Passive RFID postage stamps and method of using the same

• US 20110137775A1
• Filed: 12/07/2009
• Published: 06/09/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: KILLIAN, Cynthia Price, KILLIAN, Thomas
• Granted Patent: US 8,781,927 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/00 Administration; Management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing

Abstract

A system and method for postage payment utilizes passive RFID tags as postage “stamps”, with the amount of the postage automatically billed to a previously-established customer account. The tags are stored in a separate stamp database and are “enabled” by linking the individual tag to a customer account. The use of the RFID stamps eliminates the need for the customer to know the proper postage beforehand. The existence of a customer account with a proper return address reduces the likelihood of a dead letter. Also, a special category of stamps may be used for automatic reply mail. By virtue of using an RFID tag, the mailed item'"'"'s progress through the postal delivery system may be tracked from dispatch to delivery.

Claims

1. An RFID-based postage service for use with passive RFID-based stamps, each stamp having a unique tag ID number embedded therein, said service comprising

a customer account database of subscribers to the service, the customer account database comprising a plurality of customer account records, each record including an account number, a return address and billing information;

a mailpiece history database including a listing of RFID stamp tag ID numbers, each listing including mailpiece destination information and selected status information associated with the tag ID number; and

means for linking an RFID stamp tag ID numbers in a one-to-one relationship with the plurality of customer account records in the customer account database.

2. The RFID-based postage service as defined in claim 1 wherein the mailpiece destination information comprises a destination routing code.

3. The RFID-based postage service as defined in claim 2 wherein the destination routing code is replaced by information obtained from the customer return address stored in the customer account database for the purpose of returning mail deemed undeliverable.

4. The RFID-based postage service as defined in claim 1 wherein the mailpiece destination information comprises a destination address and a destination routing code.

5. The RFID-based postage service as defined in claim 1 wherein the destination address and destination routing code are replaced by information obtained from the customer return address stored in the customer account database for the purpose of returning mail deemed undeliverable.

6. The RFID-based postage service as defined in claim 1 wherein the means for linking comprises an RFID stamp account database including a paired listing of RFID stamp tag ID numbers and customer account numbers, with the tag ID number used to access the proper record in the mailpiece history database and the customer account number used to access the paired customer account number from the customer account database.

7. The RFID-based postage service as defined in claim 1 wherein the customer account database billing information is selected from the group consisting of:

pre-paid cash account, third-party credit account and third-party debit account.

9. The RFID-based postage service as defined in claim 1 wherein the selected status information stored in the mailpiece history database comprises one or more elements selected from the group consisting of:

manufacture information, registration information, activation information, purchase information, enablement information, class of service and ancillary service information, entry information, cancellation information and delivery information.

10. The RFID-based postage service as defined in claim 1 wherein the service further comprises

a postal account database including a listing of customer account numbers and associated postal account identification numbers, the postal account identification numbers embedded on customer-carried elements.

11. The RFID-based postage service as defined in claim 10 wherein a customer-carried element is presented at a customer-facing venue to apprise the service of the customer account to be used in activating and/or enabling an RFID stamp.

12. The RFID-based postage service as defined in claim 1 wherein the service further comprises

an RFID stamp event database for storing each tag ID and a plurality of locations where each tag ID was retrieved and interrogated.

13. A method of activating a registered, non-activated RFID stamp including an embedded tag ID, the method comprising the steps of:

obtaining a registered, non-activated stamp including a passive RFID tag embedded therein;

obtaining a postal customer account; and

storing the postal customer account information in a customer database;

interrogating the registered RFID stamp and retrieving its unique tag ID; and

atomically performing the steps of;

creating a record for the RFID stamp in a mailpiece history database;

storing the RFID stamp'"'"'s monetary value in said record of the mailpiece history database; and

recording the unique tag ID and associated customer account number in an RFID stamp database.

8. The RFID-based postage service as defined in claim 15 wherein the service further comprises at least one third party billing database to be accessed by third-party credit account and debit account billing information listings in the customer account database.

14. The method as defined in claim 13 wherein the step of obtaining a postal customer account is performed by creating a postal customer account, including an account number and billing information.

15. The method as defined in claim 13, wherein the unique tag ID and associated customer account number are stored in an RFID stamp account database.

16. The method as defined in claim 13, wherein the method further comprises the step of:

billing the customer account for the RFID stamp'"'"'s monetary value.

17. A method of enabling an activated, non-enabled RFID stamp including an embedded tag ID, the method comprising the steps of:

obtaining an activated stamp including a passive RFID tag embedded therein;

obtaining a postal customer account;

storing the postal customer account information in a customer database;

interrogating the RFID stamp and retrieving its unique tag ID;

marking the RFID stamp as “

enabled”

in a mailpiece history database;

recording the unique tag ID and associated customer account number in an RFID stamp database; and

crediting the customer account with the RFID stamp'"'"'s prepaid value, if any.

18. The method as defined in claim 17 wherein the step of obtaining a postal customer account is performed by looking up an existing postal customer account in a customer account database.

19. The method as defined in claim 17 wherein the step of obtaining postal customer account is performed by creating a postal customer account including an account number and billing information.

20. The method as defined in claim 17 wherein the unique tag ID and associated customer account number are stored in an RFID stamp account database.