Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B07—SEPARATING SOLIDS FROM SOLIDS; SORTING
  • B07C—POSTAL SORTING; SORTING INDIVIDUAL ARTICLES, OR BULK MATERIAL FIT TO BE SORTED PIECE-MEAL, e.g. BY PICKING
  • B07C3/00—Sorting according to destination
  • B07C3/18—Devices or arrangements for indicating destination, e.g. by code marks
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B07—SEPARATING SOLIDS FROM SOLIDS; SORTING
  • B07C—POSTAL SORTING; SORTING INDIVIDUAL ARTICLES, OR BULK MATERIAL FIT TO BE SORTED PIECE-MEAL, e.g. BY PICKING
  • B07C1/00—Measures preceding sorting according to destination

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a method for improving and optimize the management and processing of postal items, in particular the management of postal folds. This process reduces the number of manual operations to perform and offer additional services as well to the sender of the mail to the service provider, such as automatic billing of mail sent in batches or tracking of mail items in the chain distribution.
• the invention also relates to an installation for the implementation of the process.
• the classic operations encountered in a sorting center are: following: Mail from different mailboxes is first of all processed by a machine that aligns the different letters in the same meaning. This machine manipulates the different elements of mail so that that the mark constituting the franking element (stamp or impression) of the mail is always positioned in the same place. Once the letters are straightened, these devices verify with an ad hoc read head the validity of the franking of the various elements of mail with a view to their cancellation. This verification is carried out by comparing the image read with the images of a database containing images of valid postage. The mail items are then sorted according to postage which determines the processing required (normal mail, priority mail, mail recommended etc.).
• a first sorting step coarse or primary consists of reading, using a read head associated with a character recognition system (OCR), the postal code on the address printed on the letter. Once the postal code has been identified, the machine print a fluorescent barcode on the letter to be processed to allow sorting subsequent more detailed.
• OCR character recognition system
• the mail items are then transferred to other sorting machines which can be located geographically at same location or in the sorting center of another postal district, in depending on the final destination of the shipment.
• Fine or secondary sorting which allows the different elements of mail intended for a postal district in different boxes for allow their distribution to the final recipient, is done by reading the code fluorescent bar in a sorting machine that distributes mail items in different lockers depending on the value of the fluorescent barcode.
• This process has certain drawbacks, in particular the step which consists in printing on the letters the fluorescent code necessary after the treatment. This operation is costly in terms of machine maintenance printing. On the other hand, the fluorescent ink used has a certain toxicity.
• postal sorting centers are not generally not equipped with devices to verify the number and validity of the franking of the elements of a batch of mail.
• the slip of delivery accompanying the batch of mail is used to determine the cost which will be billed to the sender. This results in risks of loss of earnings or extra-billing for services provided.
• the object of the invention is to simplify and optimize the management of mail items in a sorting center.
• Another object of the invention is to verify the number and the accuracy of postage for consignments delivered in batches to the postal sorting center.
• the principle of the invention resides in the fact of carrying out certain stages of processing mail at the sender level, before the mail is issued to the post office.
• client software is installed at the sender's to assist him in preparing the mail to be sent.
• the main function of this client application is to create a database containing the information relating to the recipients of the mail as well as the treatment desired.
• a unique identification code is then generated and associated with an element of mail in the database.
• the unique code is printed on the envelope or on the letter, together with the full address.
• we will print the code identification on the envelope or letter so that it is located immediate proximity to the recipient's address. For example the code will be printed between the last line of the address and the line with the number postal address.
• identification code is printed in an area that can be read by sorting center equipment postal.
• the identification code can be represented and printed in the form of a series of alphanumeric characters, in the form of a barcode or in any another form suitable for automated reading by a read head.
• the identification code consists of a digital identifier which includes at least the following. First a value identifying the company sending the mail, then a serial number of the batch of mail to be processed as well as a sequence number identifying each particular mail item in the lot. Other information can be added to this identification code if necessary, an identifier will be cited as an example which makes it possible to determine the type of processing required by the postal services (normal mail, courier urgent, recommended etc.).
• the code generated identification is firstly printed on the mail item to be sent, preferably when printing the recipient's address, and other share added to a database as an access key to a record gathering information relating to the mail item processed.
