Abstract: A package for an oral care implement comprising a container having a display portion and a periphery, and a backing attached to the container for defining an interior for receiving an oral care implement. The backing further comprises a first portion attached to a portion of the periphery for defining an interior of the container and a second portion attached to the display portion; wherein the second portion of the backing further comprises a separable portion that facilitates separation of the first portion of the backing from the display portion and thereby facilitates access to the interior of the container.

Abstract: A dental implement includes a rigid plastic core handle and an overmold. The overmold may have different exterior configurations for different users with the different configurations altered to anatomically fit the targeted user's hands and to appeal to the targeted user. The method for manufacturing the dental implement includes forming a plastic core in a first mold, removing the plastic core from the first mold, selecting one of a plurality of second molds, with each of the plurality of second molds having a different mold cavity such that an overmold formed by one of the plurality of the second modes and an overmold formed by another one of the plurality of second molds have different configurations, placing the plastic core into the selected one of the plurality of second molds, forming an overmold about the plastic core by injecting an material into the mold cavity, and removing the plastic core and overmold from the mold cavity.

Abstract: An oral care implement having a dispenser containing oral care material and a moisture impermeable barrier. An oral care implement comprising: a handle; a head connected to the handle, the head comprising at least one tooth cleaning element extending from a face of the head; a dispenser containing an oral care material positioned on the head, the dispenser being degradable when subjected to moisture; a removable barrier attached to the head so as to create a chamber between an inner surface of the removable barrier and a portion of the head, the removable barrier being constructed of a moisture impermeable material; and wherein the dispenser is disposed within the chamber.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for tracking a special service delivery by a carrier of a mail item created by an office worker. The method utilizes one or more special service indicators on the mail item to ensure that the office worker can obtain information about the status of the mail item by the simple placement of one of the special service stickers on the mail item.

Abstract: A system and method include means for processing a cryptographic certificate adapted to provide security functionality. A register means is provided and means for adjusting the register means to account for services when the cryptographic certificate is processed. In accordance with another aspect, a system and method include a register means for storing funds. Means are provided for processing a digital token providing proof of postage payment and means are also provided for processing a cryptographic certificate adapted to provide security functionality. Means debit funds stored in the register means when the digital token is processed and when the cryptographic certificate is processed. Processing the cryptographic certificate may involve many functions such as providing security services and/or certificate management functions (including generating and verifying cryptographic certificates) and/or key management functions and/or access to any needed private keys to perform security services.

Abstract: According to some embodiments a system and a method are provided to assign a variable receptacle identifier to a mailbox, determine the variable receptacle identifier assigned to a mailbox at the time of delivery, receive delivery data regarding delivery of a mail piece to the mailbox at the time of the delivery, the delivery data including receptacle identification data, and compare the receptacle identification data with the variable receptacle identifier determined as of the particular time. This technique may allow for automatic confirmation that the mail piece was delivered to, or, at least present at, the destination mailbox at the time of delivery claimed by the mail carrier this may provide enhanced capabilities for auditing performance by mail carriers.

Abstract: According to some embodiments, a system and method are provided to receive an indication from a postal recipient that an unsolicited mail piece is not desired, the indication comprising a digital image of at least a portion of the unsolicited mail piece, store data associated with the postal recipient based on one or more identifiers, and provide the data associated with the postal recipient to one or more mailers to indicate that the postal recipient requests to opt-out from future mailings.

Abstract: A method of reissuing digital tokens in an open system meter includes the steps of calculating a digital token using the predetermined postal information including addressee information, postage amount and piece count; debiting postal funds by the postage amount; issuing the digital token for generation of an indicia; storing the digital token and the predetermined postal information as part of a transaction record in a transaction record file indexed according to addressee information; determining that an indicia generated from the digital token has not been successfully printed on a mailpiece for a particular addressee; and reissuing the digital token from the transaction record in the transaction file to generate the indicia for another attempt to print the indicia on the mailpiece.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for protecting against a replay attack in a database system makes use of customer records including a counter, and freshness records that include the customer counters and a freshness record counter. The counter from the customer records, the customer records in the freshness records, and the freshness record counter are used by a cryptographic device together with a cryptographic device counter to verify the freshness of the customer record prior to updating the customer record with respect to a recent transaction.

Abstract: A transaction evidencing system includes a personal computer (PC) comprising a processor, memory and hard drive, with a plurality of non-metering application programs that selectively run on the PC. An unsecured printer is operatively coupled to the PC for printing in accordance with the non-metering application programs. A portable vault card that is removably coupled to the PC is programmed to generate tokens generation and perform transaction accounting. An application interface module in the PC, which interfaces with the non-metering application programs, issues a request for digital tokens in response to requests for indicia from a non-metering application program. A secure communications module in the PC, which securely communicates with the vault card when the vault card is coupled to the PC, sends the request for digital token to the vault card and receives a digital token generated by the vault card.

