SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR REMOTE POSTAGE METERING

• US 20110078091A1
• Filed: 12/08/2010
• Published: 03/31/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/1996
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stamps.com, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Stamps.com, Inc.
• Inventors: Kara, Salim G., Pagel, Martin J.
• Granted Patent: US 8,600,910 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/410
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 17/0008 Communication details outside or between apparatus coin-freed apparatus for franking per se G07F17/26
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 17/00193 Constructional details of apparatus in a franking system
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 17/00362 Calculation or computing within apparatus, e.g. calculation of postage value
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 17/00733 Cryptography or similar special procedures in a franking system
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00064 Virtual meter, online stamp; PSD functions or indicia creation not at user's location
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00096 via phone lines
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00137 In a LAN
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00161 from a central, non-user location, e.g. for updating rates or software, or for refilling funds
• 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 2017/0037 Calculation of postage value
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00701 Measuring the weight of mailpieces
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/0083 Postal data, e.g. postage, address, sender, machine ID, vendor

Abstract

A system and method for remote postage metering of postage indicia, including demanding a desired postage amount and subsequently printing the postage indicia onto a piece of mail. A user inputs certain necessary information, as well as additional desired information, into a local processor-based system. The local system then assembles a postage demand in suitable format and transmits the same to a remote postage metering device. The remote postage metering device then verifies the demand for authority to demand and valid funding. Upon verification, the remote postage meter assembles a data packet representing an authorized postage indicia. The data packet is transmitted to the local system for printing. Printing of the postage indicia may be unaccompanied, or may include additional information. Such additional information may include destination and return address, machine readable routing or identification information, or a complete document to be posted.

Claims

1. A computer program product having computer program logic recorded on a computer readable medium for generating postage, the computer program product comprising:

code for receiving a demand for postage indicia data generation from a program operable upon a remote user terminal, the program operable upon the remote user terminal being a program which was developed for an application other than postage indicia generation;

code for generating postage indicia data upon receipt of said demand for postage indicia data generation from the program operable upon the remote user terminal; and

code for providing the generated postage indicia data to the program operable upon the user terminal for printing a postage indicia generated from the postage indicia data.

2. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the program operable upon the remote user terminal is an e-mail program.

3. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein encrypted bidirectional information communication is provided between the program operable upon the remote user terminal and the code for receiving a demand and the code for providing the generated postage indicia to the program.

4. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the code for receiving a demand for postage, the code for generating postage indicia data, and the code for providing the generated postage indicia data to the program operable upon the user terminal comprises a web server application operable upon the Internet.

5. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the generated postage indicia data is provided to the program operable upon the remote user terminal by the code for providing the generated postage indicia data in a digital representation of the postage indicia.

6. The computer program product of claim 5, wherein the digital representation of the postage indicia comprises a graphic image format.

7. The computer program product of claim 6, wherein the graphic image format is selected from the group consisting of a PDF format, a JPEG format, a GIF format, a POSTSCRIPT format, and a PCL format.

8. A method comprising:

creating a demand for postage indicia data generation using a program operable upon a user terminal remote from a postage indicia data generation system, the program operable upon the user terminal being a program which was developed for an application other than postage indicia generation;

transmitting the demand for postage indicia data generation from the user terminal to the postage indicia data generation system; and

receiving, by the program operable upon the user terminal, generated postage indicia data in response to transmitting the demand.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the program operable upon the user terminal is an e-mail program.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein encrypted bidirectional information communication is provided between the program operable upon the user terminal and the postage indicia data generation system.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the postage indicia data generation system comprises a web server application operable upon the Internet.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the generated postage indicia data is provided to the program operable upon the user terminal by the postage indicia data generation system in a digital representation of the postage indicia.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the digital representation of the postage indicia comprises a graphic image format.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the graphic image format is selected from the group consisting of a PDF format, a JPEG format, a GIF format, a POSTSCRIPT format, and a PCL format.