• the information contained in each record includes among other things the address of the recipient of the mail as well as any other information useful for following treatment. For example, qualitative information such as the number of pages in the mail item can be added to the record.
• the mail thus prepared is delivered to the postal office for distribution and at the same time, the client software transmits the file containing the database information relating to the batch of mail to a central information server.
• Transmission of information between the sender and the receiving postal office can take various forms, an example being transmission under form of an attachment to an electronic message by the INTERNET network. Any other form of transmission, using public lines or networks or private is also possible. This information can also be given to the receiving office in the form of a recorded computer medium (floppy disk, CD-ROM etc.).
• peripheral servers with qualitative and quantitative capacities depend directly on the characteristics of the identification code, the number operational potential per unit of time and security constraints.
• the peripheral servers are installed in sorting centers and interact with the various machines equipping the mail processing lines.
• the server central can be physically located in one of the sorting centers or on the contrary isolated in another place.
• the user, sender of the mail is equipped with a station like a personal computer with the necessary peripherals to transmit data bi-directionally for example on the network INTERNET.
• the servers are also equipped with means of communication allowing the two-way exchange of information as well than permanent or temporary storage of the data exchanged.
• the central server application When the central server application receives user data, it saves this data in a centralized database by creating the structures and indexes necessary for the management of this data. Once the data saved, the central server transmits this data to the peripheral server located in the sorting center assigned by default to the sender. Each user has a sorting center assigned by default which generally corresponds to the one located at proximity to his home, i.e. where the probability that the mail either physically delivered is the highest.
• the central server confirms to the user, by sending an electronic message, that the data has been correctly transmitted.
• the following steps take place when the mail is received and processed by the post office.
• the batch of mail is loaded into the primary sorting machine which goes read the identification code printed on the mail item then send a request to the peripheral server to obtain the record corresponding to the mail item being processed.
• the server accesses its database local data and searches for the record corresponding to the code read on the letter.
• the server device initiates a transaction with the central server so that the latter transmits the corresponding data.
• the registration does not could be obtained, mail item is rejected and routed to a locker receiving the mail items to be processed manually.
• the peripheral server finds the record corresponding to the mail item being processed, it creates in its database local, a billing record incorporating time data current data as well as the data relating to the registration processed.
• the server device updates its local database by modifying a field record data to indicate that the mail item correspondent was processed by a primary sorting machine.
• the recording of billing created is then transmitted to the central server which also proceeds to updating its database. Sorting machine continues processing by marking the item of mail then by directing it towards the corresponding locker at the destination obtained by reading the record corresponding to the code printed identification.
• the peripheral server sends a copy of the recording regarding this mail item to the peripheral server located in the center sorting station.
• This processing makes it possible to distribute the items of mail intended for this constituency in different lockers in order to optimize their distribution to final recipients
• the mail elements pass in front of a read head which reads the printed identification code then sends a request to the peripheral server to obtain the record corresponding to the code read.
• the peripheral server searches in its local database the corresponding record, if any, obtained from the central server, and transmits the recording to the sorting machine.
• the mail item is then routed based on the information in the record received.
• the sorting machine sends an update request to the peripheral server. The latter updates the record corresponding to the mail item processed, adding the current time data then transmits this updated record to the central server.
• the central server updates the central database upon receipt of the modified records from the peripheral servers.
• the central server receives chronologically, an updated record when the mail item is processed by the primary sorting machine, a billing record comprising the elements necessary to calculate the cost of the service, and finally a record updated, when the mail item has been correctly processed by the secondary sorting machine.
• additional services can be offered to the sender. All first, increased security in terms of billing for services, in fact only mail items that have passed successfully through sorting machines primary and secondary will be effectively billed based on treatment desired (normal, fast, registered mail ).
