Abstract: A method and system for notifying users of a mail system that a mail piece has been quarantined is provided. A plurality of incoming mail mailboxes each include a sampler to sample air from a letter that is tested using a first sensor. Source information corresponding to hazard flagged mail pieces and other quarantined mail is utilized to notify the affected users of the mail system.

Abstract: A method and system for using a tracking ID to facilitate the refunding of unused postage is provided. Information for a postage transaction, along with the tracking ID and an associated delivery status, is stored. This delivery status is updated when the mail piece carrying the tracking ID is delivered. Unused postage can be confirmed by retrieving the stored postage transaction information and determining from that whether there are duplicative postage transactions. The delivery statuses for the duplicative postage transactions can then be reviewed to determine whether the mail pieces associated with these postage transactions have been delivered. If not, one of the postage transactions may be refunded.

Abstract: A method for controlling at least one franking machine coupled to a computing device. The method includes opening a document application program and initiating one of a saved sequence of control commands linked to a franking machine control library. The library includes a plurality of commands related to the operation and control of the franking machine. An operation can be performed at the franking machine corresponding to the command sent from the application program.

Abstract: The invention makes it easier for the post office to calculate accurately terminal dues by providing information to the post regarding each piece or parcel of mail that crosses an international border. The invention also makes it easier for the post offices to calculate terminal dues by obtaining fee information from mail that is sent internationally. The foregoing is accomplished by placing an indication on the mail that the fees for delivering the mail have been paid or will be paid by a mailer who has an account with the post office; sorting the mail to find international mail; storing the fees that have been paid or will be paid for international mail; reporting the fees that have been paid for international mail to all participating post offices; and calculating the fees that are to be transferred to participating post offices.

Abstract: An e-mail add-on service provides electronic notification regarding delivery status of a mailed item. In one embodiment, a sender of a mailed item receives electronic notification that a mailed item has been received by a recipient. In another, an intended recipient of a mailed item receives notification that a mailed item has been sent. Optionally, tracking of a mailed item through the mailstream may also be provided electronically to a sender and/or a recipient. Personal messages may be provided as part of such electronic notification.

Abstract: System and method for providing confirmation relating to the distribution of a mailpiece within a mailing system includes a determination of postal data required for postage evidencing of a mailpiece originated by a mailer. The postal data is combined with other data related to value-added services desired for the mailpiece. The value-added services data includes addressing information for a return receipt to the mailer. A digital postmark which includes the postal data and the value-added services data is created. At delivery of the mailpiece, the digital postmark is read and the value-added services data is captured from the read digital postmark. A confirmation message is sent to the mailer and/or other interested third parties, in accordance with information contained in the value-added services data.

Abstract: This invention introduces, as one aspect, a system for handling data to be used for returning items; comprising means for creating label data representing a label to be printed for returning items from a customer, means for adding additional information on the label data to be used for restricting usage of the label, means for sending the label data to a customer, means for receiving the additional information contained in the label data corresponding to the printed label to be used, and means for checking the received additional information to decide whether the printed label can be used or not. Accordingly usage of the label copied, modified, or faked would significantly minimised with a little additional cost. Further, checking identification of a returned item, the problem caused by sending other items or fake items can be solved.

Abstract: A system and a method for reducing postage cost to a customer are provided. A customer request input to subsidize postage is received. In response to the request a list of a plurality of third party advertisements is provided. A customer selection input corresponding to at least one of the third party advertisements is received. Subsidized postage and the selected third party advertisement are provided to the customer.

Abstract: A customized modular mailing system including a module capable of metering value and having a plurality of disabled operating features that are not available for use is described. The system includes the ability for generating an authorization code for disabling certain designed operating features; and for entering the authorization code into the value metering module whereby the desired combination of operating modules having the desired operating features could be placed in communication with the metering value module to create a desired modular mailing system.

Abstract: A method and system for customizing a computerized system having a plurality of operating features, including selecting at least one independent parameter from a predefined list of parameters for selecting at least one of the operating features of the customized computerized system, and storing the independent parameter in a parameter set. The at least one of the selected operating features is enabled by selecting at least one secondary parameter from a predefined list of secondary parameters, wherein the secondary parameter are associated with the at least one independent parameter, and at least one secondary parameter is stored in the parameter set. At least one dependent parameter is determined for configuring the computerized system, wherein the dependent parameter is generated from a predefined list of dependent parameters in accordance with the parameter set, and the dependent parameter is added to the parameter set.

