Generic value bearing item labels

• US 8,548,921 B2
• Filed: 02/25/2009
• Issued: 10/01/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Stamps.com, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Stamps.com, Inc.
• Inventors: Raju, Lawrence N., Hansen, Yvonne K., Ogg, Craig L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chen, George
• Application Number:
  US12/380,359
• Publication Number:
  US 20090164392A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,679 Days
• Field of Search: 705/1.1, 705/50, 705 60- 68, 705400-411
• US Class Current: 705/62
• 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 method using a computer-based, value-bearing-item-indicia computer system for generating a vertically-oriented, generic, value-bearing item label, said method comprising:

transforming an input by a user requesting a computer-based, value-bearing item label into a printable representation of a single column of value-bearing item indicia data, said single column of value-bearing item indicia data comprising a set of human-readable, value-bearing item indicia data for printing in a top portion of a single printable column of a vertically-oriented, generic, value-bearing item label, said vertically-oriented, generic, value-bearing item label comprising a height and a width, wherein said height is greater than said width, said top portion of said single printable column of the vertically-oriented, generic, value-bearing item label consisting of said set of human-readable, value-bearing item indicia data and a spatial portion, said top portion adapted to receive a postal service cancellation mark, said set of human-readable, value-bearing item indicia data being date-independent and recipient-address-independent, said set of human-readable, value-bearing item indicia data comprising a human-readable representation of a classification and an amount and being completely contained within said top portion of said single column;

generating a set of generic, computer-based, value-bearing item indicia data corresponding to the input, said set of generic, computer-based, value-bearing item indicia data being date-independent and recipient-address-independent, said set of generic, computer-based, value-bearing item indicia data comprising an indication of a value;

transforming the set of generic, computer-based, value-bearing item indicia data into a printable representation of machine-readable, generic, computer-based, value-bearing item indicia data, said single column of value-bearing item indicia data further comprising said printable representation of machine-readable, generic, computer-based value-bearing item indicia for printing in a bottom portion of the single printable column of the vertically-oriented, generic, value-bearing item label directly below the set of human-readable, value-bearing item indicia data, said bottom portion of the single printable column consisting of said printable representation of machine-readable, generic computer-based value-bearing item indicia data comprising, said printable representation of machine-readable, generic, computer-based, value-bearing item indicia data comprising a graphic symbology, said graphic symbology comprising a graphic height and a graphic width, wherein said graphic height is greater than or equal to said graphic width, said bottom portion of the vertically-oriented, generic, value-bearing item label comprising a bottom portion of the single column of value-bearing item indicia data, said graphic symbology being completely contained within said bottom portion of said single printable column such that said graphic symbology is directly below said top portion of the single printable column of value-bearing item indicia data; and

sending the printable representation of the set of human-readable, value-bearing item indicia data and the printable representation of machine-readable, generic, computer-based, value-bearing item indicia data to a print-rendering device for printing on a particular vertically-oriented, generic, value-bearing item label.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the particular vertically-oriented, generic, value-bearing item label comprises a particular vertically-oriented, generic, value-bearing item label of a plurality of vertically-oriented, generic, value-bearing item labels on a sheet of labels.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the particular vertically-oriented, generic, value-bearing item label comprises a particular vertically-oriented, generic, value-bearing item label of a plurality of vertically-oriented, generic, value-bearing item labels on a roll of labels such that the bottom of a first vertically-oriented, generic, value-bearing item label on the roll is followed on the roll by a top of a second vertically-oriented, generic, value-bearing item label on the roll.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said graphic symbology comprises a two-dimensional barcode.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said top portion is adapted to accommodate said postal service cancellation mark such that said postal service cancellation mark does not overlap said bottom portion.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said postal service cancellation mark may overlap a portion of said bottom portion.

7. A computer-based, value-bearing-item-indicia computer system for generating a vertically-oriented, value-bearing-item indicia label, said computer-based, value-bearing-item-indicia computer system programmed for:

transforming an input of data by a user comprising an indication of a weight of an item to be mailed, into a representation of human-readable, value-bearing-item indicia data and a representation of machine-readable, generic, computer-based, value-bearing-item indicia data, said machine-readable, generic, computer-based, value-bearing item indicia data being independent of an indication of a date and an indication of a delivery address, said representation of human-readable, value-bearing-item indicia data comprising a human-readable representation of a mail class and an amount of postage;

