US 2003/0144973 A1 · System and method for employing digital postage marks as part of value-added services in a mailing system

Abstract

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.

Claims1

Dependent claims

A method for providing confirmation relating to the distribution of a mailpiece within a mailing system, the method comprising:

determining postal data required for postage evidencing of a mailpiece originated by a mailer;
combining the postal data with other data related to value-added services desired for the mailpiece, the value-added services data including addressing information for a return receipt to the mailer;
creating a digital postmark comprising the postal data and the value-added services data;
reading the digital postmark when the mailpiece is delivered;
capturing the value-added services data from extracted information from the read digital postmark;
and
sending a return receipt message to the mailer in accordance with the addressing information.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

10/385,094Filed 10 Mar 2003

Priority

24 Jun 1999

Published

31 Jul 2003

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification10 codes

G07B 17/0008
Relations between apparatus, e.g. franking machine at customer or apparatus at post office, in a franking system: communication details outside or…
G06Q 30/0283
Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising: price estimation or determination
G07B 17/00435
Details internally of apparatus in a franking system, e.g. franking machine at customer or apparatus at post office: details specific to central,…
G07B 2017/0004
Physical or organizational aspects of franking systems: determining the location of mailpieces outside apparatus

System and method for employing digital postage marks as part of value-added services in a mailing system

Life of this patent

System and method for employing digital postage marks as part of value-added services in a mailing system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims1