Abstract: A method of printing a two-dimensional barcode by tilting the print head, which results in tilted barcode, and methods of detecting various types of attempts to forge the tilted barcode including: (i) a low level forgery that consists of a simple scan and reprint of the barcode, (ii) a low level forgery that consists of a reproduction (i.e., a read and regeneration) and subsequent printing of the barcode using a printer with a non-tilted print head by a fraudster that is not aware of the tilt in the original barcode, and (iii) a higher level forgery by a fraudster that is aware of the tilt in the original barcode and that digitally tilts/shears an image of the barcode and prints the digitally tilted/sheared image using a printer with a non-tilted print head in an effort to mimic the tilt present in the legitimate barcode.

Abstract: Methods and systems that prevent completion of postdated financial transactions until the specified future date is provided. A portion of the information necessary to complete a financial transaction is encrypted utilizing an identity-based encryption (IBE) scheme. The encryption key used to encrypt the information is associated with the date on which the transaction is authorized to be completed. The encrypted information is provided to the payee. The issuing bank provides a daily decryption key that allows decryption of information encrypted using the key associated with the corresponding date. Thus, only when the maturity date of the transaction has arrived will the payee or depositing bank be able to obtain the decryption key that will decrypt the encrypted information necessary to complete the transaction. Since the encrypted information can not be decrypted until the date associated with the encryption key, the financial transaction can not be completed until such date.

Abstract: A method for encoding a message including the steps of performing two-channel encoding of the message into a robust string and a fragile string; transmitting the robust string through a fragile channel; and transmitting the fragile string though a robust channel (FIG. 6). Before the step of performing two-channel encoding of the message into a robust string and a fragile string the number of characters in the message may be reduced to reduce the size of the encode message. The two channel encoding step includes the steps of creating the robust string by encoding the message using the codeword dictionary; and creating the fragile string by encoding the message using a compression algorithm. The robust string may be transmitted by embedding the robust string in an image. The fragile string may be transmitted by embedding the fragile string in a 2-D bar code.

Abstract: Apparatus and method of creating and printing a postal indicium incorporating a copy detection pattern (CDP) having one or more static portions, an optional semi-static portion, and one or more dynamic portions, including retrieving a previously generated static portion that is stored in a printing device, generating a dynamic portion in the printing device, combining the static and dynamic portions in the printing device to create the CDP, and printing the CDP using the printing device.

Abstract: A vote-by-mail return envelope includes a pouch for receiving a ballot. The pouch is formed from a front sheet and a rear sheet. A signature space is provided to be signed by the voter. The envelope also includes an adhesion region at which the front sheet is adhered to the rear sheet to define a boundary of the pouch. The adhesion region separates the signature space from the pouch. Further, the envelope includes a flap to be attached to at least one of the rear sheet and the front sheet to cover the signature space. The signature space may be on the flap, the rear sheet or front sheet.

Abstract: Apparatus and method of creating and printing a postal indicium incorporating a dynamic, image-dependent watermark including receiving and storing a transformed image and metadata from an electronic device, inserting a watermark or portions of a watermark into the transformed image at one or more watermarking zones specified in the metadata, performing a transform on the transformed image with the watermark or portions of the watermark inserted therein to create a printing image, and printing the postal indicium wherein the postal indicium incorporates the printing image, a barcode and human readable text.

Abstract: A method of registering a scanning grid of a scanner with a printing grid of a printer that includes placing a predetermined motif in a digital image to create a modified image, printing the modified image using the printer to create a printed modified image, scanning the printed modified image using the scanner to create a scanned modified image that includes the motif, using the motif included in the scanned modified image to determine a rotation ? of the scanning grid of the scanner with respect to the printing grid of the printer, and using the motif included in the scanned modified image to determine a translation vector that gives a position of a node of the printing grid in a coordinate system of the scanning grid.

Abstract: A postage payment label is provided which includes a substrate having an image provided thereon and a postage mark. The substrate and the image are able to transmit light of one or more first wavelengths (e.g., infrared or ultraviolet light) while the postage mark is able to absorb or reflect light of the one or more first wavelengths. Moreover, the image that is provided on the substrate is able to absorb and/or reflect light of one or more second wavelengths (e.g., visible light). Accordingly, when the image is illuminated with light of the one or more second wavelengths (e.g., visible light), the image conceals a portion or all of the postage mark. The postage mark (or relevant portion thereof), however, may be viewed when the image is illuminated with light of the one or more first wavelengths and not illuminated with light of the one or more second wavelengths.

Abstract: Methods and systems that provide privacy of signatures on envelopes containing ballots are provided. The envelope for returning ballots includes a flap with a window that aligns with a signature area on the envelope. The window appears opaque under normal lighting conditions, but appears transparent when illuminated with light within a predetermined band of wavelengths. To read the signature, light having wavelength within the predetermined band can be directed onto the window, thereby rendering the window transparent and the signature visible.

Abstract: Methods and systems that provide privacy of signatures on envelopes containing ballots are provided. The envelope for returning ballots includes a flap with a window that aligns with a signature area on the envelope. The window appears opaque under normal lighting conditions, but appears transparent when illuminated with light having a predetermined wavelength. A movable signature stub is positioned on top of the signature area. The voter signs the back of the envelope on the signature stub, thereby imprinting a signature on the signature area by transferring a material from the signature stub to the signature area, and moves the signature stub. The flap of the envelope is then sealed, thereby covering the voter's signature in the signature area with the window of the envelope flap. To read the signature, light having the predetermined wavelength can be directed onto the window, thereby rendering the window transparent and the signature visible.

