Technique for effectively generating multi-dimensional symbols representing postal information

Apparatus for processing a plurality of postal data elements, the apparatus comprising:

• a processor for arranging the plurality of postal data elements in an order such that each postal data element preceding a second postal data element is independent of the second postal data element;
• and
• an output for providing a representation representing the plurality of postal data elements in the arranged order.

Apparatus for conducting a postage franking transaction to generate a representation representing data, the apparatus comprising:

• a processor for identifying a first subset of the data which is unaffected by the postage franking transaction and a second subset of the data which is subject to change during the postage franking transaction;
• and
• an output for providing a representation representing the first subset of the data and the second subset of the data, the representation being partitioned into a first part and a second part thereof, the first subset of the data and the second subset of the data being represented by the first part and the second part, respectively.

Apparatus for conducting postage franking transaction, the apparatus comprising:

• a processor for processing a plurality of data elements;
• and
• an output for generating at least a first symbol and a second symbol representing the data elements, at least part of the first symbol representing a first subset of the data elements which is unaffected by the postage franking transaction, and at least part of the second symbol representing a second subset of the data elements which is subject to change during the postage franking transaction.

Apparatus for creating a postage indicium representing a plurality of data elements, and at least one code for authenticating selected ones of the data elements, the apparatus comprising:

• an interface for receiving a request for creating the postage indicium;
• and
• a processor for performing computations to generate the code, selected ones of the computations being performed before the request is received, the code being generated based on results of the selected computations after the request is received.

Apparatus for printing a symbol representing data, the data being disposed in at least a first segment and a second segment in the symbol, the first segment being separated from the second segment by a delimiter, the apparatus comprising:

• at least a first printhead and a second printhead for printing the first and second segments, respectively, the first printhead being separated from the second printhead by a gap, the size of the gap being a function of the size of the delimiter.

A method for processing a plurality of postal data elements, a first one of the plurality of postal data elements being a function of at least a second one of the plurality of postal data elements, the method comprising:

• arranging the plurality of postal data elements in an order where the second postal data element precedes the first postal data element;
• and
• providing a representation representing the plurality of postal data elements in the arranged order.

A method for processing a plurality of postal data elements, the method comprising:

• arranging the plurality of postal data elements in an order such that each postal data element preceding a second postal data element is independent of the second postal data element;
• and
• providing a representation representing the plurality of postal data elements in the arranged order.

A method for conducting a postage franking transaction to generate a representation representing data, the method comprising:

• identifying a first subset of the data which is unaffected by the postage franking transaction and a second subset of the data which is subject to change during the postage franking transaction;
• and
• providing a representation representing the first subset of the data and the second subset of the data, the representation being partitioned into a first part and a second part thereof, the first subset of the data and the second subset of the data being represented by the first part and the second part, respectively.

A method for conducting postage franking transaction, the method comprising:

• processing a plurality of data elements;
• and
• generating at least a first symbol and a second symbol representing the data elements, at least part of the first symbol representing a first subset of the data elements which is unaffected by the postage franking transaction, and at least part of the second symbol representing a second subset of the data elements which is subject to change during the postage franking transaction.

A method for use in an apparatus for printing a symbol representing data, the data being disposed in at least a first segment and a second segment in the symbol, the first segment being separated from the second segment by a delimiter, the apparatus including at least a first printhead and a second printhead, the method comprising:

• separating the first printhead from the second printhead by a gap, the size of the gap being a function of the size of the delimiter;
• and
• printing the first and second segments using the first and second printheads, respectively.