Abstract: In a mailing system for franking a postage indicium serving as a proof of postage, postal data including the postage needs to be communicated through such an indicium. Illustratively, the postal data is categorized into (a) invariable postal data, e.g, a device ID identifying the mailing system, which is unaffected by a franking transaction, and (b) variable postal data, e.g., the postage, which may change from one franking transaction to another. To avoid latency of the franking operation, the invariable postal data is preset for initial printing of the postage indicium, and the variable postal data is determined and set for printing in real time. In printing the postage indicium, the invariable postal data and the variable postal data are presented in that order in one or more symbols.

Abstract: In a postage payment system, a secure integrated circuit (IC) card is used to manage postage funds, and created encrypted postage indicia. Among other things, the system is capable of performing charge-back accounting of postage expenses and generating mail contents. In accordance with an aspect of the invention, the postage indicia are applied onto selected locations of the mail contents while they are being generated. In the preferred embodiment, each mail content is placed in a window envelope such that the postage indicium on the mail content exposes through a window of the envelope to facilitate inspection of the indicium. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, by including transactional data in addition to the traditional postal data in a postage indicium, the indicium can be used to pay bills, purchase products and services, including any courier service different than the postal service.

Abstract: A system for dispensing funds. The system includes a non-dedicated printer adapted to print indicia of a monetary value, and a postal security device coupled to the franking machine. The postal security device includes an accounting register indicative of a value of monetary funds stored in the postal security device. The system also includes a money transfer system coupled to the franking machine and adapted to allow a user to transfer funds from the postal security device to the money transfer system and vice versa.

Abstract: In a postage payment system, a secure integrated circuit (IC) card is used to manage postage funds, and created encrypted postage indicia. Among other things, the system is capable of performing charge-back accounting of postage expenses and generating mail contents. In accordance with an aspect of the invention, the postage indicia are applied onto selected locations of the mail contents while they are being generated. In the preferred embodiment, each mail content is placed in a window envelope such that the postage indicium on the mail content exposes through a window of the envelope to facilitate inspection of the indicium. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, by including transactional data in addition to the traditional postal data in a postage indicium, the indicium can be used to pay bills, purchase products and services, including any courier service different than the postal service.

Abstract: In a postage payment system, a secure integrated circuit (IC) card is used to manage postage funds, and create encrypted postage indicia. Among other things, the system is capable of performing charge-back accounting of postage expenses and generating mail contents. In accordance with an aspect of the invention, the postage indicia are applied onto selected locations of the mail contents while they are being generated. In the preferred embodiment, each mail content is placed in a window envelope such that the postage indicium on the mail content exposes through a window of the envelope to facilitate inspection of the indicium. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, by including transactional data in addition to the traditional postal data in a postage indicium, the indicium can be used to pay bills, purchase products and services, including any courier service different than the postal service.

Abstract: In the system of the invention, a user provides inputs at a user interface (51). The user's inputs relate to the expected type of delivery (2, 3, 4, 5, 6). Alternatively, the system may already have information stored as to the type of delivery (2, 3, 4, 5, 6) to be used with particular correspondents. Based on the type of delivery (2, 3, 4, 5, 6), the system (50, 52, 53, 54, 55) determines for each item of correspondence, whether the delivery will be by physical delivery of a printed document (2, 3, 4), by fax (5) or by e-mail (6). The system (50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55) further determines for each item of correspondence, which is to be delivered by physical delivery a printed document (2, 3, 4), whether an envelope (10, 11) is required and if the address information is to be printed on the envelope or on a label (12) that is to be applied to the envelope.

Abstract: A system for dispensing funds. The system includes a non-dedicated printer adapted to print indicia of a monetary value, and a postal security device coupled to the franking machine. The postal security device includes an accounting register indicative of a value of monetary funds stored in the postal security device. The system also includes a money transfer system coupled to the franking machine and adapted to allow a user to transfer funds from the postal security device to the money transfer system and vice versa.

Abstract: In a mailing system for franking a postage indicium serving as a proof of postage, postal data including the postage needs to be communicated through such an indicium. Illustratively, the postal data is categorized into (a) invariable postal data, e.g., a device ID identifying the mailing system, which is unaffected by a franking transaction, and (b) variable postal data, e.g., the postage, which may change from one franking transaction to another. To avoid latency of the franking operation, the invariable postal data is preset for initial printing of the postage indicium, and the variable postal data is determined and set for printing in real time. In printing the postage indicium the invariable postal data and the variable postal data are presented in that order in one or more symbols.

Abstract: In an improved postage scale system, soft-selection keys are used for selecting options including shipping service options provided by the system. The display on such a system is adjustable for comfortable viewing thereof. The system is capable of interfacing and communicating with other devices such as a printer, a remote computer, an optical scanner, an integrated circuit (IC) card, etc. Certain data and code for use in the system can be updated by downloading new data and code from IC cards to the system. A security measure is instituted such that, after an update of the data or code, a system user is required to enter a valid authorization number in order to enable the system. Such a measure is, in part, necessary for deterring unauthorized copying of software of the system onto another similar system.

