Patent Publication Number: US-2010114700-A1

Title: System and method for synchronizing delivery of messages in multiple communications channels

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     When a mailer sends a piece of marketing campaign mail to a group of customers, the mailer may want to send a reinforcing message, such as a phone call, a broadcast message, or a video advertisement to, at or in a post office, office, home, computer, PDA or supermarket in the same locale of the group of customers. However, the mailer has to estimate the arrival of the piece of marketing campaign mail before sending the reinforcing message. 
     Under current procedures, a mailer can send a piece of mail with samples to indicate when the piece of mail was delivered. However, this practice provides only partial information, is costly, and does not provide real-time data to control real-time events. The use of a “confirm” code on a piece of mail enables the electronic collection of information. However, the “confirm” code has not been used to trigger activities in other media channels. 
     SUMMARY 
     An embodiment of a method for synchronizing delivery of messages in multiple communications channels includes generating mailing information regarding a first message to be delivered through a first communications channel to a customer. The mailing information includes an identifier of the first message and is embedded into an intelligent mail barcode, RFID tag or other computer recognizable form. The method further includes tracking the first message using the mailing information by scanning the intelligent mail barcode to obtain tracking information. Based on the tracking information, the method includes coordinating delivery of a second message the content of which is related to the first message through a second/additional communications channel to a group of people including the customer. Delivery of the first message through the first communications channel and delivery of the second message through the second communications channel is synchronized. 
     An embodiment of a system for synchronizing delivery of messages in multiple communications channels includes a barcode generating module for generating mailing information regarding a first message to be delivered through a first communications channel to a customer. The mailing information includes an identifier of the first message and is incorporated into an intelligent mail barcode. The system further includes a tracking module for tracking the first message using the mailing information by scanning the intelligent mail barcode to obtain tracking information and a coordinating module for coordinating delivery of a second message through a second communications channel to a group of people including the customer based on the tracking information. The content of the second message is related to the first message. Delivery of the first message through the first communications channel and delivery of the second message through the second communications channel is synchronized. 
     A computer readable medium provides instructions for synchronizing delivery of messages in multiple communications channels. The instructions include generating mailing information regarding a first message to be delivered through a first communications channel to a customer. The mailing information includes an identifier of the first message and is embedded into an intelligent mail barcode. The instructions further include tracking the first message using the mailing information by scanning the intelligent mail barcode to obtain tracking information. Based on the tracking information, the instructions include coordinating delivery of a second message the content of which is related to the first message through a second communications channel to a group of people including the customer. Delivery of the first message through the first communications channel and delivery of the second message through the second communications channel is synchronized. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Exemplary embodiments of the system and method for synchronizing delivery of messages in multiple communications channels will be described in detail with reference to the following figures, in which like numerals refer to like elements, and wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary system for synchronizing delivery of messages in multiple communications channels; 
         FIG. 2  is a flow chart illustrating an exemplary method for synchronizing delivery of messages in multiple communications channels; and 
         FIG. 3  illustrates exemplary hardware components of a computer that may be used in connection with the method for synchronizing delivery of messages in multiple communications channels. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary system  100  for synchronizing delivery of messages in multiple communications channels. The system  100  may include a mail submission module  110 , which includes a barcode generating module  112 , such as an intelligent mail barcode generating module, for generating mailing information  124  regarding a first message  120  delivered through a first communications channel  125  to a customer  128 . The first message  120  may be, for example, a piece of United States (U.S.) mail containing a marketing campaign message, and the first communications channel  125  may be the U.S. mail service. The marketing campaign message is typically prepared by a marketing provider. The mailing information  124  may include an identifier, content information, origin information, and destination information of the first message  120 . The identifier may be a piece of mail identifier for identifying the first message  120 , such as the piece of U.S. mail containing a marketing campaign message. The content information may provide a short abstract of the first message  120 . The origin information and destination information may provide the origination city and zip code and the destination city and zip code of the first message  120 . The mailing information  124  may be incorporated into a barcode  122 , such as an intelligent mail barcode. 
     The system  100  further includes a tracking module  152  located, for example, in a control center  150 , for tracking the first message  120  using the mailing information  124  by scanning the barcode  122  to obtain tracking information. The tracking module  152  typically tracks the first message  120  by performing an origin scanning, a destination scanning, and necessary interim scanning. For example, using the identifier and the locality information of a scanner that scans the barcode  122 , such as the intelligent mail barcode, the tracking module  152  may identify the actual location of the first message  120 . Similarly, the tracking module  152  may determine that the first message  120  is approaching the destination using the destination information and the actual location of the first message  120 . The tracking information may be real-time data providing, for example, the date and time of arrival of the first message  120 . 
     The system  100  further includes a coordinating module  154  for coordinating delivery of a second message  130  through a second communications channel  135 , i.e., additional communications channel, to a group of people  138  including the customer  128  based on the tracking information. The coordinating module  154  may also be located, for example, in the control center  150 . 
     The second message  130  is typically generated by the marketing provider based on the content information of the first message  120  and is therefore related to the first message  120 . Using the content information and destination information of the first message  120 , and other statistics, the coordinating module  154  can coordinate the corresponding second message  130  to be delivered around the same time as the delivery of the first message  120  so that the messages reinforce each other. For example, the coordinating module  154  may release the second message  130  within 24 hours of an anticipated delivery of the first message  120 . As a result, the delivery of the first message  120  through the first communications channel  125  and the delivery of the second message  130  through the second communications channel  135  is synchronized. 
     The second message  130  may be, for example, an online marketing campaign message that is prepared by the marketing provider to reinforce the first marketing campaign message sent by, for example, the U.S. mail. The second communications channel  135  may be the Internet. The second message  130  may also be an audio marketing campaign message, and the second communications channel  135  may be a radio broadcast channel. Likewise, the second message  130  may be a video marketing campaign message, and the second communications channel  135  may be a television broadcast channel. Similarly, the second message  130  may be a video marketing campaign message that is displayed on a screen. The video marketing campaign message may remind the group of people  138  to look for the first message  120  to be delivered through the first communications channel  125 . Finally, the second message  130  may be a telephone call to the customer reminding the customer to look for the first message  120  to be delivered through the first communications channel  125 . As a result, the second message  130  reinforces the first message  120  once the first message  120  arrives. The types of messages are described for illustration purposes. One skilled in the art will appreciate that other types of messages can equally be applied. 
     The group of people  138  may be located in a same zip code area as the customer  128 . For example, the second message  130  may be displayed in a post office or a supermarket in the city and zip code where the customer  128  is located so that the second message  130  will likely be viewed by the customer  128 . The second communications channel  135  may optionally be selected depending on the customer&#39;s  128  income level, educational level, hobbies, and other preferences. For example, if the customer  128  is in the higher income group, the second communications channel  135  may be a video marketing campaign message that is displayed on a screen in a premium grocery store or an upscale department store. 
     The second communications channel  135  is typically a faster channel than the first communications channel  125 . The system  100  uses the intelligence of the slower communications channel, i.e., the first communications channel  125 , to drive the faster communications channel, i.e., the second communications channel  135 , to synchronize delivery through these two channels. 
     The system  100  may further include a national database  180  that includes all of the advertisement mail (i.e., first messages  120 ) to be delivered through the first communications channel  125 . The system  100  may post contents of the national database  180  on the Internet so that the customer  128  can view, at his or her leisure, one or more pieces of advertisement mail (i.e., first message  120 ) upon receiving a reinforcing message (i.e., second message  130 ) reminding him or her of the existence and delivery of one or more pieces of advertisement mail. This is particularly useful when a customer has a habit of throwing away advertisement mail but becomes interested in one piece of mail (i.e., first message  120 ) after receiving a reinforcing message (i.e., second message  130 ) associated with the piece of mail. The customer  128  can logon to search for this piece of mail in the national database  180 . 
     The system  100  typically allows the first message  120  to be submitted into the first communications channel  125  with a payment. Regarding the reinforcing message, the system  100  may provide a marketing provider an option of two or more second messages  130  to be delivered through different communications channels  135 . Each of the second messages  130  may be associated with a different price. 
       FIG. 2  is a flow chart illustrating an exemplary method  200  for synchronizing delivery of messages in multiple communications channels. The exemplary method  200  starts  202  by generating mailing information regarding a first message delivered through a first communications channel to a customer (block  204 ). The mailing information includes an identifier, origin information, and destination information of the first message. The mailing information is incorporated into an intelligent mail barcode. The method  200  next tracks the first message using the mailing information by scanning the intelligent mail barcode to obtain tracking information (block  206 ). Next, based on the tracking information, the method  200  coordinates delivery of a second message through a second communications channel to a group of people including the customer (block  208 ). The content of the second message is related to the first message. As a result, delivery of the first message through the first communications channel and delivery of the second message through the second communications channel is synchronized. The method  200  ends at  210 . 
       FIG. 3  illustrates exemplary hardware components of a computer  300  that may be used in connection with the method for synchronizing delivery of messages in multiple communications channels. The computer  300  includes a connection  320  with a network  318  such as the Internet or other type of computer or telephone network. The computer  300  typically includes a memory  302 , a secondary storage device  312 , a processor  314 , an input device  316 , a display device  310 , and an output device  308 . 
     The memory  302  may include random access memory (RAM) or similar types of memory. The secondary storage device  312  may include a hard disk drive, floppy disk drive, CD-ROM drive, or other types of non-volatile data storage, and may correspond with various databases or other resources. The processor  314  may execute information stored in the memory  302 , the secondary storage  312 , or received from the Internet or other network  318 . The input device  316  may include any device for entering data into the computer  300 , such as a keyboard, keypad, cursor-control device, touch-screen (possibly with a stylus), or microphone. The display device  310  may include any type of device for presenting a visual image, such as, for example, a computer monitor, flat-screen display, or display panel. The output device  308  may include any type of device for presenting data in hard copy format, such as a printer, or other types of output devices including speakers or any device for providing data in audio form. The computer  300  can possibly include multiple input devices, output devices, and display devices. 
     Although the computer  300  is shown with various components, one skilled in the art will appreciate that the computer  300  can contain additional or different components. In addition, although aspects of an implementation consistent with the method for synchronizing delivery of messages in multiple communications channels are described as being stored in memory, one skilled in the art will appreciate that these aspects can also be stored on or read from other types of computer program products or computer-readable media, such as secondary storage devices, including hard disks, floppy disks, or CD-ROM; or other forms of RAM or ROM or remotely across a communications channel. The computer-readable media may include instructions for controlling the computer  300  to perform a particular method. 
     While the system and method for synchronizing delivery of messages in multiple communications channels have been described in connection with an exemplary embodiment, those skilled in the art will understand that many modifications in light of these teachings are possible, and this application is intended to cover variations thereof.