EP2170532B2 - Method for processing postal items using virtual identification of the items with re-addressing - Google Patents

Method for processing postal items using virtual identification of the items with re-addressing Download PDF

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Publication number
EP2170532B2
EP2170532B2 EP08806011.6A EP08806011A EP2170532B2 EP 2170532 B2 EP2170532 B2 EP 2170532B2 EP 08806011 A EP08806011 A EP 08806011A EP 2170532 B2 EP2170532 B2 EP 2170532B2
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Prior art keywords
mailpiece
address
mark
ocr
image
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EP08806011.6A
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German (de)
French (fr)
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EP2170532B1 (en
EP2170532A2 (en
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Christophe Caillon
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Solystic SAS
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Solystic SAS
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    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B07—SEPARATING SOLIDS FROM SOLIDS; SORTING
    • B07C—POSTAL SORTING; SORTING INDIVIDUAL ARTICLES, OR BULK MATERIAL FIT TO BE SORTED PIECE-MEAL, e.g. BY PICKING
    • B07C3/00—Sorting according to destination
    • B07C3/18—Devices or arrangements for indicating destination, e.g. by code marks

Definitions

  • a postal mail processing method in which a digital image of a surface of a current mail is formed to recognize by OCR a recipient's mailing address for that mailing and if it is determined that said recipient's address recognized corresponds to an incorrect recipient address is affixed on said surface of the current shipment a redirection address.
  • Such a method of processing postal items taking into account the items to be redirected is for example known from patent documents. WO2005 / 049232 , EP0949014 and EP0500180 as well as US 5422821 . Taking into account the items to redirect is better known as "relocation". On a lot of items to be processed in a sorting machine, the redirection of items generally concerns a fraction of this lot, of the order of a few percent of items. A shipment may be in "relocation" following a change of address of the recipient of the shipment. The relocation process is initiated for a recipient when he requests it from the postal operator responsible for tri-distribution.
  • a typical sorting process takes place as follows. A batch of shipments is first scanned in order to recognize the addresses of the recipients by OCR and each shipment is sent to a sorting outlet of the machine. At the same time, each consignment is assigned a unique identification number which is affixed to the surface of the consignment in the form of a barcode. During the second sorting pass of each shipment on the same sorting machine or on another sorting machine, this barcode is read again to retrieve the recipient address for sending so as to direct the sending to the corresponding sorting output of the machine.
  • the shipment has an incorrect recipient address, for example because of a change of address of the recipient that has been reported to the Postal Operator, is applied during the first sorting pass processing which consists of first detect in the first sorting pass that OCR recognized recipient address is an incorrect address (by scanning a list of predetermined incorrect addresses maintained by the Postal Operator and stored in a machine) and to affix on the surface of the mailing (for example using a label print) a redirection address (which is retrieved from or from the address list above).
  • the barcode is read again on the surface of the sending to retrieve the identification number of the sending, which number serves as an index to retrieve the address of redirecting to a database so as to direct the sending to the proper sorting outlet.
  • a digital signature is derived (a kind of a graphic imprint) which comprises a first component called "image component” representative of physical characteristics of the digital image of the transmission and a second component called “postal component” indicative at least of the spatial position of the address block of recipient in the image of the shipment.
  • the image component is formed by so-called “global” attributes that are representative of global physical characteristics taken on all the points of the digital image of the shipment.
  • the image component is formed of second so-called “local” attributes that are representative of local physical characteristics taken on distinct parts of a grid of the image of the shipment (or several different grids).
  • This digital signature is used as an index for the recovery in a database of address information recognized by OCR.
  • an image of the surface of the consignment is again formed to derive a current signature which is compared with candidate signatures recorded during the first sorting pass of the items. If a coincidence is detected between this current signature and a candidate signature, then the said address information can be retrieved from the database to direct the sending to the appropriate sorting output.
  • This technology has the advantage, in particular, of lowering the operating costs of a postal sorting machine by eliminating the bar code readers as described in the French patent document FR-2841673 .
  • the object of the invention is therefore to propose a method of processing postal items in which the items to be redirected are taken into account but also in which a virtual identification technology of the items is exploited.
  • said mark can be affixed in the form of a predetermined symbol recognizable by OCR which is juxtaposed with an identification number also recognizable by OCR.
  • This identification number can be affixed as a hexadecimal number.
  • the method according to the invention furthermore comprises, in the step of searching in said image of the sending of the presence of a mark, the search for a first indicative symbol that the sending is a sending in relocation or of a second indicative symbol that the item is of the "BRM reply mail" type and different from the first symbol, this mark being formed of an OCR recognizable symbol juxtaposed with a sending identification number also recognizable by OCR.
  • a consignment 1 comprising a destination address block with an incorrect destination address Ad has been illustrated, for example because of a change of address.
  • AdR address of redirection AdR
  • this AdR redirection address is juxtaposed with an M mark which is both indicative of the fact that this sending is the subject of a redirection but also an index for retrieving this redirection address. in a database.
