Abstract: A method and a system identify information placed on a good to be processed, and the way of processing the good depends on this information. With regard to the method, the following steps are performed reading the information by an identifier and speaking the information as a voice message into an information retrieval system; delivering the voice message to a plurality of voice recognition systems; analyzing the voice message in each of the plurality of voice recognition systems and identifying a preliminary result; evaluating the preliminary results utilizing conditional probabilities of correct recognition in order to identify the most probable result among the preliminary results best matching the initial information; and assigning the most probable result to the respective good. The system provides a reliable, high-speed multi speech recognition even in high ambient noise environments without the cost and complexity of introducing an OCR.

Abstract: A method and a system identify information placed on a good to be processed, and the way of processing the good depends on this information. With regard to the method, the following steps are performed reading the information by an identifier and speaking the information as a voice message into an information retrieval system; delivering the voice message to a plurality of voice recognition systems; analyzing the voice message in each of the plurality of voice recognition systems and identifying a preliminary result; evaluating the preliminary results in order to identify the most probable result among the preliminary results best matching the initial information; and assigning the most probable result to the respective good. The system provides a reliable, high-speed multi speech recognition even in high ambient noise environments without the cost and complexity of introducing an OCR.

Abstract: A method and a device for transporting an item to a destination location. The item is provided with a label bearing the destination location to which the item is to be transported. The item is additionally provided with a label bearing a transportation service provider. The item is transported to a sorting plant and passes through the sorting plant. Information about the destination location with which the item is labeled is input into a data acquisition system of the sorting plant. It is automatically decided whether a preset error signal for a transportation error was or was not input during passage of the item. Depending on the destination location data which has been input, the sorting plant triggers onward transportation of the item to the destination location. In the event of the error signal for a transportation error having been input, a report is generated.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for reading address fields on mail items when the address field cannot be automatically read. Herein, when an address field cannot be read, a signature of the surface of the mail piece where the address field is believed to be is made. The signature is derived from a scanning the surface and forming a grid pattern of the larger typographical fields. A database is queried to determine if a match exists between the signature and another signature. If a match is found, the information is imported into the automatic reading process, the information assisting in the reading of the address field. If no match is found, the scanned image is manually encoded and this information is used.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for reading address fields on mail items when the address field cannot be automatically read. Herein, when an address field cannot be read, a signature of the surface of the mail piece where the address field is believed to be is made. The signature is derived from a scanning the surface and forming a grid pattern of the larger typographical fields. A database is queried to determine if a match exists between the signature and another signature. If a match is found, the information is imported into the automatic reading process, the information assisting in the reading of the address field. If no match is found, the scanned image is manually encoded and this information is used.