mail items have been sorted, with unsuccessfully read mail items being put aside and later resubmitted to sorter  600  after they have been assigned to their stations as described hereinabove. 
   It is appreciated that one or more of the steps of any of the methods described herein may be omitted or carried out in a different order than that shown, without departing from the true spirit and scope of the invention. 
   While the methods and apparatus disclosed herein may or may not have been described with reference to specific computer hardware or software, it is appreciated that the methods and apparatus described herein may be readily implemented in computer hardware of software using conventional techniques. 
   While the present invention has been described with reference to one or more specific embodiments, the description is intended to be illustrative of the invention as a whole and is not to be construed as limiting the invention to the embodiments shown. It is appreciated that various modifications may occur to those skilled in the art that, while not specifically shown herein, are nevertheless within the true spirit and scope of the invention.