Method and system of accounting for transaction costs and currency exchange in a hybrid mail system

Claim 1

A method of accounting for a transaction cost and currency exchange relative to a customer accounts in a hybrid mail system, comprising the steps of: (a) establishing a data center; (b) establishing a first remote data entry point comprising a first data entry program; (c) establishing a second remote data entry point comprising a second data entry program and a mail piece production means; (d) selecting, in said first data entry program, a set of parameters and a unit cost for each parameter of said set of parameters which together define a mailpiece, a destination for said mailpiece wherein said destination is designated as said second remote data entry point, and a choice of debiting or crediting a customer account wherein said account is maintained at said data center; (e) transmitting said set of selected parameters, and a unit cost associated with a predetermined subset of parameters wherein said predetermined subset comprises costs known to said first remote data entry point, to said data center and to said second remote data entry point; (f) producing said mailpiece at said second remote data entry point wherein said mailpiece is comprised of a first set of elements determined by said selected set of parameters; (g) calculating, at said second remote data entry point, an unit cost for each of said mailpiece production and delivery elements; (h) transmitting said calculated unit cost from said second remote data entry point to said data center; (I) calculating, at said data center, a total unit cost of said transaction; (j) converting said total unit cost to a transaction cost by multiplying said total unit cost by a currency conversion factor and wherein said factor is selected from a set of factors predetermined by currency type; (k) transmitting said transaction cost to said customer account database, to said transaction database, and to said first remote data entry point; and (l) accounting for said transaction cost by storing said transaction cost in said customer account database, said transaction database and at said first remote data entry point for use in accounting records.

Claim 2

A method of accounting for a transaction cost and currency exchange relative to a customer accounts in a hybrid mail system, comprising the steps of: (a) establishing a data center; (b) establishing a first remote data entry point comprising a first data entry program; (c) establishing a second remote data entry point comprising a second data entry program and a mail piece production means; (d) selecting, in said first data entry program, a set of parameters and a unit cost for each parameter of said set of parameters which together define a mailpiece, a destination for said mailpiece wherein said destination is designated as said second remote data entry point, and a choice of debiting or crediting a customer account wherein said account is maintained at said data center; (e) transmitting said set of selected parameters, and a unit cost associated with a predetermined subset of parameters wherein said predetermined subset comprises costs known to said first remote data entry point, to said data center and to said second remote data entry point; (f) producing said mailpiece at said second remote data entry point wherein said mailpiece is comprised of a first set of elements determined by said selected set of parameters; (g) calculating, at said second remote data entry point, an unit cost for each of said mailpiece production and delivery elements; (h) transmitting said calculated unit cost from said second remote data entry point to said data center; (I) calculating, at said data center, a total unit cost of said transaction; (j) converting said total unit cost to a transaction cost by multiplying said total unit cost by a currency conversion factor and wherein said factor is selected from a set of factors predetermined by currency type; (k) transmitting said transaction cost to said customer account database, to said transaction database, and to said first remote data entry point; and (l) accounting for said transaction cost by storing said transaction cost in said customer account database, said transaction database and at said first remote data entry point for use in accounting records.

Claim 12

A system of accounting for a transaction cost and a currency exchange relative to a customer account in a hybrid mail system, comprising: (a) first data entry means, located at an initiating location, for entering a set of parameters which together form a mailpiece, and a unit cost for each parameter of said set of parameters; (b) first transmission means for transmitting data from said first data entry means to second data entry means for processing said set of parameters transmitted from said first data entry means; (c) second transmission means for transmitting data comprising production costs from said second data entry means to a data center; (d) value determination means located at said initiating location, at the location of said data entry means, and at said data center for determining an individual value for each of said parameters, said individual value being determined in a currency associated with a particular location; (e) calculator means for calculating said transaction cost based upon a sum of said individual values; (f) table look-up means for comparing said transaction cost in said currency with a corresponding value in another currency as listed in a currency database; and (g) billing means for billing a customer in respect of said other currency corresponding value as charged against said customer account.

Claim 13

A system of accounting for a transaction cost and a currency exchange relative to a customer account in a hybrid mail system, comprising: (a) first data entry means, located at an initiating location, for entering a set of parameters which together form a mailpiece, and a unit cost for each parameter of said set of parameters; (b) first transmission means for transmitting data from said first data entry means to second data entry means for processing said set of parameters transmitted from said first data entry means; (c) second transmission means for transmitting data comprising production costs from said second data entry means to a data center; (d) value determination means located at said initiating location, at the location of said data entry means, and at said data center for determining an individual value for each of said parameters, said individual value being determined in a currency associated with a particular location; (e) calculator means for calculating said transaction cost based upon a sum of said individual values; (f) table look-up means for comparing said transaction cost in said currency with a corresponding value in another currency as listed in a currency database; and (g) billing means for billing a customer in respect of said other currency corresponding value as charged against said customer account.