U.S. patent application number 12/842695 was filed with the patent office on 2011-02-03 for system and method for processing a mailing label.
This patent application is currently assigned to PSI Systems, Inc.. Invention is credited to Harry T. Whitehouse.
Application Number | 20110029429 12/842695 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 42651290 |
Filed Date | 2011-02-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110029429 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Whitehouse; Harry T. |
February 3, 2011 |
SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROCESSING A MAILING LABEL
Abstract
A system and method of processing a mailing label through a
postal service that requires an account that can be charged for
generating the mailing label are described. The method includes
charging or deducting a fictitiously fundable or chargeable account
to enable generation of a mailing label for a mail piece. The
mailing label includes a tracking indicium associated with the
fictitiously fundable or chargeable account. The method further
includes receiving the tracking indicium scanned from the mailing
label on the mail piece when the mail piece is inducted in the mail
stream or during transit of the mail piece in the mail stream, and
charging or deducting funds from an actually fundable or chargeable
account based upon the received scanned tracking indicium.
Inventors: |
Whitehouse; Harry T.;
(Portola Valley, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
PILLSBURY WINTHROP SHAW PITTMAN, LLP
P.O. BOX 10500
MCLEAN
VA
22102
US
|
Assignee: |
PSI Systems, Inc.
Palo Alto
CA
|
Family ID: |
42651290 |
Appl. No.: |
12/842695 |
Filed: |
July 23, 2010 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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61229181 |
Jul 28, 2009 |
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61291499 |
Dec 31, 2009 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
705/39 ;
235/375 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G07B 2017/00427
20130101; G07B 17/00435 20130101; G06Q 20/10 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
705/39 ;
235/375 |
International
Class: |
G06Q 50/00 20060101
G06Q050/00; G06Q 30/00 20060101 G06Q030/00; G06K 19/06 20060101
G06K019/06 |
Claims
1. A method of processing a mailing label through a postal service
that requires an account that can be charged for generating the
mailing label, comprising: charging or deducting a fictitiously
fundable or chargeable account to enable generation of a mailing
label for a mail piece, wherein the mailing label includes a
tracking indicium associated with the fictitiously fundable or
chargeable account; receiving the tracking indicium scanned from
the mailing label on the mail piece when the mail piece is inducted
in the mail stream or during transit of the mail piece in the mail
stream; charging or deducting funds from an actually fundable or
chargeable account based upon the received scanned tracking
indicium.
2. The method according to claim 1, wherein charging or deducting
funds from the actually fundable account includes creating a
transaction indicium for the charging or deducting funds and
associating the transaction indicium with the actually fundable or
chargeable account.
3. The method according to claim 1, wherein deducting funds from
the actually fundable or chargeable account comprises debiting an
amount of funds from the actually fundable or chargeable account
corresponding to a fictitious postage amount debited from the
fictitiously fundable or chargeable account.
4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising funding the
fictitiously fundable or chargeable account with an amount of
fictitious money and replenishing the fictitiously fundable or
chargeable account when the amount of fictitious money is equal to
or less than zero.
5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the scanned tracking
indicium comprises a location of an induction point and a location
of a delivery point.
6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the tracking indicium
includes a tracking barcode, or a postage value indicium, or
both.
7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the tracking indicium
includes a one-dimensional barcode, or a two-dimensional barcode,
or both.
8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the mailing label is a
reply mailing label.
9. The method according to claim 1, further comprising receiving a
postage value indicium scanned from the mailing label on the mail
piece when the mail piece is inducted in the mail stream or during
transit of the mail piece in the mail stream.
10. The method according to claim 9, further comprising computing
an amount of funds to be deducted from the actually fundable or
chargeable account using the received scanned postage value
indicium.
11. The method according to claim 1, further comprising receiving a
weight information of the mail piece at induction of the mail piece
in the mail stream or during transit of the mail piece in the mail
stream.
12. The method according to claim 11, further comprising computing
an amount of funds to be deducted from the actually fundable or
chargeable account using the weight information of the mail
piece.
13. The method according to claim 1, wherein charging or deducting
funds from the actually fundable or chargeable account comprises
charging or deducting funds when the mail piece is at a delivery
point in the mail stream.
14. A method of processing a mailing label having a tracking code
through a postal service that requires an account that can be
charged for generating the mailing label, comprising: receiving a
client mailer identification number from a postal service; charging
or deducting a fictitiously fundable or chargeable account to
enable generation of a mailing label for a mail piece, wherein the
mailing label includes a tracking code associated with the
fictitiously fundable or chargeable account, the tracking code
including the client mailer identification number; and receiving a
file containing the tracking code scanned from the mailing label on
the mail piece when the mail piece is inducted in the mail stream
or during transit of the mail piece in the mail stream.
15. The method according to claim 14, further comprising
transmitting to the postal service a file containing tracking codes
of a plurality of mailing labels issued during a selected time
period, the mailer identification number being the header of the
file.
16. The method according to claim 15, receiving a file from the
postal service containing a tracking code scanned from a mailing
label in the plurality of mailing labels when a mail piece on which
the mailing label is applied is inducted in the mail stream, the
tracking code including the mailer identification number.
17. A system of processing a mailing label through a postal service
that requires an account that can be charged for generating the
mailing label, comprising: a memory configured to store a
fictitiously fundable or chargeable account, the fictitiously
fundable account being useable to generate a mailing label for a
mail piece, wherein the mailing label includes an tracking indicium
associated with the fictitiously fundable or chargeable account;
and a processor configured to: (i) receive the tracking indicium
scanned from the mailing label on the mail piece when the mail
piece is inducted in the mail stream or during transit of the mail
piece in the mail stream; and (ii) generate an output to charge or
deduct funds from an actually fundable or chargeable account based
upon the received scanned tracking indicium.
18. The system according to claim 17, wherein the processor is
further configured to create a transaction indicium for the
charging or deducting funds and to associate the transaction
indicium with the actually fundable or chargeable account of the
user.
