EP1189708A1 - Method for sorting mail - Google Patents

Method for sorting mail

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Publication number
EP1189708A1
EP1189708A1 EP00922465A EP00922465A EP1189708A1 EP 1189708 A1 EP1189708 A1 EP 1189708A1 EP 00922465 A EP00922465 A EP 00922465A EP 00922465 A EP00922465 A EP 00922465A EP 1189708 A1 EP1189708 A1 EP 1189708A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
envelope
addressee
sorting
mail
machine
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
EP00922465A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP1189708B1 (en
Inventor
Walter S. Rosenbaum
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Siemens AG
Original Assignee
Siemens AG
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Siemens AG filed Critical Siemens AG
Publication of EP1189708A1 publication Critical patent/EP1189708A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP1189708B1 publication Critical patent/EP1189708B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B07—SEPARATING SOLIDS FROM SOLIDS; SORTING
    • B07C—POSTAL SORTING; SORTING INDIVIDUAL ARTICLES, OR BULK MATERIAL FIT TO BE SORTED PIECE-MEAL, e.g. BY PICKING
    • B07C3/00—Sorting according to destination
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10S—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10S209/00—Classifying, separating, and assorting solids
    • Y10S209/90—Sorting flat-type mail

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a method according to the preamble of the main claim and can be used particularly advantageously in the distribution of shipments within companies (so-called in-house distribution).
  • the distribution takes place according to the recipient addresses that are on the consignments.
  • OCR automatic reading of addresses
  • OCR systems for automatic reading of addresses
  • the reliability of recognition varies greatly with the font and overall quality of the address information applied to the face of the letters.
  • Automatic reading of the addresses is particularly difficult when sending within companies and institutions in special, reusable envelopes, since the addresses are handwritten in different places and the senders do not always adhere to agreed conventions.
  • the shipment in question can be sorted according to any desired sorting order.
  • OVS Onlme video coding systems
  • a video image of the broadcast is presented to an operator for coding, instead of the physical broadcast at the manual coding stations.
  • the video image is shown to the operator while the physical broadcast is held in delay lines.
  • the program m movement is normally held for a period of time sufficient for the OVS operator to enter the necessary sorting information for the image in question.
  • the usual delay lines allow a delay between 10 and 30 seconds. The longer the delay line, the greater the costs as well as the requirements for maintenance and the physical size of the system.
  • the invention specified in claim 1 is therefore based on the object of creating a method for sorting mail items which does not automatically eliminate the need for automatic reading of the written addresses and thus also for manual sorting or coding at special video coding stations including the delay lines addresses that are clearly legible.
  • each envelope is provided with a human-readable and machine-readable identification, an envelope number, ie the numbering is in Number form and coded form, e.g. as a barcode on the envelope.
  • the sender who wants to send one or more consignments to one addressee, first looks for the addressee on his PC in the e-mail address file and, once he has found it, adds the envelope number (s).
  • this envelope number (s) When this envelope number (s) is entered, the addressee and envelope numbers are transferred to the sorting machine, in whose control unit a scrambling plan is stored which assigns the addressee a specific distribution point.
  • the transmitted envelope number is also temporarily assigned to the distribution point by the transmission, so that when the machine-readable envelope number is read in the form of a barcode by a barcode reader of the sorting machine, this shipment can be sorted without doubt to the distribution point concerned.
  • Input into the e-mail system removes the assignment of the envelope to the addressee. This procedure enables error-free sorting, even if the envelope is difficult to read by hand.
  • the envelope numbers are advantageously applied to both sides of the envelope.
  • the sender receives an e-mail informing them that the item has been removed from the sorting machine.
  • 1 schematically shows the sequence of the method for mail distribution in a company.
  • a sorting machine 4 is used for the sorting process, which can process a wide range of mail items, with incoming mail, outgoing mail and in-house mail (mail that is to be distributed within the company) to be sorted. To do this, the addressees on the items in the address field must be read.
  • Word recognition address interpretation solved this task. Particular difficulties arise here when reading the addresses on reusable envelopes 1 for dispatch within the company. There are 1 corresponding fields on the covers for addressing. If the envelope is reused, the previous recipient is crossed out and the next recipient / addressee is entered in the next free field.
  • the envelopes 1 are provided with an identifying, human-readable and machine-readable number 2. This numbering is done on both sides, so that an orientation of the envelopes 1 before
  • Sorting by the address page is not necessary.
  • the PC 4 des Sender 3 opened the e-mail system and searched or entered the addressee in the window 5 for the address book, in this case Torsten Tanz.
  • the corresponding envelope number 2 is entered and sent to the control of the sorting machine 4 with an OK.
  • the addressee receives an e-mail that a mail item from the sender x is on the way. This message can also be sent with an optional delay.
  • E-mail system is added to the name of envelope number 2 in file 6. If the envelope 1 has reached the sorting machine 4 in the course of the distribution process and is entered into it, the distribution information is read first, in this case the barcode as a machine-readable envelope number 2. This is easily readable by the reading device of the sorting machine 4 .
  • the identified envelope number 2 is then sent to the control, where the file 6 for the sorting plan is used to determine which name and thus which distribution point is intended for this envelope 1 (distribution point 23) and by appropriately setting the switch, the envelope is in one or several sorting runs m transported a sorting bin assigned to this distribution point.
  • the envelope number 2 is deleted both in the control of the sorting machine 4 and in the address file of the e-mail system, so that the envelope 1 is free again for a new use.
  • the sender optionally receives an e-mail message that his shipment has left the sorting machine 4.

Landscapes

  • Sorting Of Articles (AREA)
  • Holo Graphy (AREA)

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.

Description

Beschreibungdescription
Verfahren zum Sortieren von SendungenProcedure for sorting shipments
Die Erfindung betrifft ein Verfahren gemäß dem Oberbegriff des Hauptanspruches und ist besonders vorteilhaft bei der Sendungsverteilung innerhalb von Unternehmen (sog. Inhouse-Verteilung) einsetzbar. Die Verteilung erfolgt gemäß den Empfangeradressen, die sich auf den Sendungen befinden. Zum Erkennen dieser Adres- sen sind Systeme zum automatischen Lesen von Adressen (OCR) auf dem Gebiet Briefbearbeitung bekannt und z.B. m der DE 195 31 392 beschrieben. Die Erkennungszuverlassigkeit variiert jedoch stark mit der Schriftart und Gesamtqualltat der auf die Oöerfla- cne der Briefe aufgebrachten Adreßmformation . Insbesondere bei der Versendung innerhalb von Unternehmen und Einrichtungen m speziellen mehrfach verwendbaren Umschlagen ist das automatische Lesen der Adressen schwierig, da die Adressen handschriftlich an verschiedenen Orten aufgebracht werden und die Absender sich nicht immer an vereinbarte Konventionen halten. Im Falle einer erfolgreichen Erkennung kann die betreffende Sendung gemäß einer beliebigen gewünschten Sortierordnung sortiert werden.The invention relates to a method according to the preamble of the main claim and can be used particularly advantageously in the distribution of shipments within companies (so-called in-house distribution). The distribution takes place according to the recipient addresses that are on the consignments. To recognize these addresses, systems for automatic reading of addresses (OCR) are known in the field of letter processing and e.g. described in DE 195 31 392. The reliability of recognition, however, varies greatly with the font and overall quality of the address information applied to the face of the letters. Automatic reading of the addresses is particularly difficult when sending within companies and institutions in special, reusable envelopes, since the addresses are handwritten in different places and the senders do not always adhere to agreed conventions. In the event of successful detection, the shipment in question can be sorted according to any desired sorting order.
Da die Erkennungsraten der automatischen Lesesysteme, insbesondere unter Berücksichtigung der geschilderten Schwierigkeiten sehr variieren, ist es notwendig, diese durch verschiedeneSince the recognition rates of the automatic reading systems vary very much, especially taking into account the difficulties described, it is necessary to distinguish them by different ones
Formen von manueller Intervention zu unterstutzen. Die einfachste Intervention ist die Zurückweisung nicht automatisch lesbarer Briefe und die Durchfuhrung eines Handsortierverfahrens . Allerdings sind die dadurch entstehenden Kosten mit zunehmenden Arbeitskosten unokonomisch hoch.Support forms of manual intervention. The simplest intervention is to reject letters that are not automatically readable and to carry out a manual sorting procedure. However, the resulting costs are uneconomically high with increasing labor costs.
Um diese Nachteile manueller Sortierung von OCR-zuruckgewiesenen Sendungen zu vermeiden, sind verschiedene Verfahren für eine manuelle Codierung von Poststucken entwickelt worden. Alle diese Verfahren verwenden Interventionen durch Operatoren, um Barcodes auf die Sendungen auf eine Weise aufzubringen, die konsistent ist mit dem Erfordernis, eine mechanische Sortierung durch die gleichen Maschinen vorzunehmen, die OCR-gelesene und barcodierte Post bearbeiten, so z.B. mittels Onlme-Videocodier- systemen (OVS) . In einem OVS wird ein Videobild der Sendung einem Operator zum Codieren vorgeführt, statt der physikalischen Sendung bei den manuellen Codierplatzen. Das Videobild wird dem Operator gezeigt, wahrend die physikalische Sendung in Verzoge- rungsstrecken gehalten wird. In diesen Verzogerungsstrecken wird normalerweise die Sendung m Bewegung gehalten für eine Zeitdauer, die ausreicht, damit der OVS-Operator die notwendige Sor- tierinformation für das betreffende Bild eingibt. Die üblichen Verzogerungsstrecken erlauben eine Verzögerung zwischen 10 und 30 Sekunden. Je langer die Verzogerungsstrecke, desto großer sind die Kosten sowie die Erfordernisse für Wartung und die physische Große der Anlage.In order to avoid these disadvantages of manual sorting of OCR-rejected mail items, various methods for manual coding of postal items have been developed. All of these methods use operator intervention to apply barcodes to the mailings in a manner that is consistent