Abstract: The systems and methods described herein relate generally to the integration of a shipping label with a customs form to provide a single label having postage, addressing, customs and other information for international shipping. In one embodiment, a method for generating an international shipping a package comprises the steps of providing shipping information associated with the package, the information comprising address information of the origin, address information of the destination, postage information including a postage amount due to a post service and a customs form number unique within the post service; processing a shipping label having the shipping information displayed thereon; and affixing the shipping label to the package.

Abstract: A system and method for creating an intelligent mail barcode artwork. The method includes inputting parameters including inputting a delivery point ZIP code; verifying the input parameters are within specified ranges; computing an intelligent mail barcode using the input parameters; and generating the intelligent mail barcode, the intelligent mail barcode containing and ascender bar, a descender bar, a tracker bar and a full bar.

Abstract: The systems and methods described herein relate generally to the electronic recordation of the transfer of a package from a shipper to a responsible postal carrier. In one embodiment, a method of recording the acceptance of a package from a package shipper shipped via a post service includes the steps of: generating a unique header number to preface a record of package transactions made over a time period for a specific shipper, the header number being unique within the post service, wherein each package transaction is made with a centralized computer system and has an associated delivery confirmation number unique within the post service; transmitting the unique header number and transaction record to the post service; generating a scannable indicia representative of the unique header number; and scanning the indicia to confirm acceptance of the package by the post service, wherein the indicia is scanned by a post service representative.

Abstract: The systems and methods described herein relate generally to the integration of a shipping label with a customs form to provide a single label having postage, addressing, customs, and other information for international shipping, and in particular, to managing landed cost and harmonization for international packages. In one embodiment, managing the landed cost and harmonization may comprise generating a unique self-validating postage indicium or mark in response to a request that includes a description of contents for a package onto which an international shipping label is to be placed and a destination country where the package is to be delivered. As such, the unique self-validating postage indicium or mark may indicate that landed costs for delivering the package to the destination country have been pre-paid, wherein the unique self-validating postage indicium or mark and a customs declaration form may be printed on the international shipping label.

Abstract: A system and method of processing a mailing label through a postal service that requires an account that can be charged for generating the mailing label are described. The method includes charging or deducting a fictitiously fundable or chargeable account to enable generation of a mailing label for a mail piece. The mailing label includes a tracking indicium associated with the fictitiously fundable or chargeable account. The method further includes receiving the tracking indicium scanned from the mailing label on the mail piece when the mail piece is inducted in the mail stream or during transit of the mail piece in the mail stream, and charging or deducting funds from an actually fundable or chargeable account based upon the received scanned tracking indicium.

Abstract: A method and system for using an indexing identifier (such as, e.g., a tracking identifier or the combination of a postage vendor ID, user account, and piece count) to decrease the size of the postage indicium transmitted to an end user computer, or eliminate transmission of the postage indicium altogether, is provided. When the postage indicium for the end user computer is generated, it is stored, and the indexing identifier, rather than the postage indicium, is transmitted to the end user computer. The indexing identifier is applied to a mail piece, which is then scanned by the postal authority. The postal authority can obtain the stored postage indicium by reference to the indexing identifier. In this manner, the postal authority has access to the postage indicium without having to apply it to the mail piece. The indexing identifiers can optionally be used to index sender identification information for verifying that the sender of a mail piece is a trusted individual or entity.

Abstract: The systems and methods described herein relate generally to the integration of a shipping label with a customs form to provide a single label having postage, addressing, customs and other information for international shipping. In one embodiment, a method for generating an international shipping a package comprises the steps of providing shipping information associated with the package, the information comprising address information of the origin, address information of the destination, postage information including a postage amount due to a post service and a customs form number unique within the post service; processing a shipping label having the shipping information displayed thereon; and affixing the shipping label to the package.

Abstract: The systems and methods described herein relate generally to the electronic recordation of the transfer of a package from a shipper to a responsible postal carrier. In one embodiment, a method of recording the acceptance of a package from a package shipper shipped via a post service includes the steps of: generating a unique header number to preface a record of package transactions made over a time period for a specific shipper, the header number being unique within the post service, wherein each package transaction is made with a centralized computer system and has an associated delivery confirmation number unique within the post service; transmitting the unique header number and transaction record to the post service; generating a scannable indicia representative of the unique header number; and scanning the indicia to confirm acceptance of the package by the post service, wherein the indicia is scanned by a post service representative.

Abstract: A method and system for using an indexing identifier (such as, e.g., a tracking ID or the combination of a postage vendor ID, user account, and piece count) to decrease the size of the postage indicium transmitted to an end user computer, or eliminate transmission of the postage indicium altogether, is provided. When the postage indicium for the end user computer is generated, it is stored, and the indexing identifier, rather than the postage indicium, is transmitted to the end user computer. The indexing identifier is applied to a mail piece, which is then scanned by the postal authority. The postal authority can obtain the stored postage indicium by reference to the indexing identifier. In this manner, the postal authority has access to the postage indicium without having to apply it to the mail piece. The indexing identifiers can optionally be used to index sender identification information for verifying that the sender of a mail piece is a trusted individual or entity.

Abstract: A postage printing system enables users to generate postage indicia and print mail pieces at client computers. Upon user determination of a mail piece print failure, a mail metering application on the client computer sends reprint request to an authorizing authority at a remote location. The reprint request includes information identifying an account for printing a postage indicia. A server computer used by the authorizing authority receives the reprint request from a client computer and evaluates the request. When the account is verified and other criteria are satisfied, a reply is sent to the client computer that includes a reprint authorization. Otherwise, a negative reply is sent to the client computer that does not include the reprint authorization. Upon receiving a reprint authorization from the authorizing authority, the client computer prints a replacement mail piece with the postage indicia.

Abstract: A method and system for using a tracking ID to facilitate the refunding of unused postage is provided. Information for a postage transaction, along with the tracking ID and an associated delivery status, is stored. This delivery status is updated when the mail piece carrying the tracking ID is delivered. Unused postage can be confirmed by retrieving the stored postage transaction information and determining from that whether there are duplicative postage transactions. The delivery statuses for the duplicative postage transactions can then be reviewed to determine whether the mail pieces associated with these postage transactions have been delivered. If not, one of the postage transactions may be refunded.

Abstract: A method and system for using an indexing identifier (such as, e.g., a tracking ID or the combination of a postage vendor ID, user account, and piece count) to decrease the size of the postage indicium transmitted to an end user computer, or eliminate transmission of the postage indicium altogether, is provided. When the postage indicium for the end user computer is generated, it is stored, and the indexing identifier, rather than the postage indicium, is transmitted to the end user computer. The indexing identifier is applied to a mail piece, which is then scanned by the postal authority. The postal authority can obtain the stored postage indicium by reference to the indexing identifier. In this manner, the postal authority has access to the postage indicium without having to apply it to the mail piece. The indexing identifiers can optionally be used to index sender identification information for verifying that the sender of a mail piece is a trusted individual or entity.

Abstract: A method and system for detecting copy fraud using a unique character string, e.g., a tracking ID, is provided. This tracking ID can be associated with a postage indicium and digitally signed to provide for a self-validating unique postage indicium. The self-validating postage indicium can then be applied to a mail piece, e.g., a package, which are then processed through a postal authority, e.g., the USPS. Once validated by the postal authority, the tracking ID within the unique postage indicium can be compared to the tracking ID's in all other postage indicia to ensure that tracking ID is indeed unique and has not been duplicated. If the self-validating postage indicia on tracked mail pieces are only spot-checked, the tracking ID obtained from the validated postage indicium can be compared to a standard tracking ID found elsewhere on the mail pieces.

Abstract: A system for electronic distribution of postage includes at least one secure central computer for generating postal indicia in response to postage requests submitted by end user computers, and at least one postal authority computer system for processing the postal indicia on mail pieces. A key aspect of the system is that all secure processing required for generating postal indicia is performed at secure central computers, not at end user computers, thereby removing the need for specialized secure computational equipment at end user sites. A secure central computer includes a database of information concerning user accounts of users authorized to request postal indicia from the secure central computer. A request validation procedure authenticates received postage requests with respect to the user account information in the database.

Abstract: A distributed computer system enables end-users without direct access to a ZIP+4 database to obtain ZIP+4 zipcode values for specified addresses from a remotely located computer having a ZIP+4 database. The remotely located computer includes a modem for receiving calls from end-user's computers and a ZIP+4 database with query response software for transmitting ZIP+4 zipcode values retrieved from its ZIP+4 database in response to address information received from end-user computers. End-user computers that utilize the remotely located ZIP+4 database each include a modem for communicating with the remotely located ZIP+4 database computer, an address input program for storing address information input by a user, and a remote zipcode retrieval program for transmitting via the modem the stored address information to the remotely located ZIP+4 database computer and for receiving ZIP+4 zipcode values from the remotely located computer.

Abstract: A distributed computer system enables end-users having personal computers to purchase postage from the post authority. End-user computers each include a modem for communicating with a computer at the postal authority, a secure non-volatile memory for storing postal usage and remaining postage information, a postage meter control program that includes a program for communicating with the postal authority to purchase postage and for updating the contents of the secure non-volatile memory. The end user computers preferably include a printer and a postage printing program for directing the printer to print addresses and postage on envelopes and labels. The postage printing program assigns a unique serial number to every printed envelope and label, where the unique serial number includes a meter identifier unique to that end user. As a result, every printed envelope and label contains a unique serial number.

Abstract: A freeze protection system allows the working fluid contained in the communicating tubes of the solar collector to drain from both the input and output tubes of the collector when a first predetermined temperature of the working fluid is detected and to fill the collector via both the input and output tubes when a second predetermined temperature is detected. The invention includes valve mechanism, of the spool valve variety, that communicate the working fluid to be heated to the collector and therefrom to a storage tank, a valve actuator and a sensor.

Abstract: A freeze protection system allows the working fluid contained in the communicating tubes of the solar collector to drain from both the input and output tubes of the collector when a first predetermined temperature of the working fluid is detected and to fill the collector via both the input and output tubes when a second predetermined temperature is detected. The invention includes valve mechanisms, of the spool valve variety, that communicate the working fluid to be heated to the collector and therefrom to a storage tank, a valve actuator and a sensor.

Abstract: A support member is used to mount a heat motor and at least one electrical resistance heating element for actuating said heat motor. The support member is made of a thermally conductive material with cylindrical openings which receive the motor and heating element(s). Heat from the resistance element actuates the motor by heat conductance through the support.

Abstract: A freeze protection system allows the working fluid contained in the communicating tubes of the solar collector to drain from both the input and output tubes of the collector when a first predetermined temperature of the working fluid is detected and to fill the collector via both the input and output tubes when a second predetermined temperature is detected. The invention includes valve mechanisms, of the spool valve variety, that communicate the working fluid to be heated to the collector and therefrom to a storage tank, a valve actuator and a sensor.