  • the mark M is constituted in the case of example of a number 123456Ab in alphanumeric characters, here more precisely a hexadecimal number (hexadecimal base 0123456789AbCdEF in which the characters "b" and “d” are used in place of the characters "B" And “D” to facilitate recognition by OCR), and a predetermined symbol recognizable by OCR (here the symbol "**") which is arranged on both sides of the hexadecimal number.
  • This same "**" symbol may also frame the redirection address indicated by "Red Address” as visible in the figure, which facilitates OCR recognition of the M mark.
  • step 10 when the consignment 1 is presented at the input of a postal sorting machine (not shown) during a first sorting pass, an image of the surface of the product is formed in step 10.
  • the sending comprising the destination address block Ad and OCR processing is applied to automatically recognize the recipient address.
  • This OCR processing is also arranged to search in step 11 the presence in the image of a mark such as M recognizable by the presence of the symbol "**" for example.
  • step 12 If the presence of the mark M is not detected in step 12, the process continues in step 13. If the presence of the mark M is detected, the identification number Id of the fold is extracted by OCR. as described later.
  • step 13 the recipient address recognized in step 11 is compared with incorrect recipient addresses maintained in a list of incorrect addresses 2.
  • This list 2 is previously loaded into memory in the sorting machine.
  • This list 2 has been represented in a simplified manner with records comprising two fields, one, Ad1, in which is stored an incorrect recipient address and the other, AdR, in which is stored a redirection address associated with this address. incorrect.
  • a unique identification number for sending is generated in step 14, for example a 32-bit number, and is affixed on the surface of the sending AdR redirection address that corresponds to this address in the list 2 with the mark M as indicated above in connection with the sending 1.
  • the mark M is therefore constituted by the symbol " ** "and the 32-bit unique identification number encoded in hexadecimal.
  • the redirection address AdR and the identification mark redirection M are printed at the bottom of the shipment. The exact position of this information may depend on the type of machine used. According to the characteristics of the sorting machine, it is also possible to affix in advance a label receiving the address AdR and the mark M.
  • step 15 is derived from the image of the sending a digital signature as indicated above.
  • a database BD is then scanned in which are stored candidate signatures V-id (signatures of shipments formed during a first sort pass). If a match is detected with a candidate signature of the list, the recipient address data D recorded in correspondence with the matching signature V-id is retrieved from the database BD to direct the sending to the sorting output. T. If we do not detect a concordance with a candidate signature, it is that the sending performs a first sorting pass and in this case we register the current signature V-id in correspondence with the data D of the address OCR recognized recipient in the BD database. This signature V-id is assigned a unique identification number serving as an index for the recovery of data D in the database BD.
  • step 12 If in step 12, the presence of the mark M and read by OCR the identification number of the fold has been detected in the image of the consignment, in step 16, the association in the base BD is recovered by recipient's address data D and the shipment is directed to the appropriate sorting outlet T.
  • the current signature of the consignment is also stored in the database with the identification number Id readable so that it can be used when the next sorting pass in case the reading of the identification number of the mark M fails in step 12 for the next sorting pass.
  • the affixing of a mark such as M on the surface of the mailing according to the method of the invention may also be exploited for the processing of the postage-paid reply mail known as the "BRM (Business Reply Mail)" and in particular for the accounting of the postage value of the reply mail.
  • BRM Business Reply Mail
  • the reply mail is characterized by envelopes generally all identical provided by issuing companies to potential customers during a bulk mailing for interested users to return a response, typically a form, a purchase order, participation in a competition , etc., in the envelope provided.
  • the reply mail is recognizable by the presence of the symbol "T" in the stamp area in France.
  • the reply mail is unencrypted and the postage is billed by the Postal Operator (after the mail delivery) to the company sending the reply mail, based on the counted number of reply mail actually distributed. To achieve this billing, the Postal Operator must therefore be able to accurately count the number of reply letters from each issuing company without however count several times the same mail response during several sort pass.
  • the handling of the reply mail is very similar to that of the mail in relocation.
  • a symbol other than that of relocating mail may be used, for example the "***" symbol.
  • the processing continues by searching for the symbol "T" representative of the mail reply. If the presence of this symbol is detected, a unique identification number is generated for the sending and this number is affixed on the consignment with the indicative mark of reply mail. If we do not detect the presence of the symbol "T", the processing continues with the generation of a digital signature that is associated with the sending in an index database.
  • the sending identification number is recorded in the M mark and transmits to a central information system of the Postal Operator a message containing the number of the sending, the recipient address read by OCR and the time of passage in the sorting machine. This information will allow the Postal Operator to count the number of reply letters processed over a certain period of time for each company sending reply mail.

Abstract

In a method of processing mailpieces, a digital image of a surface of a current mailpiece is formed for the purpose of using OCR to recognize a recipient postal address for said current mailpiece, and, if it is determined that the recognized recipient address corresponds to an incorrect recipient address, a forwarding address is placed on said surface of the current mailpiece. In addition to said forwarding address, an OCR-detectable mark is placed on the surface of the current mailpiece, which mark indicates that the current mailpiece bears a forwarding address, and also constitutes an index for retrieving said forwarding address from a database.

