U.S. patent application number 13/966436 was filed with the patent office on 2014-01-30 for pc postage.tm. service indicia design for shipping label.
This patent application is currently assigned to UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE. The applicant listed for this patent is Roy R. Gordon, John F. Gullo, Dan Lord, Wayne A. Wilkerson. Invention is credited to Roy R. Gordon, John F. Gullo, Dan Lord, Wayne A. Wilkerson.
Application Number | 20140032439 13/966436 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 31188562 |
Filed Date | 2014-01-30 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140032439 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Gullo; John F. ; et
al. |
January 30, 2014 |
PC POSTAGE.TM. SERVICE INDICIA DESIGN FOR SHIPPING LABEL
Abstract
Systems and methods of insuring payment of a proper amount of
postage, comprise receiving payment for an amount of postage,
affixing a postage indicia to a piece of mail, wherein the postage
indicia includes the postage amount in a format readable only by
machine, and adjusting the postage amount at a time subsequent to
receipt of payment.
Inventors: |
Gullo; John F.; (Alexandria,
VA) ; Wilkerson; Wayne A.; (Manassas, VA) ;
Gordon; Roy R.; (Gaithersburg, MD) ; Lord; Dan;
(Upper Marlboro, MD) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Gullo; John F.
Wilkerson; Wayne A.
Gordon; Roy R.
Lord; Dan |
Alexandria
Manassas
Gaithersburg
Upper Marlboro |
VA
VA
MD
MD |
US
US
US
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
UNITED STATES POSTAL
SERVICE
Washington
DC
|
Family ID: |
31188562 |
Appl. No.: |
13/966436 |
Filed: |
August 14, 2013 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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13334931 |
Dec 22, 2011 |
8600909 |
|
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13966436 |
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10628411 |
Jul 29, 2003 |
8108322 |
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13334931 |
|
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60399251 |
Jul 29, 2002 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
705/330 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G07B 2017/00766
20130101; G07B 2017/00064 20130101; G07B 2017/00717 20130101; G07B
17/00435 20130101; G06Q 10/083 20130101; G07B 17/00508 20130101;
G07B 2017/00588 20130101; G07B 2017/00145 20130101; G07B 2017/00443
20130101; G07B 2017/0062 20130101; G06Q 30/0641 20130101; G06Q
30/04 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
705/330 |
International
Class: |
G06Q 10/08 20060101
G06Q010/08 |
Claims
1.-27. (canceled)
28. A system for preventing postage fraud comprising: a scanner for
reading a unique parcel number and a unique postage number from a
postage indicia affixed to a mailpiece; a database in communication
with the scanner, for verifying that the unique parcel number and
the unique postage number are assigned to each other; and an
electronic interface for transmitting the postage indicia to a
user, wherein the electronic interface is in communication with the
database such that, upon purchase of the postage indicia by the
user, the database is updated with a record for the postage
indicia.
29. (canceled)
30. The system of claim 28, wherein the electronic interface is the
Internet.
31. The system of claim 28, wherein the database further verifies
that the unique postage number has not been used on a second
mailpiece.
32. (canceled)
33. The system of claim 28, wherein the unique parcel number and
postage number are compared to an parcel number and postage number
retrieved from a new mail parcel that enters a shipper's
system.
34. The system of claim 28, wherein the database is further updated
with a new record for a new parcel scanned in by the scanner,
wherein the new record comprises a unique parcel number and a
unique postage number.
35. The system of claim 28, wherein the scanner is a portable
scanner.
36.-44. (canceled)
45. The system of claim 28, wherein the unique parcel number
includes a unique delivery confirmation number.
46. The system of claim 28, wherein the database is further
configured to compare the unique parcel number and the unique
postage number with other parcel numbers and other postage numbers
already stored in the database.
47. The system of claim 46, wherein the database is further
configured to detect a duplication of the postage indicia based on
the comparison.
48. The system of claim 46, wherein the database is configured to
substantially delay the comparison.
