Abstract: A postage metering system for applying indicia including postage value on mail items, the system including: a keyboard for inputting information; a printer for printing indicia; an accounting module for accounting for postage value applied to mail items; and a security module for requiring a user to input an operating code prior to further operation of the system, the security module being configured to compare the input operating code with at least one stored valid operating code and cause the printer in a printing operation to print an indicium having a zero postage value where the input operating code and any stored operating code do not match and printing of an indicium is requested.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting a level of a content in a vessel using an RFID tag. In one embodiment, an RFID tag located on one side of the vessel opposite a side on which the reader is, is interrogated. A reply signal, if any, received from the RFID tag is interpreted to determine the information returned from the RFID tag. The level of the content in the vessel is determined based on the information received from the RFID tag.

Abstract: An optical sensor for sensing items transported along an item transport path, comprising: a transmitter element for transmitting a sensing beam to a detection location, which sensing beam interacts with each item as transported through the detection location; a receiver element for sensing the sensing beam at the detection location and outputting an output signal; and a processor unit for receiving the output signal of the receiver element and performing a determination based upon the same.

Abstract: A system for providing remote control access to internal components of a device. The system comprises a housing comprising a cover and a base, at least one device being located within the housing and at least one latching mechanism internal to the housing adapted to secure the cover to the base. A control sender is adapted to communicate with the device and the at least one latching mechanism to command the latching mechanism to unsecure the housing in order to allow access to the internal components of the device when a users identity is verified.

Abstract: A system for authenticating items includes: a processing unit for generating indicia for imprints to be applied to items and authenticating imprints applied to items, each indicium including a cryptographically encoded component; at least one item printing station for printing imprints on items as generated by the processing unit; and at least one item presentation station to which items are presented in authenticating the same. The item presentation station is configured to transmit data relating to the indicium on an item presented thereto to the processing unit, and to receive an authentication message in dependence upon whether the indicium is determined to be valid or invalid.

Abstract: A system for printing on a print media. The device comprises at least one high energy emitting device and a parameter estimation device. The parameter estimation device is coupled to the high energy emitting device and is adapted to classify the print media and quantify an amount of energy per time to be emitted by the high energy emitting device during printing.

Abstract: An item sorting system and method, the system comprising: at least one sender handling unit by which at least one sender applies imprints to items to be delivered to at least one receiver, wherein an imprint as applied to an item includes a sorting identifier; and at least one receiver sorting unit for sorting received items in accordance with a sorting protocol as determined from the sorting identifiers of the respective imprints, wherein each sorting protocol provides for the sorting of each of the received items into one of a plurality of groups such as to allow for different handling of the items of each of the respective groups.

Abstract: An item handling system and method, the system comprising: a remote data center including a database of registered credit payment means, each registered credit payment means having at least one registered delivery address assigned thereto; and an item printing station for at least printing postage indicia for items, the printing station comprising a user interface for enabling user input, a communications unit for providing for remote communication with the data center, and a printing unit for printing at least postage indicia for items; wherein details representative of credit payment means being utilized by a third party in payment for goods to be delivered to a specified address are input via the user interface, the communications unit, in response to such input, is operative to query the data center to allow for confirmation of the specified address as a registered delivery address for the credit payment means, and, where the specified address is a registered delivery address, the printing unit is operati

Abstract: A mail item delivery system and method, the system comprising: at least one mail item printing unit for printing postage indicia for mail items, wherein the postage indicia for at least ones of the mail items contain delivery information utilized in delivering the at least ones of the mail items; and at least one mail item processing unit through which at least ones of the mail items are processed in routing the mail items to respective destination delivery locations, wherein each mail item processing unit includes a mail item handler for reading the delivery information contained in the postage indicia of the at least ones of the mail items as received thereat.

Abstract: A mail item printing station for printing postage indicia on mail items, which postage indicia embody a normal postage service and an additional service for at least ones of the mail items, the printing station comprising: a printing unit for printing postage indicia on mail items; a control unit for controlling the printing unit and performing accounting functions, wherein the control unit includes a first memory for logging each event of the additional service as applied to the at least ones of the mail items; and a user interface for enabling user control of the printing station.

Abstract: A franking apparatus for and a method of franking mail items with postage indicia for one of a plurality of mail carriers, the apparatus comprising: a plurality of carrier print stores, each being assigned to a respective one of the carriers and for storing print information unique to the respective carrier; a common print store for storing print information common to each of the carriers; a printing module including a printer for printing postage indicia for mail items; and a control module for controlling operation of the apparatus to frank mail items with postage indicia for selected ones of the carriers, wherein each postage indicium includes a carrier-specific element derived utilizing print information from the carrier print store for the respective carrier and a common element derived utilizing print information from the common print store.

Abstract: An item handling system and method, the item handling system comprising: at least one item printing unit for printing destination address codes on items, each destination address code corresponding to a destination address to which the respective item is to be delivered; and a plurality of item processing units through at least one of which the items are processed in delivery to the respective destination addresses, each item processing unit including an item handler for reading the destination address code on each item, determining, for each item, through use of the destination address code, a destination item processing unit which is local to the destination address, and routing each item to the destination item processing unit.

Abstract: An item processing system for and a method of processing items each having an indicium printed thereon, the system comprising: at least one item printing station for printing indicia on items, wherein the indicia are printed at least one of at one of a plurality of locations, with one of a plurality of footprints and in at least one of a plurality of inks as defined by a configuration signal; and at least one item handling station for handling items having indicia printed thereon by the at least one item printing station, wherein each item handling station is configured to inspect each item for at least one of an indicium in a field of defined location, an indicium of defined footprint and an indicium in at least one defined ink as defined by the configuration signal; wherein the configuration signal is changed at intervals such that at least one of the location, the footprint and the at least one ink of the indicia printed on items is changed at each interval and correspondingly at least one of the field of