Description

L'invention porte sur un procédé de traitement d'envois postaux dans lequel on forme une image numérique d'une surface d'un envoi courant pour reconnaître par OCR une adresse postale de destinataire pour cet envoi et si on détermine que ladite adresse de destinataire reconnue correspond à une adresse de destinataire incorrecte on appose sur ladite surface de l'envoi courant une adresse de redirection.A postal mail processing method in which a digital image of a surface of a current mail is formed to recognize by OCR a recipient's mailing address for that mailing and if it is determined that said recipient's address recognized corresponds to an incorrect recipient address is affixed on said surface of the current shipment a redirection address.

Un tel procédé de traitement d'envois postaux avec prise en compte des envois à rediriger est par exemple connu des documents de brevet WO2005/049232 , EP0949014 et EP0500180 ainsi que US-5422821 . La prise en compte des envois à rediriger est plus connue sous le nom de « réadressage ». Sur un lot d'envois à traiter dans une machine de tri, la redirection d'envois concerne généralement une fraction de ce lot, de l'ordre de quelques pourcents d'envois. Un envoi peut être en « réadressage » à la suite d'un changement d'adresse du destinataire de l'envoi. Le processus de réadressage est enclenché pour un destinataire lorsque celui-ci en fait la demande auprès de l'Opérateur Postal chargé du tri-distribution.Such a method of processing postal items taking into account the items to be redirected is for example known from patent documents. WO2005 / 049232 , EP0949014 and EP0500180 as well as US 5422821 . Taking into account the items to redirect is better known as "relocation". On a lot of items to be processed in a sorting machine, the redirection of items generally concerns a fraction of this lot, of the order of a few percent of items. A shipment may be in "relocation" following a change of address of the recipient of the shipment. The relocation process is initiated for a recipient when he requests it from the postal operator responsible for tri-distribution.

Un processus de tri classique se déroule de la manière suivante. On passe une première fois en machine un lot d'envois pour reconnaître par OCR les adresses des destinataires et on dirige chaque envoi vers une sortie de tri de la machine. On affecte en même temps à chaque envoi un numéro d'identification unique qui est apposé sur la surface de l'envoi sous la forme d'un code à barres. Lors de la seconde passe de tri de chaque envoi sur la même machine de tri ou sur une autre machine de tri, on relit ce code à barres pour récupérer l'adresse de destinataire pour l'envoi de façon à diriger l'envoi vers la sortie de tri correspondante de la machine. Si maintenant l'envoi comporte une adresse de destinataire incorrecte, du fait par exemple d'un changement d'adresse du destinataire qui a été signalé à l'Opérateur Postal, on applique lors de la première passe de tri un traitement qui consiste d'abord à détecter lors de la première passe de tri que l'adresse de destinataire reconnue par OCR est une adresse incorrecte (par balayage d'une liste d'adresses incorrectes prédéterminées maintenue par l'Opérateur Postal et stockée en machine) et à apposer sur la surface de l'envoi ( par exemple à l'aide d'une impression sur étiquette) une adresse de redirection (qui est récupérée de la liste d'adresses ci-dessus ou à partir de celle-ci). Lors de la seconde passe de tri de cet envoi à rediriger, on relit le code à barres sur la surface de l'envoi pour récupérer le numéro d'identification de l'envoi, lequel numéro sert d'index pour récupérer l'adresse de redirection dans une base de données de façon à diriger l'envoi vers la sortie de tri adéquate.A typical sorting process takes place as follows. A batch of shipments is first scanned in order to recognize the addresses of the recipients by OCR and each shipment is sent to a sorting outlet of the machine. At the same time, each consignment is assigned a unique identification number which is affixed to the surface of the consignment in the form of a barcode. During the second sorting pass of each shipment on the same sorting machine or on another sorting machine, this barcode is read again to retrieve the recipient address for sending so as to direct the sending to the corresponding sorting output of the machine. If now the shipment has an incorrect recipient address, for example because of a change of address of the recipient that has been reported to the Postal Operator, is applied during the first sorting pass processing which consists of first detect in the first sorting pass that OCR recognized recipient address is an incorrect address (by scanning a list of predetermined incorrect addresses maintained by the Postal Operator and stored in a machine) and to affix on the surface of the mailing (for example using a label print) a redirection address (which is retrieved from or from the address list above). During the second sorting pass of this send to redirect, the barcode is read again on the surface of the sending to retrieve the identification number of the sending, which number serves as an index to retrieve the address of redirecting to a database so as to direct the sending to the proper sorting outlet.

