Abstract: A method, and a system for carrying out that method, for deterministically matching first elements of a first set of objects or events with second elements of a second set of objects or events. Matching first and second elements are associated with common values of an identification code pn having |pn| characters, and where the identification code can be insufficient to uniquely identify the first elements, and portions of the identification code values associated with the first and second elements can be unknown.

Abstract: A method of tracking mail pieces includes determining that an observation event has not occurred with respect to a high value mail piece (HVMP). If it is also determined that a corresponding observation event has occurred with respect to another mail piece that was mailed with the HVMP, then an alarm indication may be provided with respect to the HVMP.

Abstract: A method for retrieving mail tracking details of a mailpiece sent to a recipient using a stored image of the mailpiece. A mailpiece is provided with a unique mailpiece tracking identifier and the identifier is stored in a database. An image of the mailpiece is then acquired and also stored in the database in association with the unique mailpiece tracking identifier. Mailpiece tracking details for the mailpiece are then acquired as the mailpiece is delivered to a recipient, which tracking details are stored in the database in association with the mailpiece tracking identifier and stored image. A user seeking the particular tracking details is then presented with at least one stored image of a mailpiece, and when an image is selected by a user, the user is presented with the mail tracking details that were stored in association with the selected mailpiece image.

Abstract: A method for generating PLANET service codes for a batch of mailpieces with the PLANET service code having assignable digits. The PLANET service code is changed to provide a unique tracking number for each mailpiece determinative upon whether a POSTNET service code is known for each mailpiece in the batch of mailpieces, and if known, whether that POSTNET service code was applied to a previous mailpiece in the batch of mailpieces.

Abstract: A system for acquiring and storing mailpiece processing and tracking details in association with mailing details for a mailpiece, wherein said mailing details are received from a postal delivery system. The system includes at least one mailpiece processing system for generating mailpieces wherein the mailpiece processing system is configured to generate an electronic file containing the processing details for its generated mailpieces. Also included is at least one imaging device for acquiring images of the generated mailpieces. A database is provided for storing the mailpiece processing and tracking details along with the acquired images. An electronic communication system links the database to: a postal delivery system; the at least one mailpiece processing system and to the mailpiece imaging device.

Abstract: A novel voice-enabled directory look-up system is disclosed. In one embodiment, an operator reads the first few characters from each of the first and last names of a mail addressee. The system captures the speech as an audio signal, which is parsed into character position segments. The system determines one or more candidate characters that might have resulted in the audio signal for each character position segment. The system then expands the list of candidate characters for at least one character position to include one or more characters that sound like the original candidate characters for that character position. The candidate characters for the respective character positions are composed into a regular expression, which is applied using an inexact string matching look-up routine to a directory of records. Records with the best matches are returned in a menu for the operator. The operator selects the desired record from the menu.

Abstract: A novel voice-enabled directory look-up system is disclosed. In one embodiment, an operator reads the first few characters from each of the first and last names of a mail addressee. The system captures the speech as an audio signal, which is parsed into character position segments. The system determines one or more candidate characters that might have resulted in the audio signal for each character position segment. The system then expands the list of candidate characters for at least one character position to include one or more characters that sound like the original candidate characters for that character position. The candidate characters for the respective character positions are composed into a regular expression, which is applied using an inexact string matching look-up routine to a directory of records. Records with the best matches are returned in a menu for the operator. The operator selects the desired record from the menu.

Abstract: A data processing system regulating access from a plurality of host computers to a plurality of direct access storage devices. The data processing system has a storage controller connected for data communication to the host computers by one or more channels per host computer. The storage controller is further connected to direct access storage devices used to provide auxiliary storage. The storage controller, responsive to host computer request, selectively establishes a communication link for data transfer between the host computers and the direct access storage devices. Channels are temporarily disqualified from obtaining control of the storage controller or a storage device during periods of contention for access to the storage devices or the storage controller. Transmission of device end and control unit end signals is also selective by channel. Override conditions are specified to allow for host computer or channel failure without disabling the data processing system.

Abstract: A method and system in a data processing system for the efficient response to multiple different types of interrupts. The data processing system includes at least one host and a storage subsystem having storage subsystem devices and at least one storage subsystem controller. The storage subsystem controller operates in multiple different states. Interrupts of multiple different types are generated by sources of real time events and are received by the storage subsystem controller. A selected type of interrupt as a preferred next interrupt to be received by the storage subsystem controller is then determined in response to the determination of the current state of the storage subsystem controller. A particular state associated with the occurrence of the selected type of interrupt is then determined.