WO2002052510A1

WO2002052510A1 - Method of making a record carrier, which can be handled physically and includes information content, available at a mail delivery point

Info

Publication number: WO2002052510A1
Application number: PCT/IB2001/002583
Authority: WO
Inventors: Erwin Werdenigg
Original assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
Priority date: 2000-12-22
Filing date: 2001-12-17
Publication date: 2002-07-04

Abstract

In a method for making a recording medium (2), which can be handled physically and includes information content, available at a mail delivery point (PDL) for a receiver (3), mailing address data (PDA) and information content data (IID) representing the information content of the recording medium (2) are provided, and the mail delivery point (PLD) assigned to the mailing address (PA) is determined by utilizing the provided mailing address data (PAD) and by utilizing a database, and the information content data (IID) are subsequently transmitted to the assigned mail delivery point (PDL), and the recording medium (2), which can be handled physically, is subsequently implemented at the assigned mail delivery point (PDL) with the aid of the transmitted information content data (IID).

Description

Method of making a record carrier, which can be handled physically and includes information content, available at a mail delivery point

The invention relates to a method for making a recording medium, which can be handled physically and includes information content, available at a mail delivery point for a receiver which is located at a domicile or a corporate headquarters or another seat, which seat is assigned a mailing address, in the case of which method the information content of the recording medium is created with the mailing address and the information content of the recording medium is transmitted to the mail delivery point by utilizing the mailing address, from which mail delivery point the recording medium is made available to the receiver.

Such a method is known to every user of a mail service, and in this case such a mail service can be both a mail service under public and state management and a private mail service. In the known method, the information content of the recording medium and the mailing address are provided in such a way that, for example, a letter is written by a sender, in which case the mailing address of the receiver is specified on the letterhead and/or on the letter envelope, which mailing address also includes a zip code with which the mail delivery point responsible for a receiver is marked. In the known method, the information content of the recording medium, that is to say the written text of a letter in the form of the enveloped letter, which can be handled physically and includes the information content, that is to say the text, is usually brought by the sender to a dispatch point which can be formed by a post office or a letterbox, the responsible mailing corporation then ensuring transportation of the written and enveloped letter to the mail delivery point fixed by the given mailing address, that is to say to a post office, for example. The letter is then made available by the mail delivery point to the receiver of the letter, it being possible for this making available to be performed by virtue of the fact that an employee of the mailing corporation brings the letter directly to the seat of the receiver, or that the letter is deposited in a post office box reserved for the receiver, from which post office box the receiver can withdraw the letter sent to him.

The known method, described above, requires a substantial outlay, and as a result of this the costs required to carry out this method are quite high, resulting, in turn, in the need to pay relatively high charges. Furthermore, there is the problem in the known method that a letter that is to be sent or another written item that is to be sent can be lost relatively easily, and this can lead to considerable disadvantages for the sender and for the receiver.

The invention has set itself the object of avoiding the difficulties set forth above and of implementing an improved method in accordance with the definition set forth at the beginning in the first paragraph.

In order to achieve this object, inventive measures are provided in a method according to the invention such that a method according to the invention can be defined in the way specified below, specifically:

A method for making a recording medium, which can be handled physically and includes information content, available at a mail delivery point for a receiver, which receiver is located at a seat, which seat is assigned a mailing address, in the case of which method the information content of the recording medium and the mailing address is [sic] provided, and the information content of the recording medium is transmitted by utilizing the mailing address to the mail delivery point, from which the recording medium is made available to the receiver, both the information content of the recording medium and the mailing address being provided in the form of electronically transmittable data such that mailing address data representing the mailing address and information content data representing the information content of the recording medium are received, and the mail delivery point assigned to the mailing address being determined by utilizing the provided mailing address data and by utilizing a database, and after the determination of the assigned mail delivery point the information content data representing the information content of the recording medium being transmitted with the aid of data transmission means to the assigned mail delivery point, and the recording medium which can be handled physically and includes information content being implemented at the assigned mail delivery point with the aid of the transmitted information content data.

