TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a method for re-automation of postal objects.

BACKGROUND ART

Processes for automation of flows of postal objects are known, in which the postal objects withdrawn at different collection points are sent on to an initial common sorting centre and then to a final sorting centre, which performs, by means of automatic machines, distribution of the objects and/or their sequencing for the postman of the territory covered by the final sorting centre.

The postal objects sorted and/or sequenced are then conveyed to peripheral mail stations disseminated in the territory; the postman operating at said peripheral stations carries out physical delivery of the postal objects at a plurality of delivery points.

In some cases, the delivery of the postal objects by the postman is not possible, for example because the addressee no longer resides at the delivery point initially indicated on the postal object, or else because a service of re-addressing of the postal objects has been activated, or else because the address appearing on the postal object cannot be traced in the territory or is ambiguous, or else because the object belonging to a given postal treatment has been refused and returned to the sender according to the wishes of the addressee.

The postal objects that have not been delivered are brought back to the peripheral station by the postman and are then addressed to the final sorting centre for a manual treatment thereof for sorting to their new destination. In the absence of other information, it is in fact not possible to subject the objects to a new automatic sorting cycle at the final sorting centre in so far as there would be produced the same addressing already previously envisaged for the postal object (i.e., a "bounce-back" effect during distribution between the final sorting centre and the peripheral stations).

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

The aim of the present invention is to provide a method for re-automation of postal objects that will make it possible to subject the postal objects sent back by the peripheral station to a new automatic sorting cycle at the sorting centre, said sorting cycle being designed to produce an addressing of the postal object different from the one previously made and enable a delivery of the postal object to the new destination.

The above aim is achieved by the present invention in so far as it relates to a method for re-automation of postal objects, wherein a plurality of postal objects are subjected to a sorting and/or sequencing process on a sorting and/or sequencing device of a sorting centre, which sends the postal objects treated to at least one peripheral mail station for delivery of the postal objects by a postman, said method being characterized in that it comprises the steps of: - receiving a postal object returned to the peripheral mail station following upon unsuccessful delivery thereof by the postman or associated to a registered postal object delivered to an addressee;- acquiring at least one image of said returned postal object; - extracting information from said image; and - transferring said information from said peripheral mail station to said sorting centre.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be illustrated with reference to the attached drawings, which represent a non-limiting embodiment thereof and wherein:

- Figures 1 and 2 are schematic illustrations of a device for re-automation of flows of postal objects, which implements the method of the present invention;

- Figure 3 illustrates an image of a postal object treated according to the method of the present invention; and

- Figure 4 represents, by means of a block diagram, steps of the method of the present invention.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Designated as a whole by 1 in Figure 1 is a device for re- automation of flows of postal objects, which implements the method of the present invention.

The re-automation device 1 comprises: a central processing unit 3 (conveniently constituted by a personal computer PC) provided with peripherals such as a keyboard 4, mouse 5, a monitor 6 generally of a touch-screen type, a main printer 7, a printer for labels 8 (optional) ; and a portable barcode reader 9 (optional) ; and an image-acquisition device 10 (of a known type) designed to acquire a two-dimensional binary image Ip of a postal object 12 that is laid on a transparent reading surface 13 of the device 1.

The re-automation device 1 is conveniently located in a peripheral mail station 15 (Figure 2) and is in constant connection - through a computer network (for example the Internet or else a dedicated network) - with a mail-sorting device 17 (illustrated schematically) located in a final mail- sorting centre 19 at which lots 2Op of mail are treated, which are sent, at least in part, to the peripheral mail station 15 to perform local delivery by a postman 20. The mail-sorting device 17 is provided with a computer system (of a known type) for recognition of the postal destinations (Integrated Sorting and Coding System SISC, operating according to known techniques), which uses a database DB.

Said computer system (SISC) is able to generate a unique identifier ID for each postal object 12 and to recognize the destination of the object 12 by reading the address with an OCR or barcodes bearing the information or to retrieve the information itself in the database DB by reading an identifier. The process occurs automatically following upon the introduction of mail into the device 17, which has a high production rate, for example, an output of 5000 objects to 50000 objects per hour, according to the physical characteristics of the postal objects.

The sorting and sequencing device 17 moreover supports a Track and Trace (T&T) system (which is also of a known type) . Given an object treated by the sorting device or that has passed thereon, said T&T system enables its users, generally the senders of the objects, to see location thereof notified (in which sorting centre they are located, which processing step they have reached and at what time, in which peripheral station they are located, etc.) .

The image-acquisition device 10 is designed to process the two-dimensional image Ip to trace back to the alphanumeric information D(Ip) present or that can be deduced starting from a plurality of codes and/or signs printed on the postal object amongst which (Figure 3) : i) linear barcodes 21 (black and white) impressed on the postal object; ii) linear barcodes 22 (with fluorescent ink) impressed on the postal object; iii) codes of a data-matrix type 23 (black and white) impressed on the postal object; iv) other types of barcodes defined previously (for example, bar/no-bar codes impressed by the user or by the mechanized mail centre bearing the ZIP code or postcode and its internal extensions for identifying the delivery office, the postman or the individual delivery point) .

The image-acquisition device 10 is designed to process the two-dimensional image Ip for tracing - by means of OCR processes of a known type - to the alphanumeric information D (addressee) associated to an alternative addressee (for example, the sender) as new destination of the postal object 12.

The indication of the alternative addressee could also be present in one of the codes from i) to iv) listed above.

Finally, the image-acquisition device 10 is designed to process the two-dimensional image Ip for recognizing - by means of shape-recognition processes of a known type - trademarks and/or logos 25 of bodies or organizations (for example, banks, insurance companies, official bodies, etc.) that issued the postal object 12.

Said logos 25 are then subjected to processing for associating thereto the indication of an alternative addressee (for example, by means of a database that associates to a logo the indication of an alternative addressee) .

Typically, the postal object 12 that is laid on the image- acquisition device 10 has been treated by the final sorting centre 19, and sent to the peripheral mail station 15, where a postman 20 has unsuccessfully tried to deliver it.

For example, the delivery of the postal object 12 has not been possible because the addressee no longer resides at the delivery point initially indicated on the postal object, or else because a service of re-addressing of the postal objects has been activated, or else because the address appearing on the postal object cannot be traced in the territory or is ambiguous, or else because the object belonging to a given postal treatment has been refused and returned to the sender according to the wishes of the addressee.

The postal object 12 is then returned to the peripheral station 15 following upon unsuccessful delivery thereof.

The operations of the device 1 according to the method of the present invention are described in what follows (Figure 4).

Initially, an operator chooses (block 100) the type of operation to be carried out with the device 1. Said choice can be performed by an operator OP using the keyboard 4, the mouse 5 or else by acting on the monitor 6 of a touch-screen type.

Block 100 is followed by a block 110, which activates, when selected, a procedure of re-automation of a postal object 12 returned to the peripheral station 15 following upon its unsuccessful delivery by the postman 20.

In this connection, the postal object 12 is laid on the transparent reading surface 13 of the image-acquisition device 10 (block 120), which detects - by means of a scanner (not illustrated) - the two-dimensional image Ip and extracts the alphanumeric information D(Ip) associated to the codes and/or signs present on the postal object, as well as the information D (sender) associated to the sender of the postal object 12 (block 130) .

In particular, the alphanumeric information expressing the object code ID that has identified uniquely the postal object within the mail-sorting process performed at the final sorting centre 19 is extracted. Said information is always present on the postal object 12 in the form of a linear or else two- dimensional barcode, printed with fluorescent or else black ink.

The image Ip of the postal object 12 can also be displayed on the monitor 6 and stored in the mass memory (not illustrated) of the processing unit 3.

