Method and apparatus for inserting and printing barcoded zip codes

Description Submit all comments and votes

AREA OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to barcoding systems for printing a postal service barcode on a document in order to facilitate automated handling of mail. More particularly, this invention relates to systems for inserting barcoded ZIP CODE information into an electronically encoded document in accordance with information contained in the document prior to printing the document. The document, including the barcode, is thereafter printed out on a printing device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Barcoding pieces of mail has become a valuable addition to the United States Postal Service (USPS). Barcoding enables mail sorting machines to rapidly sort mail using the barcoded ZIP CODE printed on the mail. This allows the USPS to route mail from a mailer to a receiver more efficiently (thus reducing costs of mailing) and more quickly since the machines are capable of sorting mail according to the barcoded ZIP CODE many times faster than a human reading the numerical ZIP CODE.

Recently, the USPS has adopted new ZIP CODES which contain more detailed destination information than the original five-digit ZIP. One new form of ZIP CODE ("ZIP+4") contains an additional four digit extension which generally identifies an address within a side of a residential block. A further enhanced ZIP CODE system utilizes 11-digit ZIP CODES to specify a point of delivery.

In order to encourage the use of the barcoded ZIP CODES, the USPS now provides discounts for mailers who include a barcoded ZIP+4 ZIP CODE or the more recent 11-digit delivery point ZIP CODE on their mail.

It is known to print barcoded ZIP CODES on pieces of mail prior to mailing by means of a machine equipped with a scanner for sensing the ZIP CODE in numeral form. The scanner in conjunction with pattern recognition systems identifies a ZIP-code in numeral form, formulates an appropriate barcode in accordance with the universal standard encoding scheme adopted by the USPS, and prints the barcode on the piece of mail from which the numerical ZIP CODE is sensed.

It is also known to locate a ZIP+4 numerical ZIP CODE within an electronically encoded document and to thereby generate and insert barcode graphics data into the document based upon the actual 9-digit ZIP CODE located by the barcoding system.

Though many persons and companies have address databases which contain the street address and 5 digit ZIP CODE for a given addressee, the relatively new nine digit ZIP+4 and eleven digit ZIP CODES are not always available.

In addition, a risk exists that a clerical error may occur in typing a ZIP CODE into a document. This error, if not detected, will carry through to the barcoded ZIP CODE when error detection mechanisms are not provided. When coupled with the automated sorting mechanism for barcoded mail, a clerical error such as the one described above results in mail containing the erroneous ZIP CODE to be sorted and routed to an improper location. The improper location could be as close as a block away or as far as across the country.

A complete ZIP CODE specifies the most accurate routing information available and desired by the mailer of a mail piece for sending the mail piece to a particular destination. Including a correct and complete barcoded ZIP CODE on a piece of mail allows mailers to take advantage of the cost savings and speed of delivery provided by automated routing of barcoded mail pieces. Therefore, a great value is attributable to the ability of mailers to easily adapt to changes in the ZIP CODE system and to thereby include the most up-to-date, complete and correct barcoded ZIP CODE available for a given destination specified on a piece of mail.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is a general object of the present invention to improve the speed, accuracy and cost efficiency of routing mail from a source to an intended destination.

It is another object of the present invention to append barcode graphics to either an envelope, mailing sticker, or letter with essentially equal ease.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a means to append complete barcoded ZIP CODE graphics data to an electronically encoded document for printing on an output device. The barcoded ZIP CODE being suitably placed upon the document to enable detection of the barcode by the automatic sorting mechanisms utilized by the post office.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a correct, complete barcode corresponding to a street address contained in a document.

It is another object of the present invention to enable a sender to specify the position of the barcode graphics on a printed document.

It is an object of the present invention to enable a user to define the scope of the barcoder system's search for electronically encoded addresses.

It is a more specific object of the present invention to enable a user to define where the barcoding system searches for addresses in an electronically encoded document.

It is yet another object of the present invention to enable a user to flexibly define the output device to which the modified electronically encoded document is routed after barcode graphics are appended by the barcoder system.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a mail barcoding system to communicatively interface with existing wordprocessing systems in a manner transparent to the wordprocessing hardware and the printer of the wordprocessing system.