19. The system according to claim 17, wherein the processor is
further configured to debit an amount of funds from the actually
fundable or chargeable account corresponding to a fictitious
postage amount debited from the fictitiously fundable or chargeable
account of the user.
20. The system according to claim 17, wherein the processor is
further configured to receive an input to fund the fictitiously
fundable or chargeable account with an amount of fictitious
money.
21. The system according to claim 17, wherein the processor is
further configured to receive an input to replenish the
fictitiously fundable or chargeable account when the amount of
fictitious money is equal to or less than zero.
22. The system according to claim 17, wherein the processor is
further configured to identify a location of an induction point and
a location of a delivery point from the scanned tracking
indicium.
23. The system according to claim 17, wherein the tracking indicium
includes a tracking barcode, or a postage value indicium, or
both.
24. The system according to claim 17, wherein the tracking indicium
includes a one-dimensional barcode, or a two-dimensional barcode,
or both.
25. The system according to claim 17, wherein the mailing label is
a reply mailing label.
26. The system according to claim 17, wherein the processor is
further configured to receive a weight information of the mail
piece at induction of the mail piece in the mail stream, or during
transit of the mail piece in the mail stream.
27. The method according to claim 26, wherein the processor is
further configured to compute an amount of funds to be deducted
from the customer's actually fundable or chargeable account using
the weight information of the mail piece.
28. The system according to claim 17, wherein the processor is
further configured to receive a postage value indicium scanned from
the mailing label on the mailing piece at induction of the mail
piece in the mail stream, or during transit of the mail piece in
the mail stream.
29. The method according to claim 28, wherein the processor is
further configured to compute an amount of funds to be deducted
from the customer's actually fundable or chargeable account using
the received scanned postage value indicium.
30. The system according to claim 17, wherein the processor is
further configured to charge or deduct funds when the mail piece is
at a delivery point in the mail stream.
31. The system according to claim 17, wherein the processor is
further configured to receive a mailer identification number from a
postal service; and to receive a file associated with the mailer
identification number, the file containing a tracking indicium
including the mail identification number.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present Patent Application is based on and claims
priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/229,181
filed on Jul. 28, 2009 and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No.
61/291,499 filed on Dec. 31, 2009, the entire content of each is
hereby incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention pertains to postage indicia, postage
payment and in particular to a system and method for processing a
mailing postage label.
[0004] 2. Discussion of Related Art
[0005] Centralized, internet-based postage systems have achieved
wide acceptance since their conception in the mid-1990's. U.S. Pat.
No. 6,005,945 to Whitehouse describes in detail internet-based
postage systems and methods. In this model, rather than having
independent, stand-alone electro-mechanical postage meters located
throughout the country, an array of equivalent "virtual meters" is
maintained in a database at a centralized server site. Each postage
transaction uses a secure communication from the end user to the
centralized server site. This type of system generates a
centralized database of indicium and, in the case of shipping
labels, associated tracking database that encompasses a whole
mailing and shipping behavior of a plurality of users (e.g.,
hundreds of thousands of users). Another aspect of PC-based postage
is the serialization of each postage indicium. Each indicium has a
unique combination of account number and serial number (also
referred to as "piece count" in the mailing industry). This idea is
disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,319,562 and reiterated in U.S. Pat.
No. 6,005,945.
[0006] Returned goods represent a substantial percentage of
packages shipped worldwide. The term "Reverse Logistics" has been
coined to describe this sector of the shipping industry. FIG. 1
shows a conventional U.S. Postal Service Merchandise Return Label
(MRL). This type of label can be distributed in bulk. For example,
the return labels can be provided in the box of each order shipped
by a shipper (e.g., Amazon.com). The cost of each label is only a
few fractions of a cent. Hence, the shipper (e.g., Amazon.com) does
not incur an important expense. Only a few percent of the packages
sent out will require the MRL and the U.S. Postal Service only
charges for the labels actually placed in the mail stream, i.e.,
the labels used. Often the "From" address is not filled out, as it
is optional. However, the delivery address references the "Postage
Due Unit" at the receiving Post Office.
[0007] As shown in FIG. 1, the return label includes a series of
horizontal black bars (in this case 7 bars) under the permit box
"NO POSTAGE NECESSARY IF MAILED IN THE UNITED STATES". These bars
are a visual queue to USPS operations that some accounting must be
done on this piece. These same horizontal bars are also used on a
reply postcard in a magazine. This is the only visual queue
provided to the USPS so the label can be accounted for. These bars
are detected by a the human eye, not a machine. If these bars are
not seen or detected and accounted for, the USPS will lose the
revenue associated with the mail piece on which the label is
applied.
[0008] Merchandise Return Labels are historically paid for via a
USPS permit. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, the Merchandise
Return Label is paid for using permit 307 issued by the Los Angeles
Main Post Office. When returned packages are received at the
Postage Due unit, they are manually weighed and the appropriate
rate is computed. The rate must take into account the origin and
the destination in most cases because rates are normally "zone
based." Each piece is then manually logged into a computer system
so that the permit holder (e.g., Amazon.com) can have funds
deducted from their permit account.
[0009] To acquire a permit, the account holder must pay an annual
fee for the permit, as well as an annual accounting fee. In
addition, the account holder is charged a surcharge over normal
rates for each package. Therefore, this is an expensive option for
both the account holder and the Postal Service.
[0010] Another heavily used but highly manual system employed by
the U.S. Post Office is the Express Mail Corporate Account (EMCA).
Many mailers still use the original multi-part Express Mail form
shown in FIG. 2. In addition, since typewriters have disappeared
from most homes and offices, these Express Mail forms are almost
always filled out by hand. The label is accompanied by some form of
postage payment, a meter strip from a retail post office counter, a
conventional postage meter strip applied by the customer,
conventional stamps or simply an Express Mail Corporate Account
(EMCA) number.