Par ailleurs, on connaît une technique d'identification virtuelle des envois consistant à dériver des images des envois, des signatures numériques respectives servant d'identificateurs uniques pour les envois. Selon cette technique, lors d'une première passe de tri d'un envoi, à partir de l'image de la surface de l'envoi comportant l'adresse postale de destination de l'envoi, on dérive une signature numérique (une sorte d'empreinte graphique) qui comprend une première composante dite « composante image » représentative de caractéristiques physiques de l'image numérique de l'envoi et une seconde composante dite « composante postale » indicative au moins de la position spatiale du bloc d'adresse de destinataire présent dans l'image de l'envoi. Ces deux composantes ne doivent pas être corrélées l'une par rapport à l'autre. En particulier, la composante image est formée par des attributs dit « globaux » qui sont représentatifs de caractéristiques physiques globales prises sur l'ensemble des points de l'image numérique de l'envoi. La composante image est formée encore de seconds attributs dits « locaux » qui sont représentatifs de caractéristiques physiques locales prises sur des parties distinctes d'un quadrillage de l'image de l'envoi (ou de plusieurs quadrillages différents).Furthermore, there is a known technique of virtual identification of the items consisting in deriving images of the items, the respective digital signatures serving as unique identifiers for the items. According to this technique, during a first sorting pass of a shipment, from the image of the surface of the shipment comprising the postal address of destination of the shipment, a digital signature is derived (a kind of a graphic imprint) which comprises a first component called "image component" representative of physical characteristics of the digital image of the transmission and a second component called "postal component" indicative at least of the spatial position of the address block of recipient in the image of the shipment. These two components should not be correlated to each other. In particular, the image component is formed by so-called "global" attributes that are representative of global physical characteristics taken on all the points of the digital image of the shipment. The image component is formed of second so-called "local" attributes that are representative of local physical characteristics taken on distinct parts of a grid of the image of the shipment (or several different grids).

Cette signature numérique est utilisée comme index pour la récupération dans une base de données des informations d'adresse reconnues par OCR. Lors d'une seconde passe de tri du même envoi, on forme de nouveau une image de la surface de l'envoi pour dériver une signature courante qui est comparée à des signatures candidates enregistrées lors de la première passe de tri des envois. Si on détecte une coïncidence entre cette signature courante et une signature candidate, on peut donc récupérer dans la base de données lesdites informations d'adresse pour diriger l'envoi vers la sortie de tri adéquate. Cette technologie apporte comme avantage notamment une baisse des coûts d'exploitation d'une machine de tri postal en supprimant les lecteurs de code à barres comme décrit dans le document de brevet français FR-2841673 .This digital signature is used as an index for the recovery in a database of address information recognized by OCR. During a second sorting pass of the same consignment, an image of the surface of the consignment is again formed to derive a current signature which is compared with candidate signatures recorded during the first sorting pass of the items. If a coincidence is detected between this current signature and a candidate signature, then the said address information can be retrieved from the database to direct the sending to the appropriate sorting output. This technology has the advantage, in particular, of lowering the operating costs of a postal sorting machine by eliminating the bar code readers as described in the French patent document FR-2841673 .

Mais en pratique, cette technique d'identification virtuelle des envois ne peut pas être exploitée directement en présence d'envois à rediriger du fait qu'entre deux passes de tri, la surface de ces envois à rediriger doit être modifiée par l'apposition d'une adresse de redirection qui rend possible la distribution des envois dans une tournée du facteur.But in practice, this technique of virtual identification of shipments can not be exploited directly in the presence of items to redirect because between two sorting passes, the surface of these items to redirect must be modified by the apposition of a redirection address that makes it possible to distribute mail in a postman tour.

Le but de l'invention est donc de proposer un procédé de traitement d'envois postaux dans lequel on prend en compte les envois à rediriger mais aussi dans lequel on exploite une technologie d'identification virtuelle des envois.The object of the invention is therefore to propose a method of processing postal items in which the items to be redirected are taken into account but also in which a virtual identification technology of the items is exploited.

A cet effet, l'invention a pour objet un procédé de traitement d'envois postaux dans lequel on forme une image numérique d'une surface d'un envoi courant pour reconnaître par OCR une adresse postale de destinataire pour cet envoi et si on détermine que ladite adresse de destinataire reconnue correspond à une adresse de destinataire incorrecte on appose sur ladite surface de l'envoi courant une adresse de redirection, caractérisé en ce qu'on appose sur la surface de l'envoi courant, en plus de ladite adresse de redirection, une marque détectable par OCR, cette marque étant indicative que l'envoi courant porte une adresse de redirection et cette marque constituant aussi un index pour la récupération de ladite adresse de redirection dans une base de données, le procédé comprenant en outre les étapes suivantes :

