Patents Represented by Attorney Ronald Reichman
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Patent number: 7797250Abstract: A method of electronically endorsing a check includes obtaining an electronic image of the check and composing an endorsement data element for the check that includes at least first information identifying a party endorsing the check. The method further includes creating a message data file including the electronic image and the endorsement data element, and creating a signed message data file that includes the message data file and a digital signature of the message data file creating using a private key. The private key may be specific to the party endorsing the check or to an electronic device with which the method is implemented. Also, a method of performing an inquiry relating to a check that was endorsed as described above using the endorsement data element.Type: GrantFiled: November 18, 2005Date of Patent: September 14, 2010Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.Inventors: Leon A. Pintsov, David Pintsov
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Patent number: 7724403Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: October 26, 2006Date of Patent: May 25, 2010Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.Inventors: Robert A. Cordery, Bertrand Haas, Hongmei Gou
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Patent number: 7724385Abstract: A mail handling system for handling mail pieces in a mail handling area is presented. The system avoids breaching confidentiality of the mail pieces, and includes a view port device, for providing filtered visual access to a portion of the mail handling area while at least some information contained in the mail pieces is filtered out. The system also includes a manual access area, for allowing manual access to the mail handling area while unfiltered visual access to the mail handling area is obstructed.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 2003Date of Patent: May 25, 2010Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.Inventors: Thomas J. Foth, Christopher C. Lang, Frederick W. Ryan, Jr.
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Patent number: 7690649Abstract: A method of synchronizing the feeding and printing of sheets of media, i.e., paper, envelopes, post cards, etc. even though shingled feeds have occurred in the system. The foregoing is accomplished by utilizing two sensors and counters to monitor two sheets of paper to allow two software tasks to stay in synchronization and release the appropriate print data to the printer even when a sheet of paper was not detected in the feeder appears at the print head. The feeder sensor has a counter for its Lead Edge as does the Start of Print Sensor that is in the system's transport paper path. The feeder sensor counter and the start of print counter are incremented and decremented as the paper approaches the sensor and leaves the sensor. If the lead edge counter of the feeder sensor goes negative, then the feeder has shingled and the data for that sheet of paper must be printed.Type: GrantFiled: May 29, 2008Date of Patent: April 6, 2010Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.Inventors: Brad L. Davies, Keith M. Smith, Wesley A. Kirschner, Elaine B. Cristiani, Gary S. Jacobson
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Patent number: 7668786Abstract: A method and system for selecting a characterizing algorithm to be used to characterize blocks of printed material. A digital image of printed material, such as an address block, on an object is obtained, and the image is processed to extract characterizing information descriptive of aspects of the printed material. An indicium representative of the information is then printed on the object. The object's relationship to the indicium can be verified by regenerating the characterizing information from the printed material and comparing the regenerated characterizing information with characterizing information recovered from the indicium. A particular algorithm is selected from a predetermined group of characterizing algorithms by determining an estimate for the robustness of each algorithm.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2003Date of Patent: February 23, 2010Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.Inventors: Matthew J. Campagna, Danny Lelli
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Patent number: 7666129Abstract: A method and apparatus for folding inserts by inverting the insert sheet after the first fold is made and reintroducing the folded insert sheet into a first buckle chute from the opposite end. The second fold is then made in a second buckle chute which results in either a bottom address or a middle address appearing on the folded insert in a manner that the address will appear through the window of the envelope.Type: GrantFiled: April 13, 2007Date of Patent: February 23, 2010Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.Inventors: Thomas M. Lyga, James A. Fairweather, David J. Eaton, Carl R. Chapman
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Patent number: 7657750Abstract: A digital watermark may be applied to digital image data to produce watermarked digital image data. A transformation may be applied to the watermarked digital image data to produce transformed watermarked digital image data. The transformation may approximate the inverse of a transformation that represents distortion caused by transmission through a print-scan channel.Type: GrantFiled: November 24, 2003Date of Patent: February 2, 2010Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.Inventor: Bertrand Haas
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Patent number: 7653233Abstract: A method of operating a check processing system includes scanning a check on a first occasion to generate a first image of the check. The first image is transmitted to a financial institution. The check is scanned on a second occasion later than the first occasion to generate a second image of the check. The second image of the check is transmitted to the financial institution. The second image of the check is examined to determine whether the check was cancelled prior to the second occasion.Type: GrantFiled: September 12, 2005Date of Patent: January 26, 2010Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.Inventors: Douglas B. Quine, Frederick W. Ryan, Jr.