[0011] Express Mail goes through a formal acceptance process at the
induction post office (PO). The PO employee will weigh the package
and input the weight of the package, along with the delivery
address and tracking barcode number into a retail Post Office
terminal. Even if the Express Mail piece is dropped in a street
mail box (blue box), the origin PO has a responsibility to enter
this information. In the case of payment by EMCA, the PO employee
will enter that along with the other information. However, there is
no way to tell at the time of induction if the EMCA account is
valid or it belongs to the mailer. Furthermore, the process is
highly manual, with carbon copies being removed and saved by the
induction PO as well as those responsible for final billing.
[0012] Some mailers have begun switching to a single ply version of
the Express Mail label which can be computer generated. An example
of a conventional computer generated mail express label is shown in
FIG. 3. The postage payment methods are typically a PC postage
Information Based Indicium (IBI), a conventional meter strip, a
retail PO counter strip or conventional stamps. However, this
particular label format currently cannot be used for EMCA mailings.
The EMCA approach is functionally identical to the permit based
system of FIG. 1. Essentially, the mailer opens and maintains an
account with the post office (either permit or EMCA) and funds are
deducted from this account when relevant "reply" mail pieces are
manually detected in the mail stream.
[0013] A prepaid return label printing solution for Priority and
Express mail labels has been introduced by Endicia Internet Postage
(circa 2004). The software logic essentially reverses the return
address and delivery address of what would be normal Priority Mail
label. It adds the legend "No Postage Stamp Necessary" and removes
the postmark date (since the induction date will generally be
unknown). The postage is properly computed by taking into account
the postal zones.
[0014] This computer image may be emailed to a customer or
displayed on a Web site, and provides a quick and easy way for a
vendor to supply a prepaid return label. Because this is completely
prepaid, there is no permit fee, no accounting fee, no delay at the
receiving post office, and no manual accounting required.
[0015] The limitation of this type of return label is that the
postage has been prepaid by the PC postage account holder. If this
label is not used, the postage is essentially wasted. Therefore,
this label concept is well suited for customer interactions where
the merchant is quite certain the customer will be returning the
goods. These types of customers are generally easy to identify by
either call center or Web site interactions. However, the
limitation remains as the postage is consumed when the postage
label is printed.
[0016] Those unfamiliar with the operational of National Posts may
question why the revenue collection for return shipping labels is
such a difficult problem. National Posts or Postal Services like
USPS have operated with a prepaid model for hundreds of years.
However, in the prepaid return shipping labels, each mail piece has
to provide an indication that the postage has already been paid via
some method such as stamps, meter mark, PC postage indicium, permit
account, EMCA, etc. There is no "after the fact" billing. National
Post delivery networks are generally point to point, as opposed to
FedEx.RTM. or UPS.TM.. That is, if a package originates in San
Francisco (SF), Calif. and is going to Los Angeles (LA), Calif.,
the package will likely be trucked or flown directly from SF to
LA.
[0017] In contrast, FedEx.RTM. and UPS.TM. operate hub systems
where all packages flow though a single hub facility. With a hub
system, one can be assured that each and every package will be
processed by automated scanning systems at the hub, and the
processing scans will result in the final billing to the shipper.
Hence, the same SF to LA package, if for instance handled by
FedEx.RTM., would be flown to Memphis, Tenn. on the first evening
and then flown from Memphis to LA the next morning.
[0018] The present invention addresses various issues relating to
the above and other issues with conventional approaches.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0019] An aspect of the present invention is to provide a method of
processing a mailing label through a postal service that requires
an account that can be charged for generating the mailing label.
The method includes charging or deducting a fictitiously fundable
or chargeable account to enable generation of a mailing label for a
mail piece. The mailing label includes a tracking indicium
associated with the fictitiously fundable or chargeable account.
The method further includes receiving the tracking indicium scanned
from the mailing label on the mail piece when the mail piece is
inducted in the mail stream or during transit of the mail piece in
the mail stream, and charging or deducting funds from an actually
fundable or chargeable account based upon the received scanned
tracking indicium.
[0020] Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a
method of processing a mailing label having a tracking code through
a postal service that requires an account that can be charged for
generating the mailing label. The method includes receiving a
client mailer identification number from a postal service, and
charging or deducting a fictitiously fundable or chargeable account
to enable generation of a mailing label for a mail piece. The
mailing label includes a tracking code associated with the
fictitiously fundable or chargeable account and the tracking code
includes the client mailer identification number. The method
further includes receiving a file containing the tracking code
scanned from the mailing label on the mail piece when the mail
piece is inducted in the mail stream or during transit of the mail
piece in the mail stream.
[0021] Yet another aspect of the present invention is to provide a
system of processing a mailing label through a postal service that
requires an account that can be charged for generating the mailing
label. The system includes a memory configured to store a
fictitiously fundable or chargeable account, the fictitiously
fundable account being useable to generate a mailing label for a
mail piece. The mailing label includes a tracking indicium
associated with the fictitiously fundable or chargeable account.
The system further includes a processor configured to: (i) receive
the tracking indicium scanned from the mailing label on the mail
piece when the mail piece is inducted in the mail stream or during
transit of the mail piece in the mail stream; and (ii) generate an
input to charge or deduct funds from an actually fundable or
chargeable account based upon the received scanned tracking
indicium.
[0022] Although the various steps of the method of providing or
printing postage stamps are described in the above paragraphs as
occurring in a certain order, the present application is not bound
by the order in which the various steps occur. In fact, in
alternative embodiments, the various steps can be executed in an
order different from the order described above or otherwise
herein.
[0023] These and other objects, features, and characteristics of
the present invention, as well as the methods of operation and
functions of the related elements of structure and the combination
of parts and economies of manufacture, will become more apparent
upon consideration of the following description and the appended
claims with reference to the accompanying drawings, all of which
form a part of this specification, wherein like reference numerals
designate corresponding parts in the various figures. It is to be
expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for the
purpose of illustration and description only and are not intended
as a definition of the limits of the invention. As used in the
specification and in the claims, the singular form of "a", "an",
and "the" include plural referents unless the context clearly
dictates otherwise.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0024] In the accompanying drawings:
[0025] FIG. 1 is a view of a conventional merchandise return label
postage label;
[0026] FIG. 2 is a view of a conventional express mail label used
by the U.S. postal service;
[0027] FIG. 3 is a view of a conventional computer generated
express mail label;
[0028] FIG. 4 is a view of a printed prepaid return label,
according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0029] FIG. 5 depicts a schematic diagram for creating a mail label
and processing mail having the mail label in the mail stream,
according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0030] FIG. 6 is a flow chart depicting the various steps for
processing mail in the mail stream, according to an embodiment of
the invention;
[0031] FIG. 7 depicts a schematic diagram for creating a mail label
and processing the mail piece having the mail label in the mail
stream, according to another embodiment of the present
invention;
[0032] FIG. 8 is a flow chart depicting the various steps for
processing mail in the mail stream, according to another embodiment
of the invention;
[0033] FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing a file management
system, according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0034] FIG. 10 is a view of a printed USPS Priority Mail.RTM. label
having a tracking barcode, according to an embodiment of the
present invention; and
[0035] FIG. 11 depicts a computer system for processing a mailing
label, according to an embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
[0036] An embodiment of the present disclosure focuses on the
extension of the internet postage model and revises the mechanism,
and particularly the timing, of customer payments for use of the
postal delivery service. One immediate use of an embodiment of the
present invention is in the area of "reply postage." However, it
should be appreciated that, the present method and system is also
applicable to all types of postage transactions. According to one
embodiment, the method or system of the present invention can
create a mail piece (e.g., a shipping label) with a serialized
indicium associated with a given customer account, but with an
assigned indicium having a value of $0.00. When the mail piece is
inducted into the mail stream, an operational scan or operational
scans of postage barcode and/or tracking indicium are reported back
to the centralized postage system. The operational scan(s) can
optionally identify the induction point and the delivery point. The
class of mail is typically known and established at the time of
printing the mail piece. The weight is either recorded at
induction, measured during an in process weigh/scan operation, or
irrelevant in the case of using weight-independent mail class
(e.g., an Express Mail Flat Rate Box). When the scan information is
received by the centralized postage system operation, the correct
postage can then be computed and charged to or deducted from the
end-user's postage account.
[0037] This method and system can replace the manual process used
by the postal service for reply mail. For the U.S. Postal Service,
the method and system described herein can be used to replace the
Express Mail Corporate Account (EMCA) and the Merchandize Return
Label Service (MRLS) programs. The method and system described
herein allow, for example, the creation and distribution of
numerous serialized shipping labels without actually incurring the
upfront cost of the postage indicium. As a result, this can provide
cost savings for the shipper (e.g., Amazon.com) as the mailing
label does have a monetary value attached or assigned to it until
it is used in the course of shipping a package or sending mail from
point A to point B. The method and system can also allow for
pre-addressed labels, or labels where the destination address is
filled out by hand while a person is on travel. The process does
not deduct or charge actual funds from the customer's account until
the mail piece is actually being processed by the postal service
(e.g., Post Office).
[0038] In accordance with one embodiment, a centralized postage
system is employed to create reply labels similar to the reply
labels shown in FIG. 4. FIG. 5 depicts a schematic diagram for
creating a mail label and processing mail having the mail label in
the mail stream, according to an embodiment of the present
invention. FIG. 6 is a flow chart depicting the various steps for
processing mail in the mail stream, according to an embodiment of
the invention. Referring to both FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, a user
interface implemented by software executed by a computer 10 allows
the account holder to create a label 14 by using a printer 12
connected to the computer 10, at S10. The label 14 contains a
tracking indicium or tracking barcode 14A and a postage value
indicium 14B, such as a two dimensional postage IBI (information
based indicia) barcode, representing a given mail class (first
class mail, priority mail, express mail, etc.). The generated
postage value indicium (e.g., an IBI indicium) has a zero valuation
(i.e., $0), but is assigned a unique piece count or serialized
indicium and treated like any other indicium. No funds are charged
or deducted from the postage balance at the account of the user
residing at the postage provider facility 16 or centralized postage
system 16 of the postage vendor for creating the reply label 14 or
printing the reply label 14.
[0039] If and when the reply label is inducted in the mail stream
(depicted in FIG. 5 as a street postal service mail box) at S20,
the label is scanned by the postal service operations using a
scanner 20, at S30. The label may be scanned at numerous points
along its delivery cycle. In one embodiment, the label can be for
example scanned one, two or more times, for example at delivery,
and at various times as the mail associated with the label
traverses the postal service operational system. The scanned
information including the tracking barcode (e.g., a 1D barcode) 14A
or the postage value indicium (e.g., a IBI barcode such as 2D
barcode) 14B, or both and the weight of the mail piece are sent to
the centralized database of central mail facility or postal service
22 (e.g., USPS Package Tracking System (PTS), at S40. The central
mail facility 22 provides the tracking barcode (e.g., 1D barcode)
14A scans, or the postage value indicium (e.g., IBI barcode such as
a 2D barcode) 14B scans, or both to the centralized mail system 16
of postage vendor, for example, in a FTP file, at S50. As stated
above, the postage value indicium (e.g., 2D barcode) 14B may
include a serialized indicium or piece count. The postage value
indicium 14B may further include a portion of the tracking barcode
14A. For example, in one embodiment, postage value indicium 14B may
include the last 9-digits of the tracking barcode 14A. In this
case, scanning the tracking barcode 14A and/or the postage value
barcode can identify a transaction that created the label. Hence,
the tracking barcode 14A or the postage value indicium 14B or both
may constitute a tracking information or tracking indicium and can
be used to detect the label 14 and thus the associated mail piece
in the mail stream. The tracking barcode 14A can be a "delivery
confirmation" barcode in USPS First Class or Priority Mail or "an
express mail tracking code" in USPS Express Mail, or a "customs
barcode" in an international customs form. In one embodiment, the
scanned information including the tracking barcode (e.g., 1D
barcode) 14A and/or the indicium 14B is provided to the centralized
mail system 16 of the postage vendor in nearly real time. In
another embodiment, the files can be provided on an hourly basis
using, for example, FTP protocols from the USPS Package Tracking
System (PTS) to the centralized postage system 16 of the postage
vendor. Typically, a given postage label will see multiple
in-transit scan reports and will always show at minimum a delivery
scan. For Express Mail, the scan rate is extensive and includes the
acceptance scan at induction, numerous in process scans, and a
delivery scan with potentially a signature capture. In other words,
it can be assumed with near certainty that any label inducted in
the mail stream will be detected and reported back to the postage
vendor.
[0040] When mail stream information is received at the centralized
postage system of the postage vendor (e.g., in a form of a FTP
file), the postage vendor computes the appropriate postage cost for
this transaction, at S60 and creates another transaction against
the mailer's account, at S70. This results in no printed output,
but simply adds another indicium record to the account's postage
history.
[0041] The return labels can be pre-addressed (as shown for example
in FIG. 4) or, alternatively, the delivery address can be left
blank. In the later case, the mail class and serialized indicium
(within the IBI indicium) would be the major element of the postage
label. Several of these preprinted labels could be taken on a
business trip by the account holder and that person could simply
write the delivery address by hand when he/she needs to ship
material somewhere. In this case, the tracking information would be
used to determine the origin ZIP and delivery ZIP for postage
computation. The weight would be captured at acceptance of the mail
(for example at a counter of a post office), or would not be
required in the event the mailer used on of the flat rate packages,
such as for example Priority Mail Boxes, available from the
USPS.
[0042] In this embodiment, billing by the postal service or
authority can be accomplished automatically based on the normal
in-process and delivery scans. The creator of these labels can
produce them without any immediate financial impact, as he or she
is only charged for postage when the label is actually used or
detected in the mail stream.
[0043] In another embodiment, the method or system of the present
invention can create a mail piece (e.g., a return shipping label)
with a serialized postage value indicium associated with a
fictitiously funded account or an account with faux or fictitious
money. FIG. 7 depicts a schematic diagram for creating a mail label
and processing the mail piece having the mail label in the mail
stream, according to another embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 8 is a flow chart depicting the various steps for processing
mail in the mail stream, according to another embodiment of the
invention. Referring to both FIG. 7 and FIG. 8, the fictitiously
funded account is created by the postage vendor (e.g., Endicia) at
the centralized postage system 30 of the postage vendor and
associated with the user or mailer's account at the postage
centralized system 30, at S100. For example, the fictitiously
funded account can be used in the case where the postal service
that delivers the mail requires the presence of a monetary value
(different from zero) on the postage of mail. For example, it is
known that the USPS requires pre-payment for postage in order to
deliver mail inducted in the mail stream.
[0044] A user interface implemented by software executed by a
computer 32 of the account holder allows the account holder to
create a mail label 34 by using a printer 36 connected to the
computer 32, at S120. The mail label (e.g., a return shipping
label) 34 may include a postage value indicium (e.g., an IBI
indicium such as a 2D barcode) 34A. The mail label may include a
tracking code (e.g., in a form of a barcode such as a 1D barcode)
34B. The postage value indicium 34A may include a serialized
indicium (e.g., a piece count). The postage value indicium 34A may
include a portion of the tracking barcode 34B. For example, in one
embodiment, postage value indicium 34A may include the last
9-digits of the tracking barcode 34B. In this case, scanning the
tracking barcode 34B and/or the postage value indicium 34A can
identify the transaction that created the label. Hence, the
tracking barcode 34B, or the postage value indicium 34A, or both
may constitute a tracking information or tracking indicium and can
be used to detect the label 34 and thus the associated mail piece
in the mail stream. The tracking barcode 34B can be a "delivery
confirmation" barcode in USPS First Class or Priority Mail or "an
express mail tracking code" in USPS Express Mail. The postage value
indicium (e.g., IBI indicium) 34A may indicate a postage amount
(e.g., $4.50). This postage amount is drawn from the fictitiously
fundable account, i.e., the account with faux or fictitious money.
In other words, the postage amount (e.g., $4.50) is not drawn from
an account reflective of real money. The fictitiously fundable
account can be loaded with a desired, fictitious, sum of funds,
such as for example $100,000. The postage amount ($4.50) is debited
from this sum of funds in the fictitiously funded account (e.g.,
$100,000) to "pay" for the postage of the mailing label (e.g., a
return mailing or shipping label).
[0045] In this way, when the mail piece is inducted into the mail
stream (represented in FIG. 7 by a street mail postal mail box 38),
at S120, the postal service (e.g., USPS) operations performs
operational scans of postage indicia (e.g., postage barcode such as
a 2D barcode) 34A and/or tracking code (e.g., a tracking barcode
such as a 1D barcode) 34B using scanner 40, at S130. The label 34
may be scanned at numerous points along its delivery cycle by the
postal service operations. In one embodiment, the label 34 can be
for example scanned one, two or more times, for example at
delivery, and at various times as the mail associated with the
label traverses the postal service operational system. The scanned
information including the tracking barcode (e.g., a 1D barcode)
34B, or the postage value indicium (e.g., 2D barcode) 34A, or both
and optionally the weight of the mail piece are sent to the
centralized database of postal service 42 (e.g., USPS Package
Tracking System), at S140. The scanned information is reported back
to the centralized postage system 30 of the postage vendor (e.g.,
Endicia). The central mail facility 22 provides the scanned
tracking indicium including tracking barcode (e.g., 1D barcode) 34B
or the scanned postage value indicium (e.g., 2D barcode) 34A, or
both to the centralized mail system 30 of the postage vendor. For
example, in the case of the USPS, the USPS Package Tracking System
(PTS) sends scanned data to the centralized postage system of the
postage vendor in a form of a FTP file via FTP. The postal service
will detect that the mail piece has the appropriate postage amount
(e.g., $4.50) when the postal service performs operational scans.
