Hybrid Mail Sorting System with Virtual Stations
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current mail sorting systems rely on optical character recognition and physical handling, which are limited by language barriers and infrastructure deficiencies, leading to inefficient and labor-intensive mail delivery processes, especially in countries without developed address systems.
Innovation Solution
A hybrid sorting system that uses virtual sorting stations to image mailpieces, sort images into database files, and transmit information to automated sorting devices, reducing the need for physical handling and intermediate transportation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If optical character recognition equipment is used to read address information, then automated sorting can be achieved, but the system becomes inapplicable to countries with undeveloped address systems or languages without OCR support
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses barcode symbols as simplified copies of address information instead of requiring full optical character recognition of natural language addresses. This allows the system to capture essential routing data without being limited by language barriers or address system complexity, enabling automated sorting in countries with undeveloped address infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter of address representation from complex natural language text to simplified barcode symbols. This parameter transformation makes the data more machine-readable and less dependent on linguistic capabilities, thereby expanding the system's adaptability to different countries while maintaining automated sorting functionality.
2Productivity
If multiple intermediate sorting operations are performed to optimize mailstream efficiency, then more mailpieces can be shipped per mile, but the labor content and handling requirements increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary sorting actions at the origin post office by creating barcode symbols and routing information before mailpieces are transported. This preliminary action establishes the sorting framework in advance, allowing intermediate sorting operations to be automated or simplified rather than requiring manual handling at each stage, thereby reducing labor content while maintaining productivity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces barcode symbols as an intermediary carrier of routing information between the mailpiece and the sorting system. This intermediary enables automated identification and routing at intermediate sorting points without requiring manual reading or interpretation of addresses, reducing labor requirements while maintaining efficient multi-stage sorting.
3Manufacturing precision
If mail is transported through multiple post offices for sorting, then comprehensive sorting can be achieved, but delivery time increases to up to one week
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary routing decisions and creates barcode symbols at the origin post office before transport. This preliminary action pre-establishes the sorting path, allowing intermediate post offices to simply follow the pre-determined routing rather than performing complex sorting decisions, thereby reducing the number of stops and delivery time while maintaining sorting accuracy through the barcode system.
4Adaptability or versatility
If manual sorting operations are performed at each post office, then local knowledge can be applied, but the system becomes dependent on physical handling and human intervention
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual reading and interpretation of addresses with barcode symbols that encode routing information. This copying approach captures the essential routing data in a machine-readable format, allowing automated systems to handle complex destinations without requiring human physical handling or interpretation, thereby increasing automation while maintaining adaptability to various delivery scenarios.
Data Source
AI summary
A method and system for sorting mail includes the steps of imaging a face surface of the mailpieces to acquire mailpiece delivery information and distributing the mailpiece image to a virtual sorting station. The virtual sorting station is operative to sort each mailpiece image into one of a plurality of database files based upon common mailpiece delivery information. Depending upon the number of virtual sorting stations required to perform the sorting operation, the mailpiece delivery information contained in each database file may be processed by a system controller and/or transmitted to an automated mailpiece sorting device where each mailpiece is physically sorted into one of a plurality of mailpiece containers. The system for sorting mail includes an imaging device, a virtual sorting station for virtually sorting the mailpiece images and an automated sorting station for physically sorting the actual mailpieces. The system may include a plurality of virtual sorting stations wherein operators at each station provide address interpretation data to sort the mailpieces.