Abstract: A computer data signal embodied in a propagation medium is provided. The signal enables a variable number of data transfers and includes an initial connection source code segment and a data transfer source code segment. The initial connection source code segment establishes a connection between at least two devices via predetermined listening ports, with at least one predetermined listening port residing within each device. The initial connection source code segment also dynamically assigns a first data port within a first device, and transmits the address of the first data port to a remaining device via the predetermined listening ports. The data transfer source code segment is for each of the variable number of data transfer operations.

Abstract: Systems and methods to deliver goods ordered from e tailer to an automated collection point are described. The e tailer employs a single courier to deliver goods to automated collection points. Systems and methods are describe to select an automated collection point for delivering the goods. The system may segregate pending deliveries into groups, with each group of deliveries assigned to a distinct automated collection point. In embodiments of the invention, the groups are selected so that the customers corresponding to each group reside within the vicinity of the corresponding collection point. In embodiments of the invention, the customers receiving orders at an automated collection point may receive a discount for consolidating deliveries. In some embodiments, this may comprise a flat discount. In other embodiments, the discount may be applied on a pro-rata basis.

Abstract: In an arrangement and a method for data exchange between a postage meter machine and chip cards, a postage meter machine is equipped with a chip card write/read unit and appertaining control system wherein first, corresponding to a succession number a specific insertion sequence for valid chip cards is required in order to reload (update) data, and second, an authorized user is allowed to define a specific sequence for the insertion of lower-ranking, suitably initialized chip cards in order to simplify the function and data entered into the postage meter machine. These latter chip cards set a limited function scope within the postage meter. For their initialization, a table with a specific hierarchic (tree) structure is produced by the user by modifying a pre-stored structure in the postage meter machine.

Abstract: A remote postage meter resetting system includes apparatus for sending a request to recharge the postage meter by the postage recharge amount together with first data indicative of a first user prepaid postage account resident in a prepaid postage account data base having a plurality of prepaid postage accounts; and a data center including apparatus for receiving from the sending apparatus the first data together with the request to recharge the postage meter by the postage recharge amount; a line of credit database having a plurality of lines of credit each of which is associated with at least one of the plurality of prepaid postage accounts; a computer, in communication with the receiving apparatus, which is programmed to 1 ) obtain the first data and the postage recharge amount from the receiving apparatus, and 2) communicate with the prepaid postage account data base to determine if sufficient funds are in the first user prepaid postage account to cover the cost of the postage recharge amount, wherein at

Abstract: The present invention provides systems and methods that automatically notify customers of available higher levels of service for package delivery if available. Typically, customers query a delivery company to determine how long it would take to have a package delivered by standard ground delivery. In accordance with the present invention, the customer will also be notified of a higher level of service if it is available for delivery of the package.

Abstract: A product hierarchy database organizes company market performance and stock investment information by the products and services produced and offered by each competitor. The companies that produce each product/service are relationally linked to each of their products/services through records. An investment information service includes the product/service hierarchy database and makes it accessible to investor and analyst subscribers through a query system across the Internet. Data entry personnel continually load qualitative and quantitative information about companies and their products/services through a product hierarchy generator connected to the product/service hierarchy database. Subscribers can punch-through to query individual data items, and they can find out what relationships exist between all the important aspects of the companies and the products/services being tracked.

Abstract: Downloadable identification labels which are downloaded from a world wide computer network to a remote computer and printed on paper using a printer. Each label is printed with the contact information of a central lost and found registry and attached to one or more personal possessions. The labels can also be printed with an identification code, notification that a reward will be paid for a possession which is returned to the owner, sponsor advertising and a warning that the possession has been indelibly marked with identification indicia such as the internet address of the lost and found registry. The central lost and found registry stores, on a database, information about lost possessions and owner contact information as well as information about found possessions and finder's contact information. If a match is found between a lost possession and found possession the registry communicates the contact information of the finder to the owner so that the possession may be recovered by the owner.

