US5070463A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Parcel processing system with end of day rating
Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc
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Filing: 1990-11-05
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Granted: 1991-12-03
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Expires: 2010-11-05
Abstract
Abstract A parcel processing system provides shipping documents required for a number of shipping carriers and/or classes of service. The system includes a keyboard, a scale, a memory, a printer and a processor. The processor receives carrier/service selection signals from the keyboard and transaction data from the keyboard and/or the scale. The processor determines on the basis of the carrier/service selection signal whether to rate or defer a parcel transaction. Data for a deferred transaction is stored in the memory. The foregoing steps are performed with respect to a number of transactions and a number of deferred transactions are combined into an aggregation. The processor receives a deferred rating signal from the keyboard and performs a rating operation with respect to the aggregation of deferred transactions. The printer prints a manifest reflecting the result of the rating operation.
Inventors
- 👤 Jurgen Schuricht
- 👤 Armin Zeiss
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 02:03
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06Q; G06Q30/00; G06Q30/04; G01; G01G; G01G19/00; G01G19/002; G01G19/005; G01G19/40; G01G19/413; G01G19/414; G01G19/4148; G07; G07B; G07B17/00; G07B17/00185; G07B17/00362; G07B2017/00379; G07B17/00459; G07B17/00467; G07B2017/00483
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
212 words
A parcel processing system for providing shipping documents required for a plurality of classes of service, comprising: (a) selection means for sending carrier/service selection signals; (b) entry means for entering transaction data; (c) a memory; (d) means for generating a manifest; and (e) a processor connected to said selection means, said entry means, said memory and said generating means; said processor being programmed to: (i) receive a carrier/service selection signal, said signal indicating selection of one of said plurality of classes of service for a parcel transaction; (ii) receive transaction data for said parcel transaction; (iii) determine on the basis of said carrier/service selection signal, whether said parcel transaction is to be rated or deferred; (iv) if said parcel transaction is to be deferred, store said transaction data in said memory without rating said transaction; (v) repeat functions (i) through (iv) with respect to at least one additional parcel transaction; (vi) combine at least some of the transaction data of at least two deferred transaction so as to form an aggregation of deferred transactions; (vii) receive a deferred rating signal; (viii) perform a rating operation with respect to said aggregation of deferred transactions; and (ix) cause said generating means to generate a manifest, said manifest reflecting a result of said rating operation.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
212 words
A parcel processing system for providing shipping documents required for a plurality of classes of service, comprising: (a) selection means for sending carrier/service selection signals; (b) entry means for entering transaction data; (c) a memory; (d) means for generating a manifest; and (e) a processor connected to said selection means, said entry means, said memory and said generating means; said processor being programmed to: (i) receive a carrier/service selection signal, said signal indicating selection of one of said plurality of classes of service for a parcel transaction; (ii) receive transaction data for said parcel transaction; (iii) determine on the basis of said carrier/service selection signal, whether said parcel transaction is to be rated or deferred; (iv) if said parcel transaction is to be deferred, store said transaction data in said memory without rating said transaction; (v) repeat functions (i) through (iv) with respect to at least one additional parcel transaction; (vi) combine at least some of the transaction data of at least two deferred transaction so as to form an aggregation of deferred transactions; (vii) receive a deferred rating signal; (viii) perform a rating operation with respect to said aggregation of deferred transactions; and (ix) cause said generating means to generate a manifest, said manifest reflecting a result of said rating operation.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
The parcel processing system of claim 1, wherein said selection means comprises a keyboard.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
The parcel processing system of claim 1, wherein said entry means comprises a keyboard.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
The parcel processing system of claim 1, wherein said generating means comprises a printer, said processor causing said printer to print said manifest.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
The parcel processing system of claim 1, wherein said processor compares said aggregation of deferred transactions to a predetermined maximum limitation, said processor adding an additional deferred transaction to said aggregation only if said limitation is not exceeded.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
78 words
The parcel processing system of claim 5, wherein said processor compares said aggregation to a predetermined minimum requirement, said processor performing said rating operation only if said minimum requirement is met, said processor performing a separate rating of each of said deferred transactions of said aggregation if said minimum requirement is not met, said separate rating being based upon rating information for a default carrier/service, said default carrier/service being associated with the carrier/service selected for said each transaction.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
