Abstract: An improved mailpiece fabrication system assembles finished mailpieces from content materials and from wrapping materials. The wrapping materials include printed cut quality marks at predetermined positions relative to cut lines. Content materials are placed on the continuous web. The continuous web is then folded and sealed around the content materials to form a continuous tube enclosing the content materials. A cutter downstream of the conveyance deck cuts individual envelopes from the continuous tube of folded wrapping material. A downstream imaging device captures image data indicative of a cut quality mark on the individual envelopes. A controller receives the captured image data from the imaging device and compares an actual dimension of an imaged cut quality mark with an expected dimension of a cut quality mark. An error signal is produced if the difference is not within a predetermined tolerance.

Abstract: A computer method and system to allow reconciliation of documents that were originally part of a first mail production job, but that may have been produced as part of a different second mail production job. A database stores a first record that identifies documents in the first mail production job. The record includes one or more fields indicating a production status of the documents in the first mail production job. At some point in the production process, a document is separated from what was originally defined as the first mail production job, to be instead produced as part of a second mail production job. The database further stores a second record identifying documents in the second mail production job. These records are updated to include a pointer indicating the relationship between the document and the first mail production job and the second mail production job. During mail production the production status of a document is determined.

Abstract: Methods and systems for better identifying a business's online social presence using name and address as provided. Geocoding technology is used to enhance business location information with geographic coordinates. A scanning engine is provided that can search a wide range of social media spaces, including, for example and without limitation, FaceBook, Twitter, Yelp, LinkedIn, YouTube, Flickr, Blog, etc. to identify the social presence of a business. The search is performed using the business's name and a defined spatial boundary based on the geographic coordinates and inferred contextual information, thereby reducing the ambiguity caused by information incompleteness and variation in social profiles. Utilizing the spatial filters results in an improved match rate and match accuracy.

Abstract: A mail processing device whose operation can be accomplished remotely and support multiple users simultaneously is provided. The present invention utilizes secure simultaneous multiple user/application access over a network. This supports software configuration, date access, control of a postal security device (PSD), indicium creation, and control of a print engine. The invention is realized by binding core embedded software to a web server within the device and using a web technology stack that allows many users to access the software.

Abstract: Systems and methods for displaying graphical database query results on a map by dynamically selecting graphical query result display modes are described. In one example, the system includes a distributed database query system having a remote server and a local client computer. The remote server receives a query request from the client and obtains a threshold number of results for display. If a particular query provides less than the threshold number of results, the system uses a first interactive graphical query result mode utilizing client rendering. If the query provides the threshold number of results or more, the system uses a second non-interactive graphical query result mode utilizing server rendering.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a printer and a buffer coupled to the printer for temporarily storing sheets fed out from the printer. The apparatus further includes a control mechanism for monitoring the buffer to determine a number of sheets currently stored in the buffer. The apparatus also includes a data source device that is separate from the printer and is coupled to the printer for selectively providing pages of print data to the printer. The data source device is coupled to the control mechanism and is operative to provide the pages of print data to the printer in response to control signals from the control mechanism.

Abstract: A moistening system that significantly reduces the problems caused by contaminants in the moistening fluid is provided. The catch basin of a moistening system is provided with a filter that reduces the amount of contaminants contained in the recycled moistening fluid. Additionally, the moistening fluid is buffered with an acid that acts to dissolve the paper filler and other soluble debris that may be introduced into the moistening fluid, thereby significantly decreasing any blinding of components of the moistening system that would otherwise reduce the flow rate of the moistening fluid through the system. These ensure that sufficient moistening fluid is applied to the envelope flaps, which results in consistent and complete sealing of the envelope flaps.

Abstract: Methods and systems for performing, a shipping workflow using natural language processing are provided. A shipper provides a natural language command to ship an item, either in voice or text format. If in voice format, the system converts the speech to text. From the text command, the system identifies product attributes for the product that will be shipped, the recipient of the product, the origin and destination location, and the timeliness with which the shipper desires it to be delivered. The system uses the product attributes, the origin and destination locations, and timeliness with which the shipper desires the product to be delivered to search for one or more carriers that provide services to ship the package, and then display to the shipper for selection the one or more carriers that meet the shippers requirements for shipping the product.

Abstract: A system and method that enables a LBS provider to provide a location-based marketplace for third-party businesses to market or advertise location- and/or need-based offers to users while keeping the users' information confidential from both the LBS provider and the third party businesses is provided. While the LBS provider is able to identify a user, it cannot learn his/her needs. The third party businesses can learn the user needs, but not the identity of the users with the need. A business can compare its target location for a marketing/advertising campaign to the user's location, such that it can learn when a user is currently at a target location. However, the business will fail to learn the identity of a user in the target location, or any information about the user's current location when outside of the target location.

Abstract: A method and system for identifying and detecting improperly wrapped envelopes for use in a mailpiece fabrication system. The method/system visually images each envelope in predetermined regions of interest (ROIs) to determine the spatial relationship between the internal content material and one or more points of reference indicative of the internal bounds of a sealing adhesive. By examining the spatial relationship, a determination is made regarding the proximity of the internal content material and the sealing adhesive. If the distance, or spatial separation, therebetween is below a threshold value, then an assumption is made that the content material and sealing adhesive are contiguous and that the envelope has been improperly sealed, i.e., with the content material interposing or otherwise inhibiting the proper closure of the wrapped envelope.

Abstract: Solutions that protect consumer location information yet still enable the use of such location information in the determination of fraud risk scores are provided. Cryptographic techniques of private information retrieval (PIR) and homomorphic encryption are used to protect consumer location information even as ii is used to enhance fraud risk scares. PIR is used to enable m issuer to retrieve non-specific location information using a consumer mobile number as the query criterion without needing to snare or disclose the mobile number with the service provider. Homomorphic encryption is used to protect location information of mobile consumers, while ensuring card issuers are only able to learn non-specific information about the location of the consumer.

