Dimensional rating of a mail piece using a touch screen on a mail kiosk
AssigneePitney Bowes Inc.
InventorsMichael J. Lorello, Mark E. Sievel
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system and method for determining the dimensions of a mail piece using a built-in touch screen of a mail kiosk. A mailer is instructed to place the mail piece into a specified corner of the touch screen of the mail kiosk. The user is then instructed to touch the touch screen by the opposite corner of the mail piece. The touch screen registers the location touched by the mailer, and provides the information to a processing device of the mail kiosk. The processing device uses the information received from the touch screen to determine the dimensions of the mail piece.
Claims12
A method for determining at least one dimension of a mail piece utilizing a touch screen of a mail kiosk, the method comprising:
- providing instructions to a user to place the mail piece in a specified location on the touch screen of the mail kiosk;
- providing instructions to the user to touch the touch screen next to a specified corner of the mail piece;
- sending a signal from the touch screen to a processing device of the mail kiosk indicating a location touched by the user;
- determining, by the processing device, at least one dimension of the mail piece based on the location touched by the user and a predetermined reference point associated with the specified location on the touch screen;
- and
- determining, by the processing device, carrier charges for delivery of the mail piece based at least in part on the determined at least one dimension.
A kiosk for processing a mail piece comprising:
- a touch screen;
- and
- a processing device coupled to the touch screen, the processing device being programmed to a receive a signal from the touch screen indicating a location touched by a user based on the size of the mail piece placed on the touch screen, determine at least one dimension of the mail piece based on the location touched by the user and a predetermined reference point on the touch screen, and determine carrier charges for delivery of the mail piece based at least in part on the determined at least one dimension.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.