Abstract: In a postage payment system, a secure integrated circuit (IC) card is used to manage postage funds, and created encrypted postage indicia. Among other things, the system is capable of performing charge-back accounting of postage expenses and generating mail contents. In accordance with an aspect of the invention, the postage indicia are applied onto selected locations of the mail contents while they are being generated. In the preferred embodiment, each mail content is placed in a window envelope such that the postage indicium on the mail content exposes through a window of the envelope to facilitate inspection of the indicium. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, by including transactional data in addition to the traditional postal data in a postage indicium, the indicium can be used to pay bills, purchase products and services, including any courier service different than the postal service.

Abstract: In an improved postage scale system, soft-selection keys are used for selecting options including shipping service options provided by the system. The display on such a system is adjustable for comfortable viewing thereof. The system is capable of interfacing and communicating with other devices such as a printer, a remote computer, an optical scanner, an integrated circuit (IC) card, etc. Certain data and code for use in the system can be updated by downloading new data and code from IC cards to the system. A security measure is instituted such that, after an update of the data or code, a system user is required to enter a valid authorization number in order to enable the system. Such a measure is, in part, necessary for deterring unauthorized copying of software of the system onto another similar system.

Abstract: In an improved postage scale system, soft-selection keys are used for selecting options including shipping service options provided by the system. The display on such a system is adjustable for comfortable viewing thereof. The system is capable of interfacing and communicating with other devices such as a printer, a remote computer, an optical scanner, an integrated circuit (IC) card, etc. Certain data and code for use in the system can be updated by downloading new data and code from IC cards to the system. A security measure is instituted such that, after an update of the data or code, a system user is required to enter a valid authorization number in order to enable the system. Such a measure is, in part, necessary for deterring unauthorized copying of software of the system onto another similar system.

Abstract: In an improved postage scale system, soft-selection keys are used for selecting options including shipping service options provided by the system. The display on such a system is adjustable for comfortable viewing thereof. The system is capable of interfacing and communicating with other devices such as a printer, a remote computer, an optical scanner, an integrated circuit (IC) card, etc. Certain data and code for use in the system can be updated by downloading new data and code from IC cards to the system. A security measure is instituted such that, after an update of the data or code, a system user is required to enter a valid authorization number in order to enable the system. Such a measure is, in part, necessary for deterring unauthorized copying of software of the system onto another similar system.

Abstract: In an improved postage scale system, soft-selection keys are used for selecting options including shipping service options provided by the system. The display on such a system is adjustable for comfortable viewing thereof. The system is capable of interfacing and communicating with other devices such as a printer, a remote computer, an optical scanner, an integrated circuit (IC) card, etc. Certain data and code for use in the system can be updated by downloading new data and code from IC cards to the system. A security measure is instituted such that, after an update of the data or code, a system user is required to enter a valid authorization number in order to enable the system. Such a measure is, in part, necessary for deterring unauthorized copying of software of the system onto another similar system.

Abstract: In an improved postage scale system, soft-selection keys are used for selecting options including shipping service options provided by the system. The display on such a system is adjustable for comfortable viewing thereof. The system is capable of interfacing and communicating with other devices such as a printer, a remote computer, an optical scanner, an integrated circuit (IC) card, etc. Certain data and code for use in the system can be updated by downloading new data and code from IC cards to the system. A security measure is instituted such that, after an update of the data or code, a system user is required to enter a valid authorization number in order to enable the system. Such a measure is, in part, necessary for deterring unauthorized copying of software of the system onto another similar system.

Abstract: In an improved postage scale system, programs and data are used to run the system to provide shipping options and information on shipping costs associated therewith. The system is capable of interfacing and communicating with other devices such as a printer, a remote computer, an optical scanner, an integrated circuit (IC) card, etc. For example, the system can be updated by downloading new data and application code from IC cards to the system.

Abstract: In an improved electronic postage scale system, non-keyboard devices are used to select shipping service options provided by the system. For example, a bar-code scanner, a voice-recognition device or a remote computer is configured to emulate keycodes from the system keyboard and can be operatively connected through a keyboard interface to select shipping options.

Abstract: A process is described whereby steel wire is made into killed twisted strand or cord having essentially no retained tensile, bending or torsional stresses which comprises twisting a plurality of steel wires to form a strand or cord, austenitizing and simultaneously homogenizing the alloy, quenching the homogenized steel strand or cord along a straight path during martensitic transformation to provide a quenched martensitic structure, essentially to the exclusion of retained austenite and, thereafter, tempering the quenched martensite to provide optimum strength and ductility. The twisted strand or cord resulting from the mechanical and heat treatment possesses nearly optimized strength properties of the alloy employed, while having no retained tensile, bending or torsional stresses and is suitable for application in steel reinforced composite and in particular as tire cord.