Abstract: A voting system includes one or more voting machines provided at a specific location, wherein for each authorized voter one of the voting machines is adapted to record a first set of voting selections, and one or more validation machines provided at the specific location, wherein for each authorized voter one of the validation machines is adapted to present the first set of voting selections to the authorized voter and record a second set of voting selections only if the first set of voting selections is confirmed. A first vote tally is determined from the first set of voting selections of each authorized voter, and a second vote tally is determined from the second set of voting selections of each authorized voter. The first vote tally is then compared to the second vote tally, wherein a vote modification may have occurred if the tallies do not match.

Abstract: An envelope used in voting by mail includes a signature area on which the signature is affixed and a concealing portion structured to cover the signature area thereby concealing the signature. The concealing portion includes a concealing layer that is preferably positioned on top of a protective layer. The protective layer is positioned between the signature area and the concealing layer when the concealing portion covers the signature area. The concealing layer is formed from a material that is normally opaque but becomes at least partially transparent when one or more chemicals are applied to the concealing layer. The protective layer protects the signature from the one or more chemicals since the protective layer is impermeable to the one or more chemicals.

Abstract: A method of reconstructing an original image from a printed and scanned image includes determining a plurality of transformation parameters including a rotation a of the scanning grid relative to the printing grid and a plurality of translation parameters which give a position of a node on the printing grid in a coordinate system of the scanning grid, generating a system of non-linear equations which represent the printed and scanned image as a function of: (i) the original image, (ii) a print/scan resolution ratio, and (iii) the transformation parameters, computing coefficients for the system using the resolution ratio, the transformation parameters and the given print model, generating a linear approximation of the system of non-linear equations, solving the linear approximation for an approximation of the original image, and creating a reconstructed original image from the approximation of the original image.

Abstract: A method of printing a two-dimensional barcode by tilting the print head, which results in tilted barcode, and methods of detecting various types of attempts to forge the tilted barcode including: (i) a low level forgery that consists of a simple scan and reprint of the barcode, (ii) a low level forgery that consists of a reproduction (i.e., a read and regeneration) and subsequent printing of the barcode using a printer with a non-tilted print head by a fraudster that is not aware of the tilt in the original barcode, and (iii) a higher level forgery by a fraudster that is aware of the tilt in the original barcode and that digitally tilts/shears an image of the barcode and prints the digitally tilted/sheared image using a printer with a non-tilted print head in an effort to mimic the tilt present in the legitimate barcode.

Abstract: Methods and systems for validating signatures on ballots sent through the mail that do not require significant amounts of hardware and/or software to perform are provided. The envelope for returning a ballot by mail includes a signature area in which the voter will sign and a reserved area in which no markings are provided. When the envelope is received at the registrar's office, the voter's identification is scanned and the voter's registration signature is retrieved from a registration database. The signature retrieved from the registration database is then provided in the reserved area. The signatures can then be compared directly on the envelope, without the need to image the voter's signature from the envelope and without the use of monitors to display the imaged and retrieved signatures.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A method of processing votes in an election includes receiving a voter identity for a voter, receiving a vote set for the voter, providing a phrase to the voter based on the received vote set, generating a unique receipt number for the voter and providing the receipt number to the voter, and associating the voter identity and the receipt number with one another in a first function. The method further includes generating a unique vote number for the voter, associating the vote set, the vote number and the receipt number with one another in a second function, and associating the phrase and the vote number with one another in a third function that is provided to the voter. The method includes associating the vote number with the vote set in a fourth function that is accessible for purposes of later verifying proper counting and contesting of a vote.

Abstract: Methods and systems for sending e-mail messages are provided. A sender of an e-mail pays a sending fee to the service provider for each e-mail sent. Each e-mail message includes a portion that is encrypted by the sender. If the recipient desires to read the encrypted portion, the recipient will request the corresponding decryption key from the service provider. The service provider sends the decryption key to the recipient, who can then decrypt the encrypted portion of the e-mail message for reading. The service provider refunds the sending fee, or some portion thereof, to the sender for each e-mail message for which the recipient requests the decryption key, while retaining the sending fee for those e-mails for which a decryption key was not requested.

Abstract: Methods and systems for sending e-mail messages are provided. A sender of an e-mail pays a sending fee to the service provider for each e-mail sent. Each e-mail message includes a link to additional information. If the recipient desires to obtain the additional information, the recipient will request the additional information utilizing the link. The service provider, in response to the request by the recipient, sends the additional information to the recipient. The service provider refunds the sending fee, or some portion thereof, to the sender for each e-mail message for which the recipient requests the additional information, while retaining the sending fee for those e-mails for which the additional information was not requested.

Abstract: A method and form for an integrated voting system includes a single sheet having ballot information, verification information and mailing information thereon. The sheet is folded to form various panels including a first and a second panel having ballot information thereon. Sealing means is provided on one of the first and second panels and located to obscure the ballot information from view when used seal the first and the second panels. A verification panel is attached to the first and said second ballot panels to provide for verification. A first mailing panel is attached to one of the first and the second ballot panel and said verification panel to form an outer mailing envelope such that the ballot panels and verification panel can be mailed to a voting authority for processing. The panels may be of different heights to facilitate processing by a voting authority.