49. The system of claim 28, further comprising a computer
configured to: receive a user request including a payment for an
initial postage amount; and generate, in response to the user
request, the postage indicia including the unique postage number
and the unique parcel number.
50. The system of claim 28, wherein the postage indicia further
comprising billing information of a sender, and the database is
further configured to: associate the billing information with the
unique postage number; and determine the buffing information
according to the association between the billing information and
the unique postage number.
51. A method for preventing postage fraud comprising: receiving a
user request for purchasing postage; transmitting, in response to
the user request, a postage indicia to the user, the postage
indicia including a unique postage number and a unique parcel
number; updating a database with a record of the postage indicia;
receiving a mailpiece having the postage indicia; scanning the
unique parcel number and the unique postage number from the
mailpiece; and verifying that the unique parcel number and the
unique postage number are assigned to each other.
52. The method of claim 51, wherein the receiving of the user
request for purchasing the postage further comprises: receiving a
payment for an initial postage amount; and generating the postage
indicia in response to the user request.
53. The method of claim 51, further comprising updating the
database with the unique parcel number and the unique postage
number.
54. The method of claim 53, further comprising: receiving a new
mailpiece having a new parcel number and a new postage number; and
comparing the unique parcel number and the unique postage number
previously stored in the database with the new parcel number and
the new postage number.
55. The method of claim 51, further comprising substantially
delaying the verification.
56. The method of claim 51, wherein the postage indicia further
comprising billing information of a sender, and the method further
comprises: associating the billing information with the unique
postage number; and determining the billing information according
to the association between the billing information and the unique
postage number.
57. The method of claim 51, further comprising comparing the unique
parcel number and the unique postage number with other parcel
numbers and other postage numbers already stored in the
database.
58. The method of claim 57, further comprising detecting a
duplication of the postage indicia based on the comparison.
Description
RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C.
.sctn.119(e) of Provisional Application No. 60/399,251, tiled Jul.
29, 2002, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by
reference, This application is related to an application entitled
"SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR NM-STREAM POSTAGE ADJUSTMENT," bearing
attorney docket number 08049.0923, filed on the same date as the
present application, the contents of which are incorporated herein
by reference.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present invention relates to a method of preventing
fraud, misuse, abuse and reuse of postage by utilizing a uniquely
designed postage indicia for a shipping label.
BACKGROUND
[0003] The United States Postal Service ("USPS"), unlike private
shipping companies, is required by law to receive, payment for
postage in advance of mailing of the piece of mail. For this
reason, the USPS must closely monitor the payment of postage and
the corresponding use of the postage labels, such as stamps. In the
past, the postage must be accurately computed prior to producing a
postage label or stamp, and affixing it the mailpiece. Often, this
meant purchasing the postage label at a U.S. Post Office, or
maintaining a strictly monitored postage. meter, capable of
dispensing the appropriate postage.
[0004] With the development of Internet technology, the U.S. Postal
Service (USPS) has introduced many new products for the convenience
of postal customers. One such product is known as PC Postage.TM.
whereby one can purchase postage over the internet using a
computer. One can also use it for most of one's mailing needs:
First-Class Mail service,
[0005] Express Mail.RTM. service, Priority Mail service, parcels,
International Mail, and payment for special services like Delivery
Confirmation.TM. etc. In this process the postal customer goes
online to the USPS web page and makes an online shipping label
transaction. The customer enters the type of mailing, recipient's
address, sender's address and the requisite payment, which is
conducted as a credit card transaction or may be a charge against
the customer's deposit account with the USPS. A label is printed
with this information and affixed to the mailing.
[0006] However, when using these or other methodologies, if the
postage amount was improperly computed prior to purchase, the USPS
must return the mail to the sender for improper postage. In
addition, unless the postage was paid for at a US Post Office, and
affixed by a USPS employee, the risk arose that a postage label may
be duplicated and used more than once, providing shippers with
unauthorized use of the mail system.
[0007] Therefore it is an object of this invention to provide a
unique label and postage indicia design to prevent this type of
fraud. It is also an object of this invention to keep track of all
mailing transactions and to reconcile the accounts and collect
statistical data on the mailings.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] In accordance with the invention, systems and methods of
insuring payment of a proper amount of postage, comprise receiving
payment for an amount of postage, affixing a postage indicia to a
piece of mail, wherein the postage indicia includes the postage
amount in a format readable only by machine, and adjusting the
postage amount at a time subsequent to receipt of payment.
[0009] Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be
set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part
will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice
of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention will
be realized and attained by means of the elements and combinations
particularly pointed out in the appended claims. It is to be
understood that both the foregoing general description and the
following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only
and are not restrictive of the invention, as claimed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION DRAWINGS
[0010] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and
constitute a part of this specification, illustrate several
embodiments of the invention and together with the description,
serve to explain the principles of the invention.
[0011] FIG. 1 is a flowchart describing the process used by a
sender to obtain postage, in accordance with the present
invention;
[0012] FIG. 2 shows a stealth postage indicia;
[0013] FIG. 3 shows a postage indicia design with postage shown;
and
[0014] FIG. 4 shows a complete mailing label, including postage
indicia design using uncoded postage;
[0015] FIG. 5 shows an alternative form of the mailing label
including coded postage;
[0016] FIG. 6 shows a another alternative form of the mailing label
including coded postage;
[0017] FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the process used by a shipper
system to verify the postage paid on a postage label; and
[0018] FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the process used by a shipper
system to verify the postage indicia On a piece of mail.
DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
[0019] Reference will now he made in detail to the exemplary
embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in
the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference
numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same
or like parts.
[0020] FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing method 100 performed by a
sender (user) to pay a shipper for and receive postage for a
mailpiece. While it is preferable that the mailing company (shipper
system) is the USPS, this method may similarly be utilized to pay
for the transport of a package by any public or private mail or
shipping company.
[0021] While method 100 may be carried out by an individual at a
sending company's facility, such sender would likely have
knowledgeable staff and equipment that would accurately determine
the postage amount and prevent postage fraud, rendering the present
system less necessary. It is therefore preferable that method 100
be implemented on an electrical device, such as a personal
computer, capable of performing the described steps. The
instructions for carrying out method 100 may be implemented as a
software package installed on a personal computer capable of
connecting to and transmitting information to, or receiving
information from, the USPS. Alternatively, one or more steps of
method 100 may be implemented by hardware, such as by a processor
containing instructions for carrying out the method.
[0022] Alternatively, method 100 may be implemented as a website,
For example, the USPS has developed a transactional web site that
allows customers to print shipping labels online for domestic
Express Mail (EM) and Priority Mail (PM), and Global Express
Guaranteed (GXG) and Global Express Mail (GEM). For ease of
discussion, the present description discussion will describe method
100 implemented using a website.
[0023] Method 100 begins when a person desiring to send a piece of
mail ("sender") accesses the shipper's web site (block 102) (i.e.
the web site). In block 104, the postage amount necessary for
delivery of the package or mailpiece is then estimated. In one
implementation, the website will contain a form for the purpose of
receiving sufficient information about the mailpiece for the system
to calculate the postage. For example, the web page may contain
"radio buttons" or input fields for the sender to input the weight,
shipping class, destination information, sender information, or
other information necessary for an initial determination of the
postage amount, It is important to recognize that the information
inputted by the sender, and the estimated amount of postage not be
100% accurate, for reasons described below. Instead, the sender may
make his or her best guess as to the weight of the parcel (or other
information). For the same reason, no specialized hardware is
necessary at the sender's location, since accuracy at this point in
the process is not a necessity. In another embodiment, the webpage
may simply present a list of possible postal rates and allow the
sender to select the most appropriate (though not necessarily
correct) postal rate.
[0024] Once the amount has been estimated, the sender then pays the
estimated amount to the shipper (block 106). The sender may
accomplish payment of the postage by credit card payment or
application of funds from a deposit account with the shipper.
