System, method, and article of manufacture for filtering mail items based on recipient preference

Abstract

Methods and systems are provided for filtering of a mail item addressed to a recipient. In accordance with an embodiment, preference information about mail items from the recipient is obtained. The preference information is compared with information on the mail item and based on the comparison, it is determined whether the mail item should be delivered. The preference information may include at least one of a size of the mail stems, a type of the mail items, a classification of the mail items, a weight of the mail items, and preference information abut senders. In accordance with another embodiment, the preference information of a recipient may be provided in a sender so that the sender can determine whether the recipient wants mail items from the sender.

1 - 23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . A computer-implemented method, comprising:
 obtaining, using at least one processor, information identifying a physical mail item addressed to a recipient;   determining, using the at least one processor, whether the identified physical mail item represents an unwanted physical mail item based on one or more delivery preferences of the recipient;   when the identified physical mail item represents an unwanted physical mail item, transmitting, using the at least one processor, a notification identifying the unwanted physical mail item to a device associated with the recipient; and   receiving, using the at least one processor, a response to the notification from the recipient device, the response comprising instructions from the recipient for handling the unwanted physical mail item.   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein the obtaining comprises obtaining at least one of a size of the physical mail item, a type of the physical mail item, a classification of the physical mail item, a weight of the physical mail item, and information identifying a sender of the physical mail item. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the obtaining comprises receiving the physical mail item information from an image recognition device. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising obtaining preference information identifying the one or more delivery preferences from the recipient. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the obtained preference information comprises at least one of a size of the physical mail item, a type of the physical mail item, a classification of the physical mail item, a weight of the physical mail item, and information identifying one or more senders. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 27 , further comprising transmitting at least a portion of obtained preference information to a sender of the identified physical mail item. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein:
 the handling instructions comprise a request to dispose of the unwanted physical mail item; and   the method further comprises generating, in response to the handling instructions, instructions to dispose of the unwanted physical mail item without delivering the item to the recipient.   
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein:
 the handling instructions comprise a request to return the unwanted physical mail item to a sender; and   the method further comprises generating, in response to the handling instructions, instructions to return the unwanted physical mail item to the sender.   
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising, when the identified physical mail item represents an unwanted physical mail item, generating instructions to storing the unwanted physical mail item for future delivery to the recipient. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising storing the handling instructions in a database. 
     
     
         34 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a storage device; and   at least one processor coupled to the storage device, the storage device storing software instructions for controlling the at least one processor when executed by the at least one processor, and the at least one processor is operative with the software instructions and is configured to:
 obtain information identifying a physical mail item addressed to a recipient; 
 determine whether the identified physical mail item represents an unwanted physical mail item based on one or more delivery preferences of the recipient; 
 when the identified physical mail item represents an unwanted physical mail item, transmit a notification identifying the unwanted physical mail item to a device associated with the recipient; and 
 receive a response to the notification from the recipient device, the response comprising instructions from the recipient for handling the unwanted physical mail item. 
   
     
     
         35 . The apparatus of  claim 34 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to obtain at least one of a size of the physical mail item, a type of the physical mail item, a classification of the physical mail item, a weight of the physical mail item, and information identifying a sender of the physical mail item. 
     
     
         36 . The apparatus of  claim 35 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to receive the physical mail item information from an image recognition device. 
     
     
         37 . The apparatus of  claim 34 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to obtain preference information identifying the one or more delivery preferences from the recipient. 
     
     
         38 . The apparatus of  claim 37 , wherein the obtained preference information comprises at least one of a size of the physical mail item, a type of the physical mail item, a classification of the physical mail item, a weight of the physical mail item, and information identifying one or more senders. 
     
     
         39 . The apparatus of  claim 34 , wherein:
 the handling instructions comprise a request to dispose of the unwanted physical mail item; and   the at least one processor is further configured to generate, in response to the handling instructions, instructions to dispose of the unwanted physical mail item without delivering the item to the recipient.   
     
     
         40 . The apparatus of  claim 34 , wherein:
 the handling instructions comprise a request to return the unwanted physical mail item to a sender; and   the at least one processor is further configured to generate, in response to the handling instructions, instructions to return the unwanted physical mail item to the sender.   
     
     
         41 . The apparatus of  claim 34 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to generate, when the identified physical mail item represents an unwanted physical mail stem, instructions to storing the unwanted physical mail item for future delivery to the recipient. 
     
     
         42 . The apparatus of  claim 34 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to store the handling instructions in a database. 
     
     
         43 . A tangible, non-transitory computer-readable medium storing instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to perform a method, comprising:
 obtaining information identifying a physical mail item addressed to a recipient;   determining whether the identified physical mail item represents an unwanted physical mail item based on one or more delivery preferences of the recipient;   when the identified physical mail item represents an unwanted physical mail item, transmitting a notification identifying the unwanted physical mail item to a device associated with the recipient; and   receiving a response to the notification from the recipient device, the response comprising instructions from the recipient for handling the unwanted physical mail item.