System and method for remotely providing mailing/shipping services to customers

Claim 1

A method for modifying mailing/shipping software, comprising steps of: providing a mailing/shipping application program at a customer personal computer, said program having a graphical user interface for allowing a user to enter parameters which said program uses to compute mailing/shipping rates, said program further having a predetermined number of a plurality of mailing/shipping features activated; displaying on said graphical user interface at the customer personal computer a screen listing said plurality of features in a selectable menu form; performing-point-and-click selection of at least one feature of said plurality of features for modification from said screen; communicating information including a request for modification of said at least one feature to a mailing/shipping service provider terminal; communicating, in response to said request, activation information from the mailing/shipping service provider terminal to the customer personal computer; and modifying said at least one selected feature in accordance with said activation information.

Claim 2

A method for modifying mailing/shipping software, comprising steps of: providing a mailing/shipping application program at a customer personal computer, said program having a graphical user interface for allowing a user to enter parameters which said program uses to compute mailing/shipping rates, said program further having a predetermined number of a plurality of mailing/shipping features activated; displaying on said graphical user interface at the customer personal computer a screen listing said plurality of features in a selectable menu form; performing-point-and-click selection of at least one feature of said plurality of features for modification from said screen; communicating information including a request for modification of said at least one feature to a mailing/shipping service provider terminal; communicating, in response to said request, activation information from the mailing/shipping service provider terminal to the customer personal computer; and modifying said at least one selected feature in accordance with said activation information.

Claim 21

A method for modifying mailing/shipping software, comprising steps of: providing a mailing/shipping program at a customer terminal, said program having a predetermined number of a plurality of mailing/shipping features activated; selecting at least one feature from said plurality of features for modification; communicating information including a request for modification of said at least one features to a mailing/shipping service provider terminal; communicating, in response to said request, activation information from the mailing/shipping service provider terminal to the customer terminal; and modifying said at least one selected feature in accordance with said activation information, wherein said modifying step includes: modifying said at least one feature for a predetermined period of time; continuing modification of said at least one feature after expiration of said predetermined period of time if payment for said modification is made within said predetermined period of time; and removing said modification if payment is not made within said predetermined time period.

Claim 22

A method for modifying mailing/shipping software, comprising steps of: providing a mailing/shipping program at a customer terminal, said program having a predetermined number of a plurality of mailing/shipping features activated; selecting at least one feature from said plurality of features for modification; communicating information including a request for modification of said at least one features to a mailing/shipping service provider terminal; communicating, in response to said request, activation information from the mailing/shipping service provider terminal to the customer terminal; and modifying said at least one selected feature in accordance with said activation information, wherein said modifying step includes: modifying said at least one feature for a predetermined period of time; continuing modification of said at least one feature after expiration of said predetermined period of time if payment for said modification is made within said predetermined period of time; and removing said modification if payment is not made within said predetermined time period.

Claim 23

A method for modifying mailing/shipping software, comprising steps of: providing a mailing/shipping application program at a customer personal computer, said program having a graphical user interface for allowing a user to enter parameters which said program uses to compute mailing/shipping rates, said program further having a predetermined number of a plurality of mailing/shipping features activated; selecting, using an input device of said personal computer, at least one feature from said plurality features for modification; communicating information including a request for modification of said at least one feature to a mailing/shipping service provider terminal; communicating, in response to said request, activation information from the mailing/shipping service provider terminal to the customer personal computer; modifying said at least one selected feature in accordance with said activation information; selecting at least one of a supply or hardware feature for use at the personal computer; communicating a request for the supply or hardware features to the mailing/shipping service provider terminal; and automatically scheduling a shipment date of the supply or hardware features at the mailing/shipping service provider terminal.

Claim 24

A method for modifying mailing/shipping software, comprising steps of: providing a mailing/shipping application program at a customer personal computer, said program having a graphical user interface for allowing a user to enter parameters which said program uses to compute mailing/shipping rates, said program further having a predetermined number of a plurality of mailing/shipping features activated; selecting, using an input device of said personal computer, at least one feature from said plurality features for modification; communicating information including a request for modification of said at least one feature to a mailing/shipping service provider terminal; communicating, in response to said request, activation information from the mailing/shipping service provider terminal to the customer personal computer; modifying said at least one selected feature in accordance with said activation information; selecting at least one of a supply or hardware feature for use at the personal computer; communicating a request for the supply or hardware features to the mailing/shipping service provider terminal; and automatically scheduling a shipment date of the supply or hardware features at the mailing/shipping service provider terminal.

