Patents by Inventor Thomas Gerhardt

Thomas Gerhardt 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).

  • Publication number: 20010032190
    Abstract: A mail identifier for storing information on mail includes an identification mark having a storage device for storing information and/or franking data associated with the mail. The storage device is contactlessly and wirelessly read. There is also provided a mail processing system processing the mail having the mark. A writer can contactlessly and wirelessly write information onto the mark, and a reader can similarly reads information associated with the mail. The device for processing items of mail can include a franking machine and/or a computer. A method of using of an identification mark includes placing an identification mark at an item of mail, storing at least one of information and franking data associated with an item of mail in the identification mark, and contactlessly and wirelessly reading the identification mark. A method of processing items of mail includes similar steps and simultaneously checks the validity of the franking data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2001
    Publication date: October 18, 2001
    Inventors: Rainer Ediger, Thomas Gerhardt, Wolfgang Pekruhn, Michael Seikel