U.S. patent application number 11/324160 was filed with the patent office on 2006-08-03 for system and method for printing multiple postage indicia.
Invention is credited to Salim G. Kara.
Application Number | 20060173796 11/324160 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36757831 |
Filed Date | 2006-08-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060173796 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kara; Salim G. |
August 3, 2006 |
System and method for printing multiple postage indicia
Abstract
An envelope having a window for allowing a printed postage
indicia to show through is shown. According to a preferred
embodiment, the postage indicia window may be provided with a
glassine covering. Preferably the postage indicia may be put in a
corner of a document to be mailed and the document placed in the
envelope so that the postage indicia shows through the postage
indicia window.
Inventors: |
Kara; Salim G.; (Houston,
TX) |
Correspondence
Address: |
DALLAS OFFICE OF FULBRIGHT & JAWORSKI L.L.P.
2200 ROSS AVENUE
SUITE 2800
DALLAS
TX
75201-2784
US
|
Family ID: |
36757831 |
Appl. No.: |
11/324160 |
Filed: |
December 30, 2005 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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09491949 |
Jan 26, 2000 |
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11324160 |
Dec 30, 2005 |
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08965015 |
Nov 5, 1997 |
6208980 |
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09491949 |
Jan 26, 2000 |
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08561417 |
Nov 21, 1995 |
5801944 |
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08965015 |
Nov 5, 1997 |
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08540658 |
Oct 11, 1995 |
5717597 |
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08561417 |
Nov 21, 1995 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
705/401 ;
493/919 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G07B 2017/00701
20130101; G07B 2017/00064 20130101; G07B 2017/00145 20130101; G07B
2017/00161 20130101; G07B 2017/0037 20130101; G07B 17/00008
20130101; G07B 2017/00096 20130101; G07B 17/0008 20130101; G07B
17/00508 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
705/401 ;
493/919 |
International
Class: |
G06F 17/00 20060101
G06F017/00 |
Claims
1-35. (canceled)
36. A mailing system comprising: a portable storage device that
securely stores a postage value; a network connection that allows
the postage value to be incremented upon authorization from a
remote site; a printer that prints the postage for an item to be
mailed and decrements the postage value; and software that tracks
the postage value and provides statistics on postage usage to a
user.
37. The mailing system of claim 36, wherein the portable storage
device comprises a memory and a processor.
38. The mailing system of claim 36, wherein the network connection
is a digital network connection.
39. The mailing system of claim 36, wherein the network connection
is a telephone network connection.
40. The mailing system of claim 36, wherein the network connection
is an Internet connection.
41. The mailing system of claim 36, wherein the remote site is a
U.S. Postal facility.
42. The mailing system of claim 36, wherein the printer prints the
postage onto an envelope of the item.
43. The mailing system of claim 36, wherein the printer prints the
postage onto a label for attachment to the envelope of the
item.
44. The mailing system of claim 36, wherein the printer prints the
postage on the item which is displayed through a window on the
envelope.
45. The mailing system of claim 36, further comprising: a scale
that weighs the item to be mailed to determine the postage for the
item.
46. The mailing system of claim 36, wherein the postage that is
printed comprises at least one of a human readable portion and a
logo portion.
47. The mailing system of claim 46, wherein one of the human
readable portion and the logo portion is a user selected
personalized indicia.
48. A mailing system comprising: means for securely storing a
postage value; means for connecting the mailing system to a remote
site to allow the postage value to be incremented upon
authorization from the remote site; means for printing the postage
for an item to be mailed; means for decrementing the postage value
that operates in response to the means for printing; and means for
providing statistics on postage usage to a user based on the
postage value.
49. The mailing system of claim 48, wherein the means for
connecting establishes a digital network connection.
50. The mailing system of claim 48, wherein the means for
connecting establishes a telephone network connection.
51. The mailing system of claim 48, wherein the means for
connecting establishes an Internet connection.
52. The mailing system of claim 48, further comprising: means for
weighing the item to be mailed to determine the postage for the
item.
53. The mailing system of claim 48, wherein the postage that is
printed comprises at least one of a human readable portion and a
logo portion.
54. The mailing system of claim 53, wherein one of the human
readable portion and the logo portion is a user selected
personalized indicia.
55. A method of mailing an item comprising: weighing the item to be
mailed to determine a postage for the item; securely storing a
postage value; printing the postage for an item to be mailed;
decrementing the postage from the postage value; connecting to a
remote site to allow the postage value to be incremented upon
authorization from the remote site; and providing a statistic on
postage usage to a user based on the postage value.
56. The method of claim 55, wherein the printing comprises:
printing the postage onto an envelope of the item.
57. The method of claim 55, wherein the printing comprises:
printing the postage onto a label for attachment to the envelope of
the item.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application is a continuation of co-pending,
commonly assigned, patent application Ser. No. 09/491,949 entitled
"SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PRINTING MULTIPLE POSTAGE INDICIA," filed
Jan. 26, 2000, which itself is a continuation of patent application
Ser. No. 08/965,015 entitled "SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PRINTING
MULTIPLE POSTAGE INDICIA," filed Nov. 5, 1997 and now issued as
U.S. Pat. No. 6,208,980, which itself is a continuation-in-part of
patent application Ser. No. 08/561,417 entitled "SYSTEM AND METHOD
FOR PRINTING POSTAGE INDICIA DIRECTLY ON DOCUMENTS," filed Nov. 21,
1995 and now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 5,801,944, which itself is a
continuation-in-part of patent application Ser. No. 08/540,658
entitled "SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PRINTING PERSONALIZED POSTAGE
INDICIA ON GREETING CARDS," filed Oct. 11, 1995 and now issued as
U.S. Pat. No. 5,717,597, the disclosures of which are hereby
incorporated herein by reference.
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The invention relates generally to items of mail and, more
particularly, to envelopes providing a window for displaying
postage indicia.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The use of word processors running on general purpose
computers is so common place today as to be taken for granted.
Children, as well as adults, use such word processing programs to
create, format and print (in selected colors, fonts and size) every
conceivable type of document. These systems are used to create all
manner of designs and to print the creations on all manner of
printable material in addition to paper. One example for the use of
such processors that has become very popular is to use them for the
creation of account statements or paper checks. This use is
typically in conjunction with an accounting program. Another use is
the creation of T-shirt designs and the subsequent printing of such
T-shirts (or other material) under control of the user.
[0004] Often, the document that is created by the user in the
processor (for example, a letter, an invitation, an invoice, or a
check) is then mailed to some other location. This entails the
placing of the document (or other material) in a mailing container
(envelope), addressed, and supplied with sufficient postage.
[0005] Additionally, a return document is often required or
solicited from the recipient of the initial mailing. This requires
the sender to also supply sufficient postage for the return
communication or requires the recipient/respondent to supply and
affix postage.
[0006] Many of the programs in use today print the mailing address
(as taken from the document) on labels which are printed in
conjunction with the creation of the document. These labels then
are peeled off the document and transferred to the outside of the
mailing envelope to save the user time and to avoid placing the
envelope in the printer or otherwise addressing the envelope.
[0007] However, using such system the user still must add postage
to the mailing envelope manually or the user must run the mailing
container (envelope) through a postal meter. At best, this is one
additional step. At worst, in the case of a nonconforming mailing
container such as a carton, several additional steps are
required.
[0008] Moreover, where a return document is solicited, the sender
must find a way to include sufficient return postage. This presents
several problems as often the return mailing container is unknown
to the sender, as it may be provided by the recipient/respondent,
thus presenting no clear choice to the sender as to where to apply
the proper return postage. Even where the return mailing container
is known to the sender, application of the return postage to this
container requires additional steps to be performed by the sender.
For example, in the case of providing the return envelope or in the
case of an R.S.V.P. post card, the sender must still add the
postage manually or run the mailing container (envelope) through a
postal meter. Often these dilemmas are resolved by the sender
foregoing the return postage, relying on the recipient/respondent
to provide this necessary element. However, reliance on a
recipient/respondent to contribute the extra cost and effort
associated with providing such return postage may cause the
recipient/respondent to fail to respond.
