Coded data generation or conversion – Digital code to digital code converters – To or from variable length codes
Reexamination Certificate
2001-11-02
2002-11-19
Young, Brian (Department: 2819)
Coded data generation or conversion
Digital code to digital code converters
To or from variable length codes
C341S050000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06483446
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND
1. Field
Although not so limited in its utility or scope, implementations of the present invention are particularly well suited for incorporation in automated mail processing systems to facilitate the resolution of address and other images captured from mail pieces moving on a transport system, for example. Alternative implementations may be more broadly applied in other applications requiring the exchange of data over a computer network and are particularly advantageous in bandwidth constrained environments.
2. Brief Description of Related Art and an Applicable Environment
During the processing of mail pieces, capture images of mail pieces (e.g., envelopes) are resolved by postal address interpretation apparatus. The captured images are stored in computer memory and, typically, distributed through a network to a pool of distributed computers and people to determine the intended destination addresses on the corresponding mail pieces. Presently, typical postal address interpretation apparatus employ fixed length, structured messages during this process. Due to variations in the types and sizes of images and attributes associated with the images, space within messages is frequently wasted. A major constraint in automated address interpretation apparatus is the capacity of the network to handle messages. For instance, a major problem lies not so much in the computing capacity of the pooled computers associated with the network—limitations in computing capacity can be compensated for by adding more computers to the network—but in the transmission of messages to and from the various computers in the network. In other words, the speed with which the network can process images and image attributes is very much dependent on the speed with which task requests and results can be exchanged through the network communications links between a workflow manager and the network's interpreting computers, for instance. The transmission of wasted space over the network reduces the overall capacity of the network to process useful information.
Accordingly, there exists a need for a system of structuring messages in a manner that reduces the amount of wasted space transmitted through a computer network.
SUMMARY
According to a general set of implementations, alternative methods of assembling messages for communication over a computer network include providing message-assembling apparatus adapted to assemble a data message. A master message-structure file accessible to the message-assembling apparatus is also provided. The master message-structure file includes a plurality of predefined data structures each of which data structures includes at least one of (i) a single data field and (ii) a set of logically related data fields. Each predefined data structure of a predetermined set of data structures is selectable for inclusion within an assembled message independent of the other data structures within the set of data structures. In assembling a message, at least one data structure is selected from the master message-structure file for inclusion in the assembled message. Data structures are selected for inclusion in a particular message based on a set of predetermined criteria. For instance, in the context of mail piece image processing, data structures are selected on the basis of whether their inclusion is necessary or useful to some present or subsequent operation in the processing of an image.
In a typical version, data structures selected from a master message-structure file are included in a main body of an assembled message. Moreover, an index is associated with the assembled message, the index including at least one index reference indicative of the data content of at least one data structure in the associated main body. In alternative variations resulting in indexed messages, each data structure within the assembled message resides at an identifiable location within the message and the assembled message includes offset references that direct message-reading apparatus from index references to associated data structures.
As will be appreciated, implementations related to the processing of mail piece images can include multiple message-assembling and message-reading apparatus. Moreover, such systems may involve the use of more than one master message-structure file. For example, a workflow manager assigns mail piece image resolution tasks to one or more automatic recognition nodes. At various points in the communication between the workflow manager and an automatic recognition node, the workflow manager and automatic recognition node alternatively function as message-assembling and sending apparatus and message-receiving and reading apparatus. That is, an automatic recognition node receives and reads a message assembled by a workflow manager and, in responding to the workflow manager, assembles a response message that is communicated to and read by the workflow manager. In various implementations, a workflow manager accesses a master query file including query data structures from which the workflow manager selects candidate query data structures for inclusion in a an assembled query message. In some variations, the automatic recognition node accesses a master response-message file including responsive data structures from which the automatic recognition node selects candidate responsive data structures for inclusion in an assembled response message. In reading a query message and assembling a response message, an automatic recognition node acts, in alternative aspects, as query message-reading apparatus and response message-assembling apparatus.
In practice, query data structures and responsive data structures may reside in the same file, which file may alternately be referred to as a master query file and a master response-message file, for example. Alternatively, query data structures and responsive data structures may reside in different files. Regardless of the particular manner of providing query data structures and responsive data structures, in various implementations, an important aspect is that a first set of predefined query data structures be accessible to query message-assembling apparatus and a second set of responsive data structures be accessible to response message-assembling apparatus.
A discussion of implementations in more specific illustrative environments is now presented.
FIG. 1
is a schematic representation of an illustrative environment in which the present invention may be implemented. More specifically,
FIG. 1
illustrates a basic data processing architecture associated with the processing of images captured from mail pieces to determine, among other things, the delivery addresses for those mail pieces. Although implementations of the invention have been developed with the objective of increasing mail-processing efficiency, it will be appreciated that the advantages of the invention are broadly implementable in a multitude of data messaging applications unrelated to mail processing. Accordingly, the invention should not be so narrowly construed as to limit its scope to any particular application or field of endeavor. Furthermore, even in the more specific context of “mail processing,” terms such as “mail piece;” “mail processing machine,” “postal” and “mail facility” should not be interpreted so as to exclude, for example, private parcel delivery services. For instance, implementations of the invention can be applied with equal advantage and operability in parcel delivery systems other than government operated or government supported postal systems.
As shown in
FIG. 1
, a typical mail processing facility includes a plurality of mail processing machines (MPMs). Each MPM interfaces with a data-processing computer network through an external interface (EI), for example, through which data is transferred from the MPM into the network. Once data are introduced by the MPMs into the network, network traffic becomes an issue. A typical MPM includes mechanics for conveying physical mail pieces passed one or more image acquisition apparatus such as a camera
Beach Douglas J.
Poulin Jeffrey Scott
Rockwood Linda H.
Van Hall Richard C.
Zanovitch Joseph P.
Franco Louis J.
Hogan Patrick M.
Lockheed Martin Corporation
Schultz Leland D.
Young Brian
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