Patents Assigned to Pitney-Bowes
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Patent number: 9165411Abstract: Methods and systems that allow a sender of a mail piece to easily specify delivery instructions and/or services for a mail piece and that allows mail processing systems to identify and account for the specified delivery instructions and/or services without the need for any pre-sorting or input of information prior to processing the mail piece. The sender of a mail piece provides a marking on the mail piece representing instructions desired for delivering the mail piece. A mail processing system utilized to process the mail piece reads the marking provided on the mail piece, and based on the type/color of the marking, interprets the delivery instructions requested by the sender. The mail processing system processes the mail piece according to the instructions requested by the sender based on the marking provided on the mail piece by the sender.Type: GrantFiled: December 16, 2005Date of Patent: October 20, 2015Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.Inventors: Thomas J. Foth, James A. Euchner, Jill M. Lawrence, Donna L. Gambino, Michael P. Swenson, Theresa Biasi
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Patent number: 9159100Abstract: Systems and methods for managing business machine assets are described. In one configuration, the system analyzes alternate cost structures and provides for alternate asset model replacement suggestions. The asset management system provides for asset comparison analysis. The system uses historical data for a current asset and charts potential replacement asset performance using those historical parameters or predicted or entered future parameters. In an alternative configuration, the compare and contrast report does not include the current asset, but only compares potential replacement assets.Type: GrantFiled: April 23, 2003Date of Patent: October 13, 2015Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.Inventors: Terrence M. Doeberl, Paul Ernest Duedall, Mark E. Hogan, John D. Goldson
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Patent number: 9158491Abstract: A method for open systems printing including routing print jobs automatically from different types of source computers to different types of printers without the source computers selecting printers for each print job. The method including routing print jobs automatically from an arbitrary number of source computers to an arbitrary number of printers without the source computers selecting printers for each print job. The method using a print server for use with different types of source computers and different types of printers, the print server directs print jobs received from the source computers to the printers without the source computers selecting printers for each print job. The print server being for use with an arbitrary number of similar types of source computers and an arbitrary number of similar types of printers, the print server directing print jobs received from the source computers to the printers without the source computers selecting printers for each print job.Type: GrantFiled: March 16, 2009Date of Patent: October 13, 2015Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.Inventors: Oren S. Leiman, Clive H. Moss, Albert Aiello, Jr.
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Publication number: 20150287144Abstract: A system and method that can match closed account records to active account records for use in analyzing multi-account customer locations across several time periods is provided. The output contains the best possible groupings of the active and inactive customer accounts. The process begins with the most recent view of the customer and goes back in the history of the match results generated using the known four part process. The process generates new groupings of the active and inactive entities of the same customer locations using different rules for historical groups to determine in which new groupings each old group should be placed. The new groupings group together not only the current accounts of a business location but also the accounts that used to belong to that location earlier during the period being analyzed to allow for a complete analysis of the customer location.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 4, 2014Publication date: October 8, 2015Applicant: Pitney Bowes Inc.Inventor: VADIM L STELMAN
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Patent number: 9153085Abstract: Various election methods are provided wherein voters are able to verify their votes through public means. In one embodiment, each of the ballots includes a ballot identifier and each of the choices thereon is associated with a selection identifier. After the completed ballots are received by the voting authority, the authority publishes the ballot identifiers obtained from the ballots in association with the selection identifiers of the selected choices to enable each voter to verify his or her vote. In another embodiment, the voter provides the ballot identifier and the selection identifiers of the selected choices on a delivery mechanism (e.g., envelope). The relevant identifiers are then obtained by the authority from the delivery mechanisms and published. In another embodiment, the voters generate their own selection identifiers on the ballot which are then published by the authority to enable each voter to verify his or her vote.Type: GrantFiled: May 11, 2007Date of Patent: October 6, 2015Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.Inventors: James A. Euchner, Bertrand Haas
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Patent number: 9141824Abstract: A system and methods to provide updates of an oblivious database that is based on an original database without compromising privacy guarantees, and without requiring a periodic downtime to re-initialize the database. According to embodiments of the present invention, update caches are provided at the random servers that are not emptied or sent to the oblivious database after every update in a predictable fashion. Instead, updates are made incrementally to the oblivious database in an order that is independent of how the original database is updated. Hence there is no way for the server to learn which record of the oblivious database corresponds to an updated block from the original database.Type: GrantFiled: April 30, 2014Date of Patent: September 22, 2015Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.Inventor: Femi Olumofin
