IP Library Granted Patent US 9,037,661
Granted Patent B2
US 9,037,661 · App. 13/341,955 · Granted May 19, 2015

Systems and methods for providing secure electronic document storage, retrieval and use with matching criteria

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,037,661
App. No.
13/341,955
Granted
May 19, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

Systems and methods for integrated delivery and storage of digital mail are provided that combine consumer driven opt-in preferences with mailer driven matching criteria to ensure more accurate delivery. In one configuration the system obtains a digital mail piece intended for a particular digital mailbox. The system determines user opt-in preferences for the digital mail piece and obtains mailer matching criteria data associated with the digital mail piece. The system then delivers the digital mail piece to the digital mailbox only if consistent with the opt-in preferences and the matching criteria data.

Claims (49)

1. A computer system for delivering digital mail pieces from a mailer to a digital mailbox associated with a user comprising:

a processor operatively connected to a memory, the memory comprising instructions to cause the processor to execute instructions including,

obtaining a digital mail piece intended for the digital mailbox,

determining user opt-in preferences for the digital mail piece,

determining a type for the digital mail piece,

obtaining mailer matching criteria data for the mailer that is associated with the digital mailbox based on the determined type of digital mail piece,

obtaining matching criteria data associated with the digital mail piece, and

delivering the digital mail piece to the digital mailbox only if consistent with the opt-in preferences and the matching criteria data associated with the digital mail piece matches the mailer matching criteria data for the mailer that is associated with the digital mailbox,

wherein if the digital mail piece is configured for digital only delivery and the digital mail piece is not delivered due to inconsistent opt-in preferences or the matching criteria data associated with the digital mail piece does not match the mailer matching criteria data for the mailer that is associated with the digital mailbox, then the processor further executes instructions including processing the digital mail piece for physical delivery.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein,

obtaining matching criteria data associated with the digital mail piece comprises obtaining mail piece metadata.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein,

obtaining matching criteria data associated with the digital mail piece comprises scanning a print stream associated with the mail piece.

4. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:

the processor to execute instructions including:

determining if the determined type includes a bill, and if the determined type includes a bill, then setting the mailer matching criteria data to include an account number.

5. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:

the processor to execute instructions including:

determining if the determined type includes an offer, and if the determined type includes an offer, then setting the mailer matching criteria data to include geographic data.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein,

obtaining a digital mail piece intended for the digital mailbox comprises obtaining a mail piece addressed to a physical address associated with the user.

7. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:

the processor to execute instructions including:

notifying a sender of the digital mail piece of a delivery failure only if the digital mail piece is not delivered due to inconsistent opt-in preferences or the matching criteria data associated with the digital mail piece does not match the mailer matching criteria data for the mailer that is associated with the digital mailbox.

8. The system of claim 1 , further comprising:

the processor to execute instructions including:

sending a notification to the user of a delivery failure only if the digital mail piece is not delivered due to inconsistent opt-in preferences or the matching criteria data associated with the digital mail piece does not match the mailer matching criteria data for the mailer that is associated with the digital mailbox.

9. A computer implemented method for delivering digital mail pieces from a mailer to a digital mailbox associated with a user comprising:

obtaining a digital mail piece intended for the digital mailbox,

determining user opt-in preferences for the digital mail piece,

determining a type associated with the digital mail piece,

obtaining mailer matching criteria data for the mailer that is associated with the digital mailbox based on the determined type of digital mail piece,

obtaining matching criteria data associated with the digital mail piece, and

delivering the digital mail piece to the digital mailbox only if consistent with the opt-in preferences and the matching criteria data associated with the digital mail piece matches the mailer matching criteria data for the mailer that is associated with the digital mailbox,

wherein if the digital mail piece is configured for digital only delivery and the digital mail piece is not delivered due to inconsistent opt-in preferences or the matching criteria data associated with the digital mail piece does not match the mailer matching criteria data for the mailer that is associated with the digital mailbox, then processing the digital mail piece for physical delivery.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein,

obtaining matching criteria data associated with the digital mail piece comprises obtaining mail piece metadata.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein,

obtaining matching criteria data associated with the digital mail piece comprises scanning a print stream associated with the mail piece.

12. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:

determining if the determined type includes a bill, and if the determined type includes a bill, then setting the mailer matching criteria data to include an account number.

13. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:

determining if the determined type includes an offer, and if the determined type includes an offer, then setting the mailer matching criteria data to include geographic data.

14. The method of claim 9 , wherein,

obtaining a digital mail piece intended for the digital mailbox comprises obtaining a mail piece addressed to a physical address associated with the user.

15. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:

notifying a sender of the digital mail piece of a delivery failure only if the digital mail piece is not delivered due to inconsistent opt-in preferences or the matching criteria data associated with the digital mail piece does not match the mailer matching criteria data for the mailer that is associated with the digital mailbox.

16. The method of claim 9 , further comprising:

sending a notification to the user of a delivery failure only if the digital mail piece is not delivered due to inconsistent opt-in preferences or the matching criteria data associated with the digital mail piece does not match the mailer matching criteria data for the mailer that is associated with the digital mailbox.

Assignments (3)
RELEASE OF PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Feb 19, 2025
From: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
To: PITNEY BOWES, INC.
Reel/Frame 070256/0396 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Nov 1, 2019
From: PITNEY BOWES INC.; NEWGISTICS, INC.; BORDERFREE, INC.; TACIT KNOWLEDGE, INC.
To: JPMORGAN CHASE BANK, N.A., AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 050905/0640 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 19, 2012
From: GRACY, BERNARD E.; SAGI, SURYA R.
To: PITNEY BOWES INC.
Reel/Frame 027885/0860 →