In remedy of the perceived problems and needs in the area of automated mailing in accordance with standard barcoded ZIP CODES, a system is provided for receiving a print-ready document containing one or more mailing addresses from a word processor. The system comprises means for receiving a print-ready document encoded as a plurality of bit patterns containing at least one street address. A microprocessor-based device identifies a bit pattern within the set of bit patterns corresponding to a street address in accordance with user defined parameters. The device retrieves the proper complete ZIP CODE from an index which associates the street addresses with complete ZIP CODES.

The device thereafter inserts into the encoded document an additional bit pattern representing barcode graphics data corresponding to the complete ZIP CODE such that a barcoded ZIP CODE for the street address will be printed at a predetermined area of the document. The position of the barcode is defined by a set of user specified parameters and the availability of physical space on the document for inserting barcode graphics. The system also includes means for transmitting the modified encoded document, including the appended bit pattern representing the barcode graphics data, to an output device for printing or displaying the document.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The appended claims set forth the features of the present invention with particularity. The invention, together with its objects and advantages, may be best understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings of which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a computer network including the barcoder unit interposed between a personal computer and a printing device;

FIG. 2 is a flow chart illustrating the steps executed by a personal computer in order to initialize barcoder settings and transmit a document to a barcoder for processing;

FIG. 3 is a flow chart illustrating the steps executed by a barcoder for initialization and operation of the barcoder;

FIG. 4 is a flow chart illustrating the sub-steps for processing a page of text in the barcoder.

FIG. 5 is an illustration of the main menu display for barcode user options;

FIG. 6 is an illustration of the sub-menu display for document options;

FIG. 7 is an illustration of envelope options;

FIG. 8 is an illustration of the sub-menu display for printer options.;

FIGS. 9a and 9b are an illustrative set of bit patterns corresponding to a document received and a document transmitted from the barcoder;

FIG. 10 is a summary of the pin connections of the communicatively coupled parallel ports of the barcoder and the personal computer;

FIGS. 11a and 11b referred to collectively in the Detailed Description as FIG. 11 is a schematic block diagram of the parallel input port of the barcoder; and

FIG. 12 is a timing diagram for transferring data between the personal computer and the barcoder.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The present invention accomplishes the above and other objects through intelligent computer hardware disposed between a wordprocessing system and a printing device (referred to hereinafter as "the barcoder"). The barcoder selectively intercepts documents transmitted by the personal computer to the printer, searches the document in predetermined locations for addresses, and places barcode graphics information representing the complete ZIP CODE for a detected address in pre-determined locations within the document in accordance with user-specified parameters. The complete ZIP CODE is provided based upon the street address detected by the search procedure performed by the barcoder. In the United States Postal Service ZIP CODE system, a complete ZIP CODE includes at least the 9-digit ZIP+4 code. However, a more recent 11-digit delivery point barcode is also within the intended definition of "complete" ZIP CODE as used herein.

The barcoder is constructed from standard off-the-shelf computer components. In fact, one may use another personal computer with appropriate input/output programming, a publicly available ZIP CODE data base, and appropriate database search algorithms known to those skilled in the art in order to carry out the present invention. In the preferred embodiment, the input port of the barcoder hardware is modified to provide a better interface between the personal computer and the barcoder.

The barcoder of the present invention searches one or more predetermined locations within an electronically encoded document received from the personal computer until a street address is located. The locations searched within the document are determined by user specified parameters. These parameters are described in greater detail below.

After detecting a street address, the barcoder converts the street address into a standardized form in accordance with post office guidelines. This enables the barcoder to search a database within the barcoder system containing a corresponding complete numerical ZIP CODE for a given standardized street address and to determine the correct complete ZIP CODE for the street address detected by the barcoder. If an incorrect or five-digit ZIP CODE is included in the detected street address in the document, then the barcoder will ignore this incorrect or incomplete ZIP CODE and supply a complete correct ZIP CODE retrieved from the database for purposes of generating barcoded ZIP CODE graphics.

