Abstract: The present invention comprises a method for processing on-line orders wherein the on-seller is liberated from having to maintain cumbersome or uneconomical warehouse stocks. Herein, after an order is received from a customer, the on-line seller subcontracts for the item sought by the customer and sends out a printing order. Both subcontract and printing order include an identification key which is later used to associate printed materials and item, so as to facilitate special packing of the item with special materials associated with the on-line seller, and the forwarding of the finally packaged item to the customer.

Abstract: According to the present invention, the recorded images with image-accompanying data of the postal articles or documents to be read of different customers are furnished. For each customer, master data are stored in a searchable manner. The master data includes at least the origin of the images, the range of the agreed services and, in a cost model, includes their costs according to established image attributes. Before each reading process, the respective customer and the respective reading job including the necessary image attributes are determined from the image-accompanying data are determined from the image-accompanying data and from the master data. After conducting the reading process, the customer, the procesing information concerning the reading steps with the reading and processing results, the established image attributes and the image-accompanying data are stored for each image in a searchable, sortable and time-related manner.

Abstract: A method and system for reading an address of a mail piece is set out wherein the address face of the mail piece is scanned and decoded to generate an electronically recognizable or readable destination address. If the destination address is not completely decoded, the image of the address face is temporarily stored in a grouping in a database. The grouping is then forwarded to an encoding clerk who has the highest priority and is available for the grouping. The priority of the deck is based on data such as the clerk's measured professional competence. Herein, factors include experience with a particular destination region, success rate, and the like.

Abstract: With a method for processing goods in an automatic reading system, for which an image of the address-containing surface of each item is obtained and transmitted to a first automatic evaluation and, in case of an incomplete evaluation of the address information, is transmitted to a first video coding for evaluation, it is provided that the address information of those images, which are not completely evaluated during the video coding, are transmitted to a further automatic evaluation by making use of the results of the video coding.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for processing mail to be returned to sender, according to which the extent of video-coding required when great quantities of mail sent by large mailers are to be returned to sender is reduced considerably. According to the invention similarities in the areas containing the senders' addresses are determined at the image level. In the case of mail where the address field images present a defined degree of similarity only one image is video-coded. The remaining mail displaying a defined degree of similarity to the video-coded item of mail is assigned to the corresponding sender.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and method for resolving non-address attributes on a mail piece. The present system uses a mail sorter for sorting and facilitating the obtaining of a scan of the mail piece. The image is then scanned by automatic means to determine whether the non-address attributes can be automatically resolved. In the event of an unsuccessful scan, the image is forwarded to a processor which makes a functional resolution of the non-address attribute, locates example attributes and ranks them, and creates a matrix with the example attribute in the cognitive zone. The matrix is displayed to a coder who then quickly identifies whether or not the attribute and example attribute match. In the event of a non-match, a matrix with a next highest rank example attribute is created and forwarded to the encoder until no more example attributes remain, wherein the entire image is forwarded to the encoder.

Abstract: According to the present invention, the recorded images with image-accompanying data of the postal articles or documents to be read of different customers are furnished. For each customer, master data are stored in a searchable manner. The master data includes at least the origin of the images, the range of the agreed services and, in a cost model, includes their costs according to established image attributes. Before each reading process, the respective customer and the respective reading job including the necessary image attributes are determined from the image-accompanying data are determined from the image-accompanying data and from the master data. After conducting the reading process, the customer, the procesing information concerning the reading steps with the reading and processing results, the established image attributes and the image-accompanying data are stored for each image in a searchable, sortable and time-related manner.

Abstract: A system and method for mass mailing is disclosed which operates from the perspective of the receiver. Herein, data comprising mass mail items is electronically distributed to a receiving center where it is sorted by region, then to a service center assigned to the region. At the service center, the data is again sorted by the line of route distribution which includes the addressee address and the data is printed. The printed data is then stuffed into envelopes. Alternatively, an envelope face layout may also be included in the data and printed on the envelope. The envelope, comprising the mail item, is then distributed to the local distribution center, where the mail item is delivered, the mail item having been received in the line of route distribution order. Alternatively, the printing may be performed at the distribution center.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of processing postal matters in an automatic address-reading system, an image of the surface of each article of mail having address information being obtained and delivered to a first automatic evaluation system, and incorporately evaluated address information being delivered for evaluation to a first video coding system. It is provided that the address information of those images which have not been completely evaluated in the video coding system are delivered, using the results of the video coding system to another automatic evaluation system.