As stated above, the weight can be either recorded at induction,
measured during an in process weight/scan operation, or irrelevant
in the case of using weight-independent mail class (e.g., an
Express Mail Flat Rate Box or Priority Mail Flat Rate Box). When
the scan information is received at the centralized postage system
operation 30 of the postage vendor, at S150, the centralized
postage system creates a transaction indicia that is associated
with the return label having the postage value that was drawn from
the fictitiously funded account (e.g., $4.50), at S160. The
transaction indicia is not printed on any label but is simply
electronically associated or registered with the mailer's or user's
real or actually funded account. The real account of the user is
associated with the credit card of the user, the financial
credential of the user, or actual funded dollars held for the
benefit of the user. Therefore, the user's real account is funded
with real money, or has credit or access to real money, so that the
account can be actually billed or charged. The postage value (e.g.,
$4.50) is charged to or deducted or debited from the user's real
account as real money (for example, debited from the user's credit
card), at S170. In one embodiment, in the case of the USPS for
example, the transaction indicia can then be sent electronically to
the postal service USPS to inform the USPS that real money was
withdrawn from the user's real account so as to comply with USPS
audit requirements.
[0046] In one embodiment, the fictitiously funded account is
credited with the postage value (e.g., $4.50) but with fictitious
or faux money. In another embodiment, the fictitiously funded
account is not credited with the postage value (e.g., $4.50). In
this case, the amount of faux money in the fictitiously funded
account will decrease with usage of postage by the user. At one
point, however, the fictitiously funded account may need to be
replenished with fictitious or faux money to avoid a negative
amount of funds in the fictitiously funded account as the postal
service requires that the fictitiously funded account carries an
amount of funds that is greater than zero in order to be able to
print indicia with a certain postage value on a mailing label
(e.g., a return mail label).
[0047] For the U.S. Postal Service, the method and system described
herein could replace, for example, the Merchandize Return Label
Service (MRLS) programs. An example using a mortgage application
may be used to illustrate one, non-limiting use of the method and
system described herein. For example, a mortgage company (i.e., the
user having a real account and a fictitiously funded account set up
at the centralized postage system of the postage vendor) can send
numerous mortgage application packets for a mortgage to potential
customers. For example, on one hand the mortgage company (the user)
will pay upfront with real money withdrawn from its real account
(i.e., an account having real money) for the postage of each of the
mailing labels of each mortgage application packet to mail the
mortgage applications. On the other hand, however, the mortgage
company (the user) will pay with fictitious or faux money withdrawn
from the fictitiously funded account for a return label included
with the mortgage application packet. In this way, the mortgage
company will not incur any mailing costs until a return label is
used by the potential customer of the mortgage company (i.e., until
the potential customer of the mortgage company returns a completed
application packet). The other return labels that are not inducted
in the mail stream (because the applicant never completes and
returns the packet) will not be charged to the mortgage company's
real account, as they are printed with faux money. Only a return
label that is actually used to return a completed application
packet to the mortgage company (or its associates) is detected in
the mail stream and thus is associated with the mortgage company's
real account as described in detail above.
[0048] In one embodiment, in order to determine which scanned
tracking indicia (e.g., in a form of a number, a barcode, or other
indicia) among a plurality of scanned tracking codes 34B and/or
indicia 34A in a plurality of a labels should trigger a payment at
the centralized postage system 30 of the postage vendor, a file
management system and method is used to determine which label(s)
with tracking code(s) are created and "paid for" by an account
funded with fictitious money. In one embodiment, the management
system and method can perform the above by logging every tracking
code 34B which is created using the account funded with fictitious
money into a database and checking every postal service scan event
by comparing every postal service scan event to the logged tracking
codes 34B in the database to determine if a scanned tracking
barcode is one created using the account funded with fictitious
money.
[0049] In another embodiment, the management system and method can
perform the above by issuing tracking codes with a specific range
of numbers. For example, when a label is created using the account
funded with fictitious money, the system issues tracking codes from
a subset of the postage vendor's tracking codes. This allows a
faster identification of a scan event that scans a tracking code
"paid for" by a fictitious account. Rather than checking the whole
database of all the postage vendor's tracking codes, the system
determines if a specific tracking code "paid for" by the fictitious
account falls within a specified range or sub-set of tracking
codes. For example, this can be implemented for express mail labels
of the USPS.
[0050] In another embodiment, the system and method can determine
which scanned tracking codes or tracking barcodes 34B among a
plurality of scanned tracking codes or tracking barcodes 34B in a
plurality of labels should trigger a payment at the centralized
postage system 30, by using a postal service issued mail
identification number (MID) in which a specific MID number is
assigned for labels 34 paid by the account with fictitious money.
In one embodiment, the MID is a 6 to 9 digit number which is used
in the delivery confirmation type tracking code 34B. FIG. 10
depicts an example of USPS PRIORITY MAIL.RTM. label including a
tracking code 34B. The tracking code or tracking barcode 34B
includes the MID number (e.g., 148008600). In one embodiment, the
MID number is placed around a middle portion of the tracking code
34B. Hence, by using a unique MID number to construct the tracking
code for labels paid by the account funded with fictitious money,
the labels paid by the account funded with fictitious money can
easily be identified hence flagged for payment by an account funded
by real money, as described in the above paragraphs.
[0051] In yet another embodiment, the system and method can
determine which scanned tracking codes or tracking barcodes 34B
among a plurality of scanned tracking codes or tracking barcodes
34B in a plurality of labels should trigger a payment at the
centralized postage system 30, by using a postal service issued
general purpose mail identification number (MID) and/or a client
mailer identification number (CMID). The general purpose MID number
assigned to the postage vendor by the postal service can be used to
construct the tracking code 34B. Alternatively or in addition, the
unique CMID number can be assigned to a given postage account
opened at the centralized postage system 30 of the postage vendor.
