US6208980B1 — System and method for printing multiple postage i…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 139 words

A general purpose processor based system having a program running on said processor, said program operable for controlling document creation by a user giving input data and instructions to said processor, said document having a second document associated therewith, said system comprising: means controlled by said processing system and responsive to input data from a user for creating a first document; means for establishing a transfer section on said first document; means for printing within said transfer section a first postage indicia corresponding to said first document, said printing means including a general purpose printer coupled to said general purpose processor-based system; and means for printing a second postage indicia corresponding to said second document, wherein said means for printing said first indicia and said means for printing said second indicia operate substantially contemporaneously with said document creating means.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 139 words

A general purpose processor based system having a program running on said processor, said program operable for controlling document creation by a user giving input data and instructions to said processor, said document having a second document associated therewith, said system comprising: means controlled by said processing system and responsive to input data from a user for creating a first document; means for establishing a transfer section on said first document; means for printing within said transfer section a first postage indicia corresponding to said first document, said printing means including a general purpose printer coupled to said general purpose processor-based system; and means for printing a second postage indicia corresponding to said second document, wherein said means for printing said first indicia and said means for printing said second indicia operate substantially contemporaneously with said document creating means.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 36 words

The system as set forth in claim 1 , wherein each of said first and second postage indicia are customized under control of data provided on an interactive basis between said processing system and said user.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 21 words

The system as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said second document comprises a detachable portion of said first document.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 36 words

The system as set forth in claim 3 , further comprising: means for establishing a transfer section on said second document, wherein said second indicia printing means prints within said transfer section on said second document.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 46 words

The system as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said first document is a statement of account and said second document is a remittance form, and wherein said document creation control program is an accounting program operable to print amounts on said statement of account.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 23 words

The system as set forth in claim 5 , wherein said second indicia printing means prints said second indicia on said second document.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 32 words

The system as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said document creation control program is a word processing program, and wherein said transfer section of said document contains a transfer medium.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 19 words

The system as set forth in claim 7 , wherein said transfer medium is a peel off restick label.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 35 words

The system as set forth in claim 1 , further comprising: means for calculating from said input data from said user the amount of postage to print for each of said first and second document.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 30 words

The system as set forth in claim 9 , and wherein said input data utilized by said calculating means includes address information with respect to an addressee and an addressor.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 24 words

The system as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said second indicia printing means prints within said transfer section on said first document.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 51 words

The system as set forth in claim 11 , wherein said transfer section contains a transfer medium allowing the transfer of said first indicia to a mailing container associated with said first document and further allowing the transfer of said second indicia to a mailing container associated with said second document.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 19 words

The system as set forth in claim 12 , wherein the transfer medium is a peel off restick label.

Claim 15

Independent Claim 99 words

A method of operating a processor based system having a program running on said processor, said program operable for controlling document creation by a user giving input data and instructions to said processor, said document having a return document associated therewith, said method comprising the steps of: creating a first document under control of said program and responsive to input data from a user, said document having associated therewith a second document; and printing substantially simultaneously said first document and a first postage indicia pertaining to said first document and a second postage indicia pertaining to said second document.

Claim 16

Independent Claim 99 words

A method of operating a processor based system having a program running on said processor, said program operable for controlling document creation by a user giving input data and instructions to said processor, said document having a return document associated therewith, said method comprising the steps of: creating a first document under control of said program and responsive to input data from a user, said document having associated therewith a second document; and printing substantially simultaneously said first document and a first postage indicia pertaining to said first document and a second postage indicia pertaining to said second document.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 21 words

The method as set forth in claim 14 , wherein said second document is a detachable portion of said first document.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 35 words

The method as set forth in claim 14 , further including the step of: calculating from information provided said program by said user an amount of postage for each of said first and second indicia.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 31 words

The method as set forth in claim 16 , wherein said information utilized by said calculating step includes address information with respect to an addressee of said first and second documents.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 59 words

The method as set forth in claim 14 , further comprising the step of: creating said second document under control of said program and responsive to input data from a user, wherein said first indicia is printed in a preselected portion of said first document and said second indicia is printed in a preselected portion of said second document.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 54 words