Abstract: A system and method include means for processing a cryptographic certificate adapted to provide security functionality. A register means is provided and means for adjusting the register means to account for services when the cryptographic certificate is processed. In accordance with anther aspect, a system and method include a register means for storing funds. Means are provided for processing a digital token providing proof of postage payment and means are also provided for processing a cryptographic certificate adapted to provide security functionality. Means debit funds stored in the register means when the digital token is processed and when the cryptographic certificate is processed. Processing the cryptographic certificate may involve many functions such as providing security services and/or certificate management functions (including generating and verifying cryptographic certificates) and/or key management functions and/or access to any needed private keys to perform security services.

Abstract: A system and method include means for processing a cryptographic certificate adapted to provide security functionality. A register means is provided and means for adjusting the register means to account for services when the cryptographic certificate is processed. In accordance with anther aspect, a system and method include a register means for storing funds. Means are provided for processing a digital token providing proof of postage payment and means are also provided for processing a cryptographic certificate adapted to provide security functionality. Means debit funds stored in the register means when the digital token is processed and when the cryptographic certificate is processed. Processing the cryptographic certificate may involve many functions such as providing security services and/or certificate management functions (including generating and verifying cryptographic certificates) and/or key management functions and/or access to any needed private keys to perform security services.

Abstract: A system and method include means for processing a cryptographic certificate adapted to provide security functionality. A register means is provided and means for adjusting the register means to account for services when the cryptographic certificate is processed. In accordance with anther aspect, a system and method include a register means for storing funds. Means are provided for processing a digital token providing proof of postage payment and means are also provided for processing a cryptographic certificate adapted to provide security functionality. Means debit funds stored in the register means when the digital token is processed and when the cryptographic certificate is processed. Processing the cryptographic certificate may involve many functions such as providing security services and/or certificate management functions (including generating and verifying cryptographic certificates) and/or key management functions and/or access to any needed private keys to perform security services.

Abstract: A transaction evidencing system includes a plurality of computer systems operatively configured to form a network with one of the computer systems functioning as a server and the remaining computer systems functioning as clients. Each of the computer systems includes a processor, memory and storage media. At least some of the storage means includes non-metering application programs that are selectively run on the client computer systems. An unsecured printer is operatively coupled to at least one of the computer systems for printing in accordance with the non-metering application programs. A portable vault card, which is removably coupled to the server computer system, includes digital token generation and transaction accounting processing. The client computer systems issue requests for digital tokens to the server computer system in response to requests for indicia from the non-metering application programs.

Abstract: A postage metering system includes a plurality of computers operatively connected as part of a computer network and operating as client computers on the computer network. At least one postal security device (PSD) is coupled to at least one of the client computers (local client computer). The PSD includes unique identification the ability to store postal value and generate digital signatures. The client computers function as a postage metering network wherein a client computer other than the local client computer (remote client computer) requests evidence of postage payment from the PSD for concluding a postage metering transaction. The local client computer functions as a meter server and the remote client computer functions as a meter client on the postage metering network. The remote client computer initiates a postage metering transaction in the PSD by sending a request for evidence of postage payment to the local client computer.

Abstract: A method for ensuring the freshness of records in a system comprising the steps of storing a plurality of customer records, each customer record including a counter indicative of the transaction status of the customer record; storing a plurality of freshness records, each freshness record including at least a subset of the total number of counters for all of the customer records and also including a freshness record counter that is related to the subset of the total number of counters in the freshness record; storing in a cryptographic device separate from the customer and freshness records a cryptographic device counter initially set to be consistent with an initial value in the freshness record counter; upon a request to update a specific customer record, identifying the freshness record that includes the counter associated the specific customer record and sending the freshness record and the specific customer record to the cryptographic device; extracting at the cryptographic device from the freshness reco

Abstract: A system and method of evidencing postage payment includes a data center with a database storing a plurality of meter records. Each meter record includes meter information corresponding to a metering account. When a request for postage is received, a secure co-processor device in the data center obtains the appropriate meter record and verifies the authenticity of the meter record by verifying a signature in the meter record and comparing freshness data in the meter record to freshness data in the secure device. If verified, the secure device then accounts for an amount of postage to be evidenced, generates evidence of postage payment and updates the meter information, including the freshness data, in the meter record. The secure device then signs the updated meter information, stores the signature in the meter record, and returns the updated meter record to the database.