Apparatus and methods for reading an identification code from a mailpiece

Abstract

Apparatus and methods consistent with the present invention provide for reading an identification code from a mailpiece. In one embodiment, there are a reader unit and a reader head assembly connected by an optical cable, which provide for the identification of a mailpiece in an identification code sorting system.

1 - 84 . (canceled) 
   
   
       85 . A mail processing system for processing a mailpiece, comprising:
 a mail processing device;   a two-part identification code reader connected to the mail processing device; and   sorter application software for communicating between the mail processing device and an identification code server.   
   
   
       86 . The system of  claim 85 , wherein the mail processing device is a Mail Processing Bar Code Sorter. 
   
   
       87 . The system of  claim 85 , wherein the mail processing device is a Delivery Bar Code Sorter. 
   
   
       88 . The system of  claim 85 , wherein the mail processing device is a Carrier Sequence Bar Code Sorter. 
   
   
       89 . The system of  claim 85 , wherein the mail processing device is an Output Subsystem/Bar Code Sorter. 
   
   
       90 . The system of  claim 85 , wherein the identification code reader is a RBCS ID Tag Reader. 
   
   
       91 . The system of  claim 85 , wherein the identification code reader is a Universal ID Tag Reader. 
   
   
       92 . The system of  claim 85 , wherein the identification code server is a PICS server. 
   
   
       93 . The system of  claim 85 , wherein the identification code server is a SICS server. 
   
   
       94 . A method for processing a mailpiece by a mail processing device, comprising the steps of:
 reading an identification code from the mailpiece, using a two-part identification code reader;   transmitting the identification code to an identification code server, via sorter application software; and   processing mailpiece information between the mail processing device and the identification code server, via the sorter application software.   
   
   
       95 . The method of  claim 94 , wherein the mail processing device is a Mail Processing Bar Code Sorter. 
   
   
       96 . The method of  claim 94 , wherein the mail processing device is a Delivery Bar Code Sorter. 
   
   
       97 . The method of  claim 94 , wherein the mail processing device is a Carrier Sequence Bar Code Sorter. 
   
   
       98 . The method of  claim 94 , wherein the mail processing device is an Output Subsystem/Bar Code Sorter. 
   
   
       99 . The system of  claim 94 , wherein the identification code reader is a RBCS ID Tag Reader. 
   
   
       100 . The method of  claim 94 , wherein the identification code reader is a Universal ID Tag Reader. 
   
   
       101 . The method of  claim 94 , wherein the identification code server is a PICS server. 
   
   
       102 . The method of  claim 94 , wherein the identification code server is a SICS server. 
   
   
       103 . A system for processing a mailpiece by a mail processing device, comprising:
 a reading component configured to read an identification code from the mailpiece, using a two-part identification code reader;   a transmitting component configured to transmit the identification code to an identification code server, via sorter application software; and   a processing component configured to process mailpiece information between the mail processing device and the identification code server, via the sorter application software.   
   
   
       104 . The system of  claim 103 , wherein the mail processing device is a Mail Processing Bar Code Sorter. 
   
   
       105 . The system of  claim 103 , wherein the mail processing device is a Delivery Bar Code Sorter. 
   
   
       106 . The system of  claim 103 , wherein the mail processing device is a Carrier Sequence Bar Code Sorter. 
   
   
       107 . The system of  claim 103 , wherein the mail processing device is an Output Subsystem/Bar Code Sorter. 
   
   
       108 . The system of  claim 103 , wherein the identification code reader is a RBCS ID Tag Reader. 
   
   
       109 . The system of  claim 103 , wherein the identification code reader is a Universal ID Tag Reader. 
   
   
       110 . The system of  claim 103 , wherein the identification code server is a PICS server. 
   
   
       111 . The system of  claim 103 , wherein the identification code server is a SICS server. 
   
   
       112 . A system for processing a mailpiece by a mail processing device, comprising:
 means for reading an identification code from the mailpiece, using a two-part identification code reader;   means for transmitting the identification code to an identification code server, via sorter application software; and   means for processing mailpiece information between the mail processing device and the identification code server, via the sorter application software.   
   
   
       113 . A computer usable medium having computer readable code embodied therein for processing a mailpiece by a mail processing device, the computer readable code comprising:
 a reading module configured to read an identification code from the mailpiece, using a two-part identification code reader;   a transmitting module configured to transmit the identification code to an identification code server, via sorter application software; and   a processing module configured to process mailpiece information between the mail processing device and the identification code server, via the sorter application software.