Abstract:
A system and method for relating the delivery of a mail piece or package to what is inside the mail piece or package. Thus, when the mail piece or package is received and signed for by a recipient the mailer will have proof that the recipient received the mail piece or package and what was inside the mail piece or package at the time the mail piece or package was delivered to the recipient. The foregoing is accomplished by: affixing identifying characteristics to material contained within the container; sealing the container along with the material contained within the container; delivering the container along with the material contained within the container to a recipient; reading recipient information appearing on the outside of the container and the identifying characteristics of the material contained within the container without opening the container; and recording recipient information appearing on the outside of the container and the identifying characteristics of the material contained within the container without opening the container; and recording recipient&#39;s signature.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     Reference is made to commonly assigned co-pending patent application No. 09/372,254 filed concurrently herewith entitled “Postage Meter That Provides On A MailPiece Evidence Of Postage Paid Together With Cryptographically Secured, Third Party Certified, Non-Shipping Information About The Sender Of The Mailpiece” in the name of Michael J. Critelli. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates generally to the field of mail delivery methods and systems and more particularly to systems and methods for relating the material contained within a mail piece or package to the name and address of the recipient of the mail piece or package. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Ever since the numeric codification of streets and buildings received general acceptance, an individuals&#39; name and their household postal addresses have been linked. The sender of a mail piece or package would deliver a mail piece or package to the post or a courier that had the correct recipient postal address, and the post or courier would deliver the mail piece or package to the numeric street address of the recipient of the mail piece or package. A correct recipient postal address for the delivery of the mail piece or package to the recipient included: the name of the recipient; the street address of the recipient; the city and state of the recipient; and the zip code of the recipient. Thus, the correct recipient postal address is usually the actual location of the recipient. 
     The post has created special delivery services for important and/or valuable mail pieces, i.e., certified mail, registered mail, etc., and special services for packages, i.e. insurance. Courier services have also utilized special delivery services for important and/or valuable mail pieces and packages. When some special services are requested by the mailer the post and courier services ask the recipient to sign for the delivery of the mail piece or the package. The post and courier services have sent the mailer a certificate bearing the recipient&#39;s signature indicating that the recipient received the mail piece or package. The mailer had no proof that the recipient received the contents of the mail piece or package. For instance, tenants sometimes argued in court that they did not receive an eviction notice from their landlord. Recipients of packages sometimes stated to the mailer that certain items that were shipped were not shipped. For instance, recipients sometimes complained they did not receive their watches, electronic devices, etc. The prior art did not tie or relate the delivery of the mail piece or package to what was inside the mail piece or package. 
     The foregoing problem may occur more frequently as larger amounts of goods are ordered from catalogues or via the intemet and shipped to the customer. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art by tying or relating the delivery of a mail piece or package to what is inside the mail piece or package. Thus, when the mail piece or package is received and signed for by a recipient, the mailer will have proof that the recipient received the mail piece or package and what was inside the mail piece or package at the time the mail piece or package was delivered to the recipient. The foregoing is accomplished by: affixing identifying characteristics to material contained within the container; sealing the container along with the material contained within the container; delivering the container along with the material contained within the container to a recipient; reading recipient information appearing on the outside of the container and the identifying characteristics of the material contained within the container without opening the container; and recording recipient information appearing on the outside of the container and the identifying characteristics of the material contained within the container without opening the container; and recording recipient&#39;s signature. The identifying characteristics of the material contained within the container may be in the form of a unique code that appears on the material contained within the container that specifically identifies the material contained within the container. Hence, the post or courier will be able to certify to the mailer the materials that have been delivered to the recipient. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
     FIG. 1 is a drawing showing a mail piece or package (container) that has been sealed; 
     FIG. 2 is a drawing of a sealed mail piece or sealed package  11  containing an Information—Based Indicia and a special service that has been requested by the mailer; 
     FIG. 3 is a drawing showing the cross section of electronic circuit  19  that is affixed to the material contained within sealed container  11 ; 
     FIG. 4 is a drawing in block form showing the electronic components included in layer  24  of electronic circuit  19 ; 
     FIG. 5 is a drawing in block form showing how information may be loaded into layer  24  of electronic circuit  19 ; 
     FIG. 6 is a drawing in block form of reading, storage and printing device  60  that is used: to read the information transmitted by layer  24  of circuit  19 ; to read information appearing on container  11 ; and to compose a receipt  71  that may be signed by the addressee recipient of container  11 ; and 
     FIG. 7 is a drawing of delivery receipt  71 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring now to the drawings in detail, and more particularly to FIG. 1, the reference character  11  represents a mail piece or package (container) that has been sealed. Container  11  has a recipient address field  12  and a sender or mailer address field  13 . A postal indicia  14  is affixed to container  11 . Container  11  may include a special services receipt requested symbol  37 . Symbol  37  informs the postal carrier or courier that the recipient must sign a receipt  71  (described in the description of FIG.  7 ), when they receive container  11 . Couriers may replace indicia  14  with coded information, i.e., a bar code, and remove symbol  37 . 
