Address matching

Abstract

A method and system for providing address matching consistent with the invention includes comparing the address against a plurality of address records in a database, wherein the database comprises at least one of the following: a delivery point database ( 505 ) and an enhanced delivery point database ( 705 ). In addition, the method and system include providing output data indicating whether the address has been matched to at least one of the plurality of address records in the database.

1 - 27 . (canceled)  
   
   
       28 . A method for matching an address, comprising: 
 comparing the address against a plurality of address records in a database, wherein the database comprises at least one of a delivery point database and an enhanced delivery point database;    verifying whether a delivery point exists; and    providing output data indicating whether the address matched at least one of the plurality of address records in the database.    
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the plurality of address records in the delivery point database comprises correct addresses for a corresponding plurality of delivery points.  
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the plurality of address records in the enhanced delivery point database comprises correct addresses for a corresponding plurality of delivery points, each of the plurality of address records including a delivery point identification key.  
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the delivery point identification key comprises a delivery point key, a record type, and at least one of a base record flag and an alternate record flag.  
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the delivery point key indicates a time of creation of the delivery point identification key, and the delivery point key includes a sequence number corresponding to a sequence position within the time.  
   
   
       33 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the delivery point key indicates a year, a month, a day, an hour, a minute, and a second of creation of the delivery point identification key, and the delivery point key includes a sequence number corresponding to a time within the second corresponding to the creation of the delivery point identification key.  
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the record type indicates that the address is one of a street address, a rural route box, a post office box, a general delivery address, a high rise address, and a firm address.  
   
   
       35 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the base record flag indicates that the enhanced delivery point database does not contain an alternative address record corresponding to the delivery point.  
   
   
       36 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the alternate record flag indicates that the enhanced delivery point database contains an alternative address record corresponding to the delivery point.  
   
   
       37 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the output data includes a verification of validity of the address.  
   
   
       38 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the output data includes a correction of the address.  
   
   
       39 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein the output data includes a completion of the address.  
   
   
       40 . The method of  claim 28 , further comprising: 
 providing the database to a delivery system user.    
   
   
       41 . A system for matching an address, comprising: 
 a component for comparing the address against a plurality of address records in a database, wherein the database comprises at least one of a delivery point database and an enhanced delivery point database;    a component for verifying whether a delivery point exists; and    a component for providing output data indicating whether the address has been matched to at least one of the plurality of address records in the database.    
   
   
       42 . The system of  claim 41 , wherein the plurality of address records in the delivery point database comprises correct addresses for a corresponding plurality of delivery points.  
   
   
       43 . The system of  claim 41 , wherein the plurality of address records in the enhanced delivery point database comprises correct addresses for a corresponding plurality of delivery points, the plurality of address records including delivery point identification keys.  
   
   
       44 . The system of  claim 43 , wherein the delivery point identification key comprises a delivery point key, a record type and at least one of a base record flag and a alternate record flag.  
   
   
       45 . The system of  claim 44 , wherein the delivery point key indicates a time of creation of the delivery point identification key, and the delivery point key includes a sequence number corresponding to a sequence position within the time.  
   
   
       46 . The system of  claim 44 , wherein the delivery point key indicates a year, a month, a day, an hour, a minute, and a second of creation of the delivery point identification key, and the delivery point key includes a sequence number corresponding to a time within the second corresponding to the creation of the delivery point identification key.  
   
   
       47 . The system of  claim 44 , wherein the record type indicates that an address is one of a street address, a rural route box, a post office box, a general delivery address, a high rise address, and a firm address.  
   
   
       48 . The system of  claim 44 , wherein the base record flag indicates that the enhanced delivery point database does not contains an alternative address record corresponding to the delivery point.  
   
   
       49 . The system of  claim 44 , wherein the alternate record flag indicates that the enhanced delivery point database contains an alternative address record corresponding to the delivery point.  
   
   
       50 . The system of  claim 41 , wherein the output data verifies validity of the address.  
   
   
       51 . The system of  claim 41 , wherein the output data corrects the address.  
   
   
       52 . The system of  claim 41 , wherein the output data completes the address.  
   
   
       53 . The system of  claim 41 , further comprising: 
 a component for providing the database to a delivery system user.    
   
   
       54 . A method for matching an address, comprising: 
 providing a database to a delivery system user, the database comprising a plurality of address records, an address record comprising at least a correct address for a delivery point and a delivery point identification key, the delivery point identification key comprising: 
 a delivery point key including a year, a month, a day, an hour, a minute, and a second of creation of the delivery point identification key, the delivery point key further including a sequence number corresponding to a time within the second corresponding to the creation of the delivery point identification key,  
 a record type indicating that the address is one of a street address, a rural route box, a post office box, a general delivery address, a high rise address, and a firm address, and  
 at least one of a base record flag and a alternate record flag, the base record flag indicating that the database does not contain an alternative address record corresponding to the delivery point, and the alternate record flag indicating that the database contains an alternative address record corresponding to the delivery point;  
   comparing the address against the plurality of address records in the database; and    providing output data indicating whether the address matched at least one of the plurality of address records comprising the database, wherein if the address matched, the output data indicates at least one of a validity of the address, a correction of the address, and a completion of the address.