[0025] U.S. laws and regulations require mail handled by the USPS
to provide evidence of prepaid postage on each package. Therefore,
once the sender has accomplished payment of the postage, the system
then produces a postage indicia (block 108), which the sender may
affix to the mailpiece.
[0026] In one embodiment, the software or website will produce the
postage indicia by producing a machine-readable representation of
information associated with the mailpiece ("postage information").
For example, the software will combine the postage paid, the rate
category, a device identification (identifying the device that
printed the postage indicia), the licensing code, the sending zip
code (or address), the destination zip code (or address), the
software identification, the ascending and descending registers,
the digital signature algorithm, the date of mailing, and the
delivery confirmation code (a unique number assigned to the
mailpiece for identification purposes). One of ordinary skill in
the art will recognize that one or more pieces of information may
be excluded in some circumstances (for example, the ascending and
descending registers may be unnecessary in a case where the sender
is not using a prepaid postage meter to print the postage indicia).
In addition, a unique postage lumber may be assigned and included
as an identification of the postage, for use in preventing
duplication of the postage. This information may then be digitally
signed using any now known or later developed digital signature
algorithm, and the signature may be included as part of the postage
information.
[0027] For example, a Shipping Shares Services (SSS) Application
software application, sends label with postage indicia information
to a browser for printing. The label includes a unique delivery
confirmation number embedded within a barcode, the sender and
recipient's address information, the class of mail, the special
service, and the postage indicia. The postage indicia contains the
mailing date, the postage amount or indication of postage payment,
the ZIP Code.TM. mailed from, an identifying licensing number, and
the corresponding delivery confirmation number at the top of the
indicia.
[0028] Once the postage indicia has been produced, it may be
printed on the mailpiece (or on a label for affixing to the
mailpiece). While the label may be printed using specialized
equipment such as a prepaid postage meter, or a secure printer with
means for preventing duplication (such as a printer that uses
proprietary ink to prevent unauthorized duplication), it may also
be printed using any unsecured printer or other printing device
associated with the sender's (or shipper's) computer. However, as
further discussed below, when printing on an unsecured printer, the
unique postage number assigned to the postage indicia becomes
necessary to prevent unauthorized duplication of the postage
indicia.
[0029] In one embodiment, shown in FIG. 2, the printed postage
indicia will take the form of a "stealth postage" indicia 200, that
is, the postage indicia will include the postage information
represented only in machine readable format such as a two
dimensional bar code 202 (the bar code may alternatively be
implemented as a one-dimensional bar code-not shown). In this
embodiment, the postage amount will not be printed on the postage
indicia in a human readable form, but may instead include a
notation 204 that the postage has been paid. In addition,
information contained in the stealth indicia 200 may include the
date of mailing 206, a unique delivery confirmation number 208 (to
identify the mailpiece), and a unique postage number 210 (to
prevent the postage indicia from being separated from the
mailpiece), and possibly other identifying information. FIG. 3
shows an alternative version of the postage indicia 300, in which
the postage amount 302 is printed on the indicia in a human
readable format.
[0030] Referring now to FIG. 4, the postage indicia may
alternatively be printed as part of mailing label 400 including
postage indicia 300 (or stealth indicia, not shown), a destination
address 402., a return address 404, and another representation of
the unique article number 406 (shown in both human readable and
machine readable, i.e. barcode, forms).
[0031] FIGS. 5 and 6 show alternative mailing labels for use with
the present invention. The mailing label may also include other
proprietary information required for proper processing by a shipper
system. For example, a label printed for use by the USPS may
include a FIM code (not shown, used for orientation of the
mailpiece by USPS equipment) and a POSTNET code (502, FIG. 5).
[0032] Returning to FIG. 1, once the postage indicia has been
produced, the sender affixes it to the mailpiece (block 110) and
mails the mailpiece, (block 112), such as by delivery to a US Post
Office or other facility of the shipper.
