Systems and methods for sorting mail using a name/firm database

摘要

A system (100) and method for sorting mail (112) includes a first database (106) containing addresses and zipcodes for a plurality of mail item recipients, a second database (104) containing a plurality of individual and firm names and their associated addresses, and an imaging device (114) for capturing an image of address information on a mail item (112). Based on identified elements from the captured address information image, a subsystem (110) containing an algorithm compares the elements with the first database (106) and determines if there is a match of all elements. If one or more address information elements are unmatched, the algorithm compares the elements to the second database (104), and applies a set of criteria to the address information elements matched in the second database (104) to determine if a match exists.