Abstract: A system and method are set out for automating the sorting and loading of parcels into a delivery vehicle. While being conveyed from a customer, parcels to be delivered are scanned and information obtained therefrom. The information may be the parcel either or both the identification code and delivery address. The obtaining may be performed by a bar code reader, hand held or overhead, as well as a videocoding device. The parcel information is matched to a sort code, a unique code for a unique delivery address. A list of matched identification and sort codes and delivery addresses and sort codes is then saved for later search, sort, and retrieval. The parcels are then loaded in sequence into mobile racks, which when full, is loaded onto the delivery vehicle. A sequence list of the order in which the parcels were scanned is also saved for later search, sort, and retrieval. An end user enters a select list of addresses in search of possible hits from the saved lists.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a method for processing on-line orders wherein the on-seller is liberated from having to maintain cumbersome or uneconomical warehouse stocks. Herein, after an order is received from a customer, the on-line seller subcontracts with a supplier for the good(s) sought by the customer and sends out a printing order. Both subcontract and printing order include an identification key which is later used to associate printed materials and good(s), so as to facilitate special packing of the good(s) with special materials associated with the on-line seller, and the forwarding of the finally packaged good(s) to the customer. The associating of good(s) and packing material, packing, and forwarding good(s) to customer is performed at the supplier.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a method for handling return requested items. The items are returned from a customer to a provider or seller. The items may be returned due to customer dissatisfaction and/or customer failure to properly compensate provider. To effect return, the provider contacts a postal system which arranges for pick up of the item, evaluates the condition and value of the item, advises the provider of the condition and value, and based on instruction from the provider, either provides item information to an auction house for auctioning (along with subsequent shipment to the auction house highest bidder) or retain of item to manufacturer.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a method for franking and processing deliveries, including the following steps: the dispatch client transmits information concerning designated deliveries including details of the recipient to the dispatch service and triggers a process for the payment of the charges; after acceptance of the charge payment process, the dispatch service generates a franking number for each delivery that has been declared, the franking number only being valid for an agreed period of time and thus requiring only a limited number of digits; the franking number is saved together with the recipient details to a searchable franking database; the franking numbers are transmitted to the dispatch client; the latter applies these numbers to the respective deliveries; and the recipient details and the franking numbers of the submitted deliveries are read and searched for in the franking database, whereby once the corresponding entry has been found, the delivery is processed further and the entry is invalid

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and method for ensuring that secure factoring can be given to a seller system in exchange for confirmed accounts receipts. The accounts receivables may comprise orders for goods, which may be merchandise or a service. The confirmation is made by a post system, which acts as an intermediary between the seller system and the purchaser as well as between the seller system and a financial institution from which the factoring originates. The purchase may be a client system. The post system confirms with the client system ordering and identification information. When the post system has sufficient confirmation, it sends a release message to the financial institution to release factoring to the seller system. In the event a good is returned by the purchaser, the good is sent to the post system that may either sell the good through other avenues or return the good to the seller system.

Abstract: The invention pertains to mail distribution information recognition technology, involving video-coding stations. According to the invention, the distribution information is fed into the screen of a video-coding unit by means of a speech input unit comprising a microphone (60), a speech recognition module (70) and, if need be, a key board (50). The input data are compiled to a list covering all possible proposals concerning the recognition of the distribution information, said proposals being assessed according to the plausibility criterion. After removal of the little plausible proposals, the selected ones are displayed.

Abstract: The present invention comprises a method for processing on-line orders wherein the on-seller is liberated from having to maintain cumbersome or uneconomical warehouse stocks. Herein, after an order is received from a customer, the on-line seller subcontracts for the item sought by the customer and sends out a printing order. Both subcontract and printing order include an identification key which is later used to associate printed materials and item, so as to facilitate special packing of the item with special materials associated with the on-line seller, and the forwarding of the finally packaged item to the customer.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for detecting delivery data on mail items with the aid of video coding stations (40), to which the recorded, digitized and stored images of the mail item surfaces are transmitted, following an ambiguous automatic evaluation of the delivery data in an OCR unit (100). In the process, at least the names are entered by means of a voice-input unit (60, 70). The voice recognition candidates are then selected with the aid of the ambiguous results from the automatic OCR evaluation (120). It is advantageous if this occurs through a comparison of the respectively determined number of characters or by means of a position-related comparison of the characters for the candidates with the characters determined in the OCR unit and by taking into account the reliabilities.

Abstract: In the method, each envelope (1) is provided with an envelope number that can be read by humans and by machine. The control system of a sorting machine (4) is coupled to an e-mail system. The sender (3) looks for the addressee in the e-mail system and enters the number (2) of the envelope (1) to be sent. He then transmits a message with the addressee and the envelope number (2) to the control system of the sorting machine. In the control system there is a file (6) for the sorting plan, which allocates sorting compartments to the addressees. By means of the message from the e-mail system, the sorting compartment of the addressee is also allocated the envelope number (2), so that after the machine-readable number (2) of the envelope (1) has been read, the envelope can be led into the compartment belonging to the addressee. This allocation is then deleted again. In this way, the difficulties in reading the handwritten addresses are avoided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for electronic franking wherein the customer is provided with an authenticable code which may be written or otherwise printed on a mail piece or mail piece. Given the authentic nature of the code, the code may be provided remotely. The code may be linked to a delivery address, the relationship later verified. Alternatively, the code may be the result of applying a precode and date of purchase to an algorithm thereby producing a resulting code. The resulting code can be easily verified. The algorithm is complex and difficult to reverse engineer, including an encryption algorithm.

Abstract: A system and method are set out for overcoming null deliveries. A delivery vehicle is tracked during its route. At a select time prior to delivery, the parcel recipient is contacted to determine if the recipient is home. Where the recipient is home, the parcel is delivered. Where the recipient is not at home, the driver's manifest is updated to incorporate alternative delivery instructions, if any.