  1. a) rechercher, en utilisant le traitement OCR, la présence dans l'image de ladite marque,
  2. b) en réponse à la détection que ladite marque n'est pas présente dans ladite image et que ladite adresse postale reconnue n'est pas une adresse de destinataire incorrecte, dériver de l'image une signature numérique courante servant d'identifiant unique pour ledit envoi courant dans la base de données et balayer des signatures numériques candidates stockées dans la base de données pour détecter une concordance avec une signature candidate,
    et si une concordance est détectée, récupérer dans la base de données des données d'adresse de destinataire enregistrées en correspondance avec la signature candidate concordante pour diriger l'envoi courant vers une sortie de tri adéquate,
    et si on ne détecte pas de concordance, enregistrer ladite signature courante en correspondance avec les données de l'adresse de destinataire reconnue par OCR dans la base de données,
  3. c) en réponse à la détection que ladite marque n'est pas présente dans ladite image et que ladite adresse de destinataire reconnue est une adresse de destinataire incorrecte, générer un numéro d'identification unique pour l'envoi et apposer à la surface de l'envoi courant une adresse de redirection avec la marque incluant ledit numéro d'identification unique d'envoi,
  4. d) en réponse à la détection que ladite marque est présente dans ladite image, extraire par OCR dans l'image le numéro d'identification d'envoi et récupérer par association dans la base de données des données d'adresse de destinataire pour diriger l'envoi vers une sortie de tri adéquate.
For this purpose, the subject of the invention is a method for processing postal items in which a digital image of a surface of a current item is formed to recognize by OCR a recipient's postal address for this item and if it is determined that said recognized recipient address corresponds to an incorrect recipient address is affixed on said surface of the current shipment a redirection address, characterized in that it affixes to the surface of the current shipment, in addition to said address of redirection, a mark detectable by OCR, this mark being indicative that the current item carries a redirection address and this mark also constituting an index for retrieving said redirection address in a database, the method further comprising the steps following:
  1. a) search, using the OCR processing, the presence in the image of said mark,
  2. b) in response to detecting that said mark is not present in said image and that said recognized mailing address is not an incorrect recipient address, deriving from the image a current digital signature serving as a unique identifier for said routine sending to the database and scanning candidate digital signatures stored in the database to detect a match with a candidate signature,
    and if a match is detected, retrieving from the database recipient address data recorded in correspondence with the matching candidate signature to direct the current mail to an appropriate sorting output,
    and if no match is detected, registering said current signature in correspondence with the OCR-recognized recipient address data in the database,
  3. c) in response to detecting that said mark is not present in said image and that said recognized recipient address is an incorrect recipient address, generating a unique identification number for sending and affixing to the surface of the sending current a redirection address with the mark including said unique identification number sending,
  4. d) in response to detecting that said mark is present in said image, retrieving the sending identification number by OCR in the image and retrieving by association in the database recipient address data to direct the sending to an appropriate sorting outlet.

Selon une particularité du procédé selon l'invention, on peut apposer ladite marque sous la forme d'un symbole prédéterminé reconnaissable par OCR qui est juxtaposé à un numéro d'identification également reconnaissable par OCR. Ce numéro d'identification peut être apposé sous la forme d'un nombre en hexadécimal.According to a feature of the method according to the invention, said mark can be affixed in the form of a predetermined symbol recognizable by OCR which is juxtaposed with an identification number also recognizable by OCR. This identification number can be affixed as a hexadecimal number.

Le procédé selon l'invention comporte en outre dans l'étape de recherche dans ladite image de l'envoi de la présence d'une marque, la recherche d'un premier symbole indicatif que l'envoi est un envoi en réadressage ou d'un second symbole indicatif que l'envoi est du type «courrier réponse BRM» et différent du premier symbole, cette marque étant formée d'un symbole reconnaissable par OCR juxtaposé à un numéro d'identification d'envoi également reconnaissable par OCR.The method according to the invention furthermore comprises, in the step of searching in said image of the sending of the presence of a mark, the search for a first indicative symbol that the sending is a sending in relocation or of a second indicative symbol that the item is of the "BRM reply mail" type and different from the first symbol, this mark being formed of an OCR recognizable symbol juxtaposed with a sending identification number also recognizable by OCR.

Un exemple de mise en oeuvre du procédé selon l'invention est décrit plus en détail ci-après et illustré par la figure unique sous la forme d'un organigramme. Cette description n'est donnée qu'à titre d'exemple indicatif et nullement limitatif de l'invention.An exemplary implementation of the method according to the invention is described in more detail below and illustrated by the single figure in the form of a flowchart. This description is given as an indicative and non-limiting example of the invention.

Sur la figure, on a représenté de façon très simplifiée par un organigramme sous forme d'un schéma blocs, les différentes étapes du procédé selon l'invention.In the figure, there is shown very simplified by a flowchart in the form of a block diagram, the various steps of the method according to the invention.

Par ailleurs, on a illustré la surface d'un envoi 1 comportant un bloc d'adresse destinataire avec une adresse destinataire Ad incorrecte du fait par exemple d'un changement d'adresse. On a illustré aussi la surface de l'envoi 1 sur laquelle on a apposé une adresse de redirection AdR, ici dans le pied de l'envoi sous le bloc d'adresse destinataire Ad.Moreover, the surface of a consignment 1 comprising a destination address block with an incorrect destination address Ad has been illustrated, for example because of a change of address. We also illustrated the surface of the consignment 1 on which we have affixed an address of redirection AdR, here in the foot of the shipment under the destination address block Ad.