[0009] Furthermore, the customer is limited in the graphic
configuration of the postage applied to the letter to those
configurations printed and sold by the Post Office. Currently, the
customer does not have the ability to create a customized postage
indicia that would correspond to the message on a particular
document such as the aforementioned invitation and/or R.S.V.P.
card.
[0010] Accordingly, there is a need in the art for a system and
method that provides for the printing of an appropriate amount of
authorized postage by the same general purpose processors that
allow the customer to create documents.
[0011] Thus, it is an object of the present invention to provide a
means for the customer to enter the appropriate rate determining
information such as the address to which the customized greeting
card is being sent, what class of mail is being used, etc.
Likewise, it is an object of the present invention to provide a
means for the customer to enter rate determining information for
the return correspondence solicited. Thereafter, the processing
system that formats and prints a document may concurrently
calculate the appropriate postage for the greeting card and/or a
return item and print the appropriate postage for that particular
document at the same time the document is being printed.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0012] The present invention fulfills the needs discussed above by
disclosing a method and a system whereby a customer may
automatically calculate the correct amounts of postage, print the
correct amounts of postage, personalize selected stamp indicia, and
print address labels at the same location where the customer
generates a document and/or a return document, such as a customized
greeting card and associated R.S.V.P. card.
[0013] In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a
general purpose computer based system is disclosed which operates
in conjunction with a conventional word processing program, check
creation program or with any other program that can format and
control the printing of user controlled documents to allow the user
to automatically calculate the correct amount of postage for that
document and to print that postage at the same time the document is
being printed. Moreover, as the document may include, or otherwise
be associated with, a return document, the present invention
operates to allow the user to automatically calculate the correct
amount of postage for the return document. This return postage may
be printed in any number of ways, such as upon the return document
itself or on a transfer section, on either of the documents or
discrete therefrom, in order to be applied to a return mailing
container.
[0014] In one embodiment, the printed postage indicia is put in a
corner of either or both documents so that, after the document is
placed in an envelope, the postage will show through a glassine
"window" created in the envelope. Of course, where the return
document is itself a detachable portion of the original document,
the printed postage indicia is placed so as to properly show
through the window when the return document is detached and placed
in an envelope.
[0015] In another embodiment, either or both postage indicia are
printed on a transfer sheet and physically transferred to the
outside of the mailing envelope or package. This transfer sheet may
be discrete from the documents, or may be a predefined transfer
section of the documents having a transfer media, such as a
removable pressure sensitive label, included thereon.
[0016] The discussed system can also generate postage which
includes a personalized postage indicia which may also contain an
encrypted message, such as ZIP+4, as a function of mailing
parameters entered into the system and particular to the associated
document.
[0017] One technical advantage of this invention is that a printer
can create a document and an associated return document, as well as
the postage to mail both documents during one pass across the blank
writing medium.
[0018] A further advantage of this system is that the user can
select a postage indicia from a menu of available graphic
configurations to correspond with the type of document being
generated and the system will print the postage as part of the
document.
[0019] Yet another advantage of this system is that the postage
generated by the system will have a ZIP+4 information printed on it
which makes that piece of mail easier to sort, route and
deliver.
[0020] The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features of
the present invention in order that the detailed description of the
invention that follows may be better understood. Additional
features of the invention will be described hereinafter which forms
the subject of the appended claims. It should be appreciated by
those skilled in the art that the conception and the specific
embodiments disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis for
modifying or designing other structures for carrying out the same
purposes of the present invention. It should also be realized by
those skilled in the art that such equivalent constructions do not
depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in
the claims of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0021] For a more complete understanding of the present invention,
and the advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following
descriptions taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings,
in which:
[0022] FIG. 1A illustrates a processor-based system for
implementation of the present invention;
[0023] FIG. 1B illustrates several embodiments of the postage
storage device;
[0024] FIG. 2 illustrates an embodiment of user instructions and
screen prompts utilized by the present invention to interface with
a user when installing the program on the processor-based system
for implementation of the present invention;
[0025] FIG. 3 illustrates an embodiment of a user registration
form;
[0026] FIGS. 4A-4B illustrate a display screen utilized by the
present invention to interface with a U.S. Post Office employee
when replenishing postage within the present invention;
[0027] FIG. 5 illustrates a flow diagram of the replenishing
process;
[0028] FIG. 6 illustrates a preferred embodiment of the security
techniques utilized within the present invention;
[0029] FIGS. 7A and 7B illustrate a flow diagram for controlling
the removal of data from the memory of a postal storage device;
[0030] FIG. 8 illustrates how a postage button is encoded;
[0031] FIG. 9 illustrates a flow diagram of the operation of the
present invention within a card generating system;
[0032] FIG. 10 illustrates one embodiment of a display interface
provided to a customer for selecting a type of greeting card;
[0033] FIG. 11 illustrates one embodiment of a display interface
provided to a customer for selecting a style of greeting card;
[0034] FIGS. 12A and 12B illustrate one embodiment of a
personalized greeting card;
[0035] FIG. 13 illustrates a display interface provided to a
customer when accessing the present invention on a card generating
system;
[0036] FIG. 14 illustrates one embodiment of a display interface
provided to a customer for selecting a type of postage indicia;
[0037] FIG. 15A illustrates one embodiment of a display interface
provided to a customer for selecting a specific postage indicia
that can be personalized by the customer;
[0038] FIG. 15B illustrates a postage indicia that has been
personalized;
[0039] FIGS. 16A and 16B illustrate two embodiments of print
formats of the information entered into the "E-STAMP" program;
[0040] FIG. 17 is a flow chart of system operation working in
conjunction with another word processing program;
[0041] FIG. 18 is a view of a document having on it a transfer
mechanism for moving the printed indicia from the document to the
front of the envelope;
[0042] FIG. 19 shows a check with the postage indicia printed on
the face of the check;
[0043] FIG. 20 shows an envelope having a transfer mechanism for
showing the postage to a viewer outside the envelope; and
[0044] FIG. 21 shows a statement having a return document portion
with a sending postage indicia and a return postage indicia both on
the face of the document.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0045] The present invention provides for a portable postage
storage device, described in more detail below, that can be coupled
to a general purpose processor-based system that interacts with a
customer to generate a document, or other piece of mail.
[0046] The present invention further provides for a method and
system, described in co-pending U.S. application Ser. No.
08/263,751 and incorporated herein by reference, for automatically
calculating the appropriate amount of postage for a piece of mail,
printing that amount of postage and deducting the printed amount of
postage from the total amount of postage stored within the portable
postage storage device. In addition, the present invention allows
the user to retrieve, select, personalize and print postage
indicia.
[0047] The present invention will allow an amount of authorized
postage to be loaded into a portable postage storage device by the
U.S. Post Office via a processor-based system hereinafter referred
to as the "POSTAGEMAKER" program. Although reference is often made
to the U.S. Post Office, the present invention may be implemented
within any country and with respect to any postal or private parcel
system.
[0048] The loaded postage may be accessed and a portion of that
postage retrieved via a program stored on a processor-based system,
such program hereinafter referred to as the "E-STAMP" program. The
E-STAMP program may be stored on a processor-based system that also
contains a document generating system. The document generating
system may be used to generate customized mail, as for example
personalized greeting cards.
[0049] A detailed discussion of the inventive concepts of this
invention will now be made with respect to FIGS. 17 through 21. A
detailed discussion of the general system operation is contained in
this disclosure hereinafter with respect to FIGS. 1A through 16B.
The user is referred to the subsequent discussion to gain an
understanding of how the general purpose processor works in
conjunction with the portable processor to control the dispensation
and creation of postage indicia.
[0050] Referring now to FIG. 17 two embodiments of the invention
are shown, one proceeding from accounting processing program 1701
and the other from word processing program 1702. It should be noted
that these programs are well-known in the art and are typical of
the many application types available for document preparation which
may be utilized according to the present invention. For example, a
typical well-known accounting program is available to the general
public from Intuit Corporation and is licensed under the trade name
"Quicken". Available to every user with the "Quicken" program is a
manual of operation of the "Quicken" system, which is hereby
incorporated by reference herein.
[0051] Similarly, a typical well-known word processing program
could be, for example, the "Word" system from Microsoft. Also
included with each word processing program from Microsoft is a
manual of operation giving extensive details of the operation of
the "Word" system from a user's perspective. Such manual is hereby
incorporated by reference herein.
[0052] Of course, use of the present invention is not limited to
the use of such word processor or accounting programs, but in fact
may operate with any number of programs which operate to produce
documents to be transmitted via mail. Moreover, the present
invention may be operated completely autonomously to, for example,
apply postage to previously created postal documents.
[0053] Decision box 1703 makes a determination of whether the
automatic postage box is on. The automatic postage box, for
example, would be a designation made by the user of either the
accounting program or the word processing program contained within
that system as to whether postage is to be generated for the
particular document being created. Where a return document is
associated with the generated document, decision box 1703 may also
make a determination as to whether multiple postage indicia are to
be generated and/or a location or position for printing each.
[0054] Obviously, if the answer to whether postage is to be
generated for the particular document being created is no, the
program then would skip to the regular formatting of the accounting
program or word processing program or whatever other program is
being run as shown in box 1704.
[0055] If the answer is yes, then the user is queried in box 1705
as to whether he/she wishes to use a database of indicia that have
already been created.
[0056] If the answer is no, the program skips to box 1709. If the
answer is yes, then the program goes to box 1706 where the user is
asked whether the user wishes to create his/her own indicia or
whether the user wishes to modify indicia.
[0057] If the user wishes to create his/her own indicia, then the
user is referred to box 1707 where a drawing program is provided
for the creation of the indicia. One such program can be the
Macromedia Free-Hand program which is available to the general
public and which comes with an operating manual, which operating
manual is hereby incorporated by reference herein.
[0058] If the user, as shown in box 1706, simply wishes to modify
an existing indicia, then the user is referred to box 1708 where
the existing database is made available and the user selects the
indicia of the user's choice and either uses it directly or
modifies it.
[0059] Where multiple indicia are to be generated, the user may in
fact select two indicia from a database or create two indicia. Of
course, there is no limitation to the multiple indicia being
generated in the same fashion. For example, the user may select an
indicia from a database for the outbound document and create a
personalized indicia for the return document. Likewise, the user
may simply elect the use of multiple indicia and allow the system
to select a default indicia, rather than performing any
customization, if desired.
[0060] When modification is finished, the user is then referred
back to box 1709 and determination is made as to whether this is a
draft. The reason for this is that if it is a draft, there is no
need to print the postage thereon.
[0061] If it is a draft, then the program moves to box 1710 and
returns to the controlling word processor program where regular
formatting and printing is controlled.
[0062] However, in box 1709, if this is a final version, a
determination is made via box 1711 as to whether this is a check or
other such single page document. If it is a check, then the amount
of postage is calculated allowing for the envelope size and weight
in box 1713.
[0063] However, if this is a word processing program or other
program producing a multi-page document, the page count is obtained
via box 1712 from the controlling word processor program in box
1702 so that the system can, based upon the number of pages,
calculate the amount of postage that will be due and, as shown in
box 1713, allowing for the envelope size and weight as well as the
inclusion of any discrete return document and/or container, will
determine the amount of postage to be printed. Of course, where a
return document is associated with the outbound document, this same
determination may be made for the return document's postage.
[0064] Box 1714 prints the postage indicia. The indicia may be
printed on a transfer media on the document or they may be printed
directly on the document and/or return document, for situations
where the postage is going to be used in a glassine-type envelope
or otherwise transferred to a user without a peel-off label, as
will be discussed.
[0065] In FIG. 19 there is shown a check 1900 with sender's address
location 1903, payee's address box 1902 and having a place 1901 for
the printing of the postage.
[0066] Location 1901 is where the postage indicia is printed.
However, located at Location 1901 can be a label which is peeled
off and which thereby allows the user to transfer the postage to
the outside of an envelope, such as envelope 2000. Location 1901
also could be an ink type that when printed on establishes a
special transfer facility such that when the check is placed in an
envelope of the proper type, a like position, such as position 2001
of envelope 2000 shown in FIG. 20 is in juxtaposition with Location
1901 will react with the ink medium or other special transfer
facility of 1901, thereby presenting to a viewer on the outside of
the envelope, the postage indicia on the inside.
[0067] In this manner a transfer occurs between postage printed on
check 1900 and the outside of envelope 2000 without the need for
removing and repasting the label. This transfer could occur as a
chemical reaction or otherwise under perhaps heat control as
generated by a user's finger or by any other mechanism desired. Of
course, boxes 2001, 2002, and 2003 of FIG. 20 can be a glassine
window which allows a viewer to see the postage printed at position
1901, payee's address box 1902, or sender's address location 1903
of check 1900.
[0068] FIG. 18 shows a letter 1800 having a body of the letter in
1803 with a postage indicia label 1801 and an address label 1802.
As just discussed, postage indicia label 1801 could be removed and
positioned on the outside of an envelope or the indicia could be
imprinted directly on the document and the document folded such
that position 1801 of letter 1800 will show through window 2001 of
envelope 2000 in FIG. 20.
[0069] Postage indicia label 1801 may include two postage indicia,
one outbound and one for the return document (not shown). For
example, postage indicia label 1801 might be "kiss cut"
horizontally in order to provide for the printing of the two
indicia. In this way, the outbound indicia might be folded or
transferred as discussed above while the return document indicia is
preserved for use by the recipient/respondent. Such an embodiment
might be preferable where, for example, the return document is not
generated by the system or is to be provided by the
recipient/respondent. Thereafter the postage indicia may be removed
for use with the proper document or its mailing container.
Alternatively, the document containing the second postage indicia
may be re-folded so as to display the second indicia for a return
trip through the postal system.
[0070] Address label 1802 could be utilized in the same manner or
the address label 1802 not printed at all and a viewer view the
name through a glassine window such as window 2002 of envelope 2000
in FIG. 20.
[0071] FIG. 21 shows document 2100 including outbound document
portion 2103 with a postage indicia label 2101 and address label
2102. Document 2100 also includes return document portion 2113 with
postage indicia label 2111 and address label 2112.
[0072] Outbound document portion 2103 and return document portion
2113 are demarcated for easy separation by perforation 2150. Of
course, the outbound document and return document need not be
attached according to the present invention. For example, each
document may be a discrete document created by the same or
different program operating with the aforementioned system, such as
may be the case with an invitation and R.S.V.P. card.
[0073] The postage indicia labels of FIG. 21 may be utilized in any
number of ways. As described above, the entire document may be
folded so as to properly display outbound postage indicia label
2101 through an envelope window. Thereafter, return document
portion 2113 may be separated and placed in an envelope by the
recipient/respondent so as to properly display return postage
indicia label 2111. Alternatively, either or both postage indicia
labels may be transferred from their respective documents to a
corresponding mailing container. Of course, where either or both
documents do not require a mailing container, such as the case of a
postcard, no manipulation of the document or postage indicia label
may be needed. Moreover, although the postage indicia have been
discussed with references to a label, it shall be understood that
the use of a removable label portion is completely optional and the
postage indicia may, in fact, be printed directly upon the document
media.
[0074] As described in detail below, the printed meter stamp may
display a date, such as a date of posting. Likewise, the meter
stamp may include information such as a place of posting, i.e., a
ZIP code, identification of a meter responsible for generating the
meter stamp, etcetera.
[0075] However, as the date of posting of a return document and/or
other specific information such as a place of posting typically
cannot be predicted, a preferred embodiment of the second postage
indicia includes information to allow the authorized posting of the
return document. This information may include a date on or before
which the item must be posted in order for the indicia to be
considered valid. Similarly, the information may include an
indication that the meter stamp was generated by a particular meter
but is expected to be posted from a distant ZIP code.
Alternatively, the information may include the location from which
the return mail is to be sent in order for the indicia to be
considered valid.
[0076] The information may be in human readable form, such as an
alpha numeric date, in order to apprise the recipient/respondent of
validity constraints on the return postage. Additionally, or
alternatively, the information may be in machine readable form,
such as the graphical security interface discussed in detail
below.
[0077] General System Operation
[0078] Referring to FIG. 1A, there is illustrated a processor-based
system 10 utilized for implementing the present invention,
specifically the aforementioned E-STAMP and POSTAGEMAKER programs.
