Abstract: A method for enabling a mailer to infer the amount of business reply that he/she is going to receive on a given day and determine the amount of postage that is due. The foregoing is accomplished by placing a planet code that references the mailer's permit number on the business reply so that when a scanner at the USPS reads the planet code, the postage for the business reply will be calculated, and the mailer will be notified of the calculation so that the mailer may deposit sufficient funds in a deposit account to pay for the postage. The mailer may deposit funds in the account by issuing a check, having funds automatically transferred from some account, or automatically having a check issued so that someone may take the check to the USPS and receive the business reply. Thus, the mailer will be able to determine the amount of postage that is going to be charged to his/her account.

Abstract: Improvements are provided in processing of documents to increase their security and/or decrease the complexity of testing for authenticity. Methods for printing documents with security markings and methods and apparatus for authenticating documents are described. In one aspect a document is printed with a security marking comprised of an image printed in at least two image segments. The image can be printed with an ink capable of forming images which are visible both to viewing under white light and as fluorescent images when irradiated with ultraviolet light, the segments having features of different sizes. The relative sizes of the two image segments will provide a detectable difference in fluorescent image sharpness. The apparatus provides means, all of which are simple and easily available for carrying out the methods.

Abstract: A method and system for thermal printing of secure documents. A contact thermal printing system includes: a) thermal print head having at least one heater element; and b) a thermal printer controller. The printer controller is programmed to: 1) move the print head in a predetermined pattern while the print head is in contact with a top coating of a thermal print medium; 2) overdrive the heater element during predetermined parts of the pattern to a temperature sufficient to soften or melt the top coating, thereby forming a pattern of striations in the top coating; and 3) control the heater element to print at least part of an image on the medium. The contact surface of the print head can have a specific pattern of features for forming the striations, whereby a pattern of striations formed can encode information both in the direction of the motion of the print head and transversely to the direction of motion. The pattern of striations can form a bar code.

Abstract: A method and system for electronically selling a data item such as a song, a literature piece or a picture. A data repository is used for a seller to store the data item that the seller wishes to sell for a fee. The data repository is accessible to a buyer who deposits a fund to the data repository prior to downloading the data item. Preferably, the data repository is connected to a telecommunication network such as the Internet so that the buyer can download the purchased data item directly through the telecommunication network. Preferably, the seller posts a price which is the maximum amount the seller wishes to collect and sets a minimum amount that the seller is willing to collect from the buyer for downloading the data item. Preferably, the buyer makes an offer to the data repository wherein a software program is used to check whether the offered price falls within the fee range as set by the seller.

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 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 e-mail or fax the contents of the envelope to the recipient and/or parties designated by the recipient.

Abstract: An envelope that enables personal computer printers to be able to print a Facing Identification Mark (FIM) as part of a Information-Based Indicia (IBI) registered along the top edge of the envelope. The personal computer printers will also be able to print the FIM, IBI, the recipient's address and the sender's address without the glue on the envelope closure flap adhering to the body of the envelope, which would seal or partially seal the envelope, potentially rendering the envelope useless.

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 method to allow a mailer to receive postal discounts for mailing at an eligible postal facility a plurality of mail pieces to a plurality of mailing addresses. The method comprises the steps of creating an entry code lookup file containing a plurality of identification codes for each eligible postal facility according to the Destination Delivery Unit (DDU) rate or discounting and a drop ship file containing a plurality of local ZIP codes and carrier routes associated with each eligible postal facility. When a mailer enters the identification code for the eligible postal facility where the mailer drops the mail for mailing, the drop ship file is used to determine whether the mail piece is available for DDU discounts based on the local ZIP code and the carrier route.

Abstract: The present invention includes apparatus and methods for printing and verifying postage stamps on demand via a personal postage stamp printer. The indicia by which the stamp is printed includes a color bar sequence and a data field including data that corresponds to the color bar sequence. To authenticate the stamp, the data field is read and the color bar sequence data included in the data field is compared with the data generated by detecting the color bar sequence itself.

Abstract: A system for ensuring that printed matter is properly printed on a print medium including a printer having a feeding device and a plurality of detecting devices disposed along a length of the feeding device. The print medium has a plurality of signaling components, and each of the detecting devices is able to detect the presence of each of the signaling components. The system determines a first feed orientation of the print medium based on an order in which the detecting devices detects the presence of the signaling components when the print medium is being fed into the printer. Alternatively, the first feed orientation may be based on identifying information contained in the signaling components. The printer causes the printed matter to be printed in a proper location and in a proper orientation on the print medium based on the first feed orientation.

Abstract: A “virtual bookshelf” for users of a digital rights management system. The invention lists the purchased material and/or material that the consumer has a right to use. The invention automatically backs up the consumer's material when it is downloaded; provides for the retrieval and/or synchronization of the material on a computer or other device; provides for the rights-based sharing of the material; and the ability to recommend or transfer the material to a third party with or without financial consideration.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for printing an information-based indicia program (IBIP) postage in a computer printing subsystem is disclosed wherein a third-party word processing software with mail merge capabilities generates text and a matching address as the input for a client application in high-volume document processing and mail systems without programmatically altering the word processing program to accommodate the printing subsystem. Addresses are validated and corrected in the printing subsystems prior to creation of the indicia image and address image to be printed on the mailpiece.

Abstract: A remote control device that is combined with a modified RFID circuit that allows an individual to enter information into different types of equipment. When an individual touches graphite contacts on the modified RFID circuit with his/her finger, the circuit will activate a RFID reader causing an action on another device.

Abstract: A method for detecting a copy of a composite image that includes a first image and a second image that has information embedded in the second image that will change in appearance when the first and second images are scanned or photocopied. The foregoing is accomplished by scanning the first and second images, and detecting a change in appearance of the second image that indicates the first and second images were scanned or photocopied.

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 stamps that uniquely identify the stamp and identify the mailer to whom the stamp was issued; having a scanner at a receptacle read the stamp and send the unique identifying code contained in the stamp to a data center that checks if the stamp is genuine; and stores the stamps unique code before mail is permitted to enter the interior of the receptacle.

Abstract: The invention is a method and system of modifying print stream data. The method begins by sending a print stream from an application through a graphical device interface to a print spooler. A print stream monitor determines whether or not the print stream comprises a set of text data and/or a set of address data. If the print stream comprises text data, then the text data is tagged and sent to a user mode module where it is stored in a local buffer. The tagged and stored text data is then retrieved and parsed for any address which may be contained within the tagged text. The address data is then extracted from the print stream and placed in an envelope print format to create an envelope data set. An envelope printer device context is then created and the envelope data set is transmitted to an envelope kernel for creating an envelope printer device language file. The print stream is converted by a document printer command language (PCL) generator into an envelope printer language.

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.

Abstract: A reusable electronic tag having a plurality of memory locations to allow a user to write information onto the tag. After a memory location is written, it becomes write-protected, preventing the written content from being altered or deleted by an unauthorized user. By granting a user access right to certain memory locations, it is possible to restrict the user's ability to access the memory location depending on the granted access type and the level of restriction set for the memory location. A user with a valid password is allowed to read and write a memory location. Such a user may be allowed to clear the memory locations so that the tag can be reused.