The method as set forth in claim 18 , wherein said preselected portion of at least one of said first and second document includes a transfer media and said method further comprises the step of: transferring said transfer media to a postal item associated with a corresponding one of said first and second document.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 49 words

The method as set forth in claim 19 , wherein the transfer media is a peel off restick label, and said transferring step comprises the step of: peeling a label from said first document upon which postage indicia has been printed and repositioning said label on said postal item.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 32 words

The method as set forth in claim 14 , further comprising the step of: establishing a transfer section on said first document, wherein said first indicia is printed within said transfer section.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 46 words

The method as set forth in claim 21 , further including the step of: folding said first document so that said transfer section cooperates with a juxtaposed section of a mailing envelope to provide for viewing of said first indicia on the outside of said envelope.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 20 words

The method as set forth in claim 21 , wherein said second indicia is also printed within said transfer section.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 49 words

The method as set forth in claim 23 , wherein said transfer section includes a transfer media and said method further comprises the step of: transferring at least a portion of said transfer media having said second indicia printed thereon to a postal item associated with said second document.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 38 words

The method as set forth in claim 24 , further comprising the step of: transferring as least a portion of said transfer media having said first indicia printed thereon to a postal item associated with said first document.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 104 words

An automated system for concurrently generating a first postage indicia and an associated second postage indicia, said system comprising: means for determining the correct postage for mailing a first document associated with said first postage indicia; means for determining the correct postage for mailing a second document associated with said second postage indicia; means for generating said first postage indicia having said correct postage for mailing said first document; means for generating said second postage indicia having said correct postage for mailing said second document; and means for printing said first postage indicia and said second postage indicia on a single substantially continuous surface.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 104 words

An automated system for concurrently generating a first postage indicia and an associated second postage indicia, said system comprising: means for determining the correct postage for mailing a first document associated with said first postage indicia; means for determining the correct postage for mailing a second document associated with said second postage indicia; means for generating said first postage indicia having said correct postage for mailing said first document; means for generating said second postage indicia having said correct postage for mailing said second document; and means for printing said first postage indicia and said second postage indicia on a single substantially continuous surface.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 18 words

The system of claim 26 , wherein said substantially continuous surface comprises a face of said first document.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 32 words

The system of claim 26 , wherein said second document is a demarcated portion of said first document, and wherein said continuous surface comprises a face of said first and second document.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 40 words

The system of claim 26 , further comprising: means for interfacing with a document generation program generating said first document, wherein said printing means includes means for printing said first document substantially concurrently with printing said first and second indicia.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 28 words

The system of claim 29 , wherein said printing means further comprises: means for printing said second document substantially concurrently with printing said first and second postage indicia.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 15 words

The system of claim 26 , wherein said substantially continuous surface comprises a transfer media.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 57 words

The system of claim 31 , wherein said transfer media comprises: means for separating said first and second postage indicia; means for substantially permanently attaching said first postage indicia to a postal item associated with said first document; and means for substantially permanently attaching said second postage indicia to a postal item associated with said second document.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 32 words

The system of claim 32 , wherein said transfer media is affixed to a face of said first document upon printing of said first and second postage indicia by said printing means.

Claim 37

Independent Claim 115 words

A system for generating an outbound postage indicia and an associated return postage indicia, said system comprising: means for interfacing with a document generation program generating an outbound document to be associated with said outbound postage indicia, said outbound document being associated with a return document; means for determining the correct postage for mailing said outbound document; means for determining the correct postage for mailing said return document; means for generating said outbound postage indicia having said correct postage for mailing said outbound document; means for generating said return postage indicia having said correct postage for mailing said return document; and means for printing said outbound postage indicia and said return postage indicia substantially concurrently.

Claim 38

Independent Claim 115 words

A system for generating an outbound postage indicia and an associated return postage indicia, said system comprising: means for interfacing with a document generation program generating an outbound document to be associated with said outbound postage indicia, said outbound document being associated with a return document; means for determining the correct postage for mailing said outbound document; means for determining the correct postage for mailing said return document; means for generating said outbound postage indicia having said correct postage for mailing said outbound document; means for generating said return postage indicia having said correct postage for mailing said return document; and means for printing said outbound postage indicia and said return postage indicia substantially concurrently.