Abstract: An electronic-to-physical mail delivery system is provided to receive an indication to send to send a message to a number of recipients. From the number of recipients, a monetary cost associated with sending the message is determined. The system determines if an insertion of an advertisement of a selected one of a link to an advertisement of an advertiser and the advertisement itself, the advertisement having a monetary value associated with it, is received. If the insertion of the advertisement having the monetary value is received, the system automatically reduces the monetary cost associated with sending the message by the value of the inserted advertisement. As a result, a user may send a message electronically to a number of recipients included within a group and have the recipients receive the message as a physical mailing, while supplementing the costs associated with mailing the message by inserting advertisements into the message.

Abstract: The invention is a method and system of assigning and updating rates within an electronic scale, wherein the rates are based upon class service and discount level. A set of classes of service available for a particular carrier is established. Each one of the classes comprises one or more discount levels. The classes are embedded into the memory of an electronic scale and a set of data comprising the classes is made available to the system. Updating of the data in the embedded set of classes, is accomplished by defining the update data and the one or more discount levels which are available in each class. A system user limits the classes for which they want access and the carrier and/or service choices are encoded; the encoding determining a unique number that is indicative of the parameters selected by a system user for a particular system. The unique number comprises: a carrier token; a class token; and a set of discount level bytes representative of the available discount within the class.

Abstract: A system for accepting and storing items for subsequent pickup by a commercial carrier includes a storage area which is defined by an outer housing, and a customer interface area that includes a weighing unit and a unit, such as a magnetic card reader, for accepting payment from a customer. The system may also include a control system that accepts address information from the customer through a key pad, and then instructs a printer to print an address label for the item. The system includes safeguards which prevent unauthorized access to the storage area, and will not provide a receipt to the customer until internal sensors verify deposit of the item. A manifest printer may also be provided for the benefit of the commercial carriers who service the system, to print out a summary of the transactions that pertain to each carrier. Alternatively, no storage area is provided.

Abstract: A method for controlled acceptance mail accounting and evidencing, includes creating a mail batch including at least one mail piece having an encrypted indicia printed thereon. The encrypted indicia is generated by the use of a key K.sub.m. A statement of mailing file is created containing data related to the mail batch. The statement of mailing file including the key K.sub.m is encrypted with a public key of an authentication unit of a carrier distribution system. The public key has an associated private key. The mail batch and the statement of mailing file is submitted to the carrier distribution system and the mail batch and the mail documentation file is processed using the private key of the authentication unit of the carrier distribution system to decrypt the encrypted information and recover the K.sub.m. The key K.sub.m is then used in an authentication procedure related to the mail batch.

Abstract: Freight forwarders and carriers post published rate and discount information for land, sea and air bearing cargo vessels to allow customers the opportunity to evaluate competitive prices, preferably in one consolidated location (e.g., a web site). A customer navigates to the site to obtain published or discounted rate information offered by a freight forwarder or carrier. The customer may accept a posted rate, in which case the site operator notifies the freight forwarder or carrier. Alternatively, customers, freight forwarders and carriers may negotiate rates for particular lanes of interest using an online interactive auction block.

Abstract: A method for removing postal funds from a postage meter provides an accounting unit of a postage meter with indicium-related information which is invalid for mailing such as invalid origin zip or date. The accounting unit generates a digital signature, which is an encrypted value of the postal funds removed from the postage meter and other postal data including the indicium-related information. The accounting unit through a Host PC sends to a data center the amount of the postal funds removed from the postage meter and the digital signature. The data center verifies that the digital signature has been generated using the indicium-related information. The meter is disabled when the digital signature cannot be verified. When the digital signature is verified a request for a refund is sent by the data center to a postal authority. An example of the indicium-related information is an invalid destination postal code or an invalid origination postal code.

Abstract: The invention comprises a method, engine, and system for qualifying a rating request in a computerized rating system. The qualification engine is operable to receive a qualification request associated with a carrier contract and comprises at least one qualification parameter. The qualification engine comprises a qualifying method operable for use on a computer that compares the qualification parameter to a set of qualification requirements to determine whether the carrier contract is qualified. A positive response to the qualification request is returned if the carrier contract is qualified while a negative response to the qualification request is returned if the carrier contract is not qualified.