The CMID number can also be used in constructing tracking codes 34B
for that given postage account. This unique postage account with
the CMID number can be, for example, a postage account of a client
of the postage vendor. Alternatively, this postage account with the
CMID number can be an account of the postage vendor reserved for a
particular use such as, for example, reserved for labels with
tracking codes "paid for" by the account funded with fictitious
money. In any case, the postage vendor uploads into or sends to a
computer system of the postal service (e.g., USPS) 42, a postage
vendor file containing all tracking codes of all labels created
during a certain time period (e.g., one day, two days, 12 hours, 6
hours, etc.). The uploaded postage vendor file has a header record
containing the general purpose MID number assigned to the postage
vendor by the postal service. On this file are logged all the
tracking codes used during that time period. The tracking codes
recorded in this postage vendor file contain at least the MID
number assigned to the postage vendor. In this way, the postal
service (e.g., USPS) knows that all the tracking codes in this file
with the header MID number "belong" to the postage vendor.
[0052] When the postal service 42 detects a label having a tracking
code containing the MID number during a field scan event, the
postal service 42 records that tracking code 34B into a first file
(e.g., an FTP file) that the postage vendor can retrieve or
download. Alternatively, instead of the first file being retrieved
or downloaded by the postage provider 30, the postal service can
send the first file to the postage provider. In addition, at least
a portion (i.e., one or more) of the tracking codes recorded in the
postage vendor file may further contain the CMID number. When a
label having a tracking code containing the CMID number (in
addition to the general purpose MID number) is detected during a
field scan event, the postal service 42 records the detected
tracking code including the CMID number into a second file (e.g. a
second FTP file). The second file containing the tracking code
including the CMID number can be retrieved by or sent to a client
of the postage vendor. Alternatively, the second file (e.g., a
second FTP file) containing the tracking code including the CMID
number can be retrieved by the postage vendor. In this way, the
postage vendor can easily distinguish the scanned tracking codes
having the general purpose MID number from the scanned tracking
codes having, in addition to the MID number, the CMID number such
as scanned tracking codes paid for by the account funded with
fictitious money. In this way, scanned tracking codes that are paid
for by the account funded by fictitious money can be isolated for
further processing as described in the above paragraphs.
[0053] FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing a file management
system, according to an embodiment of the present invention. The
centralized postage system 30 of the postage vendor is provided
with one or more mailer identification numbers MID and/or one or
more client identification numbers CMID by the postal service 42.
The centralized postage system 30 manages a plurality of accounts
of a plurality of users. The plurality of users are assigned
different account numbers AN1, AN2, AN3, etc. Each user has at
least one account. For example, the mortgage company (one of the
users) 44 uses its account (for example AN2) set up at the postage
vendor's centralized postage system 30 to fund its mortgage
application campaign. All tracking codes created by the postage
vendor during a certain time period (e.g., one day) are logged into
a postage vendor file (e.g., an FTP file) 54. The postage vendor
file 54 is assigned the mailer identification number MID 50 of the
postage vendor as a header of the file. In one embodiment, all
tracking codes logged into file 54 include the MID number 50
assigned to the postage vendor. Some tracking codes recorded in
file 54 may contain in addition to the MID number 50 a CMID number.
The file 54 is sent to or uploaded into a database 56 of the postal
service 42.
[0054] When tracking codes ID1, ID2, ID3 and ID4 generated by the
postal vendor and including the MID number 50 of the postage vendor
are detected by the postal service 42, the tracking codes ID1, ID2,
ID3 and ID4 are recorded in a first file FTP1 in postal service
database 56. When, for example, tracking codes ID1 and ID2 in
return labels 34 associated with the mailing campaign of the
mortgage company and including a CMID number indicating that the
label is paid for using an account funded with fictitious money is
detected by the postal service 42, the tracking codes ID1 and ID2
are recorded in second file FTP2 in postal service database 56. The
first file FTP1 and the second file FTP2 are sent to or can be
downloaded by the postage vendor central computer 30. Since the
second file FTP2 only contains the tracking codes of labels paid
for by the account funded by fictitious money, the scanned tracking
codes that are paid for by the account funded by fictitious money
are thus automatically segregated for further processing. The
segregation between the tracking codes paid for by real money and
fictitious money is accomplished automatically by the postal
service.
[0055] In this way each mail label (e.g., return mail label) paid
for by the account funded with fictitious money detected in the
mail stream can be accounted for and charged to the account of the
user funded with real money.
[0056] Therefore, the method and system described herein allow, for
example, the creation and distribution of numerous serialized
shipping labels without actually incurring the upfront cost of the
postage indicium, as the postage indicium is printed with a
fictitious monetary value. The fictitious monetary value is
translated into a real monetary value by withdrawing funds from a
user's real account funded with real money only when the serialized
shipping label is detected in the mail stream. As a result, this
can provide cost savings for the shipper (e.g., the mortgage
company) as the mailing label does not have a real monetary mailing
cost for the shipper until it is used for shipping a package or
sending mail from point A to point B.
[0057] The method and system according to another embodiment also
allow for pre-addressed labels, or labels where the destination
address is filled out by hand, for example while a person is on
travel.
[0058] FIG. 11 depicts a computer system for processing a mailing
label as described above, according to an embodiment of the present
invention. FIG. 11 shows a connection diagram for accessing a
centralized postage system including computer server 100 associated
with the postage vendor by a user's personal computer 102 via the
internet 104. As shown in FIG. 11, both the computer server 100 and
the personal computer 102 are connected via the internet 104.