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Patent number: 7649658Abstract: 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.Type: GrantFiled: December 11, 2006Date of Patent: January 19, 2010Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.Inventors: Robert A. Cordery, Bertrand Haas, Hongmei Gou
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Patent number: 7647230Abstract: A method and apparatus for tracking a special service delivery by a carrier of a mail item created by an office worker. The method utilizes one or more special service indicators on the mail item to ensure that the office worker can obtain information about the status of the mail item by the simple placement of one of the special service stickers on the mail item.Type: GrantFiled: August 10, 2001Date of Patent: January 12, 2010Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.Inventors: David K. Lee, Leon A. Pintsov
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Patent number: 7643181Abstract: A method for printing an original image which is protected against copying or alteration, such as a postal indicium, and for determining if that image has been altered. The image includes a copy detection feature and coded information linked to the copy detection feature. Altered images are detected by testing to determine if the link between the copy detection feature and the coded information in fact exists. The copy detection feature and the coded information can be linked by: 1) scanning the image to recover the coded information and the copy detection feature; 2) test the coded information and copy detection feature, and 3) accept the printed image as unaltered if the test indicates that the nominal link exists in fact.Type: GrantFiled: December 14, 2004Date of Patent: January 5, 2010Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.Inventors: Bertrand Haas, Andrei Obrea
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Patent number: 7621517Abstract: There is disclosed a sheet re-circulating accumulator (10) comprising: an inlet feed path (20) to an accumulation location (30); an outlet feed path (40); a sheet circulation path (60) defined by stationary sheet guide means (62, 64, 66, 68); and sheet driving means (32, 70, 72, 74, 76) associated with the sheet circulation path (60) for selectively advancing a partial accumulation (P) of one or more sheets (S) at the accumulation location (30) around the sheet circulation path (60), so that the partial accumulation (P) is guided by the stationary sheet guide means (62, 64, 66, 68) at the leading edge of the partial accumulation (P) while being driven, and back to the accumulation location (30) to accumulate the next sheet (S) fed from the inlet feed path (20) with the partial accumulation (P), and delivering an accumulation (A) of sheets (S) along said outlet feed path (40).Type: GrantFiled: October 23, 2007Date of Patent: November 24, 2009Assignee: Pitney Bowes Ltd.Inventor: Geoffrey A. Farmer
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Patent number: 7609873Abstract: A method of processing checks includes obtaining first information relating to the checks that is compiled by an operator using a calculator, such as by scanning a calculator tape, wherein the first information includes a first number of first dollar amounts, each of which corresponds to a respective one of the checks. The method further includes scanning the checks to create a plurality of check images, obtaining from the check images a second number of second dollar amounts, each corresponding to a respective one of the check images, determining whether the first number is equal to the second number, and providing an error indication if the first number does not equal the second number (which is an indication that a misfeed has occurred).Type: GrantFiled: December 7, 2005Date of Patent: October 27, 2009Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.Inventors: Thomas J. Foth, Jeffrey D. Pierce
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Patent number: 7604230Abstract: Discrete means of setting a feeder to process a wide range of media, i.e., sheets, slips, envelopes, booklets and hand collated documents, etc. as well as providing a method of utilizing the feeder for manual feed operation. The foregoing is accomplished by a friction-clutch retard feeder equipped with one or more friction clutches. When a selection lever is moved to a position 1, a primary clutch engages the separator roller with a resistive torque T1. The selection lever configures the mechanism such that the separator roller rotation is resisted entirely by the torque of the primary clutch. When the selection lever is moved to a position 2, the ground of the primary clutch is removed, and the rotation of the separator roll is coupled through a gear ratio to a secondary clutch. The selection of the gear ratio and the value of the secondary clutch allows the separation mechanism to be resisted by a second torque, T2, which can be lower than T1.Type: GrantFiled: April 13, 2007Date of Patent: October 20, 2009Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.Inventors: Theresa A. Bartick, James A. Fairweather, Thomas M. Lyga, Christopher D. Clark
