| Class / Patent application number | Description | Number of patent applications / Date published |
|---|
| 705401000 | Postage meter system | 85 |
| 20080249962 | MAIL PROCESSOR MACHINE CASING HAVING A DETACHABLE IDENTITY PLATE - A mail processor machine casing having an identity plate for identifying the machine, which identity plate is formed by a portion of said casing that is connected to the remainder of said casing by a peripheral zone of weakness that, on being broken, makes it possible to detach said identity plate. Preferably, said zone of weakness comprises a plurality of casing bridges that can be broken by hand. | 10-09-2008 |
| 20080262978 | Mail processing system including dimensional rating with true length support - A mail processing system that includes dimensional rating capability that provides true length support for carrier rates to prevent improper classification of mail pieces. The mail processing system determines a first dimension, parallel to the path of travel, and a second dimension, transverse to the path of travel, of a mail piece. The first dimension and second dimension are compared to each other to determine which is greater. The greater of the two dimensions is assigned to be the length of the mail piece, regardless of the orientation of the mail piece. The format of the mail piece is then determined based on a comparison of the assigned length and assigned width dimensions to maximum dimensions specified by a format table. Based on the determined format of the mail piece, a delivery fee is then calculated, and an indicium can be generated for the mail piece. | 10-23-2008 |
| 20110022544 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ISSUING MOBILE POSTAGE STAMP - In order to provide a mobile postage stamp, when mobile postage stamp application information is received from a terminal owned by a user, a mobile postage stamp providing system verifies a recipient mailing address included in the mobile postage stamp application information. After the verification of the recipient mailing address is completed, the mobile postage stamp providing system generates a serial number corresponding to the mobile postage stamp on the basis of the mobile postage stamp application information and provides the generated serial number to the terminal. | 01-27-2011 |
| 20140067724 | AUTOMATED PRICING FILES - Postage pricing data may be determined and reported in a uniform manner from data files. The data files may be provided to a vendor and include postage pricing data, mailing attribute data and other data for locating the appropriate postage. To obtain postage pricing, a number of attributes associated with a user's mailing are identified. A first data file may be searched using the attribute data. A key is accessed from the first data file based on the attributes and then a second data file is searched using the key and a pricing structure. The postage price for the mailing may then be retrieved from the search of the second data file. The postage pricing data may cover domestic mail, international mail, mailing services and discount information, and may be reported to a user via a display or electronic communication | 03-06-2014 |
| 20140324736 | COLLATION OF MARKETING SIGNS - A collation of printed marketing signs for delivery or distribution to a retail store includes at least a first group of marketing signs and a second group of marketing signs. Each group has at least one stack of marketing signs for altering product display structures in a retail store and each marketing sign in each stack has a same non-rectangular shape. The first group of signs includes a first level of priority and the second group of signs includes a second level of priority. The first level of priority indicates that the first group of signs be set in the store before the second group of signs, which have the second level of priority. | 10-30-2014 |
| 20160049016 | System and Method for Managing Postal Accounting Data Using Transient Data Collectors - Methods and systems using a single centralized database to manage postal accounting data are provided. The central database may interface with remote postal meters by way of one or more transient data collectors, which cache data from associated meters and transmit the data to the central database. The data collectors also validate postage accounts to the associated meters. The use of local transient data collectors allows for a single centralized database to be used without requiring data replication among databases local to each computer that manages postal meters. | 02-18-2016 |
| 705402000 | Special service or fee (e.g., discount, surcharge, adjustment, etc.) | 15 |
| 20080288421 | Method and Device Arrangement for Digitally Franking Postal Articles - Method for digitally franking postal articles during which a digital postage paid impression is generated by a computer and applied to a postal article. Postal article-specific data for one or more postal articles to be created are generated in a first computer at a customer, and the access to a remote second computer at a service provider is granted. Postal article-specific data for one or more postal articles are transmitted to the second computer. The postal article-specific data are processed in the second computer, and data for a digital postage paid impression are generated for each postal article. Afterwards, processing data are transmitted to accounting component, and a deduction of the franking is carried out at the customer. The postal-article specific data are transmitted with a digital postage paid impression for each postal article to be created to the first computer, and the data are recorded in the first computer. The postal article-specific data are then sent to a processor, and the data are printed for each respective postal article, whereupon the printed postal articles are placed in envelopes in the processor. | 11-20-2008 |
| 20080313104 | System and method for printing correct postage for batches of mail with presort discounts - A method and system of providing postage wherein delivery fee discounts are provided based on one or more sorting levels in which mail pieces are run through the system twice. In the first run, postal codes are obtained from the mail pieces, a running tally for each participating sorting level code in each sorting level is kept, and for each code in the highest sorting level that has a tally that reaches a predetermined minimum, an indicium reflecting the highest discount is printed on: (i) the mail piece whose postal code caused the tally to reach the minimum, and (ii) any mail pieces to that postal code that are processed thereafter. In the second run, for each mail piece not having a printed indicium, an indicium is printed which reflects a proper sorting level discount, if any, based on the postal code obtained therefrom and one or more of the tallies. | 12-18-2008 |
| 20090012915 | Method and Device for Franking Mail - A method for franking mail, whereby a franking mark is generated in a franking unit, transmitted to an operating unit, connected to the franking unit, and printed out in a printing unit. A user interface is provided at the operating unit by the franking unit, and the printing out of the franking mark, generated in the franking unit and transmitted to the operating unit, is controlled by the user interface, whereupon the franking mark is printed exactly once one each piece of mail. The invention further relates to a device suitable for carrying out said method. | 01-08-2009 |
| 20090070277 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR REAL TIME ADAPTIVE CLASS AND SPECIAL SERVICES DETERMINATION - The present invention relates to a method for processing a plurality of mail pieces that is able to make appropriate class of service determinations during processing based on a first class of service received from a user and a measured weight and dimension(s) of each mail piece. If the first class of service is determined to not be appropriate, a second, appropriate, class of service is determined for the each mail piece using the measured weight and dimension(s). A postage amount is determined for each mail piece using the measured weight and dimension(s) and the appropriate class of service. The method may further include determining whether each of a number of requested special services is applicable to each mail piece so that special service fees may be applied in a discriminate manner. More accurate transaction information may thus be stored for each mail piece. | 03-12-2009 |
