Apparatus and methods for processing mailpiece information by an identification code server

Abstract

Apparatus and methods consistent with the present invention provide for processing delivery item information in an identification code sorting system by an identification code server. In one embodiment, a primary identification code server receives an identification file containing identification information uniquely corresponding to a delivery item. In this embodiment, the primary identification code server processes the delivery item information and may send the identification file to a secondary identification code server. In another embodiment, a secondary identification code server receives an identification file from a primary identification code server and processes the delivery item information.

1 . A method of processing delivery item information by a secondary identification code server, comprising the steps of:
 receiving a data file from a primary identification code server, wherein the data file contains an identification file; and   resolving delivery item information for a delivery item using the identification file, where the delivery item is identified by an item processing device using an identification code.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the item processing device is a bar code sorter. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the identification file contains a file identification code and a file delivery code. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the identification code is an ID tag. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the file identification code is an ID tag. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the file delivery code is a POSTNET code. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the primary identification code server is a PICS server. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the data file is a SICS_ZIP data file. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the identification file further includes an image capture time. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the identification file further includes a plurality of status bits that indicate aspects of the identification file. 
   
   
       11 . A computer usable medium having computer readable code embodied therein for processing delivery item information by a secondary identification code server, the computer readable code comprising:
 a receiving module configured to receive a data file from a primary identification code server, wherein the data file contains an identification file; and   a resolving module configured to resolve delivery item information for a delivery item using the identification file, where the delivery item is identified by an item processing device using an identification code.