As a result of providing the measures in accordance with the invention, the content of a recording medium that is to be made available to a receiver can be transmitted in a very rational and very quick and very cost-effective way to the mail delivery point responsible for a receiver, without this requiring the physical presence of the recording medium. This results in the additional advantage that loss of a recording medium to be made available to the receiver is prevented with high reliability, namely because this recording medium need not be relayed via a multiplicity of stations, but [sic] because this recording medium is first brought into a physical form at the assigned mail delivery point and can therefore first be handled in physical form starting from the mail delivery point. Furthermore, the great advantage is obtained that information content present in digital form or provided in digital form can be transmitted quickly and reliably to a receiver who has no connection to a data network or another network operating on a digital basis. A further advantage in the method according to the invention consists in the fact that, by contrast with the known method explained at he beginning, the recording medium, which can be handled physically and includes information content, need not necessarily be present in paper form, but can also be designed in the form of a recording medium that can be written to and read from with electronic means - similar to a CD or a DND or the like - or else in the form of a semiconductor memory accommodated in a housing.

In a method according to the invention, the mail delivery point assigned to the provided mailing address or the provided mailing address data can be determined in different ways, for example with the aid of a personal computer available to the sender. However, it has proved to be particularly advantageous when the method steps in accordance with claim 2 are included in a method according to the invention. This is advantageous with regard to finding the mail delivery point assigned to the respective mailing address in a very reliable way, there further being the great advantage that a database required for this method can always be kept right up to date by a mailing corporation responsible for the database.

In a method according to the invention, the mailing address data representing the mailing address and the information content data representing the information content of the recording medium can be provided, for example, in an electronic way, for example by virtue of the fact that the mailing address data are read out from a mailing address register that is privately set up or can be read out from the Internet, and the information content data are read out, for example, from a privately set up copy register, in which copy register standardized information content is stored for a user.

In the context set forth above, it has, however, also proved to be very advantageous when the mailing address data and the information content data are generated with the aid of a keyboard provided at a dispatch point or at the seat of a sender. This can be a keyboard present in physical form, or else a virtual keyboard. These data can be generated relatively easily in this way even for those persons who have no experience with electronic media and means. Furthermore, it has proved to be very advantageous with regard to providing the mailing address data and the information content data when these data are generated with the aid of a scanning device that is provided at a dispatch point or at the seat of a sender and can be used to scan a paper sheet having a mailing address and information content. This offers the advantage that even a recording medium written by hand, that is to say a conventional letter, can be made available to an assigned mail delivery point by utilizing the method according to the invention. The scanning device can be a component of a conventional facsimile machine in this case.

It has further proved to be very advantageous with regard to providing the mailing address data and the information content data when these data are provided with the aid of speech recognition means provided at a dispatch point, which speech recognition means automatically convert a spoken message into text data. This results, inter alia, in the advantage that persons who are not capable of writing or operating a keyboard or a scanning device, for example blind persons, likewise easily have the option, starting from a dispatch point, at which dispatch point the speech recognition means are installed, of generating a recording medium, intended for a receiver, which can be handled physically and includes information content at a mail delivery point responsible for the receiver.

It has proved to be very advantageous in a method according to the invention when the transmission of the information content data is performed by utilizing a data network. Such a data network can be formed by the known Internet, for example, but also by a telephone network or by a radio communications network and the like.

It has furthermore proved to be very advantageously in a method according to the invention when there are additionally generated at a dispatch location security data which represent an electronic signature, and in which the security data generated are transmitted to the assigned mail delivery point in addition to the information content data. This permits the implementation of an authorized recording medium at the respective assigned mail delivery point.

It has proved to be advantageous with reference to implementing the recording medium which can be handled physically when this implementation is performed by printing out on a paper sheet. This offers the advantage that known and conventional means are sufficient for implementing the recording medium in conjunction with the method according to the invention.

