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 - 67 . (canceled) 
   
   
       68 . A system for processing delivery item information by a primary identification code server, comprising:
 a receiving component configured to receive an identification file corresponding to a delivery item from an image control unit, wherein the identification file contains a file identification code and a file delivery code;   a determining component configured to determine whether the identification file corresponds to a local service area table file;   an updating component configured to update an Electronic Shipping Office, if the identification file does not correspond to the local service area table file, wherein the updating component further comprises:
 a transmitting component configured to transmit the local service area table file to the Electronic Shipping Office; and 
 a sending component configured to send the identification file to the Electronic Shipping Office; and 
 a storing component configured to store the identification file in a lookup table, if the identification file corresponds to the local service area table file. 
   
   
   
       69 . The system of  claim 68 , wherein the file identification code is an ID tag. 
   
   
       70 . The system of  claim 68 , wherein the file delivery code is POSTNET code. 
   
   
       71 . A system for processing delivery item information by a primary identification code server, comprising:
 means for receiving an identification file corresponding to a delivery item from an image control unit, wherein the identification file contains a file identification code and a file delivery code;   means for determining whether the identification file corresponds to a local service area table file;   means for updating an Electronic Shipping Office, if the identification file does not correspond to the local service area table file, wherein the updating means further comprises:
 means for transmitting the local service area table file to the Electronic Shipping Office; and 
 means for sending the identification file to the Electronic Shipping Office; and 
 means for storing the identification file in a lookup table, if the identification file corresponds to the local service area table file. 
   
   
   
       72 . A computer usable medium having computer readable code embodied therein for processing delivery item information by a primary identification code server, the computer readable code comprising:
 a receiving module configured to receive an identification file corresponding to a delivery item from an image control unit, wherein the identification file contains a file identification code and a file delivery code;   a determining module configured to determine whether the identification file corresponds to a local service area table file;   an updating module configured to update an Electronic Shipping Office, if the identification file does not correspond to the local service area table file, wherein the updating module further comprises:
 a transmitting module configured to transmit the local service area table file to the Electronic Shipping Office; and 
 a sending module configured to send the identification file to the Electronic Shipping Office; and 
 a storing module configured to store the identification file in a lookup table, if the identification file corresponds to the local service area table file. 
   
   
   
       73 . A method of processing delivery item information by an Electronic Shipping Office, comprising the steps of:
 receiving an identification file from a transmitting primary identification code server, wherein the identification file contains an identification code and a delivery code;   storing the identification file in a storage buffer; and   updating a receiving primary identification code server, wherein the updating step further comprises the substeps of:
 receiving a local service area table file corresponding to the receiving primary identification code server; 
 matching the identification file to the local service area table file; 
 storing the identification file in a primary identification code server table; and 
 sending the primary identification code server table to the receiving primary identification code server. 
   
   
   
       74 . The method of  claim 73 , further comprising the steps of:
 generating a national service area table file; and   sending the national service area table file to the receiving primary identification code server.   
   
   
       75 . The method of  claim 73 , wherein the identification code is an ID tag. 
   
   
       76 . The method of  claim 73 , wherein the delivery code is a POSTNET code. 
   
   
       77 . The method of  claim 73 , wherein the identification file further comprises an image capture time. 
   
   
       78 . The method of  claim 73 , wherein the identification file further comprises a plurality of status bits that indicate aspects of the identification file. 
   
   
       79 . A system for processing delivery item information by an Electronic Shipping Office, comprising:
 an identification file receiving component configured to receive an identification file from a transmitting primary identification code server, wherein the identification file contains an identification code and a delivery code;   a storing component configured to store the identification file in a storage buffer; and   an updating component configured to update a receiving primary identification code server, wherein the updating component further comprises:
 a local service area table file receiving component configured to receive a local service area table file corresponding to the receiving primary identification code server; 
 a matching component configured to match the identification file to the local service area table file; 
 a storing component configured to store the identification file in a primary identification code server table; and 
 a primary identification code server table sending component configured to send the primary identification code server table to the receiving primary identification code server. 
   
   
   
       80 . The system of  claim 79 , further comprising:
 a generating component configured to generate a national service area table file; and   a national service area table file sending component configured to send the national service area table file to the receiving primary identification code server.   
   
   
       81 . The system of  claim 79 , wherein the identification code is an ID tag. 
   
   
       82 . The system of  claim 79 , wherein the delivery code is a POSTNET code. 
   
   
       83 . The system of  claim 79 , wherein the identification file further comprises an image capture time. 
   
   
       84 . The system of  claim 79 , wherein the identification file further comprises a plurality of status bits that indicate aspects of the identification file. 
   
   
       85 . A system for processing delivery item information by an Electronic Shipping Office, comprising:
 means for receiving an identification file from a transmitting primary identification code server, wherein the identification file contains an identification code and a delivery code;   means for storing the identification file in a storage buffer; and   means for updating a receiving primary identification code server, wherein the updating means further comprises:
 means for receiving a local service area table file corresponding to the receiving primary identification code server; 
 means for matching the identification file to the local service area table file; 
 means for storing the identification file in a primary identification code server table; and 
 means for sending the primary identification code server table to the receiving primary identification code server. 
   
   
   
       86 . A computer usable medium having computer readable code embodied therein for processing delivery item information by an Electronic Shipping Office, the computer readable code comprising:
 an identification file receiving module configured to receive an identification file from a transmitting primary identification code server, wherein the identification file contains an identification code and a delivery code;   a storing module configured to store the identification file in a storage buffer; and   an updating module configured to update a receiving primary identification code server, wherein the updating module further comprises:
 a local service area table file receiving module configured to receive a local service area table file corresponding to the receiving primary identification code server; 
 a matching module configured to match the identification file to the local service area table file; 
 a storing module configured to store the identification file in a primary identification code server table; and 
 a primary identification code server table sending module configured to send the primary identification code server table to the receiving primary identification code server.