Web-enabled value bearing item printing

• US 20020023057A1
• Filed: 07/13/2001
• Published: 02/21/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/1999
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Stamps.com, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Stamps.com, Inc.
• Inventors: Goodwin, Johnathan David, Winslow, Richard B., Cowles, Daniel K.
• Application Number:
  US09/905,329
• Publication Number:
  US 20020023057A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/50
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 17/0008 Communication details outside or between apparatus coin-freed apparatus for franking per se G07F17/26
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 17/00733 Cryptography or similar special procedures in a franking system
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00056 Client-server
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00064 Virtual meter, online stamp; PSD functions or indicia creation not at user's location
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00145 via the Internet
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00201 Open franking system, i.e. the printer is not dedicated to franking only, e.g. PC (Personal Computer)
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00887 using look-up tables, also called master tables with pointers
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00967 PSD [Postal Security Device] as defined by the USPS [US Postal Service]

Abstract

A web-enabled VBI printing system including one or more cryptographic modules and a central database. The cryptographic modules are capable of implementing a variety of required security standards. A client system is integrated with HTML and provides a user friendly GUI for facilitating the interface of the user to the system. The client system includes wizards that help the user step-by-step with processes of installation, registration, and printing.

In one aspect, the invention describes an web-based system for printing a value bearing item (VBI) that includes a client system for interfacing with a user comprising; a GUI for installing software for printing the VBI; a GUI for registering the user in the system; and a GUI for managing the printing of the VBI; and a server system capable of communicating with the client system over a computer network for authorizing the client system to print the VBI.

Claims

1. A web-enabled system for printing a value bearing item (VBI) comprising:

a web-enabled client subsystem for interfacing with a user comprising;

a graphical user interface (GUI) for installing software for printing the VBI;

a GUI for registering the user in the system; and

a GUI for managing the printing of the VBI; and

a server subsystem capable of communicating with the client subsystem over the Internet for authorizing the client subsystem to print the VBI.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the VBI bears postage value.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the GUI for managing the printing comprises of a GUI for providing a plurality of services.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the plurality of services includes one or more of certified mail, delivery confirmation, insurance, registered mail, and return receipt.

5. The system of claim 4, further comprising means in the client subsystem for calculating an amount due for a selected service based on one or more business rules.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the VBI is one or more of a ticket, a coupon, a currency, a voucher, a money order, and a check.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the client subsystem further comprises a GUI for displaying the user information including an account information, and making changes to the user'"'"'s information.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the client subsystem further comprises a GUI for specifying an address book from a plurality of address books so that the system can use the address book to print addresses.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the server subsystem includes an address matching module for verifying an address entered by the user.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the address matching module includes a user option for overriding an incorrect address.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the GUI for registering the user comprises of a GUI for entering user information.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the user information is uploaded to a web-based application.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the web-based application includes on-line shopping.

14. The system of claim 1, further comprising a browser-based GUI for on-line shopping.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the GUI for managing the printing comprises of a GUI for displaying a graphical image of the VBI.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the GUI for managing the printing comprises of a first GUI for printing a quality assurance VBI.

17. The system of claim 16, further comprising a second GUI for displaying selectable choices of a printed quality assurance VBI.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the client subsystem prevents printing of the VBI if the quality assurance VBI is not printed.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein the GUI for managing the printing comprises of a GUI for troubleshooting selected printing options.

20. The system of claim 1, wherein the GUI for managing the printing comprises of a GUI for providing envelope options.

21. The system of claim 1, wherein the GUI for managing the printing comprises of a GUI for providing label options.

22. The system of claim 1, wherein the GUI for managing the printing comprises of a GUI for providing postage options.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the registration wizard includes a GUI for specifying a payment method.

25. The system of claim 23, wherein the registration wizard includes a GUI for entering and displaying information about the user.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the user information is uploaded to a web-based application.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the web-based application includes on-line shopping.

28. The system of claim 23, further comprising a browser-based GUI for on-line shopping.

29. The system of claim 23, wherein the installation wizard includes a GUI for specifying an address book so that the system can use the address book to print addresses.

30. The system of claim 23, wherein the server includes an address matching database for verifying an address entered by the user.

31. The system of claim 30, further comprising a user option for overriding an incorrect address.

32. The system of claim 23, wherein the registration wizard includes a GUI for offering the user a plurality of services and selecting by the user a service of choice.

33. The system of claim 32, wherein the plurality of services includes one or more of certified mail, delivery confirmation, insurance, registered mail, and return receipt.

