Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02461001 2004-03-18
Method for sending postal packets
Description:
The invention relates to a method and to a device for dispatching postal
parcels.
European patent application EP 1 053 798 AZ discloses a virtual post office
box. The
physically non-existent post office box can be rented by persons and is linked
to the
address of these persons. Postal parcels that are addressed to the virtual
post office box
are segregated from the sorting process and forwarded to the address of the
renter. The
renter can indicate the period of time during which the postal parcels are to
be for-
warded to a given address. By the same token, he can change this address by
sending a
notification to this effect to the postal service company.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,269,369 B1 describes a network-based contact manager with
which
selected address information of a first user can be made accessible to a
second user.
Changes in the address data of the first user are sent to the second user, and
the address
data is then updated in the address book of the second user.
With the known dispatching methods, the problem exists that the recipient of
the ship-
ment often cannot be reached at the time of the delivery.
This is especially a drawback in delivering postal parcels that cannot be
placed into
conventional mailboxes.
The invention is based on the objective of improving a method of the generic
type in
that the delivery of the postal parcels is fast, reliable and~involves as
little dispatching
effort as possible.
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According to the invention, this objective is achieved in that the method is
carried out in
such a way that it comprises the following steps:
~ inputting a delivery address for the delivery of the postal parcels;
~ changing the delivery address according to a routine predefined by the
recipient
and/or
~ changing the delivery address as a function of free compartments of at least
one
parcel compartment system and
~ delivery of the postal parcels to the changed delivery address.
The invention allows a flexible delivery of postal parcels. The invention
especially pro-
vides a flexible control of the dispatching process. Preferably, the desired
delivery
address here is treated like a virtual delivery address that can be changed as
a function
of the requirements of the customer or of the postal service company.
In order to combine great flexibility of the dispatching of the postal parcels
with high
reliability of the delivery, the delivery address and the time of the delivery
are advanta-
geously selected in such a way that the postal parcels reach the desired
delivery location
within a predefined delivery period and in that, within this prescribed
delivery period,
the delivery to the desired delivery address takes place under the anticipated
dispatching
sequence of the postal parcel.
The link between the recipient identification code and the delivery address
can be freely
changed and this can also be done according to a predefined procedure.
A variable link between the recipient identification code and the delivery
address trans-
lates into maximum flexibility for the postal service company as well as for
the sender
and for the recipient of the postal parcel.
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For example, in this manner, negotiation documents can be sent to a business
person at
the location where the negotiations are being held, or spare materials or
special tools
can be sent to a service technician at the place of use or to a delivery point
located close
to the place of use.
A change in accordance with a predefined routine is likewise advantageous.
For example, a recipient might prefer to receive a delivery at his workplace
during regu-
lar business hours, but might prefer the delivery to an electronic parcel
compartment
system while he is on his way home or else he might prefer the delivery to his
home
address after returning from work.
A stored table containing the allocation of delivery times and delivery places
allows the
postal service company to make the delivery to the place desired by the
recipient in each
case.
The above-mentioned example of the delivery to an electronic parcel
compartment sys-
tem is another preferred example showing the execution of the invention.
Such a delivery to the electronic parcel compartment system is especially
advantageous
if it is to be expected that the recipient of the postal parcel does not want
the postal par-
cel to be delivered to his home or workplace at the anticipated delivery time
or else if he
does not want such a delivery modality as a general rule.
For example, all postal parcels or all postal parcels with a definable and
changeable
delivery interval can be delivered to the electronic parcel compartment
system.
For the postal service company, this eliminates the effort involved in a
failed delivery
attempt to an unwanted delivery address, including the logistic effort
associated with
this for storing or holding the postal parcel or else for attempting delivery
again.
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The use of the method entailing delivery to an electronic parcel compartment
system is
likewise advantageous for the customer of the postal service company since
this saves
him unnecessary trips to pick up postal parcels and he receives the postal
parcel at the
earliest possible point in time.