After the barcoder identifies the complete and correct ZIP CODE for the street address, the barcoder generates barcode graphics data corresponding to the correct complete ZIP CODE. The encoding scheme for converting the numerical ZIP CODE into a barcoded ZIP CODE suitable for reading by barcode readers is provided by the post office and is well known to those familiar with the barcoding of mail. The barcoder appends barcode graphics data to the received document at a position determined by user specified parameters described in greater detail hereinafter. After inserting proper barcode graphics information, the barcoder forwards the modified electronically encoded document to an output device for printing or displaying the modified document.

Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows a functional block diagram of an exemplary configuration of the barcoder 2 coupled to a personal computer 4 and a printer 6. As will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art, in other embodiments of the invention a plurality of personal computers or other sources for electronically encoded documents may be coupled to the barcoder 2. In addition, more than one printer may be coupled to the barcoder 2. Such a case exists when a second printer (not shown) is attached for printing envelopes. The printer interface port 8 of the personal computer 4 is coupled to an input port 12 via line 10 which is a parallel printer cable or other suitable transmission media.

The present invention may be utilized in a number of network configurations. A set of networked user terminals may be coupled to a single printing bus which is then coupled to the input port 12. In FIG. 1, the barcoder 2 contains for illustrative purposes two additional input ports 14 and 16 which in an alternative network configuration may be coupled to additional personal computers in a manner known to those of ordinary skill in the art. The number of personal computers, or other sources of electronically encoded documents, coupled to the barcoder 2 and the number of input ports to the barcoder 2 are design considerations. Thus, it is within the scope of the present invention to alter the number of personal computers coupled to the barcoder 2 in order to conform to the specific needs of a user.

In the preferred embodiment, the personal computer 4 includes in well known manner a RAM memory 18 and ROM memory 20 for storing user application programs and operating system programs. The personal computer 4 also includes a monitor 22 and a keyboard 24 providing a user interface to the personal computer 4 for generating electronic documents, specifying operating parameters for the operation of the barcoder 2, and commencing the transmission of electronic documents from the personal computer 4 to the barcoder 2 in ready-to-print form. The operation of the personal computer 4 is controlled and executed by the microprocessor 26. The personal computer also includes secondary storage media containing in optional configuration a hard disk drive 28 and a removable disk drive 30 coupled to the microprocessor 26 through a secondary storage controller 32. The previous description of a personal computer 4 is merely illustrative. Other sources of the electronically encoded documents received by the barcoder 2 will be known to those of ordinary skill in the art in view of the disclosure of the invention contained herein.

Turning now to the barcoder 2, there is included a microprocessor 33 for coordinating and assisting in the execution of the receive, identification, search, insert and transmission functions of the barcoder 2 described herein. In addition to the aforementioned input ports 12, 14 and 16, the barcoder 2 includes additional computer hardware for storing application and system programs in RAM memory 34 and ROM memory 36. A Compact Disk (CD) ROM memory 38 is coupled to the microprocessor 33. The CD-ROM memory 38 provides access to a database of complete ZIP CODES associated with street addresses for a desired mailing destination. Additional secondary storage devices such as a removable disk storage device 40 are included to provide an easy means for loading applications programs into the barcoder 2. Other secondary storage media such as a hard disk drive (not pictured) may be added if desired. The CD-ROM 38 and the removable disk storage device 40 are coupled to the microprocessor 33 through a secondary storage controller 42. The barcoder 2 may also include a modem 44. The modem 44 provides an optional link to other sources of the ZIP CODE database if such a need should arise. The modified electronically encoded documents are transmitted from the barcoder 2 by means of an output port 46. As previously explained, additional printing devices may be coupled to the barcoder 2. Thus, additional output ports, equivalent to output port 46, may be added.

In the embodiment of the present invention illustrated in FIG. 1, the printer 6 receives the modified document from the barcoder 2 by means of an input port 48. The input port 48 is coupled to the output port 46 of the barcoder 2 via line 50. A print processor 52 in conjunction with other known printer hardware and software, converts the electronically encoded document received from barcoder 2 into a hard, paper copy of the document in a manner known to those skilled in the area of printers. The appropriate commands for printing barcode graphics which were added to the original electronically encoded document received by the barcoder are determined by the type of printer actually used. These commands are also known by those of ordinary skill in the area of document printers.

