Background Art There is today no system which informs distributors of newspapers if they distribute newspapers to the cor- rect addresses or if they overlook an address. There are systems where each letterbox to which a newspaper is to be distributed is labelled with a sticker having a cer- tain pattern. However, the newspaper distributors do not get any feedback as regards the addresses that they have visited, which means that they may have an amount of newspapers that is too small or too large at the end of the distribution round. They cannot at the end of the round determine which address has been overlooked, but can only state that an error has been made somewhere dur- ing the round. The feedback does not take place until subscribers call the complaints department to say that they have not received their newspaper. Moreover, there is a risk of not obtaining any feedback if non-sub- scribers have wrongly received a newspaper. The stickers which are attached to the letterboxes are usually put there by the newspaper distributors. This means that it is the newspaper distributors who have to remove stickers or attach new ones when the subscription list is changed.

If the newspaper distributors overlook doing this, there is no feedback of a mistake having been made until a com- plaint is obtained from the customer/subscriber.

There are today several occupations where people cover predetermined rounds in their job. Watchers have such a job. In this context, there are several systems for controlling when the watchers have visited certain check points. The check points are strategically placed to define the intended check round. According to a tradi- tional system, the watcher carries a time clock which is activated by means of a key that is placed at the check point and, thus, marks at what point of time the watcher has visited the location. Consequently, the time clock logs down at what points of time the watcher has been at different check points.

US 5,491,672 discloses an improved system for con- trolling a watcher's work. According to this system, a transmitter is positioned at each check point and when watchers visit a check point, detection takes place of them having been there by a signal sent from the trans- mitter regarding which check point is visited being re- ceived by a receiver that the watchers carry with them.

Information about the identity of the check point and when it was visited is stored in a time clock that the watchers carry with them.

The check points for watchers are located to control the itinerary the watchers cover during their round. It is important that the watchers take the correct itiner- ary, for example, walk through all the corridors in a mu- seum, and the check points are therefore placed so that the round becomes comprehensive. An application of this with the purpose of distributing articles would not give feedback as regards the deliveries made by the distribu- tors. It could control the distributors in such. a manner that they take the most efficient itinerary between the addresses they are to visit, but the problem of obtaining feedback regarding the deliveries remains.

Summary of the Invention One object of the invention is to provide control of distribution of articles. A further object of the inven-

tion is to allow feedback as to how the distribution has succeeded.

The objects of the invention are achieved by means of a system as claimed in claim 1, a distribution unit as claimed in claim 8, a method as claimed in claim 10 and use as claimed in claim 23. Preferred embodiments of the invention are defined in the dependent claims.

A system for controlling distribution of articles to delivery addresses according to a distribution list thus comprises transmitters placed at a delivery location for articles at the delivery addresses, which transmitters have a short range and are adapted to wirelessly supply information about the identity of the respective delivery addresses, and a receiver which is adapted to be carried along by a distributor and which, in connection with the delivery of an article to a delivery address, is adapted to receive information about the identity of the delivery address for comparison with the distribution list.

Since the receiver receives information about the visited delivery address, each delivery to a delivery ad- dress can be detected. The system thus allows feedback by delivery addresses being compared with the distribution list and, thus, any incorrect deliveries can be discov- ered. Since the transmitters are advantageously placed at the delivery location for articles at the delivery ad- dresses, the receiver can automatically receive the in- formation about the identity of the delivery address in connection with the delivery of an article. The receiver then receives the information about the identity of the delivery address in connection with the delivery of an article by the distributor. By the identity of the deliv- ery address being received automatically, a distributor can deliver articles in the same manner as he or she al- ways has done, but nevertheless obtain control of how the work proceeds. Thus, no extra effort is required from the distributor in connection with the delivery.

The fact that the transmitter has a short range means that a signal which is emitted from the transmitter cannot be received in a receiver at such a long distance that detection of a visited delivery address can take place in the receiver when the distributor is only adja- cent to or passes the address.

By transmitter is meant a passive or an active transmitter, i. e. a transmitter that is operated by an external signal and a transmitter that is operated by mains supply, respectively, a battery or some other form of internal energy source. The transmitter could also be a magnetic bar code which is activated by a varying mag- netic field. The supplied signal is an electromagnetic wave, preferably having radio frequency. However, it could also be possible to emit the signal by light or microwaves.

