Mail processing system with unique mailpiece authorization assigned in advance of mailpieces entering carrier service mail processing stream

• US 6,385,504 B1
• Filed: 05/04/1999
• Issued: 05/07/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Pitney Bowes Incorporated (Böwe Systec AG)
• Original Assignee: Pitney Bowes Incorporated (Böwe Systec AG)
• Inventors: Cordery, Robert A., Pintsov, Leon A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Grant, William
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rao, Sheela S.
• Application Number:
  US09/304,758
• Time in Patent Office: 1,099 Days
• Field of Search: 700/115, 700/226, 700/227, 700/229, 705/400
• US Class Current: 700/226
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/401 Transaction verification
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 17/00024 Physical or organizational aspects of franking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 17/00193 Constructional details of apparatus in a franking system
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 17/00362 Calculation or computing within apparatus, e.g. calculation of postage value
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 17/00435 Details specific to central, non-customer apparatus, e.g. servers at post office or vendor
• 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 2017/00072 Hybrid mail, i.e. mail delivered using different physical means along the mail delivery path, e.g. email and envelope
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00169 from a franking apparatus, e.g. for verifying accounting
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/0037 Calculation of postage value
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00379 Calculation of different sending options for a mail piece
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00443 Verification of mailpieces, e.g. by checking databases
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00451 Address hygiene, i.e. checking and correcting addresses to be printed on mail pieces using address databases
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00588 Barcode
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00596 Printing of address
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00709 Scanning mailpieces
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00717 Reading barcodes
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/0075 Symmetric, secret-key algorithms, e.g. DES, RC2, RC4, IDEA, Skipjack, CAST, AES

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

Claims

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.

2. A method according to claim 1, further comprising, prior to said flagging step, 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.

3. A method according to claim 2, further comprising rejecting said mailpiece for delivery if said unique mailpiece identifier is not found in said database or if said unique mailpiece identifier has been previously used.

4. A method according to claim 1, further comprising determining whether said unique mailpiece identifier has been previously used prior to said flagging step.

5. A method according to claim 4, further comprising rejecting said mailpiece for delivery if said unique mailpiece identifier has been previously used.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein said transmitting step is performed electronically over a secure communications channel.

7. A method according to claim 1, further comprising utilizing said obtained unique mailpiece identifier to accept or reject said mailpiece for delivery.

8. A method according to claim 1, further comprising utilizing said obtained unique mailpiece identifier to verify payment for delivery of said mailpiece.

9. A method according to claim 1, wherein said unique mailpiece identifier is non-encrypted and wherein said verification is performed without a decryption process.

10. A method according to claim 1, wherein said unique mailpiece identifier is non-encrypted.

11. A method according to claim 1, wherein said generating step further comprises transmitting said unique mailpiece identifier to a sender of said mailpiece via a secure communications channel.

12. A method according to claim 11, wherein, prior to transmitting said unique mailpiece identifier to a sender of said mailpiece via a secure communications channel, the identity of said sender is determined by said carrier service.

13. 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

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.

14. A method according to claim 13, further comprising rejecting said mailpiece for delivery if said unique mailpiece identifier is not found in said database or if said unique mailpiece identifier has been previously used.

15. A method according to claim 13, wherein said transmitting step is performed electronically over a secure communications channel.

16. A method according to claim 13, further comprising utilizing said obtained unique mailpiece identifier to accept or reject said mailpiece for delivery.

17. A method according to claim 13, further comprising utilizing said obtained unique mailpiece identifier to verify payment for delivery of said mailpiece.

18. A method according to claim 17, wherein said unique mailpiece identifier is non-encrypted and wherein said verification is performed without a decryption process.

19. A method according to claim 13, wherein said unique mailpiece identifier is non-encrypted.

20. A method according to claim 13, wherein said generating step further comprises transmitting said unique mailpiece identifier to a sender of said mailpiece via a secure communications channel.

21. A method according to claim 20, wherein, prior to transmitting said unique mailpiece identifier to a sender of said mailpiece via a secure communications channel, the identity of said sender is determined by said carrier service.

22. 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 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.

23. A method according to claim 22, wherein said generating step further comprises transmitting said unique non-encrypted mailpiece identifier to a sender of said mailpiece via a secure communications channel.

24. A method according to claim 23, wherein said transmitting steps are performed electronically over a secure communications channel.

25. A method according to claim 24, wherein, prior to transmitting said unique mailpiece identifier to a sender of said mailpiece via a secure communications channel, the identity of said sender is determined by said carrier service.

26. A method according to claim 22, wherein said transmitting step is performed electronically over a secure communications channel.