The present invention relates to codes used for delivery of letters, parcels, packages and other items using a code as the address. It particularly relates to a method system and apparatus that can create a postal code useable for providing a written delivery address and also useable to determine when the postal coded address has been reached.

Postal codes, sometimes called ZIP codes, are used by mail services to determine the location an item addressed in writing is intended to reach. In the developed world, street addresses are accompanied by a short code comprising letters and numbers, indicating a location that can comprise one or more buildings or other locations in the vicinity of the point on the ground specified by the code. Even in the developed world, postal codes may not exist for desolate locations. The present invention seeks to provide a method, system and apparatus that can provide a postal code where none previously existed.

In some undeveloped parts of the world, roads as such may not exist, or may be an ad hoc construction, un-named and not yet included in an accepted geography of the region concerned. Dwellings and buildings may be located in positions that are not addressable by any address words and for which no postal code exists. The present invention seeks to provide a method, system and apparatus capable of specifying a postal code for anywhere on the earth, and also capable of allowing delivery personnel to know when they have reached the specified location.

In the present state of development, in parts of the world, roads are few, usually impassable, slow to navigate and costly to purchase transport to make a journey. Such is the case in much of Africa. Portable mobile telephones have had a semi- liberating effect on inhabitants, allowing communication with other persons and places even though travel to be together is nearly impossible. As a consequence, 3G or better phone ownership is very high around some parts of West Africa. The present invention seeks to provide a system, method and apparatus that employ mobile devices, such as a 3G phone, to provide postal code operation. Sadly, portable devices such as 3G telephones rely upon proximity to radio masts for connectivity to the world. Even in developed counties, portable devices can be "out of service" over large areas. The present invention seeks to provide a portable device related postal code that functions even when the portable device is "out of service".

According to a first aspect, the present invention provides a postcode generating and indicated location discovering system comprising:

a first portable device comprising a satellite navigation receiver operable to receive signals from a plurality of satellites and, in response, to provide output indicative of the position on the surface of the earth of the first portable device; where

the first portable device is operable to apply a postcode determining algorithm to convert output from the satellite navigation receiver to a postcode indicative of the instant position on the surface of the earth of the first portable device.

According to a second aspect, the present invention provides a postcode generating and indicated location discovering method comprising:

a step of employing a first portable device receiving signals from a plurality of satellites and, in response, providing output indicative of the position on the surface of the earth of the first portable device;

and

a step of applying a postcode determining algorithm to convert output from the satellite navigation receiver to a postcode indicative of the instant position on the surface of the earth of the first portable device.

According to a third aspect, the invention provides a postcode destination finding device comprising:

a portable device operable to apply a postcode interpreting algorithm to decode the postcode to determine a location on the surface of the earth represented by a postcode.

According to a fourth aspect, the present invention consists in a simplified postcode destination finding device comprising: a simple portable device not supporting a postcode interpteting algorithm; where:

the simple portable device is operable to relay the postcode to a remote server;

the remote server is operable to apply a postcode interpreting algorithm to determine where the postcode indicates; and

the remote server is operable to return a map link to the simple portable device. The invention also provides a second portable device, where the second portable device can apply a postcode interpreting algorithm to decode the postcode to determine a location on the surface of the earth represented by the postcode.

The invention further provides that the second portable device can display a map indicating the point indicated by the postcode, and that the map can be either resident within the second portable device or is accessible from a network.

The invention also provides that the second portable device can comprise a satellite navigation receiver operable to receive signals from a plurality of satellites and, in response, to provide output indicative of the position on the surface of the earth of the second portable device; that the second portable device can be operable to receive as input an indication of a postcode; that the second portable device can be operable to apply a postcode interpreting algorithm to decode the postcode to determine a location on the surface of the earth represented by the postcode; and that the second portable device can be operable to calculate the distance and direction that the second portable device is away from the determined location and to provide indication thereof to a user.

The invention also provides that the first and second portable devices can be provided in a combined portable device in the form of a GPS enabled portable telephone.

The invention also provides that the first portable device can comprise a processor operable to execute a postcode determining algorithm and that the second portable device can comprise a processor operable to execute the postcode interpreting algorithm.

