Raymond E Lee

US Patent:

6945458, Sep 20, 2005

Filed:

Jul 29, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/631042

Inventors:

Niren Shah - Palatine IL, US
Tony S. Chan - Northbrook IL, US
Raymond W. Lee - Chicago IL, US
Daniel J. Parenti - Chicago IL, US

Assignee:

Bowe Bell + Howell Postage Systems Company - Lincolnwood IL

International Classification:

G06K015/00
G06F017/60

US Classification:

235385, 235383

Abstract:

An apparatus and method for use in a networked postal computing environment for centralizing collected data and generating post processing reports to facilitate near real-time access of selected data by authorized users, and involving the steps of collecting data from a plurality of networked mail processing apparatus operating in a mail processing environment. The collected data is transmitted to a data collection and processing server, having a web interface application, for storage in an associated database. The data collection and processing server preferably provide secure user access via a user web browser application. A user can then request retrieval of selected data stored in the database to the data collection and processing server. The selected data is then retrieved and one or more interactive web pages with the selected data are generated and presented to the user. The collected data relates to mail job data, mailer data, and operation and performance data for mail verification apparatus.

US Patent:

6954729, Oct 11, 2005

Filed:

Jan 26, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/770984

Inventors:

Raymond Lee - Chicago IL, US
Lee Bourek - Richardson TX, US
Tony Chan - Northbrook IL, US
Amit Shah - Mount Prospect IL, US

Assignee:

Bowe Bell & Howell Postal Systems Company - Wheeling IL

International Classification:

G06F017/60

US Classification:

705 1, 705401

Abstract:

A computerized method for learning a delivery point of a first mail piece by using unmatched and/or unused data from at least one other mail piece is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of: (a) capturing a text string from said other mail piece using capture means; (b) comparing said text string to a first set of preexisting data in an address database to determine a match for said other mail piece according to a first set of predetermined rules; (c) separating the matched and used data from the unmatched and unused data for said other mail piece determined by step (b); and (d)correlating said unmatched and/or unused data from said other mail piece to a second set of preexisting data relating to said first mail piece according to a second set of predetermined rules, wherein upon the presentation of a third mail piece to the capture means with the same intended delivery point as the first mail piece and having similar unmatched and/or unused data as the at least one other mail piece, the correct point of delivery for the third mail piece can be automatically determined. The invention further comprises a computerized system for learning a delivery point of a first mail piece by using unmatched data from at least one other mail piece, comprising: (a) means for capturing a data string of address information from said other mail piece; (b) a directory retrieval system database comprising a set of preexisting data relating to said other mail piece and further comprising means for separating matched data from the unmatched data; (c) a tag database comprising the unmatched data; (d) a tag archive; (e) means for correlating the unmatched data to the set of preexisting data according to a plurality of predetermined rules; (f) a rules database comprising said plurality of predetermined rules; and (g) a learning database to determine said delivery point of said first mail piece upon its presentation to the capture means after said other mail piece has been processed by the system.

US Patent:

7987141, Jul 26, 2011

Filed:

Jan 27, 2006

Appl. No.:

11/340835

Inventors:

Raymond Lee - Chicago IL, US

Assignee:

Bowe Bell & Howell Company - Durham NC

International Classification:

G06Q 30/00
G06F 7/00
B29C 65/00
B32B 37/00

US Classification:

705337, 700230, 156DIG 1, 156DIG 28, 156DIG 33, 156598

Abstract:

The present subject matter relates to a method and system for labeling a mail piece, and more specifically, to the application of variable sized labels to mail pieces based on the contents of the label and real-time mail processing information. More particularly, the present approach involves calculating expected label preparation time based on configuration of a labeler and printer timing information and/or real-time performance measurements to determine execution of information content printing, label feeding and cutting.