System 10 includes chassis 11 enclosing processor ("CPU") 12 and
disk drive 14. System 10 is a general purpose computer, such as an
IBM compatible (or Apple MacIntosh) controlled by any general
purpose operating system such as DOS or UNIX. Coupled to CPU 12 is
display 13, keyboard 15 and mouse 16.
[0079] Furthermore, system 10 is adapted for coupling with a
postage storage device 18, such as the preferred embodiment touch
memory utility ("TMU") button 182 illustrated in FIG. 1B. Postage
storage device 18 is coupled to the processor-based system 10
through a postage storage device receptor 17.
[0080] The postage storage device may be any memory device having
some residual data capability, where that memory device can provide
sufficient security measures to efficiently limit access to the
memory of the device to authorized users. For example, since
algorithms can be used to control access to the memory device, a
standard "diskette" can be used if desired.
[0081] The preferred embodiment, TMU button 182, incorporates a
small disk having a memory. TMU button 182 is a small,
light-weight, portable, essentially non-breakable device available
from Dallas Semiconductor, Dallas, Tex. A TMU button 182 may be
coupled to processor-based system 10 through button holder 172. In
a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a batch of TMU
buttons will be manufactured with specifically designated serial
numbers for use solely with the present invention.
[0082] An advantage of the preferred embodiment (the TMU button
182) is that a TMU button 182 is small enough and light enough that
several may be carried in one hand. Furthermore, the TMU button 182
is sufficiently durable to be hand-carried from one location to
another. The fact that the portable memory is universally usable
with any PC equipped with a button holder 172 allows the per unit
cost of TMU buttons 182 to be lower.
[0083] A preferred embodiment of the above described TMU button is
disclosed in the co-pending commonly assigned, U.S. application
entitled "SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING FAULT TOLERANT
TRANSACTIONS OVER AN UNSECURED COMMUNICATION CHANNEL," previously
incorporated herein by reference. This preferred embodiment
includes a TMU button having a processor operating under control of
a limited purpose operating code providing secure data storage and
interaction.
[0084] Additional alternative embodiments of the postage storage
device 18 are illustrated in FIG. 1B. One alternative postage
storage device 18 is a smart disk 188 incorporating its own
electronic modules capable of read/write operations. One embodiment
of such a smart disk 188, SMART DISK.TM., can be obtained from
Smart Disk Security Corporation, Naples, Fla. The smart disk looks
like a floppy disk and fits into a typical PC's floppy disk drive,
connected either externally or internally to processor-based system
10; however, smart disk has its own microprocessor that provides
secure, password protected storage. One advantage of the smart disk
is that it can operate in a standard PC disk drive 178 without
modification to the disk drive or PC. Smart disk provides security
for stored postage with an encrypted password and the encryption
algorithm.
[0085] Another type of postage storage device 18 is a smart card
186, a plastic card embedded with a microchip. The microchip
contains mathematical formulas that encrypt computer data to secure
access to that data (i.e., postage) and verify a user's identity
before allowing access to the data. One drawback in the currently
available smart cards 186 is that they require a card reader 176
hooked to the processor-based system 10.
[0086] Still another type of postage storage device 18 is a PCMCIA
card 184. PCMCIA cards are currently used on notebook computers for
modular storage and communication. Both external and internal
add-on hardware 174 (i.e., card slots) are available for PCs.
[0087] The portable memory can contain data fields with specific
information, such as passwords, stored therein at particular
locations. The portable memory could also contain, for example, a
timer, a counter, a graphics program, a bar code program, or any
one of a plurality of other "active" elements which can be
incorporated into the operation of the system.
[0088] Before an individual can become an authorized user of an
E-STAMP program, he/she must first acquire a copy of the program,
register his/her copy of the program with E-Stamp Corporation, or
other vendor or authorized agent, and execute a license agreement
with E-Stamp Corporation for the use of E-STAMP. There are at least
two ways to acquire and register an E-STAMP program.
[0089] One way to acquire and register an E-STAMP program is for
the individual to communicate directly with E-Stamp Corporation to
obtain site licenses for whatever number of E-STAMP programs he
desires to use, the desired number of postal storage devices 18,
and a registration card containing a E-Stamp Corporation serial
number for each postal storage device 18.
[0090] Alternatively, an individual may acquire the E-STAMP program
at any E-STAMP retail outlet. For example, an individual can buy a
postage storage device 18, containing a small quantity of postage,
with a copy of the E-STAMP program. That individual will then
install the E-STAMP program on a processor-based system 10. FIG. 2
illustrates one embodiment of the instructions and screen prompts
to be followed by the individual during the installation of the
E-STAMP program. The instructions and screen prompts illustrated in
FIG. 2 reflect the installation of the E-STAMP program in a
"windows" operating environment on a PC equipped with a TMU button
182 and button holder 172. Of course, other means could be employed
for implementing the present invention within a processor-based
system 10.
[0091] The installation instructions 201 inform the individual, or
user, how to pull up the E-STAMP installation program. Once the
installation program is initiated, screen 203 will appear. Screen
203 instructs the user to connect the TMU holder 172 to a serial
port and to insert the TMU button 182 into the holder 172. The user
is then instructed to turn on a printer 19 that has been coupled to
the processor-based system 10 and check to see that the printer 19
is supplied with paper. Screen 203 further requests that the user
prepare the following information: the user's full name and
address, an identification number for the authorized user (i.e., an
employer identification number (EIN#), if the user is a business or
organization; or a social security number (SS#), if the user is an
individual), the user's ZIP code, the user's telephone number and
the user's fax number. The next screen, screen 205 displays the
E-Stamp Corporation License Agreement with its legal terms and
conditions. Acceptance of the terms and conditions set out in the
license agreement is indicated when the user continues with the
installation program.
[0092] Next, screen 207 will appear and display the E-STAMP serial
number and TMU serial number. At this time the user-specific
information requested in screen 203 should be entered into the
E-STAMP program. Once the user has entered the user-specific
information, screen 209 will appear warning the user to carefully
verify the correctness of the entered information.
[0093] After verifying the information added into the E-STAMP
program, screen 211 will remind the user to ensure that a coupled
printer 19 is on line. The user information entered into the
E-STAMP program will then be incorporated into a user registration
form, one embodiment of which is illustrated in FIG. 3. The E-STAMP
registration form will be printed in triplicate. The user is
instructed to sign and mail two copies of the registration form to
the creator of the E-STAMP program, E-Stamp Corporation and to
retain one copy of the registration form. Screen 211 also informs
the user that a registration card will be mailed to the user in
order that the user may access TMU refilling stations.
[0094] The E-STAMP installation program continues with screen 213,
which describes the progress being made in installing the E-STAMP
program, and screen 215, which informs the user when the E-STAMP
program installation has been completed.
[0095] Referring to FIG. 3, there is illustrated a preferred
embodiment of the E-STAMP registration form. The registration form
includes information such as the TMU button serial number 31, the
E-STAMP serial number 32, the date and time that the E-STAMP
program was installed 33, and user-specific information 35 (e.g.,
name, address, telephone and fax numbers, and identification
number), and a copy of the E-Stamp Corporation License Agreement 38
having an identified location for the user to sign. A preferred
embodiment of the E-STAMP registration form will also contain all
of the information needed to specifically identify the TMU button
182, E-STAMP program, and registered user in an encrypted format
37. The encrypted information 37 will be in a machine-readable
graphical security interface such as a standard bar code.
[0096] The standard bar code contains white and dark areas in the
form of bars that can be read by a laser scanner. The laser scanner
illuminates the white and dark areas with a light of a certain
frequency. The light is reflected back to the laser scanner in such
a way as to indicate the pattern of white and black areas within
the bar code. Since white areas reflect much more light than dark
areas do, a perpendicular scan of the bar code will allow the
scanner to translate the reflected light into the coded
information. More than 20 linear bar code languages have been
developed, each with its own specifications for how many bars and
spaces make up a character, how characters are to be arranged,
whether the characters can be letters as well as numbers, and so
forth. The most widely-used bar code is the Universal Product Code
(UPC) seen on everyday grocery items. The standard bar code
currently used by the Post Office is POSTNET ZIP+4 described in
Postal Service Publication number 67.
