Patents by Inventor John F. Braun

John F. Braun has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 9117317
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2015
    Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.
    Inventors: Richard W. Heiden, Arthur J. Parkos, John F. Braun, Jean-Hiram Coffy, Bertrand Haas, Bradley R. Hammell
  • Patent number: 8297860
    Abstract: A printing system is provided that dynamically adjusts the method of printing an image based on the lightness or darkness of the medium upon which the image will be printed. The reflectivity of the medium upon which an image is to be printed is determined, and the way in which the image will be printed is adjusted based on the determined reflectivity of the medium. For lighter colored mediums, on which sufficient contrast will be provided, the image can be printed directly onto the medium. For darker colored mediums, on which the ink used to print the image will not provide enough contrast with respect to the medium to produce a reliably readable image, the method of printing the image is modified to ensure that sufficient contrast is always provided to produce a reliably readable image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.
    Inventors: Frederick W. Ryan, Jr., John F. Braun, Ronald P. Sansone, Robert A. Cordery
  • Patent number: 8159330
    Abstract: A device for determining the dimensions of a parcel includes a platform and two adjacent walls. Each of the platform and walls are provided with a respective antenna for transmitting and receiving RF energy. The parcel to be measured is placed on the platform and registered against the walls. A responding device, having RFID tags attached thereto, is placed on a corner of the parcel. Each of the antennae are energized, and response signals from the RFID tags are measured. Based on the response signals from the RFID tags, the dimensions of the parcel can be determined, and the parcel can be rated for delivery based on the determined dimensions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.
    Inventor: John F. Braun
  • Patent number: 7971061
    Abstract: An opt-in email system in which a recipient that has opted in to an email list can recognize and trust that an email has actually come from a desired sender. When a recipient desires to opt-in to an e-mail list, the recipient is sent to a trusted third party certification service that generates a certificate associated with a key pair. A key is maintained at the sender's location by a secure cryptographic device that can verify the certificate and create a signature, using a key of the key pair, for messages intended for the recipient. When a message intended for the recipient is received from the sender, the signature will be verified based on the status of the certificate and the corresponding key of the key pair. If the signature does not verify, it indicates that the recipient has not opted-in to receive emails from this sender.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.
    Inventors: Robert A. Cordery, John F. Braun, Ronald P. Sansone
  • Publication number: 20110153418
    Abstract: A computer receives information that indicates viewing and/or skipping of television commercials by a number of viewers. The computer uses the information to compile statistics that summarize viewing and/or skipping of the television commercials within a geographical area. Based on the statistics, an advertising solicitation is selected by the geographic area and is dispatched on paper to recipients in the geographical area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2009
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Applicant: Pitney Bowes Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas B. Quine, John W. Rojas, John F. Braun, Theresa Biasi
  • Publication number: 20110120324
    Abstract: A printing system is provided that dynamically adjusts the method of printing an image based on the lightness or darkness of the medium upon which the image will be printed. The reflectivity of the medium upon which an image is to be printed is determined, and the way in which the image will be printed is adjusted based on the determined reflectivity of the medium. For lighter colored mediums, on which sufficient contrast will be provided, the image can be printed directly onto the medium. For darker colored mediums, on which the ink used to print the image will not provide enough contrast with respect to the medium to produce a reliably readable image, the method of printing the image is modified to ensure that sufficient contrast is always provided to produce a reliably readable image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2009
    Publication date: May 26, 2011
    Applicant: Pitney Bowes Inc.
    Inventors: Frederick W. Ryan, JR., John F. Braun, Ronald P. Sansone, Robert A. Cordery
  • Patent number: 7840492
    Abstract: Methods and systems for dispensing value are described. In one configuration, a unique tangible indicia is enabled with a value and then disabled after the value is redeemed. In another configuration, a user enables a unique coded stamp and associates a postage payment with the stamp. The postal service cancels the stamp by deactivating the stamp from a list of active stamps and optionally audits the payment association.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.
    Inventors: Alan Leung, John W. Rojas, James R. Norris, Jr., Jean-Hiram Coffy, Arthur Parkos, John F. Braun, Wendy Chui Fen Leung
  • Patent number: 7797247
    Abstract: A method of optimizing the performance of a networked mailing system having a plurality of metering systems includes determining in a first metering system that a cryptographic operation needs to be performed, and identifying a device coupled to the network that can perform the cryptographic operation faster than the first metering system. If a device has been so identified, the method further includes sending a request to the identified device to perform the cryptographic operation. If the request has been sent, the method includes receiving a response including processed data in the first metering system from the device. The processed data includes a result of the cryptographic operation being performed on the piece of data in question.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2010
    Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.
