Generic value bearing item labels

• US 7,577,618 B2
• Filed: 07/16/2002
• Issued: 08/18/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stamps.com, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Stamps.com, Inc.
• Inventors: Ogg, Craig L., Raju, Lawrence N., Hansen, Yvonne K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Elisca; Pierre E
• Application Number:
  US10/197,044
• Publication Number:
  US 20030037008A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,590 Days
• Field of Search: 705/60, 705/1, 705/62, 705/408, 283 80- 82
• US Class Current: 705/60
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 17/00024 Physical or organizational aspects of franking systems
• 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 17/00508 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 2017/00032 Determining the location of apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00056 Client-server
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00064 Virtual meter, online stamp; PSD functions or indicia creation not at user's location
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00145 via the Internet
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00201 Open franking system, i.e. the printer is not dedicated to franking only, e.g. PC (Personal Computer)
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00298 Visual, e.g. screens and their layouts
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00443 Verification of mailpieces, e.g. by checking databases
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/0058 Printing of code
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/0062 Label
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00637 Special printing techniques, e.g. interlacing
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00653 Special inks, e.g. fluorescent
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00822 including unique details

Abstract

The present invention provides an intuitively-based (WYSIWYG) user interface for generic value bearing item label custom specification of each label on a multi-part label set. According to the present invention, an interactive display such as is depicted in FIG. 13 would be provided on a display monitor of a plurality of independently interactive panels, wherein each panel corresponds to a particular label on a multi-part label set. As depicted in FIG. 13, the exemplary WYSIWYG generic custom VBI label specification interface of the present invention displays an interactive label display (1110) in which each separate label panel (e.g., 1120-11 through 1120-45) displays an independent postage rate class input field (e.g., 1125-11 with a postage rate class menu button, e.g., 1123-11). Once the user has selected the “Custom” option (1150), the user can set the price for each label by clicking on the individual rate input field (e.g., 1121-11) of the particular label panel (e.g., 1120-11), and inputting any amount, e.g., $0.37 (e.g., 1122-11); and then clicking on the corresponding postage rate class menu button (e.g., 1123-11) and selecting a postage rate class (e.g., 1125-11).

Claims

1. A first set of printable labels disposed on a sheet of label stock for use with a printer for printing generic value-bearing item labels, the sheet of label stock comprising a top sheet edge and a right sheet edge, wherein the right sheet edge comprises a vertical sheet height, wherein the top sheet edge comprises a horizontal sheet width, wherein the vertical sheet height is greater than the horizontal sheet width, each printable label of the first set of printable labels comprising:

a left label edge and a right label edge, wherein the left label edge and the right label edge each comprise a vertical label height, wherein the printable label is arranged on the sheet so that the right label edge is substantially parallel to the right sheet edge of the sheet of label stock;

a top label edge and a bottom label edge, wherein the top label edge and the bottom label edge each comprise a horizontal label width, wherein the vertical label height is greater than the horizontal label width;

a printable area disposed within a label boundary, the label boundary comprising the left label edge, the right label edge, the top label edge and the bottom label edge;

a treated label edge selected from a group consisting of;

the left label edge and the right label edge, wherein the treated label edge comprises a die-cutting along the vertical label height between the treated label edge and an adjacent portion of the sheet of label stock, wherein the adjacent portion of the sheet of label stock is disposed outside the label boundary of at least one printable label of the first set of printable labels, and wherein the treated label edge is characterized by a label edge finishing treatment selected from a group consisting of;

an application of fluorescent ink along a portion of the vertical label height substantially parallel to the treated label edge, and a serration along a portion of the treated label edge;

a bottom portion of the printable area adapted for receiving machine-readable value bearing item data, wherein the bottom portion is substantially adjacent to the bottom label edge; and

a top portion of the printable area adapted for receiving human-readable value bearing item data, wherein the top portion is substantially adjacent to the top label edge.

2. The set of printable labels of claim 1, wherein the top portion is sized for receiving a postage cancellation marking.

3. The set of printable labels of claim 1, wherein the treated label edge comprises an application of fluorescent ink in combination with an application of non-fluorescent ink along a portion of the treated label edge.

4. The first set of printable labels of claim 1, wherein the adjacent portion of the sheet of label stock is disposed outside the label boundary of each printable label of the first set of printable labels.

5. The first set of printable labels of claim 4, wherein the treated label edge comprises an application of fluorescent ink in combination with an application of non-fluorescent ink along a portion of the treated label edge.

6. The first set of printable labels of claim 1, wherein each printable label of the first set of printable labels on the sheet of label stock further comprises a watermark printing, wherein the watermark printing is visible to the eye.

7. The first set of printable labels of claim 1, wherein each printable label of the first set of printable labels on the sheet of label stock further comprises micro-printing that is invisible to the naked-eye.

8. The first set of printable labels of claim 1, wherein each printable label of the first set of printable labels on the sheet of label stock further comprises a pre-printed serial number comprising thermally-sensitive, color-changing ink.

9. The first set of printable labels of claim 1, each printable label of the first set of printable labels further comprising:

a first label size that is substantially the same as a first size of each other printable label of the first set of printable labels.

10. The first set of printable labels of claim 9, wherein the sheet of label stock further comprises a second set of printable labels, each printable label of the second set of printable labels comprising a second label size that is substantially the same as a second size of each other printable label of the second set of printable labels, wherein each label of the second set of printable labels corresponds to a corresponding label of the first set of printable labels, and wherein each label of the second set of printable labels is adapted for receiving an identification of information corresponding to postage printed on the corresponding label of the first set of printable labels.