[0097] More sophisticated graphical security interfaces have been
developed over the last decade, such as Intermec Corporations' Code
49 and Laserlight System Inc.'s Code 16K. A major advantage of
these more sophisticated graphical security interfaces is that they
contain an error-correction formula which can often recover the
entire message even if parts of the code have been torn or
damaged.
[0098] A preferred embodiment of encrypted information 37 is a
graphical security interface developed by Symbol Technologies of
Bohemia, N.Y. and is called PDF417, a portable data file. PDF417 is
a graphical security interface constructed from data units called
"codewords," each of which is 17 modules long. Bars are made from
filling in up to six consecutive modules and each unit has four
separate bars and four spaces. In essence, PDF417 can stack the
equivalent of up to 90 one-dimensional bar codes, each just three
hundredths of an inch high. Thus, the PDF417 symbology is more
complicated to produce and scan than is the typical one-dimensional
bar code and allows for a denser coding of information. Because the
PDF417 symbology specification includes sophisticated protocols for
error-correction, the actual density of information is highly
variable, but can be ten times the amount of information found in
U.S.P.S. PostNet bar code, per square inch. PDF417 is available
from Symbol Technologies, Inc., 116 Wilbur Place, Bohemia, N.Y.
11716 and the operation of the PDF417 is detailed in PDF Primer
obtained from Symbol Technologies, Inc. and is hereby incorporated
herein by reference.
[0099] When E-Stamp Corporation receives the signed E-Stamp
Corporation License Agreement from the user, the encrypted
information 37 can be scanned with a laser scanner so that the
information contained therein can be automatically transferred to a
registered user's database. When the encrypted information 37 has
been transferred to the registered users database, a registration
card containing an E-Stamp Corporation serial number will be
printed and mailed to the registered user.
[0100] Once the user has obtained a registration card for each
postal storage device 18, or TMU button 182, acquired, the user may
then take that registration card with the user's TMU button 182, or
other postage storage device 18, to the Post Office to be
registered with the Post Office.
[0101] Until the TMU button 182 has been registered with the Post
Office, the POSTAGEMAKER program will not recognize TMU button 182
as being an authorized postage storage device 18. Particular Post
Office sites will have the POSTAGEMAKER program installed in a
processor-based system. The POSTAGEMAKER program will allow a
postal worker to interface the postage storage device 18 with the
processor-based system residing at the Post Office in order to
replenish the amount of postage programmed within the postage
storage device 18 in an amount requested and purchased by the
user.
[0102] To register a TMU button 182, or other postage storage
device 18, with the Post Office a postal worker must enter the
information on the E-Stamp Corporation registration card into the
POSTAGEMAKER program. Such information will include the E-Stamp
Corporation serial number, EIN# number or SS#, TMU button serial
number, and the address and telephone number of the registered
user. Once all of this information has been entered into the
system, the POSTAGEMAKER program will then recognize TMU button 182
and allow a postal worker to replenish the amount of postage stored
within button 182 at the request of the user in a manner to be
discussed below.
[0103] Alternatively, a pair of systems 10 may be linked together
through public switched network ("PSN") 102, or other communication
gateway such as the Internet or other computer network, via modem
101 or directly through digital telecommunications trunks or other
communications links (not shown). Processor based systems 10
located at different U.S. Post Offices may be linked via PSN 102 in
a conventional well known manner (such as through modem 101) so
that information may be shared between the various Post Offices.
Generally, a copy of the POSTAGEMAKER program will be stored within
at least one processor-based system at selected U.S. Post Office
locations. PSN linkage of processor-based systems 10 by the Post
Office and the user will allow the sharing of information between
the various Post Offices and will allow a user to call a number (an
authorized Post Office number) and have the Post Office transfer
the required amount of postage to a postage storage device 18
installed at a user site by modem. A preferred embodiment of a
system and method for conducting transactions, such as that
described above, is disclosed in co-pending commonly assigned U.S.
application entitled "SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING FAULT
TOLERANT TRANSACTIONS OVER AN UNSECURED COMMUNICATION CHANNEL,"
previously incorporated herein by reference.
[0104] Referring to FIG. 4A, there is illustrated a preferred
embodiment of a display screen shown on display 13 to a U.S. Post
Office employee when accessing the present invention on system 10.
Of course, the particular display aspects illustrated in FIG. 4A
may be modified in any one of numerous ways. Also, in a preferred
embodiment of the present invention, processor-based system 10 will
provide for input from a user via keyboard 15 and mouse 16.
However, other various forms of input available to processor-based
systems may be utilized, such as a light pen or a touch-sensitive
screen (both not shown).
[0105] At the upper right-hand corner of display screen 40, there
is indicated an POSTAGEMAKER serial number, in this example
"77014-9998-44." This serial number may include the ZIP code of the
Post Office location, or may be selected at random. This serial
number may also include a designation of a particular system 10 or
a designation of the postal employee performing the
transaction.
[0106] In the upper left-hand corner of display screen 40 is
illustrated a TMU serial number, in this example "2 128 176 32 0 0
0 175." This serial number represents eight bytes of information
stored within TMU button 182, each byte may represent any number
from 0 to 255. A TMU serial number is specifically assigned to and
will identify a specific TMU button 182. Thus, display screen 40
indicates that the postal employee has coupled an authorized TMU
button 182 to a processor-based system 10 which incorporates the
POSTAGEMAKER program.
[0107] Typically, the first two numerals (bytes) within the TMU
serial number are assigned by the button (or memory) manufacturer.
The third byte is selected by the U.S. Postal System and identifies
TMU buttons 182 specifically designed for the POSTAGEMAKER program,
excluding other TMU buttons 182 not designed for the POSTAGEMAKER
program, such as disposable buttons, and assisting in the exclusion
of any other means for accessing the POSTAGEMAKER program. As a
result, the present invention may be designed so that only
authorized TMU buttons 182 may access the POSTAGEMAKER program for
replenishment of postage as will be discussed below.
[0108] The remainder of the TMU serial number is basically the
sequential serial number of that particular TMU button 182 in
particular.
[0109] As the POSTAGEMAKER program reads the information stored
within TMU button 182, the TMU serial number and the information in
blocks 401 and 402 are displayed on display 13. The "TMU
Verification" information in block 401 shows the date and Post
Office location where the last addition of postage was
electronically stored within button 182. As shown within box 401 of
FIG. 4A, coupled TMU button 182 currently contains a postage
balance of $6.72, which is most likely a portion of the postage
that was input into button 182 at 3:18 p.m. on Oct. 30, 1993, at
the Post Office having an ID number of "77090-2765-65." It may be
observed that this serial number is different from the POSTAGEMAKER
serial number shown at the upper right-hand corner of display
screen 40, indicating that these numbers represent two different
Post Office locations, and that button 182 was formerly coupled to
a processor-based system 10 at Post Office "77090-2765-65" but is
currently coupled to a processor-based system 10 residing at Post
Office "77014-9998-44".
[0110] Box 401 also shows the expiration date of button 182, the
user's E-Stamp Corporation registration number, the user's E-STAMP
serial number, and a strike and dollar counter check as will be
described in more detail below. Box 402 is also displayed on screen
10 and itemizes the quantity of postage of designated values that
has been used and subtracted from the postage stored in button 182.
For example, box 401 of FIG. 4A shows that $500.00 worth of postage
was initially added to button 182 and that $6.72 worth of postage
remains in button 182. This means that $493.28 worth of postage has
been deducted from button 182. Box 402 of FIG. 4A shows that
postage valued from $0.01 to $0.29 was subtracted from the amount
of stored postage 991 times, that postage valued from $0.30-$0.40
was subtracted 166 times, that postage valued from $0.41-$0.45 was
subtracted 122 times, that postage valued at $1.00-$1.99 was
subtracted 14 times and that postage valued at more than $3.00 was
subtracted 16 times.