108 words
The parcel processing system of claim 6, wherein said memory stores a background table, said table for storing codes representing default carriers/services, each of said default carriers/services being associated with a carrier/service designated for deferred rating and selected for at least one transaction, said processor receiving a manifest selection signal, said signal selecting a manifest to be generated, said selected manifest including at least one of said default carriers/services, said processor determining whether a code representing said at least one default carrier/service is stored in said background table, said processor delaying generation of said selected manifest if said processor determines said code is stored in said background table.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
38 words
The parcel processing system of claim 5, wherein said memory stores a match criterion for said aggregation of deferred transactions and said processor adds a deferred transaction to said aggregation only if said transaction satisfies said match criterion.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
157 words
In a parcel processing system comprising selection means for sending carrier/service selection signals, entry means for entering transaction data, a memory, manifest generating means and a processor, the method comprising: (a) receiving a carrier/service selection signal; (b) receiving transaction data for a parcel transaction; (c) determining on the basis of said received carrier/service selection signal whether said parcel transaction is to be rated or deferred; (d) if said parcel transaction is to be deferred, storing said transaction data in said memory without rating said transaction; (e) repeating steps (a) through (d) with respect to at least one additional parcel transaction; (f) combining at least some of the transaction data of at least two deferred transactions so as to form an aggregation of deferred transactions; (g) receiving a deferred rating signal; (h) performing a rating operation with respect to said aggregation of deferred transactions; and (i) generating a manifest, said manifest reflecting a result of said rating operation.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
157 words
In a parcel processing system comprising selection means for sending carrier/service selection signals, entry means for entering transaction data, a memory, manifest generating means and a processor, the method comprising: (a) receiving a carrier/service selection signal; (b) receiving transaction data for a parcel transaction; (c) determining on the basis of said received carrier/service selection signal whether said parcel transaction is to be rated or deferred; (d) if said parcel transaction is to be deferred, storing said transaction data in said memory without rating said transaction; (e) repeating steps (a) through (d) with respect to at least one additional parcel transaction; (f) combining at least some of the transaction data of at least two deferred transactions so as to form an aggregation of deferred transactions; (g) receiving a deferred rating signal; (h) performing a rating operation with respect to said aggregation of deferred transactions; and (i) generating a manifest, said manifest reflecting a result of said rating operation.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 9, comprising the additional steps of: comparing said aggregation of deferred transactions to a predetermined maximum limitation; and adding an additional transaction to said aggregation only if said limitation is not exceeded.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 10, wherein said combining step comprises comparing said aggregation to a predetermined maximum limitation, and adding an additional transaction to said aggregation only if said limitation is not exceeded.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
79 words
The method of claim 11, further comprising, after said step of receiving a deferred rating signal, the step of comparing said aggregation to a predetermined minimum requirement and, if said minimum requirement is not met; not performing said rating operation; and performing a separate rating of each of said deferred transactions of said aggregation, said separate rating being based upon rating information for a default carrier/service, said default carrier/service being associated with the carrier/service selected for said each transaction.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
100 words
The method of claim 12, further comprising the steps of: storing a background table in said memory, said table for storing codes representing default carriers/services, each of said default carriers/services being associated with a carrier/service designated for deferred rating; receiving a manifest selection signal, said signal selecting a manifest to be generated, said selected manifest including at least one of said default carriers/services; determining whether a code representing said at least one default carrier/service is stored in said background table; and delaying generation of said selected manifest if it was determined that said code is stored in said background table.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of storing in said memory a match criterion for said aggregation and wherein said combining step comprises determining whether said additional deferred transaction satisfies said match criterion.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1994-12-02 | 1995-06-03 | 1995-12-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1998-12-02 | 1999-06-03 | 1999-12-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2002-12-02 | 2003-06-03 | 2003-12-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |