Siemens Industry, Inc.

Siemens Energy & Automation, Inc.

John J Mampe

Shahrom Kiani

Michael D Carpenter

Ben F Bruce

Alan O'Martin

Wayne Sipe

Gary Allen

Stanley Wayne Sipe

Morgan H Dunn

Wolfgang Schwarz

A computer-implemented system for maintaining a set of databases includes a first server that stores a master database of records that is updated on an intermittent basis, a second server that stores a computer-searchable, enhanced database of the same records as the master database, means for receiving intermittent updates from the master database and incorporating the updates into the enhanced database, means for electronically inputting information from sources other than the master database into the enhanced database, the information from other sources is more recent than information in the master database means and for revising the enhanced database to contain such more recent information and means for distributing information from the enhanced database to one or more subscriber servers.

Method and system for information distribution

A method for detection of fraudulent postage indicia such as a stamp or permit marking includes an initial step of introducing a mail piece for processing on an automated facing and canceling machine and imaging the mail piece as it is being processed on the automated facing and canceling machine, which image includes an image of the postage indicia. The image is analyzed according to predetermined criteria stored in a database to determine if the postage indicia meets the predetermined criteria and therefore has an enhanced probability of being valid. If the analysis is step results in a determination that the postage indicia as an enhanced probability of being invalid, then the method involved determining that the information corresponds to counterfeit postage indicia; and storing the resulting information and decision in the database.

Stamp testing and monitoring

A system for detection of doubles in a stream of flat items such as mail pieces being conveyed on a conveyor includes an electronic imaging camera positioned to receive an image of a side face of conveyed items over a first portion of its field of view, a reflector positioned to reflect an edge view of the items to the imaging camera, which edge view is received by the imaging camera over a second portion of its field of view, and a computer that receives image data from the camera. Program logic used by the computer determines whether the image shows one item, or more than one item.

Method and apparatus for detecting doubles in a singulated stream of flat articles

A method for providing address change information to subscribers wherein a national postal service maintains a master change of address database that is updated on an intermittent basis by the national postal service includes the steps of: (a) receiving intermittent updates to the master change of address database and incorporating the updated change of address information into a computer-searchable, enhanced change of address database, (b) receiving change of address data from sources other than the national postal service and postal patrons who are submitting address change information, (c) incorporating the change of address information received from such sources into the enhanced change of address database; and (d) distributing information from the enhanced database to one or more of the subscribers.

Method and system for address information distribution

The invention provides an improved method and system for processing mail items on bar code sorting machines. Such a method includes the steps of scanning a surface of each mail piece with at least one imaging camera to obtain at least one image of the surface represented by image data, analyzing the image data to locate a bar code in the image, and analyzing the bar code to recognize a first destination code. If the first destination code meets predetermined criteria, then the mail piece is processed further in a manner dependent on the first destination code. If the first destination code cannot be recognized or fails to meet the predetermined criteria, the image data is analyzed to locate destination address lines in the image, and the address lines are analyzed to determine a second destination code. The mail piece is sorted according to the second destination code, or a result determined by arbitrating the first and second destination codes.

Method and system for image processing

A method of sorting mail according to the invention includes the steps of receiving a plurality of first mail pieces of unknown origin in a first apparatus for bulk processing of the mail pieces, processing the mail pieces in the first apparatus by one of testing the mail pieces to determine if a potentially dangerous microorganism is present, sterilizing the mail pieces to destroy microorganisms on mail pieces, or both, and then if no contamination is detected or if sterilization is carried out, combining first the mail pieces at a later stage of postal processing with second mail pieces from senders identified as having a lesser risk of contamination than the first mail pieces of unknown origin. The invention further provides mail contaminant detection and sterilization systems suitable for use in such a method.

Mail processing system with multilevel contaminant detection and sterilization

The invention provides a method of processing an image containing written information include the steps of (a) scanning a surface of an object to obtain an image of the surface represented by first image data, (b) creating second image data from the first image data, the second image data having a lower data density than the first image data, (c) analyzing the second image data with first image analysis logic to decode the written information, and (d) if the written information cannot be decoded to a desired extent from the second image data, analyzing the first image data with second image analysis logic different from the first image analysis logic to decode the written information. Steps (a) and (b) preferably use a single scanning device to create the high data density image (e.g., color or grayscale) from which the lower data density image (e.g., binary or black and white) can then be created. The resulting two-stage image analysis provides a significant improvement in OCR results. Further, when a pre-printed bar code is present but does not result in a destination bar code, using the methods of stepdetermining the destination address zip code using OCR techniques, printing the resultant ZIP Code and sorting the mail based on the new OCR derived data.

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Fort Worth, TX, United States of America

John J Mampe