[0111] In a manner to be discussed in detail below with respect to
FIG. 5, the first password (i.e., BCLINTON) shown in box 403 is
entered into the POSTAGEMAKER software. That password will be used
to generate other passwords as described below and checked against
the information stored in button 182. If the Post Office requests
it, an extra password can be included to access and start the
POSTAGEMAKER program. When the correct password for button 182 is
entered into POSTAGEMAKER (i.e., BCLINTON), a string of numerals
are generated as shown in block 404. In a preferred embodiment of
the present invention, the first several numerals within block 404
represent the current time and date. A second string of numerals
represent the POSTAGEMAKER serial number and the Post Office
identification number. The remainder of the 45 bytes are generated
randomly by the POSTAGEMAKER program. This generation of random
numbers is detailed below.
[0112] Thereafter, a second password is generated from the numbers
within block 404 through the application of an algorithm, an
example of a second password is illustrated in block 405. These
numbers are used as a second password to assist in the random
generation of numerals within block 406.
[0113] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, fourteen
of the 45 bytes or numerals within block 406 represent a button
usage analysis (i.e., how much of what value of postage has been
used); three numerals (bytes) represent the number of strikes (or
uses) that have been made and subtracted from a starting point of
2,500,000; and four numerals (bytes) represent the dollar value of
postage used and subtracted from a starting point of $2,500,000.
The remainder of the numerals are generated randomly by the
POSTAGEMAKER program.
[0114] Thereafter, another algorithm utilizes the numerals
generated within block 406 to derive the third password displayed
within block 407. If all is correct, the cursor will then stop
within block 408 so that the postal employee may enter a desired
amount of postage in U.S. dollars as requested by the user owning
TMU button 182 currently coupled to the POSTAGEMAKER program. In a
preferred embodiment of the present invention, four bytes represent
the amount of postage entered by the postal worker, ten bytes
represent user-specific information, five bytes represent the
user's ZIP code, three bytes represent the original postage amount,
three bytes represent the number of strikes (or times that the
postal storage device has been accessed), four bytes represent the
accumulated value of postage taken from the postage storage device,
and three bytes represent the expiration date of button 182. Button
182 may be programmed to expire at any time desired by the Post
Office. The Post Office may desire that postage storage devices 18
expire every six months in order to maintain a valid registration
with updated information.
[0115] None of the numbers described above, or the passwords
generated therefrom, are displayed on the screen. However,
POSTAGEMAKER utilizes information from button 182 to generate
numerals in blocks 406 and 408 to generate the usage analysis log
illustrated in block 402 and to perform a counters check
illustrated in block 401. The counters check adds the number of
strikes subtracted from 2,500,000 (see block 406; descending strike
counter) to the number of strikes made (see block 408; ascending
strike counter). If these numbers are accurate, their sum should
equal 2,500,000. A similar dollar counter check is also performed.
The TMU button 182 is initialized to recognize 2,500,000 strikes
and $2,500,000 worth of postage. Whenever a user has used 2,500,000
strikes or used $2,500,000 worth of postage, the postage storage
device must be returned to the Post Office, or exchanged for a new
one.
[0116] As shown in block 408, the user has desired to add $500.00
worth of postage to TMU button 182. This amount has been entered by
the employee. Subsequent to entering the $500.00 amount, the postal
employee will press button 409 to initialize the system. Once the
appropriate amount of postage has been selected, the postal
employee may press button 410 to "write" the $500.00 amount into
TMU button 182 coupled to system 10.
[0117] Alternatively, a user may maintain an account with the Post
Office, or other authorized entity, or a credit card account which
will be automatically charged for postal charges printed using TMU
button 182. In this situation, the Post Office may require a
retainer based on anticipated charges and then the Post Office will
not enter a set monetary value into TMU button 182, but rather an
authorization to debit a particular account and/or a time
limitation will be entered into TMU button 182. For example for a
TMU button 182 that is to be used for commercial purposes, such as
in the present invention, the Post Office may set a month
limitation on the button. When the user returns the button to the
Post Office at the end of the month, the Post Office will access
the memory of the TMU button 182 to determine how much postage has
been charged for that month and will bill the user for those
charges. Furthermore, if the user has a number of postal storage
devices 18 the Post Office can access its records to determine if
the user is behind in payments to any of his accounts by searching
for accounts using the user's identification number. If the user
has overdrawn his retainer or is late in the payment of his
accounts, the Post Office can refuse to replenish TMU button
182.
[0118] After the postal employee has pressed button 410 to "write"
an amount of postage into TMU button 182, display screen 42,
illustrated in FIG. 4B, appears on the screen. Display screen 42 is
similar to display screen 40 except for the new information within
block 411 which now shows that TMU button 182 contains $506.72
worth of postage, which was updated at 10:45 a.m. on Dec. 15, 1993
by the POSTAGEMAKER program located at Post Office location
"77014-9998-44." Note that in this embodiment the postage original
(block 411) and usage analysis log (block 412) are re-zeroed
whenever new postage is added to TMU button 182.
[0119] Referring next to FIG. 5, there is illustrated a flow
diagram of the aforementioned method of providing security within
the present invention. First, in block 510, the TMU serial number
is accessed by the security program within the present invention.
If the TMU serial number is not one specifically assigned to the
U.S. Postal Service, the process will not proceed to step 520. In
step 520, the program will write a password provided by the creator
of the program. Thereafter, at step 530, the aforementioned data is
produced and displayed within block 404. The random numerals will
be produced as a function of the entered password.
[0120] Thereafter, in step 540, a first algorithm selected by the
U.S. Postal Service will operate on the data within block 404 to
produce a second password (step 550). This second password,
displayed within block 405, is used within step 560 to generate a
second set of data (the numerals displayed within block 406). A
second algorithm within step 570, utilizes the second set of data
to produce a third password (step 580). Once the above is written
on the TMU button 182, the Post Office employee will be able to
store postage to TMU button 182 by adding the desired amount within
block 408 (step 590). Thereafter at step 505, write button 410 is
"depressed" to thereby store postage within TMU button 182.
[0121] Referring next to FIG. 6, there is illustrated the algorithm
used within the present invention, and described with respect to
FIG. 5. Note that the TMU serial number may be incorporated into
the algorithm(s) to make each TMU button unique. For a given 8-byte
password, "p1" represents the first byte of that password. For a
given 45-byte data area, "d1" represents the first byte of that
data. The "mod operator" stands for the modulus, or remainder, of a
division.
[0122] Once the required amount of postage has been transferred to
the TMU button 182, the user may then physically carry the button
to the desired location of use and couple TMU button 182 to a
processor-based system 10 through button holder 172.
[0123] Once the user has registered his E-STAMP program with
E-Stamp Corporation and his postal storage device 18 with the Post
Office, he may then load the E-STAMP program into a processor-based
system 10, if he has not already done so. In a preferred embodiment
of the present invention, the E-STAMP program is loaded into a
processor-based system controlled by a set of instructions from a
document generating program, preferably an application program
programmed to interact with a customer to generate a personalized
greeting card, or other piece of mail.
[0124] An interface program is used to integrate the E-STAMP
program with the personalized card generating program. The two
application programs will be coordinated. For example, graphic
configurations of postage indicia that correspond to the type of
cards and messages generated by the card generating program will be
created and imported into the E-STAMP program. Likewise,
information regarding the types of documents being generated may be
intercommunicated so as to allow the generation of a desired number
of postage indicia and their proper placement on the document(s).
In addition, routines may be added to the E-STAMP program that will
automatically convert information entered as the addressee's
address into a ZIP+4 bar code and/or automatically encode some of
the entered data regarding the postal storage device, the
designation of the letter, etc. into a graphical security interface
to be printed on a label or an envelope. Furthermore, the E-STAMP
program will be programmed to format all of the entered information
to be printed in the desired format.
[0125] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the user
may want to removably couple two or more postal storage devices 18
to the processor-based system controlled by the set of instructions
from the document generating and E-STAMP application programs,
hereinafter referred to as the document generating system. Then if
one of the postal storage devices becomes depleted of postage or is
not replaced before its time limitation runs out, then the backup
device may be used so that the system will continue to operate.
[0126] Yet before the E-STAMP program can operate with the document
generating system, an authorized postal storage device must be
coupled to the system and validated by the E-STAMP program. A
preferred embodiment uses TMU button 182 coupled to the processor
based system through a button holder 172.
