Abstract: Systems and methods for customizing direct marketing mail pieces are described. In one configuration, information relating to an advertiser is customized using demographic, psychographic, addressee, and/or individual profile data. In another configuration, environmental data is utilized to customize direct mail pieces using a two part printing process.

Abstract: A computer receives information that indicates viewing and/or skipping of television commercials by a number of viewers. The computer uses the information to compile statistics that summarize viewing and/or skipping of the television commercials within a geographical area. Based on the statistics, an advertising solicitation is selected by the geographic area and is dispatched on paper to recipients in the geographical area.

Abstract: A method for customizing direct marketing campaigns, by utilizing relationships within a computer social network and information that is known about the social network members to find the best opportunity to provide an offer for goods and services to potential customers; providing offers for the goods and the services via the computer based upon receiving recommendations from acquaintances of potential customers via the social networks; and sending offers to the potential customers via the computer on behalf of their acquaintance.

Abstract: A computer method that is used to control call center volumes for a range of dates. The method involves utilizing previous mailing campaign and call center response data to determine when the mail arrives in the home and when a call center is contacted in response to information in the mail; predicting the call center volumes based initially on the previous campaign and call center response data and as the mailing campaign and call center responses progresses updating call center predictions based on current mailing campaign data; and determining in home mail volumes needed to control call center volumes.

Abstract: Methods and systems for dispensing value are described. In one configuration, a unique tangible indicia is enabled with a value and then disabled after the value is redeemed. In another configuration, a user enables a unique coded stamp and associates a postage payment with the stamp. The postal service cancels the stamp by deactivating the stamp from a list of active stamps and optionally audits the payment association.

Abstract: Systems and methods for delayed function activation in a responsive environment are described. A responsive environment includes an intermediary system and notification manager to determine when a responsive environment will launch an application triggered by a sensed event. The environment includes sensor components and transparent software components that reside wholly within the environment for providing responsiveness. The environment also includes interactive software components that give users the means to provide input and/or experience output. Since changes to the interaction components may disrupt the user by requiring the user's attention when it is not convenient, the system helps the user manage the responsive environment by using an application/function delay technique. The environment uses an intelligence and notification mechanism to determine what might be useful and primes the apparatus to provide that functionality. However, the user actually initiates the execution of that function.

Abstract: Systems and methods for optimizing postage costs in a direct marketing mail campaign are described. In one configuration, an efficient, advertiser-based direct mail targeting mailing list creation system is described. It may then be utilized to add names to an existing direct mail list in order to optimize postage costs associated with such a mailing campaign. In another configuration, a managed, rolling direct mail campaign is utilized to provide a standby group of mail pieces used over time to optimize postage costs associated with a first mailing campaign.

Abstract: Systems and methods for customizing direct marketing mail pieces are described. In one configuration, information relating to an advertiser is customized using demographic, psychographic, addressee, and/or individual profile data. In another configuration, environmental data is utilized to customize direct mail pieces using a two part printing process.

Abstract: The present application describes systems and methods for composing and sending facsimile messages using a digital pointing instrument. In further configurations, a user utilizes a pen to indicate a reference to a document that is appended to the outgoing facsimile. In another further configuration, the user utilizes a form having pre-defined regions that are used to correlate a pen stroke with a desired action.

Abstract: A method for obtaining mail discounts by determining a date a mail piece should be mailed and adjusting the date the mail piece is mailed to fill one or more mailing trays with mail pieces that were originally planned to be mailed on different dates to obtain postal discounts

Abstract: The present application describes systems and methods for creating a document having metadata using a pointing device such as a digital pen. In one configuration, a digital pen captures pen stroke data and processes that data to determine metadata that the pen then writes to metadata storage located on the document.

Abstract: The present application describes systems and methods for composing documents using a digital pointing instrument. In further configurations, a user utilizes a pen to trace a form serial number that is utilized to identify a form template that is used to process input data from a digital pen.

