Abstract: Systems and methods for providing market segmentation using a unique two-stage clustering system are provided. The system may also employ regional interpolation and estimation methods that account for local business environment. In certain additional configurations, a generic geo-firmographic model is enhanced with seller data such as data specific to a particular vertical market and/or data specific to a particular seller's business customers.

Abstract: Methods and systems that allow a user to receive location-based services for user selected businesses while maintaining the privacy of his/her location when not in the vicinity of a user selected business. A user designates selected businesses to the LBS provider. The user's mobile device sends its location, in encrypted form, to the LBS provider. The LBS provider performs a computation on the encrypted location and returns an encrypted result to the user's mobile device. The user's mobile device decrypts the result and determines whether the user is near any selected businesses based on the decrypted result. Only if the decrypted result indicates the user is near an approved location will the users mobile device return its location, in an unencrypted form, to the LBS provider. Thus, the LBS provider will only know the user's location if and only if the use is near a business selected by the user.

Abstract: Systems and methods for efficient user authentication in a client-server system using a tiered, risk-based approach including a no-risk tier are provided. When a user requests access to the system for a no-risk feature, the user is registered without an additional authentication test. When the user later requests a higher risk transaction, the user is provided with the appropriate third-party additional authentication test based upon the risk level and applicable vendor profile. During no-risk access to the system, user data is collected that may be used with the additional authentication test at the appropriate time.

Abstract: A printer having a printer deck and a media support mechanism having a flexible biased mount is provided. In one configuration, the media support mechanism includes an adjustable side guide that is mounted in a biased clamp mechanism. The biased clamp mechanism includes opposing clamps arranged in the same plane that each have two portions with at least one biased toward the other portion. Each opposing clamp includes a top portion and a bottom portion fixed to the printer deck by a shoulder bolt wherein the bottom portion engages a coil spring and is spring biased from the deck toward the top portion of the clamp to engage the mounting portion of the side guide. The coil springs are selected to apply sufficient force to facilitate holding the side guide sufficiently in place during operation and to also allow a reasonable force to adjust the width of the side guide.

Abstract: A method and system for mail run balancing of critical documents on a sorter machine that comingles both critical and non-critical documents. A plan identifying a set of critical documents to be processed as part of a mail run is received at the sorter. The plan includes an individual identifier code for each critical document. Sets of critical and non-critical documents are sorted as part of the comingled mail run. A camera scans the documents for the individual identifier codes on the critical documents during sorting. The camera captures an image of the scanned critical documents. A list of scanned individual identifier codes of sorted critical documents is stored for later use, along with the captured images of the documents. The list of scanned individual identifier codes is compared to the identifier codes of the critical documents in the plan.

Abstract: A method includes scanning a check to generate image data representative of an image of the check. The method further includes detecting at least one security feature of the check. The method also includes transforming the image data to include at least one encoded indication of the detected at least one security feature of the check.

Abstract: An apparatus for accumulating sheet material in a sheet handling system including a first conveyance, a second conveyance, an auxiliary conveyance and a processor to control the conveyances based upon a selected operating mode. The first conveyance receives singulated sheets and conveys the sheets to an accumulator station to produce completed collations. The second conveyance is operative to dispense completed collations from the accumulator station and, receives the completed collations from the first conveyance, in one operating mode, and from the auxiliary conveyance in another operating mode when the first conveyance is inoperative. The processor is responsive to a next collation signal, to control the conveyances based upon a selected one of the operating modes.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing an expedited login process that is relatively fast and that still provides a reasonable level of security and a reasonable method for mitigating compromised login information are described. In one configuration, a web server sends an anonymous unique machine readable login identifier code to a browser display of a client computer. A server account holding user then uses his smartphone to scan the code and send a message including the login identifier code and a smartphone identifier code to the server. The server obtains the identity of the user and authenticates the user by determining possession of the smartphone using the smartphone identifier. The server then uses the login identifier code to log the user into the server and into the user account at the client computer.

Abstract: A divert assembly is described for a mailpiece sorter operative to sort mailpieces into one of a plurality of sortation bins. The divert assembly comprising a re-direct mechanism for selectively re-directing mailpieces travelling along a feed path into the sortation bin and causing each selected mailpiece to be re-directed at an angle relative to the stack of mailpieces to be accumulated in the sortation bin. The divert assembly also including a stacking assembly including a Leading Edge (LE) urge roller, a support blade, and a Trailing Edge (TE) alignment device. The LE urge roller accepts and urges each of the selected mailpieces toward a sidewall of the sortation bin while the support blade holds each of the selected mailpieces between the urge roller and the support blade and in an on-edge parallel relationship relative thereto. The support blade is moveably mounted relative to the LE urge roller to allow the accumulation of additional mailpieces between the LE urge roller and the support blade.

Abstract: A system and method for wrapping sheet material to produce finished mailpieces includes an upstream content module, a downstream mailpiece assembly module including a wrapper module adapted to encapsulate content material, and a buffer module interposing the upstream content and downstream assembly modules. The buffer module includes a plurality of buffer gates adapted to convey the content material from an upstream gate to a downstream gate to maintain a threshold pitch distance between successive pieces of content material. A controller is operatively coupled to the modules and controls the conveyance of content material through the buffer gates. More specifically, the controller coordinates the delivery and insertion of content material into the wrapper module to minimize dry-holes, maintain stresses below a threshold level to ensure continued operation, and optimize system throughput.