In a preferred embodiment, the system comprises an administrative data system in which at least one distri- bution list is stored. Consequently, the distribution list can be administered by administrative personnel and the distributor does not need to keep track of the cor- rectness of the distribution list. A distribution list can be used by several distributors by making the com- parison only with that part of the list which is relevant to a predetermined distributor. The part of the list which is relevant can be selected, e. g. by a distributor having a predetermined postal delivery zone. Naturally, there may be several distribution lists in the adminis- trative data system. In such cases, a distribution list can be stored for each distributor or distribution round.

Preferably, the distribution list can only be changed in the administrative data system. Consequently, control over the correctness of the distribution list is obtained by allowing changes only in the administrative data system. The distributors can thus not change the distribution list while completing their round.

According to yet another preferred embodiment, the system further comprises a portable connecting unit for communication with the administrative data system. The connecting unit is adapted to be carried along by the distributor. Such a connecting unit gives the advantage of the distributor during his or her round having the possibility of being in contact with the administrative data system in which the distribution list is stored.

Thus, the distributor can update or download a current distribution list without needing to go to a special lo- cation for downloading said distribution list.

A further advantage is that the distributor, via the connecting unit, continuously can announce his or her po- sition to the data system, which makes a central monitor- ing of the distributor possible. This increases safety, which can be of great importance, for example, for dis- tributors having a lonely job and being vulnerable should they be assaulted or should an accident happen. If some- thing happened, no new indications of position will be sent to the data system. A missing updating of the dis- tributor's position indicates that something is wrong and gives a signal that the distributor may need help. Conse- quently, the distributor in distress does not need to ac- tively call for help, but an indication that help is re- quired is given by the fact that no updating of the dis- tributor's position is made.

The administrative data system can be a computer in which a distribution list is administered. It can also be a local area network to which the distribution list can have access from several nodes. In addition, the network can comprise one or more servers for file transfer against which the connecting unit can be connected.

Preferably, the connecting unit is adapted to download a distributor's distribution list to a computer unit which the distributor carries along. Thus, the dis- tributor obtains the current distribution list from the administrative data system and the comparison between the

distribution list and the visited addresses can be made in the computer unit which the distributor carries along.

Feedback whether the delivery address is correct can then be obtained from the computer unit directly when an iden- tity of a delivery address is detected. Consequently, the computer unit can continuously control that the distribu- tion is carried out correctly and can thus immediately detect mistakes.

According to another embodiment, the connecting unit is adapted to transmit information about the identity of the delivery addresses to the administrative data system, the information being received in connection with the de- livery of articles to delivery addresses. Thus, the ad- ministrative data system obtains the information about the identity of the delivery addresses and the comparison with the distribution list can then be made in the admin- istrative data system. One advantage of this embodiment is that the distributor does not need to carry along a computer unit.

Preferably, the distribution of articles relates to distribution of daily newspapers. The system is espe- cially suitable for the distribution of newspapers since the distribution of newspapers is made to a large number of addresses, which means that automatic detection of the deliveries is necessary to prevent the distribution from taking too long.

The objects of the invention are also achieved by means of a distribution unit for a system for controlling distribution of articles. The distribution unit is adapted to be carried along by a distributor and com- prises a receiver which is adapted to receive, in connec- tion with the delivery of an article to a delivery ad- dress, information about the identity of the delivery ad- dress, which information is sent from a transmitter and a computer unit in which a distribution list can be stored to be compared with received identities.

By the receiver receiving information from transmit- ters when delivering an article, control of the distribu- tion can be made without the distributor needing to make any extra effort apart from delivering the article. In addition, automatic comparison with a distribution list in the computer unit is made possible due to the fact that the receiver receives information about the identity of the delivery addresses. By comparing a detected deliv- ery address with the distribution list, feedback whether the delivery address is correct is achieved.

Preferably, the distributor unit comprises a con- necting unit for connecting to an administrative data system for downloading a distribution list to the com- puter unit. This makes it possible for the distributor to download his or her distribution list to the computer unit before starting his or her round. Consequently, the distributor can always obtain the current distribution list to his or her computer unit by the distribution list being kept updated in the administrative data system.

The distribution unit can be a physical unit in which the receiver, computer unit and connecting unit are integrated. The receiver, computer unit and connecting unit can also be physically separated, but adapted to be carried together by a distributor.