When the implementation of the recording medium, which can be handled physically, is performed by printing out on a paper sheet, it has further proved to be particularly advantageous when, after being printing out, the printed paper sheet is inserted into an envelope. The result of this is that the implemented recording medium can be made available to the respective receiver in a conventional way.

However, it has also proved to be advantageous in a method according to the invention when the implementation of the recording medium which can be handled physically is carried out by transmitting the information content data transmitted to the assigned mail delivery point on a recording medium that can be written to and read from with electronic means. For example, what is termed a CD burner can be provided at the assigned mail delivery point and be used to implement a described CD as recording medium. It is also possible to make use of a semiconductor memory which can be written to and read from with electronic means and is accommodated in a card-shaped case.

The invention further relates to an electronic device for assisting in making a recording medium, which can be handled physically and includes information content, available at a mail delivery point for a receiver. In an electronic device according to the invention, features according to the invention are provided such that an electronic device according to the invention can be defined in the way specified below, specifically:

An electronic device for assisting in making a recording medium, which can be handled physically and includes information content, available at a mail delivery point for a receiver, which electronic device includes the means set forth below, specifically: storage means in which, in the form of a database, mail delivery point data representing a plurality of mail delivery points and mailing address data assigned to the mail delivery point data and representing mailing addresses are stored, and reception means for receiving mailing address data generated at a dispatch point and representing one mailing address each, and comparison and control means which are connected to the reception means and the storage means and with the aid of which a comparison of the mailing address data representing a mailing address and received with the reception means with the mailing address data stored in the storage means can be carried out and with the aid of which control data dependent on the comparison result and assigned to a mail delivery point can be generated, and controllable data relay means to which the control data that can be generated with the comparison and control means and information content data generated at the dispatch point can be fed, and with the aid of which the fed information content data can, in accordance with the control data assigned to a mail delivery point, be relayed to the assigned mail delivery point. A method according to the invention can be carried out with such an electronic device in a way which is particularly operationally reliable and free from error.

The aspects set forth above, and further aspects of the invention, emerge from the exemplary embodiment described below and are explained with the aid of this exemplary embodiment.

The invention is described below with the aid of an exemplary embodiment illustrated in the drawing, but to which the invention is not limited. Figure 1 shows a highly diagrammatic block diagram of a configuration suitable for implementing a method in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the invention.

Illustrated in figure 1 is a configuration 1 with the aid of which configuration 1 it is possible to carry out a method for making a recording medium 2, which can be handled physically and includes information content, available at a mail delivery point PDL. The mail delivery point PDL is responsible for a receiver 3, which receiver 3 is located at a seat 4, which seat 4 is assigned a mailing address PA. It may be assumed in the present case that the receiver 3 is a private individual, and that the seat 4 is the domicile of the receiver 3.

The configuration 1 illustrated in figure 1 has a dispatch device 5 provided at a dispatch point TL. In this case, the dispatch device 5 is an electronic device which is marketed by the applicant under the designation of "Access Point" and is provided essentially for the purpose and is designed so as to permit an unskilled user access to a data network 6, the data network being what is termed the Internet in the present case. The dispatch device 5 has a housing 7 which is fitted in the present case on a wall or in the region of an advertising column and in which the components of the dispatch device 5 are accommodated. Of the components of the dispatch device 5, it is only those which are essential in the present case that are illustrated in figure 1. The dispatch device 5 has a computer 8 which is formed in this case by a personal computer 8. The dispatch device 5 has also a display screen 9 and a keyboard 10 and a scanning device SCAN and a loudspeaker 11 and a microphone 12. First processing means 13 and second processing means 14 and third processing means 14 and fourth processing means 16 and fifth processing means 17 are provided in the personal computer 8. The first processing means 13 are designed for processing the sound signals to be fed to the loudspeaker 11. The second processing means 14 are designed for processing the sound signals emitted by the microphone 12. The third processing means 15 are designed for processing the signals emitted by the keyboard 10. The fourth processing means 16 are designed for processing the signals emitted by the scanning device SCAN. The fifth processing means 17 are designed for processing the signals to be fed to the display screen 9, and for processing the signals that can be generated with the aid of the display screen 9. It is to be mentioned with reference to the display screen 9 that this is a touch-sensitive display screen with the aid of which it is possible to implement a virtual keyboard which is provided in addition to the keyboard 10 physically present. It may be mentioned with reference to the scanning device SCAN that this is a device that is known per se and with the aid of which the alphanumeric information and image information contained on a sheet of paper can be scanned and can be converted into digital data.