In the case of delivery to an electronic parcel compartment system, the
flexibility of
selecting the delivery location is especially advantageous. In this manner,
especially a
flexible allocation of individual electronic parcel compartment systems, or
individual
postal boxes, is possible.
In particular, the invention can be used to flexibly deploy the electronic
parcel compart-
ment systems, or the parcel compartments contained therein.
This makes it possible to provide especially recipient-friendly pick-up
periods that
optionally cover a longer period of time and, if a postal parcel is picked up
from the par-
cel compartment assigned to it, then - immediately after this postal parcel
has been
picked up - another postal parcel can be placed into the parcel compartment
that has
just become free.
The flexible selection of several potentially deployable electronic parcel
compartment
systems is another advantage for the customer. Thanks to the flexibility of
the method
used, this advantage for the customer can be utilized with relatively little
effort by a
logistic company executing the method.
Additional advantages, special features and practical refinements of the
invention ensue
from the subclaims and from the following presentation of preferred
embodiments.
The invention allows the use of various modalities of delivery and forwarding.
CA 02461001 2004-03-18
For example, when the customer of a merchant places an order, he indicates his
postal
number (customer number for this service) as well as a delivery location
(parcel
compartment system) for the delivery of the ordered products.
The post number contains a check digit so that the correctness can be checked.
The recipient identification code can be issued individually for each order
and it can
also be used for multiple orders. In the first step, the system tracks the
issuing of a post
number for each customer. However, it is also conceivable that, for each
transaction, a
number is issued that provides authorization to use the system.
It is especially advantageous for the postal service company to assign a fixed
recipient
identification code to a customer of the postal service company.
The delivery address can refer to the entire parcel compartment system (as
well as to the
individual parcel compartment). Both definitions of the delivery address are
included.
The invention can be adapted to the delivery address that is used in each
case.
Addressing
When the recipient places his order with the merchant, he provides his billing
address as
well as an alternative delivery address.
The address of the desired PACKSTATION (PACKSTATION address) is indicated in
the delivery address. For purposes of unambiguously identifying the shipment
as a
PACKSTATION delivery and for identifying the customer, the post number has to
be
indicated, also in the delivery address.
The PACKSTATION address is a customer-individual automat address or branch
office
address to which deliveries can be made. Preferably, the address consists of
the follow-
ing: post number, PACKSTATION and number, actual postal code and city.
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The addressing of the alternative delivery possibility is shown below by way
of an
example:
First name, John Doe or Doe 123456789
last name
Second name 123456789
field
Street, house PACKSTATION 102PACKSTATION
number 102
Postal code, 53113 Bonn 53113 Bonn
city
~ If possible, the house number is selected in such a way that no same house
num-
bers / automat numbers are issued to adjacent postal code regions.
~ The house numbers are three-digit numbers.
~ The house numbers are divided into two fields, so that an unambiguous
allocation
of the automat and the branch office is ensured.
~ The number range is defined as 001-499 for automats and as 500-999 for
branch
offices.
~ An automat in a branch office is designated and addressed as an automat.
~ The numbering of the automats / branch offices is not done separately for
each
postal code, but rather according to defined postal code regions, for example,
53 or
the city area of Bonn, that is to say, in a postal code district, here in the
53 district,
the house numbers are issued consecutively on an overarching basis. Adjacent
postal codes start with a different numbering.
The numbering is done according to PACKSTATIONS. These are especially par-
cel compartment systems or branch offices that are integrated into the
logistic sys-
tem and that serve for picking up the parcels.
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Example:
53113 53152 53114 53110
PACKSTATION 1 PACKSTATION 2 PACKSTATION 3 PACKSTATION 4
. .. 54025 54320 . . .
... PACKSTATION 101 PACKSTATION 102 ...
Advantages of this form of addressing
~ Expressive street names
~ Better marketing possibilities
~ Higher customer acceptance
~ The customer preferably has only one post number for all alternative
delivery
options. The post number is preferably, for instance, a 10-digit number that
is
assigned to a customer and that identifies him. Preferably, it is part of the
delivery
address as a suffix to the name.