Comme visible sur la figure, cette adresse de redirection AdR est juxtaposée à une marque M qui est à la fois indicative du fait que cet envoi fait l'objet d'une redirection mais également qui constitue un index pour la récupération de cette adresse de redirection dans une base de données. La marque M est constituée dans le cas d'exemple d'un numéro 123456Ab en caractères alphanumériques, ici plus précisément un nombre hexadécimal (base hexadécimale 0123456789AbCdEF dans laquelle les caractères « b » et « d » sont utilisés à la place des caractères « B » et « D » pour faciliter une reconnaissance par OCR), et d'un symbole prédéterminé et reconnaissable par OCR (ici le symbole « ** ») qui est disposé de part et d'autre du nombre hexadécimal. Ce même symbole « ** » peut encadrer aussi l'adresse de redirection indiquée par « Adresse Red » comme visible sur la figure ce qui permet de faciliter la reconnaissance par OCR de la marque M.As shown in the figure, this AdR redirection address is juxtaposed with an M mark which is both indicative of the fact that this sending is the subject of a redirection but also an index for retrieving this redirection address. in a database. The mark M is constituted in the case of example of a number 123456Ab in alphanumeric characters, here more precisely a hexadecimal number (hexadecimal base 0123456789AbCdEF in which the characters "b" and "d" are used in place of the characters "B" And "D" to facilitate recognition by OCR), and a predetermined symbol recognizable by OCR (here the symbol "**") which is arranged on both sides of the hexadecimal number. This same "**" symbol may also frame the redirection address indicated by "Red Address" as visible in the figure, which facilitates OCR recognition of the M mark.

Avec le procédé selon l'invention, quand l'envoi 1 est présenté en entrée d'une machine de tri postal (non représentée) lors d'une première passe de tri, on forme dans l'étape 10 une image de la surface de l'envoi comportant le bloc d'adresse destinataire Ad et on applique un traitement OCR pour reconnaître automatiquement l'adresse de destinataire. Ce traitement OCR est par ailleurs agencé pour rechercher dans l'étape 11 la présence dans l'image d'une marque telle que M reconnaissable par la présence du symbole « ** » par exemple.With the process according to the invention, when the consignment 1 is presented at the input of a postal sorting machine (not shown) during a first sorting pass, an image of the surface of the product is formed in step 10. the sending comprising the destination address block Ad and OCR processing is applied to automatically recognize the recipient address. This OCR processing is also arranged to search in step 11 the presence in the image of a mark such as M recognizable by the presence of the symbol "**" for example.

Si la présence de la marque M n'est pas détectée à l'étape 12, le processus se poursuit à l'étape 13. Si la présence de la marque M est détectée, on extrait par OCR le numéro d'identification Id du pli comme décrit plus loin.If the presence of the mark M is not detected in step 12, the process continues in step 13. If the presence of the mark M is detected, the identification number Id of the fold is extracted by OCR. as described later.

Dans l'étape 13, on compare l'adresse de destinataire reconnue à l'étape 11 avec des adresses de destinataires incorrectes maintenues dans une liste d'adresses incorrectes 2. Cette liste 2 est préalablement chargée en mémoire dans la machine de tri. On a représenté de façon simplifiée cette liste 2 avec des enregistrements comportant deux champs, l'un, Adl, dans lequel est stockée une adresse de destinataire incorrecte et l'autre, AdR, dans lequel est stockée une adresse de redirection associée à cette adresse incorrecte.In step 13, the recipient address recognized in step 11 is compared with incorrect recipient addresses maintained in a list of incorrect addresses 2. This list 2 is previously loaded into memory in the sorting machine. This list 2 has been represented in a simplified manner with records comprising two fields, one, Ad1, in which is stored an incorrect recipient address and the other, AdR, in which is stored a redirection address associated with this address. incorrect.

Si dans l'étape 13, on a détecté que l'adresse de destinataire reconnue par OCR est une adresse incorrecte, on génère dans l'étape 14 un numéro d'identification unique pour l'envoi, par exemple un numéro sur 32 bits, et on appose sur la surface de l'envoi l'adresse de redirection AdR qui correspond à cette adresse dans la liste 2 avec la marque M comme indiquée plus haut en relation avec l'envoi 1. La marque M est donc constituée du symbole « ** » et du numéro d'identification unique de 32 bits codé en hexadécimal. Dans la figure, l'adresse de redirection AdR et la marque d'identification de redirection M sont imprimées en pied de l'envoi. La position exacte de cette information peut dépendre du type de machine utilisée. Selon les caractéristiques de la machine de tri, il est également possible d'apposer au préalable une étiquette recevant l'adresse AdR et la marque M.If in step 13 it has been detected that the OCR recognized recipient address is an incorrect address, a unique identification number for sending is generated in step 14, for example a 32-bit number, and is affixed on the surface of the sending AdR redirection address that corresponds to this address in the list 2 with the mark M as indicated above in connection with the sending 1. The mark M is therefore constituted by the symbol " ** "and the 32-bit unique identification number encoded in hexadecimal. In the figure, the redirection address AdR and the identification mark redirection M are printed at the bottom of the shipment. The exact position of this information may depend on the type of machine used. According to the characteristics of the sorting machine, it is also possible to affix in advance a label receiving the address AdR and the mark M.