formatting a printable representation of indicia data comprising the representation of human-readable, value-bearing-item indicia data formatted for printing in a portrait orientation on a top portion of a single column of value-bearing item indicia data of a vertically-oriented indicia label, said vertically-oriented indicia label comprising a height and a width, wherein said height is greater than said width, said top portion of the single column of value-bearing-item indicia data consisting of said representation of human-readable, value-bearing-item indicia data and a spatial portion, said top portion of the single column adapted to receive a postal service cancellation mark, said representation of human-readable, value-bearing-item indicia data being completely contained within said top portion of said single column, and said printable representation of indicia data further comprising the representation of machine-readable, generic, computer-based, value-bearing-item indicia data formatted for printing in a portrait orientation on a bottom portion of the single column of said vertically-oriented indicia label that is below the top portion of said single column, said bottom portion of the single column of value-bearing-item indicia data consisting of said representation of machine-readable, generic, computer-based, value-bearing-item indicia data, said representation of machine-readable, generic, computer-based, value-bearing-item indicia data comprising a graphic symbology, said graphic symbology comprising a two-dimensional barcode, said graphic symbology being completely contained within said bottom portion of said single column such that said graphic symbology is directly below said top portion of said single column of value-bearing-item indicia data; and

sending the printable representation of indicia data to a print rendering device for printing on a particular, vertically-oriented indicia label.

8. The computer-based, value-bearing-item-indicia computer system of claim 7, wherein the particular, vertically-oriented indicia label comprises a particular, vertically-oriented indicia label of a plurality of vertically-oriented indicia labels on a sheet of indicia labels.

9. The computer-based, value-bearing-item-indicia computer system of claim 7, wherein the particular, vertically-oriented indicia label comprises a particular, vertically-oriented indicia label of a plurality of vertically-oriented indicia labels on a roll of indicia labels.

10. A computer program product comprising executable program code adapted to be executed for producing computer-based postage-indicia-bearing item labels, said computer program product comprising executable program instructions for:

comparing an amount of funds available for a requesting user to an amount of postage requested by the requesting user for printing a computer-based, postage-indicia-bearing item label;

for an amount of funds available that is less than the amount of postage requested, denying authorization for printing a computer-based, postage-indicia-bearing postage label corresponding to the amount of postage requested; and

for an amount of funds available that meets or exceeds the amount of postage requested;

transforming the amount of postage requested, and an input by the requesting user that corresponds to a characteristic of a mailing of an item, into a set of computer-based, postage-indicia-bearing item indicia data corresponding at least in part to the amount of postage requested,

transforming the amount of postage requested into a printable representation of human-readable, postage-indicia-bearing item data corresponding in position for printing in a portrait orientation on a top portion of a single column of value-bearing item indicia data of a portrait-oriented, postage indicia label, said portrait-oriented postage indicia label comprising a height and a width, wherein said height is greater than said width, said top portion of the single column of postage-indicia-bearing item data consisting of said printable representation of human-readable, postage-indicia-bearing item data and a spatial portion, said top portion of the portrait-oriented, postage indicia label comprising a size sufficient to accommodate a postal service cancellation mark, said printable representation of human-readable, value-bearing item indicia data comprising a human-readable representation of a mail class and the amount of postage, and being completely contained within said top portion of said single column,

transforming the computer-based, postage-indicia-bearing item indicia data into a printable representation of machine-readable, generic, postage-indicia-bearing item data corresponding in position for printing in a portrait orientation on a bottom portion of the single column of said portrait-oriented, postage indicia label below the top portion, said bottom portion of the single column of postage-indicia-bearing item data consisting of said printable representation of machine-readable, generic, postage-indicia-bearing item data, said printable representation of machine-readable, generic, postage-indicia-bearing item data comprising a graphic symbology, said graphic symbology comprising a graphic height and a graphic width, wherein said graphic height is greater than or equal to said graphic width, said graphic symbology being completely contained within said bottom portion of said single column such that said graphic symbology is directly below said top portion of said single column of postage-indicia-bearing item data, wherein said machine-readable, generic, postage-indicia-bearing item data is independent of an indication of a mailing date and an indication of a recipient address; and

sending the printable representation of human-readable, postage-indicia-bearing item data and the printable representation of machine-readable, generic, postage-indicia-bearing item data to a print rendering device operable with a remote client computer corresponding to the requesting user for print rendering on a particular, portrait-oriented, postage-indicia-bearing item label.

11. The computer program product of claim 10, wherein the particular, portrait-oriented, postage-indicia-bearing item label comprises a particular, portrait-oriented, postage-indicia-bearing item label of a plurality of portrait-oriented, postage-indicia-bearing item labels on a sheet of labels.

12. The computer program product of claim 10, wherein the particular, portrait-oriented, postage-indicia-bearing item label comprises a particular, portrait-oriented, postage-indicia-bearing item label of a plurality of portrait-oriented, postage-indicia-bearing item labels on a roll of labels.

13. The computer program product of claim 10, wherein the characteristic of a mailing of an item comprises at least one mailing characteristic selected from the group consisting of:

a weight of the item, a mailing class for the mailing of the item, and a type of mail piece.

14. The computer program product of claim 10, wherein said graphic symbology comprises a two-dimensional barcode.