(12) United States Patent
`Krause et a].
`
`(10) Patent N0.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 8,195,575 B2
`Jun. 5, 2012
`
`US008195575B2
`
`(54)
`
`(75)
`
`SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING
`CHANGE OF ADDRESS SERVICES OVER A
`NETWORK
`
`Inventors: Robert Krause, Severna Park, MD
`(US); Wayne H. Orbke, Germantown,
`TN (U S); Michael Selnick, Reston, VA
`(US); Michael Murphy, Collierville, TN
`(US); Harry W. Aldstadt, Woodbridge,
`VA (US); Audrey K. Conley Williams,
`Memphis, TN (US); Gerald Matthews,
`Germantown, TN (US); Pat Matthews,
`legal representative, Gerrnantown, TN
`(Us)
`
`(73)
`
`Assignee: United States Postal Service,
`Washington, DC (US)
`
`(56)
`
`References Cited
`
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`4,970,655 A 11/1990 Winn et al.
`5,146,403 A
`9/1992 Goodman
`5,581,749 A * 12/1996 Hossain et a1. ..................... .. l/l
`6,457,012 B1
`9/2002 Jatkowski
`6,549,892 B1
`4/2003 Sansone
`6,654,779 B1 * ll/2003 Tsuei .......................... .. 718/101
`6,741,724 B1
`5/2004 Bruce et al.
`7,904,197 B2 *
`3/2011 Wilson et al. ............... .. 700/224
`2001/0037463 A1 ll/200l Salta
`2002/0029248 A1
`3/2002 Cook et a1.
`2002/0103697 A1
`8/2002 Lockhart et a1.
`2003/0046103 A1 *
`3/2003 Amato et al. ................... .. 705/1
`2003/0074324 A1
`4/2003 Kresina et al.
`(Continued)
`
`(*)
`
`Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days.
`
`EP
`
`(21)
`
`(22)
`
`(65)
`
`(62)
`
`(60)
`
`(51)
`
`(52)
`(58)
`
`Appl. N0.: 12/833,699
`
`Filed:
`
`Jul. 9, 2010
`
`Prior Publication Data
`
`US 2010/0281529 A1
`
`Nov. 4, 2010
`
`Related US. Application Data
`
`Division of application No. 09/839,241, ?led on Apr.
`23, 2001, noW Pat. No. 7,778,840.
`Provisional application No. 60/198,818, ?led on Apr.
`21, 2000.
`
`Int. Cl.
`(2012.01)
`G06Q 20/00
`US. Cl. ............................. .. 705/67; 705/64; 705/75
`Field of Classi?cation Search .................. .. 705/67,
`705/ 64, 75
`See application ?le for complete search history.
`
`609
`Postmaster
`
`608
`Delivery Unit
`
`608
`CFS/FCS Unit
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`0 854 449
`7/1998
`(Continued)
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`Of?ce Action, mailed Mar. 30, 2011, for US. Appl. No. ll/386,76l,
`?led Mar. 23, 2006 (15 pages).
`
`(Continued)
`
`Primary Examiner * Pierre E Elisca
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm * Finnegan, Henderson,
`Farabow, Garrett & Dunner, LLP
`
`ABSTRACT
`(57)
`This disclosure describes systems and methods for collecting
`and processing change of address data and providing change
`of address services to a customer using a computer network.
`The address data can include a physical address, an electronic
`address, or both. The systems and methods may also provide
`additional services to the customer to assist in changing
`addresses.
`
`9 Claims, 22 Drawing Sheets
`
`Value Added 604
`.
`Local
`Database
`
`603
`
`602
`
`601
`
`ICOA
`Server
`
`613
`Customer
`“222:2? ~
`
`605
`
`-
`Nah‘onal
`Database
`
`611
`
`National
`Address
`Correctlon
`Serviues
`
`USPS
`lniernal
`Operations
`
`Page 1
`
`RMI EXHIBIT 2022
`CBM2014-00116
`
`

`
`US 8,195,575 B2
`Page 2
`
`US. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`2006/0167822 A1
`7/2006 Krause et al.
`2006/0184269 A1* 8/2006 Wilson et al. ............... .. 700/215
`
`JP
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`11-298520
`10/1999
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`Of?ce Action, mailed Oct. 7, 2010, for US. Appl. No. 11/386,761,
`?led Mar. 23, 2006 (18 pages).
`Of?ce Action (Advisory Action), mailed Aug. 31, 2010, for US.
`Appl. No. 11/386,761, ?led Mar. 23, 2006 (2 pages).
`Anonymous, “HotData: HotData Launches New Internet Service for
`Automated Data Access,” Dialog File 810: Business Wire, Jul. 29,
`1998 (5 pages).
`“Change of Address, If You’re MovingiYou’ll Need It,” https://
`www.movecentral.com/addresscentral/about.pl, Website dated May
`20, 1999 (3 pages).
`“Change of Address Order Form,” https://WWW.digiWeb.com/~hth/
`orders.html, Website dated Mar. 24, 1999 (4 pages).
`“Sample Form: Change of Address Form,” https;://movecentral.com/
`addresscentral/samplepl, Website dated May 20, 1999 (2 pages).
`“CitiHabitats, InciRelocation Services Division,” http://WWW.citi
`habitats.com/relocations/necessities.htrnl, Website dated Mar. 24,
`1999 (1 page).
`Lubenow, Joe, “Postal Alert! Have You SurvivedYour Move Update
`Requirements?” Target Marketing, vol. 20, No. 8, Aug. 1997 (3
`pages).
`“Moving and Relocation Resources by Rent Net,” http://WWW.rent.
`net/ ctg/ c gi -bin/ Re. . .AK8EAAL/ ?brand:&Page:MovingService,
`Website dated Apr. 18, 2000 (2 pages).
`
`“Moving.ComiThe One Stop Solution for Your Moving Needs,”
`http://WWW.moving.com/, Website dated Mar. 24, 1999 (1 page).
`“Moving.ComiThe One Stop Solution for Your Moving Needs,”
`http://WWW.moving.com/advertiseasp, Website dated Mar. 24, 1999
`(1 page).
`“National Home Connections,” http://WWW.rent.net/ads/nhc/,
`Website dated Apr. 18, 2000 (4 pages).
`International Search Report for PCT/US01/40574, dated Nov. 19,
`2001 (7 pages).
`Of?ce Action, dated Apr. 29, 2005, for US. Appl. No. 09/839,241,
`?led Apr. 23, 2001 (13 pgs.).
`Of?ce Action, dated Dec. 2, 2005, for US. Appl. No. 09/839,241,
`?led Apr. 23, 2001 (18 pgs.).
`Of?ce Action, dated Apr. 27, 2007, for US. Appl. No. 09/839,241,
`?led Apr. 23, 2001 (6 pgs.).
`Of?ce Action, dated Jan. 11, 2008, for US. Appl. No. 09/839,241,
`?led Apr. 23, 2001 (7 pgs.).
`Of?ce Action, dated Nov. 5, 2008, for US. Appl. No. 09/839,241,
`?led Apr. 23, 2001 (8 pgs.).
`Of?ce Action, dated Oct. 23, 2009, for US. Appl. No. 09/839,241,
`?led Apr. 23, 2001 (9 pgs.).
`Notice of Allowance and Allowability, dated Apr. 19, 2010, for US.
`Appl. No. 09/839,241, ?led Apr. 23, 2001 (6 pages), With Reply to
`Of?ce Action, ?ed Jan. 25, 2010, including listing of allowed claims
`(35 pages).
`Of?ce Action, dated Oct. 5, 2009, for US. Appl. No. 11/386,761,
`?led Mar. 23, 2006 (15 pages).
`Final Of?ce Action, dated May 12, 2010, for US. Appl. No.
`11/386,761, ?led Mar. 23, 2006 (16 pages).
`Of?ce Action, dated Aug. 16, 2011, for US. Appl. No. 11/386,761
`(17 pages).
