Mailing online operation flow

• US 20040008368A1
• Filed: 02/25/2003
• Published: 01/15/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: United States Postal Service (Government of the United States of America)
• Original Assignee: United States Postal Service (Government of the United States of America)
• Inventors: Plunkett, Michael K, Garvey, Lee B, Tackes, Jeffrey J
• Application Number:
  US10/362,283
• Publication Number:
  US 20040008368A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 358/1.15
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1204 resulting in reduced user or operator actions, e.g. presetting, automatic actions, using hardware token storing data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1272 Digital storefront, e.g. e-ordering, web2print, submitting a job from a remote submission screen
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1287 via internet

Abstract

A method and system are provided for delivery of a printed document using at least one processor (1030) interfacing a network (1020). The processor (1030) may receive first information, through the network 81020) specifying an electronic version of a document. Then the processor (1030) may provide second information indicating one or more options for printing the document, and a customer may select a printing option. The processor (1030) may receive third information indicating at least one physical delivery address for sending the document, process the document accordint to the selected printing option to create a print file, select a printing site (1040). The print file may be printed at the selected printing site (1040) and provided to a service provider (1050) for transport to a delivery address.

Claims

1. A method for delivery of a printed document using at least one processor interfacing a network, the method comprising:

receiving first information, through the network and at the at least one processor, specifying an electronic version of a document;

providing second information, from the at least one processor and through the network, indicating one or more options for printing the document;

selecting a printing option from the one or more options for printing the document;

receiving third information, through the network and at the at least one processor, indicating at least one physical delivery address to which the document will be sent;

processing the electronic version of the document according to the selected printing option to create a print file;

selecting a printing site from one or more printing sites;

transmitting the print file to the selected printing site;

printing the print file at the selected printing site; and

providing the printed document to a service provider for delivery to the physical delivery address.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the document conforms to a predetermined format recognized by a program selected from a group consisting of MS WORD, COREL WORDPERFECT, ADOBE PAGEMAKER, VENTURA, and QUARK.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the second information comprises a document type, selected from a group consisting of a booklet, a letter, a flyer, and a postcard.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the second information comprises a document enclosure, selected from a group consisting of an envelope, a self-mailer, a coupon, and a postcard.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the second information comprises one or more finishing instructions, selected from a group consisting of folding, binding, stapling, single-sided printing, double-sided printing, full color printing, limited color printing, and black &

white printing.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the second information comprises a service class, selected from a group consisting of First-Class service, Standard service, and Non-Profit service.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the second information comprises a paper type, selected from a group consisting of off-white 28# paper, white 24# paper, yellow 24# paper, and white 80# postcard stock.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the second information comprises a paper size, selected from a group consisting of 8.5 inch by 11 inch paper, 8.5 inch by 14 inch paper, 11 inch by 17 inch paper, A4 size paper, and A5 size paper.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

selecting the delivery address based on the third information; and

merging the document with the delivery address.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the third information further indicates fourth information for customizing the document, and the document is merged with the fourth information to create a customized document.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

selecting the delivery address based on the third information; and

standardizing the delivery address to conform with a predetermined address format.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

selecting the delivery address based on the third information;

verifying the delivery address with a database to determine if an addressee corresponding to the delivery address has changed his physical delivery address; and

updating the delivery address when it is determined that the physical delivery address has changed.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

selecting the printing site by at least one criteria selected from a group consisting of capability to produce documents having the selected printing option, proximity of the printing site to the delivery address, capacity to produce documents having the selected printing option, and a fee for printing documents having the selected printing option.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

estimating a fee for printing the document;

estimating a fee for delivering the printed document to the delivery address; and

accepting payment based on the estimated fee for printing the document and the estimated fee for delivering the printed document.

