Attribute-Based Output Unit Selection for Direct Mail Routing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current document transmission systems lack efficiency in targeting specific recipients for direct mail distribution, often requiring explicit address designation and lacking flexibility in recipient selection and fee charging mechanisms.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising plural output units, a storage unit for recipient attribute information, and a specifying unit that selects the appropriate output unit based on this information, allowing for document data transmission to any of the output units without specifying individual addresses, while enabling fee charging based on recipient attributes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If explicit address designation is required for document transmission, then delivery accuracy is improved, but operational flexibility and efficiency deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism (the server device with attribute information storage) that mediates between the sender and recipient. Instead of requiring explicit address designation, the system uses recipient attribute information stored in a database as an intermediary to identify and route documents to the correct output unit, thereby maintaining delivery accuracy while improving operational flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs copying by creating a virtual representation of the recipient through attribute information storage. Rather than using physical addresses, the system creates a digital copy of recipient characteristics (attribute information) that can be used to identify and route documents, enabling flexible targeting without requiring explicit address designation.
2Measurement precision
If individual address specification is mandatory, then document targeting precision is improved, but system complexity and operational burden increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by transforming the addressing mechanism from explicit address parameters to attribute information parameters. The system changes the parameters used for identification from traditional address fields to recipient attribute characteristics, simplifying the input required while maintaining or improving targeting precision through attribute-based filtering.
3Productivity
If multiple recipients can be targeted without address specification, then distribution efficiency is improved, but recipient identification accuracy may deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-storing recipient attribute information in the database before document distribution. This preliminary organization of data allows the system to efficiently identify and target multiple recipients based on their attributes during distribution, maintaining high identification accuracy while achieving improved distribution efficiency through attribute-based filtering.
Data Source
AI summary
A system includesplural output units that output received document data,a storage unit that stores attribute information of a recipient who is to output the document data,a specifying unit that specifies an output unit from among the plural output units by using the attribute information of the recipient; anda transmitting unit that transmits the document data to the output unit specified by the specifying unit.