The objects of the invention are also achieved by means of a method for controlling distribution of arti- cles to delivery addresses according to a distribution list. The method comprises the steps of automatically de- tecting information about the identity of a delivery ad- dress in connection with the delivery of an article to the delivery address, and of comparing the identities of detected delivery addresses with the distribution list.

Due to the fact that the identity of a delivery ad- dress is automatically detected in connection with the delivery of an article, feedback is made possible regard- ing whether the distribution is correct or incorrect by comparison with the distribution list. Moreover, no extra

effort is required from the distributor in connection with the delivery of an article.

The information about the identity of a delivery ad- dress is preferably emitted by a transmitter having a short range. Preferably, the range is of such size that detection only occurs when the distributor takes measures that can be interpreted as a delivery. Thus, the range must be of such size that detection of a delivery address does not occur when the distributor is adjacent to or only passes a delivery address. In other words, detection of a delivery address must not occur without a measure corresponding to delivery of an article being taken at the delivery address.

According to a preferred embodiment, the step of comparing is carried out each time detection of a de- livery address occurs. This results in direct feedback as soon as detection occurs and in information to the distributor whether a delivery address has been missed or delivery has been made to a delivery address that is not to be found on the current list.

According to another embodiment, the step of compar- ing is carried out as completion of a distribution round.

Consequently, comparisons are not made all the time, which saves computer power. Since the distributor carries along a unit in order to allow comparison, this unit has to be driven by a battery. This can be saved if only one comparison is made and, thus, it can be avoided that the battery is discharged.

According to another alternative, the step of com- paring is carried out at regular intervals of deliveries.

The comparison can thus be made after each staircase or block.

According to yet another preferred embodiment, the method further comprises the step of downloading, from an administrative data system in which at least one distri- bution list is stored, via a connecting unit carried along by a distributor, a distribution list to a computer

unit carried along by the distributor. The distributors thus obtain their distribution list from an administra- tive data system and, therefore, do not need to keep the distribution list updated on their own.

Preferably, the step of comparing is carried out in the computer unit. This allows direct feedback to the distributor since a detected delivery address immediately can be compared with the distribution list in the com- puter unit. The computer unit can obtain the identity of the delivery address via a physical connection to the re- ceiver. Transfer of the identity of the delivery address from the receiver to the computer unit can alternatively occur wirelessly, for example, by Bluetooth.

A change in a distribution list is preferably made only in the administrative data system. Consequently, the risk of the distribution list in the administrative data system not being correct is reduced. Since a distributor before his or her round can download the distribution list from the administrative data system, the distributor always obtains a current and correct distribution list in his or her computer unit.

According to another embodiment, the method com- prises the step of transferring, to an administrative data system in which the distribution list is stored, via a connecting unit carried along by the distributor, in- formation which has been received when delivering an ar- ticle to a delivery address, regarding the identity of the delivery address. Thus, the distributor does not need to carry along a computer unit with the distribution list. Besides, this allows monitoring of the distributor since visited delivery addresses are sent to the adminis- trative data system. Via this system, it is thus made possible to follow the progress of a distributor's round.

Preferably, the step of comparing is carried out in the administrative data system. This means that the dis- tributors do not need to download a distribution list be- fore starting their round, which saves time.

Advantageously, the method comprises the step of emitting an error signal if a detection does not corre- spond to the delivery address indicated by the delivery order according to the distribution list. This step gives immediate indication whether an incorrect delivery has been made or if a delivery address has been overlooked.

In addition, it is made possible to remedy the mistake before the customer has discovered it.

The objects of the invention are achieved by using the system for controlling delivery of articles according to a distribution list. Preferably, the articles are newspapers and magazines.

Another object of the invention is to provide a sys- tem for monitoring a distributor in order to give the distributor increased safety in his or her lonely work.

The object is achieved by a system for monitoring a dis- tributor who distributes articles to delivery addresses according to a distribution list. The system comprises transmitters which are attached to predetermined points on the distributor's round, a receiver, which is adapted to be attached to the distributor and which, when the distributor passes a transmitter during the distribution, is adapted to receive information from the transmitter about its identity, and a communication unit which is adapted to be carried along by the distributor and which is adapted to transfer the information about the identity of a passed transmitter to a monitoring unit.

Due to the system, a distributor can be followed from a central monitoring unit. Should something happen to the distributor, this will be noticed by no identity of a new passed transmitter being transferred.

Brief Description of the Drawings In the following, the invention will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings which show a currently preferred embodiment of the inven- tion.

Fig. 1 is a flow chart of a method for keeping an updated distribution list accessible to a distributor.

Fig. 2 is a flow chart of a method for guiding a distributor.

Fig. 3 is a flow chart of a method for comparing a delivery with a distribution list.

Fig. 4 is a schematic view of a system according to the invention.

Detailed Description of a Preferred Embodiment of the In- vention Figs 1-3 show flow charts of a method for control- ling distribution of articles according to a distribution list. In the description below, newspapers and magazines are used as examples of distribution articles. However, those skilled in the art realise that the articles may constitute some other product which is to be distributed according to a distribution list. For example, the method may be applied by a transport company which transports products to various places. Another possible application is delivery of foodstuffs from a grocery shop, where, for example, the customer can order his or her purchases via the Internet. Another possible application is distribu- tion of buckshot advertising.

Fig. 1 shows a flow chart of how a correct distribu- tion list is maintained according to a preferred embodi- ment of the invention. The distribution of articles is controlled by an administrative function. The administra- tive function receives, step 1, orders from new customers and, in the case of subscription, changes or notices from already existing customers. The data is then recorded in a customer database, step 3. Consequently, the customer database is continuously updated and has a correct list of the customers. In the customer database, all informa- tion needed about each customer is available.

Before the distribution of articles is started, a distribution data file is created, step 5, based on the

customer database for each distributor. This is conven- iently created during the night when no changes of the customer database are made. The distribution data file is automatically created by a programme routine via ques- tions to the database, preferably SQL questions, picking out the data needed. For example, this data can for each customer, be what key or what code is needed to enter the staircase, on which floor the customer lives, name, c/o name, street address, street number, newspaper ti- tle/titles and customer number. The distribution data file comprises at least one distribution list of the de- livery addresses to be visited by the distributor. The distribution data file is then placed as a text file on a FTP server (File Transfer Protocol), step 7.

Fig. 2 shows how a distributor fetches his or her distribution list that controls and guides him or her during the distribution round. The distributor starts his or her distribution by connecting to the FTP server, step 9, on which server his or her distribution list and other information that he or she may need are stored. The con- nection takes place via a mobile phone and the distribu- tor has to log in on the FTP server with a user's name and a password. When the distributor is connected to the FTP server, he or she downloads, step 11, his distribu- tion data file to a computer unit carried along by him or her. The distributor now has all the information he or she needs in order to distribute the newspapers to the customers and, thus, can start his or her distribution.

During the distribution, step 13, a display on the com- puter unit shows which delivery address is next. If this address is a staircase, the entry code and the number of newspapers of different types that are to be distributed in the staircase, can be shown on the display. During the distribution round, the distributor preferably positions transmitters for new customers and removes transmitters from customers terminating their subscription. The dis- tributor obtains the information about new customers and

customers terminating their subscription from the distri- bution data file.

Fig. 3 shows a flow chart of how control is made of the progress of the distribution of articles to the de- livery addresses. In connection with the delivery of an article to a delivery address, a receiver which is at- tached to the distributor automatically receives, step 15, information about the identity of the delivery ad- dress. The receiver obtains this information from a transmitter which is attached to the delivery address, suitably to the letterbox or the letter slot. Information about the identity of the delivery address is trans- ferred, step 17, to the computer unit, to which the dis- tributor has downloaded the current distribution list. In the computer unit the identity of the detected delivery address is compared with the distribution list, step 19.

This gives immediate feedback whether the newspaper has been delivered to a correct delivery address and whether any deliveries have been missed. If the distributor has earlier forgotten to remove a transmitter from a customer terminating his or her subscription, an incorrect deliv- ery to this customer is discovered by the identity of the detected delivery address not being found on the distri- bution list. During the entire distribution round, the comparison occurs continuously in order to control that the distribution of newspapers is carried out correctly.

Fig. 4 is a schematic view of a system for control- ling distribution of newspapers. The system comprises an administrative data system 100 which comprises a customer database 102 of which customers are to be given which newspapers. Furthermore, the administrative data system 100 comprises a local area network 104 where several peo- ple can use the customer database 102 simultaneously. The administrative data system 100 comprises also at least one server 106 to which extern access is made possible for file transfer. On this server 106, distribution data files for the distributor 108 are placed, so that he or

she can download a file containing a distribution list for controlling the distribution. A program routine in the administrative data system 100 is run daily in order to update the distribution data files and make sure that they are always up-to-date. The program routine asks questions to the customer database 102 in order to re- trieve the information required in the distribution data file. The program routine stores the retrieved informa- tion in the distribution data file and places it on the server 106.

