Patents by Inventor Steven J. Shapiro

Steven J. Shapiro has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 6804577
    Abstract: A business reply mail processing system is provided. A transport module feeds a business reply mail piece in a path of travel where the business reply mail piece includes a job ID code and field data. A scanner module scans the business reply mail piece to read the job ID code and the field data. A control module uses the job ID code to access processing data from a mail campaign job database corresponding to the job ID code and controls the scanner module using the processing data to read the field data from the business reply mail piece. Alternatively, the business reply mail piece includes the processing data that is read by the scanner and the control module uses the processing data read from the business reply mail piece to read the field data from the business reply mail piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2004
    Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.
    Inventors: Robert V. Ferrara, Ronald K. Rutledge, Martin A. Connelly, Steven J. Shapiro
  • Publication number: 20020169519
    Abstract: A business reply mail processing system is provided. A transport module feeds a business reply mail piece in a path of travel where the business reply mail piece includes a job ID code and field data. A scanner module scans the business reply mail piece to read the job ID code and the field data. A control module uses the job ID code to access processing data from a mail campaign job database corresponding to the job ID code and controls the scanner module using the processing data to read the field data from the business reply mail piece. Alternatively, the business reply mail piece includes the processing data that is read by the scanner and the control module uses the processing data read from the business reply mail piece to read the field data from the business reply mail piece.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2002
    Publication date: November 14, 2002
    Applicant: Pitney Bowes Incorporated
    Inventors: Robert V. Ferrara, Ronald K. Rutledge, Martin A. Connelly, Steven J. Shapiro
  • Patent number: 6275745
    Abstract: A system and method for relating the delivery of a mail piece or package to what is inside the mail piece or package. Thus, when the mail piece or package is received and signed for by a recipient the mailer will have proof that the recipient received the mail piece or package and what was inside the mail piece or package at the time the mail piece or package was delivered to the recipient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2001
    Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.
    Inventors: Michael J. Critelli, Ronald Reichman, Steven J. Shapiro
  • Patent number: 5923406
    Abstract: A vending machine system for printing postage stamps, the vending machine system includes an enclosed housing having a front panel with an aperture therein; a camera, mounted in the housing, for receiving through the aperture an image of at least one person and for creating an electronic image of the at least one person based on the received image of the at least one person; a printer; a payment receiving device for accepting payment and for providing a payment signal indicative that payment has been made; a computer including a memory, the computer 1) causing the camera to create the electronic image of the at least one person upon receipt of the payment signal, 2) saving the electronic image of the at least one person in the memory, and 3) utilizing the electronic image of the at least one person for controlling the printer to print a first personalized postage stamp on a recording medium, the first personalized postage stamp including predetermined data required by a postal authority and a picture of the a
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 13, 1999
    Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.
    Inventors: Glynn M. Brasington, Leon A. Pintsov, Steven J. Shapiro
  • Patent number: 5809485
    Abstract: A postage metering system includes a portable postage meter vault; structure for printing an indication of postage value; a postage meter terminal including apparatus for receiving the portable postage meter vault, a device for determining at times when the portable postage meter vault is inserted into the receiving means if the portable postage meter vault has been designated to be disabled from performing vault functions and a device for automatically disabling the portable postage meter vault from performing vault functions if the determination is made that the portable postage meter vault has been designated to be disabled from performing vault functions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 15, 1998
    Assignee: Pitney Bowes, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert G. Arsenault, Paul A. Diel, Dale A. French, Joseph M. Mozdzer, Steven J. Shapiro