`* cited by examiner
`
`Page 2
`
`

`
`US. Patent
`
`Jun. 5, 2012
`
`Sheet 1 0122
`
`US 8,195,575 B2
`
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`US. Patent
`
`Jun. 5, 2012
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`Jun. 5, 2012
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`US 8,195,575 B2
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`U.S. Patent
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`Jun. 5, 2012
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`U.S. Patent
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`Jun. 5, 2012
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`US. Patent
`
`Jun. 5, 2012
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`US 8,195,575 B2
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`US. Patent
`
`Jun. 5, 2012
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`

`
`US. Patent
`
`Jun. 5, 2012
`
`Sheet 11 0122
`
`US 8,195,575 B2
`
`Customer
`Files
`COA
`Information
`
`Cusjtomer
`Hes
`Credit
`Card
`Information
`
`“T.-
`‘
`7
`
`.
`
`“
`
`1Stage 1
`
`1Stage 2
`
`Customer
`Rece'vgs
`E'ma"
`Con?rmation
`With Customer
`Response
`Required
`1Stage 5 1Stage 6
`
`Customer
`Sends
`Ema“
`Con?rmation
`
`24 Hours to Respond
`Second E-mail Message Sent
`24 Hours to Respond
`
`Third Party Credit
`Card Veri?er Performs
`Address Con?rmation
`and Credit Card
`Intelligence
`Veri?cation, and
`Sends E-mail
`Con?rmation if Both
`Succeed
`
`7‘Stage 4
`
`Ill"
`
`Sta e7
`I g
`
`NCSC Adds COA
`Information to USPS
`Address Correction
`Services, Internal
`Operations, and
`Customer
`Correspondence
`Services Mails a Move
`Validation Letter to
`Customer's Old
`Address
`
`lCOA
`Sewer Performs
`Internal Fraud
`Check
`
`Figure 11
`
`Page 13
`
`

`
`US. Patent
`
`Jun. 5, 2012
`
`Sheet 12 0f 22
`
`US 8,195,575 B2
`
`New Address
`Noti?cation %\
`Services
`1201
`
`Tools I
`1206
`
`Household
`Services
`
`Purchasing
`Services I
`1207
`
`604
`
`1202
`
`Moving
`Services
`
`11203
`
`Financial
`Services
`
`11208
`
`e-mail
`Forwarding
`Services
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`Establish USPS
`Eiectronic
`Account
`11209
`
`11204
`
`
`$122322‘ .
`Servlces
`
`11205
`
`Services
`
`11210
`
`Other Services 11211
`
`Fig.12
`
`Page 14
`
`

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`US. Patent
`
`Jun. 5, 2012
`
`Sheet 13 0f 22
`
`US 8,195,575 B2
`
`Customer
`Chooses Value Added
`Service
`
`Stage 130
`1
`
`USPS Creates
`
`Record Using
`COA Information
`
`USPS Hosts
`
`Site for Service (e.g.,
`Portals, Af?liates)
`
`.
`
`.
`
`.
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`'9"
`
`;
`Stage 1302
`
`a
`Stage 1302
`
`Stage 1307
`
`Supplemental
`Information
`Speci?ed?
`
`No
`
`Stage 1305
`
`USPS
`Transmits Record &
`Supplemental Information
`(if speci?ed) to Service
`(e.g., Utility)
`)m
`Stage 1306
`
`USPS Gathers
`Supplemental Information
`Speci?c to Service (e.g.,
`SSN, Account #)
`I
`Stage 1304
`
`Fig. 13
`
`Page 15
`
`

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`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 5, 2012
`
`Sheet 14 0f 22
`
`US 8,195,575 B2
`
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`

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`U.S. Patent
`
`Jun. 5, 2012
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`Sheet 15 of 22
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`US 8,195,575 B2
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`US. Patent
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`Jun. 5, 2012
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`US 8,195,575 B2
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`Page 24
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`

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`US 8,195,575 B2
`
`1
`SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PROVIDING
`CHANGE OF ADDRESS SERVICES OVERA
`NETWORK
`
`RELATED APPLICATION
`
`This is a divisional ofU.S. application Ser. No. 09/839,241,
`filedApr. 23, 2001 now U.S. Pat. No. 7,778,840, which claims
`priority to U. S. Provisional Application No. 60/198,818, filed
`Apr. 21, 2000. This application is also related to U.S. appli-
`cation Ser. No. 1 1/386,761, filed Mar. 23, 2006. The contents
`of these applications are incorporated herein by reference.