However, alternatively, the personal computer 102 and the server
100 can also be connected through a dedicated communication line
(not shown) instead of via the internet 104. As it can be
appreciated, in one embodiment, the computer server 100 has at
least one processing device 101A and at least one storage device
(memory) 101B in communication with the processing device 101A.
Although the storage device 101B is shown residing the computer
server 100, the storage device 101B can reside outside the server
100, for example in another storage server (not shown). Similarly,
the personal computer 102 comprises a processor 103A and a storage
device (memory) 103B in communication with the processor 103A.
Various peripheral devices can be connected to the personal
computer 102. For example, as shown in FIG. 10, a printer 106 is
shown connected to the personal computer 102. Furthermore, as shown
in FIG. 10, the computer server 100 associated with the postage
provider is further in communication with the computer system 108
of the postal service (e.g., USPS) via the internet 104. However,
alternatively, the server 100 and the computer system 108 can also
be connected through a dedicated communication line (not shown)
instead of via the internet 104. The term "processor" used herein
refers to one or more processors. The term "memory" used herein
refers to one or more storage devices.
[0059] In one embodiment, a software application is employed by the
user to access a web service in the server 100 to purchase and
print postage labels. In one embodiment, the software application
can reside in the user's personal computer 102. The software
application can be obtained from the postage vendor or other
vendors having a business relationship with the postage vendor. For
example, the software application can be downloaded from an
internet webpage of the postage vendor (e.g., downloaded from the
server 100). Alternatively, the software application can be
obtained in a storage medium such as a CDROM, a USB flash memory or
a PCMCIA memory card. The software application can be obtained free
of charge or for a fee. Once the software application is installed
in a personal computer 102 of the user, the software application is
ready to be used by the user to purchase postage labels.
[0060] By personal computer 102, it is meant that any computing
device capable of running the software application and providing
for the user access to the internet 104 can be used, such as, but
not limited to, a server, a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a
handheld computing device, etc. Alternatively, the user does not
need to install the software application on the personal computer
102. For example, the software application can be a web-based
application and can be executed in the computer server 100
associated with the postage vendor.
[0061] The system is configured to implement the method or methods
described in detail in the above paragraphs. In one embodiment, a
real account is established at the server 100 for the user. Postage
can be billed to the real account for mailing of a mail piece with
the printed mailing label. In addition, a fictitiously funded
account is further established for the user, the fictitiously
funded account having fictitious money. The mailing label is
provided with a serial or tracking indicium associated with the
fictitiously funded account. For example, the mailing label is
printed using printer 106 of the user. When the mailing label
having the serial or tracking indicium printed thereon is inducted
into the mail stream, the postal service scans the mailing label
and captures information on the mailing label. The captured
information is sent to computer system 108 of the postal service
(e.g., USPS) which in turn sends the information to the server 100
associated with the postage provider. The server 100 associated
with the postage provider receives information scanned from the
mailing label on the mail piece. The processor 101A in the computer
server processes the received information and deducts funds from
the real account of the user based upon the received scanned
information. The term "tracking indicium" refers to an indicium,
such as for example a barcode, or other scannable image containing
data, provided on the mailing label to allow, inter alia, a user,
the postal service or the postage vendor or other entity having
interest in a mail piece to track the mail piece associated with
the mailing label.
[0062] As it can be appreciated from the above, in one embodiment,
the method and system described herein can be similar to a UPS.TM.
or FedEx.RTM. type of billing system which is more or less based on
a "bill-on-performance model" but using the existing geographically
distributed resources of a national postal service such as USPS.
This allows, for example, the USPS to offer billing protocols which
are preferred by shippers but without requiring the USPS to invest
capital in new systems to handle billing in a point to point
network.
[0063] In some embodiments, application programs for performing
methods in accordance with embodiments of the invention can be
embodied as program products in a computer such as a personal
computer or server or in a distributed computing environment
comprising a plurality of computers. The computer may include, for
example, a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a handheld
computing device such as a PDA, etc. The computer program products
may include a computer readable medium or storage medium or media
having instructions stored thereon used to program a computer to
perform the methods described above. Examples of suitable storage
medium or media include any type of disk including floppy disks,
optical disks, DVDs, CD ROMs, magnetic optical disks, RAMs, EPROMs,
EEPROMs, magnetic or optical cards, hard disk, flash card (e.g., a
USB flash card), PCMCIA memory card, smart card, or other media.
Alternatively, a portion or the whole computer program product can
be downloaded from a remote computer or server via a network such
as the internet, an ATM network, a wide area network (WAN) or a
local area network.
[0064] Stored on one or more of the computer readable media, the
program may include software for controlling both the hardware of a
general purpose or specialized computer or processor. The software
also enables the computer or processor to interact with a user via
output devices such as a graphical user interface, head mounted
display (HMD), etc. The software may also include, but is not
limited to, device drivers, operating systems and user
applications.
[0065] Alternatively, instead or in addition to implementing the
methods described above as computer program product(s) (e.g., as
software products) embodied in a computer, the method described
above can be implemented as hardware in which for example an
application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) can be designed to
implement the method or methods of the present invention.
[0066] Although the various steps of the method of providing or
printing postage indicia are described in the above paragraphs as
occurring in a certain order, the present application is not bound
by the order in which the various steps occur. In fact, in
alternative embodiments, the various steps can be executed in an
order different from the order described above.
[0067] Although the invention has been described in detail for the
purpose of illustration based on what is currently considered to be
the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be
understood that such detail is solely for that purpose and that the
invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but, on the
contrary, is intended to cover modifications and equivalent
arrangements that are within the spirit and scope of the appended
claims. For example, it is to be understood that the present
invention contemplates that, to the extent possible, one or more
features of any embodiment can be combined with one or more
features of any other embodiment.
[0068] Furthermore, since numerous modifications and changes will
readily occur to those of skill in the art, it is not desired to
limit the invention to the exact construction and operation
described herein. Accordingly, all suitable modifications and
equivalents should be considered as falling within the spirit and
scope of the invention.
* * * * *