Method and apparatus for reading and decoding information

The method of claim I wherein said locating step is further comprised of the steps of:

• locating a predetermined pattern in said captured image;
• locating at least one fiduciary mark in said captured image, said at least one fiduciary mark does not exceed a predetermined distance from said predetermined pattern;
• and
• determining a region of interest, said region of interest circumscribes an area including said predetermined pattern and said at least one fiduciary mark.

A computer system for capturing and processing information from a plurality of forms traveling on a conveyor belt, concurrently, comprising:

• a memory having program instructions;
• and
• a processor configured to use the program instructions to capture an image of said plurality of forms;
• to locate at least one of said plurality of forms in said captured image, wherein said at least one form is comprised of a plurality of information data fields;
• and to decode the information on said at least one of said plurality of forms.

A system for capturing and processing information from a plurality of forms concurrently, said forms being randomly positioned on a moving conveyor belt such that the form is visible, said system comprising:

• means for capturing an image of said conveyor belt;
• means for locating at least one of said plurality of forms in said captured image, wherein said at least one form is comprised of a plurality of information data fields;
• and
• means for decoding the information on said at least one of said plurality of forms.

A method of accessing package routing information on a computer network involving at least one user terminal and at least one alias server, said method comprising the steps of:

• inputting information at a user terminal to retrieve package routing information, wherein said inputted information contains package identification required by said at least one alias server to retrieve said package routing information;
• transmitting said inputted information from said user terminal to said alias server;
• and
• transferring package routing information from said alias server to said user terminal, provided said alias server locates a database record corresponding to said inputted information.

A computer system for accessing package routing information on a computer network involving at least one user terminal and at least one alias server, comprising:

• a memory having program instructions;
• and
• a processor configured to use the program instructions to access customer-inputted information for retrieving package routing information, wherein said inputted information contains package identification required by said at least one alias server to retrieve said package routing information;
• to transmit said inputted information from said user terminal to said alias server;
• and to transfer package routing information from said alias server to said user terminal, provided said alias server locates a database record corresponding to said inputted information.

A computer system for accessing package routing information on a computer network involving at least one user terminal and at least one alias server, said system comprising:

• means for inputting information at a user terminal to retrieve package routing information, wherein said inputted information contains package identification required by said at least one alias server to retrieve said package routing information;
• means for transmitting said inputted information from said user terminal to said alias server;
• and
• means for transferring package routing information from said alias server to said user terminal, provided said alias server locates a database record corresponding to said inputted information.

An imaging system for capturing a non-singulated image of a plurality of forms traveling on a moving conveyor belt, comprising:

• a primary lens assembly for converging a beam of light emitted from a surface of a conveyor belt towards a secondary lens assembly;
• a secondary lens assembly for converging said beam of light from said primary lens assembly towards an image detector;
• a phase mask positioned between said secondary lens assembly and said image detector for altering said beam of light such that said imaging system is insensitive to small distances between objects positioned on said conveyor belt and said image detector;
• a beamsplitter disposed between said phase mask and said image detector for splitting said beam of light to a plurality of image detectors;
• a first image detector for generating an output signal of a first portion of said conveyor belt;
• and
• a second image detector for generating an output signal of a second portion of said conveyor belt, said second image detector disposed at a 90° angle from said first image detector.