Automated waste mail verification

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9604257-B2
Application number	US-201313892679-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 13, 2013
Priority date	May 11, 2012
Publication date	Mar 28, 2017
Grant date	Mar 28, 2017

Abstract

A method for automatically sorting undeliverable as addressed (UAA) mail can include capturing a first image of a first UAA mail piece with a camera to create first image data, passing the first image data to a waste verification system and performing optical character recognition to produce a first character recognition data set. The method includes testing the first character recognition data set to determine whether the first UAA mail piece is a verified waste mail piece. If the first UAA mail piece is a verified waste mail piece, the method includes routing the first UAA mail piece into a first bin. If the first UAA mail piece is not a verified waste mail piece, routing the mail piece to a second bin.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for automatically sorting undeliverable as addressed (UAA) mail, comprising:
capturing a first image of a first UAA mail piece with a camera connected to an automated mail transport to create first image data;
passing the first image data to a waste verification system and performing optical character recognition on the first image data using the waste verification system to produce a first character recognition data set;
classifying the first UAA mail piece as finalized in a classification category that is one of a forward to new address category, a return to sender category, a waste category, or a send for manual handling category;
placing a label on the first UAA mail piece based on the classification category;
when the first UAA mail piece is finalized in the waste category, then:
testing the first character recognition data set compared to the label to determine whether the first UAA mail piece is a verified waste mail piece; and
if the first UAA mail piece is a verified waste mail piece, then routing the first UAA mail piece into a first bin, and
if the first UAA mail piece is not a verified waste mail piece, then routing the first UAA mail piece to a second bin.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein when the classification category is a waste category and the first UAA mail piece is not a verified waste mail piece, then removing the label placed on the first UAA mail piece.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein testing the first character recognition data set comprises verifying a mail class printed on the label matches the mail class on the first image data.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein testing the first character recognition data set comprises matching a name from the first image data with a name on the label associated with the first UAA mail piece.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein testing the first character recognition data set comprises verifying that mailer endorsement related information is correct.

6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein testing the first character recognition data set comprises verifying that Address Change Service (ACS) related information is correct.

7. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:
determining that a second UAA mail piece is verified as a waste mail piece;
routing the second UAA mail piece to a first bin; and
discarding the second UAA mail piece.

8. The method according to claim 7 , further comprising:
determining that a third UAA mail piece is not verified as a waste mail piece;
routing the third UAA mail piece to a second bin;
collecting at least the third UAA mail piece routed to the second bin;
manually determining whether the third UAA mail piece is a waste mail piece;
determining the third mail piece is a waste mail piece; and
discarding the third mail piece.

9. The method according to claim 8 , further comprising:
determining that a fourth UAA mail piece is not verified as a waste mail piece,
routing the fourth UAA mail piece to a second bin;
collecting the fourth UAA mail piece routed to the second bin;
manually determining whether the fourth UAA mail piece is a waste mail piece;
determining the fourth UAA mail piece is not a waste mail piece; and
redirecting the fourth UAA mail piece to a location indicated by information printed on the mail piece.

10. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising:
passing the first image data to an image management system (IMS); and
performing optical character recognition on the first image data using the IMS to produce a second character recognition data set.

11. The method according to claim 10 , further comprising:
classifying with the IMS the first UAA mail piece as one of finalized and non-finalized.

12. An automatic mail sorting equipment, comprising:
an optical character recognition (OCR) camera configured to capture:
a first image of a first UAA mail piece connected to an automated mail transport to create first image data; and
pass the first image data to a waste verification system;

a waste verification system configured to perform optical character recognition on the first image data to produce a first character recognition data set;
an image management system (IMS) configured to classify the first UAA mail piece as finalized in a classification category that is one of forward to new address category, a returned to sender category, a waste category, or a send for manual handling category;
a label printer configured to place a label on the first UAA mail piece based on the classification category;
wherein the waste verification system is further configured, when the first UAA mail piece is finalized in the waste category, to:
test the first character recognition data set compared to the label to determine whether the first UAA mail piece is a verified waste mail piece; and
if the first UAA mail piece is a verified waste mail piece, then route the first UAA mail piece into a first bin, and
if the first UAA mail piece is not a verified waste mail piece, then route the mail piece to a second bin.

13. The automatic mail sorting equipment of claim 12 , wherein the label printer is further configured to, when the classification category is a waste category and the first UAA mail piece is not a verified waste mail piece, remove the label placed on the first UAA mail piece.

14. The automatic mail sorting equipment of claim 12 , wherein the waste verification system is further configured to test the first character recognition data set by verifying a mail class printed on the label matches the mail class on the first image data.

15. The automatic mail sorting equipment of claim 12 , wherein the waste verification system is further configured to test the first character recognition data set by matching a name from the first image data with a name on the label associated with the first UAA mail piece.

16. The automatic mail sorting equipment of claim 12 , wherein the waste verification system is further configured to test the first character recognition data set by verifying that mailer endorsement related information is correct.

17. The automatic mail sorting equipment of claim 12 , wherein the waste verification system is configured to test the first character recognition data set by verifying that Address Change Service (ACS) related information is correct.

18. The automatic mail sorting equipment of claim 12 , wherein the waste verification system is further configured to:
determine that a second UAA mail piece is verified as a waste mail piece;
route the second UAA mail piece to a first bin.

19. The automatic mail sorting equipment of claim 12 , wherein:
the OCR camera is further configured to pass the first image data to the IMS; and
the IMS is further configured to perform at least optical character recognition on the first image data to produce a second character recognition data set.

20. The automatic mail sorting equipment of claim 19 , further configured to classify with the IMS the first UAA mail piece as one of finalized and non-finalized.

Assignees

• Li Hongjian
• Parker Peter
• Ahmed Asif Bilal
• Pieniadz Janusz
• Siemens Industry Inc

Inventors

• Li Hongjian
• Parker Peter
• Ahmed Asif Bilal
• Pieniadz Janusz

Classifications

• B07C7/005

  Computer assisted manual sorting, e.g. for mail · CPC title

• B07C3/14 Primary

  using light-responsive detecting means {(for information carriers G06K7/14)} · CPC title

• B07C5/3412 Primary

  according to a code applied to the object which indicates a property of the object, e.g. quality class, contents or incorrect indication (sorting according to size measured by light-responsive means B07C5/10; sorting according to optical properties B07C5/342; for packages B65D79/02; for information carriers G06K7/00) · CPC title