摘要:
A method and apparatus are provided for tracking a special service delivery by a carrier of a mail item created by an office worker. The method utilizes one or more special service indicators on the mail item to ensure that the office worker can obtain information about the status of the mail item by the simple placement of one of the special service stickers on the mail item.
摘要:
A carrier distribution system tracks a mail item having a unique sender generated identifier thereon. The carrier distribution system includes apparatus for reading the unique sender generated identifier from the mail item; structure for including a unique carrier generated identifier on the mail item; a data base that associates the unique sender generated identifier with the unique carrier generated identifier; at least one sensor that reads the unique carrier generated identifier from the mail item and provides location information to the data base that is associated with the unique carrier generated identifier so that at times when the carrier distribution system receives a location query from an entity about the mail item via submission of the unique sender generated identifier the location information is obtainable from the database without requiring submission of the unique carrier generated identifier by the entity.
摘要:
A business reply mail piece and associated processing system that allows information contained within business reply mail to be scanned and interpreted before the business reply mail reaches its ultimate destination is provided. A machine-readable block of control information that instructs computer-driven actuators what to do with the business reply mail document itself, its digital image (or parts of thereof) and the data elements contained in the document, based on selections made by the recipient, is provided on the business reply mail piece. A scanner module scans the business reply mail piece to read the selection made by the recipient and the corresponding instructions from the block of control information. A control module interprets the data to provide instructions for the processing of the business reply mail piece based on the recipient's selection.
摘要:
System and method for providing confirmation relating to the distribution of a mailpiece within a mailing system includes a determination of postal data required for postage evidencing of a mailpiece originated by a mailer. The postal data is combined with other data related to value-added services desired for the mailpiece. The value-added services data includes addressing information for a return receipt to the mailer. A digital postmark which includes the postal data and the value-added services data is created. At delivery of the mailpiece, the digital postmark is read and the value-added services data is captured from the read digital postmark. A confirmation message is sent to the mailer and/or other interested third parties, in accordance with information contained in the value-added services data.
摘要:
A method for controlling a postage metering system defines a first set of postage parameters associated with the generation of postage evidence in a postage metering system and then initializes the postage metering system with a subset of the first set of postage parameters. The subset defines a combination of the postage parameters for which the generation of postage evidence is not authorized. When a request for postage evidence is received, the request includes a second set of postage parameters. The generation of postage evidence is inhibited when at least one of the postage parameters in the second set matches one of the postage parameters in the first set. When none of the postage parameters in the second set matches any of the postage parameters in the first set the requested postage evidence is generated. In an alternate method the subset defines a combination of the postage parameters for which the generation of postage evidence is authorized, and the requested postage evidence is generated when each of the postage parameters in the first set matches one of the postage parameters in the second set. The generation of postage evidence is inhibited when one the postage parameters in the first set does not match any of the postage parameters in the second set.
摘要:
A system and method of evidencing postage payment includes a local postage printing system requesting to a remote data metering center for the generation of postage evidencing information. The request includes a postage amount to be printed on a mailpiece. The remote data metering center determines a postal origin corresponding to the request for postage evidencing information, then accounts for the postage amount in a general account corresponding to the local postage printing system and in a payment account corresponding to the determined postal origin. The remote data metering center generates postage evidencing information in response to the request. The postage evidencing information includes a digital token and the determined postal origin. The remote data metering center sends the postage evidencing information to the local postage printing system which prints the postage evidencing information and the determined postal origin on the mailpiece.