Mail processing system with unique mailpiece authorization assigned in advance of mailpieces entering carrier service mail processing stream

• US 5,936,865 A
• Filed: 09/16/1996
• Issued: 08/10/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Pitney Bowes Incorporated (Böwe Systec AG)
• Original Assignee: Pitney Bowes Incorporated (Böwe Systec AG)
• Inventors: Cordery, Robert A., Pintsov, Leon A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Grant, William
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rao, Sheela S.
• Application Number:
  US08/714,726
• Time in Patent Office: 1,058 Days
• Field of Search: 364/478.14, 364/464.01, 364/464.02, 364/464.03, 364/464.04, 364/478.07, 364/478.08, 364/478.09, 364/478.1, 364/478.11, 364/478.12 , 364/478.13, 364/478.15, 364/478.03
• US Class Current: 700/107
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/401 Transaction verification
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 17/00024 Physical or organizational aspects of franking systems
• 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 17/00435 Details specific to central, non-customer apparatus, e.g. servers at post office or vendor
• 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 2017/00169 from a franking apparatus, e.g. for verifying accounting
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/0037 Calculation of postage value
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00379 Calculation of different sending options for a mail piece
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00443 Verification of mailpieces, e.g. by checking databases
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00451 Address hygiene, i.e. checking and correcting addresses to be printed on mail pieces using address databases
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00588 Barcode
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00596 Printing of address
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00709 Scanning mailpieces
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00717 Reading barcodes
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/0075 Symmetric, secret-key algorithms, e.g. DES, RC2, RC4, IDEA, Skipjack, CAST, AES

Abstract

A mailing list is created including destination addresses for mailpieces to be submitted to a carrier service for delivery. A unique mailpiece identifier associated with mailpieces on the mailing list is generated by the carrier or other trusted third party. The unique mailpiece identifier is printed on the mailpiece with which it is associated. The mailpieces with the printed unique identifier are submitted to the carrier service. The carrier service obtains the printed unique identifier from the mailpiece. The obtained unique identifier from each said mailpiece is utilized to verify that data associated with the mailpiece has been processed by the carrier or trusted third party. When the unique number has been obtained from the mailpieces, the carrier service, if desired, may note this fact in the carrier records to prevent reuse of the unique identifier. The carrier service as part of issuing the unique identification may: charge the mailer'"'"'s account of other fund depository for the carrier service charges associated with the mailpiece; and/or, assign a destination delivery code; and/or, provide address hygiene for the mailpiece; and/or change of address processing. When the unique identifier is obtained from the mailpiece, a delivery point destination code may be printed on the mailpiece, based on the corrected address. As an alternative, the destination delivery code may be provided to the mailer with the unique mailpiece identifier to be printed on the mailpiece by the mailer. Various cryptographic techniques may be employed to authenticate the mailer and the carrier service and to protect the transmitted information between the parties. The payment for the carrier services can be implemented prior in time to the entry of the mailpieces to the carrier service mailstream. Unauthorized mailpieces may be out sorted early in the carrier service processing procedure.

Claims

1. A method for processing mail, comprising:

creating a mailing list including destination addresses for mailpieces to be submitted to a carrier service for delivery;

generating a plurality of authorization codes, each of said authorization codes being respectively associated with and unique to one of said mailpieces on said mailing list; and

printing respectively the mailpieces said unique authorization code associated with a respective one of the mailpieces prior to the respective one of mailpieces being submitted to the carrier service for delivery.

2. The method for processing mail as defined in claim 1, comprising:

submitting the mailpieces with the printed authorization codes to said carrier service;

obtaining from said mailpieces said printed authorization codes; and

utilizing said obtained authorization codes to accept or reject each of said mailpieces for delivery.

3. The method for processing mail as defined in claim 1 wherein said carrier service generates said authorization codes associated with said mailpieces on said mailing list.