Mailing label having a signature section and method of using same

• US 20050248148A1
• Filed: 09/30/2004
• Published: 11/10/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/2004
• Status: Active 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: Bravo, Charles E., Schenck, Karen E.
• Application Number:
  US10/956,977
• Publication Number:
  US 20050248148A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 283/74
• CPC Class Codes: B42D 15/006 Shipping forms
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• 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 17/00661 Sensing or measuring mailpieces weighing G01G19/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/0004 Determining the location of mailpieces outside apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00572 Details of printed item
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/0062 Label
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00709 Scanning mailpieces
• CPC Class Codes: G09F 3/0297 including a machine-readable marking, e.g. a bar code digitally marked record carriers in general G06K19/00

Abstract

A mailing label includes an informational surface with a barcode section and a signature section. The mailing label can include an adhesive surface that is opposite of the informational surface. The signature section, being co-located on the same informational surface as the barcode section, can be simultaneously scannable with the barcode section by a single, portable scanning device. The mailing label can also include a special service descriptor section and an address section on the informational surface.

Claims

1. A mailing label, comprising:

an informational surface;

an indicia section disposed on the informational surface; and

a signature section disposed on the informational surface,

wherein the indicia section and the signature section are simultaneously scannable with a single, portable data collection device.

2. The mailing label of claim 1, wherein the indicia section includes a barcode.

3. The mailing label of claim 2, wherein the barcode is selected from a one-dimensional barcode and a two-dimensional barcode.

4. The mailing label of claim 2, wherein the barcode is linked to information related to at least one item selected from a set of items, the set of items including a sender'"'"'s name, a sender'"'"'s address, a recipient'"'"'s name, a recipient'"'"'s address, a date of mailing, a time of mailing, a mailing facility, a weight of the mailed item, a tracking status, and a type of mailing service.

5. The mailing label of claim 2, wherein the indicia section includes an alphanumeric code.

6. The mailing label of claim 1, wherein the indicia section includes an alphanumeric code.

7. The mailing label of claim 1, wherein the signature section is intended for a recipient'"'"'s signature.

8. The mailing label of claim 1, wherein the signature section includes an instructional phrase.

9. The mailing label of claim 1, further including:

an address section disposed on the informational surface.

10. The mailing label of claim 9, wherein the address section includes at least one item selected from a set of items, the set of items including a recipient'"'"'s name and a recipient'"'"'s address.

11. The mailing label of claim 1, further including:

a service descriptor section disposed on the informational surface, the service descriptor section being indicative of a special mailing service.

12. The mailing label of claim 1, further including:

an adhesive surface on a side opposite the informational surface.

13. The mailing label of claim 1, wherein the single, portable data collection device is capable of:

reading identifying information from the indicia section;

digitally imaging the signature section; and

associating the digitally imaged signature section with the identifying information.

14. A method of providing a tracking service and signature security service for a mailed item, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a mailing label having an informational surface with an indicia section and a signature section, the mailing label being attachable to the mailed item;

obtaining a signature from a recipient of the mailed item within the signature section; and

scanning both the indicia section and the signature section with a single, portable data collection device.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the indicia section and the signature section are scanned simultaneously.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the mailing label includes an adhesive surface on a side opposite of the informational surface for attaching the mailing label to the mailed item.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the indicia section includes a barcode, the barcode being selected from a one-dimensional barcode and a two-dimensional barcode.

18. The mailing label of claim 17, wherein the barcode is linked to information related to at least one item selected from a set of items, the set of items including a sender'"'"'s name, a sender'"'"'s address, a recipient'"'"'s name, a recipient'"'"'s address, a date of mailing, a time of mailing, a mailing facility, a weight of the mailed item, a tracking status, and a type of mailing service.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein the indicia section includes an alphanumeric code.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein the signature section includes an instructional phrase.

21. The method of claim 14, wherein the informational surface further includes an address section.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the address section includes at least one item selected from a set of items, the set of items including a recipient'"'"'s name and a recipient'"'"'s address.

23. The method of claim 14, wherein the informational surface further includes a service descriptor section indicative of a special mailing service.

24. The method of claim 14, wherein the step of scanning includes capturing a single image of at least the indicia section and the signature section.

25. The method of claim 14, wherein the single, portable data collection device is capable of:

reading identifying information from the indicia section;

digitally imaging the signature section; and

associating the digitally imaged signature section with the identifying information.

26. A mailing label, comprising:

an informational surface;

an indicia section having a barcode linked to information related to at least a first item selected from a set of first items, the set of first items including a sender'"'"'s name, a sender'"'"'s address, a recipient'"'"'s name, a recipient'"'"'s address, a date of mailing, a time of mailing, a mailing facility, a weight of the mailed item, a tracking status, and a type of mailing service, the indicia section being disposed on the informational surface;

a signature section intended for a recipient'"'"'s signature, having an instructional phrase, and being disposed on the informational surface, wherein the indicia section and the signature section are simultaneously scannable with a single, portable data collection device;

an address section having at least one of a second item selected for a set of second items, the set of second items including a recipient'"'"'s name and a recipient'"'"'s address, the address section being disposed on the informational surface; and

an adhesive surface on a side opposite the informational surface.

27. The mailing label of claim 26, wherein the barcode is selected from a one-dimensional barcode and a two-dimensional barcode.

28. The mailing label of claim 26, wherein the indicia section includes an alphanumeric code.

29. The mailing label of claim 26, further including:

a service descriptor section disposed on the informational surface, the service descriptor section being indicative of a special mailing service.

30. The mailing label of claim 26, wherein the single, portable data collection device is capable of:

reading identifying information from the indicia section;

digitally imaging the signature section; and

associating the digitally imaged signature section with the identifying information.