US5539190A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System and method for secured metering of mail
Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc
•
Filing: 1994-12-12
•
Granted: 1996-07-23
•
Expires: 2014-12-12
Abstract
Abstract In accordance with the present invention, a system for securely metering mailpieces includes a plurality of local stations and a data center having a central database in communication with a Post Office. Each of the local stations includes apparatus for reading indicia printed on a mailpiece, apparatus for reading information from a mailer identification card, apparatus for requesting transaction authorization from a postal system and for initiating communication to the data center of information read from the indicia and the mailer identification card. Each local station also includes a secured pouch for securely holding the mailpiece when the mailpiece is accepted by the data center. The data center authorizes acceptance of the mailpiece after comparing the indicia information and mailer identification card information to records in the central database to verify that there are sufficient funds or credit available to the mailer which satisfy an amount of postage in the indicia. Once verified, the data center issues authorization of the mailpiece and debits the account of the mailer for an amount equal to the amount of postage.
Inventors
- 👤 Flavio M. Manduley
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 20:51
CPC Classifications
G; G07; G07B; G07B17/00; G07B17/00185; G07B17/00435; G07B17/00016; G07B17/00024; G07B17/0008; G07B2017/00153; G07B2017/00161; G07B2017/00443
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
153 words
A system for securely metering mailpieces, comprising: a data center including a central database; a plurality of local stations, each of said local stations comprising: means for reading indicia printed on a mailpiece, said indicia including an amount of postage for the mailpiece; means for reading information from a mailer identification card; means for requesting transaction authorization from a postal system; means for initiating a transfer of the information read from said indicia and said mailer identification card to said central database; and secured pouch means for holding the mailpiece when the mailpiece is accepted by said data center; said data center including means for comparing the indicia information and the mailer identification card information to records in the central database, and further including means for issuing authorization of the transaction when the said comparison means verifies that mailer has sufficient funds or credit to satisfy the amount of postage in the indicia.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
153 words
A system for securely metering mailpieces, comprising: a data center including a central database; a plurality of local stations, each of said local stations comprising: means for reading indicia printed on a mailpiece, said indicia including an amount of postage for the mailpiece; means for reading information from a mailer identification card; means for requesting transaction authorization from a postal system; means for initiating a transfer of the information read from said indicia and said mailer identification card to said central database; and secured pouch means for holding the mailpiece when the mailpiece is accepted by said data center; said data center including means for comparing the indicia information and the mailer identification card information to records in the central database, and further including means for issuing authorization of the transaction when the said comparison means verifies that mailer has sufficient funds or credit to satisfy the amount of postage in the indicia.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said data center communicates a rejection of the mailpiece to said local station when said data center determines mailer has insufficient funds or credit to satisfy said amount of postage.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said indicia includes information relating to a date the indicia is printed, customer identification, and postage amount.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system of claim 3 wherein said indicia further includes information relating to a mailing address.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
73 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said local database stores information relating to the indicia printed on each mailpiece of a batch of mail, calculates a run total associated with said batch of mail and communicates said run total to said data center, said run total including total postage amount to be debited from said customer's account and wherein said authorization received from the data center is for the entire batch of mail.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said secured pouch is picked up for distribution only after authorization is received for said secured pouch.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said local station is at a public mailbox location.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said local station is on a mail truck whereby said authorization of the mailpieces occurs when said mailpieces are picked up by the mail truck.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said authorization of acceptance of the mailpiece is contingent on an acceptable credit check of the customer.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
24 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the postal system communicates instructions to any of the local stations for gathering information from the local stations.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
121 words
A method of metering mailpieces comprising the steps of: printing an indicia on a mailpiece, said indicia including at least a postage amount; reading said indicia at a local mall pick up location; initiating communications from said local mall pick up location to a data center using a user identification card; communicating at least said postage amount and a mailer identification to said data center; determining at said data center that the mailer has sufficient funds or credit to satisfy the postage amount; communicating an authorization to said local mall pick up location to accept said mailpiece in the secured pouch; and depositing the mailpiece into a secured pouch once said authorization is communicated to said local mail pick up location.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
121 words
A method of metering mailpieces comprising the steps of: printing an indicia on a mailpiece, said indicia including at least a postage amount; reading said indicia at a local mall pick up location; initiating communications from said local mall pick up location to a data center using a user identification card; communicating at least said postage amount and a mailer identification to said data center; determining at said data center that the mailer has sufficient funds or credit to satisfy the postage amount; communicating an authorization to said local mall pick up location to accept said mailpiece in the secured pouch; and depositing the mailpiece into a secured pouch once said authorization is communicated to said local mail pick up location.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 11 comprising the further steps of: determining at said data center that the mailer has insufficient funds or credit; communicating a denial of said authorization to said local mail pick up location; and rejecting the mailpiece from deposit in said secured pouch.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 11 comprising the further steps of: tracking the handling of the mailpiece based on information contained in the indicia.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4725718A
Cited
US4743747A
Cited
US4760532A
Cited
US5367148A
Cited
US4853869A
Cited
US4978839A
Cited
US4980542A
Cited
US5291002A
Cited
US5224046A
Cited
US5329102A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-07-23 | 2000-01-22 | 2000-07-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-07-23 | 2004-01-22 | 2004-07-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-07-23 | 2008-01-22 | 2008-07-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |