GB2611738A

GB2611738A - Postal address system manager with digital stamps

Info

Publication number: GB2611738A
Application number: GB2101394.1A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Andrew Heaven James
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2021-02-01
Filing date: 2021-02-01
Publication date: 2023-04-19
Also published as: GB202101394D0

Abstract

A system for extracting a postal address from an email address. The sender of a letter applies an email address to an item of post 301, which is then processed in the postal system. This processing includes scanning of the letter to find an email address 302, and if an email address is detected, the system scans a database to find a postal address associated with the email address 303. If a postal address is not found, an email is sent to request registration and the letter is reprocessed 304; and if a postal address is found, the system prints a directional barcode onto the item of post 305, as well as information such as a name, house number, and road. Another aspect of the invention is unique QR-coded stamps that can be assigned with a postage value, including class and item, on an app.

Description

POSTAL ADDRESS SYSTEM MANAGENT

This invention relates to a computer method and system for a simpler and universal postal address system, including digital stamps that can be enabled online.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

The existing postal system comprises of a vast number of physical address and postcodes. Just writing an address on an envelope can be incredibly time consuming, even if you know the address of the recipient 201. The result is less mail being sent, simply because of this additional complexity compared with other modern forms of communication. Even so billions of letters and parcels get sent daily, but with many hours of time wasted when it comes to addressing those letters and packages. Internationally almost every country has a different system of addressing physical addresses. This invention is a simpler and unifying computer process that can standardise a better way across the globe 201.

Current post is scanned at speed through optical scanners and the written address is checked against a database of addresses where it is matched up with the letter. A barcode is printed on the letter to assist in digital sorting. This technology can be adapted to scan many types of address systems throughout the world.

It is possible with databases, the internet, smart phones, OR codes and printers to have vastly different approaches to the traditional way of post being physically addressed in long hand with a purchased stamp placed on the envelope and posted through a post box. Yet this has so far not resulted in significant time sayings.

When purchasing post online for example. It requires typing in the full recipient address and the sender address into a computer and printing label on a local printer. The label is rarely self-adhesive, excess paper is wasted in an unsustainable manner, ink is wasted, Sellotape must be found to attached the label, the label is sometimes larger than the letter itself. This invention addresses the many issues with the current system.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

This invention takes the most widely used and universal personal identifier in the world, the email address, and enables the email address to represent the far longer physical address associated with the person 202. This invention enables post to be addressed by using the email address only, with the recipient and sender registering their email and associating their address with that email 301. Once posted, the optical scanners scan the letter for an address, in this case finding an email rather than a full postal address 302. The computer then scans the database for the postal address associated with that email address and prints the directional barcode information onto the letter 303, including further information required by the postman 306, for example a name, house number and road. In effect this invention does away with the need to write the lengthy physical address of the recipient on letter, by the sender, altogether. If the email address is not associated with a physical address, an email is sent requesting registration and the letter is reprocessed.304 Another advantage is that the physical address could be hidden from the sender, where people value their privacy. With the sender only having access to the recipients email rather than physical address. One of the largest advantages of this invention is the ability to unify the world onto a common postage system and save anyone sending a parcel the time involved with filling out long existing addresses in multiple formats. 202 In the case of when a person may move office or home, there is no need to inform multiple people and institutions of a change of address, nor inconvenience the postal office with a forwarding system. Instead, the person may simply change the address associated with their registered email and the mail finds its way to where it is needed. In the future, with drone deliveries and the like, this may be directly to the person rather than a physical static address. The email can be enabled to be the address in whatever format and location the recipient chooses. 203 When people are addressing letters, invariably it is difficult to remember an address and it takes a long period of time to write the recipients address on a letter or parcel, sometimes having to include the full address of the sender also. This results in a large amount of wasted unproductive time. By associating a person's email address with their postal address, the email address becomes the primary and unifying postal address system. Shorter, easier to remember, faster to write.

In addition, purchasing post from home requires a printer. These are usually A4 in size, resulting in wastage and home printing is notoriously unreliable. This invention describes a faster more sustainable approach.

