Mail processing system with unique mailpiece authorization assigned in advance of mailpieces entering carrier service mail processing stream
First Claim
1. A method for processing mail, comprising:
- transmitting electronically a destination address for a mailpiece to a carrier service, wherein said mailpiece will be submitted to said carrier service for delivery;
generating, at said carrier service, a unique mailpiece identifier associated with said mailpiece;
submitting said mailpiece to said carrier service for delivery with said unique mailpiece identifier thereon;
obtaining from said mailpiece said unique mailpiece identifier; and
flagging said unique mailpiece identifier as being used to ensure that said unique mailpiece identifier is not reused.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A mailing list is created including destination addresses for mailpieces to be submitted to a carrier service for delivery. A unique mailpiece identifier associated with mailpieces on the mailing list is generated by the carrier or other trusted third party. The unique mailpiece identifier is printed on the mailpiece with which it is associated. The -mailpieces with the printed unique identifier are submitted to the carrier service. The carrier service obtains the printed unique identifier from the mailpiece. The obtained unique identifier from each said mailpiece is utilized to verify that data associated with the mailpiece has been processed by the carrier or trusted third party. When the unique number has been obtained from the mailpieces, the carrier service, if desired, may note this fact in the carrier records to prevent reuse of the unique identifier. The carrier service as part of issuing the unique identification may: charge the mailer'"'"'s account of other fund depository for the carrier service charges associated with the mailpiece; and/or, assign a destination delivery code; and/or, provide address hygiene for the mailpiece; and/or change of address processing. When the unique identifier is obtained from the mailpiece, a delivery point destination code may be printed on the mailpiece, based on the corrected address. As an alternative, the destination delivery code may be provided to the mailer with the unique mailpiece identifier to be printed on the mailpiece by the mailer. Various cryptographic techniques may be employed to authenticate the mailer and the carrier service and to protect the transmitted information between the parties. The payment for the carrier services can be implemented prior in time to the entry of the mailpieces to the carrier service mailstream. Unauthorized mailpieces may be out sorted early in the carrier service processing procedure
200 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A method for processing mail, comprising:
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transmitting electronically a destination address for a mailpiece to a carrier service, wherein said mailpiece will be submitted to said carrier service for delivery;
generating, at said carrier service, a unique mailpiece identifier associated with said mailpiece;
submitting said mailpiece to said carrier service for delivery with said unique mailpiece identifier thereon;
obtaining from said mailpiece said unique mailpiece identifier; and
flagging said unique mailpiece identifier as being used to ensure that said unique mailpiece identifier is not reused. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for processing mail, comprising:
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transmitting electronically a destination address for a mailpiece to a carrier service, wherein said mailpiece will be submitted to said carrier service for delivery;
generating, at said carrier service, a unique mailpiece identifier associated with said mailpiece;
submitting said mailpiece to said carrier service for delivery with said unique mailpiece identifier thereon;
obtaining from said mailpiece said unique mailpiece identifier; and
searching a database containing all mailpiece identifiers generated at said carrier service and, if said unique mailpiece identifier is found in said database, determining whether said unique mailpiece identifier has been previously used. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method for processing mail, comprising:
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transmitting electronically a destination address for a mailpiece to a carrier service, wherein said mailpiece will be submitted to said carrier service for delivery;
generating, at said carrier service, a unique non-encrypted mailpiece identifier associated with said mailpiece; and
submitting said mailpiece to said carrier service for delivery with said unique non-encrypted mailpiece identifier thereon. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification