Abstract: A printing system for printing both secure value documents and non-secure documents while ensuring that fraudulent copies of secure value documents printed by the printing system can be detected is provided. The printing system determines if the source is a secure or non-secure source. If the source of the image is a secure source, it will print the image, including any graphic security features. If the source is a non-secure source, before printing the image a filter is applied to the image data to remove any graphic security features included in the received image and/or the printing system will not add any graphic security features to the received image to ensure that the printed image will not contain any copy detection graphic security features.

Abstract: A system, method, and medium, the method including receiving parameter information associated with a mailer, associating the parameter information with a mailing, receiving statistical information, the statistical information including historical performance data of at least one carrier, determining a delivery sequence for the mailing based on the received mailer parameter information and the statistical information, and outputting the determined delivery sequence for the mailing.

Abstract: An electronic voting system includes a vote security device (VSD), a user interface for presenting a ballot to a voter, and an audit trail printer operatively coupled to the VSD. The printer prints an audit trail ballot only in response to verifying encrypted and/or digitally signed messages received from the VSD that indicates the voter's ballot selections. The printer is structured to allow the voter to view but not access the audit trail ballot. The voter is able to accept or reject the audit trail ballot using the user interface. If the ballot is rejected, the VSD causes the printer to print a rejection indicator on the ballot, and if the voter accepts the ballot, the VSD causes the printer to print an acceptance indicator on the ballot. A digitally signed record of the voter's ballot selections is generated and stored.

Abstract: A printing system for printing both secure value documents and non-secure documents while ensuring that fraudulent copies of secure value documents printed by the printing system can be detected is provided. The printing system determines if the source is a secure or non-secure source. If the source of the image is a secure source, it will print the image, including any graphic security features. If the source is a non-secure source, before printing the image a filter is applied to the image data to remove any graphic security features included in the received image and/or the printing system will not add any graphic security features to the received image to ensure that the printed image will not contain any copy detection graphic security features.

Abstract: Methods and systems that provide privacy of signatures on envelopes containing ballots are provided. The envelope for returning ballots includes a flap with a window that aligns with a signature area on the envelope. The window appears opaque under normal lighting conditions, but appears transparent when illuminated with light having a predetermined wavelength. A movable signature stub is positioned on top of the signature area. The voter signs the back of the envelope on the signature stub, thereby imprinting a signature on the signature area by transferring a material from the signature stub to the signature area, and moves the signature stub. The flap of the envelope is then sealed, thereby covering the voter's signature in the signature area with the window of the envelope flap. To read the signature, light having the predetermined wavelength can be directed onto the window, thereby rendering the window transparent and the signature visible.

Abstract: Methods and systems for verification of indicia that do not require key management systems, and in which revocation of key pairs is easily performed without adding costs to the verification process are provided. Indicia are generated and authenticated utilizing an identity-based encryption (IBE) scheme. A key generating authority generates a private key for a PSD, distributes the private key securely to the PSD, and provides public information for use by a verification service when verifying cryptographic digital signatures generated with the private key. The corresponding public key is a string consisting of PSD information that is provided as part of the indicium. The verification service can verify the signature of each indicium by obtaining the public key string from the indicium, and utilizing the key generating authority's public information.

Abstract: According to some embodiments, a system and a method are provided to receive a real-time medical entry from a medical professional where the medical entry comprises one or more medical terms, to automatically compare the one or more medical terms with a plurality of data records, each data record associated with a billing code, and to select a coding term if one of the one or more medical terms matches the plurality of data records.

Abstract: The present invention is concerned with inclusion of a “fragile watermark” in an original printed document to aid in a determination whether a document under examination is an original or a copy. The watermark may be applied by making small tonal adjustments on a pixel block by pixel block basis in data used to generate the original document. Documents to be verified may then be examined on a block-by-block basis after scanning.