Abstract: A coordinated direct marketing contact strategy between the direct mailing and the other marketing channels. The method determines the marketing prospect names that are common between the direct mailing and the other marketing channels being used in the direct marketing campaign. Then, using mail prediction with the common names between marketing channels the method determines the probability of the prospect receiving the mail piece on a certain date or dates. For each common name the method calculates the contact date(s) for the other contact channels based on the marketers contact strategy and the predicted in home dates. The method then aggregates the individual contact strategies into an overall contact strategy which enables other channels to coordinate with the direct mailing. This process is repeated over several campaigns to benchmark campaign performance that can then be used to analyze and refine future campaign execution.

Abstract: The present application describes systems and methods for composing documents using a digital pointing instrument. In further configurations, a user utilizes a pen to partially fill in a form and provide destination data whereby a forms processor adds additionally required information to the form in order to compose a complete form that is sent to the destination.

Abstract: A system and method for providing secure, on-demand printing of documents delivered to a printing device is disclosed. A user logs onto a delivery system using a mobile device and selects a document to be printed along with a destination printing device. The delivery system encrypts the document to be delivered and creates a key that is sent to the mobile device. The delivery system sends the encrypted document to the destination printing device where it is stored. When the user is physically at the destination printing device, a connection is established between the mobile device and the destination printing device. The mobile device identifies to the printing device the document to be printed and sends the key to the printing device. The printing device uses the key to decrypt the document and then prints the document.

Abstract: Systems and methods for determining location by implication are described. A responsive environment includes a location determination method that operates in an area that is only partially instrumented with location-sensing devices. Some of the with location-sensing devices sense location ambiguously. For example, a location-sensing device may be deployed at a boundary between two target objects or areas of interest. The location of the target object, as reported by such devices, is considered ambiguous. While the object or person is known to be in a space, it is not clear which specific space. The location of ambiguously located objects can be disambiguated based on changes in the location of other objects. For example, if a document is placed on a shelf in an office, such action strongly implies that someone is in the office. Therefore, if a person is known to potentially be in the office or the outside hallway, the person's location is changed to be in the office.

Abstract: A method and system for authenticating the sender of a mailpiece is described for identifying certain mailpieces as originating from known trusted senders. In one configuration, biometric information and/or biometric metadata is captured when a user writes on a mailpiece with a digital pen. That data is then compared to reference data in a database. Registrant data is then loaded into storage device on the mailpiece and may be digitally signed and/or encrypted by the trusted third party. In another configuration, a mailpiece includes the signature of a sender and the biometric data includes authentication data obtained from the signature that is compared to the biometric data related to the signature obtained during a sender registration process.

Abstract: The present application describes systems and methods for identifying the version of a form using a digital pointing device. In one example, a form includes an RFID tap or barcode including a form version number. When a user is prepared to fill in the form, the digital pen checks a form database to determine if the form version is acceptable. If the form version is not acceptable, the digital pen indicates to the user that the form is not acceptable using an indicator.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method and system for remote receipt of a message, such as a telephone, e-mail, facsimile or paper message. A server or data center is provided for receiving messages from a sender communicating with a recipient mobile device. The mobile device is then prompted to notify the recipient that a message is waiting. If the recipient desires to receive the message, he/she indicates this on his/her mobile device. The mobile device and the device which will receive the message, i.e., the destination device, are provided with a tag for wireless communication. The message recipient is prompted to bring the mobile device in close enough proximity to the destination device such that the tag sends information about the destination devise to the mobile device. The mobile device communicates the information via wireless communications means with the data center.

Abstract: A method for rerouting mailpieces in a carrier distribution system includes the steps of receiving a plurality of mailpieces within the carrier distribution system; dynamically determining criteria defining a suspect group of mailpieces; automatically detecting the presence of the plurality of mailpieces within the carrier distribution system; identifying suspect mailpieces form the plurality of mailpieces by automatically detecting within the carrier distribution system which of the plurality of mailpieces meet the criteria defining the suspect group of mailpieces; and outsorting the suspect mailpieces for evaluation. A postal distribution system incorporates the method.