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Patent number: 9137631Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: December 27, 2012Date of Patent: September 15, 2015Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.Inventors: Yassir Nawaz, Jun Zhang, Christian A Geske
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Patent number: 9117209Abstract: A method facilitating a transaction between a camera-phone user and a business entity. The business entity produces a printed medium indicating a transaction. The printed medium includes a barcode that includes direct contact data for communicating with the business entity. The barcode further includes specific transaction data relating to the transaction in the printed medium. Using the digital camera feature, the user captures a digital image of the barcode. The camera-phone is programmed to decode the digital image to retrieve the direct contact data and the transaction data embedded in the barcode. The camera-phone then automatically initiates a direct communication with the business entity via the mobile communications device using the decoded direct contact data. One communications are established, the camera phone further transmits the transaction data derived from the barcode to further facilitate the transaction.Type: GrantFiled: June 28, 2010Date of Patent: August 25, 2015Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.Inventors: Pradeep K. Das, David W. Spencer
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Patent number: 9117317Abstract: A method for creating an intelligent physical mailpiece includes looking up a mailpiece preference of an addressee concerning mail received by the addressee. A physical mailpiece to the addressee is prepared and includes on the mailpiece the addressee preference. The mailpiece is scanned to determine the addressee preference. The mailpiece may also be processed to link the owner of a meter employed to imprint an indicia on the mailpiece to the mailpiece. The intelligent physical mailpiece system may include a database of recipient preferences. A sender mail creation means is coupled to the recipient preference database. A processor is coupled to a scanner. A communications means is coupled between the processor and the sender mail creation means for communicating recipient preferences to the sender mail creation means for storage in the database of recipient preferences.Type: GrantFiled: October 26, 2006Date of Patent: August 25, 2015Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.Inventors: Richard W. Heiden, Arthur J. Parkos, John F. Braun, Jean-Hiram Coffy, Bertrand Haas, Bradley R. Hammell
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Patent number: 9081952Abstract: Systems and methods for efficient and timely electronic new user authentication in a digital mailbox system using a sliding scale approach to include one or more identity authentication systems as appropriate for system security needs are provided. The system first obtains new user name and address data. Because the address is an important data point, the system first verifies the address before expending the resources of an identity data search. If the address is valid, the system calls an identity verification system and provides an identity quiz to the user based upon additional identity verification data. If the user passes the quiz, then a new account is setup and any other systems users having an account at that address are notified.Type: GrantFiled: December 31, 2011Date of Patent: July 14, 2015Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.Inventors: Surya R. Sagi, Kevin Jonsson, Bernard E. Gracy
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Patent number: 9084218Abstract: Methods and systems for a user to receive location-based services for user selected locations while maintaining the privacy of his/her location unless in the vicinity of a user selected location. A user designates selected locations to the LBS provider. The LBS provider digitally signs grid cell identifiers of approved locations and the signatures are stored in the user's mobile device. The mobile device determines the grid cell identifier of its current location, blinds the grid cell identifier, and sends the blinded grid cell identifier to the LBS provider. The LBS provider digitally signs the blinded grid cell identifier, and returns the signature to the mobile device. The mobile device removes the blinding from the blinded signature to obtain the digital signature for the grid cell identifier. The user's mobile device then compares the signature of the grid cell identifier with those stored in its memory to determine whether the user is near any approved locations.Type: GrantFiled: May 23, 2013Date of Patent: July 14, 2015Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.Inventor: Yassir Nawaz
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Patent number: 9079451Abstract: A document processing machine such as an envelope opener for moving a document in a longitudinal direction and a device for cutting off a portion of the document is described. The document processing machine includes, adjacent to the cutting device, a mobile guide path for the cut-off portion of the document that is adapted to support and drive the cut-off portion in an ejection direction.Type: GrantFiled: March 9, 2009Date of Patent: July 14, 2015Assignee: SECAP Groupe Pitney BowesInventors: Julie Dudret, Patrick Fournier, Jean-Christian Maleyran, Francois Reby
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Publication number: 20150186832Abstract: A method and system facilitate and enhance electronic transactions performed over a computer network. A server transmits transaction information to a remote device having location detection capability, such as GPS. The transmitted information includes a message prompting a user to enter the user's location information. This prompt is preferably in the form of a selectable option for the user to automatically populate the location information from the device's location detection capability for the transaction. Upon selection of the option by the user, location information is sent to the server from the remote device. Received coordinates are reverse geocoded to identify at least one matching address for the coordinates. The at least one matching address is then entered into a transaction database as an address relevant to the transaction.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 31, 2013Publication date: July 2, 2015Applicant: Pitney Bowes Software Inc.Inventor: Vedat Kaplan