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: 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 for controlling a postage metering system includes a mailer defining a first set of parameters for which the generation of postage evidence is authorized to be dispensed from the mailer's meter account. When a request for postage evidence is received, the request includes a second set of postage parameters. The requested postage evidence is generated only when each of the postage parameters in the second set matches one of the parameters in the first set. Alternatively, the first set of parameters defines parameters for which the generation of postage evidence is not authorized to be dispensed from the mailer's account, and the requested postage evidence will be generated only when none of the postage parameters in the second set matches one of the parameters in the first set.

Abstract: Methods for generating and reading a two-dimensional barcode comprised of a number of data modules for storing a first encoded set of binary data and a second encoded set of binary data. The first set of binary data is encoded using a first data module size and the second set of binary data is encoded using a second data module size, wherein the first data module size is larger than the second data module size. Mail metering and verification systems for implementing the methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of printing modules for a two dimensional barcode that includes printing a pixel at a plurality of the pixel locations included in the inner portion of the darkened module, and printing a pixel at less than all of the pixel locations of the outer boundary of the darkened module. Various embodiments are contemplated, such as, without limitation, methods that print darkened modules having four light corners, three light corners, two light corners, one light corner, and/or one light edge. Also, a method of printing a two dimensional barcode having a finder pattern wherein the inner edge of the finder pattern is light, meaning that is does not include any printed pixels at the pixel locations along the inner edge.

Abstract: A printed indicium including a first section and a second section. The first section includes a first ink having a first color under normal daylight. The second section includes a second different ink. The second ink includes a fluorescent ink which has a second color under normal daylight which is substantially the same as the first color. The fluorescent ink has a fluorescence when subjected to fluorescent-exciting radiation. The second section is imbedded with the first section such that the first and second sections are substantially visually indiscernible from each other in normal daylight.

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.

Abstract: A method includes scanning a page of a paper document to generate a first digital page image. The method further includes obtaining a second digital page image which corresponds to a second page. The method also includes comparing the first digital page image pixel-by-pixel with the second digital page image to generate a score that indicates a degree to which the first digital page image differs from the second digital page image.

Abstract: Methods and systems that provide privacy of signatures on envelopes containing ballots are provided. The envelope for returning ballots includes a flap with a window that aligns with a signature area on the envelope. The window appears opaque under normal lighting conditions, but appears transparent when illuminated with light having a predetermined wavelength. A movable signature stub is positioned on top of the signature area. The voter signs the back of the envelope on the signature stub, thereby imprinting a signature on the signature area by transferring a material from the signature stub to the signature area, and moves the signature stub. The flap of the envelope is then sealed, thereby covering the voter's signature in the signature area with the window of the envelope flap. To read the signature, light having the predetermined wavelength can be directed onto the window, thereby rendering the window transparent and the signature visible.

Abstract: A method of registering a scanning grid of a scanner with a printing grid of a printer that includes placing a predetermined motif in a digital image to create a modified image, printing the modified image using the printer to create a printed modified image, scanning the printed modified image using the scanner to create a scanned modified image that includes the motif, using the motif included in the scanned modified image to determine a rotation ? of the scanning grid of the scanner with respect to the printing grid of the printer, and using the motif included in the scanned modified image to determine a translation vector that gives a position of a node of the printing grid in a coordinate system of the scanning grid.

Abstract: A method that enables the recipient to receive notification of the letter mail, flats and/or packages (mail) that the recipient is going to receive prior to the delivery of the mail. The recipient is then able to inform a post or courier e.g., Federal Express®, Airborne®, United Parcel Service®, DHL®, etc. of the manner in which the recipient would like the mail delivered. The post and courier hereinafter will be referred to as “carrier”. For instance, the recipient may want the mail physically delivered to their house faster or slower, or the mail physically redirected to the recipient's temporary address, or physically delivered to the recipient's agent, or physically delivered to the recipient's attorney, or physically returned to the mailer, or have the carrier open the physical mail and have the post e-mail or fax the contents of the envelope to the recipient and/or parties designated by the recipient.

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.