Patent ID: 7386458

Claim:
A method that enables a recipient to inform a carrier of the manner in which the recipient wants some or all of their mail delivered, said method comprises the steps of: placing by the sender the mail in at least one of trays and tubs for delivery; scanning the name and physical address of the recipient and the sender of the mail after the mail has been sealed; capturing by the sender the name and physical address of the recipient and the sender in the form of an image; transmitting the image to a data center where the image is processed by translating the image consisting of text and graphics to selected alphanumerics; translating the name and physical address of the recipient into an e-mail address; notifying the recipient of the expected delivery of the sealed mail and indicating the selected alphanumerics of the translated image; depositing with the carrier the sealed mail containing the recipient's name and physical address and the sender's name and address; notifying a data center by the recipient of the manner in which the recipient wants some or all of their mail delivered; if the recipient desires to destroy the mail, notifying the carrier by the recipient to destroy the mail, if the recipient does not want to destroy the mail, notifying by the data center the carrier of the manner in which the recipient wants the mail delivered; and delivering by the carrier mail to the recipient in the manner specified by the recipient to the carrier.