System and method for automatically providing shipping/transportation fees

• US 6,233,568 B1
• Filed: 06/29/1998
• Issued: 05/15/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 01/03/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Stamps.com, Inc.
• Original Assignee: E-Stamp Corporation (LTWC Corp.)
• Inventors: Kara, Salim G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cosimano, Edward R.
• Application Number:
  US09/106,997
• Time in Patent Office: 1,051 Days
• Field of Search: 705/30, 705/401, 705/404, 705/410
• US Class Current: 705/410
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/005 with electric or electronic computing means
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/4148 for controlling postal rate in articles to be mailed franking apparatus with means for computing G07B17/02
• 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 17/00362 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 17/00733 Cryptography or similar special procedures in a franking system
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00096 via phone lines
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00137 In a LAN
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00177 from a portable device, e.g. a card or a PCMCIA
• 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 2017/00258 Electronic hardware aspects, e.g. type of circuits used
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/0037 Calculation of postage value
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00419 Software organization, e.g. separation into objects
• 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 2017/00588 Barcode
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00596 Printing of address
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00604 Printing of advert or logo
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00935 Passwords
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00951 Error handling, e.g. EDC (Error Detection Codes)

Abstract

There is disclosed a system and method for dispensing postage or other authorization information electronically by using a portable processor containing a maximum amount of preauthorized postage which can be applied to any piece of mail or other item. A plurality of shipping service providers may utilize the portable processor to store and dispense credit value for authorization of various shipping services. Accordingly, a user is presented with information regarding various shipping service providers fees and/or services associated with particular shipping/delivery parameters desired by the user in order to make an informed choice as to a most preferable method of shipment.

Claims

1. A method operable on a general multi-purpose processor-based system for authorizing a desired transaction to be conducted utilizing a particular provider, wherein information with respect to said desired transaction as conducted by each of a plurality of providers is presented for selection of said particular provider, said method comprising the steps of:

coupling a storage device to said general multi-purpose processor-based system, wherein said storage device securely stores transaction authorization therein, wherein said transaction authorization is updated to reflect transactions authorized;

determining desired transaction parameters;

determining a value of said transaction associated with two or more of said plurality of providers utilizing ones of said transaction parameters;

presenting each of said determined values for comparison; and

selecting said particular provider as a function of said comparison of said ones of said plurality of providers.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said transaction authorization comprises a common credit value register for two or more providers of said plurality of providers.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said transaction authorization comprises a unique credit value register for each provider of said plurality of providers.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said transaction authorization comprises a credit value register and a transaction log of transactions authorized.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining desired transaction parameters includes the step of:

accepting information associated with said transaction parameters from a user of said general multi-purpose processor-based system.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said storage device is a TMU button.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said storage device is selected from the group consisting of:

a smart card;

a PCMCIA card; and

a smart disk.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining desired transaction parameters includes the step of:

accepting information associated with said transaction parameters from a general purpose computer program operating on said general multi-purpose processor-based system.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the general purpose computer program is selected from the group consisting of:

a word processor;

a database;

a spread sheet; and

an accounting system.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

limiting access to said storage device to only authorized general multi-purpose processor-based systems.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said authorized general multi-purpose processor-based systems include an authorized general multi-purpose processor-based system coupled locally to said storage device and an authorized general multi-purpose processor-based system coupled remotely to said storage device.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

printing authorization information acceptable by said particular provider in conducting said transaction.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said authorization information includes data from which said particular provider may verify prepayment of said transaction value.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein said authorization information includes a graphical security indicia.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein said transaction is associated with the transportation of a particular item.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of:

automatically determining a weight of said particular item, wherein said transaction parameters utilized to determine said transaction value includes said automatically determined weight.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the step of determining desired transaction parameters includes the step of.

accepting shipping information associated with the transportation of said particular item.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said shipping information includes information selected from the group consisting of:

delivery location information;

origination location information;

item weight;

urgency information; and

item class information.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising the step of:

automatically determining a weight of said particular item, wherein said weight determination is based at least in part on item generation information provided by a coupled process utilized in creating the item.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein said coupled process is a word processor.

21. A general multi-purpose processor-based system for authorizing a desired transaction to be conducted utilizing a particular provider, wherein information with respect to said desired transaction as conducted by each of a plurality of providers is presented for selection of said particular provider, said system comprising:

means for determining parameters with respect to said desired transaction;

means for determining a value of said transaction associated with two or more of said plurality of providers utilizing ones of said transaction parameters;

means for presenting each of said determined values for comparison;

means for selecting said particular provider as a function of said comparison of said ones of said plurality of providers; and

means for printing authorization information acceptable by said particular provider in conducting said transaction.

22. The system of claim 21, wherein said authorization information includes data from which said particular provider may collect payment of said transaction value.

23. The system of claim 21, wherein said means for determining desired transaction parameters comprises:

means for accepting information associated with said transaction parameters from a general purpose computer program operating on said general multi-purpose processor-based system.

24. The system of claim 21, wherein said authorization information includes data from which said particular provider may verify prepayment of said transaction value.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein said authorization information includes a graphical security indicia.

26. The system of claim 21, further comprising:

a storage device securely storing an amount of credit value therein;

means for coupling said storage device to said general multi-purpose processor-based system, wherein said general multi-purpose processor-based system may interact with said storage device to retrieve a portion of said amount of credit value stored therein.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein said storage device includes a plurality of registers, wherein a plurality of discrete credit values are stored in said plurality of registers.