with the need for mechanical sorting by the same machines that process OCR-read and bar-coded mail, for example using Onlme video coding systems (OVS). In an OVS, a video image of the broadcast is presented to an operator for coding, instead of the physical broadcast at the manual coding stations. The video image is shown to the operator while the physical broadcast is held in delay lines. In these delay lines, the program m movement is normally held for a period of time sufficient for the OVS operator to enter the necessary sorting information for the image in question. The usual delay lines allow a delay between 10 and 30 seconds. The longer the delay line, the greater the costs as well as the requirements for maintenance and the physical size of the system.
Diese Maßnahmen zur manuellen Codierung wie spezielle Videoco- dierplatze, Sendungslaufstrecken als Verzogerungsstrecken m den Sortiermaschinen sind aufwendig hinsichtlich Platzbedarf, apparativen Aufwand und insbesondere für Sortierprozesse m kleme- rem Umfang, z.B. für die Inhouse-Verteilung unwirtschaftlich.These measures for manual coding, such as special video coding stations, consignment routes as delay lines in the sorting machines, are complex in terms of space requirements, equipment outlay and in particular for sorting processes of a smaller scope, e.g. uneconomical for in-house distribution.
Der im Anspruch 1 angegebenen Erfindung liegt daher die Aufgabe zugrunde, ein Verfahren zum Sortieren von Sendungen zu schaffen, das die Notwendigkeit des automatischen Lesens der geschriebenen Adressen und damit auch des manuellen Sortierens oder des Codie- rens an speziellen Videocodierplatzen einschließlich der Verzogerungsstrecken bei nicht automatisch eindeutig lesbaren Adressen beseitigt.The invention specified in claim 1 is therefore based on the object of creating a method for sorting mail items which does not automatically eliminate the need for automatic reading of the written addresses and thus also for manual sorting or coding at special video coding stations including the delay lines addresses that are clearly legible.
Die Erfindung geht von dem Gedanken aus, die vorhandenen Ar- beitsplatzverbmdungen mittels E-Mail-Systeme dahingehend einzusetzen, durch Kopplung des E-Mail-Systems mit der Steuerung der Sortiermaschine das bisher notwendige automatische Lesen des vielfach handschriftlich aufgebrachten Adressaten (Namen und Adreßangaben) zu vermeiden. Dazu wird jeder Umschlag mit einer durch den Menschen und maschinell lesbaren Kennzeichnung, einer Umschlagnummer, versehen, d.h. die Numerierung befindet sich in Zahlenform und codierter Form, z.B. als Barcode auf dem Umschlag. Der Absender, der eine Sendung oder mehrere an einen Adressaten verschicken will, sucht also als erstes an seinem PC in der E-Mail-Adreßdatei den Adressaten und nachdem er ihn gefunden hat, fügt er die Umschlagnummer/n hinzu. Bei der Eingabe dieser Umschlagnummer/n werden Adressat und Umschlagnummern an die Sortiermaschine übertragen, in deren Steuereinheit ein Scrtierplan gespeichert ist, der dem Adressaten einen bestimmten Verteilpunkt zuweist. Temporär wird durch die Übertragung dem Verteilpunkt auch die übertragene Umschlagnummer zugewiesen, so daß beim Lesen der maschinell lesbaren Umschlagnummer in Form eines Barcodes durch einen Barcodeleser der Sortiermaschine diese Sendung zweifelsfrei zum betreffenden Verteilpunkt sortiert werden kann. Nach erfolgter Sortierung, spätestens aber nach erneuter Verwendung dieses Umschlages zum Versenden undThe invention is based on the idea of using the existing workstation connections by means of e-mail systems, by coupling the e-mail system with the control of the sorting machine, the automatic reading of the addressees (names and address details), which has often been handwritten, so far required. to avoid. For this purpose, each envelope is provided with a human-readable and machine-readable identification, an envelope number, ie the numbering is in Number form and coded form, e.g. as a barcode on the envelope. The sender who wants to send one or more consignments to one addressee, first looks for the addressee on his PC in the e-mail address file and, once he has found it, adds the envelope number (s). When this envelope number (s) is entered, the addressee and envelope numbers are transferred to the sorting machine, in whose control unit a scrambling plan is stored which assigns the addressee a specific distribution point. The transmitted envelope number is also temporarily assigned to the distribution point by the transmission, so that when the machine-readable envelope number is read in the form of a barcode by a barcode reader of the sorting machine, this shipment can be sorted without doubt to the distribution point concerned. After sorting, but at the latest after reusing this envelope for sending and
Eingabe ins E-Mail-System wird die Zuordnung des Umschlages zum Adressaten aufgehoben. Mit diesem Verfahren ist ein fehlerfreies Sortieren selbst bei schwer lesbarer handschriftlicher Beschriftung des Umschlages möglich.Input into the e-mail system removes the assignment of the envelope to the addressee. This procedure enables error-free sorting, even if the envelope is difficult to read by hand.
Weitere Ausgestaltungen der Erfindung sind in den Unceransprü- chen dargestellt.Further configurations of the invention are presented in the non-claims.
Um ein sog. Aufstellen der Sendungen vor dem Sortieren (Ausrich- ten nach der Adreßseite) zu vermeiden, werden die Umschlagnummern vorteilhafterweise auf beiden Umschlagseiten aufgebracht.In order to avoid the so-called erection of the mail items prior to sorting (alignment according to the address side), the envelope numbers are advantageously applied to both sides of the envelope.
Vorteilhaft ist es auch, mit der Eingabe der Umschlagnummer und des Adressaten auch an den Adressaten eine E-Mail zur Informati- on zu versenden, daß eine Postsendung unterwegs ist. Diese Nachricht kann auch gezielt verzögert sein.It is also advantageous, by entering the envelope number and the addressee, to also send an email to the addressee to inform that a mail item is on the way. This message can also be deliberately delayed.
In einer weiteren vorteilhaften Ausgestaltung erhält der Absender eine E-Mail zur Information, daß die Sendung aus der Sor- tiermaschine entnommen wurde. Nachfolgend wird die Erfindung in einem Ausfuhrungsbeispiel anhand einer Zeichnung naher erläutert.In a further advantageous embodiment, the sender receives an e-mail informing them that the item has been removed from the sorting machine. The invention is explained in more detail in an exemplary embodiment with reference to a drawing.
Dabei zeigt FIG 1 schematisch den Ablauf des Verfahrens bei der Postverteilung m einem Unternehmen.1 schematically shows the sequence of the method for mail distribution in a company.
Für den Sortierprozess wird eine Sortiermaschine 4 eingesetzt, die ein breites Sendungsspektrum bearbeiten kann, wobei eingehende Post, ausgehende Post und Inhouse-Post (Post, die mner- halb des Unternehmens zu verteilen ist) zu sortieren ist. Dafür müssen die auf den Sendungen im Adreßfeld befindlichen Adressaten gelesen werden.A sorting machine 4 is used for the sorting process, which can process a wide range of mail items, with incoming mail, outgoing mail and in-house mail (mail that is to be distributed within the company) to be sorted. To do this, the addressees on the items in the address field must be read.
Mit entsprecnenden OCR-Lesern wird in bekannten Arbeitsstufen wie Finden des Adreßbereiches, Segmentierung, Zeichen- undWith corresponding OCR readers in known work stages such as finding the address area, segmentation, character and
Worterkennung, Adreßmterpretation diese Aufgabe gelost. Besondere Schwierigkeiten treten hierbei beim Lesen der Adressen auf wiederverwendbaren Umschlagen 1 für die Versendung innerhalb des Unternehmens auf. Zur Adressierung befinden sich auf den Um- schlagen 1 entsprechende Felder. Wird der Umschlag wiederverwendet, so wird der vorige Empfanger durchgestrichen und in das nächste freie Feld der nächste Empfanger/Adressat eingetragen.Word recognition, address interpretation solved this task. Particular difficulties arise here when reading the addresses on reusable envelopes 1 for dispatch within the company. There are 1 corresponding fields on the covers for addressing. If the envelope is reused, the previous recipient is crossed out and the next recipient / addressee is entered in the next free field.
Da also die Adressen über den gesamten Umschlag verteilt sein können, viele Adressen sich gleichzeitig auf dem Umschlag befinden, wobei die ungültigen Adressen nur durch einen Strich ungültig gemacht wurden, die Adressen mit der Hand geschrieben sind und Adreßkonventionen nicht immer eingehalten werden, gibt es beim Lesen dieser Umschlage besondere Schwierigkeiten, so daß relativ hohe Ruckweisungsraten zu verzeichnen sind.Since the addresses can be spread over the entire envelope, there are many addresses on the envelope at the same time, whereby the invalid addresses were only invalidated by a dash, the addresses are written by hand and address conventions are not always adhered to Reading these envelopes presents particular difficulties, so that relatively high rejection rates can be recorded.