Si dans l'étape 13, on n'a pas détecté que l'adresse de destinataire reconnue par OCR est une adresse incorrecte dans la liste 2, dans l'étape 15 on dérive de l'image de l'envoi une signature numérique comme indiqué plus haut. On balaie ensuite une base de données BD dans laquelle sont stockées des signatures candidates V-id (des signatures d'envois formées lors d'une première passe de tri). Si on détecte une concordance avec une signature candidate de la liste, on récupère dans la base de données BD les données D d'adresse du destinataire enregistrées en correspondance avec la signature concordante V-id pour diriger l'envoi vers la sortie de tri adéquate T. Si on ne détecte pas de concordance avec une signature candidate, c'est que l'envoi effectue une première passe de tri et dans ce cas on enregistre la signature courante V-id en correspondance avec les données D de l'adresse de destinataire reconnue par OCR dans la base de données BD. Cette signature V-id se voit attribuer un numéro d'identification unique servant d'index pour la récupération des données D dans la base de données BD.If in step 13, it has not been detected that the address address recognized by OCR is an incorrect address in the list 2, in step 15 is derived from the image of the sending a digital signature as indicated above. A database BD is then scanned in which are stored candidate signatures V-id (signatures of shipments formed during a first sort pass). If a match is detected with a candidate signature of the list, the recipient address data D recorded in correspondence with the matching signature V-id is retrieved from the database BD to direct the sending to the sorting output. T. If we do not detect a concordance with a candidate signature, it is that the sending performs a first sorting pass and in this case we register the current signature V-id in correspondence with the data D of the address OCR recognized recipient in the BD database. This signature V-id is assigned a unique identification number serving as an index for the recovery of data D in the database BD.

Si dans l'étape 12, on a détecté dans l'image de l'envoi la présence de la marque M et lu par OCR le numéro d'identification du pli, dans l'étape 16 on récupère par association dans la base BD les données D d'adresse de destinataire et on dirige l'envoi vers la sortie de tri adéquate T. La signature courante de l'envoi est également enregistrée dans la base de données avec le numéro d'identification Id lu pour pouvoir être utilisée lors de la prochaine passe de tri au cas où la lecture du numéro d'identification de la marque M échoue à l'étape 12 pour la prochaine passe de tri.If in step 12, the presence of the mark M and read by OCR the identification number of the fold has been detected in the image of the consignment, in step 16, the association in the base BD is recovered by recipient's address data D and the shipment is directed to the appropriate sorting outlet T. The current signature of the consignment is also stored in the database with the identification number Id readable so that it can be used when the next sorting pass in case the reading of the identification number of the mark M fails in step 12 for the next sorting pass.

L'apposition d'une marque telle que M sur la surface de l'envoi selon le procédé de l'invention peut également être exploitée pour le traitement du courrier réponse non affranchi connu sous le nom de «BRM (Business Reply Mail) » et en particulier pour la comptabilisation des valeurs d'affranchissement des courriers réponse.The affixing of a mark such as M on the surface of the mailing according to the method of the invention may also be exploited for the processing of the postage-paid reply mail known as the "BRM (Business Reply Mail)" and in particular for the accounting of the postage value of the reply mail.

Le courrier réponse se caractérise par des enveloppes généralement toutes identiques fournies par des sociétés émettrices à des clients potentiels lors d'un envoi en nombre pour que les usagers intéressés retournent une réponse, typiquement un formulaire, un bon de commande, une participation à un concours, etc..., dans l'enveloppe fournie. Le courrier réponse est reconnaissable par la présence du symbole « T » dans la zone du timbre en France. Le courrier réponse est non affranchi et l'affranchissement est facturé par l'Opérateur Postal (après la distribution postale) à la société émettrice du courrier réponse, en fonction du nombre comptabilisé de courrier réponse réellement distribués . Pour réaliser cette facturation, l'Opérateur Postal doit donc pouvoir compter précisément le nombre de courriers réponse relevant de chaque société émettrice sans toutefois compter plusieurs fois le même courrier réponse au cours de plusieurs passe de tri.The reply mail is characterized by envelopes generally all identical provided by issuing companies to potential customers during a bulk mailing for interested users to return a response, typically a form, a purchase order, participation in a competition , etc., in the envelope provided. The reply mail is recognizable by the presence of the symbol "T" in the stamp area in France. The reply mail is unencrypted and the postage is billed by the Postal Operator (after the mail delivery) to the company sending the reply mail, based on the counted number of reply mail actually distributed. To achieve this billing, the Postal Operator must therefore be able to accurately count the number of reply letters from each issuing company without however count several times the same mail response during several sort pass.

Le traitement du courrier réponse est très similaire à celui du courrier en réadressage. En première passe de tri d'un envoi, lors du traitement de reconnaissance d'adresse par OCR, on recherche donc la présence d'une marque telle que M dans l'image de la surface de l'envoi pour déterminer s'il s'agit d'un envoi du type courrier réponse BRM. Comme symbole reconnaissable par OCR pour le courrier réponse, on peut utiliser un symbole différent de celui du courrier en réadressage, par exemple le symbole « *** ».The handling of the reply mail is very similar to that of the mail in relocation. In the first pass of sorting a shipment, during the address recognition processing by OCR, the search for the presence of a mark such as M in the image of the surface of the shipment to determine whether it is is a shipment of the BRM reply mail type. As an OCR recognizable symbol for reply mail, a symbol other than that of relocating mail may be used, for example the "***" symbol.