Like stamp books today, this invention includes a stamp book of unique OR bar coded stamps that is not associated with any particular class of stamp but can be enabled online to be any stamp or postage required. 203 Instead of a pre-paid stamp the OR stamp is placed on the envelope or parcel. The smartphone then scans the code using the phone camera that takes the sender into their registered postal app account 402, or directs them to download the associated postal app 404. Once the app is downloaded and the sender is registered, they will have the ability of enabling the unique OR stamp to represent any postage they require 403. The phone camera app will also be able to scan the letter and parcel to suggest the size and shape of the post for what postage payment is most appropriate. Once the stamp is enabled for the correct postage, the app will not require the sender's details, these are already associated with the registration details, postal address and email address mapped in the app registration. 403 For recipients' details 101 all that needs to be entered is simply the recipients email address, from here the physical postal address associated with that email will automatically be associated with the stamp and transaction 102 405. If there is not a physical address associated with that email, the app can alert the recipient to register their details so that they can receive post using their email 406. Alternatively, the sender can fill in the address in full 103. Nonetheless the opportunity to send and receive post by using the email address only will save significant time in the process. 408 The use of the OR stamp that can be enabled by this invention to be any type of postage and link to any information stored on the address database, means that a letter or parcel could be sent by the QR stamp alone, with this invention negating the need to write any physical address on the letter or parcel altogether. The postman information and sorting barcode will be printed onto the parcel as it passes through the automated system 305.

One skilled in the art would appreciate that the address system management could be used in other environments beyond the postal service. For example, using the email as a single identifier to front all manner of information on a database, such as telephone numbers, bank account details and the like. Any communication system that required a simpler identifier than already exists would benefit from having the email as the single point of reference negating the need to have access to the information held in the database behind it.

Brief Description of the Drawings Fig 1

101 Adapted recipient details to put email address to the fore 102 Introducing sender in app to the faster way of sending using email address only 103 Old recipient full details required Fig 2 201 Current post showing the current address and stamp 202 Showing the shortened address just using the email 203 Showing the addition of the OR digital stamp. Fig 3

Flowchart of email enabled postage process through the Address System Manager Fig 4 Flowchart of email and OR stamp enabled process through the Address System Manager

Claims

We claim: 1. A method of addressing an item of post comprising: under control of a client system, displaying information identifying the item of post; and in response to only the email address being provided, sending a request to post the item using the postal address information to a server system; under control of an email posting component of the server system, receiving the request; retrieving the postal address information previously stored for the recipient identified by the identifier in the received request; and generating the postal address information to send the item of post to the C\I recipient identified by the identifier in the received request using the C\i retrieved postal address information; and o CO generating the postal address information to complete the sending of the item of post.CO whereby the postal item is sent without using the postal address sending model.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the displaying of information includes displaying information indicating email post.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein the email post address is entered via a text box.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein the email post address is entered speaking a sound.
S. The method of claim 1 wherein the email post address is written by hand.
6. The method of claim 1 wherein the sender does not need to explicitly enter the recipient's postal address.
7. A client system for sending a postal item comprising: an identifier that identifies a customer; a display component for displaying information identifying the postal item; an email posting component that in response to entering an email address, sends a request to a server system, to post the postal item, the request including the identifier so that the server system can locate the postal address information needed to complete the post and so that the server system can fulfil the sending of the post to complete the delivery of the postal item; and A postal sending component that in response to a send email post action, sends a request to the server system to send the post to the recipient.
8. The client system of claim 7 wherein the display component is a browser.
C\I 9. The client system of claim 7 wherein the display component is an app. C\i
CO 10. A server system for sending a postal item comprising: a postal address posting component; and CO an email posting component including: a data storage medium storing information for a plurality of users; a receiving component for receiving requests to post an item, a request including an indication of one of the plurality of users; the request being sent in response to only the email address being inputted; and a postal sending component that retrieves from the data storage medium information for the indicated user and that uses the retrieved personal address information to post an item for the indicated receiver of the postal item; and A postal fulfilment component that completes the postal of an item in accordance with post placed by the email posting component.
11. The server system of claim 10 wherein the request is sent by a client system in response to the email posting action being performed,
12. A method for posting an item using a client system, the method comprising: displaying information identifying the postal item and displaying an indication of the email posting action that is to be performed to post the identified item; and in response to only the email post address being inputted, sending to a server system to request to post the identified item.whereby the item is posted independently of the postal address model and the post is fulfilled to complete the postage of the item.
13. The method of claim 12 wherein the server system uses the email address sent along with the request to identify the postal information needed to post the postal item.
14. The method of claim 12 wherein the client system and server system communicate via the internet.
15. The method of claim 12 wherein the displaying includes displaying an CO HTML document provided by the server system.CD
16. The method of claim 12 including sending from the server system to the client system a confirmation that the post is being fulfilled. Cn
17. The method of claim 12 wherein the email posting action is entering an email address within a predefined area of the displayed information.
18. The method of claim 12 wherein the postal address information is the postal address selected by the recipient.
19. The method of claim 12 wherein the postal address information are GPS co-ordinates.
20. The method of claim 12 wherein the postal address information is updated dynamically by a personal mobile device.