Quality assurance of image-customization of computer-based value-bearing items

• US 7,979,358 B1
• Filed: 04/25/2005
• Issued: 07/12/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Auctane LLC (Stamps.com, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Stamps.com, Inc.
• Inventors: Biswas, Michael John, Willis, Bry, Bortnak, James, Clem, John Roland, McBride, Kenneth Thomas, Farino, Daniel David
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu; Rutao
• Application Number:
  US11/114,964
• Time in Patent Office: 2,269 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 705/300
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/08 Logistics, e.g. warehousing, loading or distribution; Inventory or stock management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/101 Collaborative creation, e.g. joint development of products or services

Abstract

The exemplary embodiment of the present invention will provide methods and a computer system for managing image content review for image customization of computer-based value-bearing items such as, for example, an exemplary image-customized computer-based postage label 1 in an exemplary embodiment of the present invention as depicted in FIG. 1. With reference to FIG. 1, the exemplary customized computer-based postage label 1 will bear an image 2 that would be provided by a corresponding user, namely by the user that orders the customized computer-based postage label. The user may provide image 2 in an electronic form, such as by uploading a digital representation of image 2. In a variation of the exemplary embodiment, a user could alternatively provide a hardcopy image. The exemplary customized computer-based postage label 1 will bear a human-readable indication of the country 4 for which the postage is approved. The exemplary customized computer-based postage label 1 will also bear a human-readable indication of an amount of postage 5. The exemplary customized computer-based postage label 1 will also bear a human-readable identifier (such as a serial number) 6 that will uniquely identify the particular customized computer-based postage label. The exemplary customized computer-based postage label 1 will also bear a machine-readable set of information 7.

Claims

1. A method using a computer system comprising at least one computer device for managing image content for image customization of computer-based postage-indicia-bearing items, said method comprising:

using the computer system for receiving a first quality assurance review result by a first quality assurance user for a user-supplied image for a respective order for at least one customized computer-based postage-indicia-bearing item, wherein said first quality assurance review result comprises an independent evaluation by the first quality assurance user without reference to any other evaluation of the user-supplied image;

using the computer system for receiving a second quality assurance review result by a second quality assurance user for the user-supplied image for the respective order for the at least one customized computer-based postage-indicia-bearing item, wherein said second quality assurance review result comprises an independent evaluation by the second quality assurance user without reference to any other evaluation of the user-supplied image;

using the computer system to evaluate the first quality assurance review result and the second quality assurance review result to determine an evaluation result comprising a purpose-specific indication for further purpose-specific processing;

using the computer system for automatically determining further purpose-specific processing for the respective order according to said evaluation result by the computer system of the first quality assurance review result and the second quality assurance review result; and

using the computer system for automatically saving the respective image for further purpose-specific processing in a particular purpose-specific further-processing queue of a plurality of purpose-specific further-processing queues according to said evaluation result, each of said purpose-specific further-processing queues comprising a computer-accessible repository of a plurality of images for which said evaluation result corresponds to a specific further-processing purpose.

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

said using the computer system for automatically saving the respective order for further purpose-specific processing comprising, for an evaluation result that indicates that one of the first quality assurance review result or the second quality assurance review result comprises an approval of the user-supplied image, and that one of the first quality assurance review result or the second quality assurance review result comprises a rejection of the user-supplied image, automatically saving the respective order in a further quality assurance review queue for further quality assurance review by a supervisory quality assurance reviewer.

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

said using the computer system for automatically saving the respective order for further purpose-specific processing comprising, for an evaluation result that indicates that the first quality assurance review result and the second quality assurance review result both indicate a rejection of the user-supplied image, automatically saving the respective order in a rejection processing queue for rejection processing.

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

said using the computer system for automatically saving the respective order for further purpose-specific processing comprising, for an evaluation result that indicates that at least one of the first quality assurance review result or the second quality assurance review result indicates that the user-supplied image was malicious, automatically saving the respective order in a malicious image suspect queue for further-quality assurance processing of malicious images.

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

said using the computer system for automatically saving the respective order for further purpose-specific processing comprising, for an evaluation result that indicates that at least one of the first quality assurance review result or the second quality assurance review result indicates escalation of the user-supplied image for supervisory review, automatically saving the respective order in an escalated quality review processing queue for escalated quality assurance processing of escalated images.

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

said using the computer system for automatically saving the respective order for further purpose-specific processing comprising, for an evaluation result that indicates that the first quality assurance review result and the second quality assurance review result both indicate an approval of the user-supplied image, automatically saving the respective order in a print processing queue for print processing for printing the respective order.

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

using the computer system for displaying a representation of the respective order from a first particular purpose-specific further processing queue, according to a request by a supervisory quality assurance user to inspect orders from the first particular purpose-specific further processing queue.

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

using the computer system for displaying a representation of the respective order from the further quality assurance processing queue, according to a request by a supervisory quality assurance user to inspect orders from the further quality assurance processing queue.

15. The method of claim 7, said method further comprising:

using the computer system for queuing the respective order for print processing in response to an approval of the user-supplied image by the supervisory quality assurance user; and

using the computer system for queuing the respective order for rejection processing in response to a rejection of the user-supplied image by the supervisory quality assurance user.