The operator can moreover add manually (block 150) , by means of the keyboard 4 or the touch screen 6, alphanumeric data D (input) associated to the postal object 12 of which the image has been displayed, in particular data deriving from the visual recognition of the addresses present as well as from the visual recognition of the name of the addressee or sender that appears on the postal object, given that these data enable identification of the new destination of the object.

The data corresponding to the addressee can also be extracted automatically by means of processes of recognition of the trademarks and/or logos of bodies or organizations (for example, banks, insurance companies, official bodies, etc.) that issued the postal object 12.

Blocks 130 and 150 co-operate with a block 140 in which the information data detected are integrated with one another.

In particular, associated to the object code ID is at least part of the information detected (i.e., the alphanumeric information D(Ip) associated to the codes and/or signs present on the postal object, as well as the information D (sender) associated to the sender of the postal object 12) or else entered manually (block 150) in order to enable a new cycle of sorting of the postal object at the final sorting centre 19, which will make possible re-assignment of the postal object to a postman 20, who, unlike what occurred previously, will be able to deliver it successfully. As highlighted above, said information can be represented by the indication of the sender of the returned postal object 12 in such a way that the subsequent sorting and/or sequencing of the postal object concurs to return of the postal object 12 to the sender.

The indication of the sender can be detected by means of an OCR process (in the case where the address of the sender is clearly indicated on the postal object 12) or else can be detected by known automatic logics of recognition of logos or else via reading a barcode printed in the proximity of the indication of the addressee of the postal object, or else can be entered directly via a keyboard 4 or a touch screen 6 by the operator via visual recognition of the image of the object presented on the monitor 6.

The code ID and the information associated thereto are transmitted by means of the computer network (for example, the Internet or else a dedicated network, block 160) to the sorting and sequencing device 17 to which also the postal object 12 is subsequently physically sent (Figure 2) for a subsequent re-mechanization thereof. The code ID and the information associated thereto are also stored on a magnetic, optical, electronic or paper medium according to the type of operation performed and the request made by the operator of the device.

The subsequent sorting and sequencing cycle concurs in addressing the postal object to a destination retrieved during reading (block 130) and designed to enable an effective physical delivery of the postal object (for example, the postal object 12 is returned to the sender) .

The code ID and the information associated thereto can also be propagated to other bodies/persons/databases that are able to use them, for example, to enable tracing, or else to enable users of the T&T system to locate the re-addressed object or the staff of the centre to monitor the quality, i.e., the service times and the productivity of the operations of processing of the re-addressed objects, or else to enable systems for processing the information to file production reports .

Two different examples of use of the method according to the present invention will now be illustrated.

Case I - Handling of postal objects 12 returned to the sender

The postal object 12 underwent mechanization at the final sorting centre 19, which impressed on the front of the postal object 12 a fluorescent (or black and white) barcode, which constitutes the unique identifier ID.

Said postal object 12 underwent a delivery operation by a postman 20; the delivery was unsuccessful on account of any one of the reasons listed above.

In this case, the postman 20 returns, to the peripheral mail station 15, the information necessary for re-addressing of the postal object 20; for example, he supplies a new address or else an indication of the postal object to be sent back to the sender.

In the peripheral station 15, the postal object 12 is laid on the image-acquisition device 10, which acquires a front binary image of the postal object in which the unique identifier ID is present (fluorescent or black and white barcode) .

In the case of useful information present on the back of the postal object 12 also a second image of the back is acquired, after the postal object 12 has been picked up and repositioned on the reading surface 13. The operator selects from amongst the activities proposed the one for re-addressing of the postal object 12 (said operation can be performed by acting on the touch screen 6) .

Also all the information present on the binary image (or on the two binary images in the front/back case) deemed significant, such as one-dimensional or two-dimensional barcodes, logos of big organizations, etc., is automatically detected and interpreted.

The new destination of the postal object can be determined:

- manually by the operator who enters it by means of keyboard 4 or monitor 6 provided with touch screen; automatically by reading a barcode that identifies the sender; automatically by OCR reading of the sender's address, typically appearing on the back of the postal object 12;

- automatically associating a logo 25 of an organization or firm detected to its address (in this case - as highlighted above - a database is present, which associates a series of logos to addresses) .

The aforesaid information is associated to the unique identifier ID of the postal object and sent to the centralized database accessible from the final sorting centre 19.

In the case where the identifier ID is present in the database of the final sorting centre (where the object had been previously treated in an automatic way) are overwritten, for that unique identifier ID, both the information designed to determine the new destination of the object 12 and possibly the image detected by the acquisition device 10.

In the case where the identifier ID is not present in the sorting centre 19, it is generated using the unique identifier ID retrieved by reading. Once the aforesaid operations have been completed, the postal object 12 is physically addressed to the sorting centre 19, where it is treated in the normal postal flow without any need for any particular processing operations.

Once the unique identifier ID has been encoded, all the information previously entered that enables proper sorting thereof is retrieved from the database of the sorting centre 19.

Case II - Handling of the return-receipt cards of registered postal objects

Once the postman 20 has performed forwarding of the postal object 12 of a registered type to the addressee, he takes back to his own delivery office the return card 12r bearing the identifier of the registered letter and the signature of the addressee to which it was delivered.

A characteristic of return-receipt cards is the difficulty of mechanization (the paper used is frequently of poor quality) . There is moreover felt the need to communicate in a short time the successful physical delivery and receipt of the registered postal object 12.

In this case, the method of the present invention envisages the steps described in what follows.

The return-receipt card 12r is laid on the image-acquisition device 10 and, from among the proposed activities, the activity of handling of the return-receipt cards is selected.

A first binary image of -the front of the card 12r is acquired and possibly also a second binary image of the back of the card 12r. Automatically acquired on the image (or on the images) is a unique identifier ID (normally encoded by a barcode) , which expresses the unique identifier of the registered letter 12 previously delivered.

Also acquired is other information such as information associated to codes present on the digital image and information that defines the sender of the registered letter.

Once the above information has been detected, it is associated to the unique identifier ID and transmitted to the database of the sorting and sequencing device 17 present at the sorting centre 19. The image of the postal object is also transmitted.

In the database of the sorting centre 19, an association is sought between the unique code ID and the e-mail identifier of the sender of the registered postal object in order to send an e-mail message to said sender, which notifies to the sender that the registered postal object 12 has been delivered.

The sender can also connect up to an Internet site, which cooperates with the database in order to check that delivery of the registered postal object has gone through and possibly display and/or print the image of the return receipt bearing the signature confirming receipt by the addressee.

The return-receipt card 12r is physically addressed to the mail-sorting centre 19, where this is handled in the normal postal flow and delivered to the sender.

In addition, the Law No. 445 dated December 28, 2000, sanctions that, under given conditions, it is possible to reproduce and preserve existing paper documents along with corresponding electronic versions, and refers the technical- operational modalities for substitutive conservation to the technical rules issued by the CNIPA (Centro Nazionale per 1 ' Informatica nella Pubblica Amministrazione - National centre for the use of computer technology in public administration) (former AIPA - Autorita per 1 ' Informatica nella Pubblica Amministrazione - Authority for the use of computer technology in public administration) . The same technical rules regulate conservation of computer documents.

In compliance with the above provisions and using appropriate cryptographic techniques and digital-signature techniques, the digital image of the return-receipt card 12r can be stored in a stable and safe way in the database. In this case, the images scanned by the image-acquisition device 10 can have, for legal purposes, the same value as the original paper images, and become available in shorter times or can even replace the original documents in the case where delivery has not gone through successfully.

The service could be available for a limited period of time, starting from notification of delivery and receipt.