15. A system for delivery of a printed document, using at least one processor interfacing a network, the system comprising:

means for receiving first information, through the network and at the at least one processor, specifying an electronic version of a document;

means for providing second information, from the at least one processor and through the network, indicating one or more options for printing the document;

means for selecting a printing option from the one or more options for printing the document;

means for receiving third information, through the network and at the at least one processor, indicating at least one physical delivery address to which the document will be sent;

means for processing-the electronic version of the document according to the selected printing option to create a print file;

means for selecting a printing site from one or more printing sites;

means for transmitting the print file to the selected printing site;

means for printing the print file at the selected printing site; and

means for providing the printed document to a service provider for delivery to the physical delivery address.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the document conforms to a predetermined format recognized by a program selected from a group consisting of MS WORD, COREL WORDPERFECT, ADOBE PAGEMAKER, VENTURA, and QUARK.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the second information comprises a document type, selected from a group consisting of a booklet, a letter, a flyer, and a postcard.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the second information comprises a document enclosure, selected from a group consisting of an envelope, a self-mailer, a coupon, and a postcard.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein the second information comprises one or more finishing instructions, selected from a group consisting of folding, binding, stapling, single-sided printing, double-sided printing, full color printing, limited color printing, and black &

white printing.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein the second information comprises a service class, selected from a group consisting of First-Class service, Standard service, and Non-Profit service.

21. The system of claim 15, wherein the second information comprises a paper type, selected from a group consisting of off-white 28# paper, white 24# paper, yellow 24# paper, and white 80# Postcard stock.

22. The system of claim 15, wherein the second information comprises a paper size, selected from a group consisting of 8.5 inch by 11 inch paper, 8.5 inch by 14 inch paper, 11 inch by 17 inch paper, A4 size paper, and A5 size paper.

23. The system of claim 15, further comprising:

means for selecting the delivery address based on the third information; and

means for merging the document with the delivery address.

24. The system of claim 23, wherein the third information further indicates fourth information for customizing the document, and the means for merging the document further comprises means for merging the document with the fourth information to create a customized document.

25. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

means for selecting the delivery address based on the third information; and

means for standardizing the delivery address to conform with a predetermined address format.

26. The system of claim 15, further comprising:

means for selecting the delivery address based on the third information;

means for verifying the delivery address with a database to determine if an addressee corresponding to the delivery address has changed his physical delivery address; and

means for updating the delivery address when it is determined that the physical delivery address has changed.

27. The system of claim 15, further comprising:

means for selecting the printing site by at least one criteria selected from a group consisting of capability to produce documents having the selected printing option, proximity of the printing site to the delivery address, capacity to produce documents having the selected printing option, and a fee for printing documents having the selected printing option.

28. The system of claim 15, further comprising:

means for estimating a fee for printing the document;

means for estimating a fee for delivering the printed document to the delivery address; and

means for accepting payment based on the estimated fee for printing the document and the estimated fee for delivering the printed document.

29. A computer program product, comprising a computer readable medium having computer program code embodied in said medium, for delivery of a printed document using at least one processor interfacing a network, wherein the program code comprises:

code for receiving first information, through the network and at the at least one processor, specifying an electronic version of a document;

code for providing second information, from the at least one processor and through the network, indicating one or more options for printing the document;

code for selecting a printing option from the one or more options for printing the document;

code for receiving third information, through the network and at the at least one processor, indicating at least one physical delivery address to which the document will be sent;

code for processing the electronic version of the document according to the selected printing option to create a print file;

code for selecting a printing site from one or more printing sites;

code for transmitting the print file to the selected printing site;

code for printing the print file at the selected printing site; and

code for providing the printed document to a service provider for delivery to a physical delivery address.

30. A method for providing on-line document printing and mailing service comprising:

receiving a recipient address data list for an electronic document;

receiving sender selected document printing and finishing specifications from a predetermined specification list;

processing the electronic version of the document and coordinating the electronically processed version of the document with the recipient address data list to create an electronic print file;

transmitting the electronic print file to a document print site selected on the basis of the recipient mailing address code;

printing the document and a mailing permit therefore; and

transporting the document and mailing permit to a local mail service provider based on the recipient mailing address code, whereby the local mail service provider accepts, processes and delivers the document to the recipient.