9. A computer system for managing image content for image customization of computer-based postage-indicia-bearing items, said computer system comprising at least one computer device, said at least one computer device programmed to:

automatically queue a user-supplied image for review by a first quality assurance user, and for review by a second quality assurance user, said user-supplied image for a respective order for at least one customized, computer-based postage-indicia-bearing item;

display the user-supplied image to a display monitor corresponding to review by the first quality assurance user;

display the user-supplied image to a display monitor corresponding to review by the second quality assurance user;

receive a first quality assurance review result by the first quality assurance user for the user-supplied image comprising an independent evaluation by the first quality assurance user without reference to any other evaluation of the user-supplied image;

receive a second quality assurance review result by the second quality assurance user for the user-supplied image comprising an independent evaluation by the second quality assurance user without reference to any other evaluation of the user-supplied image;

evaluate the first quality assurance review result and the second quality assurance review result to determine an evaluation result;

save the user-supplied image in a further-processing queue for further processing according to said evaluation result of the first quality assurance review result and the second quality assurance review result, said further-processing queue comprising a computer-accessible repository of a plurality of images for which said evaluation result corresponds to a particular further-processing purpose.

10. The computer system of claim 9, wherein said at least one computer device being programmed to save the user-supplied image in a further-processing queue for further processing comprises indicating that the user-supplied image is ready for further quality assurance review by a third quality assurance user, wherein the third quality assurance user is a supervisory reviewer with authority to make a final disposition of the respective order, wherein one of the first quality assurance review result and the second quality assurance review result indicates an approval of the user-supplied image, and wherein one of the first quality assurance review result and the second quality assurance review result indicates a rejection of the user-supplied image.

11. The computer system of claim 9, wherein said at least one computer device being programmed to save the user-supplied image in a further-processing queue for further processing comprises indicating that the user-supplied image is ready for rejection processing of the respective order, wherein the first quality assurance review result and the second quality assurance review result both indicate a rejection of the user-supplied image.

12. The computer system of claim 9, wherein said at least one computer device being programmed to save the user-supplied image in a further-processing queue for further processing comprises indicating that the user-supplied image is ready for further quality assurance processing of malicious images by a third quality assurance user, wherein the third quality assurance user is a supervisory reviewer with authority to make a final disposition of the respective order, wherein at least one of the first quality assurance review result and the second quality assurance review result indicates that the user-supplied image was malicious.

13. The computer system of claim 9, wherein said at least one computer device being programmed to save the user-supplied image in a further-processing queue for further processing comprises indicating that the user-supplied image is ready for escalated quality assurance processing of escalated images by a third quality assurance user, wherein the third quality assurance user is a supervisory reviewer with authority to make a final disposition of the respective order, wherein at least one of the first quality assurance review result and the second quality assurance review result indicates escalation of the user-supplied image for supervisory review.

14. The computer system of claim 9, wherein said evaluation result comprises an indication to automatically save the user-supplied image in a further quality assurance processing queue for further quality assurance processing by a third quality assurance user, wherein the third quality assurance user is a supervisory reviewer with authority to make a final disposition of the user-supplied image, wherein one or the other of the first quality assurance review result or the second quality assurance review result indicates a quality assurance review result other than an approval.

16. The computer system of claim 10, said at least one computer device further programmed to:

queue the respective order for print processing in response to an approval of the user-supplied image by the third quality assurance user; and

queue the respective order for rejection processing in response to a final rejection of the user-supplied image by the third quality assurance user.

17. The computer system of claim 9, said at least one computer device further programmed to:

determine whether all user-supplied images associated with the respective order have been approved by quality assurance;

for the respective order for which all user-supplied images associated with the respective order have been approved by quality assurance, generate computer-based postage indicia for a plurality of customized postage labels and create customized postage labels comprising corresponding computer-based postage indicia and the user-supplied images associated with the respective order.

18. A computer system for managing image content for image customization of computer-based postage-indicia-bearing items, said computer system comprising at least one computer device, said at least one computer device programmed to:

automatically queue each user-supplied image associated with an order for at least one customized, computer-based postage-indicia-bearing item for review by a first quality assurance user, and for review by a second quality assurance user, said order comprising each said user-supplied image, a respective number of labels associated with each said user-supplied image, and a respective amount of postage for each label associated with each said user-supplied image;

for each said user-supplied image;

display said user-supplied image to a display monitor corresponding to review by the first quality assurance user,

display said user-supplied image to a display monitor corresponding to review by the second quality assurance user,

receive a first quality assurance review result by the first quality assurance user for said user-supplied image comprising an independent evaluation by the first quality assurance user without reference to any other evaluation of the user-supplied image,

receive a second quality assurance review result by the second quality assurance user for said user-supplied image comprising an independent evaluation by the second quality assurance user without reference to any other evaluation of the user-supplied image,

evaluate the first quality assurance review result and the second quality assurance review result to determine an evaluation result,

save in a memory storage associated with said user-supplied image, an indication of said evaluation result of the first quality assurance review result and the second quality assurance review result,

test each evaluation result in the memory storage associated with said user-supplied image associated with the order; and

for the order for which each said evaluation result associated with each said user-supplied image indicates that each said user-supplied image has passed quality assurance review, create customized postage labels for the respective number of labels, each customized postage label comprising the respective user-supplied image and computer-based postage indicia for the respective amount of postage.