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Publication number: 20150174848Abstract: An improved mailpiece fabrication system assembles finished mailpieces from content materials and from wrapping materials. The wrapping materials include printed cut quality marks at predetermined positions relative to cut lines. Content materials are placed on the continuous web. The continuous web is then folded and sealed around the content materials to form a continuous tube enclosing the content materials. A cutter downstream of the conveyance deck cuts individual envelopes from the continuous tube of folded wrapping material. A downstream imaging device captures image data indicative of a cut quality mark on the individual envelopes. A controller receives the captured image data from the imaging device and compares an actual dimension of an imaged cut quality mark with an expected dimension of a cut quality mark. An error signal is produced if the difference is not within a predetermined tolerance.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 19, 2013Publication date: June 25, 2015Applicant: Pitney Bowes Inc.Inventor: Xavier Padros
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Patent number: 9065801Abstract: A network connectivity device that when coupled to a mail processing machine enables a cloud application running on a personal computer or other device to interface with and control the mail processing machine without requiring any software to be installed on the personal computer other than a web browser. The network connectivity device plugs into a standard USB port on the mail processing machine to allow wired or wireless connectivity to a network. There is no software or other code required to run on the personal computer other than a standard web browser running a hosted web application. The network connectivity device allows the mail processing machine to be found and addressed by the hosted web application. This allows a user to control operations of the mail processing machine, as well as giving the mail processing machine network connectivity for outside world communication activities.Type: GrantFiled: May 24, 2012Date of Patent: June 23, 2015Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.Inventors: Walter J. Baker, Wesley A. Kirschner, George T. Monroe, Sambasivam Thillaikumaran
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Patent number: 9057005Abstract: A powder and gel concentrate for a sealing solution is provided. The concentrate is comprised of a biocide, dye and acid buffer. This concentrate can be hydrated or dissolved using standard tap (mineralized) water to produce a sealing solution. The acid buffer keeps the minerals in the tap water suspended in solution, thereby preventing the solid scale (mineral build-up) that would otherwise clog the filters of a sealing system.Type: GrantFiled: March 22, 2013Date of Patent: June 16, 2015Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.Inventor: Michael S. Ryan
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Patent number: 9037661Abstract: Systems and methods for integrated delivery and storage of digital mail are provided that combine consumer driven opt-in preferences with mailer driven matching criteria to ensure more accurate delivery. In one configuration the system obtains a digital mail piece intended for a particular digital mailbox. The system determines user opt-in preferences for the digital mail piece and obtains mailer matching criteria data associated with the digital mail piece. The system then delivers the digital mail piece to the digital mailbox only if consistent with the opt-in preferences and the matching criteria data.Type: GrantFiled: December 31, 2011Date of Patent: May 19, 2015Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.Inventors: Bernard E. Gracy, Surya R. Sagi
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Patent number: 9031931Abstract: Systems and methods for providing database query results to a user in an intuitive graphical format are provided. The system utilizes an intuitive graphical user interface dashboard that displays top-level query statistics data and selected record cards to the user in the dashboard. The user may iteratively update the query and the displayed top-level query statistics and selected records cards are updated in real time. Each customer card include customizable fields and supports intelligent zoom to provide additional fields and data as the user zooms into each successive smaller group of cards and eventually down to opening a single customer card.Type: GrantFiled: December 28, 2012Date of Patent: May 12, 2015Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.Inventors: Patrick D. Surry, Ellen M. Kingsley, Jeffrey M. Nicholson
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Patent number: 9020860Abstract: A system and method for preparing mail packages to be sent to recipients includes a carrier envelope with a front address window and a back window. A content document having a style code printed on it is positioned at the back of the carrier envelope. The content style code is positioned to be visible through the back window of the carrier envelope. A reply envelope is enclosed with an address area aligned with the front window of the carrier envelope. Mail packages are prepared by storing a corresponding content style for the recipient. While transported, the content style code is scanned. From the style code, a recipient having the corresponding content style is selected from the stored list. That recipients name and address are printed onto the address area of the reply envelope.Type: GrantFiled: December 2, 2009Date of Patent: April 28, 2015Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.Inventors: Valentino Guyett, William Greenway, Marc Grimm, Roger B. Hosler
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Patent number: 8987626Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: October 24, 2012Date of Patent: March 24, 2015Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.Inventors: Robert J. Allen, Thomas M Lyga, David Purcell, Brad A Swinford