Abstract: Methods and systems that prevent completion of postdated financial transactions until the specified future date is provided. A portion of the information necessary to complete a financial transaction is encrypted utilizing an identity-based encryption (IBE) scheme. The encryption key used to encrypt the information is associated with the date on which the transaction is authorized to be completed. The encrypted information is provided to the payee. The issuing bank provides a daily decryption key that allows decryption of information encrypted using the key associated with the corresponding date. Thus, only when the maturity date of the transaction has arrived will the payee or depositing bank be able to obtain the decryption key that will decrypt the encrypted information necessary to complete the transaction. Since the encrypted information can not be decrypted until the date associated with the encryption key, the financial transaction can not be completed until such date.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for a user to determine the status of a shipment being transported by a carrier. The user performs a transaction at a web site, and chooses a type of shipment. A file in markup language includes at least one link to shipment tracking information, and this file is provided to the user and saved locally at a user device. The user activates the file to check the shipping status, which is then displayed. In this way, the user is able to access aggregated shipping information from a plurality of carriers. Also, the user is able to obtain pinpoint shipping status, if the user needs more details than merely finding out a checkpoint through which a shipment has passed.

Abstract: Methods and systems for keeping information related to the sender of a mail piece private, while still allowing authorized parties to easily obtain the sender information if desired, is provided. Sender information for a mail piece is encrypted utilizing an identity-based encryption (IBE) scheme. The encryption key used to encrypt the sender information can be computed using recipient information. The corresponding decryption key can only be obtained from a trusted third party acting as a Private Key Generator (PKG). Only those parties authorized to have access to the sender information will be provided with the corresponding decryption key. The corresponding decryption key can then be used to decrypt the sender information into human readable form.

Abstract: A method and system for processing and printing shipping labels having postage is described. In one configuration a postage dispensing system allows a shipping label reprint for a relatively short period of time. In another configuration, the system offers a refund after the second unsuccessful print attempt and logs the label identifier as an invalid identifier. If the print is successful, the identifier is logged as a successful identifier. The system occasionally receives identifiers that have been processed in the mail stream and reports fraud if an unexpected identifier is present.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for a user to determine the status of a shipment being transported by a carrier. The user performs a transaction at a web site, and chooses a type of shipment. A file in markup language includes at least one link to shipment tracking information, and this file is provided to the user and saved locally at a user device. The user activates the file to check the shipping status, which is then displayed. In this way, the user is able to access aggregated shipping information from a plurality of carriers. Also, the user is able to obtain pinpoint shipping status, if the user needs more details than merely finding out a checkpoint through which a shipment has passed.

Abstract: A method and system for processing shipping labels having postage is described. In one configuration a hidden frame in a secure browser window is used to control printing of an actual shipping label while allowing unlimited sample printing of a sample shipping label having sample postage indicia.

Abstract: A system and method for processing refund requests in a postage system is described. In one configuration, each mail piece includes a tracking code. The refund system monitors the tracking codes as mail pieces are processed in the mail stream. A user enters a refund request for a particular mail piece that is identified by a unique tracking code. The refund system then interrogates a tracking code database to determine if the mail piece was observed in the mail stream. The system then continues to periodically interrogate the tracking code database over a test period of a week to determine if the mail piece was observed in the mail stream. If the mail piece is not observed within the test period, a refund is processed. The system continues to interrogate the tracking code database for a year after the refund is processed to ensure that fraud is not committed.