Automatic address extractor
US6370259B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 4, 2000 |
| Grant date | Apr 9, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 4, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG07B2017/00725
- WIPO fieldAudio-visual technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A method and apparatus (10) for preparing forms used by the Postal Service in delivering certain types of mail (E). Each piece of such mail is conveyed past a camera or scanner (12) to obtain an image of the piece including the name of the sender and name and address of the recipient. The image is processed by an image processor (14) to locate the edge (C) of the piece at its upper left hand corner where sender information is located. A first line of information, usually the sender's name, is extracted from a sender information segment (S) of the envelope, and the first two lines of recipient information, usually the recipient's name and street address, are extracted and from a recipient's information segment (R) of the mail piece. These three lines of information are now transferred from the memory onto an appropriate postal form (F) with each line of information copied onto an appropriate portion of the form. The forms are sorted by zip code and carrier route so a carrier can pick-up the forms needed together with the mail carried on their route.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.