POSTAGE SERVER SYSTEM AND METHOD

• US 20080021725A1
• Filed: 07/27/2007
• Published: 01/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stamps.com, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Stamps.com, Inc.
• Inventors: Kara, Salim, Pagel, Martin
• Granted Patent: US 7,864,356 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/1
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 17/00 Franking apparatus printing aspects B41
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/066 Format adaptation, e.g. format conversion or compression
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/23 Reliability checks, e.g. acknowledgments or fault reporting
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00127 Connection or combination of a still picture apparatus with another apparatus, e.g. for storage, processing or transmission of still picture signals or of information associated with a still picture
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00281 with a telecommunication apparatus, e.g. a switched network of teleprinters for the distribution of text-based information, a selective call terminal details of transmission H04N1/00095; establishing a communication with one of a facsimile machine or another apparatus sharing a single line H04N1/32704; interfacing cordless telephone terminals with an accessory to increase the functionality of user interface H04M1/72409
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00312 with a digital transmission apparatus, e.g. a switched network of teleprinters for the distribution of text-based information, SMS or ISDN device transmitting or receiving via a computer, e.g. using e-mail, a computer network or the internet H04N1/00214; transmission of digital information H04L

Abstract

A system and method for transmission of a document from a sending location to a receiving location by way of a trusted way location is disclosed. A selected document is physically or electronically transmitted by a sending location to a letter server operated by a delivery service A confirmation of transmission of the document is provided the sender by the delivery service. Thereafter, the letter server reproduces the document in original quality, accompanied by any necessary items such as a delivery container and/or delivery instructions. The delivery service then delivers the reproduced document such as through electronic delivery or inducting the reproduced document into its delivery paradigm for physical delivery to the indicated recipient.

Claims

1. A method for facilitating transmission of contents of a postal item from a first location to a second location, said method comprising:

receiving an electronic transmission of said contents of said postal item at a location other than said first location;

receiving, at said location other than said first location, an electronic data packet containing data showing proof of payment for delivery of said postal item to said second location;

printing said received contents of said postal item as a document, said document comprising at least a part of said postal item;

printing said received data packet as an indicium providing proof of payment for delivery of said postal item to said second location, wherein said indicium is associated with said document for delivery of said postal item to said second location.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said electronic transmission of said contents of said postal item comprises an electronic document as created by a word processor program.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said electronic transmission of said contents of said postal item comprises an electronic mail message.

4. The method of claim 17 wherein said location other than said first location comprises a postal service location.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

determining a service location of a plurality of service locations most near said second location; and

routing said electronic transmission of said contents of said postal item to said service location, said service location being said postal service location.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said location other than said first location is a third location.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said location other than said first location is said second location.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said electronic data packet is received from said first location.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said electronic data packet is received from a location different than said first location.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said data packet includes information in addition to said data showing proof of payment for delivery of said postal item.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein said printing said received contents comprises:

reproducing text and graphic portions of said contents of said postal item.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein said printing said received contents comprises:

producing an original quality postal item.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein said printing said received contents comprises:

appending selected information to the received contents.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said selected information comprises a letterhead associated with a sender of said contents of said postal item.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein said selected information comprises a handwritten signature of a sender of said contents of said postal item.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein said printing said indicium comprises:

printing said indicium on said document.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

preparing a delivery container for said document, said delivery container comprising at least a part of said postal item.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said printing said indicium comprises:

printing said indicium on said delivery container.

19. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

analyzing said received electronic transmission to determine an address of said second location.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein said printing said received contents comprises:

printing multiple copies of said document if said analyzing determines that multiple addressees are associated with said received electronic transmission.

21. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

analyzing said received electronic transmission to determine delivery instructions associated with said mail item.

22. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing, to said first location, electronic confirmation of successful transmission of said contents of said postal item from said first location to said location other than said first location.

23. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing, to said first location, electronic confirmation of successful delivery of said postal item to said second location.

24. A system for facilitating transmission of contents of a postal item from a sending location to a receiving location, said system comprising:

a letter server disposed at a location other than said sending location, said letter server coupled to a network to receive electronic transmission of contents of postal items from a plurality of user terminals, wherein one or more user terminals of said plurality of user terminals is disposed at said sending, location;

a printer system coupled to said letter server and operable to print said received electronic transmissions of contents as postal items, said printer system also operable to print a indicia providing proof of payment for delivery of said postal items in association with said postal items, said postal items including said postal item having content being transmitted from said sending location to said receiving location; and

a postage vault securely storing postage value used to provide a data packet containing data showing said proof of payment for delivery of said postal item having content being transmitted from said sending location to said receiving location.

