Patent ID: 8103716

Claim:
A method for forwarding an item, comprising: scanning a first address label on an item to produce scan data; converting the scan data into first address data corresponding to a physical address; determining whether an alternative address for the first address data exists in a change of address database, based on a determination that the item is undeliverable to a location corresponding to the first address data and before making an attempt to deliver the item to the physical address; forwarding the item to a location corresponding to the alternative address when it is determined that the alternative address exists in the change of address database, wherein forwarding the item to the location corresponding to the alternative address comprises: transmitting a notice to a sender of the item, the notice indicating the existence of the alternative address and a first fee for forwarding the item to the alternative address; receiving, in a response to the notice, an indication that the sender of the item wants the item forwarded to the location corresponding to the alternative address and the first fee; after receiving the indication and first fee, generating a second address label corresponding to the alternative address and physically placing the second address label on the item; and delivering the item to the location corresponding to the alternative address without returning the item to the sender; and after the item is forwarded, providing information related to the alternative address to the sender for a second fee.