Abstract: A method and system for detecting chemical or biological hazards in items is provided. A plurality of incoming mail mailboxes each include a sampler to sample air from a letter that is tested using a first sensor. Source information corresponding to hazard flagged mail pieces is utilized to block mail from that source at other mailboxes.

Abstract: A method and system for detecting chemical or biological hazards in items is provided. An incoming mail mailbox includes a sampler to sample air from a letter that is tested using a first sensor and then placed in a receptacle having an environment that is tested using a second sensor.

Abstract: A method and system for notifying users of a mail system that a mail piece has been quarantined is provided. A plurality of incoming mail mailboxes each include a sampler to sample air from a letter that is tested using a first sensor. Source information corresponding to hazard flagged mail pieces and other quarantined mail is utilized to notify the affected users of the mail system.

Abstract: A system that determines if mail contains life-harming materials before the mail enters the interior of a receptacle, i.e., mail box. This invention accomplishes the foregoing by issuing identification cards that uniquely identify mailers; having a scanner at a receptacle read the identification card and send the unique identifying code contained in the card to a data center that checks if the card is genuine; and stores the card's unique code before mail is permitted to enter the interior of the receptacle.

Abstract: A system that enables recipients of letters, flats and/or packages (hereinafter “mail”) that are addressed to a recipient to determine the identity of the person or group that placed a indicia and other information on mail, i.e., the person or group who was issued unique stamps and/or labels by the post. This invention accomplishes the foregoing by storing unique information that is affixed to mail and the identify of the mailer; having a scanner at a receptacle read the unique information before mail is permitted to enter the interior of the receptacle, and communicating to the recipient information regarding the delivered mail.

Abstract: A method and system that enable the recipient of letters, flats and/or packages (hereinafter “mail”) that are addressed to the recipient to determine the identity of the person or group that placed an indicia and other information on mail, i.e., the person or group who applied for a license to use the meter before the recipient opened the mail. The invention accomplishes the foregoing by: scanning mail in recipient's home or office that is addressed to the recipient which may contain material that may or may not be life-harming; capturing an image of the face of the mail, which includes the name and physical address of the recipient and the postal indicia; and processing the image on the face of the mail to identify the mailer and the mail to assess the possibility of the presence of life-harming material in the mail.

Abstract: A system that determines if mail contains life-harming materials before the mail enters the interior of a receptacle, i.e., mail box. This invention accomplishes the foregoing by scanning mail in a control chamber of a receptacle that is addressed to a recipient which contains material that may or may not be life-harming; capturing an image of the face of the mail, which includes the name and physical address of the recipient and the postal indicia; processing the image on the face of the mail to identify the mailer and the mail to access the possibility of the presence of life-harming material in the mail. If certain information in the image on the face of the mail is known, the mail will be allowed to enter an inner chamber of the receptacle.

Abstract: A system that supplies permanent and human and machine readable evidence that a approved printer was used to print the indicia affixed to a mail piece. The system will first capture the postal customer's or mailers printer type and configuration setting information, paper, ink, or toner combination and then use the foregoing information to enable printing of the Information-Based Indicia, if the active printer going to print the indicia is found on a stored (local or remote) “Information-Based Indicia Approved Printer's List”. Then the system will add this same printer information to the USPS defined Information-Based Indicia print field format so as to provide evidence that an approved printer was used. The foregoing printer information may be printed in a coded form on the Information-Based Indicia to automate the sortation of indicium that can not be read.

Abstract: A method and system for determining if a mail piece contains a loose particulate matter is disclosed. The mass of each mail piece is determined twice utilizing a vibrating tray scale. During one determination, the mass of everything contained within the mail piece, including any type of loose particulate matter, is included. During the other determination, the mass of any loose particulate matter contained within the mail piece is not included. If the mail piece contains any type of loose particulate matter, there will be a difference in the masses of the mail piece as determined by the vibrating tray scale, indicating the mail piece may contain a lose particulate matter. The mail piece can then be diverted from the normal processing path for further inspection, thereby preventing cross-contamination of other mail pieces and processing equipment.

Abstract: The invention makes it easier for the post office to calculate accurately terminal dues by providing information to the post regarding each piece or parcel of mail that crosses an international border. The invention also makes it easier for the post offices to calculate terminal dues by obtaining fee information from mail that is sent internationally. The foregoing is accomplished by placing an indication on the mail that the fees for delivering the mail have been paid or will be paid by a mailer who has an account with the post office; sorting the mail to find international mail; storing the fees that have been paid or will be paid for international mail; reporting the fees that have been paid for international mail to all participating post offices; and calculating the fees that are to be transferred to participating post offices.

Abstract: A method that enables the post to deliver letters, flats, post cards and packages (mail) addressed to a recipient name and unique code to be delivered directly to the recipient. Mail addressed to a name and a unique code would be captured by the post during the posts sortation process and rerouted to the delivery address of the unique code.

Abstract: A Merchandise Return Label may be printed with a unique number on a buyer's computer printer and paid for by the seller's postage meter. Goods mailed with the Merchandise Return Label will be considered metered mail. Returned goods may be delivered directly to the buyer, and postal employees will not have to manually complete the Merchandise Return Label. Since the mailing of the returned goods was paid for by a postage meter, the Post Office would not have to receive payment from the seller when the seller receives the package.

