SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROCESSING MAIL

• US 20040230542A1
• Filed: 05/12/2003
• Published: 11/18/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pitney Bowes Incorporated (Böwe Systec AG)
• Original Assignee: Pitney Bowes Incorporated (Böwe Systec AG)
• Inventors: Obrea, Andrei
• Granted Patent: US 8,027,844 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/401
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 17/00024 Physical or organizational aspects of franking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 17/00362 Calculation or computing within apparatus, e.g. calculation of postage value
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/0004 Determining the location of mailpieces outside apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00709 Scanning mailpieces

Abstract

A method and system for processing postage payments is described. In one configuration a digital pen is utilized to provide an indication of authorization for payment of postage, while the rest of the mail handling is done using existing technology independent of the digital pen infrastructure.

Claims

1. A method for a user for authorizing payment of postage associated with processing a mail piece comprising:

receiving an indication of authorization using a first identifier and a digital pen, wherein the indication is associated with a mail piece identifier;

sending a message requesting an authentication message related to the indication; and

receiving an authentication message related to the indication; and

sending the authentication message to a postage payment broker.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving an indication that the postage payment was authorized.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the message requesting authorization is signed by the digital pen.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the authentication message is requested from a pattern lookup server and the authentication message is signed by the pattern lookup server.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the postage payment broker authenticates the user and the pattern lookup server.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving an indication that the postage payment was authorized.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the mail piece identifier exhibits one to one correspondence with the indication of authorization.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

a plurality of unique identifiers on the mail piece each associated with a class of service.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein:

the mail piece identifier exhibits one to many correspondence with the plurality of unique identifiers.

10. A method for a user for authorizing payment of postage associated with processing a mail piece comprising:

receiving an indication of authorization using a first identifier and a digital pen, wherein the indication is associated with a mail piece identifier;

receiving the mail piece into a mail stream; and

obtaining the mail piece identifier;

validating the mail piece identifier by associating the mail piece identifier with the indication of authorization; and

processing the mail piece if valid.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein:

the mail piece identifier exhibits one to one correspondence with the indication of authorization.

12. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

a plurality of unique identifiers on the mail piece each associated with a class of service.

13. A system for processing an article comprising:

a first subsystem for decoding a first encoded identifier detected on the article;

a second subsystem for decoding a second encoded identifier detected on the article;

means for associated the first identifier with the second identifier.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein:

the first encoded identifier is encoded using an Anoto pattern.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein:

the second encoded identifier is encoded using a 2D barcode.

16. The system of claim 13 wherein:

the first identifier and second identifier are identical positive integers.

17. The system of claim 15 wherein:

the article is a mail piece.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein:

the first subsystem includes a Chatpen.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein:

the second subsystem includes a mail piece sorter including a 2D barcode decoder.