Turning now to FIG. 9a, a schematic drawing is provided of the electronically encoded document consisting of a plurality of bit patterns including a sequence of bit patterns representing a document body 300 and a sequence of bit patterns representing a header 302 received by the barcoder 2 from the personal computer 4. The bit pattern comprising the header record 302 specifies the parameter values for a set of barcoder options described hereinafter. The document body 300 contains at least one address bit pattern 304.

The barcoder 2, in processing the bit patterns 300 and 302 received from the word processor 4, removes the header record bit pattern 302 from the concatenated bit patterns 300 and 302. The barcoder 2 identifies a bit pattern 304 corresponding to a street address. Next, the barcoder 2, consults a database described hereinafter to retrieve a correct complete ZIP CODE from an index of ZIP CODES. The complete ZIP CODE is thereafter converted into a sequence of bit patterns comprising the graphics data for a barcoded ZIP CODE corresponding to the complete ZIP CODE.

FIG. 9b is a schematic representation of the sequence of bit patterns 300' representing the modified document body transmitted from the barcoder 2 to the printer 6. The barcoder 2 inserts a bit pattern 306 corresponding to the complete barcoded ZIP CODE into the set of bit patterns of the document 300 to create a new set of bit patterns 300'. The bit pattern 306 causes the printer 6 to print the barcode graphics on a predetermined location on a printed document when the printer 6 processes the bit patterns 300' of the modified document body.

Thereafter, the modified bit pattern 300' is transmitted by the barcoder 2 to the printer 6 for printing out the electronically encoded document represented by the bit pattern 300'. In the illustrative embodiment in FIG. 9b, the barcode graphics bit pattern 306 is positioned after the alpha-numerical address bit pattern 304. The modified bit pattern 300' is thereafter converted into a human-readable document containing text and the complete barcoded ZIP CODE.

Having completed the hardware description of the barcoder 2 and related system hardware, the process of entering appropriate control parameters for the barcoder 2 will now be described. The personal computer 4 contains a terminate and stay resident (TSR) program. The TSR is constantly present in the RAM memory 18 during regular operation of the personal computer 4 after the TSR has been installed in the personal computer 4. The TSR program is re-loaded from secondary storage during start-up of the personal computer 4 and is invoked by a pre-determined keystroke sequence entered at the keyboard 24 by the user of the barcoder system. The TSR program allows the user to select a set of values for control parameters for controlling the operation of the barcoder 2. Thereafter, the TSR creates a byte string containing the encoded parameter values referred to herein as the header 302. The header 302 containing the encoded control parameter values is appended to each document sent from the personal computer 4 to the barcoder 2 for processing. The length of the header 302 is merely a design consideration and longer or shorter headers may be used in other embodiments of the present invention. As explained above, the header 302 is removed by the barcoder 2 before forwarding the modified document to the printer 6 for printing.

The TSR program causes the personal computer to re-compile the header record each time the personal computer 4 sends a new print job for processing by the barcoder 2. The header record is transmitted at the beginning of each document transmission from the personal computer 4 to the barcoder 2. The header 302 represents a collection of barcoder options. These options are described hereinafter in conjunction with the menu screens depicted in FIGS. 5 to 8.

The screens depicted in FIGS. 5 to 8 are displayed on the monitor 22 during operation of the barcode parameter determination mode of the TSR. First, the header information instructs the barcoder 2 whether or not to insert barcode graphics data into the electronically encoded document. Second, the header specifies the position in the address field where the barcoder will insert the barcode graphics. Third, the header identifies the portions of the document where the barcoder should search for addresses to receive barcode encoding. Fourth, the header identifies where on the document the barcode should be inserted if the position is not explicitly determined by its position relative to the address field of the electronically encoded document. Fifth, the header designates the address block size (in lines). These options, as well as others, are discussed in greater detail below.

Turning to FIG. 5, when activated by the user, the TSR program prompts the user with a menu at the monitor 22 containing a set of four basic options: Document, Envelope, Printer, and Exit. Each of the first three menu options includes a display of the current parameter values attributable to the menu option to provide the user with a set of current parameter settings.