Claim 26

A method for modifying mailing/shipping software, comprising steps of: providing a mailing/shipping program at a customer terminal, said program having a predetermined number of a plurality of mailing/shipping features activated; selecting at least one feature from said plurality of features for modification; communicating information including a request for modification of said at least one features to a mailing/shipping service provider terminal; communicating, in response to said request activation information from the mailing/shipping service provider terminal to the customer terminal; modifying said at least one selected feature in accordance with said activation information; designating one feature from said plurality of mailing/shipping features to accomplish a mailing/shipping objective; and automatically displaying, at the customer terminal, information indicating at least one additional feature of said plurality of mailing/shipping features related to said designated feature.

Claim 27

A method for modifying mailing/shipping software, comprising steps of: providing a mailing/shipping program at a customer terminal, said program having a predetermined number of a plurality of mailing/shipping features activated; selecting at least one feature from said plurality of features for modification; communicating information including a request for modification of said at least one features to a mailing/shipping service provider terminal; communicating, in response to said request activation information from the mailing/shipping service provider terminal to the customer terminal; modifying said at least one selected feature in accordance with said activation information; designating one feature from said plurality of mailing/shipping features to accomplish a mailing/shipping objective; and automatically displaying, at the customer terminal, information indicating at least one additional feature of said plurality of mailing/shipping features related to said designated feature.

Claim 31

A method for updating a mailing/shipping program having a plurality of mailing/shipping features, said mailing/shipping program being installed in each of a plurality of customer terminals, said method comprising steps of: maintaining a data base of customer information at a mailing/shipping service provider terminal; searching said data base for customers who might have interest in a new feature of said mailing/shipping program; creating an electronic mail message containing information including said new feature; communicating the electronic mail message to at least one of said customer terminals; and installing said new feature at said at least one of said customer terminals, wherein said new feature is installed in an inactive state until a customer at said at least one customer terminal communicates with said mailing/shipping service provider terminal to have said new feature activated.

Claim 32

A method for updating a mailing/shipping program having a plurality of mailing/shipping features, said mailing/shipping program being installed in each of a plurality of customer terminals, said method comprising steps of: maintaining a data base of customer information at a mailing/shipping service provider terminal; searching said data base for customers who might have interest in a new feature of said mailing/shipping program; creating an electronic mail message containing information including said new feature; communicating the electronic mail message to at least one of said customer terminals; and installing said new feature at said at least one of said customer terminals, wherein said new feature is installed in an inactive state until a customer at said at least one customer terminal communicates with said mailing/shipping service provider terminal to have said new feature activated.

Claim 37

A method for updating a mailing/shipping program having a plurality of mailing/shipping features, said mailing/shipping program being installed in each of a plurality of customer terminals, said method comprising steps of: maintaining a data base of customer information at a mailing/shipping service provider terminal; searching said data base for customers who have ordered a rate table service; creating an electronic mail message containing information which includes a new rate table; and sending the electronic mail message to terminals of said customers who have ordered said rate table service.

Claim 38

A method for updating a mailing/shipping program having a plurality of mailing/shipping features, said mailing/shipping program being installed in each of a plurality of customer terminals, said method comprising steps of: maintaining a data base of customer information at a mailing/shipping service provider terminal; searching said data base for customers who have ordered a rate table service; creating an electronic mail message containing information which includes a new rate table; and sending the electronic mail message to terminals of said customers who have ordered said rate table service.

Claim 43

A method of providing mailing/shipping services to remotely located customers, comprising: sending computer-readable information from a mailing/shipping service provider to a plurality of potential customers, said information including information on a plurality of products of said service provider, with a first product of said plurality of products being in an active state when installed in a computer and a second product being in an inactive state when installed, at least one of said potential customers installing said computer-readable information onto a computer of said one potential customer; establishing a communications path between the computer of said one potential customer and a service provider computer, said communications path being initiated by said one potential customer; sending a request for the second product from the computer of said potential customer to said service provider computer over said communications path; sending activation information, from said service provider computer to the computer of said one potential customer, to place in an active state the second product as installed on the computer of said one potential customer.

