Patent ID: 7219095

Claim:
Installation for updating an address database with recorded address records, comprising: at least one processor ( 14 , 15 , 42 ) for receiving and processing address data as shown on items of post; a memory ( 22 ), connected to the at least one processor ( 14 , 15 , 42 ), for storing the address data; and a database memory ( 44 ), connected to the at least one processor ( 14 , 15 , 42 ), containing the address database stored therein, wherein, the at least one processor ( 14 , 15 , 42 ) is equipped i) to determine a quality rating for the address data as scanned from an item of post on the basis of predefined criteria, the quality rating indicating how good the address data are, ii) to derive a name for an addressee from the name lines, to derive an address for the addressee from the address data, to read registered names of persons residing at that address from the address database and to compare these with the name of the addressee and, on the basis of that comparison, to determine a comparison score per registered name, the comparison score having a higher value the greater the degree of correspondence between the name of the addressee and a respective registered name, the comparison score being derived apart from the quality rating, iii) to update statistical data relating to said address records stored in said database memory ( 44 ), and iv) to update the content of the database memory ( 44 ) on the basis of a rule-based system taking into account the quality rating, the comparison score, and said statistical data.