Abstract: Labels that may selectively provide signaling are shown. In one example, a fluorescent signaling section of a label may be perforated and may be mechanically removed from the main portion of the label to selectively provide a label that does not emit a fluorescent signal. In another example, a thermal printer is used to quench a fluorescent section of a label so that it does not emit a fluorescent signal.

Abstract: Printing methods and systems that provide both a secure value label printing mode of operation and a non-secure mode of operation that allows generic printing of non-value items without compromising the security feature of the secure printing mode are described. If the printing system determines the image is a non-secure image such as an address label or other non-value graphic, the printing system utilizes the non-secure mode and disables the use certain printhead elements. In such a system, the enforced print disabled white bands are enforced in non-secure mode such as by actually disabling the print drive mechanism that allows a row to be printed or by populating certain regions of the print buffer with zero values.

Abstract: A system and method for modeling consumer activity based on social media and mobile activity data is provided. The location of a consumer and time at which the consumer is present at such location can be obtained using social media and mobile activity data. This data can be analyzed to identify areas frequented by a consumer, and those areas can be classified into different groups based on, for example, the time of the day, the day of week, and other information that can be obtained from the social media and mobile activity data. The resulting analysis can provide an estimated home area and work area, and other insights into the consumer (e.g., where the consumer travels). This consumer activity can be used by a business to provide relevant, targeted advertising to potential customers based on the models obtained from the social media and mobile activity data.

Abstract: A method and system for providing services to a mail delivery point are presented. According to the method, a delivery point identifier is acquired from a device located at the delivery point. Then, delivery point data is accessed corresponding to the delivery point identifier, and mail delivery services are provided in response to the delivery point data. The delivery point data are modifiable by a recipient who receives physical mail at the delivery point, and the delivery point data includes recipient preferences.

Abstract: The invention can be used with an automated mail tray filling apparatus for taking envelopes from a vertical stacker output of an inserter machine and placing them in mail trays. A take-away feeder is positioned over the vertical stacker table and is arranged to withdraw individual envelopes from the vertical stack in a sideways direction. The envelope is then redirected in a downward direction by ejecting the envelope into an open space. A downward tamping mechanism positioned above the open space moves downward to push on a top edge of the free-floating envelope. A downward transport positioned beneath the open space receives and transports envelopes pushed downward by the downward tamping mechanism.

Abstract: An illustrative data structure is provided using a structured table that uses a split primary key including a first key, referred to as a partition key, and a second key, referred to as a row key, along with a timestamp key, but that does not otherwise utilize uniform columns that can be used as a key. The partition key that is utilized is unusually fine in that it consists of an individual user identifier that is unique to the system and/or across multiple systems used in an enterprise. Additionally, the system can limit access to one session per individual partition key.

Abstract: A system and method for providing redundant customer communications delivery using hybrid delivery channels is provided. In one configuration, the system utilizes an initial delivery channel to send a batch of customer communications and later utilizes a different, delayed backup delivery channel to reseed only a subset of those communications as deemed necessary.

Abstract: A stacking assembly is operative to protect stacked mailpieces from damage due to abrasion. The stacking assembly includes a support blade moveably mounted to a bin for accepting a stack of mailpieces and an ingestion assembly including a Leading Edge (LE) urge roller and Trailing Edge (TE) alignment device. The LE urge roller is operative to accept mailpieces from a supply of mailpieces, and urge a leading edge portion thereof toward a sidewall of the stacking bin. The TE alignment device includes a first cam driven about an axis of rotation by a digital rotary positioning device which cam defines a surface operative to urge the trailing edge portion of each mailpiece into parallel alignment with the support blade. The stacking assembly also includes an anti-abrasion linkage responsive to rotation of the digital rotary positioning device to forcibly displace a surface of the stacked mailpieces away from a moving surface of the ingestion assembly.

Abstract: A divert assembly is described for a mailpiece sorter operative to sort mailpieces into one of a plurality of sortation bins. The divert assembly comprising a re-direct mechanism for selectively re-directing mailpieces travelling along a feed path into the sortation bin and causing each selected mailpiece to be re-directed at an angle relative to the stack of mailpieces to be accumulated in the sortation bin. The divert assembly also including a stacking assembly including a Leading Edge (LE) urge roller, a support blade, and a Trailing Edge (TE) alignment device. The LE urge roller accepts and urges each of the selected mailpieces toward a sidewall of the sortation bin while the support blade holds each of the selected mailpieces between the urge roller and the support blade and in an on-edge parallel relationship relative thereto. The support blade is moveably mounted relative to the LE urge roller to allow the accumulation of additional mailpieces between the LE urge roller and the support blade.

Abstract: An image encryption method that includes receiving image data based on an image, wherein the image data comprises a plurality of pixel values, and permuting a plurality of, and preferably all of, the pixel values using at least a secret key to create permuted image data. Also, an image decryption method that includes scanning a printed image to create scanned image data. The printed image is generated from permuted image data that is generated by permuting a plurality of first pixel values of first image data using at least a secret key, obtaining a plurality of second pixel values from the scanned image data, and reverse-permuting a plurality of the second pixel values using at least the secret key to create reverse-permuted scanned image data.