Method, system and computer product for identifying, coordinating and managing mail

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017193428-A1
Application number	US-201614989121-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 6, 2016
Priority date	Jan 6, 2016
Publication date	Jul 6, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

A method, system and computer product for identifying, coordinating and managing mail includes: identifying mail packaging according to a unique identifier, the unique identifier linking the mail to a payment account, a sender and a recipient; identifying a recipient; processing deposited mail by the carrier, wherein said processing includes recognizing the unique identifier, calculation of postage of the mail and charging the postage to the payment account; and routing the mail to the recipient.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A method for identifying, coordinating and managing mail, comprising:
identifying mail packaging according to a unique identifier, the unique identifier linking the mail to a payment account, a sender and a recipient; identifying said recipient; and processing deposited mail by a carrier, wherein said processing includes: recognizing the unique identifier; calculating postage for the mail; charging said postage to said payment account; and routing the mail to the recipient, wherein a sender application or an optimized processing carrier location determines a final delivery address or determines whether address redirection is necessary or desired in order to properly route the mail to the recipient.

2 . A method in accordance with claim 1 , wherein a sender application or an optimized processing carrier location provides a pre-delivery notification to the recipient and determines whether address redirection is necessary or desired in order to properly route the mail to the recipient.

3 . A method in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said unique identifier is a QR code, which is activated by scanning thereof by a sender and which becomes inactive after delivery or after a pre-determined period.

4 . A method in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said unique identifier is scanned by a sender utilizing a mobile application.

5 . A method in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said processing comprises scanning said unique identifier by a carrier and identifying sender and recipient information associated with said unique identifier.

6 . A method in accordance with claim 5 , wherein said calculating and charging of postage are performed at an optimized processing carrier location after assessment of said mail and after determination of a final delivery address and requested options.

7 . A method in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said processing includes requests for digital or other copies of mail, in addition to delivery of physical mail.

8 . A method in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said mail or unique identifier includes an accessible link to a digital copy of some or all information related to said mail.

9 . A method in accordance with claim 1 , wherein said processing includes use of smart or augmented reality by the carrier to identify, to confirm delivery of or to provide additional digital or other copies of mail information to a recipient.

10 . A system for identifying, coordinating and managing mail comprising:
a sender application configured to identify a mail packaging according to a unique identifier, the unique identifier linking the mail to a payment account, a sender and a recipient; and a carrier server configured to retrieve information linked to said unique identifier during processing of the mail, identify the recipient, calculate of postage of the mail, charge the postage to the payment account and route the mail to the recipient, wherein a sender application or an optimized processing carrier location determines a final delivery address or determines whether address redirection is necessary or desired in order to properly route the mail to the recipient.

11 . A system in accordance with claim 10 , wherein a sender application or said carrier server at an optimized processing carrier location is configured to provide a pre-delivery notification to the recipient and to determine whether address redirection is necessary or desired in order to properly route the mail to the recipient.

12 . A system in accordance with claim 10 , wherein said unique identifier is a QR code, and wherein said system is configured to activate said QR code by scanning of a sender, and further wherein the system is configured to deactivate said QR code after delivery or after a pre-determined period.

13 . A system in accordance with claim 10 , wherein a mobile application is configured to scan said unique identifier.

14 . A system in accordance with claim 10 , wherein said carrier server is configured to process said unique identifier by scanning said unique identifier and identifying sender and recipient information associated with said unique identifier.

15 . A system in accordance with claim 14 , wherein said carrier server is configured to calculate and charge postage at an optimized processing carrier location after assessment of said mail and after determination of a final delivery address and requested options.

16 . A system in accordance with claim 10 , wherein said carrier server is configured to process mail by facilitating requests for digital or other copies of mail, in addition to delivery of physical mail.

17 . A system in accordance with claim 10 , wherein said mail or unique identifier includes an accessible link to a digital copy of some or all of the information related to said mail.

18 . A system in accordance with claim 10 , wherein said carrier server is configured to process mail with smart or augmented reality devices to confirm delivery of or to provide additional digital or other copies of mail information to a recipient.

19 . A computer program product including a computer readable medium containing computer executable code thereon, wherein the computer executable code, when processed by a processor of a computer, directs the processor to perform a method of r identifying, coordinating and managing mail according to the method, comprising:
identifying mail packaging according to a unique identifier, the unique identifier linking the mail to a payment account, a sender and a recipient; identifying said recipient; and processing deposited mail by a carrier, wherein said processing includes: recognizing the unique identifier; calculating postage for the mail; and charging said postage to said payment account; and routing the mail to the recipient, wherein a sender application or an optimized processing carrier location determines a final delivery address or determines whether address redirection is necessary or desired in order to properly route the mail to the recipient.

20 . A computer program in accordance with claim 19 , wherein said processing comprises scanning said unique identifier by a carrier and identifying sender and recipient information associated with said unique identifier and wherein said calculating and charging of postage are performed at an optimized processing carrier location after assessment of said mail and after determination of a final delivery address and requested options.

21 . A computer program in accordance with claim 19 , wherein a sender application or an optimized processing carrier location provides a pre-delivery notification to the recipient and determines whether address redirection is necessary or desired in order to properly route the mail to the recipient.

22 . A computer program in accordance with claim 19 , wherein said unique identifier is a QR code, which is activated by scanning thereof by a sender and which becomes inactive after delivery or after a pre-determined period.

23 . A computer program in accordance with claim 19 , wherein said processing includes requests for digital or other copies of mail, in addition to delivery of physical mail.

24 . A computer program in accordance with claim 19 , wherein said mail or unique identifier includes an accessible link to a digital copy of some or all information related to said mail.

25 . A computer program in accordance with claim

Assignees

• IBM

Inventors

• Abrams Robert M
• Alexander Tabari H
• Chan Yuk L
• Demkowicz Susan Z
• Dowden Theresa
• Loers Christopher S

Classifications

• G06Q10/083 Primary

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