Abstract: A method of printing value indicia includes feeding a roll of printing stock into a value indicia printer. The roll of printing stock includes color images pre-printed on the roll of printing stock. The method further includes using the value indicia printer to print value indicia on the roll of printing stock. The printer may be a postage stamp printer which produces custom postage stamps which include pre-printed color images.

Abstract: A roll of label stock includes a plurality of first regions suitable for being printed on by thermal printing. The first regions are blank. The label stock also includes a plurality of pre-printed color images, each associated with a respective one of the first regions. A stamp printer that prints postage indicia on the label stock refrains from printing an image thereon, but would print images on another type of label stock that does not include pre-printed images.

Abstract: A method for notifying an intended recipient of a mail piece regarding the mail piece is provided including receiving a first electronic file regarding the mail piece from a mailer of the mail piece by a service provider; authenticating the mailer identification information in the first electronic file by the service provider; and after authenticating the mailer identification information, transmitting at least a portion of the information in the first electronic file to the intended recipient of the mail piece. The information in the first electronic file includes mailer identification information.

Abstract: A method of preparing mail pieces to be mailed by a mailer is provided including preparing a plurality of potential content members for the mail pieces; sending a first electronic file from the mailer to a service provider; sending a first communication from the service provider to an intended recipient of at least one of the mail pieces based upon the first electronic file; sending a second electronic file from the service provider to the mailer based upon a response of the intended recipient to the first communication; and selecting, by the mailer, individual ones of the content members for creation of the mail pieces based upon the second electronic file from the service provider.

Abstract: A method for changing a delivery parameter of a mail piece intended to be delivered to an intended recipient, the method including receiving a first electronic file from a mailer regarding the mail piece; sending a first electronic communication to the intended recipient based upon the first electronic file; and receiving a second electronic communication based upon the first electronic communication. At least one of the delivery parameters of the mail piece are changed based upon the second electronic communication.

Abstract: A method that allows one to mark information with a pencil or ball point pen on a material and have the marked information represent answers to questions or responses to queries that may be read while the material is contained in an envelope. The material may be any cellulose type product, i.e., paper, cardboard, chipboard, wood or plastic, fabric, animal hide, etc. The marked entered information may be corrected by erasing the written information with an eraser and writing new information on the paper with a pencil or ball point pen.

Abstract: A method of changing delivery parameters of a mail piece is provided including mailing the mail piece; sending an intended recipient of the mail piece information regarding the mailed mail piece; providing the intended recipient with an opportunity to change at least a first one of the delivery parameters of the mail piece after the mail piece has been mailed; and limiting the intended recipient from changing the first delivery parameter of the mail piece based upon an instruction sent to a service provider by a mailer of the mail piece.

Abstract: A method of communicating information regarding a mail piece including sending a first electronic file regarding the mail piece from a mailer of the mail piece to a service provider; and receiving, by the mailer, a second electronic file containing information from the first electronic file and information regarding a communication from an intended recipient of the mail piece.

Abstract: Methods and systems that allow a sender of a mail piece to easily specify delivery instructions and/or services for a mail piece and that allows mail processing systems to identify and account for the specified delivery instructions and/or services without the need for any pre-sorting or input of information prior to processing the mail piece. The sender of a mail piece provides a marking on the mail piece representing instructions desired for delivering the mail piece. A mail processing system utilized to process the mail piece reads the marking provided on the mail piece, and based on the type/color of the marking, interprets the delivery instructions requested by the sender. The mail processing system processes the mail piece according to the instructions requested by the sender based on the marking provided on the mail piece by the sender.

Abstract: A number of methods of processing checks are provided that enable the various parties involved in processing/clearing the checks to be able to audit the movement of the check, and specifically an image of the check, through the check processing/clearing system.

Abstract: A method of processing checks includes obtaining first information relating to the checks that is compiled by an operator using a calculator, such as by scanning a calculator tape, wherein the first information includes a first number of first dollar amounts, each of which corresponds to a respective one of the checks. The method further includes scanning the checks to create a plurality of check images, obtaining from the check images a second number of second dollar amounts, each corresponding to a respective one of the check images, determining whether the first number is equal to the second number, and providing an error indication if the first number does not equal the second number (which is an indication that a misfeed has occurred).

