Formatting value-bearing item indicia

• US 7,509,291 B2
• Filed: 12/08/2006
• Issued: 03/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2003
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Auctane LLC (Stamps.com, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Stamps.com, Inc.
• Inventors: Cleckler, Damon, McBride, Kenneth Thomas, Bussell, Keith David
• Primary Examiner(s): Elisca; Pierre E
• Application Number:
  US11/635,871
• Publication Number:
  US 20070100672A1
• Time in Patent Office: 837 Days
• Field of Search: 705/60, 705/62
• US Class Current: 705/60
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/025 Coordination of plural reservations, e.g. plural trip segments, transportation combined with accommodation
• 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 2017/00064 Virtual meter, online stamp; PSD functions or indicia creation not at user's location
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00564 Ensuring correct position of print on mailpiece
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00669 Sensing the position of mailpieces

Abstract

Various embodiments of the present invention would provide methods and systems for generating and printing an identifier on a sheet of label stock that comprises a plurality of same-sized labels. In the exemplary embodiment, the identifier would comprise an identification of a media type of the sheet of label stock, and would further comprise an identification of an orientation for printing value-bearing item indicia, such as postage indicia, with respect to each label on the sheet of label stock. The orientation for printing value-bearing item indicia, such as postage indicia, would correspond to an orientation selection by a user that ordered the labels (sometimes referred to herein as the “ordering user”).

Claims

1. A method for selecting a format for which to generate postage indicia, said method comprising:

displaying to a display device in communication with a computer device, an input field for inputting a control number input;

receiving from a user, via the computer device, the control number input, wherein the control number input comprises a format identifier that corresponds to a particular type of label stock, wherein the format identifier comprises a plurality of characters, wherein a subset of characters of the plurality of characters that comprise the format identifier comprises a media type format identifier and a postage indicia orientation format identifier, and wherein a particular unit of the particular type of label stock comprises a plurality of labels;

receiving from the user, via the computer device, a request for a postage indicia;

identifying a set of postage indicia format information corresponding to the media type format identifier and the postage indicia orientation format identifier, for formatting and orienting at least one postage label, wherein the set of postage indicia format information comprises print orientation information for formatting the postage indicia on an at least one label on the particular unit of label stock according to the orientation indicator, and at least one of;

a label size, a set of label dimensions, or a set of label configuration information; and

calculating, according to the set of postage indicia format information;

a printable size of the postage indicia for printing on the at least one label on the particular unit of label stock, and a print location and a print orientation of the postage indicia for printing on the at least one label on the particular unit of label stock.

2. The method of claim 1, said method further comprising:

generating a label stock preview display of the particular unit of label stock for display on the display device, wherein said label stock preview display is generated in a format according to the set of postage indicia format information and according to the printable size, the print location and the print orientation.

3. The method of claim 1, said method further comprising:

generating at least one postage indicia for printing on the at least one label on the particular unit of label stock in a format according to the set of postage indicia format information and according to the printable size, the print location and the print orientation.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein each label of the plurality of labels comprises a width and a height, and wherein the width and the height of a particular label of the plurality of labels is equal to the width and height of each label of the plurality of labels.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the postage indicia orientation format identifier comprises an orientation indicator selected from the group consisting of:

1) a portrait orientation, and

     2) a landscape orientation.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the postage indicia orientation format identifier comprises an indication of an orientation selected from the group consisting of:

1) a portrait orientation, and

     2) a landscape orientation.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the particular unit of the particular type of label stock comprises a roll of a plurality of labels.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the format identifier comprises a single leading character of the serial number.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the format identifier comprises a plurality of leading characters of the serial number.

10. A method for identifying to a system, a format for generating a postage indicia, said method comprising:

displaying on a particular unit of label stock, a format identifier, wherein the format identifier comprises a plurality of characters, wherein a subset of characters of the plurality of characters that comprise the format identifier comprises an indication of a media type format identifier and of a postage indicia orientation format identifier, wherein the media type format identifier corresponds to a particular media type, wherein the postage indicia orientation format identifier corresponds to a particular postage indicia orientation format, and wherein the particular media type corresponds to a set of media type information;

identifying the set of media type information that corresponds to the media type format identifier;

identifying the particular postage indicia orientation format that corresponds to the postage indicia orientation format identifier;

receiving an input by a user, via a computer device, of at least the format identifier and an amount of postage; and

responding to the input by the user by generating a printable format of at least one postage indicia for printing on an at least one label of the label stock, wherein the printable format of the at least one postage indicia is generated in a format and in an orientation for printing according to the set of media type information that corresponds to the media type format identifier, and according to the particular postage indicia orientation format that corresponds to the postage indicia orientation format identifier.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein each unit of label stock comprises a plurality of labels.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein each label on a particular unit of label stock bears a distinct control number.

