Flexible mail delivery system and method
AssigneeUnited States Postal Service
InventorsEdward J. Kuebert, Scott R. Bombaugh, William J. Dowling
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The principles of the present invention provide the ability to flexibly change the delivery point and time for a mail item, while the item is en route. The recipient, sender, or mailer may flexibly change the delivery point of the item alone or in combination with each other. While an item is en route between the sending point and the delivery point, a notification is sent to indicate that the item is in transit. In response, the delivery of the item may be changed. For example, the destination specified by the sender (e.g., the delivery address written on the item) may be changed or a delivery time may be specified. The item is then delivered to the new delivery point and/or at the specified delivery time.
Claims21
A method for handling an undeliverable item, comprising:
- notifying a sender of the item that the item is undeliverable;
- accepting a disposition instruction from the sender, after the notifying;
- changing, using a processor, a delivery point of the item while the item is en route after accepting the disposition instruction;
- and
- handling the item according to the disposition instruction.
A method to flexibly deliver an item, comprising:
- determining a first delivery point of the item;
- providing a notification to indicate that the item is en route to the first delivery point;
- conditionally accepting a second delivery point of the item from a sender of the item, comprising requesting, from the sender, an approval of the second delivery point;
- and;
- requesting, from the sender, an approval of the second delivery point;
- changing, using a processor, a delivery point of the item while the item is en route after conditionally accepting the second delivery point;
- and
- delivering the item to one of the first delivery point and second delivery point based on the conditional acceptance of the second delivery point.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.