Apparatus and methods for identifying and processing mail using an identification code

A system for identifying an identification file for a mailpiece image at an image control unit, comprising:

• a mailpiece image receiving component configured to receive a mailpiece image from an optical character reader at an input subsystem;
• a delivery data receiving component configured to receive delivery data from a central database;
• a remote computer reader transmitting component configured to transmit the mailpiece image and the delivery data to a remote computer reader;
• a remote computer reader receiving component configured to receive an identification file corresponding to the mailpiece image from the remote computer reader, if the remote computer reader obtained an identification file for the mailpiece image using the delivery data;
• and
• a creating component configured to create the identification file, if the remote computer reader did not obtain the identification file, wherein the creating component includes:
• a keying site transmitting component configured to transmit the mailpiece image to a keying site;
• and
• a keying site receiving component configured to receive the identification file corresponding to the mailpiece image from the keying site.

A system for identifying an identification file for a mailpiece image at an image control unit, comprising:

• means for receiving a mailpiece image from an optical character reader at an input subsystem;
• means for receiving delivery data from a central database;
• means for transmitting the mailpiece image and the delivery data to a remote computer reader;
• means for receiving an identification file corresponding to the mailpiece image from the remote computer reader, if the remote computer reader obtained an identification file for the mailpiece image using the delivery data;
• and
• means for creating the identification file, if the remote computer reader did not obtain the identification file, wherein the creating means includes:
• means for transmitting the mailpiece image to a keying site;
• and
• means for receiving the identification file corresponding to the mailpiece image from the keying site.

A computer usable medium having computer readable code embodied therein for identifying an identification file for a mailpiece image at an image control unit, the computer readable code comprising:

• a mailpiece image receiving module configured to receive a mailpiece image from an optical character reader at an input subsystem;
• a delivery data receiving module configured to receive delivery data from a central database;
• a remote computer reader transmitting module configured to transmit the mailpiece image and the delivery data to a remote computer reader;
• a remote computer reader receiving module configured to receive an identification file corresponding to the mailpiece image from the remote computer reader, if the remote computer reader obtained an identification file for the mailpiece image using the delivery data;
• and
• a creating module configured to create the identification file, if the remote computer reader did not obtain the identification file, wherein the creating module includes:
• a keying site transmitting module configured to transmit the mailpiece image to a keying site;
• and
• a keying site receiving module configured to receive the identification file corresponding to the mailpiece image from the keying site.