Michael C Swift

US Patent:

7741575, Jun 22, 2010

Filed:

Aug 9, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/199259

Inventors:

Brian C. Bowers - Mundelein IL, US
Steven J. Krejcik - Brookfield IL, US
Walter S. Conard - Lake Villa IL, US
Michael R. Swift - Libertyville IL, US

Assignee:

Bowe Bell + Howell Company - Durham NC

International Classification:

G06K 9/00

US Classification:

209584, 209583, 382101

Abstract:

Mail processing methods and techniques for sorting and commingling mail from various mail sources including the tracking of the mail pieces through processing. Such tracking entails uniquely identifying each mail piece, received in batches from the mail sources, and recording the unique identification of each mail piece. The received mail is sorted and commingled in a first pass, to form first collections, and each first collection is loaded into a uniquely identified mail container. For each respective mail piece, the tracking entails recording an association of the unique identification of one of the mail containers into which it is likely the respective mail piece is sorted on the first pass. After processing is complete, postal and client reports can be adjusted based on actual first pass counts.

US Patent:

8063332, Nov 22, 2011

Filed:

Apr 1, 2008

Appl. No.:

12/078499

Inventors:

Brian C. Bowers - Mundelein IL, US
Steven J. Krejcik - Brookefield IL, US
Walter S. Conard - Lake Villa IL, US
Michael R. Swift - Libertyville IL, US

Assignee:

Bell and Howell, LLC - Durham NC

International Classification:

G06K 9/00

US Classification:

209584, 209552, 209583, 209900

Abstract:

Mail processing methods and techniques for sorting and commingling mail from various mail sources including the tracking of the mail pieces through the processing. Such tracking entails uniquely identifying each mail piece, received in batches from the mail sources, and recording the unique identification of each mail piece. The received mail is sorted and commingled in a first pass, to form first collections, and each first collection is loaded into a uniquely identified mail container. For each respective mail piece, the tracking entails recording an association of the unique identification of one of the mail containers into which it is likely the respective mail piece is sorted on the first pass. After processing is complete, postal and client reports can be adjusted based on actual final pass counts.

US Patent:

8301297, Oct 30, 2012

Filed:

Mar 3, 2010

Appl. No.:

12/716644

Inventors:

Brian Bowers - Mundelein IL, US
Michael Swift - Libertyville IL, US

Assignee:

Bell and Howell, LLC - Durham NC

International Classification:

G06F 7/00
G06K 9/00

US Classification:

700226, 700224, 700219, 209583, 209584

Abstract:

The present application relates to a system and method for sorting mailpieces prior to their delivery to the postal authority. The system and method allow for the running of different first pass sort schemes on multiple sorters in a sorting facility without stopping operations for no-count mode, without losing mailpiece tracking, or waiting for all first pass sorting to complete before re-running the mail that was not sorted to the finest depth of sorting. With the present application, mailpieces that can be run a second time can be run concurrently during first pass without the high risk no-count mode or loss of data integrity.

US Patent:

20170243038, Aug 24, 2017

Filed:

Feb 21, 2017

Appl. No.:

15/438425

Inventors:

- Durham NC, US
Michael R. Swift - Libertyville IL, US
Steven Seburn - Buffalo Grove IL, US

International Classification:

G06K 7/10
G06K 7/14

Abstract:

A method, system, and non-transitory computer readable medium for generating an error reconciliation report include receiving operational input data obtained by one or more automated sensors, as well as receiving electronic data records, in the form of one or more IMb data sources, for each mail piece from manufacturing processes, during mail processing; receiving an error report, which comprises a list of Intelligent Mailer barcodes (IMbs) alleged to contain errors associated therewith, wherein the error report is generated automatically by a postal authority; loading the operational input data and the error report into an IMb database; providing an error reconciliation processor in electrical communication with the IMb database; comparing, using the error reconciliation processor, the operational input data against the list of IMbs from the error report against one or more criteria; and generating an error reconciliation report, which comprises results of the comparing step.