Method and system for ordering and performing printing services and postal services

• US 20070061224A1
• Filed: 04/29/2004
• Published: 03/15/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Deutsche Post AG
• Original Assignee: Deutsche Post AG
• Inventors: Hofmann, Juergen, Rick, Joachim
• Application Number:
  US10/559,488
• Publication Number:
  US 20070061224A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/27
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0635 Processing of requisition or of purchase orders
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 17/00024 Physical or organizational aspects of franking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00072 Hybrid mail, i.e. mail delivered using different physical means along the mail delivery path, e.g. email and envelope

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for ordering and performing printing services and mailing services in a system in which a user can generate an order for an individual piece of mail that is to be sent on an order component of the system in a way that involves little effort on the part of the user, and the user has a great deal of freedom in selecting the design of the mail.

Claims

1. A method for the automated ordering and performing of printing services and mailing services in a mailing service system, with which order data for mail to be printed and sent is generated on an order component, comprising the steps of:

generating order data with an order component, whereby the order data comprises at least one image motif and delivery information,

transmitting the order data to a database via an interface,

editing the order data into a printing order in an editing component that is connected to a database,

transmitting the printing order to a printing production component,

generating a piece of mail in the printing production component,

transferring the piece of mail to a distribution system, and

invoicing the printing service and the mailing service via an invoicing component.

2. The method according to claim 1, comprising

the order component generating an order for mail to be printed and sent in that a user selects at least one image motif and provides delivery information.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein

the image motif for an order is an image generated on one of a user side and an image from a selection.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein

the mail to be printed and sent is one of a postcard, a greeting card and a folding card.

5. The method according to claim 1, comprising

the invoicing component at least partially invoicing a user of the mailing service system for the printing service and the mailing service, whereby the order for mail to be printed and mailed is user generated.

6. The method according to claim 1, comprising

the invoicing component at least partially invoicing a user who is signed up with a mailing service system for the printing service and the mailing service, whereby the order for mail to be printed and mailed is not user generated.

7. The method according to claim 1, comprising

invoicing for the printing service and the mailing service via the invoicing component before printing and sending the mail.

8. The method according to claim 1, comprising

generating the order for mail to be printed and sent via applications of a website connected to an associated server, and transmitting the order data to the database via an interface.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein

the website connected to the associated server is one of a website of the mailing service system and a website of a sponsor.

10. The method according to claim 8, comprising

automatically redirecting a user by an appropriate link on a website of a sponsor to applications on a website of the mailing service system, wherein the user employs these applications to generate an order for mail to be printed and sent, and the server transmits the data for an order to a database.

11. The method according to claim 10, comprising

carrying out automatic redirecting of the user from the website of the sponsor to the website of the mailing service system via a reciprocal communication process between a server of the sponsor and a server of the mailing service system.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein

the reciprocal communication process comprises checking whether the user has accessed the website of the mailing service system via the website of the sponsor.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein

no order can be generated if the verification reveals that the user did not access the website of the mailing service system via the website of the sponsor.

14. The method according to claim 8, comprising

generating the order for mail to be printed and sent on a website of a sponsor and an associated server transmitting the data for the order to a server of the mailing service system that transmits the data to the database.

15. The method according to claim 1, comprising

generating the order for mail to be printed and sent by a mobile terminal and transmitting data for the order to a database via an interface.

16. The method according to claim 15, comprising

transmitting the data to the interface via a second interface.

17. The method according to claim 16, comprising

converting the second interface the data into a format that can be processed by the interface.

18. (canceled)

19. A system for the automated ordering and performing of printing services and mailing services, with which an order for mail to be printed and sent can be generated on an order component by a user, comprising

an order component for generating order data, whereby the order data comprises at least one image motif and delivery information,

an interface to transmit the order data from an order component to a database,

an editing component connected to the database for producing printing orders from the order data,

a printing production component connected to the database for generating the mail,

an invoicing component connected to the database for purposes of invoicing for the printing service and the mailing service.

20. The system according to claim 19, wherein

the order component of comprises a website and an associated server.

21. The system according to claim 20, wherein

the order component comprises a mobile terminal.

22. The system according to claim 19, wherein

the interfaces is an http interface.

23. The system according to claim 21, wherein

in order to transmit data for an order between a mobile terminal and the interface, a second interface is located in-between, whereby the second interface is configured in such a way that it converts data received from the mobile terminal into a format that is processed by the interface.