Method and system for inputting a weight to a browser in an internet-based shipping system

• US 6,356,882 B1
• Filed: 12/29/1999
• Issued: 03/12/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Pitney Bowes Incorporated (Böwe Systec AG)
• Original Assignee: Pitney Bowes Incorporated (Böwe Systec AG)
• Inventors: Carroll, Terri A., Hasbani, Jacques, Ellis, David A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cosimano, Edward R.
• Application Number:
  US09/476,007
• Time in Patent Office: 804 Days
• Field of Search: 705/401, 705/410, 709/220, 709/221, 709/222, 713/1, 713/2, 713/100
• US Class Current: 705/401
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/00 Weighing apparatus or methods adapted for special purposes not provided for in the preceding groups electric measuring arrangements involving comparison with a reference value G01R17/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/005 with electric or electronic computing means
• 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 17/00314 Communication within apparatus, personal computer [PC] system, or server, e.g. between printhead and central unit in a franking machine
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00145 via the Internet
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00169 from a franking apparatus, e.g. for verifying accounting
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00322 Communication between components/modules/parts, e.g. printer, printhead, keyboard, conveyor or central unit
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/0033 Communication with software component, e.g. dll or object
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00379 Calculation of different sending options for a mail piece

Abstract

The invention is a method and system for inputting the weight of a parcel into a web-based shipping application of a data processing system. The data processing system comprises a web site for a provider server and a client node in communication with the provider server. The web site further comprises web pages and script functionality for linking with a scale driver resident in a weighing scale located at the client node. The weighing scale comprises a scale server resident ultimately at the client node, but callable by the client node under control of the script functionality for allowing the script at the client node to link with the weighing scale by utilizing the scale driver. The method begins with the calling of the web site, from the client node, by utilizing a communications link which includes a browser for accessing the web site. The client node requests that a scale activation routine be activated. The routine includes the use of script to call an Active-X automation server, which is downloaded, together with an appropriate scale driver, from the web site to the client node. The system user then logs onto the shipping application and inputs a set of shipping parameters into the application. The parcel is weighed on a weighing scale under control of the scale driver. The shipping application requests the weight from the scale server by way of the script call and then enters the weight, through the browser into the shipping application.

Claims

1. A method of inputting a weight of a parcel to be shipped to a shipping application data processing system, wherein said data processing system comprises a client node in communication with a provider server, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) calling a web site associated with said provider server, from said client node, by utilizing a browser;

(b) requesting by said client node that a scale activation routine be activated at said client node, wherein said routine comprises a script call of an automation server;

(c) downloading said automation server from said web site to said client node;

(d) downloading a scale server from said web site to said client node;

(e) downloading a scale driver from said web site to said client node;

(f) logging onto said shipping application;

(g) weighing said parcel on a weighing scale;

(h) requesting said weight from said scale server by said script call; and

(i) entering said weight into said shipping application.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said request of said weight further comprises the steps of:

(a) querying as to whether or not said weight is to be requested by said script call, and if said weight is to be called by said script call then requesting said weight from said scale server; and

(b) if said weight is not to be requested by said script call, then having a system user at said client node make said entry into said shipping application via a response to a prompt.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said downloading of said automation server, said scale server, and said scale driver further comprises the steps of installing and configuring said automation server, said scale server, and said scale driver at said client node and wherein said installation and said configuration preclude the necessity for repeating said download for future transactions utilizing said weighing scale in conjunction with said web site.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said weighing scale is configured through said web site by:

(a) identifying a set of characteristics of said weighing scale; and

(b) downloading said scale driver from said web site to said weighing scale in accordance with said set of characteristics.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein a system user tests a communication link between said weighing scale and said scale server prior to logging onto said shipping application at said web site.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein each of said steps (b) through (d) are individually saved as an initiation set to a memory resident in said provider server and wherein said initiation set may be called by said client node to establish said initiation set.

7.The method of claim 1, wherein each of said steps (b) through (d) are individually saved as an initiation set to a memory resident in said client node and wherein said initiation set may be called by the client node to establish said initiation set.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said client node is one of a plurality of client nodes that are linked to said data processing system.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said logging step further comprises the step of inputting a set of shipping parameters into said shipping application.

8. The method of claim 8, wherein each one of said plurality of client nodes comprises a weighing scale for entering weight into said shipping application.

10. The method of claim 10, wherein said set of shipping parameters further comprises a destination.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said set of shipping parameters further comprises a class or type of service by which said parcel will be shipped.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein said set of shipping parameters further comprises a period of time for a delivery of said parcel.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein said weight is entered into said shipping application for the purpose of obtaining a cost of shipping said parcel, said cost determined as a function of said weight and said set of shipping parameters.

14. A system for entering a weight into a shipping application of a data processing system, said system comprising:

(a) a web site for a provider server, said web site further comprising;

(i) provider web pages;

(ii) script functionality resident in said provider web pages for linking with a scale driver resident in a weighing scale located at a client node;

(b) a weighing scale at said client node, said weighing scale further comprising;

(i) said scale driver;

(ii) a scale server resident at said client node and callable by said client node under control of said script functionality;

(iii) script activation capability for allowing said script at said client node to link with said weighing scale by utilizing said scale driver;

(c) a communications link for linking said web site and said weighing scale at said client node, said communications link further comprising;

(i) a browser for accessing said web site by said client node;

(ii) a network interface routine for allowing access to a network wherein said web site resides; and

(iii) communications means for physically interfacing said weighing scale with said network.

15. The system of claim 15, wherein said script functionality is Java script.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein said browser requires a set of plug-ins for communication to said scale server.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein said scale server is an Active-X automation server resident on said web site and downloadable to said client node.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein said client node is one of a plurality of client nodes, each of said plurality of client nodes linked by communication means to said provider server, said communication means for establishing a communications link between said client node and said provider server.

19. The system of claim 15, where said script functionality further comprises a set of instructions for performing one or more activities.

20. The system of claim 20, wherein said script functionality further comprises display functionality for displaying said weight in a particular format.

21. The system of claim 20, wherein said script functionality further comprises a “

get weight”

function for directing said weight to be transmitted to said shipping application.

22. The system of claim 20, wherein said script functionality further comprises a setup function for storing a set of steps to be used for activating said script functionality, said scale driver, and said scale server.