The invention also provides that the postcode determining algorithm can be the inverse of the postcode interpreting algorithm.

The invention also provides that the postcode determining algorithm can be operable to cause the first portable device to allocate an ordered first set of postcode characters in response to the determined latitude of the position of the first portable device within latitude range and to allocate an ordered second set of postcode characters in response to the determined longitude of the first portable device within a longitude range.

The invention also provides that the postcode determining algorithm can be operable to randomise at least one of the postcode characters.

The invention is further explained, by way of example, by the following description, to be read in conjunction with the appended drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a schematic layout of an exemplary environment where the invention can operate.

Figure 2A is an exemplary block diagram of a first portable device in its minimal form for execution of the invention.

Figure 2B is an exemplary block diagram of a second portable device in its minimal form for execution of the invention.

Figure 2C is an exemplary block diagram of the constituent parts of a combined first and second portable device.

Figure 3A, an exemplary flow chart illustrating the action of the postcode

determining algorithm when determining a postcode. Figure 3B is an exemplary flow chart illustrating the action of the postcode interpreting algorithm when used in a second portable device , or a combined portable device 10 18, when delivering an item. and

Figure 4 shows a flowchart exemplifying a location to postcode transformation algorithm that can be used in the present invention. Attention is first drawn to Figure 1 , showing a schematic layout of an exemplary environment where the invention can operate.

A first portable device 10 is placed within a specified range of a first dwelling 12 (or any other selected point on the surface of the earth 14) whose postal code is to be discovered. The first portable device 10 comprises a GPS reader (shown in later drawings) that receives signals from a plurality of positioning satellites 1 6 in orbit above the earth and, as is well know, calculates the position of the first portable device 1 0 on the surface of the earth 14. The calculated position of the first portable device 1 0 is used by the first portable device 10 in a postcode determining algorithm to use the GPS determined position of the first portable device 10 to create a postal code for the present position of the first portable device 10 that can be applied as the postal code of the first dwelling 12 in any delivery to be made to the first dwelling 12.

Although GPS satellites are here described as being employed by the invention, it is to be understood that any other position determining satellite system can equally be use, singly or in combination.

When a delivery is to be made, a second portable device 18 used by a delivery person, is employed to discover the position to which delivery is to be made. The second portable device 18 has the destination postal code entered into it by any means, including, but not limited to: typing; scanning; and speech recognition. The second portable device 18 then receives GPS satellite 16 signals, uses a location postcode interpreting algorithm to calculate its own position on the earth 14, and to calculate the distance and direction of its deviation from the target of the entered postcode, in this case a second dwelling 20, and to indicate to the delivery personnel which way they must go and the ongoing progress towards the second dwelling 20 until the second dwelling 20 is reached. It is preferred that the first 10 and second 18 portable devices are GPS enable smart phones using, for example, 3G or 4G technology, since many individuals will possess such items already. However, as will become clear, first portable devices 1 0 need only a GPS capability, a postcode determining algorithm operable therein, and means of provision to a user of the discovered postcode that can include, but need not be limited to: display on a screen; audible synthesised speech; and Braille.

Second portable devices 18 also need only a GPS capability, together with a location postcode interpreting algorithm operable therein, and means of delivering directions to delivery personnel, which can include, but need not be limited to:

display on a screen; audible synthesised speech; and Braille.

Where the first 10 and second 18 portable devices are mobile telephone devices such as smart phones, each portable device 10 18 can be bidirectionally coupled by radio signals a radio base station 22 in its vicinity. Each base station 22 is connected by, for example, co-axial cable, fibre optic cable or microwave signals to a telephone network 24 that allows calling of other telephone devices within its system and also included an internet access portal 26 operable to allow access to the Internet 28. In the Internet, a postcode server 30 is provided that can be coupled to interact with portable devices 10 1 8 for purposes explained hereafter. Attention is next drawn to Figure 2A, showing an exemplary block diagram of a first portable device 10 in its minimal form for execution of the invention.