    Inventor: John F. Braun
  • Patent number: 7611298
    Abstract: A printing system is provided that dynamically adjusts the method of printing an image based on the lightness or darkness of the medium upon which the image will be printed. The reflectivity of the medium upon which an image is to be printed is determined, and the way in which the image will be printed is adjusted based on the determined reflectivity of the medium. For lighter colored mediums, on which sufficient contrast will be provided, the image can be printed directly onto the medium. For darker colored mediums, on which the ink used to print the image will not provide enough contrast with respect to the medium to produce a reliably readable image, the method of printing the image is modified to ensure that sufficient contrast is always provided to produce a reliably readable image.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2009
    Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.
    Inventors: Frederick W. Ryan, Jr., John F. Braun, Ronald P. Sansone, Robert A. Cordery
  • Patent number: 7561044
    Abstract: A method for adaptively controlling a Radio Frequency IDentification (RFID) system having a plurality of interrogating antennas and RFID tags. The method comprises the steps of establishing a timeout setting indicative of the time that each interrogating antenna powers a read field during a respective read period and a threshold time period indicative of the time required to transmit energy/exchange data between the RFID tag and the interrogating antenna. A period differential is then calculated which is indicative of the difference between the timeout setting and the time elapsed for the final RFID tag within a respective read field to communicate its RFID tag information. The timeout setting for each interrogating antenna may then be adaptively tuned or varied in accordance with the period differential. To expedite and/or refine the adaptive tuning feature, a variance may also be calculated indicative of the difference between the threshold time period and the period differential.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2009
    Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.
    Inventors: John F. Braun, Jean-Hiram Coffy, Arthur J. Parkos, Michael P. Swenson
  • Patent number: 7548165
    Abstract: A method for enhancing the accuracy a Radio Frequency IDentification (RFID) system which may exhibit inconsistent RFID tag reporting behavior. The method includes the steps of (i) establishing a timeout setting indicative of the time that each interrogating antenna transmits RF energy within a respective read field, (ii) evaluating/comparing reporting results over multiple interrogation cycles to determine when an RFID tag exhibits inconsistent reporting behavior within the read field and (iii) increasing the timeout setting of the respective interrogating antenna to enhance the energy harvested by an RFID tag/device during each interrogation cycle. In lieu of, or in addition to, increasing the timeout setting, the method evaluates the responses received over multiple cycles and accepts such responses as being valid only when the same response is obtain over consecutive/sequential interrogation cycles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2009
    Assignee: Pintey Bowes Inc.
    Inventors: John F. Braun, Jean-Hiram Coffy, Arthur J. Parkos, Michael P. Swenson
  • Publication number: 20090128293
    Abstract: A device for determining the dimensions of a parcel includes a platform and two adjacent walls. Each of the platform and walls are provided with a respective antenna for transmitting and receiving RF energy. The parcel to be measured is placed on the platform and registered against the walls. A responding device, having RFID tags attached thereto, is placed on a corner of the parcel. Each of the antennae are energized, and response signals from the RFID tags are measured. Based on the response signals from the RFID tags, the dimensions of the parcel can be determined, and the parcel can be rated for delivery based on the determined dimensions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2007
    Publication date: May 21, 2009
    Applicant: Pitney Bowes Inc.
    Inventor: John F. Braun
  • Patent number: 7511728
    Abstract: Printing systems and methods are described for multicolored thermal printing simultaneously using a plurality of thermal printing technologies to achieve multicolored output. In one configuration, a dual thermal technology thermal printer includes a single thermal media ribbon printing subsystem using a multi-temperature thermal print head capable of producing grayscale or varying intensity marking on a multi-intensity direct contact thermal media such as a grayscale media.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.
    Inventors: John F. Braun, Jay Reichelsheimer
  • Publication number: 20090037338
    Abstract: A method of optimizing the performance of a networked mailing system having a plurality of metering systems includes determining in a first metering system that a cryptographic operation needs to be performed, and identifying a device coupled to the network that can perform the cryptographic operation faster than the first metering system. If a device has been so identified, the method further includes sending a request to the identified device to perform the cryptographic operation. If the request has been sent, the method includes receiving a response including processed data in the first metering system from the device. The processed data includes a result of the cryptographic operation being performed on the piece of data in question.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 2, 2007
    Publication date: February 5, 2009
    Applicant: Pitney Bowes Inc.