| 20090132437 | METHODS, SYSTEMS, AND COMPUTER READABLE MEDIA CONTAINING INSTRUCTIONS FOR EVALUATING THE RETURN ON DIRECT MAIL MARKETING AND FOR EVALUATING SHIPPING SERVICES - A method, system, and computer readable medium including instructions for evaluating and promoting a direct mail marketing campaign includes receiving the cost associated with the campaign and financial information for the campaign. The return on investment is calculated for the direct mail marketing campaign based on the cost and financial information. The return on investment is utilized to evaluate and promote the campaign. | 05-21-2009 |
| 20090182687 | Systems and methods for mid-stream postage adjustment - A method and system for receiving payment for postage by a delivery system operator from a customer is provided. The method includes receiving payment from the customer for a first postage value; receiving the parcel for delivery, the parcel including a machine-readable postage indicia indicating the amount of the received payment; determining parcel attributes; calculating a determined postage value for the parcel based on the determined parcel attributes; determining the first postage value from the indicia; and transmitting a postage payment adjustment amount based on a comparison between the first postage value and the determined postage value. | 07-16-2009 |
| 20090216686 | MAIL FRANKING AND TRACKING METHOD - The invention relates to a method of franking of mail such that it can be tracked by carriers and mail-routing services. More specifically, the invention relates to a method of franking and tracking mail, such as letters or parcels, sent by at least one sender through a distribution network which is equipped with an information system (SI). The invention is characterised in that it comprises the following steps, namely: a first pre-franking step ( | 08-27-2009 |
| 20090248590 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR FRANKING MAIL - A method for franking mail, whereby a franking mark is generated in a franking unit, transmitted to an operating unit, connected to the franking unit, and printed out in a printing unit. A user interface is provided at the operating unit by the franking unit, and the printing out of the franking mark, generated in the franking unit and transmitted to the operating unit, is controlled by the user interface, whereupon the franking mark is printed exactly once one each piece of mail. The invention further relates to a device suitable for carrying out said method. | 10-01-2009 |
| 20090299917 | METHOD OF FRANKING AS A FUNCTION OF MAIL CATEGORY - A method of franking mailpieces in a franking machine, wherein: an operator loads a mailpiece on a feed deck of said machine; the width of the mailpiece is determined automatically by a plurality of presence detectors mounted on said feed deck; the length of the mailpiece is estimated by processor means of the machine, on the basis of said width of the mailpiece; an initial franking amount to be applied to the mailpiece is computed by said processor means; the mailpiece is extracted automatically from said feed deck, and a postal imprint is printed by print means of the machine; the real length of the mailpiece is determined by length measurement means of the machine; the real length is compared with the previously estimated length; if these two lengths do not match, an audible or visible alarm is generated by a warning device of said franking machine; said processor means compute a corrected franking amount; and a new postal imprint making it possible to correct the initial franking amount is printed. | 12-03-2009 |
| 20090313182 | MAIL TRANSPORTATION PROCESSING - The present teachings described herein pertain to mail preparation systems, and more specifically to the processing of mailings to obtain destination entry discounts. The teachings herein also pertain to the processing of mailings by various document processing systems, such as sorters, inserters or vision systems attached to document processing systems, to enable processing of mail articles to maximize destination entry discounts. Still further, the teachings pertain to schemes for the enablement of delivery and logistics information to be arranged respective to a mailing during mail processing to obtain destination entry discounts. | 12-17-2009 |
| 20100235303 | Postal Meter Discount System and Method - A method to provide consolidated shipping information to a server of a carrier by which a package is to be shipped in exchange for a rebate, a discount, or both, is disclosed. The method includes receiving shipping criteria including destination address information and tracking/confirmation information for the package, creating shipping payment information for the package by a postal meter, and generating consolidated shipping information from the destination address information, the tracking/confirmation information, and the shipping payment. | 09-16-2010 |
| 20100293111 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR IN-LINE ADDRESS QUALITY AND MAIL PREPARATION ON AN INDICIA PRINTING SYSTEM - The present application generally relates to mail processing equipment and techniques. More specifically, the present application relates to a mail processing system and related method for transporting and imaging addressed mail pieces of a mailing to qualify the mailing for postage discounts. An address analysis component of the mail processing system compares the address included on a respective mail piece to postal authority standards for compliance with requirements for discounted postage based on pre-sort rules. A postage metering component prints the discounted postage indicia and a printing component prints delivery point barcodes. | 11-18-2010 |
| 20110066572 | System and method for sorting items - Disclosed is a system and method of dynamically sorting items for delivery to diverse destinations in which at least one target location changes during the sorting process using an electronic array that correlates diverse destinations to target locations for sorting, wherein the electronic array changes based upon criteria relating to the results of the sort resulting in the removal of a first set of items from one target location while leaving a second set in the target location and placing the first set in another target location to adapt to the changed array and thereafter continuing to sort further items according to the changed array while some items remain in their initial target locations. Additionally disclosed is a system and method of sorting which electronically identifies items destined for the same address that are comingled with items to diverse destinations, and allows for their separation and bundling responsive to the electronic identification and allows for payment for delivery charges based upon a bundle rather than the individual items included in the bundle. | 03-17-2011 |
| 20110161249 | Integrated shipping label and customs form - The systems and methods described herein relate generally to the integration of a shipping label with a customs form to provide a single label having postage, addressing, customs and other information for international shipping. In one embodiment, a method for generating an international shipping a package comprises the steps of providing shipping information associated with the package, the information comprising address information of the origin, address information of the destination, postage information including a postage amount due to a post service and a customs form number unique within the post service; processing a shipping label having the shipping information displayed thereon; and affixing the shipping label to the package. | 06-30-2011 |
| 20140258181 | Systems and Methods for Applying Postal Rate Discounts - Embodiments described herein provide a shipper a discount for each postal item that is mailed by a delivery service provider. A facilitator offers the shipper an immediate discount that is based on the shipper meeting certain requirements, e.g. purchasing a certain amount of postage value, shipping a certain number of mail items, and/or shipping a certain type of mail item such as a qualified mail piece. The facilitator will receive a rebate from the delivery service provider based on the shipper ability to meet the established requirements. | 09-11-2014 |
| 705404000 | Record keeping | 13 |
| 20080275826 | Method and Device for Generation and Sale of Frankings for Sending Mail - Method for generation and sale of frankings, which can be used for sending mail from a customer to a receiver. The frankings are thus preferably produced on an electronic mailbox, whereby the generation and the printing out can be carried out in a highly personalized manner by using stored customer data and receiver addresses entered by the customer concerned. In addition to personalized address input a franking comprises a unique identification code which can be used for franking security as well as transport control and monitoring. | 11-06-2008 |
| 20080288422 | Documenting mail work flow - Exemplary systems and methods for documenting mail work flows are provided. A mailing label is read and the label information stored in a database. Additional information about the mailing service may be added to the database. Billing and/or delivery information is added to the database. A mailing label is read at a postage machine and postage information including a rate is associated to the mailing label. The label information from the mailing label and the associated postage information are compared so that records having matching information can be reported together for billing of the mailing services. The records are updatable as well to provide for article tracking. | 11-20-2008 |
| 20090024544 | System and method of identifying and sorting international mail pieces based on applied-postage adequacy in order to enhance postal service revenue protection - Provided is a method of reducing postal revenue losses associated with the processing and delivery of international mail pieces. Algorithmically-resolved image data associated with a mail piece is compared to international-mail-services postage data and a determination is rendered, based on the comparison, as to whether any postage indicated as paid is sufficient to further process the mail piece in accordance with the level of delivery service requested. In various aspects, an attempt to algorithmically ascertain the identity of the sender is undertaken for purposes of automated charge assessment relative to a mail piece for which it is determined that insufficient postage has been tendered. In accordance with alternative aspects, if the sender identity cannot be ascertained, the mail piece is variously (i) rejected for manual handling or (ii) routed for automated sortation and delivery in accordance with a “downgraded” delivery service level for which the amount paid is adequate. | 01-22-2009 |
| 20090125456 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PRINTING POSTAGE INDICIA WITH MAIL-BY DATE - An envelope having a window for allowing a printed postage indicia to show through is shown. According to a preferred embodiment, the postage indicia window may be provided with a glassine covering. Preferably the postage indicia may be put in a corner of a document to be mailed and the document placed in the envelope so that the postage indicia shows through the postage indicia window. | 05-14-2009 |
| 20090307155 | FRANKING SYSTEM MAKING IT POSSIBLE TO PROCESS MAILPIECES HAVING DIFFERENT DESTINATIONS - A method of searching for a destination price zone applicable to a mailpiece, the method consisting in scanning the mailpiece so as to obtain an image of the destination address, in extracting an item of destination data from said image, in comparing the destination data extracted in this way with destination price zones previously stored in a database, in preventing any printing of a postal imprint by the franking means of the franking machine if said destination data does not belong to any of the destination price zones in said database or if such belonging cannot be established before the mailpiece goes past said franking means, and in incrementing a counter totaling a number of non-franked mailpieces that is associated with at least one determined reason for non-franking. | 12-10-2009 |
| 20100063943 | REPRESENTATION OF THE RESULT OF AN INSPECTION STEP IN AN INTELLIGENT DOCUMENT - There is provided a method and system for producing an intelligent document comprising a program which, when a precondition has been met, can be executed by a program execution environment, the intelligent document containing contents that can be displayed by a display program. An exemplary method comprises incorporating a program module into the intelligent document, the program module being configured to create displayable information indicating a result of a checking step in order to check whether the precondition has been met within the intelligent document. The exemplary method also comprises inserting displayable information indicating a negative result of the checking step into the intelligent document. The exemplary method additionally comprises transforming, with the program module, the information indicating the negative result of the checking step into displayable information indicating a positive result of the checking step. | 03-11-2010 |
| 20100131429 | METHOD FOR RECIPIENTS OF MAIL TO INFORM MAILERS OF MAILING PREFERENCES - A method and system for identifying recipient mailing preferences to mailers. A mail preparation center sends a plurality of mail recipients mail pieces having a mail campaign identifiers printed thereon. Mail recipients communicate with a data center to input the mail campaign identifiers received. The data center also gathers recipients' future mail campaign mailing preference options. The recipient preferences are communicated back to the mailing center. The mail preparation center may include a postage meter with at least one accounting register for accounting for value and the further steps of processing the plurality of mail pieces with the postage meter to account in the accounting register for the value of the mail piece mail campaign identifier of each mail piece processed by the postage meter. | 05-27-2010 |
| 20100131430 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR BULK MAIL ORIENTED TRANSACTION PRINTING - A system and method for bulk mail oriented transaction printing of variable documents by evaluating particular data such as zip code data in a VI PDL. A queue can be configured with information regarding a particular rendering job, which includes the VI data fields including required postal information, a particular postal information format, and a thickness adjustment with respect to each item of mail associated with a bulk mail. The rendering job can be received for production and a number of records associated with the job automatically parsed into one or more postal bundles, based on predefined information and postal regulations. Such an approach can also be utilized to automatically generate and render the required bundle labels. | 05-27-2010 |
| 20100169240 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR FUNDS RECOVERY FROM AN INTEGRATED POSTAL SECURITY DEVICE - Systems and methods for providing funds recovery for mailing machines including integrated circuits such as those used in postal security devices are described, and in certain configurations, systems and methods for recovering data such as postal funds records from a partially disabled single integrated circuit in a postal security device are described. | 07-01-2010 |