Furthermore, the personal computer 8 also includes a microcomputer 18 which is operationally connected to the five processing means 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17. A range of means and functions are implemented with the aid of the microcomputer 18, but only some of these will be addressed here. With the aid of the microcomputer 18, speech recognition means SRM are implemented which are connected to the second processing means 14 and with the aid of which a spoken message can be converted automatically into text data. The microcomputer 18 further includes first storage means 19, which are provided for storing mailing address data PAD. The microcomputer 18 further includes second storage means 20 which are provided for storing information content data IID. The information content data IID represent an information content which can be formed by alphanumeric characters and by drawings and images. The mailing address data PAD, which can be stored in the first storage means

19, and the information content data IID, which can be stored in the second storage means

20, can be provided or generated in a different [lacuna]. For example, these data can be generated with the aid of the microphone 12 and the second processing means 14 and the speech recognition means SRM by dictating the mailing address and the information content in the form of a dictation, which dictation is recognized with the aid of the speech recognition means SRM and converted into text data, which text data then represent the mailing address data PAD and the information content data IID, which are stored in the first storage means 19 and in the second storage means 20, respectively. The data PAD and IID mentioned can, however, also be generated with the aid of the keyboard 10 or with the aid of the virtual keyboard on the display screen 9, or with the aid of the scanning device SCAN. In order to generate these data with the scanning device SCAN, a letter which may be on a plurality of pages and which bears the relevant mailing address PA on its letterhead is fed to the scanning device SCAN which then ensures scanning of the mailing address PA and the content and subsequently outputs the mailing address data PAD and the information content data IID to the fourth processing means 16 from which the data generated are stored in the first storage means 19 or in the second storage means 20, respectively.

The personal computer 8 of the dispatch device 5 and, in particular, the microcomputer 18 are connected to connecting means 21. The connecting means 21 form a connection to the data network 6. The data network 6, which is the Internet in the present case, is represented only by one device, which is essential in the present case. The above-mentioned device is an electronic device 22 which is provided and designed for assisting in making the recording medium 2, which can be handled physically and includes information content, available at the mail delivery point PDL for the receiver 3. The electronic device 22 includes storage means 23 in which there are stored in the form of a database mail delivery point data PDDn representing a plurality of mail delivery points PDL, and mailing address data PADn assigned to the mail delivery point data PDDn and representing mailing addresses PA. As is indicated in figure 1, a plurality of mailing address data PAD1, PAD2, ..., PADx are assigned to the mail delivery point data PDD1, which represent a mail delivery point PDL1. In the case assumed here, the mail delivery point PDL1, which is represented by the mail delivery point data PDD1, is a post office AB. The mailing address data PAD1 are assigned to a company AB. The mailing address data PAD2 are assigned to a gentleman with the name of K.L. The mailing address data PADx are assigned to a lady with the name of Z.Z. The electronic device 22 further includes first reception means 24 which are designed to receive mailing address data PAD provided or generated at the dispatch point PL, that is to say with the aid of the dispatch device 5 in the present case, and representing one mailing address PA each. The reception means 24 filter the mailing address data PAD from a signal mixture fed to the reception means 24, and make the filtered and processed mailing address data PA available to their output 25.

The electronic device 22 further includes second reception means 26, which are designed to receive information content data IID provided or generated at the dispatch point TL. The second reception means filter such information content data IID from a signal mixture fed to the second reception means 26, and make the filtered-out information content data IID available at their output 27.

The electronic device 22 further includes comparison and control means 28 which are connected to the first reception means 24 and the storage means 23. The comparison and control means 28 can be used to carry out a comparison of the mailing address data PAD, representing a mailing address PA and received with the first reception means 24, with the mailing address data PAD stored in the storage means 23. Furthermore, the comparison and control means 28 can be used to generate control data COD depending on the comparison result, which control data are respectively assigned to a mail delivery point PEL. The assignment of the control data COD to a specific mail delivery point PDL is obtained by virtue of the fact that the mailing address data PAD output by the first reception means 24 at their output 25 are compared with the mailing address data PAD stored in the storage means 23 and, in the event of equality being established, the mail delivery point data PDD associated with the stored mailing address data PAD determined by equality are determined, the associated mail delivery point PDL being determined by these determined mail delivery point data PDD.

The electronic device 22 further has controllable data relay means 29 which are connected to the second reception means 26 and to the comparison and control means 28. The data relay means 29 can, for example, be fed the information content data IID made available at the output of the second reception means 26 and, on the other hand, the control data COD made available by the comparison and control means 28. The information content data IID fed to the data relay means 29 can be relayed to the respectively assigned mail delivery point PDL with the aid of the fed control data COD, which are respectively assigned to a mail delivery point PDL. In the present case, the data relay means 29 are equipped for this purpose with a plurality of outputs 30, 31, 32, ..., 33 and 34, there being connected to each of these outputs further connecting means 35 of which each leads to a reception device 36 at a mail delivery point PDL.

Only one such reception device 36 is illustrated in figure 1 at a mail delivery point PDL. This corresponds to the mode of the illustration in the region of the dispatch points TL, because it is, again, only one dispatch device 5 that is illustrated at a dispatch point TL in figure 1. It is clear that a multiplicity of dispatch devices 5 and a multiplicity of reception devices 36 are connected to the data network 6.

The reception device 36 includes reception means 37 which are provided and designed to receive the information content data IID emitted by the data relay means 29. The reception means 37 ensure processing of the information content data IID and emit processed data PDA after processing of the information content data IID. The processed data PDA are fed in the present case to a printer 38 which is provided in the reception device 36. The printer 38 is used to print out the information content represented by the information content data IID transmitted to the mail delivery point PDL, on a paper sheet, which paper sheet forms in the present case the recording medium 2 which can be handled physically and includes information content. The paper sheet 2 is subsequently fed to an enveloping device 39, which is included in the reception device 36 and ensures that the printed paper sheet is inserted into an envelope 40. After enveloping has been performed, the envelope 40 containing the paper sheet 2 is fed to a distribution device 41 provided in the reception device 36, which distribution device 41 ensures that the envelope 40 is automatically brought into a post office box 42 provided in the mail delivery point PDL. The envelope 40 together with the paper sheet 2 contained therein can be extracted at any time from the post office box 42 by the receiver 3. It remains to mention that it is also possible to provide in the case of the configuration 1 described with the aid of figure 1 that the dispatch device 5 is additionally equipped with means (not illustrated in figure 1) for generating security data, which security data represent an electronic signature. Such means are known per se. The safety data that can be generated with the aid of these means are transmitted, in addition to the information content data IID, to the assigned mail delivery point PDL and evaluated at the assigned mail delivery point PDL such that an authenticated recording medium 2 is then implemented and received.

Thus also mentioned, furthermore, that the implementation of a recording medium need not necessarily be carried out in the way as is described above with the aid of the configuration 1 in accordance with figure 1. An implementation of a recording medium is also possible in such a way as to implement a recording medium that can be written to and read from with the aid of electronic means, for example in the form of a recording medium that can be written to and read from optically, or in the form of a recording medium that can be written to or read from magnetically, or in the form of a semiconductor memory that is accommodated in a card-shaped case.

