Abstract: A system for detection and tracking of mail pieces containing certain characteristics within the postal system and other commercial handlers of mail pieces. The present invention will detect mail pieces, which meet certain criteria, and track the mail through the system. The present invention accomplishes this detection and evaluation of mail pieces by the use of cameras and computer technology, and using this technology to identify characteristics of mail pieces that are scanned and recorded for analysis.

Abstract: A system for detection and tracking of mail pieces containing certain characteristics within the postal system and other commercial handlers of mail pieces. The present invention will detect mail pieces, which meet certain criteria, and track the mail through the system. The present invention accomplishes this detection and evaluation of mail pieces by the use of cameras and computer technology, and using this technology to identify characteristics of mail pieces that are scanned and recorded for analysis.

Abstract: A system and method for character presence detection having the capability of locating characters within a line of characters represented by a binary stream of data bits. The stream of binary data bits is divided into scans which correspond to scans of a photocell array. The system for character presence detection receives the binary stream. Each data bit has a unique position within its particular scan, which corresponds to the selection of a particular photocell of the photocell array as the output thereof, and, therefore, the binary stream of data bits comprises an image corresponding to alphanumeric characters disposed upon a written medium. That is, the data bits comprise an image of characters which form a line disposed along a written medium. Within the binary stream, some data bits represent character information and the remainder represents background information.