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Patent number: 7587066Abstract: A method for detecting possible fraud in a document includes receiving an electronic image of the document and extracting data from the image that includes a plurality of printed characters. Next, one or more properties of the characters are measured, the properties are compared to at least one corresponding normative property to determine whether anomalies are present, and a determination is made as to whether to provide a fraud alert based on the anomalies, if any. Preferably, the method includes reporting the one or more anomalies, if any, to a classifier engine, wherein the classifier engine determines whether to provide the alert. Also, methods for determining character spacing ands/or acuity are provided.Type: GrantFiled: December 15, 2005Date of Patent: September 8, 2009Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.Inventors: Robert A. Cordery, Bertrand Haas, Stephen K Decker, Hongmei Gou
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Patent number: 7584889Abstract: A method that allows one to mark information with a pencil or ball point pen on a material and have the marked information represent answers to questions or responses to queries that may be read while the material is contained in an envelope. The material may be any cellulose type product, i.e., paper, cardboard, chipboard, wood or plastic, fabric, animal hide, etc. The marked entered information may be corrected by erasing the written information with an eraser and writing new information on the paper with a pencil or ball point pen.Type: GrantFiled: February 28, 2007Date of Patent: September 8, 2009Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.Inventors: Darryl T. Rathbun, Thomas J. Foth, Andrei Obrea
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Patent number: 7559660Abstract: A board that hides information in a manner that only certain authorized personnel may change the information and other authorized personnel may view the information. This invention accomplishes the foregoing by placing a locked panel of translucent material over certain information written on the board that may only be changed by an authorized individual by opening the lock. A panel of opaque material is placed over the translucent material in a manner that certain information written on the board will be revealed when authorized personnel remove the opaque material or cause the opaque material to be transparent. The translucent material may be removed by activating a switch or entering a code.Type: GrantFiled: November 15, 2005Date of Patent: July 14, 2009Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.Inventors: G. Jonathan Wolfman, Benjamin D Singer, Ronald P. Sansone
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Patent number: 7551300Abstract: This invention relates to a method and system that only destroys documents that a party wants destroyed. The system also maintains a record of destroyed documents and saved documents. The foregoing may be accomplished by: placing information directly on a document that uniquely identifies the document; placing information in a database that uniquely identifies the document in which information was placed, and the date, if any, in which the document is scheduled to be destroyed; scanning the placed information on documents that are going to be destroyed; attempting to destroy the document; and checking in the database to determine whether or not the document should be destroyed, whereby if the database indicates the document should be destroyed, the document is destroyed, and if the database indicates that the document should not be destroyed, the document is not destroyed.Type: GrantFiled: June 17, 2005Date of Patent: June 23, 2009Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.Inventors: G. Jonathan Wolfman, Benjamin Singer
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Patent number: 7549955Abstract: In a printer system where a print head is used to print on a flat material moving on a surface along a moving direction, a first creasing surface and a second creasing surface disposed on different sides of the flat material are used to make a crease on the flat material. The first creasing surface is mounted on a housing and the second creasing surface is disposed along the length of a track substantially perpendicular to the moving direction. The first and second creasing surfaces are substantially complementary to each other such that when these creasing surfaces are moved closer to each other, they cause the flat material to bend. A movement mechanism is then used to move the housing along the track so that the bending of the flat material forms a crease from one side of the flat material to the opposing side.Type: GrantFiled: December 1, 2004Date of Patent: June 23, 2009Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.Inventors: Darryl T. Rathbun, Thomas J. Foth
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Patent number: 7551751Abstract: A phase space encoded watermark is applied to an image to guard against counterfeiting and/or unauthorized copying. The watermark is formed of wavepackets. An authentication message is encoded in the wavepackets by variations in one or both of the intensities of the wavepackets and the phases of the wavepackets.Type: GrantFiled: August 30, 2004Date of Patent: June 23, 2009Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.Inventors: Robert A. Cordery, Erik Schmidt