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US 5,648,916 AGranted
Internal mail distribution system
AssigneePitney Bowes Inc.
InventorFlavio M. Manduley
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system for automatically (where possible) converting hard copy paper mail into electronic mail, while allowing those already using computers to communicate with those in the paper domain. The system automates the process of distributing incoming mail within a building and between locations. The apparatus of this invention utilizes paper handling machines, while integrating the paper handling machines with electronic networks.
Claims16
A method for distributing physically generated and electronically generated mail, said method including the steps of:
- receiving externally generated physical mail;
- sorting the externally generated physical mail to determine which mail is going to be electronically transferred and which mail is going to be physically delivered;
- converting the externally generated physical mail that was sorted to be electronically transferred into an electronic format;
- transmitting the externally generated physical mail in a electronic format;
- converting the externally generated physical mail in an electronic format into a human recognizable format;
- physically delivering the externally generated physical mail that was sorted to be physically delivered;
- receiving externally generated electronic mail;
- routing the electronically generated electronic mail;
- creating internal electronic mail;
- routing internal electronic mail;
- determining which internally generated physical mail is going to be electronically transferred and which mail is going to be physically delivered;
- converting the internally generated physical mail that was determined to be electronically transferred into an electronic format;
- transmitting the internally generated physical mail that was determined to be electronically transferred into a electronic format;
- converting the internally generated physical mail that was determined to be physically transferred into a human recognizable format;
- and
- processing the internally generated physical mail that was determined to be physically transferred.
13 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.