Abstract: A voting system includes one or more voting machines provided at a specific location, wherein for each authorized voter one of the voting machines is adapted to record a first set of voting selections, and one or more validation machines provided at the specific location, wherein for each authorized voter one of the validation machines is adapted to present the first set of voting selections to the authorized voter and record a second set of voting selections only if the first set of voting selections is confirmed. A first vote tally is determined from the first set of voting selections of each authorized voter, and a second vote tally is determined from the second set of voting selections of each authorized voter. The first vote tally is then compared to the second vote tally, wherein a vote modification may have occurred if the tallies do not match.

Abstract: An integrated logic analyzer system that provides enhanced troubleshooting capabilities for an inserter machine. The system includes sensors positioned within the inserter machine. A controller is coupled to the sensors, and also provides control signals for operation of the machine. The controller generates error signals upon the occurrence of predetermined instances of sensor signals. A display coupled to the controller indicates machine status based on the signals from the plurality of sensors. An integrated logic analyzer is also coupled to the controller and to the plurality of sensors. The integrated logic analyzer provides a continuous readout of sensor signals from the sensors, and control and status signals from the controller. The controller provides a representation of the continuous readout to the display. In the preferred embodiment, the controller provides a visual representation of individually selectable modules of the inserter system.

Abstract: A first paper document is vacuum-secured atop a first vacuum belt that extends from a first trailing roller to a first leading roller. A second paper document is vacuum-secured below a second vacuum belt that extends from a second trailing roller to a second leading roller. The first and second trailing rollers are laterally disposed with respect to one another with the first trailing roller being at a lower elevation than the second trailing roller and with the first leading roller positioned below the second leading roller. The first and second leading rollers are centered with respect to the first and second trailing rollers so that the first and second vacuum belts converge toward one another. The first paper document therefore underlies the second paper document when the respective leading edges of the paper documents arrive at the first and second leading rollers.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are for decelerating a sheet of paper in a paper-cutting system. The sheet of paper is cut using a cutter, and the sheet is then accepted into a take-away nip. The take-away nip is operated at an initial rate in order to move the sheet of paper away from the cutter at an initial speed. The take-away nip is then operated at a rate decreasing to a final rate, in order to decelerate the sheet of paper to a final speed by the time the sheet of paper exits the take-away nip. The take-away nip is subsequently operated at the initial rate again, prior to accepting another sheet of paper at the initial speed.

Abstract: A system for generating direct offers includes a computer system adapted to generate a group of offers, a list of targeted recipients that may be potential customers, and a set of business rules for selecting appropriate ones of the offers based at least in part on certain personal recipient information. The system also includes a third party computer system and a database that stores in confidence personal information for each of the targeted recipients. The third party computer system is adapted to receive the offers, the list of targeted recipients, and the set of business rules, select an appropriate one of the offers, if any, for each targeted recipient according to the business rules based at least in part on the personal information of the targeted recipients, and construct and cause to be sent a final offer for each of the targeted recipients for which an offer has been selected.

Abstract: Methods and systems that protect the privacy of signatures on envelopes containing ballots sent through the mail are provided. The envelope for returning ballots by mail includes an electronic optical shutter that covers an opening in the flap of the envelope. The voter signs the back of the envelope in an area that will be visible through the opening in the flap (covered by the optical shutter) when the envelope flap is sealed. The optical shutter is opaque under static conditions, but will become transparent when power is supplied to it. When the envelope flap is sealed and no power is applied to the optical shutter, the voter's signature will be concealed by the optical shutter. Upon receipt at the registrar's office, the optical shutter can be powered, thereby rendering the optical shutter transparent, and the voter's signature can be viewed.

Abstract: The solution involves the use of two or more motors to drive a common mechanism. The single control loop includes a position sensing device coupled to only a first of the plurality of servo motors and generating a position signal. A signal comparator receives the position signal and compares the position signal with a predetermined desired position based on a desired motion profile. The difference from the actual position and the motion profile is output as a position error signal. A signal converter receives the position error signal and derives a conversion signal based on the error signal. The conversion signal is provided to a plurality of signal amplifiers, which in turn are coupled to the plurality of servo motors. The amplifiers provide power to the motors for driving the mechanical load.

Abstract: A method of printing a two-dimensional barcode by tilting the print head, which results in tilted barcode, and methods of detecting various types of attempts to forge the tilted barcode including: (i) a low level forgery that consists of a simple scan and reprint of the barcode, (ii) a low level forgery that consists of a reproduction (i.e., a read and regeneration) and subsequent printing of the barcode using a printer with a non-tilted print head by a fraudster that is not aware of the tilt in the original barcode, and (iii) a higher level forgery by a fraudster that is aware of the tilt in the original barcode and that digitally tilts/shears an image of the barcode and prints the digitally tilted/sheared image using a printer with a non-tilted print head in an effort to mimic the tilt present in the legitimate barcode.

Abstract: A parcel includes a sensor to detect whether the parcel has experienced a change in condition. The parcel also has a mechanism, such as a changeable barcode, to indicate the change in condition. While the parcel is in transit through a parcel delivery system, a reader that is part of the system reads an indication from the parcel that the parcel has experienced the change in condition. The system may inform the sender and/or the recipient of the fact that the change in condition has been detected and may divert the parcel from delivery to the recipient. In this way, a parcel may self-monitor for potential damage, and the parcel delivery system may react to an event, in which a parcel suffers damage, before the parcel is delivered to the intended recipient.