Claim 44

A method of providing mailing/shipping services to remotely located customers, comprising: sending computer-readable information from a mailing/shipping service provider to a plurality of potential customers, said information including information on a plurality of products of said service provider, with a first product of said plurality of products being in an active state when installed in a computer and a second product being in an inactive state when installed, at least one of said potential customers installing said computer-readable information onto a computer of said one potential customer; establishing a communications path between the computer of said one potential customer and a service provider computer, said communications path being initiated by said one potential customer; sending a request for the second product from the computer of said potential customer to said service provider computer over said communications path; sending activation information, from said service provider computer to the computer of said one potential customer, to place in an active state the second product as installed on the computer of said one potential customer.

Claim 46

A system for remotely modifying a mailing/shipping program, comprising: a customer personal computer which includes: (a) a memory which stores a mailing/shipping application program having a predetermined number of a plurality of mailing/shipping features activated, (b) a graphical user interface which allows a user to enter parameters which said program uses to compute mailing/shipping rates, said graphical user interface displaying a screen at the customer personal computer listing said plurality of features in a selectable menu form, (c) an input device which allows a user to perform point-and-click selection of at least one feature from said plurality of features for modification from said screen, (d) a processor which forms a request for modification of said at least one feature, and (e) a communications unit which communicates said request; a mailing/shipping service provider terminal which generates activation information in response to receipt of said request from said customer personal computer, wherein said customer personal computer further includes a first unit which receives said activation information form said mailing/shipping service provider terminal, and a second unit which modifies said at least one selected feature in accordance with said activation information.

Claim 47

A system for remotely modifying a mailing/shipping program, comprising: a customer personal computer which includes: (a) a memory which stores a mailing/shipping application program having a predetermined number of a plurality of mailing/shipping features activated, (b) a graphical user interface which allows a user to enter parameters which said program uses to compute mailing/shipping rates, said graphical user interface displaying a screen at the customer personal computer listing said plurality of features in a selectable menu form, (c) an input device which allows a user to perform point-and-click selection of at least one feature from said plurality of features for modification from said screen, (d) a processor which forms a request for modification of said at least one feature, and (e) a communications unit which communicates said request; a mailing/shipping service provider terminal which generates activation information in response to receipt of said request from said customer personal computer, wherein said customer personal computer further includes a first unit which receives said activation information form said mailing/shipping service provider terminal, and a second unit which modifies said at least one selected feature in accordance with said activation information.

Claim 52

A method for modifying a mailing/shipping system, said system including at least one customer personal computer and at least one service provider terminal, said method comprising steps of: providing a mailing/shipping application program at a customer personal computer; selecting at least one of a supply or hardware feature for use at the customer personal computer; communicating a request for said at least one supply or hardware feature to the service provider terminal through the internet; and shipping said at least one supply or hardware feature to said customer personal computer in response to said request.

Claim 53

A method for modifying a mailing/shipping system, said system including at least one customer personal computer and at least one service provider terminal, said method comprising steps of: providing a mailing/shipping application program at a customer personal computer; selecting at least one of a supply or hardware feature for use at the customer personal computer; communicating a request for said at least one supply or hardware feature to the service provider terminal through the internet; and shipping said at least one supply or hardware feature to said customer personal computer in response to said request.

Claim 54

A method for performing mailing/shipping services, comprising: providing a mailing/shipping application program at a customer personal computer, said mailing/shipping application program having a graphical user interface for allowing a user to enter parameters which said program uses to compute at least one of postal and private carrier rates; displaying on said graphical user interface a list of features of said mailing/shipping application program, said list including a graphical indication of an activation state of said features; performing point-and-click selection of one or more of said features whose activation state is to be modified from said list of features displayed on said graphical user interface; transmitting a request for modifying the activation state of said one or more selected features to a mailing/shipping service provider over a communications network; transmitting, from said mailing/shipping service provider over the communications network, activation state information; and automatically modifying only said one or more selected features based on said activation state information.

Claim 55

A method for performing mailing/shipping services, comprising: providing a mailing/shipping application program at a customer personal computer, said mailing/shipping application program having a graphical user interface for allowing a user to enter parameters which said program uses to compute at least one of postal and private carrier rates; displaying on said graphical user interface a list of features of said mailing/shipping application program, said list including a graphical indication of an activation state of said features; performing point-and-click selection of one or more of said features whose activation state is to be modified from said list of features displayed on said graphical user interface; transmitting a request for modifying the activation state of said one or more selected features to a mailing/shipping service provider over a communications network; transmitting, from said mailing/shipping service provider over the communications network, activation state information; and automatically modifying only said one or more selected features based on said activation state information.