`
`I. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`A. Field of the Invention
`
`The present invention relates to systems and methods for
`providing change of address services to a customer. More
`particularly, the invention relates to systems and methods for
`collecting and processing change of address data and provid-
`ing change of address services to a postal customer using a
`computer network.
`B. Description of the Related Art
`The United States Postal Service (USPS) is an independent
`government agency that provides mail delivery and other
`services to the public. The USPS delivers mail using a recipi-
`ent’s address on a mailpiece. If the address is incomplete or
`incorrect, mail delivery is delayed, and the USPS incurs labor
`and financial costs in forwarding the mailpiece to the correct
`address. Inaccurate addresses adversely affect the postal cus-
`tomer, the USPS, and the mailing industry.
`Approximately forty million postal customers move each
`year, and each move may require a change in a postal cus-
`tomer’s mailing address. Traditionally, a moving postal cus-
`tomer must complete, sign, and submit a change of address
`form to the USPS. The change of address form cannot be
`processed until the postal customer signs the form, because
`the signature provides authorization and orders the USPS to
`forward the customer’s mail to the new address. Because this
`
`process relies on a physical form, it is labor intensive. The
`customer must sign the form and mail or carry it to a post
`ofiice. USPS personnel must manually process the form,
`including data entry of the change of address information.
`It
`is therefore desirable to enable postal customers to
`receive mail forwarding services and to notify potential mail-
`ers of a new address in a fast, efiicient, and accurate manner.
`At the same time, moreover, it is desirable to preserve the
`identity validation and authorization of the customer.
`
`II. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`Systems and methods consistent with the present invention
`overcome the shortcomings of conventional systems by col-
`lecting and processing change of address data,
`including
`identity validation, using an electronic network. Furthermore,
`systems consistent with the present invention provide change
`of address services, such as change of address notification, to
`the customer via the electronic network.
`
`In an embodiment of the invention, a method for providing
`an electronic change ofaddress service from an old address of
`a customer to a new address of the customer may include
`providing a user interface at a change of address server for the
`customer to enter change of address information, receiving
`the change of address information at the change of address
`server via a network, validating an identity of the customer at
`the change of address server; and processing the change of
`address information electronically when the identity is valid
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`to enable the customer to receive mail addressed to the old
`address of the customer at the new address of the customer.
`
`Exemplary systems and methods consistent with the
`present invention are recited in the attached claims. It is to be
`understood that both the foregoing general description and
`the following detailed description are exemplary and
`explanatory only and are not restrictive of the invention, as
`claimed.
`
`III. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in
`and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodi-
`ments of the invention and,
`together with the following
`description, serve to explain the principles ofthe invention. In
`the drawings:
`FIGS. 1A and 1B are general block diagrams illustrating a
`system consistent with an embodiment of the present inven-
`tion;
`FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a customer submit-
`ting a change of address request in the prior art change of
`address system operated by the USPS;
`FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating the prior art change of
`address system operated by the USPS;
`FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating in greater detail the
`national address correction services handled by the prior art
`USPS change of address system;
`FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating in greater detail the
`customer change of address correspondence handled by the
`prior art USPS change of address system;
`FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a customer change of
`address system consistent with an embodiment of the present
`invention;
`FIG. 7 is a flow chart relating to uploading change of
`address information into the local database of the CFS unit,
`consistent with an embodiment of the present invention;
`FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating the ICOA server,