~ The customer does not have to register separately for each automat.
~ The geographic "postal code system" is retained
~ No problems due to distortion of competition
Disadvantages of this form of addressing
~ More manual work for the in-house personnel
~ Senders have to be thoroughly informed
~ The transmission of the post number is secured.
CA 02461001 2004-03-18
The following table contains a presentation of preferred process steps.
Process
No. Process stepPrerequisitesBenefit Remarks
1. Address entryEntering According to the
dur- the post postal
ing the ordernumber in address standard,
place- the a second
ment ordering name field must
process be present.
Provision of the
check algo-
rithm for the post
number.
2. Gluing on Printing Senders withoutBy updating the
the option for LOS file, this
parcel labelthe label master codingpoint can be improved
by the with the do in the
sender post number not have future. Due to
in the to handle the product
address field,PACKSTATION status as a PACKSTATION
sender cannotparcels separately.product, this can
print / will also be
a master covered by the
code SW shipment.
3. Transfer Standard process
of the
shipments
to
DPAG
4. Master codingUpdate of The update of the
in the LOS LOS file for
the sender'sfile (post-internal) internal processing
PZ (PZ) can be
realized up until
the test phase.
5. Sorting in Separate Negative
the chute
freight center(B-final elimination
places) of the
PACKSTATION
shipments,
easier
escalation
possibilities
6. Reworking Training Entering The post number
in the in- the post should be
delivery house personnel,number can applied onto the
basis be parcel by the
(coding of providing dispensed in-house personnel
the the with for as a bar-
customer SW/HW prerequi-the delivery;code sticker; by
number) reduc- means of a
sites tion of the product identification
potential (product
for errors; code), this can
simpler be done by the
loading of shipment SW; all
the auto- information
mat on site can also be integrated
into the
NC2001 (going-live
not con-
firmed yet)??
7. Delivery Scanning
the post
number; shorter
loading times;
cor-
rect time
measure-
ment
8. Return shipments Correct time
meas-
(retention urement
time)
9. Standard Standard
process;
return shipment
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Sequence
Prerequisites
The sender has the possibility to accept and to activate an alternative
delivery address
and optimally an additional address line in his systems on the order form.
An automatic check of the delivery address, for example, in the on-line shop,
in the
goods management system or in the shipping logistic system, would have to be
switched
off, or would have to accept PACKSTATION addresses.
The recipient has to know the PACKSTATION address and enter it himself.
The post number should be indicated in the delivery address (= addressing of
the parcel).
The prerequisites for the integration of an especially preferred embodiment
are:
~ Defining the street designation
~ Updating the LOS file
~ Informing the central group BDV/LOS about the locations of the alternative
deliv-
ery options
~ Transmitting the post number from the ordering party via the sender to the
Deutsche Post AG
In order to be able to realize a correct addressing of a print order (fax,
letter) at post
points, it is often necessary to implement a field for an alternative delivery
address.
Data to be acquired / transferred
The most important information is the correct delivery address with:
~ The post number
~ Last name, optionally first name (if sufficient space available)
~ Street and number of the desired PACKSTATION
~ Postal code and city of the desired PACKSTATION
CA 02461001 2004-03-18
~ The post number entered into the delivery basis by the in-house personnel
The examples presented show preferred embodiments of the method for sending
postal
parcels.
Thanks to the transition from the first-selected provisional delivery address
to the final
delivery address, a flexible sending of the postal parcels to the recipient in
question can
be realized.
This also makes it possible for the recipient to designate other persons as
the recipient.
For example, a customer who is unable to receive a parcel or to pick it up
from an elec-
tronic parcel compartment system can inform a server that is centrally
integrated into
the process - preferably a web server - about another person as the recipient
by entering
identifying information about said person, if possible, in encrypted form.
In this manner, another person rather than the originally designated recipient
can
retrieve a parcel from an electronic parcel compartment system during a
prescribed time
period without there being a need for the other recipient to know the customer
identification information of the first recipient, which is supposed to be
kept secret.