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 37 words

The system of claim 34 , wherein at least one of said generating means includes: means for selecting one of a plurality of graphical configurations of a postage indicia; and means for personalizing said selected graphical configuration.

Claim 40

Dependent Claim 39 words

The system of claim 34 , further including: means for automatically generating an encrypted message incorporating information entered into said system by said user, said encrypted message printed together with said printing of said outbound and return postage indicia.

Claim 41

Dependent Claim 71 words

The system of claim 36 , wherein said encrypted message printed together with said return postage indicia includes information selected from the group consisting of a date before which to post said return document, an indication of an area from which said return document is to be posted, and an indication that said return postage indicia is to be posted from an area foreign from that in which it was generated.

Claim 42

Dependent Claim 27 words

The system of claim 34 , wherein said printing means comprises: means for printing said outbound document substantially concurrently with printing said outbound and return postage indicia.

Claim 43

Dependent Claim 19 words

The system of claim 38 , wherein said printing means prints said outbound postage indicia on said outbound document.

Claim 44

Dependent Claim 19 words

The system of claim 38 , wherein said printing means prints said return postage indicia on said outbound document.

Claim 45

Dependent Claim 28 words

The system of claim 38 , wherein said printing means further comprises: means for printing said return document substantially concurrently with printing said outbound and return postage indicia.

Claim 46

Dependent Claim 19 words

The system of claim 41 , wherein said printing means prints said return postage indicia on said return document.

Claim 47

Dependent Claim 142 words

A processor based system for generating an outbound document and an associated return document, said system also for generating an outbound postage indicia associated with said outbound document and a return postage indicia associated with said return document, said system comprising: means for interfacing with a document generation program generating said outbound document and said return document; means for determining the correct postage for mailing said outbound document; means for determining the correct postage for mailing said return document; means for generating said outbound postage indicia having said correct postage for mailing said outbound document; means for generating said return postage indicia having said correct postage for mailing said return document; means for printing said outbound document and said return document substantially concurrently; and means for printing said return document and said outbound postage indicia and said return postage indicia substantially concurrently.

Claim 48

Dependent Claim 142 words

A processor based system for generating an outbound document and an associated return document, said system also for generating an outbound postage indicia associated with said outbound document and a return postage indicia associated with said return document, said system comprising: means for interfacing with a document generation program generating said outbound document and said return document; means for determining the correct postage for mailing said outbound document; means for determining the correct postage for mailing said return document; means for generating said outbound postage indicia having said correct postage for mailing said outbound document; means for generating said return postage indicia having said correct postage for mailing said return document; means for printing said outbound document and said return document substantially concurrently; and means for printing said return document and said outbound postage indicia and said return postage indicia substantially concurrently.

Claim 49

Dependent Claim 27 words

The system of claim 43 , wherein said last mentioned printing means comprises means for printing both said postage indicia on predetermined sections of said outbound document.

Claim 50

Dependent Claim 30 words

The system of claim 43 , wherein said first and last mentioned printing means comprise: means for printing said outbound postage indicia on a predetermined section of said outbound document.

Claim 51

Dependent Claim 50 words

The system of claim 45 , wherein said predetermined section includes a transfer media, and wherein said transfer media comprises means for removing said outbound postage indicia from said outbound document and means for substantially permanently attaching said outbound postage indicia to a mailing container associated with said outbound document.

Claim 52

Dependent Claim 30 words

The system of claim 43 , wherein said first and last mentioned printing means comprise: means for printing said return postage indicia on a predetermined section of said return document.

Claim 53

Dependent Claim 50 words

The system of claim 47 , wherein said predetermined section includes a transfer media, and wherein said transfer media comprises means for removing said return postage indicia from said return document and means for substantially permanently attaching said return postage indicia to a mailing container associated with said return document.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2004-03-26	2004-09-25	2005-03-27	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2008-03-26	2008-09-25	2009-03-27	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2012-03-26	2012-09-25	2013-03-27	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

System and method for printing multiple postage indicia

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