`consistent with an embodiment of the present invention;
`FIG. 9 is a block diagram illustrating the ICOA server,
`consistent with another embodiment ofthe present invention;
`FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating an Online Identity
`Validation System, consistent with an embodiment of the
`present invention;
`FIG. 11 is a flow chart relating to processing a credit card
`based identity validation, consistent with an embodiment of
`the present invention;
`FIG. 12 is a block diagram illustrating the Value Added
`Services, consistent with an embodiment ofthe present inven-
`tion;
`FIG. 13 is a flow chart of the various methods for offering
`value added services to a customer, consistent with an
`embodiment of the present invention;
`FIG. 14 is a diagram illustrating aspects of value added
`services;
`FIG. 15 is a flow chart relating to new address notification
`services from the value added services menu, consistent with
`an embodiment of the present invention;
`FIG. 16 is a flow chart relating to providing a customer
`driven notification system, consistent with an embodiment of
`the present invention;
`FIG. 17 is a flow chart relating to selecting recipients from
`a pre-constructed list presented by the ICOA interface in a
`customer driven notification system, consistent with an
`embodiment of the present invention;
`
`Page 25
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`Page 25
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`

`
`US 8,195,575 B2
`
`3
`FIG. 18 is a block diagram illustrating an additional value
`added service, a customer establishing a personal USPS elec-
`tronic account or virtual account, consistent with an embodi-
`ment of the present invention;
`FIG. 19 is flow chart relating to performing a value-added
`e-mail forwarding service, consistent with an embodiment of
`the present invention;
`FIGS. 20A and 20B are block diagrams illustrating a
`change of e-mail address system, consistent with an alterna-
`tive embodiment of the present invention; and
`FIG. 21 is a block diagram illustrating the different sub-
`processes within the consolidation process shown in FIGS.
`20A and 20B.
`
`IV. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED
`EMBODIMENTS
`
`FIGS. 1A and 1B are general block diagrams illustrating a
`system consistent with an embodiment of the present inven-
`tion. In FIG. 1A, a postal customer (101) relocates from
`physical address A (102) to physical address B (103). Postal
`customer (101) could be anyone who receives mail through
`the United States Postal Service (USPS), for example, an
`individual, a family, a household, or a business. Typically,
`postal customer (101) wishes to stop receiving mail at physi-
`cal address A (102) and begin receiving mail at physical
`address B (103).
`In FIG. 1B, user (104) changes e-mail addresses from
`e-mail address A (105) to e-mail address B (106). User (104)
`could be anyone with an e-mail address, for example, an
`individual, a household, a business, etc. The change in e-mail
`address could result from a decision to change e-mail provid-
`ers, a change in jobs or schools, or a number of other reasons.
`Typically, user (104) wishes to stop receiving e-mail at e-mail
`address A (105) and begin receiving e-mail at e-mail address
`B (106).
`FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a customer submit-
`ting a change of address request in a prior art change of
`address system operated by the USPS. The system may
`include a postal customer (101), a PS Form 3575 (202), a PS
`Form 3575WWW (202), a network (214), a USPS Form
`Server (215), and a Post Office (213). When postal customer
`(101) changes from physical address A to physical address B,
`as described in FIG. 1A above, postal customer (101) may
`complete PS Form 3575 (202) or PS Form 3575WWW (202).
`Form 3575 is a paper form that can be obtained from a Post
`Office
`(213) or other
`location. Alternatively, Form
`3575WWW (202) is a form available electronically by con-
`necting to USPS Form 3575WWW Server (215) via network
`(214), such as the Internet. Form 3575 (202) and Form
`3575WWW (202) request the same information. Namely,
`both Form 3575 and Form 3575WWW request customer
`(101) to provide change of address information including
`name, old address A, new address B, effective moving date,
`whether the move is temporary or permanent, and whether the
`move is for an individual, family, or business. Regardless of
`how customer (101) obtains and completes Form 3575 or
`3575WWW, customer (101) (or an authorized representative
`of the customer for the move) must physically sign the com-
`pleted form and physically mail or carry it to a Post Office
`(213). For example, customer (101) must print, sign, and
`submit Form 3575WWW by mail or hand deliver the paper to
`a Post Office (213).
`FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating the prior art change of
`address system operated by the USPS. FIG. 3 depicts the
`change of address system (50) may include a postal customer
`(101), Form 3575 or 3575WWW (202), a Postmaster for the
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`area of the old address A (3 03), a delivery unit for address A
`(304), a Computerized Forwarding System (CFS) unit for
`addressA (305), a local database for addressA (306), transmit
`files (3 07), a National Customer Support Center (NCSC)
`(308), a national database (309), national address correction
`services (310), USPS internal operations (311), and customer
`change of address correspondence (312). Once the physical
`form (i.e., either the 3575 or the 3575WWW) is received at
`Post Ofiice (213), it is delivered to Postmaster for the area of
`the old address A (303).
`Postmaster for address A (303) gives the form to a delivery
`unit for address A (304). Delivery unit for address A (304)
`may include the mail carrier assigned to deliver mail to the
`customer’s old address A. Delivery unit for address A (304)
`passes the form to a Computerized Forwarding System (CFS)
`Unit for address A (305). It is here that the change of address
`information from the form is first introduced into a computer.
`The customer’s change of address information is entered
`manually into a local database for address A (306). There are
`approximately 220 CFS units with local databases in the areas
`served by the USPS (i.e., throughout the United States).
`The local database for address A (306) creates transmit
`files (307) containing the customer’s change of address infor-
`mation, and sends those files to a central processing system,
`e.g., the National Customer Support Center (NCSC) (308).
`NCSC (308) collects customer change ofaddress information
`from all CFS units/local databases into a national database
`
`(309). Several different functions are served from NCSC
`(308) and the national database (3 09), including address cor-
`rection services (310), USPS internal operations (311), and
`customer change of address correspondence (312). National
`address correction services (310) and customer change of
`address correspondence (312) are described in greater detail
`below with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, respectively.
`FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating in greater detail the
`national address correction services handled by the prior art
`USPS change of address system. National address correction
`services (310) offered by the USPS include pre-mailing
`address correction services, such as National Change of
`Address (NCOA) (401), and FASTforwardSM (402), and
`post-mailing address correction services, such as address
`change service (ACS) (403). Both types of address correction
`services correct, standardize, and provide ZIP+4 coding for
`an address received by the USPS from a member of the
`public. However, as the names suggest, the pre-mailing ser-
`vices correct an address before a mailer mails a mailing piece,
`and the post-mailing services corrects an address after the
`mailer mails a mailing piece.
`Another difference between the pre-mailing services and
`post-mailing is the entity administering the service. Specifi-
`cally, USPS commercial licensees (404) offer pre-mailing
`services, such as National Change ofAddress (NCOA) (401),
`and FASTforwardSM (402). Members of the mailing industry
`(405) may submit mailing lists to the licensees (404), who use
`USPS provided data to correct the given addresses. In con-
`trast, the USPS directly administers post-mailing services,
`such as address change service (ACS) (403), after a mailer
`sends a mail piece.
`Although the USPS carmot release names and addresses of
`postal customers to the public, the USPS can correct an
`address received from a member of the public, such as a
`mailing company, as described above. These and other USPS
`services rely on accurate addresses. Thus, the efficiency and
`cost savings of these services are necessarily limited by the
`speed and accuracy of the address updating process.
`FIG. 5 is a block diagram illustrating in greater detail the
`customer change of address correspondence handled by the
`
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`

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`US 8,195,575 B2
`
`5
`prior art USPS change of address system. The customer
`change of address correspondence (312) includes the docu-
`ments received and submitted by the customer in the USPS
`change of address system (50), such as a Mover’s GuideTM
`(501), a move validation letter (MVL) (503), and a customer
`notification letter (CNL) (505) or a Welcome KitTM (504).
`Customer (101) may obtain Mover’s GuideTM (501) from a
`Post Office or other source. The Mover’s GuideTM contains
`
`Form 3575 (202) and may include other papers to assist
`customer (101) in the process ofmoving. As the USPS change
`of address system processes Form 3575,
`the customer
`receives a move validation letter (MVL) (503) at old address
`A. MVL (503) confirms a change of address request to for-
`ward mail as submitted in Form 3575. Additionally, the MVL
`helps to detect the fraudulent submission ofchange ofaddress
`information. Customer (101) also receives either a customer
`notification letter (CNL) (505) or a Welcome KitTM (504) at
`new address B. CNL (505) informs the customer of the old
`and new address information that the USPS has recorded and
`
`confirms that the USPS has processed this change of address
`information. The Welcome KitTM includes the same informa-
`
`tion as the CNL and may also include otherpapers to assist the
`customer in the process of moving.
`FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a customer change of
`address system consistent with an embodiment of the present
`invention. The system may include a postal customer (601), a
`network (602), an Internet Change ofAddress (ICOA) Server
`(603), Value Added Services (604), a Postmaster for the area
`ofthe old address A (609), a delivery unit for address A (608),
`a Computerized Forwarding System (CFS) unit for address A
`(606), a local database for address A (607), a National Cus-
`tomer Support Center (NCSC) (605), customer change of
`address correspondence (613), a national database (610),
`national address correction services (611), and USPS internal
`operations (612). FIG. 6 depicts a postal customer (601)
`arriving at ICOA server (603) via network connection (602).
`Value added services (604) may be offered from a separate
`entity (as shown) or may be incorporated within the ICOA
`server (603). Value added services (604) may include con-
`nected services described in greater detail below with respect
`to FIG. 12.
`
`Similarly, ICOA server (603) may be incorporated within
`NCSC (605) or alternatively may be located in a separate
`USPS data facility (as shown) with a connection to NCSC
`(605). Customers electronically provide change of address
`information (i.e., to change a physical address and/or an
`e-mail address) over network (602) to ICOA server (603).
`ICOA server (603) captures and transmits this information as
`necessary throughout the system to execute the various fea-
`tures and functions described later.
`
`Fundamentally, ICOA server provides change of address
`information (i.e., physical address data and/or e-mail address
`data) to NCSC (605), and NCSC transmits the data through-
`out the system to CFS/FCS unit (606), national address cor-
`rection services (611), national USPS databases (610), other
`USPS internal operations (612), and customer change of
`address correspondence (613). NCSC routes physical change
`ofaddress data through a download operation to the CFS/FCS
`unit (606) that services the address from which the customer
`is moving (address A). CFS/FCS unit (606) is one ofa mul-
`titude of computer system sites located across the continental
`United States, Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico. CFS/FCS unit
`(606) automatically downloads the transmitted information
`and stores it in a local database (607). The CFS unit uses the
`change ofaddress information to provide hard copy change of
`address notifications on physical mail pieces and forwarding
`undeliverable mail pieces.
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`CFS unit (606) then sends the change of address informa-
`tion to a delivery unit (608) and the postmaster (or Post
`Ofiice) (609) that services the customer’s old address A.
`When the change of address information reaches the local
`level (address A), the Postal Service can conduct address
`notification and forwarding operations at the local level. By
`capturing and processing change ofaddress information com-
`pletely electronically, the USPS avoids the laborious hard
`copy data entry operation. Thus, the ICOA system of the
`USPS achieves tremendous savings both in cost and process-
`ing time, thereby providing information more quickly to the
`USPS, the mailing community, and various entities therein.
`NCSC also routes the change of address information to
`national address correction services (611), USPS national
`databases (610), customer change of address correspondence
`(613), and other USPS internal operations systems (612). The
`customer change of address correspondence (613) may
`include a move validation letter (MVL), a customer notifica-
`tion letter (CNL), and a Welcome KitTM generation activities.
`The ICOA system provides an additional charmel for change
`ofaddress information to reach all the systems depicted in this
`diagram. Unlike the traditional hard copy change of address
`cards as explained above, the ICOA system allows informa-
`tion to come in via a network, e.g., the Internet, at a much
`lower cost and with a higher degree of efficiency while
`enabling a wide variety of value added services for moving
`customers.
`
`FIG. 7 is a flow chart relating to uploading change of
`address information into the local database of the CFS unit,
`consistent with an embodiment of the present invention. In
`stage 1, the customer enters change of address information
`via a network (602) into the ICOA server (603). In stage 2, an
`ICOA base record is created by the ICOA record create pro-
`cess on the ICOA server (603). In stage 3, the base ICOA
`record is sent to the NCSC (605), where a central ICOA
`record process would ensue upon the base ICOA record. In
`the central ICOA record pr