US Patent:

8129646, Mar 6, 2012

Filed:

May 15, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/467043

Inventors:

Raymond Lee - Chicago IL, US
Brian Bowers - Mundelein IL, US
Gary Van Ermen - Palatine IL, US
Steven Seburn - Buffalo Grove IL, US
Paul Kostyniuk - Wilmette IL, US

Assignee:

Bell and Howell, LLC - Durham NC

International Classification:

B07C 5/00

US Classification:

209584, 209583, 209900, 700219, 700224, 700226, 705406, 705407, 705409, 705410

Abstract:

The present subject matter relates generally to techniques and/or equipment for validating mail items within a mail processing system. Sort scheme data and mail item identification data are loaded into the mail processing system. The mail item identification data includes a mail owner identification value and a unique mail item identifier. Then, mail item identification data is acquired from each of the mail items processed in the system and validated against the loaded mail item identification data. The method may involve storing mail item validation data. The mail items are sorted in accordance with the loaded sort scheme data. Further, the present subject matter relates generally to building reports based on the information derived from the techniques and/or equipment utilized therein.

US Patent:

8249997, Aug 21, 2012

Filed:

May 18, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/467893

Inventors:

Raymond Lee - Palatine IL, US
Brian Bowers - Mundelein IL, US
Paul Kostyniuk - Wilmette IL, US

Assignee:

Bell and Howell, LLC - Durham NC

International Classification:

G06Q 30/00
G06F 7/00

US Classification:

705332, 700217

Abstract:

A computer coupled to a mail processing device enables sort schemes having associated sort parameters, particularly mail item sort schemes and an associated pallet scheme providing pallet location designations for mail items sorted in accord with one or more of the sort schemes. A mailing job to be run by the mail processing device as well as an execution or dispatch date of the mailing job are selected or otherwise identified. Based on mailing criteria corresponding to the mailing job, a server or other computer associated within the mail processing device retrieves a pallet scheme and a one or more mail sort schemes. One or more pallet location designations associated with the sort scheme(s) are updated, based on the pallet scheme. The mail processing device is run on the mailing job, based on said one or more enabled sort schemes.

US Patent:

8311668, Nov 13, 2012

Filed:

Oct 19, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/581523

Inventors:

Raymond Lee - Palatine IL, US
Brian Bowers - Mundelein IL, US

Assignee:

Bell and Howell, LLC - Durham NC

International Classification:

G06F 7/00
G06K 9/00

US Classification:

700226, 700221, 700223, 700224, 700225, 700227

Abstract:

Systems, methods, and an article of manufacture for automatically configuring a feeder system of a mail sorting system are shown and described. The feeder system is configured in accordance with a customer's mailing parameters. This improves the performance of the mail sorting system. In various examples, customer information associated with a processing job is received. A feeder profile is also received. The feeder system is automatically configured according to parameters of one or more of the customer information and feeder profile.

US Patent:

8392337, Mar 5, 2013

Filed:

Apr 20, 2009

Appl. No.:

12/426484

Inventors:

Raymond Lee - Palatine IL, US
Brian Bowers - Mundelein IL, US

Assignee:

Bell and Howell, LLC - Durham NC

International Classification:

G06Q 30/00
G06Q 10/00

US Classification:

705330, 706 712

Abstract:

The present teachings relate to a method and system for the processing of mail items within a multiple device document processing environment to ensure generation of unique mail items. The present teachings provides for an improved system and method for assigning and maintaining unique mail item identifiers and processing of the unique mail items in a multiple mail processing device environment to qualify for maximum postal work sharing discounts.

US Patent:

20060167877, Jul 27, 2006

Filed:

Nov 18, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/281728

Inventors:

Raymond Lee - Chicago IL, US
Ark Nieckarz - Palatine IL, US

International Classification:

G06F 7/00
G06F 17/30

US Classification:

707007000

Abstract:

The present subject matter relates to automated mail processing techniques for the sorting of in-bound mail for distribution within a large company or enterprise. More particularly, the present subject matter relates to the automated processing of an incoming mail stream by transforming gathered address mail information from the in-bound mail into a final sort code for efficient sorting of in-bound mail. Internal mail delivery point data is imported from an address database of an enterprise and converted into a database compatible format. Address components based on the internal mail delivery point data are identified by filters. The identified address components from the converted internal mail delivery point data are populated into one or more fields of records in a reader database.