| 20110047100 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CREATING AN ADDRESS BLOCK MOVE UPDATE BARCODE - The present subject matter generally relates to techniques and equipment to apply move update address information to mailpieces based on move update requirements. More particularly, the present subject matter relates to a pre-print move update process that updates addresses for moves without affecting stored address data while meeting postal authority standards for move update and pre-sort mailpiece groupings. The move update process is applied to the address data before print and preserves the initial stored address data. The move update address information and initial address information are both printed. | 02-24-2011 |
| 20110066573 | SETTING AND CONTROLLING AN APPARATUS FOR PREPARING MAIL PIECES - During a setting stage, a scanner of an apparatus for preparing mail pieces scans a postal item. From the scanned image an area containing a mark is selected and a mark data set representing the mark or the position of the selected area is generated and stored. Instruction data representing a mail preparation instruction are stored in association with the mark data set. During an operating stage after the setting stage, one or more postal items are fed to the scanner, which scans item image data representing an image of the scanned portion of each postal item that is scanned. In response to agreement between the scanned item image data and the mark data set, instruction data associated to the mark data are selected. The mail piece including the scanned postal item is prepared in accordance with the selected instruction data. | 03-17-2011 |
| 20120317056 | HIGH SPEED PRINTING - A system and method for high-speed processing of mail pieces is disclosed. The high-speed system includes client server that forms and prints a shipping label comprising reduced Information-Based Indicia (RIBI) on each piece of mail. The client server provides funds to the system server and reports the RIBI usage to the system server. The system server issues tokens to the client server that allow the client server to the print a shipping label including RIBI indicia for a certain value of postage. | 12-13-2012 |
| 20140351173 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR RECEIVING REGISTERED POST - A method for automating issuing and attachment of a label including post ID information when a user intends to apply a registered post providing tracking and tracing information such as a registration or a parcel service by using an unmanned device of itself and an apparatus for receiving a registered post including a post receiving unit receiving reception information for receiving the registered post including a registered or parcel service post, and a reception information managing unit authenticating a user who intends to apply the registered post and verifying the reception information of the registered post to generate label information for issuing the label including the reception information. | 11-27-2014 |
| 705405000 | Data protection | 1 |
| 20100145882 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR SECURELY TRANSFERRING THE PERSONALITY OF A POSTAL METER AT A NON-SECURE LOCATION - A method and system for securely transferring the personality of a postage meter system to a replacement postage meter system at a non-secure location includes the steps of connecting a security tool to the postage meter system at the non-secure location and the tool retrieving data from the postage meter system. The tool signs the retrieved data. The tool is connected to a data center and the tool transmits the signed data to the data center. The data center validates the signature and content of the retrieved data and the data center signs replacement adjusted data and transmits the signed replacement adjusted data from said data center to the tool at non-secure location. The tool sends the signed replacement adjusted data to the replacement postage meter system and the replacement postage meter system validates and installs the signed replacement adjusted data in the postage meter system at the non-secure location. | 06-10-2010 |
| 705406000 | With specific mail handling means | 9 |
| 20080249963 | Reconfigurable mailing system having interchangeable mailpiece sealing and opening modules - A mailing machine is provided for processing mailpiece envelopes including a housing having a transport deck adapted to convey an envelope along a feed path. The mailing machine is reconfigurable to perform one of two mailpiece processing operation by alternately selecting or activating one of two mailpiece modules/assemblies. A first processing module/assembly is disposed along the feed path and is operative to moisten a glue line disposed along an envelope flap during the first mailpiece processing operation. The second processing module assembly is disposed along the feed path and is adapted to cut and open an edge of the envelope during the second mailpiece processing operation. Further, a means is provided for selecting one of the first and second the processing modules/assemblies to perform the processing operations. | 10-09-2008 |
| 20090018977 | FRANKING METHOD HAVING ERROR CORRECTION - A method of franking mailpieces in a closed franking machine fed from a mixed batch of mailpieces, said method comprising the following steps, for each mailpiece:
| 01-15-2009 |
| 20090018978 | Method for Processing Several Flat Packages of a Delivery Customer - The amount of work conventionally needed for the delivery and collection of a set of parcels in an automatic delivery station with input of the type of parcel and dispatch, customer and characterizing data and transmission to a billing unit with the release and counting of the parcels for each set with transmission of said data to the billing unit may be reduced by way of the collection of several parcels of the same parcel type and/or dispatch type and the marking of the collected parcels with an unambiguous machine-readable code. | 01-15-2009 |
| 20090083198 | Process for franking, printing, and/or producing images on flat mail items - Mail items ( | 03-26-2009 |
| 20100145883 | AUTOMATED MAIL CREATION AND PROCESSING SYSTEM - A system and method for preparing mail packages to be sent to recipients includes a carrier envelope with a front address window and a back window. A content document having a style code printed on it is positioned at the back of the carrier envelope. The content style code is positioned to be visible through the back window of the carrier envelope. A reply envelope is enclosed with an address area aligned with the front window of the carrier envelope. Mail packages are prepared by storing a corresponding content style for the recipient. While transported, the content style code is scanned. From the style code, a recipient having the corresponding content style is selected from the stored list. That recipients name and address are printed onto the address area of the reply envelope. | 06-10-2010 |
| 20110035337 | UNMANNED MAIL ACCEPTING METHOD AND DEVICE AND DATA MANAGING DEVICE - An unmanned mail accepting device verifies ordinary and registered mail to be provided by a client, settles postage for the verified ordinary and registered mail, and displays electronic postmark information on the mail. | 02-10-2011 |
| 20110184887 | METHOD, PROCESSOR AND MAIL TRANSPORT SYSTEM FOR ASSOCIATING INFORMATION WITH A MAIL ITEM - In a method, data processor and mail transport system for a mail item, the mail item has an electronic memory device physically associated therewith that contains electronically stored information that is relevant for the transport of the mail item. | 07-28-2011 |
| 20110295769 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DIMENSIONAL RATING OF A MAILPIECE - A mailing machine for the creation of mailpieces includes a print station and a transport system for passing a length of the label material through the print station to receive information on a face surface of the label material. A processor is adapted to store rating information based upon the weight and dimensions of the mailpiece and is operatively coupled to, and controls, the print station and transport system. In a first operating mode, the processor prints rating information on a length of label material, and in a second operating mode, the processor prints postage indicia on the face surface of the label material based upon the rating information for subsequent application to a mailpiece. In the second operating mode, the postage indicia may optionally be printed on the label material or directly on the face surface of the mailpiece envelope. | 12-01-2011 |
| 20120166362 | POSTAL SERVICE REVENUE PROTECTION WITH REAL-TIME PROCESSING - Methods and apparatus for weighing an article, such as a mail piece, while the article is moving at high speed, and for checking that the correct amount of postage has been paid for delivery of the article. An article ( | 06-28-2012 |
| 705407000 | Including mailed item weight | 11 |
| 20090030854 | POSTAGE WEIGHT COMPUTATION - Postage weight of a print item is computed as a function of certain print characteristics of the print item. The postage weight may be computed prior to printing the print item. | 01-29-2009 |
| 20090070278 | Automatically Generated Metered Mail - Postage values are determined for a plurality of documents stored in a document file. Value-bearing indicia are generated based upon the determined values. The indicia are stored separately from the documents. The documents and the indicia are printed on the same mailpiece. | 03-12-2009 |
| 20090119232 | Parcel franking device and method using same - Parcel-franking apparatus which comprises: a plurality of lockers ( | 05-07-2009 |
| 20090132438 | PARCEL CARRIER BILLING SERVICE - A parcel carrier billing service includes a mobile unit for processing received parcels. Shipment parameters are received and used in calculating a postage that is assessed to a user account. The user account may be for a service provider network account that provides multimedia content such as Internet protocol based television services or broadband services. Notifications to the shipping party and recipient of the parcel may be sent upon receiving the parcel by the service and upon delivery of the parcel. Notifications may be sent via email, text message, or instant message chat sessions, as examples. | 05-21-2009 |
| 20090164392 | Generic value bearing item labels - The present invention provides an intuitively-based (WYSIWYG) user interface for generic value bearing item label custom specification of each label on a multi-part label set. According to the present invention, an interactive display such as is depicted in FIG. | 06-25-2009 |
| 20100153309 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DIMENSIONAL RATING OF MAIL PIECES - Systems and methods for dimensionally rating mail pieces including cards, letters, flats, mailers, packages and parcels using a pointing device such as a digital pen are described. In one illustrative configuration the system includes a digital pen, a three dimensional digital pen pattern device, a computer and a printer for printing evidence of postage payment. A mail piece such as a small parcel is placed on the opened three dimensional digital pen pattern device. The user may select a digital pen pattern command box or may otherwise engage or be prompted to begin measurements. For a rectangular parcel, the user selects a bottom right and then a top left measurement point. The system then calculates the dimensions of the parcel, dimensionally rates it and then accounts for and prints a corresponding postage indicium. | 06-17-2010 |
| 20110047101 | Internet Digital Mail System Printer - This invention relates to a printer that can feed, seal, and print an indicia (Postage Stamp) on a linerless label and/or standard lined label, cut or tear the label (if needed) and apply the printed label to a mailpiece as it is transported all in one pass. Printer will be capable of feeding mailpieces either by hand, semi-automatically or a stack of mailpieces automatically; sealing each mailpiece if needed, and printing an indicia (Postage Stamp) and adhering it to the mailpiece using Internet Based USPS approved software. | 02-24-2011 |
| 20120066153 | SHIPPING LABEL KIOSK - A method and system for generating a mailing label includes inputting data relating to an item to be mailed into a first computer system; printing, by the first computer system, an information-bearing mark onto a base material, the information-bearing mark associated with the data relating to the item; reading, by a second computer system, the information-bearing mark on the base material; and printing, by the second computer system, the mailing label for mailing the item based on the read information-bearing mark. | 03-15-2012 |
| 20140067725 | HIGH SPEED PRINTING - A system and method for high-speed processing of mail pieces is disclosed. The high-speed system includes client server that forms and prints a shipping label comprising reduced Information-Based Indicia (RIBI) on each piece of mail. The client server provides funds to the system server and reports the RIBI usage to the system server. The system server issues tokens to the client server that allow the client server to the print a shipping label including RIBI indicia for a certain value of postage. | 03-06-2014 |
| 20140089231 | Portable Multifunction Telecommunication Scale - Multifunction portable computing devices capable of functioning as digital scales are described. For example, an object may be placed on the screen of a stationary smartphone, which in turn will calculate and display the weight of said object. | 03-27-2014 |
| 20140317024 | INTERNET-BASED PAPERLESS POSTAGE SYSTEM - A paperless postage method includes receiving sender electronic mail piece images and storing them, receiving a mail piece, taking an image of the mail piece, comparing the image with the stored sender electronic mail piece images to determine a match, retrieving sender service selections for the mail piece, and processing the mail piece according to the sender service selections. A paperless postage system includes an information reception and storage module configured to receive and store sender electronic mail piece images, an image capture module configured to take an image of a mail piece, an image matching module configured to compare the image with the stored sender electronic mail piece images to determine a match, a service selection module configured to retrieve sender service selections for the mail piece, and a mail piece processing module configured to process the mail piece according to the sender service selections for the mail piece. | 10-23-2014 |
| 705408000 | Specific printing | 16 |
| 20080228669 | Method of controlling the operation of an automated postage meter - Disclosed is an improved work-ahead method for efficiently operating a software-controlled, automated postage meter of the type used to print postage and other digital data on batches of mail that are run through the meter during successive jobs which originate from different accounts. The operator enters data relating to the parameters for a first job to be completed. After the meter is initialized and the meter overhead is encountered, the first batch of mail for the first job is run through the postage meter. As the first job is being executed and the first batch of mail is being imprinted with postage, the operator enters the data relating to the parameters for the next job. The operator then loads a second batch of mail for the next job into the postage meter. Provided that the first job has been completed, but without having to once again initialize the postage meter and encounter all of the meter overhead, the second batch of letters for the next job is now run through the meter. The postage meter is continuously readied to receive another batch of mail for a new job at the same time that the preceding job is being completed. Once the final job has been completed, meter information regarding all of the job transactions during the workday is retrieved, analyzed, displayed and saved. | 09-18-2008 |