25. The system of claim 24, further comprising:

a database in communication with said letter server, said database providing information regarding recipient addresses for use with said postal items.

26. The system of claim 24, wherein said printer is operable to print multiple copies of a postal item when an associated received electronic transmission indicates that multiple addressees are associated with said received electronic transmission.

27. The system of claim 24, further comprising:

a database in communication with said letter server, said database providing information for printing as part of said postal items in combination with said received electronic transmissions.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein said information for printing as part of said postal items comprises a letterhead associated with a sender of an associated one of said received electronic transmissions.

29. The system of claim 27, wherein said information for printing as part of said postal items comprises an image of a signature of a sender of an associated one of said received electronic transmissions.

30. The system of claim 24, wherein said location other than said sending location is a delivery service provider'"'"'s location determined to be most near said receiving location.

31. The system of claim 24, wherein at least a portion of said printer system is disposed at said location other than said sending location.

32. The system of claim 24, wherein at least a portion of said printer system is disposed at said receiving location.

33. The system of claim 24, wherein said postage vault is in communication with a terminal disposed at said sending location to thereby provide said data packet to said terminal.

34. The system of claim 24, wherein said postage vault provides said data packet to said letter server without said data packet having been provided to a terminal disposed at said sending location.

35. The system of claim 24, wherein said indicia comprises a postage meter stamp.

36. The system of claim 24, wherein said indicia comprises an information based indicia.

37. The system of claim 24, further comprising:

a terminal disposed at said sending location, said terminal coupled to said network to transmit said content being transmitted from said sending location to said receiving location.

38. The system of claim 37, wherein said terminal comprises a word processing program, said word processing program providing said content being transmitted from said sending location to said receiving location.

39. The system of claim 37, wherein said terminal comprises an electronic mail program, said electronic mail program providing said content being transmitted from said sending location to said receiving location.

40. The system of claim 37, wherein said terminal is in communication with said postage vault to obtain said proof of payment from said postage vault.

41. The system of claim 24, wherein said postage vault comprises a secure clock, said proof of payment including temporal information provided by said secure clock.

42. The system of claim 24, wherein said printer system comprises adaptive algorithms to improve output quality of said received electronic transmissions of contents of postal items.

43. A method comprising:

receiving electronically transmitted postal item contents at a delivery service system, said postal item contents having been transmitted from a sending location and being directed to at least one receiving location;

receiving, at said delivery service system, a data packet containing proof of payment information;

analyzing said proof of payment information to determine if payment has been made for delivery of said postal item to said at least one receiving location;

printing said postal item contents as a document if said analyzing indicates payment has been made for said delivery of said postal item to said at least one receiving location; and

printing, in association with said postal item and using at least a portion of said proof of payment information, an indicium of payment for delivery of said postal item to said receiving location.

44. The method of claim 43, wherein said printing said document comprises:

appending selected information to the received postal item contents.

45. The method of claim 44, wherein said selected information comprises a letterhead associated with a sender of said contents of said postal item.

46. The method of claim 44, wherein said selected information comprises a handwritten signature of a sender of said contents of said postal item.

47. The method of claim 43, wherein said printing said document comprises:

printing multiple copies of said document if it is determined that multiple addressees are associated with said received postal item contents.

48. The method of claim 43, wherein said electronically transmitted postal item contents comprise an electronic document as created by a word processor program.

49. The method of claim 43, wherein said electronically transmitted postal item contents comprise an electronic mail message.

50. The method of claim 43, further comprising;

determining a service location of a plurality of service locations most near said at least one receiving location; and

routing said electronically transmitted postal item contents to said service location, said delivery service system being disposed at said service location.

51. The method of claim 50, wherein a printer system providing said document and said including is disposed at said service location.

52. The method of claim 50, wherein a printer system providing said document and said indicium is disposed at said receiving location.

53. The method of claim 43, wherein said data packet is received by said delivery service system from said sending location.

54. The method of claim 43, wherein said data packet is received by said delivery service system from a location different than said sending location.

55. The method of claim 43, wherein said data packet includes information in addition to said proof of payment information.

56. The method of claim 43, wherein said printing said indicium comprises:

printing said indicium on said document.

57. The method of claim 43, wherein said printing said indicium comprises:

printing said indicium on a delivery container associated with said document.

58. The method of claim 43, further comprising:

providing, to said sending location, electronic confirmation of successful transmission of said postal item contents from said sending location to said delivery service system.

59. The method of claim 43, further comprising:

providing, to said sending location, electronic confirmation of successful delivery of said postal item to said at least one receiving location.