34. The system of claim 33, further comprising means for calculating an amount due for the selected service based on one or more business rules.

35. The system of claim 23, wherein the printing wizard includes a GUI for displaying a graphical image of a sample postage on an envelope.

36. The system of claim 23, wherein the printing wizard includes a first GUI for printing a quality assurance VBI.

37. The system of claim 36, further comprising means for preventing printing the VBI if the quality assurance VBI is not printed.

38. The system of claim 36, further comprising a second GUI for displaying selection choices of the shape of a printed quality assurance postage sample.

39. The system of claim 23, wherein the printing wizard includes a GUI for troubleshooting selected printing options.

40. The system of claim 23, wherein the printing wizard includes a GUI for providing envelope options.

41. The system of claim 23, wherein the printing wizard includes a GUI for providing label options.

42. The system of claim 23, wherein the printing wizard includes a GUI for providing postage options.

23. An interactive web-enabled postage printing system comprising:

a web-enabled installation wizard including a graphical user interface (GUI) for downloading and installing software for postage printing from a server connected to a computer network;

a web-enabled registration wizard including a GUI for facilitating the registration of a user with the system; and

a web-enabled printing wizard including a GUI for facilitating printing of a postage indicium.

43. A method for printing a value bearing item (VBI) over the Internet including a web-enabled client system and a server system, the method comprising the steps of:

displaying a first GUI by the client system for registering a user;

establishing communication with the server via the Internet;

entering user information in the client system; and

communicating the entered user information to the server.

44. The method of claim 43 further comprising the steps of:

displaying a second GUI by the client system including printing options for managing the printing of the VBI;

selecting one or more printing options from the second GUI; and

printing the VBI according to the selected one or more printing options.

45. The method of claim 44, wherein the step of printing the VBI comprises printing a postage value.

46. The method of claim 44, wherein the step of printing the VBI comprises printing one or more of a ticket, a coupon, a currency, a voucher, a money order, and a check.

47. The method of claim 43, further comprising displaying a third GUI for installing software for printing the VBI.

48. The method of claim 43, wherein the step of displaying a first GUI comprises displaying a GUI for entering user'"'"'s information.

49. The method of claim 48, wherein the user information is uploaded to a web-based application.

50. The method of claim 49, wherein the web-based application includes on-line shopping.

51. The method of claim 43, further comprising displaying a browser-based GUI for on-line shopping.

52. The method of claim 43, wherein the step of displaying a first GUI comprises displaying a GUI for displaying user information including an account information.

53. The method of claim 52, wherein the account information includes an account balance.

54. The method of claim 43, further comprising the step of verifying an address by the server system entered by the user.

55. The method of claim 43, wherein the step of verifying an address comprises overriding an incorrect address.

56. The method of claim 43, wherein the step of displaying a first GUI comprises displaying a GUI for offering the user a plurality of services.

57. The method of claim 43, wherein the plurality of services includes one or more of certified mail, delivery confirmation, insurance, registered mail, and return receipt.

58. The method of claim 57 further comprising the step of calculating an amount due for a selected service based on one or more business rules.

59. The method of claim 43, wherein the step of displaying a first GUI comprises displaying a GUI for canceling a registration process.

60. The method of claim 44, wherein the step of displaying a second GUI comprises displaying a GUI for displaying a graphical image of the VBI.

61. The method of claim 44, wherein the step of displaying a second GUI comprises displaying a QA GUI for printing a quality assurance VBI.

62. The method of claim 61, further comprising the step of preventing printing the VBI if the quality assurance VBI is not printed.

63. The method of claim 44, further comprising displaying a third GUI for displaying selectable choices of the shape of a printed sample VBI.

64. The method of claim 44, wherein the step of displaying a second GUI comprises displaying a GUI for providing envelope options.

65. The method of claim 44, wherein the step of displaying a second GUI comprises displaying a GUI for providing label options.

66. The method of claim 44, wherein the step of displaying a second GUI comprises displaying a GUI for providing postage options.

67. The method of claim 43, further comprising the step of displaying a second GUI for the user to withdraw the user'"'"'s account.

68. The method of claim 44, wherein the step of selecting one or more printing options comprises the steps of:

prompting the user to place an envelope in a printer;

displaying a plurality of patterns, wherein only one of the plurality of patterns completely prints onto the envelope fed through the printer;

selecting one of the plurality of displayed patterns based upon which pattern appears to the user; and

ascertaining if the printer feeds envelopes from the top, center, or bottom based on the selected pattern.