Patent ID: 7121458

Claim:
A method of identifying and processing a delivery item having a front with a text-based address and a back, comprising the steps of: sorting the delivery item using a code on the front of the delivery item, if there is a code on the front of the delivery item; identifying the delivery item using a code on the back of the delivery item, if the delivery item does not have the code on the front of the delivery item and if there is a code on the back of the delivery item; and sorting the delivery item in an identification code system, if the delivery item does not have the code on the front or on the back of the delivery item, the identification code system performing operations comprising: marking the delivery item with an identification code on the back of the delivery item; taking an image of the delivery item; moving the marked delivery item to a holding area; processing the delivery item image using a character recognition process to create an identification file for the delivery item image, wherein the identification file is accessible by a plurality of nodes in the identification code system; associating the identification file for the delivery item image with the corresponding identification code for the delivery item; and releasing the delivery item from the holding area.