28. The system of claim 21, further comprising:

means for incrementing a credit value utilized in printing said authorization information.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein said incrementing means is operable by a trusted one of said plurality of providers and wherein said incrementing means comprises:

means for retrieving information from said storage device regarding transactions authorized by said system; and

means for determining amounts due ones of said providers from said stored authorized transaction information.

30. The system of claim 21, further comprising:

means for storing a transaction log including records associated with the printing of authorization information of at least one of said plurality of providers.

31. The system of claim 30, wherein said transaction log is stored in mass storage device of said general multi-purpose processor-based system.

32. The system of claim 30, wherein said transaction log is stored in a secure portable storage device removably coupled to said general multi-purpose processor-based system.

33. The system of claim 21, wherein said transaction is associated with the transportation of a particular item.

34. The system of claim 33, further comprising:

means for automatically determining a weight of said particular item, wherein said transaction information utilized to determine said transaction value includes said automatically determined weight.

35. The system of claim 33, wherein said transaction parameters include information selected from the group consisting of:

delivery location information;

origination location information;

item weight;

urgency information; and

item class information.

36. The system of claim 33, further comprising the step of:

automatically determining a weight of said particular item, wherein said weight determination is based at least in part on item generation information provided by a coupled process utilized in creating the item.

37. The system of claim 36, wherein said coupled process is a word processor.

38. A system for retrievably storing transaction information for a plurality of transactions, wherein ones of said plurality of transactions are associated with different transaction facilitators of a plurality of transaction facilitators, said system comprising:

a memory for storing transaction information, wherein the memory is contained within the secure confines of a portable package also including a processor restricting access to said memory;

at least one input device accepting information input regarding aspects of a desired transaction;

a processor-based system in information communication with said memory and said at least one input device, said processor-based system including circuitry interfaced so as to receive said desired transaction information input into said processor based-system, wherein said processor-based system is a general multi-purpose processor based system and said circuitry is defined at least in part bv a computer program operating thereon, wherein said circuitry operates to determine information specific to ones of the plurality of facilitators conducting a transaction as a function of said desired transaction aspects, and wherein the portable package of the memory is removably coupled to said processor-based system to provide said information communication;

at least one interface device accepting said information specific to ones of the plurality of facilitators and presenting said accepted information specific to ones of the plurality of facilitators for selection of a particular one of said facilitators to conduct a transaction as a function of said desired transaction aspects; and

a printer coupled to said processor-based system adapted to print information authorizing said particular one of said facilitators to conduct a transaction as a function of said desired transaction aspects.

39. The system of claim 38, wherein said transaction information includes a value credit decremented in an amount corresponding to said particular one of said facilitators conducting a transaction as a function of said desired transaction aspects before said printer is enabled to print said information authorizing said particular one of said facilitators to conduct a transaction.

40. The system of claim 38, wherein said transaction information includes a record incremented in an amount corresponding to said particular one of said facilitators conducting a transaction as a function of said desired transaction aspects before said printer is enabled to print said information authorizing said particular one of said facilitators to conduct a transaction.

41. The system of claim 38, wherein said information authorizing said particular one of said facilitators to conduct a transaction is printed in a format selected from the group consisting of:

an authorizing indicia;

a way bill;

a manifest; and

a bill of lading.

42. A system for selecting a particular shipping service provider of a plurality of shipping service providers and printing an authorization for shipping an item via said particular shipping service provider, said system comprising:

a first processor device storing an amount of credit suitable for use in authorizing shipment of said item;

a second processor device having an interface adapted for coupling with said first processor device and for providing information communication there between, wherein said second processor device includes a user interface adapted to interface with a user to accept input associated with said shipment of said item, and wherein said second processor device includes circuitry coupled to said user interface adapted to determine a shipping rate associated with ones of said shipping service providers as a function of said input associated with said shipment of said item and to present said determined shipping rates to said user for selection of said particular shipping service provider, wherein said circuitry communicates at least said shipping rate associated with said particular shipping service provider to said first processor for decrementing said shipping rate associated with said particular shipping service provider from said amount of credit prior to printing an authorization for shipping said item;

wherein determination of said shipping rates of at least one shipping service provider of said plurality of shipping service providers includes reference to a discrete database for said at least one shipping service provider; and

wherein said discrete database is remote to said first processor device.

43. The system of claim 42, wherein said input associated with said shipment of said item includes information selected from the group consisting of:

a weight of said item;

sender urgency information;

a shipping distance;

a zone from which said item is to be shipped; and

a zone to which said item is to be shipped.

44. The system of claim 42, wherein said discrete database is stored on a device selected from the group consisting of:

a CD ROM;

a hard disk drive;

a floppy disk drive;

RAM; and

a portable memory.

45. The system of claim 42, wherein said first processor device is coupled to said remote database through an information communication link selected from the group consisting of:

a LAN;

a WAN;

the Internet; and

a public switched network.

46. The system of claim 42, wherein said circuitry of said first processor device prevents printing said authorization for shipping said item for a particular one of said shipping service providers wherein shipment of said item according to said input associated with said shipment of said item is prohibited.

47. The system of claim 42, wherein said second processor device comprises a general multi-purpose processor based system.