Mail generation system with enhanced security by use of modified print graphic information

• US 6,240,196 B1
• Filed: 12/18/1998
• Issued: 05/29/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Pitney Bowes Incorporated (Böwe Systec AG)
• Original Assignee: Pitney Bowes Incorporated (Böwe Systec AG)
• Inventors: Grey, Suzanne N., Pierce, Perry A., Fischer, Meredith B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bella, Matthew C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHOOBIN, BARRY
• Application Number:
  US09/216,345
• Time in Patent Office: 893 Days
• Field of Search: 382/100, 382/112, 382/101, 382/165, 380/51, 235/491, 705/401, 399/16
• US Class Current: 382/100
• 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 2017/00443 Verification of mailpieces, e.g. by checking databases
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00564 Ensuring correct position of print on mailpiece
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/0058 Printing of code
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00653 Special inks, e.g. fluorescent

Abstract

A system for visually detecting unauthorized print value, such as postal indicia on a mail piece. At least one print image is imprinted on a document based upon predetermined relationships and corresponding to a relationship indicator such that the relationship indicator is made known to an authority who may visually inspect the document to detect whether the value was printed by an authorized machine. The relationship indicator may be dependent on valid indicia, geographical location, time of printing, document position, print graphic or like information. The print graphic may also be imprinted in invisible ink for increased security.

Claims

1. A method for visually detecting an unauthorized document comprising the steps of:

a) generating a document;

b) establishing a first relationship between said document and an indicia;

c) establishing a second relationship between a first print graphic and said indicia;

d) establishing a third relationship based upon said first relationship and said second relationship such that said first print graphic is related to said document;

e) creating a relationship indicator representing said first relationship, said second relationship and said third relationship;

f) visually comparing said generated document to said relationship indicator; and

g) authorizing said generated document if said generated document correlates to at least one approval field in said relationship indicator;

or if said generated document does not correlate to said at least one approval field in said relationship indicator out sorting said generated document for further investigation.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said first relationship is a digital token.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said indicia comprises one or more variables.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein said print graphic is a dependency upon said one or more variables.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said print graphic is dependent upon a predetermined location on said document.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said print graphic is dependent on a predetermined second print graphic.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said first print graphic is printed in invisible ink.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein said second print graphic is printed in invisible ink.

9. A method for authorized document value comprising the steps of:

a) establishing a first relationship between a document and a document value;

b) establishing a second relationship between at least one print graphic and said document value;

c) establishing a third relationship between said first relationship and said second relationship wherein said print graphic is related to said document;

d) creating a relationship indicator wherein said relationship indicator further comprises at least one approval field;

e) selecting a field in said relationship indicator based upon said first relationship, said second relationship and said third relationship wherein if said field is an approval field then authorizing said document value.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein said first relationship is a digital token.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein said document value comprises one or more variables.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein said print graphic is a dependency upon said one or more variables.

13. The method of claim 9 wherein said print graphic is dependent upon a predetermined location on said document.

14. The method of claim 9 wherein said print graphic is dependent on a predetermined second print graphic.

15. The method of claim 9 wherein said first print graphic is printed in invisible ink.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein said second print graphic is printed in invisible ink.

17. A system for visually detecting unauthorized document value, said system comprising:

b) a document value;

said document value having a first relationship to a document;

a) a first print graphic;

said print graphic having a second relationship to said document value;

such that a third relationship between said document and said document value is established; and

c) a relationship indicator representing said first relationship, said second relationship and said third relationship such that a comparison between said relationship indicator and said document value determines a field; and

if said field is an approval field then authorizing said document value, or out sorting said document for further investigation if said field is not an approval field then.

18. A system as defined in claim 17 wherein said first relationship is a digital token.

19. The system of as defined in claim 17 wherein said document value comprises one or more variables.

20. A system as defined in claim 19 wherein said first print graphic is a dependency upon said one or more variables.

21. A system as defined in claim 17 wherein said first print graphic is dependent upon a predetermined location on said document.

22. The system of claim 17 wherein said print graphic is dependent on a second predetermined second print graphic.

23. A system as defined in claim 17 wherein said first print graphic is printed in invisible ink.

24. A system as defined in claim 22 wherein said second print graphic is printed in invisible ink.

25. A program device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform method steps for verifying the authenticity of an indicia, said method steps comprising:

a) generating a document;

b) establishing a first relationship between said document and an indicia;

c) establishing a second relationship between a first print graphic and said indicia;

d) establishing a third relationship based upon said first relationship and said second relationship such that said first print graphic is related to said document;

e) creating a relationship indicator representing said first relationship, said second relationship and said third relationship;

f) visually comparing said generated document to said relationship indicator; and

g) authorizing said generated document if said generated document correlates to at least one approval field in said relationship indicator;

or if said generated document does not correlate to said at least one approval field in said relationship indicator out sorting said generated document for further investigation.