The system also comprises a distribution unit 110 carried along by the distributor 108 during the distribu- tion. The distribution unit 110 does not need to be one single physical unit but, preferably, all the parts of the distributor unit 110 are integrated. The distributor unit 110 comprises a connecting unit 112 for connecting to the server 106 in the administrative data system 100.

Conveniently, the connecting unit 112 consists of a con- ventional mobile phone. The distribution unit 110 further comprises a computer unit 114. The distribution data file with the distribution list can be downloaded to the com- puter unit 114 via the connecting unit 112. The computer unit 114 is preferably a conventional hand-held computer with software for handling the distribution data file and for compilating the data from this file which is to be presented on a display. The computer unit 114 can be de- signed in such a manner that it can be carried on a per- son's arm like a watch. By this design, the distributor 108 can carry the computer unit 114 so that all the time he or she can easily see the information presented by the computer unit 114. Moreover, the distribution unit 110 comprises a receiver 116. This receiver 116 is in contact with the computer unit 114 for transferring information that is received by the receiver 116. The receiver 116 is adapted to be attached to the distributor's 108 arm. The receiver 116 receives information which is supplied wire- lessly by transmitters 118.

The transmitters 118 are adapted to be attached to the delivery addresses 120. The transmitters 118 comprise a chip in which the information that the transmitter is to supply is stored. The information can alternatively be stored in a magnetic bar code. The transmitters 118 sup- ply information by sending signals in the form of elec- tromagnetic waves, preferably with radio frequency. The range of the signals which are sent by the transmitters 118 is so short that a receiver 116 should not be able to receive information from a transmitter 118 if the re- ceiver 116 is not physically near the transmitter 118.

Suitably, the distance between a receiver 116 and a transmitter 118 should be smaller than 0.3 m in order to make a detection. This means that the distributor 108 has indeed distributed a newspaper to the delivery address 120, the identity of which is received by the receiver 116. Naturally, the smallest distance required between a receiver 116 and a transmitter 118 in order to allow de- tection can vary, as long as it is made sure that detec- tion takes place in connection with delivery and that no detection is made when the distributor 108 only passes the transmitter 118 without making a delivery.

In a preferred embodiment, a transmitter 118 is at- tached to the letterbox or the letter slot, whereby the receiver 116 gets close enough when the distributor 108 puts a newspaper in the box/slot. The transmitter 118 is adapted to send a signal containing information about the identity of the delivery address (120), suitably the cus- tomer number of the customer living at the address. Al- ternatively, the identity could be the serial number of the transmitter 118 or another unique number. The trans- mitter 118 is provided with an external casing which has a predetermined pattern depending on what newspaper the customer is to receive. Consequently, the distributor 108 also gets visual information about what newspaper is to be put in the letterbox.

The transmitter 118 can be passive so that it does not emit a signal until it receives an enabling signal from the receiver 116. In this case, the receiver 116 also comprises an aerial which can emit radio waves. The enabling signal of the receiver 116 may have a longer range than the signal of the transmitter 118. The trans- mitter 118 can also receive information so that the in- formation which is sent from the transmitter 118 can be changed. The receiver 116 can via the aerial transfer in- formation to the chip of the transmitter 118. When a new transmitter 118 is to be positioned, the distributor 108 can configure a transmitter 118 which has the pattern that corresponds to the newspaper the customer is to re- ceive by transferring, via the receiver 116, the informa- tion to the transmitter 118 that the transmitter 118 is to send in connection with the delivery of a newspaper to the delivery address 120 to which the transmitter 118 is attached. If a customer has temporarily cancelled a news- paper, information about this can be sent to the trans- mitter 118 by means of the receiver 116. Thus, all con- figuration of the transmitters 118 can be made by the distributor 108 on the distribution round. The distribu- tion data file comprises information about the configura- tions that the distributor 108 is to make.

The customer's number received by the receiver 116 from a transmitter 118 is transferred to the computer unit 114. The computer unit 114 comprises means for com- paring the received customer's numbers with a distribu- tion list. The means for comparing controls that the re- ceived customer's number is included in the distribution list. Preferably, the distribution list indicates in which order the delivery addresses 120 are to be visited.