Abstract: The invention comprises an object oriented rating system and method for processing rating requests in a computerized rating system. One aspect of the invention is an object oriented rating system comprising at least one carrier contract object. This object comprises an instance of a carrier contract class. The carrier contract object is operable for use on a computer and receives rating requests. A qualification engine associated with the carrier contract object is operable to receive qualification data associated with the rating request and determine whether the carrier contract object is applicable to the request. A service engine is operable to calculate a service rate in response to the rating request.

Abstract: A mailing machine comprising a device for feeding an envelope having a width in a path of travel; a device for determining the width of the envelope; and a control device in operative communication with the determining device for using the width of the envelope to ascertain a proper amount of postage to be applied to the envelope. According to a first embodiment, the determining device includes a sensor array located transverse to the path of travel for detecting the presence of the envelope where the sensor array includes an inner plurality of sensors and an outer plurality of sensors located further away from a registration wall than the inner plurality of sensors. According to a second embodiment, the determining device includes a first sensor for detecting a lead edge of the envelope and a sensor line located downstream in the path of travel from the first sensor and at an angle to the path of travel so as to detect a lead corner of the envelope.

Abstract: A carrier management system having the capability to compute discounted shipping charges. The carrier management system includes inputs for input of parcel weight, information for selecting a class of carrier service, a parcel identification number and operator input signals. A data processor responds to a first operator input signal to append a suffix to the parcel identification number and store the parcel information, and for succeeding parcels increments the suffix and stores the parcel information. Upon input of a second operator input signal the data processor determines the discounted shipping rate for the group of parcels. The data processor also compares the discounted and non-discounted costs and in response to other operator input signals adds or deletes parcels in the group.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method for measuring the creative value added to a communication, such as an advertisement in the media of print, television or radio. In a preferred embodiment, the invention provides a quantitative measure of the creative value added to a communication. To this end, a communication test sample is compared to a creativity neutral control which is a communication which intentionally lacks any creativity.

Abstract: A inexpensive and time saving method and system for reducing the use of gummed service stickers and the completion by hand of special forms for specialty mail is disclosed. This invention also reduces the amount of trips that have to be made to the post. The foregoing may be accomplished by replacing the standard (fixed) graphic cartridge that is normally supplied with a standard digital postage meter with an addressable "ram" image cartridge. The addressable ram image cartridge may also be linked to a personal computer, where a program would allow the user to request specialty mail services. Once the desired service (services) are selected, the required postal graphic images are downloaded into the ram cartridge. Next, postal payment, if any, is totaled and the additional postal value is totaled and passed to the postal meter vault for totaling and printing in an accountable way.

Abstract: A program controlled automatic mail processor includes custom rates software to facilitate processing of mixed mail streams for posting via a plurality of classes, without manual sorting of the mail into classes or manual selection of classes during mail processing. A user defines a custom rates template, specifying classes and break point parameters (e.g. weight values) for controlling shifts between the selected classes. The mail processor uses the template and previously stored standard postage rate tables to develop a custom rates rate table for processing mail in multiple classes. Once the custom rates rate table is established, an operator can select any table from among the standard tables and one or more such custom rates rate tables. The operator then begins feeding mail through the mail processor. The mail processor checks a parameter value (e.g. weight) of each piece of mail and applies the appropriate postage value from the currently selected table.

Abstract: A system and method for printing a postage meter stamp, including a desired postage amount and encrypted information, onto a piece of mail. A user takes a postal storage device to the post office in order to obtain a replenishment of the amount of postage stored within the postage storage device. A desired amount of postage is entered into the storage device by a postal employee through a processor-based system. The user is then able to access this stored postage at the user's location through a complementary processor-based system. The user's processor-based system automatically calculates the required postage for a piece of mail based upon a set of parameters pertaining to that piece of mail. Additional information, such as addresses, may also be printed onto an envelope, a label, a card, a letter, etc., along with the postage meter stamp through the use of a word processor program coupled to the present invention.