     FIG. 2 is a drawing of a sealed mail piece or sealed package  11  containing an Information—Based Indicia and a special service that has been requested by the mailer. Container  11  has a recipient address field  12  and a sender address field  13 . Container  11  also contains a United States Postal Service Information—Based Indicia (IBI)  18  and a special services receipt requested symbol  37 . The indicia  18  contains a dollar amount  33 , the date  17 , that the postal indicia was affixed to container  11 , the place  34  that container  11  was mailed, the postal security device serial number  35 , the class of mail  15 , a FIM code  16  and a  2 D encrypted bar code  36 . Bar code  36  is a unique number that is derived from address field  12  and information contained in the postal security device that affixed IBI  18 . The manner in which bar code  36  is obtained is disclosed in the Sansone, et al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,831,555 entitled “UNSECURED POSTAGE APPLYING SYSTEM,” herein incorporated by reference. 
     FIG. 3 is a drawing showing the cross section of frangible electronic circuit  19  that is affixed to the material contained within sealed container  11 . Electronic circuit  19  is produced on a thin substrate, such as a paper layer  20 , which, preferably, has an adhesive layer  22  for affixing circuit  19  to the material contained within container  11  (FIG.  1 ). Circuit  19  also includes an electronic material layer  24  to contain all the necessary electronic components, and a composite window layer  34  which may also serve as a protective layer to electronic material layer  24 . Preferably, the electronic components in the electronic material layer  24  are made from an amorphous semiconductor material. Contained in the electronic material layer  24  adjacent the composite window layer are a sensor  32 , a signal transmitter  30  to allow circuit  19  to communicate with external devices, a power pick up  46  to receive power from an external radio frequency source, an energy storage device  48 , a display unit  26 , a controller  40 , and memories  42  and  44 . 
     FIG. 4 is a drawing in block form showing the electronic components included in layer  24  of electronic circuit  19 . As shown, layer  24  includes a processing unit or controller  40 , a read/write memory  42  for storing the serial number or other identifying characteristics of the materials contained within sealed container  11  (FIGS.  1  and  2 ). Memory  42  may also contain the date and time the materials were sealed into container  11  and the recipient address of container  11 . An optional fixed-program memory  44  for storing mailer information, i.e., name and address of the mailer, etc., may also be included in memory  44 . Layer  24  also includes a sensor  32  to receive information from an external device and a transmitter  30  to transmit information. Preferably, sensor  32  is an electrical sensor for receiving electrical signals. Transmitter  30  may comprise a radio frequency transmitter to provide radio frequency signals. It is preferred that layer  24  is activated only when it is in the proximity of a postal or courier reading device. Thus, it is preferable that circuit  19  include a power pickup unit  46  to receive power from an external radio frequency source i.e., the postal or courier reading device, and an energy storage device  48  to provide power to controller  40 , display unit  26 , sensor  32 , transmitter  30 , and memories  42  and  44 . Energy storage device  48  may comprise one or more capacitors, and voltage controlling means. Display unit  26  is used to produce visible markings that uniquely identify the materials contained within sealed container  11 . Display unit  26  may include an electrophoresis material so that it can be activated to form a visible and permanent code. The visible and permanent code is a unique code that may combine the serial number or other identifying characteristics of the materials contained within sealed container  11  with the time and date that the materials were sealed into container  11 . It will be obvious to one skilled in the art that other information may be used to produce the unique code, and that the unique code may be encrypted. It is understood that unit  26  is controllable by controller  40  so that the visible patterns are only produced when required. Display unit  26  can also be used to produce a barcode or other human readable or machine readable information. 
     FIG. 5 is a drawing in block form showing how information may be loaded into layer  24  of electronic circuit  19 . A keyboard  55  is coupled to programmable interface module  52  and display  55 . Power source  58  is a radio frequency source for providing energy to circuit  19  when source  58  is in the proximity of circuit  19 . Programmable interface module  52  comprises a radio frequency source  54  for transmitting information to controller  40  via sensor  32 , and a receiver  56  for receiving information from controller  40  via transmitter  30 . Keyboard  55  is used to enter alphanumeric information into programmable interface module  52 . Module  52  communicates with layer  24  of electronic circuit  19  and writes to read/write memory  42  the information entered via keyboard  55 , namely, the serial number or other identifying characteristics of the materials contained within sealed container  11 . Mailer information, i.e., name and address of the mailer, may be entered into fixed memory  44  via keyboard  55 , RF source  54 , sensor  32  and controller  40 . At the same time, module  52  commands controller  40  to activate the display unit  26  to produce the information entered into memories  42  and  44 . Display  57  will also indicate the information entered into memories  42  and  44  so that the operator of keyboard  55  may verify that the entered information is correct. 
     FIG. 6 is a drawing in block form of reading, storage and printing device  60  that is used: to read the information transmitted by layer  24  of circuit  19 ; to read information appearing on container  11 ; and to compose a delivery receipt  71  (FIG. 7) that may be signed by the addressee recipient of sealed container  11 . Reading device  60  comprises: an optical scanner  61  that is coupled to a controller  62 ; a radio frequency transmitter  63  that is coupled to controller  62 ; a radio frequency receiver  64  that is coupled to controller  62 ; a date/time clock  65  that is coupled to controller  62 ; a printer  66  that is coupled to controller  62 ; an electronic receipt tablet  67  that is coupled to controller  62 ; a digital pen  69  that is coupled to tablet  67 ; a memory  70  that is coupled to scanner  61 , receiver  64 , clock  65  and controller  62 , and a power source  68  that is coupled to controller  62 . Receipt memory  72  is coupled to controller  62 . Digital pen  69  is a pen that writes in traditional ink on paper and simultaneously transmits signals to tablet  67  when writing on paper that is placed over tablet  67 . Pen  69  may be the CrossWriter™ manufactured by the Cross Pen Computing Group of the A.T. Cross Company of Providence, R.I. Tablet  67  may be the CrossPad™ manufactured by the Cross Pen Computing Group of the A.T. Cross Company of Providence, R.I. 
     When a postal carrier or courier delivers sealed container  11  (FIGS. 1 and 2) to the party indicated in recipient address field  12 , the postal carrier or courier uses optical scanner  61 , to scan information contained in recipient address field  12  or scan information contained in IBI  18  (FIG.  2 ). The scanned recipient addressee information is transmitted to memory  70 . Then the postal carrier or courier activates radio frequency transmitter  63  so that the information stored in memories  42  and  44  (FIG. 4) will be received by radio frequency receiver  64 . The received information about the contents of the material sealed within container  11  is transmitted to memory  70 . Clock  65  will now transmit to memory  70  the date and time that controller  62  noted that the aforementioned information was received from scanner  61  and receiver  64 . 
     Controller  62  will now request that printer  66  use information stored in memory  70  to print receipt  71  (FIG.  7 ). Controller  62  will also request that electronic receipt tablet  67  display information stored in memory  70 . After receipt  71  is printed the postal carrier or courier will give the addressee recipient electronic receipt tablet  67  and receipt  71 . The recipient addressee will be asked to confirm that the information appearing on receipt  71  is the same as the information displayed by tablet  67 . If the recipient addressee agrees that the information appearing on receipt  71  is the same as the information displayed by tablet  67 , the postal carrier or courier will place receipt  71  on top of the display of electronic receipt tablet  67  in a manner that the space reserved for the recipient addressee&#39;s signature on receipt  71  will coincide with the space reserved for the addressee&#39;s signature on the display of tablet  67 . The recipient will now be given tablet  67  with receipt  71  placed on top of tablet  67  and pen  69  and asked to sign receipt  71  in the space provided. When the recipient signs receipt  71 , they will also be signing the information displayed by tablet  67 . A facsimile copy of the recipient&#39;s signature along with the other information displayed on tablet  67  will be stored in memory  72 . 
     Now the postal carrier or courier will give the recipient sealed container  11  and receipt  71 . When the postal carrier or courier return to their office they will connect controller  62  to a port on personal computer  73  to upload to computer  73  the information stored in memory  72 . Computer  73  will store the uploaded information. A printer (not shown) will print the uploaded information. An operator of computer  73  may transmit to sender  13  (FIGS. 1 and 2 ) copies of receipt  71  together with the recipient&#39;s signature. The operator may transmit the copies of receipt  71  via e-mail, facsimile, regular mail, courier mail, etc. 
     FIG. 7 is a drawing of delivery receipt  71 . Receipt  71  has a space  72  that indicates: the person or entity who mailed sealed container  11  (FIGS. 1 and 2) and a space  74  that indicates the address of the mailer. Space  73  indicates the name of the recipient and space  75  indicates the address of the recipient. The date and time the materials were sealed within container  11  is shown in space  76  and the date and time the materials sealed within container  11  were delivered to the recipient are shown in space  77 . A description of the materials is shown in space  78 , and information scanned from IBI  18  appears in space  79 . Information transmitted from the material sealed within container  11  is shown in space  80 . A space  81  is provided for the recipient&#39;s signature. 
     The above specification describes a new and improved system and method for relating the material contained within a sealed mail piece or package to the name and address of the recipient of the mail piece or package. It is realized that the above description may indicate to those skilled in the art additional ways in which the principles of this invention may be used without departing from the spirit. It is, therefore, intended that this invention be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.