Si la présence de cette marque n'est pas détectée, le traitement se poursuit par la recherche du symbole « T » représentatif du courrier réponse. Si on détecte la présence de ce symbole, on génère un numéro d'identification unique pour l'envoi et on appose sur l'envoi ce numéro avec la marque indicative de courrier réponse. Si on ne détecte pas la présence du symbole « T », le traitement se poursuit par la génération d'une signature numérique qui est associée à l'envoi dans une base de d'index.If the presence of this mark is not detected, the processing continues by searching for the symbol "T" representative of the mail reply. If the presence of this symbol is detected, a unique identification number is generated for the sending and this number is affixed on the consignment with the indicative mark of reply mail. If we do not detect the presence of the symbol "T", the processing continues with the generation of a digital signature that is associated with the sending in an index database.

Si par contre on détecte la présence dans l'image de l'envoi de la marque telle que M indicative que l'envoi est un courrier réponse ayant déjà subi une passe de tri, on relève le numéro d'identification d'envoi dans la marque M et on transmet à un système d'information central de l'Opérateur Postal un message contenant le numéro de l'envoi, l'adresse destinataire lu par OCR et l'heure de passage en machine de tri. Cette information permettra à l'Opérateur Postal de comptabiliser le nombre de courriers réponse traités sur une certaine période de temps pour chaque société émettrice de courriers réponse.If, on the other hand, the presence in the image of the sending of the mark is detected such that M indicates that the sending is an answer mail having already undergone a sorting pass, the sending identification number is recorded in the M mark and transmits to a central information system of the Postal Operator a message containing the number of the sending, the recipient address read by OCR and the time of passage in the sorting machine. This information will allow the Postal Operator to count the number of reply letters processed over a certain period of time for each company sending reply mail.

Claims (4)

  1. A method of processing mailpieces, in which a digital image of a surface of a current mailpiece is formed (10) for the purpose of using OCR to recognize a recipient postal address for said current mailpiece, and, if it is determined that said recognized recipient address corresponds to an incorrect recipient address, a forwarding address is placed (14) on said surface of the current mailpiece, said method being characterized in that, in addition to placing said forwarding address on the surface of the current mailpiece, said method further comprises placing an OCR-detectable mark (M) on said surface of the current mailpiece, which mark indicates that the current mailpiece bears a forwarding address, and also constitutes an index for retrieving said forwarding address from a database (BD), the method further comprising the following steps :
    a) searching (11) the presence of said mark in the image by using OCR,
    b) in response to the detection (12, 13) that said mark is not present in said image and that said mail address which is recognized is not an incorrect recipient address, deriving (15) from the image a current digital signature serving as unique identifier for said current mailpiece in the database (BD) and scanning candidate digital signatures stored in the database to detect a match with a candidate signature,
    and if a match is detected, recovering in the database (BD) recipient address data recorded in correspondence with the candidate signature matching to direct current mailpiece toward an appropriate sorting output,
    and if a match is not detected, recording said current signature in correspondence with the recipient address data which is recognized by OCR in the database (BD),
    c) in response to the detection (12, 13) that said mark is not present in said image and that said recipient address which is recognized is an incorrect recipient address, generating (14) a unique identification number for the mailpiece and placing on the surface of the current mailpiece a forwarding address with the mark including said mailpiece unique identification number,
    d) in response to detection (12) that said mark is present in said image, extracting (16) via OCR the mailpiece identification number in the image and retrieving by association in the database (BD), recipient address data for directing the mailpiece toward an appropriate sorting outlet.
  2. A method according to claim 1, in which said mark is placed in the form of a predetermined OCR-recognizable symbol that is juxtaposed with an identification number that is also OCR-recognizable.
  3. A method according to claim 2, in which the identification number is placed in the form of a hexadecimal number.
  4. A method according to claim 1, further comprising a step of searching in said image of the mailpiece for the presence of a mark, the search of a first symbol indicating that the mailpiece is a mailpiece undergoing forwarding or a second symbol indicating that the mailpiece is of the "Business Reply Mail BRM" type and different from the first symbol, said mark being formed by an OCR-recognizable symbol juxtaposed with a mailpiece identification number that is also OCR-recognizable.
EP08806011.6A 2007-06-26 2008-06-17 Method for processing postal items using virtual identification of the items with re-addressing Not-in-force EP2170532B2 (en)

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CN101687225A (en) 2010-03-31
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FR2918199A1 (en) 2009-01-02
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US8047446B2 (en) 2011-11-01
EP2170532A2 (en) 2010-04-07
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JP5110666B2 (en) 2012-12-26
ATE477857T1 (en) 2010-09-15

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