Data processing system for merger of sorting information and redundancy information to provide contextual predictive keying for postal addresses

Claim 2

The system of claim 1 wherein said storage is included in said rekeying station.

Claim 3

The system of claim 1 wherein said storage is a part of a host system which is coupled to said rekeying station.

Claim 4

The system of claim 1 wherein said storage is a storage server coupled to said rekeying station over a local area network.

Claim 5

A data processing system to optimize the correction of address information of mail, comprising: a rekeying station with access to final level sorting information for destination postal offices; a storage coupled to said rekeying station, storing an address directory organized by records which include addressee information and information indicating which portions of said addressee information provide unique, sufficient information to mechanically sort mail down to a final sorting level.

Claim 6

The system of claim 5 wherein said storage is included in said rekeying station.

Claim 7

The system of claim 5 wherein said storage is a part of a host system which is coupled to said rekeying station.

Claim 8

The system of claim 5 wherein said storage is a storage server coupled to said rekeying station over a local area network.

Claim 9

A data processing method to optimize the correction of address information of mail, comprising: getting a postal zip code from an electronic folder; accessing an addressee record data base for a zip code; getting a partially recognized character string for a street name; accessing an addressee record data base for streets in the zip code; storing a street name in said electronic folder; accessing addressee record data base for the street name and the zip code; storing routing code in said electronic folder; sorting a mail piece corresponding to said electronic folder down to a final sorting level, using said routing code.

Claim 10

The method of claim 9 which further comprises the steps of: getting a partially recognized character string for said street number; accessing said addressee record data base for street numbers for the street in the zip code; prompting an operator to read a displayed image of the addressee's address, said operator typing another character for the street number; determining if there are multiple street numbers for this street in the zip code having characters the same as the recognized and typed street number characters; storing the street number in said electronic folder; accessing said addressee record data base for the street number on the street name and the zip code; storing a routing code in said electronic folder; sorting a mail piece corresponding to said electronic folder, down to a final sorting level, using said routing code.

Claim 11

The method of claim 10 which further comprises the steps of: getting a partially recognized character string for an apartment number; accessing said addressee record data base for apartment numbers at this street number on this street in this zip code; prompting an operator to read said displayed image, said operator typing another character for the apartment number; determining if there are multiple apartment numbers at this street number on this street in this zip code, having characters the same as the recognized and typed apartment number characters; storing the apartment number in said electronic folder; accessing said addressee record data base for this apartment number at this street number on this street name and this zip code; storing a routing code in said electronic folder; sorting a mail piece corresponding to said electronic folder down to a final sorting level, using said routing code.

Claim 12

The method of claim 11 which further comprises the steps of: accessing the addressee record data base for addressee names at this apartment number at this street number on this street name and this zip code; getting a routing code for a selected one addressee name; storing a routing code in said electronic folder; sorting a mail piece corresponding to said electronic folder down to a final sorting level, using said routing code.

Claim 13

The method of claim 12, which further comprises the steps of: checking for any forwarding address for the addressee prior to storing said routing code in said electronic folder; if there is a forwarding address, accessing said forwarding address and the corresponding routing code; storing said corresponding routing code in said electronic folder; forwarding a mail piece corresponding to said electronic folder to a forwarding destination address.