Data processing: generic control systems or specific application – Specific application – apparatus or process – Article handling
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-11
2001-08-14
Grant, William (Department: 2121)
Data processing: generic control systems or specific application
Specific application, apparatus or process
Article handling
C235S380000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06275745
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates generally to the field of mail delivery methods and systems and more particularly to systems and methods for relating the material contained within a mail piece or package to the name and address of the recipient of the mail piece or package.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Ever since the numeric codification of streets and buildings received general acceptance, an individuals' name and their household postal addresses have been linked. The sender of a mail piece or package would deliver a mail piece or package to the post or a courier that had the correct recipient postal address, and the post or courier would deliver the mail piece or package to the numeric street address of the recipient of the mail piece or package. A correct recipient postal address for the delivery of the mail piece or package to the recipient included: the name of the recipient; the street address of the recipient; the city and state of the recipient; and the zip code of the recipient. Thus, the correct recipient postal address is usually the actual location of the recipient.
The post has created special delivery services for important and/or valuable mail pieces, i.e., certified mail, registered mail, etc., and special services for packages, i.e. insurance. Courier services have also utilized special delivery services for important and/or valuable mail pieces and packages. When some special services are requested by the mailer the post and courier services ask the recipient to sign for the delivery of the mail piece or the package. The post and courier services have sent the mailer a certificate bearing the recipient's signature indicating that the recipient received the mail piece or package. The mailer had no proof that the recipient received the contents of the mail piece or package. For instance, tenants sometimes argued in court that they did not receive an eviction notice from their landlord. Recipients of packages sometimes stated to the mailer that certain items that were shipped were not shipped. For instance, recipients sometimes complained they did not receive their watches, electronic devices, etc. The prior art did not tie or relate the delivery of the mail piece or package to what was inside the mail piece or package.
The foregoing problem may occur more frequently as larger amounts of goods are ordered from catalogues or via the intemet and shipped to the customer.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art by tying or relating the delivery of a mail piece or package to what is inside the mail piece or package. Thus, when the mail piece or package is received and signed for by a recipient, the mailer will have proof that the recipient received the mail piece or package and what was inside the mail piece or package at the time the mail piece or package was delivered to the recipient. The foregoing is accomplished by: affixing identifying characteristics to material contained within the container; sealing the container along with the material contained within the container; delivering the container along with the material contained within the container to a recipient; reading recipient information appearing on the outside of the container and the identifying characteristics of the material contained within the container without opening the container; and recording recipient information appearing on the outside of the container and the identifying characteristics of the material contained within the container without opening the container; and recording recipient's signature. The identifying characteristics of the material contained within the container may be in the form of a unique code that appears on the material contained within the container that specifically identifies the material contained within the container. Hence, the post or courier will be able to certify to the mailer the materials that have been delivered to the recipient.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4831555 (1989-05-01), Sansone et al.
patent: 5153842 (1992-10-01), Clugos, Sr. et al.
patent: 5288994 (1994-02-01), Berson
patent: 5340968 (1994-08-01), Watanabe
patent: 5557096 (1996-09-01), Watanabe
patent: 5684705 (1997-11-01), Herbert
patent: 5875434 (1999-02-01), Matsuoka
patent: 5917178 (1999-06-01), De Hoog
patent: 5949059 (1999-09-01), Rawson
patent: 5963927 (1999-10-01), Herbert
patent: 5971587 (1999-10-01), Kato
patent: 6010075 (2000-01-01), Ishifuji
Critelli Michael J.
Reichman Ronald
Shapiro Steven J.
Grant William
Hartman Jr. Ronald D
Melton Michael E.
Meyer Robert E.
Pitney Bowes Inc.
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