[0127] Referring next to FIGS. 7A and 7B, the user validation
procedure for a postage button coupled to the document generating
system begins at Step 700 with the initiation of the user's
software program. At Step 701, the software reads the unique serial
number of the button and verifies that that serial number falls
within a range assigned by the button manufacturer to the Post
Office; if it does not, an error occurs and processing halts at
Step 702, otherwise processing continues to step 703.
[0128] TMU button 182 includes several memory sections, each
section includes an ID area, a password area and a data area.
Access to a given data area is controlled by a password written
into the corresponding password area.
[0129] When the user's software queries a postage button (portable
memory) at step 703, a code indicating that the postage button 182
is a button for the retrieval of postage by a customer (PST) should
be returned from the postage button's first password area 800 (FIG.
8), otherwise an error occurs at step 704. If, at step 703, a code
indicating that the postage button 182 is a button for the
retrieval of postage by a customer, at step 705 the user's software
transmits to the button a password generated by applying a first
hash algorithm to the numerical sequence of the TMU serial number
for the given button 182. If the password generated by the user's
software matches that stored in first password area 801, access to
first data area 802 (FIG. 8) is allowed and processing continues at
step 707; otherwise a string of invalid data is received from the
button as described above.
[0130] At step 707, the user's software reads the button type field
in first data area 802. If the button returns the postage button
code previously known by the software loaded on the document
generating system, then processing continues; otherwise, an error
occurs at step 708 and processing halts. Assuming the correct
button code is read at step 707, at step 709 the user's software
reads the second password area 803 using a second hash algorithm,
an example of which is shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B. Specifically, the
user's software takes the string of random data acquired by gaining
access to a first data area 802 and applies the second hash
algorithm thereto. The resulting password is then transmitted to
the button, and if a match occurs with the password in second
password area 803, access is gained to second data area 804;
otherwise a string of invalid data is received from the button. If
access to second data area 804 is gained at step 709, then at step
710 the user's software reads the last access date field of second
data area 804. If the last access date written into this field is
before the current date processing continues, otherwise an error
occurs at step 711.
[0131] Next, at step 712 the user's software attempts to gain
access to third data area 806 (FIG. 8) of the postage button
coupled to the document generating system. In this instance, the
user's software then takes 11 bytes of random data from first data
area 802 and 5 bytes of random data from second data area 804 and
applies the third hash algorithm thereto. The resulting password is
transmitted to the button and if a match occurs with the password
held in third password area 805, access is gained to third data
area 806; otherwise a string of invalid data is received from the
button.
[0132] Assuming access to third data area 806 (FIG. 8) is gained at
step 712, at step 713 the user's software reads the balance
available field of third data area 806 and the refill balance field
of first data area 804. If the balance available is less than or
equal to the refill balance then processing continues, otherwise a
corrupted button is detected at step 714.
[0133] For an uncorrupted button, the user ZIP code written into
the user ZIP code field of third data area 806 is read and compared
at step 715 with the user ZIP code assigned to the user's software
stored in the document generating system. If they match, processing
continues; otherwise, an error occurs at step 716 since a postage
button cannot be used outside the ZIP code assigned to the
corresponding customer software. This feature is (like all security
levels in the system) optional, and can be modified to include
several ZIP codes, if desired.
[0134] At step 717, the customer software reads the value in the
amount up-counter of third data area 806 and compares it with a
corresponding amount value totaled and stored by the user's
software. The amount up- and down-counters in each button are never
cleared during the life of the button. Thus, if the amount in the
button amount up-counter is greater than or equal to the amount in
the user's software file, the button passes at step 717; otherwise,
an error occurs at step 718. A similar test is performed at step
719 where the user's software reads the value in the strike
up-counter and compares it with a corresponding strike tally kept
by the user's software. Again, since the strike counters are never
cleared, the value in the strike counter must be greater than or
equal to the total in the software file, otherwise at step 720 an
error occurs.
[0135] If, at step 719, the value in the strike counter is greater
than or equal to the total in the software file, at step 721, the
value in the strike up-counter of third data area 806 is added to
the value in the strike down-counter of second data area 804. Since
the strike down-counter always decrements from a predetermined
initial value by one with the printing of each indicia and the
strike up-counter always increments by one from an initial value
simultaneously, their total must always equal the same value N.
Thus, if at step 722 the sum of the values in the strike up- and
down-counters equals predetermined value N, processing continues;
otherwise, the button is determined to be corrupted at step
723.
[0136] Next, at step 724 the value in the amount down-counter of
second data area 804 and the value in the amount up-counter in
third data area 806 are summed. Since the value in the amount
up-counter increments by the amount of the postage used with the
printing of each indicia from an initial value and the amount
down-counter simultaneously decrements from an initial value by the
same amount, the sum of their values must always equal the value Z.
Thus, at step 725, if the total of the amount counter data read
from the button equals value Z, then processing continues;
otherwise, an error occurs at step 726 and processing is
halted.
[0137] At step 729, the customer software reads the last access
date written into the corresponding field in second data area 804.
If the recorded last access date is the same as or before the
present date the button passes, otherwise an error occurs at step
730. This prevents the entering of random data into the portable
memory.
[0138] At step 731, the expiration date written into the expiration
date field of third data area 806 is read to determine if the
button has expired. If the current date is before the expiration
date, the button is still valid; otherwise, at step 732 the button
is determined to be expired.
[0139] At step 733 a check is made of the update flags, or the
refilling operations that the postage button 182 has undergone. The
update flag in second data area 804 must be equal to the update
flag in third data area 806; otherwise, an error has occurred
during the update sequence and processing stops at 734.
[0140] If the postage button 182 coupled to the user's system 10,
or the document generating system, passes the last test at step
733, the button is validated at step 735 and the customer can now
print postage indicia up to the refill balance available or until
the termination date of the postage button 182.
[0141] A preferred method for conducting the above described
transactions with the button is described in co-pending commonly
assigned U.S. application entitled "SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING
FAULT TOLERANT TRANSACTIONS OVER AN UNSECURED COMMUNICATION
CHANNEL," previously incorporated herein by reference.
[0142] Referring next to FIG. 9, there is illustrated a flow
diagram of the process employed by the document generating system,
utilized for generating a greeting card, that has an E-STAMP
program incorporated therein.
[0143] At step 901, the document generating system is activated by
a customer. In a preferred embodiment, the document generating and
E-STAMP programs will provide for input from a user via a user
interface such as through keyboard 15, or mouse 16. At step 902, a
screen appears to the customer listing the types of cards that the
document generating system is programmed to produce such as
invitation, birthday, anniversary, holiday, wedding, etc. An
example of such a screen is seen in FIG. 10. However, this screen,
as with all the screens described below, may appear in a wide
variety of formats with numerous different options available.
[0144] Next, at step 903, the customer will be provided with a menu
of styles for the type of card that he has selected. A sample
screen providing optional styles for a birthday card is illustrated
in FIG. 11. The customer may choose a funny card, a traditional
card, a belated card, or a card for a relative. Once the customer
selects the style of card that he wants, the document generating
system will provide one or more sample cards of that style for the
customer to choose from (step 904). Of course, where certain types
of cards are selected, the customer may be given additional options
such as that of generating an associated item, e.g., an R.S.V.P.
card.
[0145] When the customer has decided on a specific card, the
customer can then create his/her own message to correspond to the
card selected, or he/she can personalize the message that is
provided (step 905). For example, FIGS. 12A and 12B show an example
of a personalized birthday card. In the example shown in FIGS. 12A
and 12B, the document generating system allowed the customer to
enter the name of the person to receive the card in box 1204 and
box 1208, birthday the recipient was celebrating in box 1202 and
box 1206, and personal message in box 1210.
[0146] In step 906, once the card has been finalized a prompt will
appear asking the customer if he/she wishes to continue to print an
addressed envelope. If the answer is "no," the document generating
system will go to step 907 and produce a freshly printed greeting
card, and any associated item, containing the customer's
personalized message and terminate the program. However, if the
customer indicates that he/she wishes to continue the program, then
a display 80 similar to that illustrated in FIG. 13 will appear on
the screen.
