Patents by Inventor Robert W. Allport

Robert W. Allport 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: 6886001
    Abstract: System and method is provided for adding addressing information to an indicium printed by a closed system metering device. A scanning device is coupled to a closed system postage meter for scanning addressing information printed on a mailpiece. The addressing information is combined with other information relating to the postage payment for the mailpiece to obtain postal data relating to the mailpiece. The postal data, including the addressing information is used to generate an indicium for the mailpiece. The indicium includes cryptographic evidencing of postage payment. The closed system metering device prints the indicium on the mailpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2005
    Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.
    Inventors: Robert W Allport, Stephen Kelly, Timothy J. Nicholls
  • Patent number: 6865561
    Abstract: System and method are provided for generating a Postnet bar code with a closed system metering device. Before an indicium is printed on a mailpiece, a scanner is used to scan recipient address information printed on a mailpiece. Using the scanned information, the metering device determines the Postnet bar code corresponding to the scanned information. A check is then made to determine if the recipient address information has changed from the scanned information. If it has not changed, the metering device prints the postal code on the mailpiece. When the recipient address information has changed, the metering device generates a corrected postal code and prints the corrected postal code and the corrected address on the mailpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2005
    Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.
    Inventors: Robert W. Allport, Stephen Kelly, Timothy J. Nicholls, Christopher J. Capelli, Douglas B. Quine
  • Patent number: 6853989
    Abstract: System and method are provided for selecting and accounting for value-added services with a closed system metering device. A scanning device coupled to the closed system postage meter scans information, including recipient address, printed on a mailpiece. From the scanned information or manual selection, a selection of value-added services is made and the closed system metering device performs accounting related to the selected value-added services. The recipient address is combined with other information relating to postage payment for the mailpiece to obtain postal data relating to the mailpiece. The postal data is used to generate an indicium, which includes cryptographic evidencing of postage payment. A graphical representation of the selected value-added services is added to the generated indicium to generate a value-added indicium, which is then printed on the mailpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2005
    Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.
    Inventors: Robert W. Allport, Stephen Kelly, Timothy J. Nicholls, Frederick W. Ryan, Jr.
  • Patent number: 6795813
    Abstract: System and method is provided for adding addressing information to an indicium printed by a closed system metering device. A scanning device is coupled to a closed system postage meter for scanning addressing information printed on a mailpiece. The addressing information is combined with other information relating to the postage payment for the mailpiece to obtain postal data relating to the mailpiece. The postal data, including the addressing information is used to generate an indicium for the mailpiece. The indicium includes cryptographic evidencing of postage payment. The closed system metering device prints the indicium on the mailpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2004
    Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.
    Inventors: Robert W. Allport, Stephen Kelly, Timothy J. Nicholls
  • Patent number: 6662232
    Abstract: The invention relates to a system and method for re-transmitting an e-mail message transmitted from a sender to a recipient based upon predetermined criteria. The method performing the steps of prescribing at least one time period for performing messaging tasks and defining messaging tasks to be initiated for the e-mail message during the at least one prescribed time period. When an e-mail message is received in a recipients e-mail account a determination is made as to whether if the e-mail message was received within the at least one prescribed time period. And re-transmitting the e-mail message in accordance with the defined messaging tasks if the e-mail message was determined to be received within the prescribed time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2003
    Assignee: Pitney Bowes Ltd.
    Inventors: Timothy J. Nicholls, Robert W. Allport, Stephen Kelley, Christopher J. Capelli
  • Publication number: 20020143714
    Abstract: System and method is provided for adding addressing information to an indicium printed by a closed system metering device. A scanning device is coupled to a closed system postage meter for scanning addressing information printed on a mailpiece. The addressing information is combined with other information relating to the postage payment for the mailpiece to obtain postal data relating to the mailpiece. The postal data, including the addressing information is used to generate an indicium for the mailpiece. The indicium includes cryptographic evidencing of postage payment. The closed system metering device prints the indicium on the mailpiece.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2002
    Publication date: October 3, 2002
    Applicant: Pitney Bowes Inc.
    Inventors: Robert W. Allport, Stephen Kelly, Timothy J. Nicholls
  • Publication number: 20020046192
    Abstract: System and method is provided for adding addressing information to an indicium printed by a closed system metering device. A scanning device is coupled to a closed system postage meter for scanning addressing information printed on a mailpiece. The addressing information is combined with other information relating to the postage payment for the mailpiece to obtain postal data relating to the mailpiece. The postal data, including the addressing information is used to generate an indicium for the mailpiece. The indicium includes cryptographic evidencing of postage payment. The closed system metering device prints the indicium on the mailpiece.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 1998
    Publication date: April 18, 2002
    Inventors: ROBERT W. ALLPORT, STEPHEN KELLY, TIMOTHY J. NICHOLLS
  • Patent number: 6363414
    Abstract: A invention relates to a system and method for re-transmitting an e-mail message transmitted from a sender to a recipient based upon predetermined criteria. The method including the steps of receiving in a recipients e-mail account an e-mail message transmitted from a sender and interrogating the address block of the e-mail message to determine if predetermined criteria has been met in the sender addressing information portion of the e-mail message. The e-mail message is re-transmitted to the recipient such that the recipient receives at least the messaging information content of the e-mail message at a location other than the recipients intended e-mail address if the predetermined criteria has been met.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2002
    Assignee: Pitney Bowes Ltd.
    Inventors: Timothy J. Nicholls, Robert W. Allport, Stephen Kelley, Christopher J. Capelli
  • Publication number: 20010037320
    Abstract: System and method are provided for selecting and accounting for value-added services with a closed system metering device. A scanning device coupled to the closed system postage meter scans information, including recipient address, printed on a mailpiece. From the scanned information or manual selection, a selection of value-added services is made and the closed system metering device performs accounting related to the selected value-added services. The recipient address is combined with other information relating to postage payment for the mailpiece to obtain postal data relating to the mailpiece. The postal data is used to generate an indicium, which includes cryptographic evidencing of postage payment. A graphical representation of the selected value-added services is added to the generated indicium to generate a value-added indicium, which is then printed on the mailpiece.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 1998
    Publication date: November 1, 2001
    Inventors: ROBERT W. ALLPORT, STEPHEN KELLY, TIMOTHY J. NICHOLLS, FREDERICK W. RYAN
  • Patent number: 6291818
    Abstract: In order to locate a package (110) which houses active elements including an opto-electric type transducer (100), in a position which assures that the opto-electric sensor and other active elements will be located in proper operative positions when the package is installed in predetermined piece of apparatus, the package casing (102) is provided with location features (112) at least some of which are deformable. During optimization, the package is moved with respect to a target until such time as the sensor is detected as producing an optimal output. Selected location features are then deformed to form location faces (112a) which have a predetermined spatial relationship with the active elements and which ensure that the active elements will be supported in an optimally operative position when the package is operatively disposed in a device such as an optical scanner or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2001
    Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.
    Inventors: Robert W. Allport, Graeme Ferrari, Paul Mitchell, David Morgan
  • Patent number: 5960418
    Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and method for converting a postage amount expressed in a first currency denomination into at least a second currency denomination and printing the postage amount expressed in a second denomination in postal indicia.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 28, 1999
    Assignee: Pitney Bowes Ltd.
    Inventors: Stephen Kelly, Timothy J Nicholls, Robert W Allport