Abstract: The present invention relates to electronic cash on delivery and a system and method for effecting it. The present system and method intervenes during a transaction for possession of an item in exchange for value and provides for a secure communication of value exchange and delivery arrangement. Delivery is predicated upon verification of a payee created password. Value exchange may be sped up in the form of electronic factoring should the payee credit be positive. A second payee credit verification is also performed. The present system and method has application in on-line transactions along with traditional store front transactions, business to business and business to customer transactions.

Abstract: A system and method for mass mailing is disclosed which operates from the perspective of the receiver. Herein, data comprising mass mail items is electronically distributed to a receiving center where it is sorted by region, then to a service center assigned to the region. At the service center, the data is again sorted by the line of route distribution which includes the addressee address and the data is printed. The printed data is then stuffed into envelopes. Alternatively, an envelope face layout may also be included in the data and printed on the envelope. The envelope, comprising the mail item, is then distributed to the local distribution center, where the mail item is delivered, the mail item having been received in the line of route distribution order. Alternatively, the printing may be performed at the distribution center.

Abstract: A method and system for reading an address of a mail piece is set out wherein the address face of the mail piece is scanned and decoded to generate an electronically recognizable or readable destination address. If the destination address is not completely decoded, the image of the address face is temporarily stored in a grouping in a database. The grouping is then forwarded to an encoding clerk who has the highest priority and is available for the grouping. The priority of the clerk is based on data such as the clerk's measured professional competence. Herein, factors include experience with a particular destination region, success rate, and the like.

Abstract: Method of ordering and dispatching articles An electronically transmitted purchase order is registered at an online provider (2). He then sends an order with data for a code relating to the purchase order electronically to a corresponding manufacturer or supplier (3). Following the production and/or provision of the ordered articles in neutral packaging (3.1) provided with the code, they are dispatched to a service center (6). Furthermore, the online provider (2) sends an electronic instruction to print corresponding labels with the recipient address and, if required, an invoice, a delivery note and letters and information documents in the online provider layout, with the digital data needed for this purpose and data for the code, to a print center (4) of the service center (6). In the service center (6), the articles and the printed-out documents are put together in accordance with the code and, after preparation for dispatch, are sent to the purchaser as packages (6.1) in the online provider layout.

Abstract: The following steps are performed in the method:

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for the online processing of mail items to be forwarded. In the process, an image of the mail item is taken and the mail item is stored in an intermediate storage area. Following digitizing, the areas with interesting information are determined and forwarding instructions, names and addresses of recipients and, in the case of a return notation by a delivery person, the sender address are read automatically. The results are checked against a name address data bank and, if they do not coincide, are checked against a forwarding directory. Items that are not read clearly automatically, but for which at least one forwarding instruction exists for possible delivery locations, are evaluated with priority in a multistage video coding process by taking into account the printed-on instructions for forwarding and return.

Abstract: A process of the type disclosed according to DE 196 50 875 for sorting mailings having different properties by using sorting machines not suitable for all properties of the mailings. The unsuitable mailings receive an identification (ID) marking and their sensed distribution information is stored under this ID marking. As representing each non-processible mailing, a processible substitute is added to the stack of substitutes being assigned one of the non-processible mailings, in each case by means of an ID marking. Then, the processible mailings and the substitutes are sorted according to the associated distribution information. After sorting, the non-processible mailings are brought into a sequence appropriate for sorting on the basis of the ID markings located on them and the associated substitutes.