Global Patent Index - EP 1022691 A2

EP 1022691 A2 20000726 - A method for responding to mail returned to a sender as undeliverable

Title (en)

A method for responding to mail returned to a sender as undeliverable

Title (de)

Verfahren zum Verarbeiten von als unzustellbar zurückgesendeter Post

Title (fr)

Procédé de réponse au courrier non-recevable retourné à l'expéditeur

Publication

EP 1022691 A2 20000726 (EN)

Application

EP 99126154 A 19991229

Priority

US 22259998 A 19981229

Abstract (en)

A method for responding to a notice by the U.S. Postal Service, or a foreign postal service, that a mail piece is undeliverable. In this method, an amalgamated recipient data center (ARDC) executes a search pattern designed to efficiently determine whether the address used is valid (so that the mail piece was returned erroneously), or whether there is a new address, possibly not reported to the postal service. The search pattern used for a search is based on the endorsement indicated by the postal service explaining why the mail piece was returned. A search pattern for a returned mail piece has search objectives corresponding to the endorsement on the returned mail piece, and aims at achieving the search objectives by executing one or more search processes, each process involving one or more data sources or sources of data. The search processes of a search pattern can be executed in parallel or sequentially, but sequentially executing the search processes is often more efficient. The search is continued to completion unless a success factor reaches a predetermined confidence threshold. <IMAGE>

IPC 1-7

G07B 17/00

IPC 8 full level

G07B 17/00 (2006.01)

CPC (source: EP)

G07B 17/00435 (2013.01); G07B 2017/00443 (2013.01)

Designated contracting state (EPC)

DE FR GB

DOCDB simple family (publication)

EP 1022691 A2 20000726; EP 1022691 A3 20001115; CA 2293194 A1 20000629

DOCDB simple family (application)

EP 99126154 A 19991229; CA 2293194 A 19991224