Abstract: A system that hides information in a customer supplied graphic. The apparatus of this invention provides a device for verifiable security in a postage meter or other devices using dot or drop printing. Security is achieved by counting the number of signal pulses that are used to produce ink drops or ink dots that are required to reproduce the customer supplied graphic. The aforementioned may be accomplished by adding a smart module to digital print head modules. The smart module would capture driver pulses from the print head module and interpret the pulses associated with regions of the graphic. Thus, the smart module would take data from the printer controller that is used to cut off printing when the ink is consumed and relate “set” values to the drops produced during the production of the graphic or portions of the graphic, thereby linking the postal value printed in the indicia to the information hidden in the graphic or portions of the graphic.

Abstract: An automatic method for reading a graphic field on a ticket so that the ticket may be processed quickly without human error. The graphic field is designed to produce a “tell”, a visible known image (a large number of detectable halftone gray steps) when printed by a personal computer printer. Additionally, the graphic field will change in appearance when the ticket originally printed by the personal computer printer is digitally reproduced by either scanning or photocopying.

Abstract: A system for maintaining a record of the postage that has been applied to a mail piece and the characteristics of the mail piece and the contents of the mail piece that identify the amount of value added tax that is included in the postage. The value added tax mail monitoring system includes: a plurality of mailers digital units that stores unique information contained in a postal indicia affixed to mail, wherein the unique information includes the amount of value added tax paid for each piece of mail; a plurality of postal units that reads and stores the unique information contained in the postal indicia; and a data center that receives information stored by the mailers units and the unique information read by the postal units to determine if a proper amount of value added tax has been paid for servicing and handling the mail.

Abstract: The invention is a method and system for determining a weight for use in a shipping application and for the establishment of a trainable weights database and a weight database training object. The method begins with establishing a database linked to the shipping application. The weight of a parcel to be shipped is determined by comparing a data entry at the shipping application with a set of data entries resident in the database. The comparison is performed by entering a description of the parcel to the system, and parsing the description to determine whether or not the data includes a known symbology or barcode. If it does, then the method matches the description with a locator function to locate the required weight; otherwise, the description is further parsed into match fields.

Abstract: A method that enables the recipient to receive notification of the letters, flats and/or packages (mail) that the recipient is going to receive prior to the delivery of the mail. The recipient is then able to inform a post or courier, e.g., Federal Express®, Airborne®, United Parcel Service®, DHL®, etc., of the manner in which the recipient would like the mail delivered if the sender elects to permit the recipient to divert the mail. The post and courier hereinafter will be referred to as “carrier”. For instance, the recipient may want the mail physically delivered to their house faster or slower, or the mail physically redirected to the recipient's temporary address, or physically delivered to the recipient's agent, or physically delivered to the recipient's attorney, or physically returned to the mailer, or have the carrier open the physical mail and have the post email or fax the contents of the envelope to the recipient and/or parties designated by the recipient.

Abstract: A method that enables the recipient to receive notification of the mailpieces, flats and/or packages (mail) that the recipient is going to receive prior to the delivery of the mail. The recipient is then able to inform a post or courier i.e., Federal Express®, Airborne®, United Parcel Service®, DHL®, etc. of the manner in which the recipient would like the mail delivered. The post and courier will hereinafter be referred to as “carrier”. For instance, the recipient may want the mail physically delivered to their house faster or slower, or the mail physically redirected to the recipient's temporary address, or physically delivered to the recipient's agent, or physically delivered to the recipient's attorney, or physically returned to the mailer, or have the carrier open the physical mail and have the post e-mail or fax the contents of the envelope to the recipient and/or parties designated by the recipient.

Abstract: A method that enables the recipient to receive notification of the letter mail, flats and/or packages (mail) that the recipient is going to receive prior to the delivery of the mail. The recipient is then able to inform a post or courier e.g., Federal Express®, Airborne®, United Parcel Service®, DHL®, etc. of the manner in which the recipient would like the mail delivered. The post and courier hereinafter will be referred to as “carrier”. For instance, the recipient may want the mail physically delivered to their house faster or slower, or the mail physically redirected to the recipient's temporary address, or physically delivered to the recipient's agent, or physically delivered to the recipient's attorney, or physically returned to the mailer, or have the carrier open the physical mail and have the post e-mail or fax the contents of the envelope to the recipient and/or parties designated by the recipient.

Abstract: A method that enables a carrier to find the address of a missing person. The carrier accomplishes the foregoing by receiving the name of a missing person; receiving a list of parties that the missing person is likely to receive mail from or send mail to; scanning mail faces that have been deposited with the carrier by a sender; determining if the scanned mail includes the name of the missing person and a party appearing on the list of parties; producing a list of scanned names and addresses that include the name of the missing person and the party appearing on the list of parties; delivering the list to a party that is permitted by law to receive the list regarding the missing person; and reviewing the delivered list to determine if the missing person is the recipient or sender of mail that is likely to be the missing person.