It is further mentioned that the transmitting device 5 of the configuration 1 in accordance with figure 1 can also have a video camera for photographing the respective user, and other identification means for identifying the respective user, for example identification means for identifying a fingerprint, which can be used to generate additional data relating to security, which can subsequently be transmitted to a mail delivery point.

It may also be mentioned that the designation of delivery address is frequently also used instead of the designation of mailing address.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A method for making a recording medium, which can be handled physically and includes information content, available at a mail delivery point for a receiver, which receiver is located at a seat, which seat is assigned a mailing address, in the case of which method the information content of the recording medium and the mailing address is provided, and the information content of the recording medium is transmitted by utilizing the mailing address to the mail delivery point, from which the recording medium is made available to the receiver, both the information content of the recording medium and the mailing address being provided in the form of electronically transmittable data such that mailing address data representing the mailing address and information content data representing the information content of the recording medium are received, and the mail delivery point assigned to the mailing address being determined by utilizing the provided mailing address data and by utilizing a database, and after the determination of the assigned mail delivery point the information content data representing the information content of the recording medium being transmitted with the aid of data transmission means-to the assigned mail delivery point, and the recording medium which can be handled physically and includes information content being implemented at the assigned mail delivery point with the aid of the transmitted information content data.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, in which, by utilizing a database in which mail delivery point data representing a plurality of mail delivery points and mailing address data assigned to the mail delivery points and representing mailing addresses are stored, the provided mailing address data representing the mailing address are compared, with the aid of electronic comparison means, with the mailing address data assigned to one mail delivery point each and stored in the database, and in which the mail delivery point assigned to the mailing address is determined by utilizing the comparison result obtained in this comparison procedure.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1 , in which the mailing address data representing the mailing address and the information content data representing the information content of the recording medium are generated with the aid of a keyboard.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, in which the mailing address data representing the mailing address and the information content data representing the information content of the recording medium are generated with the aid of a scanning device which can be used to bring into scanning contact a paper sheet having a mailing address and information content, and which generates the mailing address data and the information content data by scanning the mailing address and the information content of the paper sheet.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1 , in which the mailing address data representing the mailing address and the information content data representing the information content of the recording medium are generated with the aid of speech recognition means which automatically convert a spoken message into text data, which text data form the mailing address data and the information content data.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1 , in which the transmission, performed after the determination of the assigned mail delivery point, of the information content data representing the information content of the recording medium is performed by utilizing a data network.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1 , in which security data which represent an electronic signature are additionally generated, and in which the security data are transmitted to the assigned mail delivery point in addition to the information content data.

8. The method as claimed in claim 1 , in which the implementation of the recording medium which can be handled physically and includes the information content is performed at the assigned mail delivery point by printing out on a paper sheet the information content represented by the information content data transmitted to the assigned mail delivery point.

9. The method as claimed in claim 8, in which, after being printing out, the printed paper sheet is inserted into an envelope.

10. The method as claimed in claim 1, in which the implementation of the recording medium which can be handled physically and includes information content is carried out at the assigned mail delivery point by transmitting the information content data transmitted to the assigned mail delivery point on a recording medium that can be written to and read from with electronic means.

11. An electronic device for assisting in making a recording medium, which can be handled physically and includes information content, available at a mail delivery point for a receiver, which electronic device includes the means set forth below, specifically: storage means in which, in the form of a database, mail delivery point data representing a plurality of mail delivery points and mailing address data assigned to the mail delivery point data and representing mailing addresses are stored, and reception means for receiving mailing address data generated at a dispatch point and representing one mailing address each, and comparison and control means which are connected to the reception means and the storage means and with the aid of which a comparison of the mailing address data representing a mailing address and received with the reception means with the mailing address data stored in the storage means can be carried out and with the aid of which control data dependent on the comparison result and assigned to a mail delivery point can be generated, and controllable data relay means to which the control data that can be generated with the comparison and control means and information content data generated at the dispatch point can be fed, and with the aid of which the fed information content data can, in accordance with the control data assigned to a mail delivery point, be relayed to the assigned mail delivery point.