The first portable device 1 0 comprises a GPS satellite signal receiver 32 providing satellite signals to a processor 34 containing a postcode determining algorithm 36. As earlier described, the postcode determining algorithm 36 uses the GPS signals from the GPS receiver 32 to calculate the postal code for the position currently occupied by the first portable device 10. The processor 34 provides the postal code calculated by the postcode determining algorithm 36 to a user informing device 38 such as a display screen or audible speech synthesizer. The processor 34 can also store for later recall the calculated postcode.

Attention is next drawn to Figure 2B, showing an exemplary block diagram of a second portable device 18 in its minimal form for execution of the invention.

Figure 2A and 2B contain elements in common. Similar elements are designated by the same numbers and require no further description. The processor 34 of the second portable device 18 contains a postcode interpreting algorithm 40 in place of the postcode determining algorithm 36 of Figure 2A. The processor 34 also receives input from a postcode input device 42. As earlier described, the processor 34 employs the postcode interpreting algorithm 40 to use signals from the GPS receiver 32 to calculate the instant position of the second portable device 18 and to determine and provide user indication of the deviation of the instant position from the position indicated by an input postcode provided to the postcode input device 42.

Attention is next drawn to Figure 2C, showing an exemplary block diagram of a combined first 10 and second 18 portable device 18 where, for example, the combined portable device 1 0 18 is provided in a GPS enabled smart phone.

Figure 2A , 2B and 2C contain elements in common. Similar elements are

designated by the same numbers and require no further description.

In a combined first 10 and second 18 portable device, the processor 34 contains both the postcode determining algorithm 36 and the postcode interpreting algorithm 40 which it uses, when required, as described above. In addition, the combined first 10 and second 18 portable device comprises communication means 44 operable to permit the combined first 10 and second 18 portable device to communicate with the telephone network 24 of Figure 1 and thereby with the postcode server 30 to request and receive the postcode algorithms 36 40 for use. As an alternative, the communications means 44 can be used for "cloud operation" where operations are conducted remotely, algorithms 36 40 being contained within the postcode server 30, the postcode server receiving combined device 1 0 18 inputs and providing outputs to be displayed and made available on the combined portable device 10 18.

As another alternative, communication means 44 can be provided in one, the other or both the first portable device 1 0 of Figure 2A and second portable device 1 8 of Figure 2B to allow algorithm 36 40 downloads and updates, and also to allow, if desired, "cloud operation" as described.

As an alternative, the second device 18 can, instead of contacting the postcode server 30, contact the website of a map providing service directly. By providing the latitude and longitude information to the map providing service, or if the map providing service is capable of interpreting the postcode, by providing the postcode to the map providing service, a map can be called up and displayed.

As an alternative, the GPS receiver 32 in the second device 18 can be omitted and/or ignored by the second device 18 using communication means 44 to contact the postcode server 30 in order to download a map of the region in which the postcode places the delivery address. The delivery personnel will then be able to discover the delivery location without requiring GPS positioning information. Where contact with the postcode server 30 and/or the map server is used, the second device 1 8 of figure 2B can omit the GPS receiver 32.

The postcode server 30 can incorporate a map server (not shown in the drawings) that can call up the map of the region indicated by the postcode.

As another alternative, both the normal function of the second device 18 as described heretofore where GPS is employed to indicate solely distance and direction from a postcode indicated delivery position, and where call up of a map (either from the map server in (or working in association with) the postcode server 30) or already contained in the second device 18), can be employed together. This allows both distance and direction from the delivery point to be displayed together with a map of the region where delivery is required. This offers the delivery personnel the chance to learn about the general delivery environment and surrounding area of the position indicated by the postcode and helps to eliminate any confusion.

The map server, employed by the postcode server 30 can be any map providing service, including but not limited to: Google Earth (registered trademark); Google Maps(registered trademark); Blackberry Maps(registered trademark); Apple maps(registered trademark); Nokia Ovi Maps (registered trademark); Open Street Maps (registered trademark); and any other map providing service that may be available at the time of use.

If the second device 18 shown in figure 2B offers a possibility of Internet

communication, by incorporation of a communication means 44, then the website of the map providing service can be addressed directly. The second device 18 receives the postcode and employs the postcode interpreting algorithm 42 in order to determine the latitude and longitude of the position indicated by the postcode. This information can be used by the map providing service to select the appropriate map for delivery and display.

As yet another alternative, the second device 18 can be very simple indeed. This is suitable where the delivery person has only a very simple phone. If the second device 1 8 does not possess or is incapable of supporting the postcode interpreting algorithm 40, the second device 18 sends the postcode to a remote server (for example but not necessarily, the postcode server 30). By simply texting just the postcode characters to a number or via a website, the remote computer can then execute the postcode interpreting algorithm 40 and send the user a link to a map showing the location.

Attention is next drawn to Figure 3A, an exemplary flow chart illustrating the action of the postcode determining algorithm 36 when determining a postcode. Figure 3A illustrates the action of a first portable device 10, or of a combined first 10 and second 1 8 portable device when determining a postcode.

From a start 46 a first operation 48 gets the GPS signals from the GPS receiver 32. The signals are preferably a longitude and latitude representation of the instant position of the first portable device 10 or the combined portable device 1 0 18. It is to be understood that any other representation can be employed, provided only that the representation defines a single point on the earth's 14 surface. A second operation 50 then applies the postcode determining algorithm 36 to convert the representation into an alphanumeric string providing a uniquely identifying postcode that can be applied to letters, parcels and other deliveries to identify the position whereat the first portable device 1 0, or the combined portable device 1 0 18, is presently located.

A third operation 52 then displays the postcode in any of the ways previously described and returns operation of start 46 ready, when required, to do the same again at another location. Attention is next drawn to Figure 3B, an exemplary flow chart illustrating the action of the postcode interpreting algorithm 40 when used in a second portable device 18, or a combined portable device 10 18, when delivering an item.

From a start 54 a fourth operation accepts the alphanumeric value of the postcode entered on the postcode input device 42. A fifth operation 56 then retrieves the representation of the instant position of the second portable device 18 or the combined portable device 1 0 18 from the GPS receiver 32. A sixth operation 60 then applies the postcode interpreting algorithm 40. As earlier described, the postcode interpreting algorithm first performs an inverse transformation upon the entered postcode to determine where on the surface of the earth 14 the point represented by the postcode is in terms of representations from the GPS receiver. The postcode interpreting algorithm 40 then calculates the deviation (in terms of distance and direction) that the instant position of the second portable device 18, or the combined portable device 10 18, is way from the position represented by the entered postcode. Delivery personnel need only to move in the direction indicated to arrive at the designated point.

A seventh operation 62 has the second portable device 18, or the combined portable device 1 0 18, display the deviation in any of the ways earlier described. A first test 64 then checks to see if the instant position of the second portable device 18, or the combined portable device 1 0 18, is within a predetermined distance of the point designated by the entered postcode. If it is not, control is returned back the fifth operation 58 to obtain a further set of GPS signals as the second portable device 18, or the combined portable device 10 18, moves with the delivery personnel. If it is, an eighth operation 66 indicated to the user that arrival has been achieved and returns control to the start 54 ready for a further delivery. The process can also be used to provide guidance of persons to a location even when a delivery is not required. Attention ia next draw to Figure 4 that shows a flowchart exemplifying a location to postcode transformation algorithm that can be used in the present invention. The example given is for the state of Ghana, but it is to be understood that the same principles can be applied to a postcode system for any other country. From an entrance 68 a ninth operation 70 sets the latitude and longitude boundaries of the region to be covered and calculates the range.

Latitude, in the case of Ghana is:

Maximum Latitude: 1 1 .2

Minimum Latitude: 4.8 Range: 6.4 degrees of latitude

Longitude, in the case of Ghana, is:

Maximum Longitude: 1 .3 degrees west

Minimum Longitude: -3.3 degrees East Range: 4.6 degrees of longitude.

