Interactive kiosk for selecting and sending mail pieces

• US 5,737,729 A
• Filed: 06/04/1996
• Issued: 04/07/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Donald E. Denman
• Original Assignee: Donald E. Denman
• Inventors: Denman, Donald E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cosimano, Edward R.
• Application Number:
  US08/657,963
• Time in Patent Office: 672 Days
• Field of Search: 364/464.11, 364/464.14, 364/464.18, 364/464.2, 364/479.01, 364/479.02, 364/479.03, 364/479.05, 364/479.06, 395/201, 395/216, 395/220, 395/224, 395/226, 395/227, 705/1, 705/16, 705/20, 705/24, 705/26, 705/27, 705/401, 705/404, 705/408, 705/410
• US Class Current: 705/401
• 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 17/00508 Printing or attaching on mailpieces printing mechanisms B41J; security printing B41M3/14; marking methods B41M5/00; inks C09D11/00; record carriers with at least a part designed to carry digital markings G06K19/00
• 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: G07B 2017/00209 Mailbox, i.e. container for outgoing mail
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00225 Vending machine or POS (Point Of Sale) apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/0037 Calculation of postage value
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00588 Barcode
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00596 Printing of address

Abstract

The present invention is an apparatus and method for selecting and sending mail pieces via an interactive kiosk. The interactive kiosk contains a microprocessor system programmed to interact with the customer for selecting a mail piece of choice. The microprocessor then displays queries and options for the purchaser to add a personalized message to the post card. The customer may also input the address or utilize an address locator feature for retrieving the address from a data base located in the kiosk. The kiosk then prompts the customer for payment via an electronic bill or credit card accepter. After the customer has completed using the kiosk, the kiosk communicates with a central processing location. The central processing location includes a microprocessor based system which electronically downloads the necessary information from the kiosk including the post card orders and customer/sales information. If the customer enters a physical street or post office box address, the customer text and address is printed onto the specific post card selected. Postage is affixed to the post card and the post card is then sent to the recipient. If an electronic mail address is used, a graphics file is created with the selected mail piece and customer text. The graphics file is then transmitted to the electronic mail address.

Claims

1. A system for providing interaction with a customer for selection of a plurality of mail pieces and subsequent sending of a selected mail piece from said plurality of mail pieces to a selected address, said system comprising:

(a) a kiosk having a communication means including a selection means for prompting said customer to select one of said plurality of mail pieces and an input means for receiving customer entered data to be included on said selected mail piece said input means includes an automatic address search means for searching a database of addresses to match parameters entered by said customer;

(b) a control means supported in kiosk for controlling said communication means and for storing customer entered data; and

(c) a finishing means for finishing said selected mail piece with said customer entered data.

2. A system of claim 1 wherein said customer entered data includes an address.

3. A system of claim 1 and further including said finishing means having a postnet bar code search means for finding a postnet bar code that matches said selected address.

4. A system of claim 1 and further including preparing means for preparing said finished selected mail piece for delivery to said selected address.

5. A system of claim 1 wherein said communication means includes an audio format.

6. A system of claim 1 wherein said finishing means prints said customer entered data on said selected mail piece.

7. A system of claim 1 wherein said selected mail piece is a post card.

8. A system of claim 1 wherein said selected mail piece is a note card.

9. A system of claim 1 wherein said control means further includes a calculation means for determining a customer fee and a payment means for accepting said customer fee from said customer.

10. A system of claim 1 and further including a delivery selection means for selecting one of a plurality of delivery means for sending said selected mail piece.

11. A system of claim 1 wherein said communication means includes an interactive visual means.

12. A system of claim 11 wherein said interactive visual means includes a touch screen monitor.

13. A system of claim 1 wherein said finishing means is in a location remote from said kiosk and said customer entered data is electronically transferred to said finishing means.

14. A system of claim 13 and further including a plurality of said kiosks, each said kiosk located in a different area and linked to said finishing means.

15. A system of claim 1 wherein said database of addresses includes electronic mail addresses.

16. A system of claim 15 wherein said preparing means further includes creating a graphics file of said selected mail piece with said customer entered data.

17. A system of claim 16 wherein said finishing means further includes transmission means for transmitting said graphics file to said selected address.

18. A system for providing a customer selection of a mail piece and subsequent sending of a selected mail piece to a selected address, said system comprising:

(a) a kiosk housing;

(b) a monitor supported on said kiosk housing for electronically displaying a plurality of mail pieces;

(c) a communication means coupled to said monitor for prompting customer for selecting one of said plurality of mail pieces;

(d) an input means for receiving customer entered data to be included on a selected one of mail piece;

(e) an address search means for searching a database of addresses to match parameters entered by said customer, said address search means coupled to said input means;

(f) control means supported in said kiosk housing and coupled to said monitor, said communication means and said input means, said control means for controlling the electronic display of said plurality of mail pieces, for controlling the communication means with said customer and for storing said customer entered data; and

(g) a finishing means for finishing said mail piece with said customer entered data.

19. A system of claim 18 wherein said communication means includes visual prompts for customer selection of one of said plurality of mail pieces and for entering customer data to be included on said selected mail piece.

20. For a system of claim 18 wherein said communication means includes audio means for communicating with said customer for selecting one of said plurality of mail pieces and for entering data to be included on said selected mail piece.

21. A system of claim 18 and further including said finishing means in a location remote from said kiosk housing.

22. A system of claim 18 wherein said control means further includes calculation means for determining a customer fee and payment means for accepting said customer fee from said customer.

23. A system of claim 18 and further including a delivery selection means for selecting one of a plurality of delivery means for sending said selected mail piece.

24. A system of claim 18 and further including preparing means for preparing said mail piece for delivery to said selected address.

25. A system of claim 24 wherein said preparing means further includes creating a graphics file of said selected mail piece with said customer entered data.

26. A system of claim 25 and further including transmission means for transmitting said selected mail piece to said address.

27. A process for customer selection of a plurality of mail pieces through an interactive kiosk and for subsequent delivery of a selected mail piece to a selected address, said process comprising the steps of:

a) displaying a variety of mail piece designs on said interactive kiosk;

b) communicating with a customer for selecting one of said plurality of mail piece designs and entering data to be included on said selected mail piece;

c) communicating with said customer for determining said selected address for a recipient of said selected mail piece, said selected address determined from an address database;

d) receiving said customer selected mail piece and entered data;

e) transmitting said customer selected mail piece and said entered data to a processing location; and

f) preparing at said processing location said customer selected mail piece with said entered data for delivery.

28. The process of claim 27 and further including delivering said customer selected mail piece with said entered data to an address entered by said customer.

29. The process of claim 27 and further including the steps of:

a) receiving recipient information from said customer for determining said recipient address;

b) utilizing said address database for locating an address matching said recipient information; and

c) verifying a located address matching said recipient information.