Um diese Schwierigkeiten zu vermeiden, werden die Umschlage 1 mit einer identifizierenden, durch den Menschen lesbaren und maschinenlesbaren Nummer 2 versehen. Diese Numerierung erfolgt beidseitig, so daß eine Ausrichtung der Umschlage 1 vor demIn order to avoid these difficulties, the envelopes 1 are provided with an identifying, human-readable and machine-readable number 2. This numbering is done on both sides, so that an orientation of the envelopes 1 before
Sortieren nach der Adreßseite nicht notwendig ist. Nachdem der oder auch die Umschlage 1 gefüllt wurden, wird am PC 4 des Absenders 3 das E-Mail-System geöffnet und im Fenster 5 für das Adreßbuch der Adressat, in diesem Fall Torsten Tanz, gesucht bzw. eingetragen. Dazu wird die entsprechende Umschlagnummer 2 eingetragen und mit einem OK an die Steuerung der Sortiermaschi- ne 4 gesendet. Zusätzlich erhalt der Adressat eine E-Mail, daß eine Postsendung vom Absender x unterwegs ist. Diese Nachricht kann auch mit wahlbarer Verzögerung abgesendet werden.Sorting by the address page is not necessary. After the or the envelopes 1 have been filled, the PC 4 des Sender 3 opened the e-mail system and searched or entered the addressee in the window 5 for the address book, in this case Torsten Tanz. For this purpose, the corresponding envelope number 2 is entered and sent to the control of the sorting machine 4 with an OK. In addition, the addressee receives an e-mail that a mail item from the sender x is on the way. This message can also be sent with an optional delay.
Dies ist möglich, weil die bekannten E-Mail-Systeme wie MS Outlook oder Lotus Notes offene Interfaces besitzen, so daßThis is possible because the well-known email systems such as MS Outlook or Lotus Notes have open interfaces so that
Verbindungen zu Steuerungen von Sortiermaschinen 4 hergestellt werden können. In der Steuerung der Sortiermaschine 4 ist in einer Datei 6 ihr Sortierplan abgelegt, der eine Zuordnung der Adressaten zu den Verteilpunkten angibt. Durch die Übersendung des Adressaten und der Umschlagnummer 2 aus demConnections to controls of sorting machines 4 can be made. In the control of the sorting machine 4, its sorting plan is stored in a file 6, which specifies an assignment of the addressees to the distribution points. By sending the addressee and the envelope number 2 from the
E-Mail-System wird in der Datei 6 zum Namen die Umschlagnummer 2 hinzugefugt. Ist der Umschlag 1 im Laufe des Verteilungsprozes- ses zur Sortiermaschine 4 gelangt und wird in diese eingegeben, so erfolgt als erstes das Lesen der Verteilinformation, in diesem Falle des Barcodes als maschinenlesbare Umschlagnummer 2. Diese ist von der Leseeinrichtung der Sortiermaschine 4 ohne Schwierigkeiten lesbar. Die identifizierte Umschlagnummer 2 wirα danach an die Steuerung gesendet, wo mithilfe der Datei 6 für den Sortierplan ermittelt wird, welcher Name und damit welcher Verteilpunkt für diesen Umschlag 1 vorgesehen ist (Verteil- punkt 23) und durch entsprechende Weichenstellung wird der Umschlag in einem oder mehreren Sortierlaufen m ein diesem Verteilpunkt zugeordnetes Sortierfach transportiert. Nach der Entleerung der Sortiermaschine 4 wird die Umschlagnummer 2 sowohl m der Steuerung der Sortiermaschine 4 als auch m der Adreßdatei des E-Mail-Systems wieder geloscht, so daß der Umschlag 1 für eine neue Verwendung wieder frei ist. Darüber hinaus erhalt der Absender optional eine E-Mail-Nachricht, daß seine Sendung die Sortiermaschine 4 ver- lassen hat. E-mail system is added to the name of envelope number 2 in file 6. If the envelope 1 has reached the sorting machine 4 in the course of the distribution process and is entered into it, the distribution information is read first, in this case the barcode as a machine-readable envelope number 2. This is easily readable by the reading device of the sorting machine 4 . The identified envelope number 2 is then sent to the control, where the file 6 for the sorting plan is used to determine which name and thus which distribution point is intended for this envelope 1 (distribution point 23) and by appropriately setting the switch, the envelope is in one or several sorting runs m transported a sorting bin assigned to this distribution point. After the sorting machine 4 has been emptied, the envelope number 2 is deleted both in the control of the sorting machine 4 and in the address file of the e-mail system, so that the envelope 1 is free again for a new use. In addition, the sender optionally receives an e-mail message that his shipment has left the sorting machine 4.

Claims

Patentansprüche claims
1. Verfahren zum Sortieren von Sendungen unter Verwendung einer Sortiermaschine, die die Sendungen gemäß eines auf den Umschlagen der Sendungen befindlichen maschinenlesbaren Codes sortiert, gekennzeichnet durch die Schritte1. Method for sorting mail items using a sorting machine that sorts the mail items according to a machine-readable code located on the envelopes of the mail items, characterized by the steps
Versehen jedes Sendungsumschlages (1) mit einer eigenen Umschlagnummer (2) in Form einer durch den Menschen lesba- ren Zahl und eines maschinenlesbaren Codes zur Identifizierung,Provide each shipment envelope (1) with its own envelope number (2) in the form of a human-readable number and a machine-readable code for identification,
Versehen des oder der zu verschickenden Umschlage (1) mit den durch den Menschen lesbaren Angaben des Adressaten, Suchen des jeweiligen Adressaten in einer E-Mail- Adreßdatei,Providing the envelope (s) to be sent with the human-readable details of the addressee, searching for the respective addressee in an e-mail address file,
Eingeben der Nummer/n (2) des oder der zu verschickendenEnter the number (s) of the person (s) to be sent
Umschlage (1) zum jeweiligen Adressaten in die E-Mail-Envelopes (1) for the respective addressee in the e-mail
Adreßdatei,Address file,
Senden des Adressaten mit den zugeordneten Umschlagnum- mern (2) aus dem E-Mail-System an die mit dem E-Mail- System gekoppelte Sortiermaschine, in deren Sortierplan der betreffende Adressat aus der E-Mail-Adreßdatei einem Verteilpunkt zugeordnet ist und temporare Zuordnung der Umschlagnummern (2) dem Verteilpunkt des Adressaten, - Transport der Sendungen zur Sortiermaschine (4),Sending the addressee with the assigned envelope numbers (2) from the e-mail system to the sorting machine coupled to the e-mail system, in whose sorting plan the addressee in question is assigned to a distribution point from the e-mail address file and temporary Assignment of the envelope numbers (2) to the addressee's distribution point, - Transport of the mail items to the sorting machine (4),
Automatisches Lesen der maschinenlesbaren Umschlagnummern (2) und Sortieren gemäß der durch E-Mail-Eingabe dem Adressaten und damit dem zugehörigen Verteilpunkt zugeordneten Umschlagnummern (2) , - Loschen der bestehenden Zuordnung der Umschlagnummern (2) zum Adressaten und Verteilpunkt spätestens bei neuer Zuordnung dieser Umschlage (1).Automatic reading of the machine-readable envelope numbers (2) and sorting according to the envelope numbers (2) assigned to the addressee and thus the associated distribution point by e-mail, - Deleting the existing assignment of the envelope numbers (2) to the addressee and distribution point at the latest when they are reassigned Envelopes (1).
2. Verfahren nach Anspruch 1, d a d u r c h g e k e n n z e i c h n e t, daß die Umschlage (1) beiseitig mit der Umschlagnummer (2) versehen werden. 2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the envelopes (1) are provided on both sides with the envelope number (2).
3. Verfahren nach Anspruch 1, d a d u r c h g e k e n n z e i c h n e t, daß mit dem Befehl zum Senden der Daten an die Steuereinheit der Sortiermaschine (4) auch das Senden einer E-Mail an den Adressaten über die Versendung mit wählbarer Verzögerung ausgelöst wird.3. The method of claim 1, d a d u r c h g e k e n n z e i c h n e t that the command to send the data to the control unit of the sorting machine (4) also triggers the sending of an e-mail to the addressee via the transmission with a selectable delay.
4. Verfahren nach Anspruch 1, d a d u r c h g e k e n n z e i c h n e t, daß der Absender (3) nach Leerung der Sortiermaschine (4) eine E-Mail über diesen Vorgang erhält. 4. The method of claim 1, d a d u r c h g e k e n n z e i c h n e t that the sender (3) after emptying the sorting machine (4) receives an email about this process.
EP00922465A 1999-05-18 2000-04-03 Method for sorting mail Expired - Lifetime EP1189708B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE19922788A DE19922788C1 (en) 1999-05-18 1999-05-18 Procedure to sort in-house post
DE19922788 1999-05-18
PCT/DE2000/000995 WO2000069574A1 (en) 1999-05-18 2000-04-03 Method for sorting mail