Abstract: A method to secure unique information about a handwritten document and to provide verification of document's authenticity, integrity and non-repudiation. The method includes the following steps: creating a document having an area of interest containing information, segmenting the area of interest on the document into a plurality of elements, obtaining the average gray scale of each element, inserting the average gray scale of each element into an identifier, and attaching the identifier to the document.

Abstract: A method and system for predicting ink usage during a print job for an ink jet printer and displaying information in connection with ink usage on a system monitor. The method steps include determining the initial ink level of an ink cartridge and developing a histogram of ink usage associated with a threshold number of items to be printed. The threshold number is less than the total number of items to be printed and should be an amount representative of each of the print items. The usage associated with the threshold number, i.e., the histogram, may then be extrapolated to evaluate the number of items which can be printed before the ink cartridge is depleted. The number of items which can be printed is then displayed to the user/operator on a system monitor so that a determination can be made concerning whether the print job may be completed.

Abstract: A mail inserter has a first web driver to move a web from a web supply and a second web driver to feed the web to a cutter for cutting the web into sheets, wherein the first and second web drivers have different velocity profiles to allow a web loop to form between the web drivers. The loop is variable between a maximum size and a minimum size. When the loop reaches the minimum size, the first web driver is running at its maximum speed. At this point the first web driver is decelerated at a rate such that when the first web driver stops, the web loop is at its maximum size. The acceleration of the first web driver is at a constant rate which is inversely proportional to the difference between the maximum loop size and the minimum loop size.

Abstract: A method includes scanning a check to generate image data representative of an image of the check. The method further includes detecting at least one security feature of the check. The method also includes transforming the image data to include at least one encoded indication of the detected at least one security feature of the check.

Abstract: An improved inserter input system and method for transversely cutting a web of printed material into separate sheets, the web including a plurality of separated side-by-side sheets. A set of sheets on the web is transported to the cutting device. One or more of the sheets in the set belongs to a new collation for which sheets have not previously been cut. The system determines whether sufficient collation parking spots exist to accommodate a new collation. If there are no available collation parking spots, and if all of the sheets in the set belong to the new collation, then transverse cutting is delayed until an open collation parking spot becomes available. If there are no available collation parking spots, and if a subset of sheets belong to a prior collation, then the web is partially cut to separate only the sheet, or sheets, that belong to the prior collation. The cutting of the other sheet(s) is delayed until the open collation parking spot becomes available.

Abstract: Methods and systems for validating signatures on ballots sent through the mail that do not require significant amounts of hardware and/or software to perform are provided. The envelope for returning a ballot by mail includes a signature area in which the voter will sign and a reserved area in which no markings are provided. When the envelope is received at the registrar's office, the voter's identification is scanned and the voter's registration signature is retrieved from a registration database. The signature retrieved from the registration database is then provided in the reserved area. The signatures can then be compared directly on the envelope, without the need to image the voter's signature from the envelope and without the use of monitors to display the imaged and retrieved signatures.

Abstract: A method for creating an intelligent physical mailpiece includes looking up a mailpiece preference of an addressee concerning mail received by the addressee. A physical mailpiece to the addressee is prepared and includes on the mailpiece the addressee preference. The mailpiece is scanned to determine the addressee preference. The mailpiece may also be processed to link the owner of a meter employed to imprint an indicia on the mailpiece to the mailpiece. The intelligent physical mailpiece system may include a database of recipient preferences. A sender mail creation means is coupled to the recipient preference database. A processor is coupled to a scanner. A communications means is coupled between the processor and the sender mail creation means for communicating recipient preferences to the sender mail creation means for storage in the database of recipient preferences.

Abstract: An improved apparatus and method for accumulating sheets having a horizontal transport deck. Inserts are fed from an insert feeder positioned above the deck. Driven accumulator nip rollers are positioned to receive accumulations of sheets transported on the horizontal deck, and they are also positioned close enough to the insert feeder to receive inserts fed from the insert feeder. A recessed accumulation deck is positioned immediately downstream of the accumulator nip rollers. When a first sheet rests in the recessed accumulation deck, a subsequent second sheet will be placed on top of the first sheet when it enters the recessed deck. The process is controlled whereby insert sheets are released by the insert feeder prior to arrival of an accumulation on the deck. The released insert is driven by the accumulator nip rollers onto the recessed accumulator deck. Then when the accumulation arrives, it is deposited on top of the insert resting there.

Abstract: A method and system for assessing when to change or sharpen a cutting blade of a paper cutter is presented. The cutting blade is operated using an electric motor that causes motion of the cutting blade, and the motion of the cutting blade causes the paper to be cut. Data is recorded about usage of the electric motor at least while cutting the paper. Based upon the data, a determination is made as to whether the cutting blade should be changed or sharpened.

Abstract: A mail sorting system, method, and software product are provided for transitioning from an earlier phase to a later phase of mail sortation. Information acquired during the earlier phase is used in order to calculate, while continuing the earlier phase, a transition time. At the transition time, there would be sufficient remaining time to perform the later phase, in order to meet a deadline for completing the later phase.

Abstract: A formal mechanism for defining a broad variety of postal products using measurable attributes. The mechanism for the products then may be formalized into data structures and procedures executable by computer systems. Once the above is executed an automated production is established for the mail unit and suitable for delivery of the new services to assist postal operators in effective execution of all operations specified by the services selected. In order to fulfill the mailer's requirement as expressed in computer processible format and captured by the mailer's computer the software may make decisions regarding the creation and sending of each mail unit. Based upon the mailer's requirements and available carrier services the mailer's computer may determine the need to modify the content of the mail units and create instructions or controls for the mail units.