[0147] Next, at step 908, the customer is prompted to manually
input his/her return address in box 1303. If a return address is
not desired, it may be omitted. Thereafter, in step 909, the
contents of address box 1305 are entered in a manner similar to the
contents of return address 1303.
[0148] Where an associated document is also being generated, the
address and return addresses may be transposed. Of course, steps
908 and 909 could include prompting the customer to input different
addresses for the associated document, if desired.
[0149] Next, at step 910, the document generating system will
automatically generate the appropriate PostNet bar code from the
addressee's ZIP code. The printed address will have the PostNet
Zip+4 bar code, as described in Postage Service Publication 67,
printed either above or below the addressee's address. The Post
Office encourages the use of PostNet bar codes, as it allows mail
to be automatically sorted for distribution. In fact, the Post
Office charges less postage for mail that has the appropriate
PostNet bar code imprinted thereon.
[0150] The customer may then select the format that the addresses
will be printed in by the use of box 1304. The return address and
addressee's address may be printed on labels or on an envelope
through printer 19.
[0151] Thereafter, in step 912 the customer has the option to
continue the program and have the appropriate postage for the card,
and any associated document such as a return R.S.V.P. card,
calculated and printed. If the customer declines to continue, then
the card greeting system will terminate its interaction with the
customer at step 913 and print the addresses on labels or an
envelope, whichever was selected by the customer at step 911.
[0152] If, at step 912, the customer decides to continue to
calculate and print the postage, a new screen 140 may appear, such
as seen in FIG. 14, giving the customer a selection menu for the
type of indicia that the customer desires to create (step 914). The
customer may select a different indicia for any associated document
or may select a single indicia to be applied to both items. Once
the customer selects a type of indicia, a new screen such as seen
in FIG. 15A will appear with at least one sample indicia for the
customer's selection (step 915). Alternatively, the E-STAMP program
may automatically select sample indicia such as that seen in FIG.
15A that corresponds to the type of card the customer has generated
based upon information contained in the CPU memory (Step 916A). The
indicia may be stored in a data base within the CPU or could be
downloaded via modem on a time-by-time basis.
[0153] Once the customer has selected the desired indicia he/she
may personalize the indicia (Step 916B) with information such as
the name of the person whose birthday it is (boxes 1502 and 1504)
and which birthday that person is celebrating (boxes 1504 and
1506). For example, if the customer selected stamp indicia 1508,
the document generating system would prompt the user to add a
number representing which birthday the recipient was celebrating in
box 1506. FIG. 15B illustrates how stamp indicia 1508 would appear
after it has been personalized. Of course, for business letters
there would be a data base (not shown) containing indicia pictures
and wording appropriate for various situations, including slogans
relating to the company using the system.
[0154] Thereafter, in step 917, the customer will indicate whether
the card will be mailed by itself, or with enclosures by selecting
the appropriate option in box 1310. If no enclosures are included,
then the system will calculate the appropriate postage based on the
weight of the card, i.e. less than one ounce. If enclosures are to
be sent with the greeting card, the customer must enter the weight
of the enclosures. This weight may be entered manually, or
automatically through the use of scale 103 coupled to
processor-based system 10, the document generating system, in a
manner well known in the art. The weight of the card enclosures
will be used to calculate the appropriate postage for the card. Of
course, where the document generating system is itself generating
the enclosure, such as the aforementioned return R.S.V.P. card, the
weight of the enclosure may be automatically determined by the
system.
[0155] In step 918, the customer selects the class of mail from the
choices shown in box 1309.
[0156] Next, at step 919, the customer may select a U.S. postal
zone or alternatively elect that the card is to be sent to Canada,
Mexico or some other international designation as depicted in box
1308. Of course, where postage is being generated for an associated
document, the postal zone may automatically be selected for this
document assuming that the return card will be posted at the
original card's destination, presumably directed to the place of
posting the original card. However, step 919 may also allow the
user to select a different postal zone for the return document, if
desired. Customer selection of the international designation in box
1308 will result in a drop down menu to allow the user to enter the
country of designation and allow the E-STAMP program to
automatically calculate the necessary postage.
[0157] The E-STAMP program will automatically incorporate the
aforementioned entered parameters--weight, class, zone--in order to
correctly calculate the correct postage to print in conjunction
with the meter stamp(s).
[0158] In step 920, the customer is provided with box 1302 to
insert the location from which the mail is to be sent. If no
location is entered, the location of the document generating system
will be entered into box 1302. The location entered into box 1302
may be utilized by the E-STAMP program to calculate the correct
postage.
[0159] At step 921, the customer may choose to have the date that
the mail is stamped automatically entered by the E-STAMP program,
or the customer may choose to enter the date that the customer
desires to show on the card. The customer's choice is registered in
box 1312. Of course, where postage is generated for an associated
document, additional information, as described above, may be
included on or within the generated indicia as the date of posting
will generally not be known for this associated (return)
document.
[0160] At step 922, the E-STAMP program may optionally be
programmed to incorporate preselected information, such as that
entered into the E-STAMP program, into an encrypted message that is
machine readable. Any number of graphical security interfaces, such
as Symbol's Portable Data File Code (the PDF417 symbology) as
described above, may be used to encrypt the information. An
encrypted message may include any combination of the following
information: the day, the date, the postage storage device serial
number, the E-STAMP serial number, the sender's ZIP code, the
addressee's ZIP code, the expiration date of the postage storage
device, a date by which the item must be posted, a location from
which the item must be posted, the cumulative values of the strike
and dollar counters, E-Stamp Corporation registration number, the
user's identification number, and the Post Office identification
number.
[0161] This encrypted information may be printed separately from
the postage indicia or the selected information may be incorporated
within the meter stamp using a graphical security interface. A
preferred embodiment, illustrated in FIGS. 16A and 16B, will print
the postage indicia separately from the encrypted message and other
information (printed in a visually recognized form) such as the
amount of postage imprinted on the card, the date, etc. By applying
the encrypted information onto the envelope, the Post Office can
scan the encrypted information to verify that an item of mail has
been posted with authorized postage and to track the use of postage
storage devices 18.
[0162] In step 923, the E-STAMP program utilizes the input/output
ports of the document generating system to send to printer/label
maker 19, the correct data pertaining to the meter stamp, the
postage indicia, the encrypted message, the authorized amount of
postage, the return address, the addressee's address, etc. to be
printed on an envelope, as illustrated in FIG. 16B, or on
detachable labels attached to the back of the greeting card as
illustrated in FIG. 16A. The detached labels can be removed and
attached to the front of an envelope. Three labels (i.e., return
address 1602, addressee's address 1606 and postage indicia 1604),
would be printed on a clear film that had been "kiss cut" 1608 to
allow each label to be peeled from the uncut backing. Of course,
where return postage is desired, additional postage may be printed
to be removed and attached to a return item of mail. Likewise, a
set of detachable labels, such as for return address, addressee's
address, and postage indicia, may be printed for the return
document in the alternative to, or in place of, those described
above for the outbound document.
[0163] The amount of postage printed on the meter stamp(s) is
automatically debited from the user's account or deducted from the
amount stored within TMU button 182. Information stored in TMU
button 182 memory is also automatically updated including the usage
record for this particular serial number of TMU button 182 and any
other information that requires updating.
[0164] The aforementioned steps may be repeated for subsequent
transactions of the document generating system until the TMU button
182 reaches the time limitation embedded in its memory, or has
reached the end of its stored amount of postage. If two TMU buttons
are coupled to the document generating system, then if one button
becomes inoperable, the other button can be automatically accessed
by the document generating system. Typically, the user will check
on and/or replace the TMU buttons 182 coupled to the document
generating system on a monthly, or other time related, basis.
[0165] The aforementioned word processing, accounting, E-STAMP and
POSTAGEMAKER programs have been shown and described with respect to
a "WINDOWS" operating environment on a general purpose
processor-based system 10. Of course, other means could be employed
for implementing the present invention within a processor-based
system.
[0166] Although the present invention and its advantages have been
described in detail, it should be understood that various changes,
substitutions and alterations can be made herein without departing
from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the
appended claims.
* * * * *