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EP1189708A1 true EP1189708A1 (en) 2002-03-27
EP1189708B1 EP1189708B1 (en) 2003-05-14

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EP00922465A Expired - Lifetime EP1189708B1 (en) 1999-05-18 2000-04-03 Method for sorting mail

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US (1) US6570115B1 (en)
EP (1) EP1189708B1 (en)
AT (1) ATE240164T1 (en)
AU (1) AU4285400A (en)
DE (2) DE19922788C1 (en)
WO (1) WO2000069574A1 (en)

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US20020013692A1 (en) * 2000-07-17 2002-01-31 Ravinder Chandhok Method of and system for screening electronic mail items
FR2841017B1 (en) * 2002-06-17 2004-09-10 Neopost Ind METHOD FOR CREATING AND ENRICHING A DATABASE OF A POSTAL SORTING SYSTEM
EP1951448A1 (en) * 2005-10-27 2008-08-06 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Method and device for reading addresses of items of mail
US20070239834A1 (en) * 2006-04-10 2007-10-11 International Business Machines Corporation Sortable address list for email
US8713027B2 (en) * 2009-11-18 2014-04-29 Qualcomm Incorporated Methods and systems for managing electronic messages
DE102018117158A1 (en) * 2018-07-16 2020-01-16 Lemo Maschinenbau Gmbh Individual labeling of a bag and the associated transport process

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US4358017A (en) 1980-10-21 1982-11-09 Bell & Howell Company Mail direction system
US5031223A (en) * 1989-10-24 1991-07-09 International Business Machines Corporation System and method for deferred processing of OCR scanned mail
US5287271A (en) 1991-08-22 1994-02-15 International Business Machines Corporation Data processing system for optimized mail piece sorting and mapping to carrier walk sequence using real time statistical data
DE19531392C1 (en) * 1995-08-26 1997-01-23 Aeg Electrocom Gmbh Handwritten character graphical representation system

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Also Published As

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DE50002193D1 (en) 2003-06-18
US6570115B1 (en) 2003-05-27
AU4285400A (en) 2000-12-05
WO2000069574A1 (en) 2000-11-23
DE19922788C1 (en) 2000-10-05
ATE240164T1 (en) 2003-05-15
EP1189708B1 (en) 2003-05-14

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