13. The method of claim 11, said method further comprising:

tracking each label on the particular unit of label stock for which a value-bearing item indicia has been generated.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein each label of the plurality of labels comprises a width and a height, and wherein the width and the height of a particular label of the plurality of labels is equal to the width and height of each other label of the plurality of labels.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the particular postage indicia orientation format is selected from a group consisting of:

1) a portrait orientation, and

     2) a landscape orientation.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein each unit of label stock comprises a plurality of labels, and wherein each label of the plurality of labels comprises a width and a height, and wherein the width and the height of a particular label of the plurality of labels is equal to the width and height of each other label of the plurality of labels.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein the media type format identifier comprises a single leading character of the format identifier.

18. The method of claim 10, wherein the media type format identifier comprises a plurality of leading characters of the format identifier.

19. A method for identifying to a computer-based value-bearing item indicia system, a format for generating a value-bearing item indicia, said method comprising:

A) displaying on a particular unit of label stock that comprises a plurality of same-sized labels, a format identifier that corresponds to a format of each label of the plurality of same-sized labels, wherein the format identifier comprises an indication of a media type format, wherein the media type format corresponds to a particular media type, and wherein the particular media type corresponds to a set of media type information;

B) receiving via a computer device, an input by a user comprising an indication of an amount of value for generating value-bearing item indicia, and the format identifier;

C) determining the set of media type information that corresponds to the format identifier; and

D) in response to the input by the user of the amount of value for generating value-bearing item indicia, and the format identifier, generating a printable format of at least one value-bearing item indicia for printing on an at least one label, of the label stock, wherein the printable format of the at least one value-bearing item indicia is generated in a format according to the set of media type information.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the input by the user further comprises an indication of a value-bearing item indicia orientation format that is selected from a group consisting of:

1) a portrait orientation, and

     2) a landscape orientation; and

wherein D) comprises;

in response to the input by the user of the amount of value for generating value-bearing item indicia, the format identifier, and the indication of the value-bearing item indicia orientation, generating a printable format of at least one value-bearing item indicia for printing on an at least one label of the label stock, wherein the printable format of the at least one value-bearing item indicia is generated in a format according to the set of media type information, and according to the indication of the value-bearing item indicia orientation.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the printable format of the at least one value-bearing item indicia is generated in a format according to the set of media type information, according to the indication of the value-bearing item indicia orientation, and further according to a magnitude of the amount.

22. The method of claim 20, said method further comprising, prior to process B):

determining a pattern of ink for application to each label of the plurality of same-sized labels, wherein the pattern is determined according to the media type format and according to indication of the value-bearing item indicia orientation; and

applying the pattern of ink to each label of the plurality of same-sized labels.

23. A unit of label stock, said unit of label stock comprising:

a plurality of die-cut labels, wherein each label comprises a user-selected, user-manipulated image, and wherein each label further comprises an area adapted for receiving printing of value-bearing item indicia; and

a unit identifier that comprises an indication of a media type and further comprises an indication of a postage indicia orientation.

24. The unit of label stock of claim 23, said unit of label stock further comprising:

a roll of die-cut labels, wherein the unit identifier is repeated in a plurality of display positions on the roll.

25. A method for printing labels adapted for receiving value-bearing item indicia, said method comprising:

receiving from a user a selection of a graphic image to be displayed on a plurality of labels;

receiving from the user an indication of an orientation of value-bearing item indicia for printing on the plurality of labels;

rendering on a unit of label stock an image of a unit identifier, wherein the unit identifier comprises an indication of a media type of labels;

rendering on the unit of label stock a plurality of displays of the graphic image; and

kiss-cutting a respective label perimeter corresponding to each display of the graphic image, wherein the respective label perimeter corresponds to the media type.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the unit identifier further comprises an indication of the orientation.