Service and usage data collection using a special mail piece

• US 5,701,249 A
• Filed: 03/23/1995
• Issued: 12/23/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Pitney Bowes Incorporated (Böwe Systec AG)
• Original Assignee: Pitney Bowes Incorporated (Böwe Systec AG)
• Inventors: Berson, William
• Primary Examiner(s): Cosimano, Edward R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bui, Bryan
• Application Number:
  US08/408,801
• Time in Patent Office: 1,006 Days
• Field of Search: 364/551.01, 364/464.01, 364/464.02, 364/464.03, 364/464.04, 364/551.02, 364/464.18, 364/464.14, 364/464.2
• US Class Current: 705/408
• 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 17/00435 Details specific to central, non-customer apparatus, e.g. servers at post office or vendor
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 17/00661 Sensing or measuring mailpieces weighing G01G19/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00153 for sending information
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00169 from a franking apparatus, e.g. for verifying accounting
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00427 Special accounting procedures, e.g. storing special information
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00443 Verification of mailpieces, e.g. by checking databases
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/0058 Printing of code
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00709 Scanning mailpieces
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/0083 Postal data, e.g. postage, address, sender, machine ID, vendor

Abstract

A monitoring system that determines the amount and type of customers'"'"' usage of machines and equipment without having a representative of the manufacturer physically inspect the customers machines and equipment. The monitoring system utilizes a mailpiece to transmit information about the customers'"'"' usage of customers machines and equipment.

Claims

1. A postal monitoring system that determines the amount and type of usage of mailing machines without having a representative of the mailing machine physically inspect the mailing machine, said system comprises:

a) a processor having an encoding scheme programmed therein for translating the amount and type of usage of the mailing machine including information on the features used by the user of the mailing machines when preparing mailings, received by said processor into coded form;

b) an account meter in communication with said processor for exchanging data with said processor;

c) a usage meter in communication with said processor for exchanging data with said processor;

d) a printer in communication with said processor, said printer prints an encoded message on a mailpiece containing the data received by said processor from said account meter to meter said information on the usage of features and usage of said usage meter;

e) means for delivering the mailpiece;

f) means coupled to said delivering means for reading the encoded message;

g) means coupled to said reading means for processing the encoded message; and

h) means coupled to said processing means for displaying the encoded message in a human readable format so that information regarding the mailing machines may be used for market research and/or preventive maintenance scheduling.

2. The monitoring system claimed in claim 1, further including activation means coupled to said processor for causing said processor to transmit an encoded message to said printer.

3. The monitoring system claimed in claim 2, wherein said activation means is a key.

4. The monitoring system claimed in claim 1, wherein said processor records the number of mail pieces processed.

5. The monitoring system claimed in claim 4, wherein said processors records the weight and size of the mail piece.

6. The monitoring system claimed in claim 5, wherein said processor records the rating and time of franking of the mail piece.

7. A monitoring system that determines the amount and type of usage of machines and equipment without having a representative of the machines and equipment physically inspect the machines and equipment, said system comprises:

a) a plurality of machines and equipment each containing, a processor having an encoding scheme programmed therein for translating the amount and type of usage of the machines and equipment including information on the features used by the user of the machines and equipment when utilizing the machines and equipment received by said processor into coded form;

one or more sensors in communication with said processor for exchanging data with said processor;

one or more counters in communication with said processor for exchanging data with said processor;

a printer in communication with said processor, said printer prints an encoded message on a mailpiece containing the data received by said processor from said account meter to meter said information on the usage of features of said usage meter;

b) means for delivering the mailpiece; and

c) a data center containing;

means coupled to said delivering means for reading the encoded message;

means coupled to said reading means for processing the encoded message; and

means coupled to said processing means for displaying the encoded message in a human readable format so that information regarding the machines and equipment may be used for market research and/or preventive maintenance scheduling.

8. The monitoring system claimed in claim 7, further including activation means coupled to said processor for causing said processor to transmit an encoded message to said printer.

9. The monitoring system claimed in claim 8, wherein said activation means is a key.