Media type identification

• US 20040088271A1
• Filed: 10/17/2003
• Published: 05/06/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Auctane LLC (Stamps.com, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Stamps.com, Inc.
• Inventors: Cleckler, Damon, Bussell, Keith David
• Granted Patent: US 7,162,460 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/408
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/367 involving electronic purses or money safes
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 17/00024 Physical or organizational aspects of franking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 17/00508 Printing or attaching on mailpieces printing mechanisms B41J; security printing B41M3/14; marking methods B41M5/00; inks C09D11/00; record carriers with at least a part designed to carry digital markings G06K19/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00032 Determining the location of apparatus
• 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 2017/00298 Visual, e.g. screens and their layouts
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00443 Verification of mailpieces, e.g. by checking databases
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/0058 Printing of code
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/0062 Label
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00637 Special printing techniques, e.g. interlacing
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00653 Special inks, e.g. fluorescent
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00822 including unique details

Abstract

The exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides methods and systems for automatically selecting a media type for which to format Value-Bearing Item indicia based on a user'"'"'s input of a secured paper control number. The exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides a method for selecting a media type format for which to generate value-bearing item indicia, said method comprising receiving an input of a secured paper control number, and identifying a media type format corresponding to the secured paper control number. The exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides a method for determining a media type for a particular unit of secured paper, said method comprising receiving an input of a media type identifier, wherein the media type identifier is displayed on the particular unit of secured paper, and retrieving from a memory storage a record corresponding to the media type identifier, wherein said record defines a media type format corresponding to the media type identifier. The exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides a method for identifying to a system a secured paper media type, said method comprising displaying on a particular unit of secured paper a secured paper identifier wherein the particular unit of secured paper corresponds to a particular media type, said media type characterized by a set of media type information, and recording on a database a relationship between the secured paper identifier and the corresponding media type information.

Claims

1. A method for selecting a media type format for which to generate value-bearing item indicia, said method comprising:

receiving an input of a secured paper control number; and

identifying a media type format corresponding to the secured paper control number.

2. The method of claim 1 for selecting a media type format, said method further comprising:

generating a label stock preview display in a format according to the media type format.

3. The method of claim 1 for selecting a media type format, said method further comprising:

generating value-bearing item indicia in a format according to the media type format.

4. A method for determining a media type for a particular unit of secured paper, said method comprising:

receiving an input of a media type identifier, wherein the media type identifier is displayed on the particular unit of secured paper; and

retrieving from a memory storage a record corresponding to the media type identifier, wherein said record defines a media type format corresponding to the media type identifier.

5. The method of claim 4 for determining a media type for a particular unit of secured paper, said method further comprising:

generating a label stock preview display in a format according to the media type format.

6. The method of claim 4 for determining a media type for a particular unit of secured paper, wherein the media type identifier is input as a portion of a secured paper control number displayed on the particular unit of secured paper.

7. The method of claim 4 for determining a media type for a particular unit of secured paper, said method further comprising:

formatting a set of value-bearing item indicia according to the media type format.

8. A method for identifying to a system a secured paper media type, said method comprising:

displaying on a particular unit of secured paper a secured paper identifier wherein the particular unit of secured paper corresponds to a particular media type, said media type characterized by a set of media type information; and

recording on a database a relationship between the secured paper identifier and the corresponding media type information.

9. The method of claim 8 for identifying to a system a secured paper media type, wherein the secured paper identifier is a unique secured paper control number such that each unit of secured paper has a distinct, unique secured paper control number.

10. The method of claim 8 for identifying to a system a secured paper media type, wherein the secured paper identifier is a portion of a unique secured paper control number such that each unit of secured paper has a distinct, unique secured paper control number.