Abstract: A system and method for wrapping sheet material to produce finished mailpieces includes an upstream content module, a downstream mailpiece assembly module including a wrapper module adapted to encapsulate content material, and a buffer module interposing the upstream content and downstream assembly modules. The buffer module includes a plurality of buffer gates adapted to convey the content material from an upstream gate to a downstream gate to maintain a threshold pitch distance between successive pieces of content material. A controller is operatively coupled to the modules and controls the conveyance of content material through the buffer gates. More specifically, the controller coordinates the delivery and insertion of content material into the wrapper module to minimize dry-holes, maintain stresses below a threshold level to ensure continued operation, and optimize system throughput.

Abstract: A mailing machine that provides for permanent postage is described. Postage may be purchased at one point of time at a then prevailing rate and used in the future at the same effective purchasing power even if a new more expensive rate schedule is in effect. The mailing machine provides for the accounting of such rate purchased postage using a Postal Security Device and may include multiple rate-table based accounts each associated with a particular postage rate table.

Abstract: A secure perfect hash function that has properties similar to those of cryptographic hash functions without compromising features of a perfect hash function such as speed and collision-free outputs is provided. A cryptographic hash function is utilized to process the set S and the. output is divided into three sub-outputs of required length. Each output can now be treated as a separate hash function (g(x), f1(x), f2(x)), S is split into r buckets Bi, 0?i<r, using the hash function g. Buckets Bi are permuted in a pseudorandom fashion. For each bucket Bi, a displacement pair (d0, d1) is chosen randomly from the sequence {(0,0), (0,1), . . . (0, m?1), (1,,0),(1,1), . . . , (1, m?1), . . . ,(m?1, m?1)} such that each element of Bi is placed in an empty bin given by (f1(x)+d0f2(x)+d1) mod m. The index of this displacement is stored in the sequence.

Abstract: An automated apparatus and method for collecting and dispensing rejected cards in a tray in a card attaching system. Sheets are transported on a moving belt. Cards are fed from a feeder above the moving belt. Cards are deposited onto the sheets. When a card rejection condition is detected, a rejected card is diverted and deposited in a tray having a sloped chute. The sloped chute extends down to a lower position beyond an outside edge of the moving belt. To facilitate movement down the chute, the tray is vibrated. This vibration is accomplished by supporting the tray on a roller assembly that rolls on a surface of the moving belt as it passes under the sloped chute. The roller is non-circular or of an eccentric configuration, such that the axis of the roller will experience a vertical displacement as the roller rotates, jogging the tray.

Abstract: An improved method and system are provided for constructing square multi-resolution tiles for use with spatial multi-resolution raster data. This improvement permits more efficient storage, processing and display of raster tiles at different resolutions. A base level cell size is defined for a highest required resolution. Lower resolution cell sizes are defined for lower resolution tiles. The lower resolution cell sizes are integer multiples of the base level cell size. A base level tile size is defined such that the integer multiples, as used in the step of defining lower resolution cell sizes, are all integer factors of a number of cells on a side of the base level tile. Using this technique, the boundaries for the base level tile and the multi-resolution tiles are coextensive.

Abstract: An apparatus for facilitating payment using a payment card includes a computerized sales transaction device structured to determine a monetary amount for a sale, and a secure card activated terminal (CAT) device in electronic communication with the computerized sales transaction device. The computerized sales transaction device sends the monetary amount to the secure CAT device. The secure CAT device is structured to: (i) obtain sensitive payment card information from the card, (ii) automatically request in a secure, encrypted manner authorization for the sale using the monetary amount and the sensitive payment card information, (iii) receive in a secure, encrypted manner authorization approval for the sale, and (iv) in response to receiving the authorization approval, send purchase authorization approval information to the computerized sales transaction device. The computerized sales transaction device never receives the sensitive payment card information.

Abstract: A system and method that allows two parties to find common records in their data sets without having to actually share the data sets with each other or a third party. Two primitives, perfect hash functions and public key cryptography, are combined in a unique way to obtain a secure and efficient private matching solution. Since the data that is exchanged is always encrypted during the match process, neither party reveals its data to the other party. This solution enables two parties to match sensitive data such as PII (Personally Identifiable Information) or PHI (Protected Health Information) without having to disclose the data to other or to any third party. One or both of the parties only learn of matching records without learning any information about the records that do not match.

Abstract: A method is provided for using a rotatable insertion horn to open an envelope prior to insertion of documents. A pair of insertion horns is positioned at the sides of an envelope inserting station. An envelope is fed into the envelope inserting station with its flap open. The collation of documents is pushed into the open end of the envelope. The insertion horns are positioned in an initial position that is fully outside the envelope, prior to arrival of the collation. The insertion horns are controlled to simultaneously rotate into the envelope as the collation passes between the insertion horns. Preferably, rotation of the insertion horns into the envelope does not begin until a lead edge of the collation is in a region between the insertion horns. This facilitates insertion of the collation without catching on an upstream edge of the insertion horns.

Abstract: A method for opening an envelope for insertion of a collation in an envelope inserting machine. The envelope is fed into an inserting station with its flap in an open position. The insertion station has vacuum belts to hold the envelope in position, and to move the envelope in an upstream or downstream direction. A suction cup is positioned above the envelope in the insertion station. The suction cup is moved downward to engage a top surface of the envelope near an upstream edge of the top surface. The suction cup then lifts the to surface of the envelope to open a throat of the envelope to facilitate insertion of a collation. The envelope on the vacuum belt is then moved in the upstream direction by a small amount so that the top surface of the envelope forms a more open angle for receiving the collation.