[0033] Upon delivery of the mailpiece into the mail stream, the
mailing system may also employ process 700, FIG. 7 to verify that
the correct amount of postage has been paid, and/or process 800,
FIG. 8, to verify that the postage indicia has not been improperly
duplicated. These processes may be performed in addition to its
standard operating procedures for routing, administering, and
delivering mailpieces.
[0034] Referring to FIG. 7, process 700 is performed by the shipper
to insure that the proper amount of postage has been paid. Because
of the regulations governing the USPS requiring prepayment of
postage, it is preferable that. process 700 be performed prior to
routing and delivery of the mailpiece. However, for private
shipping companies the process may alternatively be carried out at
any time, Process 700 begins by scanning the mailing label to read
the postage amount previously paid by the sender (block 702). The
shipping company then calculates the actual amount of postage due
for delivery of the mailpiece (block 704). The shipper may
calculate this using any known means, including weighing the
package, determining the rate category and zone, and consulting the
shipper's rate schedule. The shipper then compares the amount paid
with the actual amount to verify (decision 706) that the
appropriate amount has been paid. If so, the shipper processes the
mail according to its standard procedures (block 708). If not, the
shipper proceeds to bill (or refund) the sender for the difference
(the adjusted postage value) (block 710).
[0035] In one embodiment, the billing (or refunding) of the
adjusted postage value may be charged to a credit card (such as the
one used to pay the initial postage amount) or deducted from a
deposit account. To account for the adjusted amount and
appropriately track who to bill, the shipper system may maintain a
database which it updates with each new purchase of postage by
storing the billing information together with the unique delivery
confirmation number and/or the unique postage number. In this way,
the unique identification of the mailpiece is permanently
associated with the sender's billing information. Alternatively,
the billing information may be encrypted and embedded in the
two-dimensional bar code on the postage indicia together with the
parcel information. Once the sender has been appropriately billed,
the parcel may then be delivered (block 708), in compliance with
regulations governing the USPS.
[0036] FIG. 8 is a flowchart describing the process performed by
the shipper system to prevent postage fraud. The process begins at
the point of purchase of the postage online. As the sender
purchases the postage, the shipper updates a postage database by
storing at least the unique postage number and the unique delivery
confirmation number (block 802). Once the delivery confirmation
number barcode and postage number are scanned (block 804), the
shipper can then verify (decision 806), against its database, that
the postage label is being used with the mailpiece for which it was
intended. If a match is not determined, then the use of the postage
label on the present mailpiece is unauthorized, and the mailpiece
is not delivered (block 808). If, however, at decision 806, a match
is found, then the postage label is being used for the parcel for
which it was produced, and the mail may be delivered (block
810).
[0037] In an alternative embodiment, the block 802 may not be
performed. Instead, as each new parcel is entered into the mail
system, the postage label may be scanned and the information
encoded therein may be entered into a new record in the database.
Similarly, as each new parcel is scanned the unique parcel number
and postage number may be compared against all other parcel numbers
and postage numbers already in the database to prevent unauthorized
duplication of the postage indicia. One of ordinary skill in the
art will recognize that it is preferable to perform this scan and
check as late in the delivery process as possible to prevent bypass
of the system. For this purpose, the shipper system may employ
portable scanners, capable of communication with the shipper system
database, to scan the items as they are delivered to their final
destination.
[0038] By these methods, the inclusion of the unique article number
in the indicia design prevents the main portion of the label from
being separated from the postage indicia. The unique article number
design also prevents a person from reusing, copying or tampering
with a label. The indication that postage was paid online (stealth
postage) in place of the postage actually paid for the mailpiece
allows for adjustments of postage as necessary and provides
shippers with the ability to not disclose the postage amount to
customers.
[0039] Other embodiments of the invention will be apparent to those
skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and
practice of the invention disclosed herein. It is intended that the
specification and examples be considered as exemplary only, with a
true scope and spirit of the invention being indicated by the
following claims.
* * * * *