Abstract: A method for detecting whether perforations are present on the edge of an image of a form, such as a check, includes obtaining a bitmap of the image, identifying a selected portion of the bitmap that corresponds to at least the edge and that includes a matrix of a plurality of rows and columns of brightness values, and selecting a particular one of the rows of brightness values. The method further includes performing a Fourier transform of the brightness values included in the particular selected row to generate a Fourier transform output, and determining whether a series of perforations is present based on the Fourier transform output.

Abstract: A method of enabling remote deposit of checks includes receiving at a second site a plurality of check images and a plurality of entered dollar amounts, wherein the check images were generated at the depositor site by scanning the checks and the entered dollar amounts were manually entered at the depositor site. Each of the entered dollar amounts correspond to a respective one of the check images. The check dollar amounts are read from the check images at the second site using character recognition, and certain of the entered dollar amounts are used as hints to improve the accuracy of the character recognition. The enhanced character recognition results are provided to the depository bank along with the check images to enable the checks to be deposited in the depositor's account.

Abstract: A system, method and apparatus for preparing mailpieces. An inserter system for assembling mailpieces is controlled in accordance with mailpiece records in a mailing control file. The inserter system scans control documents included in the mailpieces to identify corresponding mailpiece records. The records include information identifying a selected method of evidencing payment of postage for particular mailpieces. The system can include a plurality of envelope feeders at least some of which are loaded with envelopes pre-marked with evidence of payment, and can also include a plurality of mechanisms for franking mailpieces prepared with blank envelopes. A data processing system for generating document sets which include control documents is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method and system for producing a printed text. A system operates in accordance with the method to: receive a message signal created by an author and representative of the semantic content of a printed text; produce a text signal in response to the message signal; analyze the message signal to determine a non-semantic indicator of the author's state of mind; determine a non-semantic characteristic of the printed text as a function of the determined non-semantic indicator; and printing the printed text in response to the text signal and the determined characteristic. The message signal can be a voice signal. A physiological signal such as pulse rate or variations in the pace, volume, tremulation, or average wavelength of the author's speech can also be used to determine the author's state of mind.

Abstract: A method for the secure reading of answers to questions or quires by an RFID reader that were made by marking answers with a pencil or ballpoint pen on a material. The questions are securely transmitted because an identification on the material indicates the order of the transmitted questions or from which electrical contacts the answers correspond to.

Abstract: A system and method for providing mailpiece notification to a mailpiece recipient prior to delivery of the mailpiece from a postal carrier system in which a database is accessible by the postal carrier system that contains a recipient's prescribed mailpiece address information and preferred communication channel for receiving the advanced notification regarding impending delivery of the mailpiece. A postal carrier system receives information relating to at least the subject matter, the addressee and a web link relating to information for the mailpiece being processed in the postal carrier mailpiece delivery system and then determines whether the addressee information present on the deposited mailpiece matches a recipient's addressee information prescribed in the database.

Abstract: A method for providing mailpiece notification to a mailpiece recipient prior to delivery of the mailpiece from a postal carrier system in which a database is accessible by the postal carrier system that contains a recipient's prescribed mailpiece address information and preferred communication channel for receiving the advanced notification regarding impending delivery of the mailpiece. A postal carrier system receives information relating to at least the subject matter and addressee information for the mailpiece being processed in the postal carrier mailpiece delivery system and then determines whether the addressee information present on the deposited mailpiece matches a recipient's addressee information prescribed in the database.

Abstract: A method for providing a secure communications channel for the transmission of large amounts of information between a RFID tag and a RFID reader. A laser beam is utilized to carry information and power from the RFID reader to the RFID tag. Thus, the laser beam has a dual use as an information carrier and a source of power for the RFID tag. Thus, only individuals and/or equipment that can both see the laser transmission and hear the RFID transmission can eavesdrop on the RFID tag RFID reader transmissions. This invention allows the use of complex algorithms to protect data being communicated because they can use the increased level of power available to the RDIF tag.

Abstract: In a printer system where a print head is used to print on a flat material moving on a surface along a moving direction, a first creasing surface and a second creasing surface disposed on different sides of the flat material are used to make a crease on the flat material. The first creasing surface is mounted on a housing and the second creasing surface is disposed along the length of a track substantially perpendicular to the moving direction. The first and second creasing surfaces are substantially complementary to each other such that when these creasing surfaces are moved closer to each other, they cause the flat material to bend. A movement mechanism is then used to move the housing along the track so that the bending of the flat material forms a crease from one side of the flat material to the opposing side.