    Inventor: John F. Braun
  • Publication number: 20080244385
    Abstract: A multimodal document management system and method includes a context manager for managing multimodal documents. A virtual media content management system is coupled to the context manager and a physical media content management system is coupled to the context manager. The context manager is operable to issue multimodal document management instructions to the virtual media content management system and issuing instructions to the physical media content management system. The context manager instructions may relate to shredding of multimodal documents by deleting virtual media and destroying physical media. The method for managing multimodal documents may include receiving a request for the shredding of an information and content data file containing a list of virtual media and physical media relating to a multimodal document. A determination is made if the request for shred is authorized and, where said request for shred is authorized, a record of the shred request is created.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2007
    Publication date: October 2, 2008
    Applicant: Pitney Bowes Inc.
    Inventors: Deborra J. Zukowski, Eric C. Friedrich, Arthur J. Parkos, Chao Chen, Jean-Hiram Coffy, John F. Braun, Richard W. Heiden
  • Patent number: 7417773
    Abstract: The present application describes systems and methods for composing and sending facsimile messages using a digital pointing instrument. In further configurations, a user utilizes a pen to indicate a reference to a document that is appended to the outgoing facsimile. In another further configuration, the user utilizes a form having pre-defined regions that are used to correlate a pen stroke with a desired action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2008
    Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.
    Inventors: John F. Braun, John W. Rojas, James R. Norris, Jean-Hiram Coffy, Arthur Parkos, Alan Leung, Wendy Chui Fen Leung
  • Patent number: 7397468
    Abstract: The present application describes systems and methods for creating a document having metadata using a pointing device such as a digital pen. In one configuration, a digital pen captures pen stroke data and processes that data to determine metadata that the pen then writes to metadata storage located on the document.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2008
    Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.
    Inventors: John F. Braun, John W. Rojas, James R. Norris, Jean-Hiram Coffy, Arthur Parkos, Alan Leung, Wendy Chui Fen Leung
  • Patent number: 7394915
    Abstract: A system and method for determining the thickness of a mail piece is provided. A first image of at least a portion of a surface of a mail piece is captured using a first optical axis for a feature on the surface of the mail piece. A second image of the feature is captured after the mail piece has moved a distance using a second optical axis that is angled with respect to the first optical axis. The first and second images are correlated to determine a displacement of the feature, and the thickness of the mail piece is determined based on the displacement and the angle between the first and second optical axes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2008
    Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.
    Inventors: John F Braun, Robert A Cordery, Frederick W Ryan, Jr., Ronald P Sansone
  • Publication number: 20080147423
    Abstract: A method and system is provided for confirming and/or verifying receipt of a mailpiece by an intended mail recipient. The method includes the step of establishing a relationship between the intended mail recipient and an RFID tag affixed to the mailpiece. Upon delivery of the mailpiece, the actual mail recipient is caused to affect communication between an RFID enabled phone in the possession of the actual mail recipient and the RFID tag of the mailpiece. By comparing the information acquired by the RFID enabled phone and the RFID tag, (i.e., the relationship information stored on the RFID tag), a determination can be made as to whether the intended mail recipient is the actual mail recipient. Alternate embodiments of the invention effect confirmation/verification by capturing various biometric characteristics of the mail recipient and comparing such information to previously stored biometric data of the intended mail recipient.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2006
    Publication date: June 19, 2008
    Inventors: John F. Braun, Ronald Reichman, Pradeep K. Das, Andrei Obrea, Theresa Biasi, John W. Sussmeier, Tim Walsh, Leon Pintsov
  • Publication number: 20080141026
    Abstract: An opt-in email system in which a recipient that has opted in to an email list can recognize and trust that an email has actually come from a desired sender. When a recipient desires to opt-in to an e-mail list, the recipient is sent to a trusted third party certification service that generates a certificate associated with a key pair. A key is maintained at the sender's location by a secure cryptographic device that can verify the certificate and create a signature, using a key of the key pair, for messages intended for the recipient. When a message intended for the recipient is received from the sender, the signature will be verified based on the status of the certificate and the corresponding key of the key pair. If the signature does not verify, it indicates that the recipient has not opted-in to receive emails from this sender.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2006
    Publication date: June 12, 2008
    Applicant: Pitney Bowes Incorporated
    Inventors: Robert A. Cordery, John F. Braun, Ronald P. Sansone