The means for comparing can thus control if the deliver- ies take place in the correct order. Consequently, an in- dication can immediately be given if a delivery address 120 has been overlooked or skipped. On the display, the computer unit 114 can present which delivery address 120

is next in order to continuously guide the distributor 108 on the distribution round. The computer unit 114 can then also present what newspaper is to be distributed, what entry code is to be used, etc.

The system can also be used in order to monitor the distributor. This increases the safety of the distributor who otherwise has a lonely and vulnerable job. At the be- ginning of the distribution round, the logon is recorded in the FTP server. During the distribution, the receiver receives information about the identities of passed points. These identities can be delivery addresses, but more transmitters can also be set out on the round, for example, between two subsequent delivery addresses which are far from one another. The received identities are sent via a communication unit, preferably a mobile phone carried along by the distributor, to a central server from which the distributor thus can be followed. The re- ceived identities can automatically be sent to the server in real time. The communication unit is then in continu- ous contact with the server during the distribution and the identities can be sent by packets. The identities of the delivery addresses could be connected to points on a map of a monitoring unit at the central server. When an identity is transferred from the distributor, the corre- sponding map point can be lit. Consequently, all the dis- tributors can continuously be followed from the monitor- ing unit. The server can indicate when a deviation oc- curs, for example, that too much time has passed since the last transmitter was passed. When the distributor has completed his or her round, he or she logs on again to the FTP server and records this.

Since all logons and detections can be time recorded by this system, it can also be used as a basis for the setting of wage rates. The system can also estimate a point of time for expected deliveries to a customer, for example, in connection with delays.

It will be understood that a number of modifications of the embodiment described above are possible within the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

During the distribution, the connecting unit can, for example, transfer information about the identity of the delivery addresses to the administrative data system.

The transfer of information can take place continuously, in which case the comparison with the distribution list can be made in the administrative data system. Conse- quently, it is made possible to monitor the distributor from a central by the distributor continuously announcing where he or she is to be found on his or her distribution round. In addition, the distributor does not need to download a distribution list to the computer unit. Infor- mation about the next delivery address can be transferred via the connecting unit as a detected delivery address is being transferred to the administrative data system.

The comparison of the identity of a delivery address with the distribution list can alternatively be made when the whole distribution round is completed. According to another alternative, it can be made at regular intervals, for example, after each staircase or block or, for exam- ple, at each fifth delivery of a newspaper.

In an alternative embodiment, a bar-code reader can either be attached to each letterbox or be carried along by the distributor. When the distributor delivers a news- paper, a bar code on the newspaper is read for identify- ing the title of the newspaper and controlling that the correct newspaper has been distributed to the customer.

The bar code could also be replaced with a transponder which when delivering the newspaper sends a signal with information about the title of the newspaper.

The distribution data file can be stored anywhere in the administrative data system where the distributor can reach the file by means of the connecting unit. The file format can be any format that can be read by the computer unit. According to another alternative, the FTP server

could send the file to the distributor's connecting unit during the night before the distribution. The file can then be stored at an operator of the network over which the file is sent until the distributor switches on the connecting unit when it is time to distribute the arti- cles. When the connecting unit is switched on, the dis- tribution data file is downloaded to the connecting unit.

According to yet another alternative, the distributor could download his or her distribution list to the com- puter unit only once. He or she could then receive changes in the list on paper when fetching the articles to be distributed. The distributor then changes himself or herself his or her distribution list on the computer unit according to the instructions he or she has re- ceived.

The connecting unit does not necessarily need to be portable. In an alternative embodiment, it can be some form of stationary unit to connect the computer unit to the administrative data system. The distributor can then, when fetching the newspapers to be distributed, connect the computer unit to the connecting unit in order to download the distribution list. The connecting unit can then comprise a modem. A portable connecting unit does not necessarily need to be a mobile phone. It can be any form of communication unit that can transfer information wirelessly, for example, it would be possible to use a communication radio capable of transferring data.

The computer unit can be any type of portable com- puter, such as a hand-held computer or a portable com- puter. The computer unit can also comprise a memory in the receiver in which detected identities for delivery addresses are stored for comparison with the distribution list.

The receiver does not necessarily need to be at- tached directly to the distributor. If the distributor drives the round in his or her car, the receiver could be attached to the car. When distributing newspapers, the

distributor drives so close to the letterbox that he or she can deliver the newspaper without stepping out of the car. When delivering, the car could then come so close to the letterbox that a receiver attached to the car could detect a delivery.