| 20090094172 | VOLUME RATING BY POSTAL METER - A postage meter may be used to automatically apply volume rating to batches of mail pieces. In some embodiments, a batch of mail pieces is fed twice through the postage meter. In the first feeding the batch of mail is counted by the meter and on the second feeding meter indicia are applied to the mail pieces in accordance with a volume rating category established by the piece count provided by the first feeding. In other embodiments, the meter is set in advance to reflect a volume rating category, and the batch of mail is fed through the meter only once, to simultaneously meter the mail pieces and to count the batch for the purpose of verifying the volume rating category. | 04-09-2009 |
| 20090259602 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR SELECTING POSTAL INDICIA SIZE - According to some embodiments, a method of operating a postal indicia printing apparatus comprises storing, in the apparatus, a first indicia image format comprising a first dimension, storing, in the apparatus, a second indicia image format comprising a second dimension that differs from the first dimension, prompting a user of the apparatus to select one of the first and second indicia image formats, receiving a signal indicative of a selection of one of the first and second indicia image formats, and printing, on a mail piece, an indicia image in accordance with the selected indicia image format. | 10-15-2009 |
| 20100036777 | Method and system for postal payments and addressing - Methods and systems for postal payments and addressing are described. In one embodiment, an electronic communication identifier associated with a postal item may be accessed for automated payment. Source user data associated with the postal item may be accessed. A user associated with an electronic communication associated may be identified. Information from the identification of the user may be utilized for addressing or otherwise delivering the postal item, or for securing a payment approval, or for otherwise verifying previous blanket approval for payments. | 02-11-2010 |
| 20100153310 | DEVICE AND METHOD FOR ACCEPTING MAIL PIECES - A device and a method for mail piece acceptance; with a mail item feed for mail pieces; with a user interface and with a accounting unit; with a card reader with cover plate into whose slit a postage credit card or an authorization card can be inserted; wherein after the settling the postage fee by the accounting unit a storage in secured storage containers in the storage region ensues; wherein the mail item feed is equipped with an adjustable opening of a feed shaft for depositing and for drawing in a mail piece; wherein the mail piece is an element of a set of mail pieces whose dimensions can be different; and the mail piece acceptance device has a number of devices for scanning the mail piece surface, for automatic position alignment of the mail piece, for transport, for printing a marking on the mail piece and for storage of the mail piece; wherein for storage a deflection of each of the mail pieces to a specific storage container ensues, which storage container is dimensioned corresponding to a size-accurate collection of mail pieces. The variable size of the adjustable opening of the mail item feed is set corresponding to the cost features input by the user. | 06-17-2010 |
| 20100169241 | MULTIPLE CARRIER MAILING MACHINE - Systems and methods including mailing machines having postage meters including multiple postal security devices are described. In one illustrative configuration, a postage meter having multiple postal security devices for use with different postal carriers is described. In another illustrative configuration, a postage meter is configured to apply two postage payment information indicia to a single mail piece using two separate postal security devices. | 07-01-2010 |
| 20100169242 | MULTIPLE CARRIER MAIL SORTING SYSTEM - Systems and methods including mailing machines configured to selecting a route and carrier or carriers for delivery of the mail and for finishing the mail according the selection are described. In one illustrative configuration, the mailing machine tags mail pieces according to the result of a carrier selection process and sorts the outgoing mail by carrier. | 07-01-2010 |
| 20100332415 | STAMP PRINTER FOR PRINTING POSTAGE STAMPS RELATED TO AN ITEM IN A MAIL PIECE ON DEMAND - A stamp printer includes a memory device that stores a library of available images approved for use as a postage stamp. A code that identifies the item that will be included in the mail piece is input to the stamp printer. Using the information obtained from the code, the stamp printer identifies the item and searches the library of postage stamp images to identify those images that are related in some way to the specific item. The stamp printer can then display the identified postage stamp images to the user and allow the user to make a selection. Upon receiving a selection from the user, the stamp printer can then print the postage stamp selected by the user. | 12-30-2010 |
| 20110029459 | PERSONALIZED INTERACTIVE MAIL PUBLISHING METHOD - The disclosure relates to a personalised interactive mail publishing method which can be used to consult personal data, trigger actions or acknowledge receipt in an instant and secure manner. The method includes: formation or extraction of the constituent data of a printable code; generation of complementary variables, such as for authentication; concatenation and compaction of the data from the code to be printed; formation of a file containing the data from the code to be printed and from the mail; conversion of the codes to enable optoelectronic capture; encapsulation of the code in a data flow; printing prior to the distribution of the mail or package; capture of the printed code by the recipient using, for example, a mobile telephone fitted with a camera; interpretation of the symbols forming the code using an embedded module; processing of the instructions contained in the code; connection to the server; encryption and comparison with the encryption performed by the embedded module; authentication; and access to the information indexed in the databases made available by the originator of the mail. | 02-03-2011 |
| 20110066574 | Postage Server System and Method - A system and method for transmission of a document from a sending location to a receiving location by way of a trusted way location is disclosed. A selected document is physically or electronically transmitted by a sending location to a letter server operated by a delivery service. A confirmation of transmission of the document is provided the sender by the delivery service. Thereafter, the letter server reproduces the document in original quality, accompanied by any necessary items such as a delivery container and/or delivery instructions. The delivery service then delivers the reproduced document such as through electronic delivery or inducting the reproduced document into its delivery paradigm for physical delivery to the indicated recipient. | 03-17-2011 |
| 20110099125 | System and method for postal indicia printing evidencing and accounting - System and method for printing indicia on mailing items, such as envelopes, cards, or label media, has a host computer system connected to a postal security device. The postal security device stores postage funds and, responsive to the host computer postage requests, provides data to the host computer representing an IBI Lite barcode having at least part of a unique authentication code. The host computer utilizes such data to produce print data representing postage indicia, and send such print data to one of a mailing machine, stand-alone printer, or printing system, for printing on a mailing item to be associated with the authentication code. A plurality of host computer systems each with their respective PSD may be provided. A reset computer system can communicate with each PSD, via their respective host computer, to provide additional postage funds and to receive information representing transaction data stored in the host computer. | 04-28-2011 |