• the user can also read access, using its client application, to the data stored in the central server to know for example the progress of the processing of a item or batch of mail or for the purpose of compiling statistics on the mail sent.
• the use of statistical or accounting data contained in the central server may be subject to additional services, paid or free, which may be offered by the service provider.
• Another advantage for the user is that he is no longer necessary to frank the mail, since the desired treatment is part of the code or can be found in the recording provided by the peripheral server during processing of the mail item. This results in significant time savings for the user.
• Mail management using this process also provides advantages to the service provider. First of all, it is no longer necessary to read the code postal and interpret it by character recognition techniques and then then print a fluorescent code on the mail item to allow its further processing by the secondary sorting machine. With the process object of the invention, all the processing is carried out on the basis of reading the code of identification appearing on the mail element from one end to the other of the chain of treatment. In addition, thanks to the information transmitted by the server peripheral, we can establish routing criteria in the different lockers, much thinner than with the postal code alone.
• the identification code generated by the software customer, when preparing the mail includes all the information necessary for the routing of the mail item during its processing by the office postal.
• the identification code also includes information previously mentioned, (customer number, order, sequence, type of information relating to the recipient such as the postal number, the street name and number for example. This information is sufficient and directly interpretable by the sorting machine so that the mail item is correctly routed to the correct locker.
• the identification code is printed on the letter, from preferably when printing the address in a position favoring its acquisition by reading devices of sorting machines.
• the base data created by the client software only includes the different codes of identification corresponding to each of the mail items. This file of data is transmitted to the central server which, as in the example previously described, sends it to the peripheral server located in the center of sort assigned by default to a given user.
• the identification code printed on the mail item is read by a read head, then a request is sent to the peripheral server.
• the peripheral server upon receipt of this request, verifies that the code of identification read corresponds well to a code forming part of the data which have been transmitted. If the peripheral server does not find the identification code, it sends a request to the central server in order to know if the latter has knowledge of this identification code.
• the peripheral server authorizes routing the mail item by the sorting machine. This routing can be done without requiring any other exchange of information since any the information necessary for routing is present in the identification code. Yes however, the identification code cannot be found by the server peripheral, the latter sends a command to the sorting machine which then directs the mail item to manual processing. The next steps are identical to those described above.
• the same management process is applicable to other types of items such as parcels for example.
• the identification code generated for each mail item is printed on the different elements as a sequence of alphanumeric characters or a barcode, it is also possible in the case of packages for example mark packages using a programmable passive tag or track magnetic. In this case, the identification code is not printed but saved in the tag or on the magnetic strip.
• a device adapted reading restores the value contained in the tag for allow further processing based on data transmitted by the server peripheral.
• the installation for implementing the management method described above includes, on the sender's side, a personal computer comprising the interfaces and peripherals required on the one hand for printing codes of identification on the mail items and on the other hand to the transmission of data relating to the mail items processed.
• the sorting center includes devices needed to process traditional mail items (primary and / or secondary sorting machine) as well as at least one server device with the interfaces necessary for bidirectional transmission of data to the primary server.
• the peripheral server is also equipped interfaces allowing it to exchange information with reading (reading head, scanner) installed on sorting machines.
• a waiter central with storage devices and telecommunication equipment consolidates data from the user and servers peripheral devices.

Landscapes

• Management, Administration, Business Operations System, And Electronic Commerce (AREA)
• Sorting Of Articles (AREA)

Priority Applications (3)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=8168027

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (3)

Cited By (2)

Families Citing this family (1)

Citations (3)

Family Cites Families (2)

• 2000
  • 2000-03-03 EP EP00104642A patent/EP1129792A1/de not_active Withdrawn
• 2001
  • 2001-03-02 AU AU34021/01A patent/AU3402101A/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2001-03-02 WO PCT/IB2001/000296 patent/WO2001064358A2/fr not_active Ceased

Patent Citations (3)

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