Interactive process for applying or printing information on letters or parcels

DETAILED DESCRIPTION In accordance with the above objects, the present inventor provides an interactive process for applying or printing information on letters and parcels.
Using Optical Character Readers (herein called OCRs) recipients of letters or packages are identified to "facing", bar-coding, and sorting machines used for efficient distribution of letters and parcels.
With the recipient information known, such as zip code, address, name, demographic or other information, specific customized messages (advertising, community, or other pertinent information)can be printed or applied on the letter or parcel, either on the front, back, or both sides.
The information printed or applied can also include coupons, lottery or sweepstakes tickets, or promotional information.
The information printed on the letters and parcels can be coded so when it is turned in to claim the benefit of the coupon, it can be tracked back to the person who used it, and the database of the system of the present invention can be appropriately updated.
With this system, broad informational messages can also be sent to the masses.
In another aspect of the present invention, hen the sender and receiver information is both known, such as name, address, and zip code, the sender's account is known to the letter or parcel delivery service.
Therefore the sender also can be billed directly for the delivery which might be based upon the size, weight, priority, distance, or destination of the letter or parcel.
The account information can be printed, coded, or applied in such a way to allow the OCR equipment to read the information.
With this system, traditional postage stamps or large volume mail permits are no longer required, and letters and parcels can be priced based upon size, weight, priority, distance, or destination.
The system of the present invention solves the statistical sampling problem for advertisers.
With this system, people who receive letters and parcels are known to the letter and parcel delivery and distribution organizations