| 20140236867 | FRANKING IMPRINT DATA FOR A MAIL ITEM - In a method for generating franking imprint data for a mail item to be shipped, a set of shipping options for the mail item, from among available shipping options stored in a first memory, is selected at a data processing device, and product vector data are generated from the selected set. A franking imprint authorization request, including the product vector data, is transmitted from the data processing device to a secure device, at which it is verified whether the transmitted product vector data are compatible with the available shipping options, also stored at the secure device. If so, franking imprint authorization data are returned from the secure device to the data processing device and the franking imprint data are generated in response thereto. If compatibility is not verified, request rejection data are returned from the secure device to the data processing device. | 08-21-2014 |
| 20140297566 | METHOD FOR PROCESSING ADDRESSES AT A VERY FAST RATE - A mail processing method for franking mail items, which franking machine is connected to a first server that is itself connected to a second server in communication with a sorting machine, the franking method including scanning the destination addresses borne on the mail items as the mail items are inserted, storing the digital images of the addresses scanned in this way, in association with respective unique identification numbers, and periodically transferring the digital images as indexed in this way to a first server. The first or second server extracts determined data from the digital images, which data, associated with the unique identification numbers, is suitable for enabling the sorting machine to be controlled automatically on receiving the franked mail items. | 10-02-2014 |
| 20160019670 | CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP MANAGEMENT MAILING APPARATUS AND METHOD - An apparatus and method for sending mailings by using a widget that is integrated with a customer relationship management website, which uses customer data from within the CRM. | 01-21-2016 |
| 20160063769 | METHOD AND ARRANGEMENT FOR GENERATING FRANKING IMPRINT DATA FOR A MAIL ITEM - A method of processing a batch of mail items to be shipped includes the generation of imprint data for a plurality of imprints each to be printed on a mail item of the batch of mail items, the imprint data including third party imprint data. In an online marketplace portal providing step, an online marketplace portal is provided for reaching an agreement on the third party imprint data between a franking system user operating a franking system, in particular a franking machine, for generating the plurality of imprint and a print service requesting party specifying the third party imprint data In a third party imprint data specification step, the print service requesting party specifies the third party imprint data via the online marketplace portal. In a franking batch specification step, the franking system user provides batch information on the batch of mail items via the online marketplace portal. In an agreement step, via the online marketplace portal, an agreement is reached between the print service requesting party and the franking system user on the inclusion of the third party imprint data into the imprint data. Finally, in a batch processing step, the batch of mail items is processed through the franking system, wherein each mail item of the batch of mail items is provided with an imprint as a function of the imprint data including the third party imprint data. | 03-03-2016 |
| 20160171638 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR SUPPORTING MULTIPLE POSTAGE PRINTING DEVICES USING MULTIPLE CUSTOMER ACCOUNTS WITHOUT HAVING TO MAINTAIN FUNDS IN EACH CUSTOMER ACCOUNT | 06-16-2016 |
| 705409000 | Rate updating | 2 |
| 20140214727 | DATE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM - Method allowing a mailing system to frank in advance and manage a large number of rate tables stored in the mailing system, and in particular providing the possibility to frank mail in advance using a new future rate table and to come back later to franking with today's date and using a previous rate table, and including the main steps: provision of a control module, which can store more than two rate tables in a non-volatile memory accessible by the control module, provision of a volatile memory which can store the active rate table that is currently used by the mailing system for franking mail pieces, selection by the control module of the active rate table amongst the rate tables stored in a non-volatile memory when the mailing system is powered on and loading of this active rate table by the control module in volatile memory, initiation by the control module of the change of the active rate table triggered by determined events, selection by the control module of a new rate table based on the franking date defined by the operator or by the mailing system and the application date of the new rate table. | 07-31-2014 |
| 20150339738 | METHOD TO VALIDATE SHIPPING RATES - An actual shipping rates table and a stored shipping rates table are retrieved. A first aggregate value from the sum of all values in the actual shipping rates table and a second aggregate value from the sum of all values in the stored shipping rates table are computed. The first aggregate value is compared with the second aggregate value. A third aggregate value along a field with the most number of values of the actual shipping rates table, and a fourth aggregate value along a field with the most number of values of the stored shipping rates table are computed. The third aggregate value is compared with the fourth aggregate value. The stored shipping rates table is validated when the first aggregate value matches the second aggregate value, and the third aggregate value matches the fourth aggregated value. | 11-26-2015 |
| 705410000 | Specialized function performed | 12 |
| 20080208772 | ADDRESS FORWARDING FOR PARCELS - A method for sorting parcels may include reading, during a first sortation pass, machine readable indicia applied to the parcel prior to mailing and at least a portion of delivery address information on a parcel. The method may also include selecting a reference indicium from the machine readable indicia and creating an entry, corresponding to the reference indicia, in a first database, the entry including a portion of the delivery address information for the parcel and a value corresponding to the reference indicium. The method may also include determining whether the delivery address information has a corresponding forwarding order, and, if a corresponding forwarding order exists, modifying the delivery address information in accordance with the forwarding order. The method may include forwarding the entry to a second database different from the first database, the second database corresponding to the delivery address information. The method may include reading the machine readable indicia during a second sortation pass, subsequent to the first, identifying the reference indicium and retrieving the entry corresponding to the reference indicium from the second database, and sorting the parcel according to the portion of the delivery address information in the entry retrieved from the database. The method may also include delivering the parcel to a location corresponding to the delivery address information retrieved from the database, even if the delivery address information differs from the destination address originally applied to the parcel. | 08-28-2008 |
| 20080249964 | Method for providing a refund for indicium-based postage - A refund processing system and method where mailpiece identification information carried in first indicia is embedded in second indicia. Second indicia are stored in a database. A refund processor receives a request for a refund that includes identifiers of mailpieces for which a postage refund is sought. The refund processor determines if a corresponding second indicia is stored in the database, if any such indicia is authentic and monitors the mailstream to determine if any mailpiece corresponding to the identifier in the refund request is processed by the carrier. If an authentic second indicia is found that corresponds to the mailpiece and the mailpiece identifier is not detected in the mailstream, the refund is processed and the requester's account is credited to an amount equal to the postage borne by the second indicia. | 10-09-2008 |
