Postage payment system with security for sensitive mailer data and enhanced carrier data functionality
First Claim
1. A method for mail piece processing, comprising the steps of:
- imprinting on a mail piece mailer information;
encrypting data relative to the mail piece with a private key associated with said mailer identification information, said private key having associated therewith a public key;
imprinting on said mail piece the said encrypted data;
placing said mail piece in a mail delivery stream of a mail piece carrier;
processing said mail piece to determine said mailer identification information,using said mailer identification information to obtain said public key;
decrypting the encrypted data with said public key to authenticate said mailer;
updating billing records for said mailer for charges associated with said mail piece; and
encrypting billing record data for said mailer with said public key and transmitting said encrypted billing record data to said mailer.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method and system for processing mail including imprinting on a mailpiece mailer identification information. Data is encrypted relative to the mailpiece with a private key associated with the mailer identification information. The private key also has an associated public key. The encrypted data is imprinted on the mailpiece and the mailpiece is placed in a mail delivery stream of a mail carrier. The mail is thereafter processed to determine from the mailer identification information the public key. The encrypted data is decrypted with the public key to authenticate the mailer and the mailers billing records are updated for mailer charges associated with the mailpiece. The addressee information for the mailpiece may be included as part of the encrypted data for mailpiece authentication. The billing record of the mailer may be encrypted with the mailer public key and transmitted to the mailer. The various mailpieces of the mailer deposited with the carrier service may be consolidated into a single encrypted statement and provided to the mailer, either in physical form or electronically along with other information including address hygiene, availability of special services from the carrier and the like. Authentication and receipt of the mailpiece are provided using an encrypted data on the mailpiece which may include an encryption of the hash function of data associated with the mailpiece being delivered or of the content of the mailpiece being delivered. The hash code may be generated by the mailer, carrier or the recipient.
373 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method for mail piece processing, comprising the steps of:
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imprinting on a mail piece mailer information; encrypting data relative to the mail piece with a private key associated with said mailer identification information, said private key having associated therewith a public key; imprinting on said mail piece the said encrypted data; placing said mail piece in a mail delivery stream of a mail piece carrier; processing said mail piece to determine said mailer identification information, using said mailer identification information to obtain said public key; decrypting the encrypted data with said public key to authenticate said mailer; updating billing records for said mailer for charges associated with said mail piece; and encrypting billing record data for said mailer with said public key and transmitting said encrypted billing record data to said mailer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for generating an electronic receipt for a mailpiece, comprising the steps of:
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receiving a mailpiece; determining from said mailpiece mailer identification data and mailpiece identification data; encrypting said determined mailer identification data and said determined mailpiece identification data and recipient identification data with a recipient private key; said recipient private key having an associated public key; and transmitting to said mailer said encrypted data and the recipient identification data. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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15. A method for authenticating receipt of specific information of a mailpiece, comprising the steps of:
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generating a hash code for said specific information of a mailpiece; encrypting said generated hash code for said mailpiece with a first private key to generate an encrypted hash code of said mailpiece information, said first private key having an associated first public key; transmitting said mailpiece along and said encrypted hash code; receiving said mailpiece and said encrypted hash code by a recipient; and
,encrypting said encrypted hash code with a second private key to generate recipient encrypted information, said second private key associated with said recipient said second recipient private key having associated therewith a second public key. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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17. A method for processing mail comprising the steps of:
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generating a mailpiece; generating a hash code based on the content of said mailpiece; encrypting said hash code; imprinting on said mailpiece addressee data; and
,imprinting on said mailpiece said encrypted hash code. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification