Method and system of displaying database contents in envelope data fields

• US 6,342,899 B1
• Filed: 07/20/1998
• Issued: 01/29/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Pitney Bowes Incorporated (Böwe Systec AG)
• Original Assignee: Pitney Bowes Incorporated (Böwe Systec AG)
• Inventors: Feinstein, David, Girardi, Victor, Kramer, Allen L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Phu K.
• Application Number:
  US09/119,463
• Time in Patent Office: 1,289 Days
• Field of Search: 345/433, 345/326, 345/418, 345/419, 345/618, 345/619
• US Class Current: 345/619
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 17/00193 Constructional details of apparatus in a franking system
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 17/00467 Transporting mailpieces postal sorting B07C
• 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 2017/00298 Visual, e.g. screens and their layouts
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00491 Mail/envelope/insert handling system
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00596 Printing of address

Abstract

The invention is a method and system for establishing and printing a medium print field. The method begins with the initiation of a design software application which utilizes a display for representation of the medium and for displaying one or more component print fields on the medium representation. Each of the component print fields can be modified through utilization of a preferences input routine which further comprises: a printer selection option; a measurement scaling option; and, a return address selection option. The initiation further includes selection of a medium type and a set of characteristics for the medium. The representation displayed on the screen can be modified to the extent of its component print fields which comprise: a return address block; a postal indicia; a destination address block; and, a message block. Modifying the component print fields comprises selecting a database to attach to the selected field before assigning a first file from a related field of the database to the component print field. Once the field has been established, the system operator can begin scrolling through the viewable field by utilizing directional selection means to scroll from one file to another until selection of the component print field for modification has been made. An attachable component print field can also be selected. The method then confirms the modification and the attachment, to establish a finished print field for printing to the selected medium.

Claims

1. A method of establishing and printing a medium print field in a data processing system, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) initiating a design application within said data processing system;

(b) selecting a medium type and a set of characteristics of said medium;

(c) displaying a representation of said medium type on a display;

(d) displaying at least one component print field on said representation, said at least one component print field being modifiable;

(e) selecting a printer type for printing said medium print field;

(f) modifying one or more component print;

(g) determining whether or not to attach an attachable component print field selected from among one or more attachable component print fields;

(h) confirming said modification and said attachment, if any, to establish a finished print field; and

(i) printing said finished print field to said medium.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said design application comprises a preferences input routine and wherein said preferences input routine further comprises:

(a) a printer selection option;

(b) a measurement scaling option wherein said measurement scaling option is utilized to adjust a layout of said medium type when visually displayed to a system operator; and

(c) a default return address option.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said design application initiation comprises the further steps of:

(a) selecting a format type from among a set of formats; and

(b) assigning a set of measurements defining said selected format.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said set of formats comprises an envelope format.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein said set of formats comprises a label format.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein a customized set of measurements is assigned to said selected format.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said medium comprises an envelope.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said medium comprises a label.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said plurality of component print fields comprises:

(a) a return address block;

(b) a postal indicia;

(c) a destination address block; and

(d) a message block.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said confirmation comprises the further step of saving to a memory as a file said confirmed modifications together with said format type.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said memory is a component of said data processing system.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein said memory is remote to said data processing system.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein said one or more attachable component fields comprises:

(a) a Postnet bar code; and

(b) a graphic image.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein said modification of said component print fields further comprises the steps of:

(a) selecting a component print field for modification;

(b) selecting a database to attach to said selected component print field;

(c) relating a field of said database to said selected component print field;

(d) viewing on said display means said component print field;

(e) assigning a first file from said related field of said database to said component print field;

(f) scrolling through said viewable component print field whereby said system operator utilizes directional selection means to scroll from said first assigned file to a subsequent assigned file and continuing said scrolling until selection of said component print field for modification has been made; and

(g) making said modification.

15. A system for establishing, displaying, and printing data fields on a medium, comprising:

(a) a data processing system for manipulating data;

(b) a design application within said data processing system;

(c) first selection means for selecting a medium type and a set of characteristics of said medium;

(d) display means for displaying a representation of said medium type, said representation including at least one modifiable component print field;

(e) second selection means for selecting a printer type for printing said medium print field;

(f) first data entry means for modifying one or more component print fields;

(g) determining means for determining whether or not to attach an attachable component print field selected from among one or more attachable component print fields;

(h) second data entry means for confirming said modification and said attachment, if any, to establish a finished print field; and

(i) printer means for printing said finished print field to said medium.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein said design application comprises a preferences input routine and wherein said preferences input routine further comprises:

(a) a printer selection option;

(b) a measurement scaling option wherein said measurement scaling option is utilized to adjust said envelope'"'"'s layout when visually displayed to a system operator; and

(c) a default return address option.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein said design application initiation further comprises:

(a) selection means for selecting a format type from among a set of formats; and

(b) assignment means for assigning a set of measurements defining said selected format.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein said set of formats comprises an envelope format.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein said set of formats comprises a label format.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein said selected format comprises a customized set of measurements.

21. The system of claim 15, wherein said medium comprises an envelope.

22. The system of claim 15, wherein said medium comprises a label.

23. The system of claim 15, wherein said plurality of component print fields;

comprises;

(a) a return address block;

(b) a postal indicia;

(c) a destination address block; and

(d) a message block.

24. The system of claim 15, further comprising a memory interoperatively connected with said data processing system for saving to a memory as a file said finished print field.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein said memory is a component of said data processing system.

26. The system of claim 24, wherein said memory is remote to said data processing system.

27. The system of claim 15, wherein said one or more attachable component fields comprises:

(a) a Postnet bar code; and

(b) a graphic image.

28. A method of printing data to an envelope comprising the steps of:

(a) selecting a data retrieval site from among a set of one or more data retrieval sites;

(b) cycling through said data retrieval site;

(c) selecting a data file from a set of one or more data files at said data retrieval site;

(d) placing said selected data file in a desired location in a field for printing to said envelope; and

(e) printing said selected data to said desired field on said envelope.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein said data retrieval site is one of a group of data formats which includes:

database format;

spreadsheet file format; and

formatted text.

30. The method of claim 28, wherein said data retrieval site cycling comprises the further steps of:

(a) selecting an appropriate Move command wherein said command is indicative of a location for placement of a selected data file;

(b) executing said move command and placing said selected data file; and

(c) repeating said command selection and associated command execution until a desired print field has been established.

31. The method of claim 28, wherein said data retrieval site is stored in table format, said method further comprising the steps of:

(a) prompting a system user for a specific table name contained in a field of one or more names; and

(b) selecting said specific table from said field of one or more names.

32. The method of claim 28, further comprising the steps of:

(a) entering said data retrieval site;

(b) reading one or more of said data files;

(c) selecting one of said data files;

(d) utilizing said selected data file as a placeholder for data to be printed in a particular field of said envelope; and

(e) positioning said selected data file in accordance with a desired field location.

33. The method of claim 28, wherein said envelope printing field is defined in accordance with a definition profile.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein said definition profile comprises a set of selected data files wherein said selected data files contain data to be printed to said envelope.

35. A system for printing data to an envelope comprising:

(a) a data processing system further comprising;

(i) storage means for storing one or more data retrieval sites; and

(ii) a software application for envelope design and data file manipulation;

(b) data retrieval site selection means for selecting through said software application a data retrieval site from among said set of one or more data retrieval sites;

(c) cycling means for cycling through said data retrieval site to locate a particular data file within said data retrieval means;

(d) selection means for selecting a data file from a set of one or more data files at said data retrieval site;

(e) placement means for placing said selected data file in a desired location in a field for printing to said envelope; and

(f) printing means for printing said selected data to said desired field on said envelope.

36. The system of claim 35, wherein said data retrieval site is one of a group of data formats which includes:

database format;

spreadsheet file format; and

formatted text.

37. The system of claim 35, wherein said cycling means comprises:

(a) selection means for selecting an appropriate Move command wherein said command is indicative of a location for placement of a selected data file; and

(b) execution means for executing said move command and placing said selected data file.

38. The system of claim 35, wherein said data retrieval site is stored in table format, said system further comprising:

(a) operator prompting means for prompting a system user for a specific table name contained in a field of one or more names; and

(b) selection means for selecting said specific table from said field of one or more names.

39. The system of claim 35, wherein said data processing system further comprises a monitor for viewing screens generated by said software application.

40. The system of claim 35, wherein said envelope printing field is defined in accordance with a definition profile.

41. The system of claim 35, wherein said definition profile comprises a set of selected data files wherein said selected data files contain data to be printed to said envelope.