| 20080301065 | DEVICE FOR AUTOMATICALLY DETERMINING A CATEGORY OF MAIL TO WHICH A MAILPIECE DELIVERED TO A FRANKING SYSTEM BELONGS - A device for determining the category of mail of a mailpiece, which device comprises: an stand designed to receive said mailpiece; at least one gauge fastened to said stand and provided with a slot of predetermined length and of predetermined height, which length and which height are suitable for defining a determined maximum width and a determined maximum thickness for the mailpiece; means for automatically estimating a length of the mailpiece depending on its position on the stand, and relative to the gauge; and means for acting, on the basis of that single estimate of the length of the mailpiece, to deliver, to a franking machine, information about the category of mail to which said mailpiece belongs. | 12-04-2008 |
| 20080306884 | AUTOMATED MAILPIECE PROCESSING - System and method for the addressing of mail pieces by a variable printing system. Information allowing a mail piece to be associated with a mailing list of address information is printed on the mail piece prior to processing of the piece by a variable printing system. As the piece is processed by the variable printing system, the information printed on the piece is read and used to identify a mailing list from among a plurality of available mailing lists. Address information for that mail piece is obtained from the identified mailing list and printed on the mail piece by the variable printing system. | 12-11-2008 |
| 20080306885 | System and method for authenticating indicia using identity-based signature scheme - Methods and systems for verification of indicia that do not require key management systems, and in which revocation of key pairs is easily performed without adding costs to the verification process are provided. Indicia are generated and authenticated utilizing an identity-based encryption (IBE) scheme. A key generating authority generates a private key for a PSD, distributes the private key securely to the PSD, and provides public information for use by a verification service when verifying cryptographic digital signatures generated with the private key. The corresponding public key is a string consisting of PSD information that is provided as part of the indicium. The verification service can verify the signature of each indicium by obtaining the public key string from the indicium, and utilizing the key generating authority's public information. | 12-11-2008 |
| 20080313105 | VIRTUAL MAILING SYSTEM - A virtual mailing system includes a virtual post office disposed in a virtual environment. A user in the virtual environment can request for the delivery of an electronic asset. A postage metering device, associated with the virtual post office, is operative to review the aspects of the delivery of the electronic asset and affix a postage amount. The postage metering device is also operative to process monetary funds relating to payment of postage for the virtual delivery of the electronic asset. The processing of monetary funds includes coordinating between virtual funds and real world funds so that virtual customers pay for delivery costs using virtual funds backed by real world currency. Through the virtual post office, electronic assets may then be virtually delivered to intended recipients within the virtual environment. | 12-18-2008 |
| 20090150305 | FRANKING SYSTEM INCLUDING A FRANKING MACHINE - A franking system (postage metering system) is described. The franking system includes a franking machine, further including an analog connection module for connection to a cable communication network. The franking system also includes an adaptation means between the franking machine and at least one wireless communication network. | 06-11-2009 |
| 20090171861 | METHODS AND SYSTEMS FOR USING MULTIPLE PERMANENT POSTAGE RATES IN MAILING MACHINES - A mailing machine that provides for permanent postage is described. Postage may be purchased at one point of time at a then prevailing rate and used in the future at the same effective purchasing power even if a new more expensive rate schedule is in effect. The mailing machine provides for the accounting of such rate purchased postage using a Postal Security Device and may include multiple rate-table based accounts each associated with a particular postage rate table. | 07-02-2009 |
| 20100042554 | MAILING SYSTEM HAVING EMPLOYEE PERSONAL POSTAGE ACCOUNTING CAPABILITY - A mail processing system that has employee personal postage accounting capability is provided. When a mail processing system is used to process personal mail, a record of the fees for such personal mail, associated with an identification of the employee sending the personal mail, is generated by the mail processing system. The mail processing system periodically sends such records to a payroll system, which uses the records to automatically deduct the fees from the respective employee's paycheck. By integrating the mail processing system to the payroll system, the mail processing system can be utilized by employees to process personal mail, and the fees for such personal mail collected from each employee, without the risk of handling cash in the mail room or the added expense of credit card fees. | 02-18-2010 |
| 20100161516 | Rolling View Virtualization - Rolling view optimization is initiated by receiving electronic mail data corresponding to a plurality of mail pieces, the electronic mail data including a first cycle and determining whether substantially all electronic mail data from the first cycle can be processed for mailing. In response to determining that substantially all of the electronic mail data from the first cycle cannot be processed for mailing, a determination is made whether a portion of the mail data from the first cycle can be processed for mailing and in response to determining that a portion of the mail data from the first cycle can be processed for mailing the electronic mail data corresponding to the first cycle for mailing is sent. | 06-24-2010 |
| 20110078091 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR REMOTE POSTAGE METERING - A system and method for remote postage metering of postage indicia, including demanding a desired postage amount and subsequently printing the postage indicia onto a piece of mail. A user inputs certain necessary information, as well as additional desired information, into a local processor-based system. The local system then assembles a postage demand in suitable format and transmits the same to a remote postage metering device. The remote postage metering device then verifies the demand for authority to demand and valid funding. Upon verification, the remote postage meter assembles a data packet representing an authorized postage indicia. The data packet is transmitted to the local system for printing. Printing of the postage indicia may be unaccompanied, or may include additional information. Such additional information may include destination and return address, machine readable routing or identification information, or a complete document to be posted. | 03-31-2011 |
| 20120123970 | DIMENSIONAL RATING OF A MAIL PIECE USING A TOUCH SCREEN ON A MAIL KIOSK - A system and method for determining the dimensions of a mail piece using a built-in touch screen of a mail kiosk. A mailer is instructed to place the mail piece into a specified corner of the touch screen of the mail kiosk. The user is then instructed to touch the touch screen by the opposite corner of the mail piece. The touch screen registers the location touched by the mailer, and provides the information to a processing device of the mail kiosk. The processing device uses the information received from the touch screen to determine the dimensions of the mail piece. | 05-17-2012 |