A tenth operation 72 then divides the latitude and longitude ranges. In this example, the divisions are made so one has no more divisions than can be described by the set number of prescribed alpha numeric characters, for this example the number being 34. This comprises all the letters and all the numbers except for 0 and 1 because of their similarity to I and O. It is to be appreciated that a postal code, and hence number of divisions, can be used for any selectable set of characters.

The latitude range is divided, in this example, by 34 to give range per degree of latitude: 6.4/34 = 0.188 degrees per primary character for latitude

The number of degrees per latitude division is then divided into the longitude range and the result rounded up and always up) to give, in this example:

4.6/1 .88 = 24.468 rounded up to 25.000

This gives 25 characters needed for longitude. The maximum and minimum longitudes are adjusted accordingly to ensure a perfectly square grid known as the primary grid comprising an array of primary grid squares.

An array of secondary grid squares are provided within each primary grid square and an array of tertiary grid squares is allocated within each secondary grid square to provide a 6-character postal code, application of which can be used to designate any location within the overall latitude and longitude ranges. By determining which primary, secondary and tertiary square a location occupies, the postcode can be determined by selection of postcode characters.

An eleventh operation 74 then calculates the postcode character to be assigned for the for (primary) and (secondary) using the same method except this time there is no need for rounding up. In this example:

0.188/34 = 0.006... degrees per secondary character for latitude and longitude. A twelfth operation 76 then calculates the postcode character to be applied for the tertiary grid pre-randomisation according to the rules used for first and second postcode indicating characters.

In this example: 0.006/34 = 0.000176 degrees per tertiary character for latitude and longitude.

For designating position by postcode for the primary and secondary grid squares, the alphanumeric characters are assigned a predetermined order, for example, the character set can be ordered as:

ABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ23456789 In this example, for both the primary postcode characters and secondary postcode characters, the most Northerly latitude is "A" and most Southerly latitude is "9"

The same is repeated for Easterly and Westerly longitudes within the 25 characters available in this example.

Selection of the third postcode character for each occupied North-South position and occupied East-West direction in a tertiary square uses a randomised character set this is to remove predictability within "the last mile" or other predetermined distance to protect a user from providing an exact a knowledge of the location of a dwelling by knowledge of its postcode.

A thirteenth operation 78 applies a randomising algorithm. For a given a longitude and latitude e.g. 0.0 and 5.2 an iterative process is used to arrive at its closest non-randomised alphanumeric equivalent e.g. AN3FQE. A a 7 ^th check digit is calculated using the relationships between the preceding 6 characters e.g. AN3FQE5.

The last 3 digits now have their orders changed based on an irreversible and information loosing numerical relationship between the first 4 and a reversible and information retaining relationship between the last 3. All of this may be done with or without an external random number sequence as a seed.

This means that the code is easily interpreted for general purposes like finding and estimating the distance between 2 parts of the city but offers increased protection if someone wants to find the location of a private address.

The postcode can be used not only to deliver mail and other items, but also be used to allow individuals to visit locations was postcode they know . A variant, providing an additional service to the user, is for, when an individual plugs in a postcode indicating a location where they intend to visit., the system can note establishments either there or nearby to the postcode-indicated location and provide to the individual one or more adverts for nearby establishments that the individual might care to incorporate in the individual's visit when they get there.

A person can only get a code for a house if they are at the house or standing very close to it. Using the present invention, it is very difficult to fabricate a code for any reason.

To work out a location from a code the process of Figure 4 is merely reversed with the last process first to the first process last.

The system and method, as described above, provides a technical improvement over map-based postcode determining systems. With map based postcodes, as used in the USA and UK, many megabytes or gigabytes of map data are required to determine and find a postcode. With the system and method as described above and claimed below, only a very small amount of executable code is required to achieve the same result.

Those skilled in the art will be aware of variations in methods and randomising techniques that can be employed.

The invention has been described with reference to alpha numeric postcode characters in a preferred order. It is to be appreciated that other sets of characters can be used and other preferred orders employed. The postcode character sets may be of any and other lengths and can, for large area, include double and other multiples of characters used together for a single postcode character.

Those skilled in the art will be aware of modifications and variations that can be applied without departing from the invention as claimed hereafter. The invention is defined by the following Claims