US4796180A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of monitoring mail delivery
Assignee: RR Donnelley and Sons Co
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Filing: 1986-10-14
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Granted: 1989-01-03
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Expires: 2006-10-14
Abstract
Abstract A method of monitoring the delivery of mail pieces by the postal service utilizes a data processor. A batch mailing includes selected mailing pieces to be monitored with each selected mailing piece being identified with a multi-digit number uniquely identifying a respondent therefor and the mailing piece. When the mailing piece is received the respondent telephonically reports the identifying number, date of receipt and condition of the mailing piece to the data processor. This information is stored by the data processor and is used to generate daily and batch reports showing, for example, date of receipt according to geographic location and/or pre-sort level of the mail pieces.
Inventors
- 👤 Prince I. Riley
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 03:04
CPC Classifications
B; B07; B07C; B07C3/00; G; G06; G06Q; G06Q10/00; G06Q10/06; G06Q10/063; G06Q10/0637; G06Q10/06375; G06Q10/0639; G07; G07B; G07B17/00; G07B17/00016; G07B17/00024; G07B2017/00072; G07B17/00459; G07B17/00467; G07B2017/00483
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 33
Claim 1
Independent Claim
88 words
A method of monitoring the delivery status of selected pieces in a batch delivery through a delivery service, comprising the steps of: encoding each selected piece with indicia uniquely identifying a respondent therefor; forwarding said pieces to said respondent as a part of said batch delivery; and operating a data processing system to report receipt of said selected pieces by telephonically receiving data of receipt of said selected pieces from said respondents, recording said date of receipt, and generating a report of the receipt of said selected pieces.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
88 words
A method of monitoring the delivery status of selected pieces in a batch delivery through a delivery service, comprising the steps of: encoding each selected piece with indicia uniquely identifying a respondent therefor; forwarding said pieces to said respondent as a part of said batch delivery; and operating a data processing system to report receipt of said selected pieces by telephonically receiving data of receipt of said selected pieces from said respondents, recording said date of receipt, and generating a report of the receipt of said selected pieces.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 wherein each of said selected pieces is encoded with indicia comprising said respondent's name and address.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said respondent telephonically reports to said data processor using a push button operated, multiple frequency coded telephone.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said data processor includes means for recognizing voice signals and said respondent telephonically reports to said data processor by voice.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said data processor includes means for converting pulse signals and said respondent telephonically reports to said data processor using a rotary dial telephone.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said data processor communicates by voice synthesizing means with said respondent.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said receipt information is recorded on a magnetic disk memory.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said reported date of receipt comprises a multi-digit number representing said date of receipt of said piece.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said respondent reports a digit representing a condition of the received piece.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said selected piece is delivered as part of a batch mailing through the postal service.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1 wherein a daily report of received pieces is generated.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 wherein each said selected piece is encoded with indicia uniquely identifying said respondent and said piece.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 12 wherein said indicia comprises a multi-digit number identifying said respondent and another multi-digit number identifying said piece.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of generating advance notification postcards, and delivering said advance notification postcards to said respondent advising each said respondent of the anticipated delivery of an encoded piece.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 14 wherein said respondent telephonically reports to said data processor if said encoded piece is not received.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 wherein multiple random samples of said dates of receipt are analyzed to determine delivery performance.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 16 wherein each said random sample comprises less than five percent of all respondents.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1 wherein each of said selected pieces is encoded with indicia comprising a number which uniquely identifies said respondent.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 18 wherein each respondent telephonically reports said number to said data processor.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 19 wherein said number is a multi-digit number and one of said digits is a check digit and further comprising the step of verifying that said reported multi-digit number is correct.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 20 wherein said check digit number is determined according to the remaining digits of the multi-digit number.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
127 words
A method of selecting repondents to telephonically report delivery status of pieces in a batch delivery through a delivery service, comprising the steps of: determining a desired distribution of said respondents; selecting respondents for a respondent data base so that a distribution of said respondents represents said desired distribution; assigning each said respondent to a group having an identification number; storing information relative to said groups in a memory device; and operating a data processor to select respondents to receive pieces in said batch delivery according to said groups by accessing said memory device to select respondents according to said groups, generating a mail piece code representing the batch mail delivery, and encoding mailing labels with indicia uniquely identifying the selected respondent and the mail piece code.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
127 words
A method of selecting repondents to telephonically report delivery status of pieces in a batch delivery through a delivery service, comprising the steps of: determining a desired distribution of said respondents; selecting respondents for a respondent data base so that a distribution of said respondents represents said desired distribution; assigning each said respondent to a group having an identification number; storing information relative to said groups in a memory device; and operating a data processor to select respondents to receive pieces in said batch delivery according to said groups by accessing said memory device to select respondents according to said groups, generating a mail piece code representing the batch mail delivery, and encoding mailing labels with indicia uniquely identifying the selected respondent and the mail piece code.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 22 wherein a respondent telephonically reports to said data processor when said respondent is unavailable to report date of receipt of a piece and said data processor selects only respondents who are available to report receipt of said pieces.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 22 wherein said data processor selects respondents according to a geographic distribution of said batch delivery.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
152 words
A method of operating a data processor according to a set of programmed instructions to insert a list of respondents for receiving mailing pieces which are to be monitored as part of a batch mailing into an output list of recipients for said batch mailing without altering discount levels or handling characteristics provided by the postal service for the batch mailing, comprising the steps of: retrieving a respondent record from said respondent list; retrieving a customer record from a customer list; comparing respondent destination information from said respondent recording to customer destination information from said customer record; determining based on said comparing step if inclusion of said respondent affects said discount levels or handling characteristics; adding said customer to said output list; and adding said respondent to said output list only if inclusion of said respondent does not affect said discount level and said handling characteristics as determined at said determining step.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
152 words
A method of operating a data processor according to a set of programmed instructions to insert a list of respondents for receiving mailing pieces which are to be monitored as part of a batch mailing into an output list of recipients for said batch mailing without altering discount levels or handling characteristics provided by the postal service for the batch mailing, comprising the steps of: retrieving a respondent record from said respondent list; retrieving a customer record from a customer list; comparing respondent destination information from said respondent recording to customer destination information from said customer record; determining based on said comparing step if inclusion of said respondent affects said discount levels or handling characteristics; adding said customer to said output list; and adding said respondent to said output list only if inclusion of said respondent does not affect said discount level and said handling characteristics as determined at said determining step.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 25 wherein said respondent records and said customer records all include zip code information and said data processor adds only those respondents who have a zip code which corresponds to a customer's zip code to said output list.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 25 wherein said data processor compares zip codes of said respondents to zip codes of said customers.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 27 further comprising the step of placing said respondent records in a hold table if said respondent zip codes do not match said customer zip codes.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 28 further comprising the step of comparing said hold table respondent records to said customer records to determine if their respctive zip codes match.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 29 further comprising the step of adding said respondents from said hold table to said output list only if inclusion of said respondent does not affect said discount level or handling characteristics.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3091756A
Cited
US4674052A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-01-03 | 1992-07-04 | 1993-01-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-01-03 | 1996-07-04 | 1997-01-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-01-03 | 2000-07-04 | 2001-01-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |