Production mail system having subsidies for printing of third party messages on mailpieces

• US 6,173,274 B1
• Filed: 12/30/1998
• Issued: 01/09/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Pitney Bowes Incorporated (Böwe Systec AG)
• Original Assignee: Pitney Bowes Incorporated (Böwe Systec AG)
• Inventors: Ryan, Frederick W. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hajec, Donald
• Assistant Examiner(s): FRANKLIN, JAMARA ALZAIDA
• Application Number:
  US09/223,643
• Time in Patent Office: 741 Days
• Field of Search: 235/375, 705/401, 705/408, 705/410
• US Class Current: 705/408
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0269 based on user profile or attribute
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0273 Determination of fees for advertising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0283 Price estimation or determination
• 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 2017/00161 from a central, non-user location, e.g. for updating rates or software, or for refilling funds
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00201 Open franking system, i.e. the printer is not dedicated to franking only, e.g. PC (Personal Computer)
• 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 2017/00604 Printing of advert or logo

Abstract

A production mail system for producing a mailpiece including an inserter system for feeding a document in a path of travel and into an envelope. The document includes a control code printed thereon. The inserter includes a scanner located adjacent the path of travel for reading the control code on the document and a printer for printing a selected message on the envelope corresponding to the control code.

Claims

1. A production mail system for producing a mailpiece, comprising:

an inserter system for feeding a document in a path of travel and into an envelope, the document including a control code printed thereon, the inserter including;

a scanner located adjacent the path of travel for reading the control code on the document; and

a printer for printing a selected message on the envelope corresponding to the control code; and

a data processing system including;

a third party advertiser database having a plurality of ad data profiles, each of the ad data profiles including message data and restriction data, each of the message data representative of a message, respectively, for printing on the envelope;

a recipient address; and

a control system in operative communication with the third party advertiser database, the control system for using the restriction data from the plurality of ad data profiles in combination with the recipient address to identify a subset of messages available for printing.

2. The production mail system of claim 1, wherein:

the control system is further for;

receiving an indication of the selected message from the subset of messages authorized for printing on the envelope; and

incorporating within the control code an indication of the selected message.

3. The production mail system of claim 2, wherein:

the inserter system further includes;

a postage meter module including the printer and a memory having stored therein a plurality of message graphic data files; and

wherein the postage meter module selects one of the plurality of message graphic data files corresponding to the selected message based upon the selected message indication incorporated within the control code.

4. The production mail system of claim 3, wherein:

the postage meter module stores transaction data associated with printing the selected message on the envelope.

5. The production mail system of claim 4, wherein:

the postage meter module uploads the transaction data to a data center; and

the data center;

applies a credit to an account corresponding to a user of the production mail system; and

applies a debit to the advertiser account corresponding to the selected message.

6. A method of operating a production mail system to produce a mailpiece, the method comprising the step(s) of:

generating a control code;

feeding a document in a path of travel and into an envelope, the document including the control code printed thereon;

providing a third party advertiser database having a plurality of ad data profiles, each of the ad data profiles including message data and restriction data, each of the message data representative of a message, respectively, for printing on the envelope;

providing a recipient address;

using the restriction data from the plurality of ad data profiles in combination with the recipient address to identify a subset of messages available for printing

reading the control code on the document; and

printing a selected message on the envelope corresponding to the control code.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising the step(s) of:

receiving an indication of the selected message from the subset of messages authorized for printing on the envelope; and

incorporating within the control code an indication of the selected message.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein:

the production mail system includes a postage meter module including the printer and a memory having stored therein a plurality of message graphic data files; and

further comprising the step(s) of;

selecting for printing one of the plurality of message graphic data files corresponding to the selected message based upon the selected message indication incorporated within the control code.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step(s) of:

storing transaction data associated with printing the selected message on the envelope.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step(s) of:

uploading the transaction data to a data center for use in applying a credit to an account corresponding to a user of the production mail system and applying a debit to the advertiser account corresponding to the selected message.