Turning now to FIG. 6, selection of the Document option causes the TSR to recall and display at the monitor 22 a menu containing a set of parameters to be designated by the user which relate to the barcoding of addresses contained in specified portions of a document. While in the Document sub-menu, the user may specify whether or not the barcoder 2 is to process a document received from the personal computer 4, whether the barcode graphics are to be inserted above an identified address block, whether the barcode graphics are to be inserted below the address, or whether the barcoder 2 is not to insert barcodes in the document even though the document will be processed by the barcoder 2.

The barcoder 2 requires a quarter inch vertical blank space in a document in which to insert a barcoded ZIP CODE. Therefore, the barcoder 2 will not insert barcode graphics into the document regardless of the user's instructions if sufficient space does not exist in the document for the barcode graphics to be printed. However, in addition to the above options, the user may allow the barcoder 2 to insert the barcode graphics beneath the address in a document if the required quarter inch space does not exist above the address or vice versa.

Another option which may be specified by a user while in the Document sub-menu is the position of the start of an address block since a search for an address beginning becomes a difficult task when faced with the multitude of formats for representing an address (including blank lines in the address block). Specifying the start of an address block ensures the proper identification of an address. The first attribute associated with this portion of the Document sub-menu is the allowance for blank lines in the address block. Blank lines typically arise in the context of mail merge documents wherein certain address fields--and thus lines--are blank. The second attribute designates the maximum number of lines in an address field. This option limits the barcoder's search for the beginning of an address.

In view of the barcoder 2's ability to divide the pages of a document into four equal quadrants, another parameter which the user may specify while in the Document sub-menu is the quadrant or quadrants of a page in which the barcoder 2 should search for an address. The user may designate a search which includes from one to all four quadrants of a page.

Alternatively, the user may request the barcoder 2 to append a barcode to a given address based upon the position of the address in respect to other addresses which appear in a document. The preferred embodiment allows the user to designate as many as five relative positions (first to fifth) in a document. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the address search must be designated by quadrants or the relative positions--but not both. The user may also request the barcoder 2 to insert barcodes for every address encountered in a document.

Turning now to FIG. 7, the second sub-menu concerns options regarding the printing of barcode graphics on envelopes. First, the user may designate whether or not to print envelopes. The print envelope option should be disabled when the mailer is using an envelope which displays the barcode through the envelope window. Next, the user may designate whether the barcode will be inserted above or below the address or not at all in a manner analogous to the positioning of the barcode in the Document sub-menu. The option is also available for the user to permit the barcoder 2 to insert the barcode graphics above the address if sufficient space does not exist below the address for inserting the barcode graphics or vice versa.

In a manner equivalent to the procedure described above for setting certain parameters associated with the Document sub-menu, the Envelope sub-menu provides a means for the user to designate a certain address block size or configuration in order to facilitate the determination by the barcoder 2 of the beginning of a particular address. The user may also designate the manner of selection of an address for which the barcoder 2 will generate and insert a barcode. The selection of an address may be based upon the quadrant in which the address is located in a document or by the relative position in which the address appears in comparison to other addresses contained within a document in a manner analogous to the address selection parameter described above in conjunction with the Document sub-menu.

The envelope sub-menu contains, in addition to the above parameter options, a set of address placement parameters. The first placement parameter designates the offset from the top of an envelope. The second parameter designates the offset from the left edge of the envelope.

Turning now to FIG. 8, the final sub-menu in the preferred embodiment of the present invention concerns the designation of parameters to control printers. A first option available to the user in the Printer sub-menu is the choice of printer port. This option specifies the proper interface port 8 for transmitting the electronically encoded document, including the aforementioned header, from the personal computer 4 to the barcoder 2. Second, the user is prompted to designate the type of printer to which the barcoder 2 will eventually transmit the electronically encoded document after inserting proper barcode graphics data into the document. One may also designate a second printer type. This second printer will only print envelopes. Finally, the user specifies where the barcoder 2 is to route documents and envelopes. Documents may be routed to the first designated printer or a file (for troubleshooting). Envelopes may be routed to either the first or the second printer.

Designation of the above parameters causes the TSR to append a header record embodying the specified parameters onto every document sent by the personal computer 4 for printing at the printer 6. The barcoder 2, decodes the header record in every received document and performs the steps described below in accordan