Central postage data communication network

A communication system for processing information for distribution in an enclosure based on prepaid distribution, comprising:

• a plurality of user stations, each of said user stations including a plurality of components including a counting means and a weighing means for determining the value of said prepaid distribution for each said enclosure for the proper distribution of said information, a central data station, a communication link interconnecting said user stations with said central data station, said central data station including means for periodically interrogating a user station for determining the operational status of each of said components;
• said user station including among its components a certification means, accounting means, and control means for processing said enclosure and accounting properly for said value irrespective of any prepaid valuation on said enclosure;
• and means for applying a visual indication of said certification to said enclosure.

An apparatus for performing postal functions in a multicomponent interrelated system comprising:

• a central processor, a plurality of component means for performing postal functions based on a predetermined input, said central processor monitoring the operation of each of said components, means coupled to said central processor for monitoring compliance of each of said components with a standard for acceptability of each of said postal functions, and means for certifying the resultant product of said apparatus as being in accordance with said standards.

A central data station for use in a communication system for processing information for distribution, said central data station comprising means for connecting to a communication link to a plurality of user stations each having a plurality of mail processing components forming a path for the proper distribution of said information, means for periodically interrogating via said link a user station for monitoring the proper operational status of each of said mail processing components, said user station including as one of its components a certification means for certifying that all said components are operational, and means for authorizing a user station maintaining the proper operational status of its mail processing components to apply a visual indication of said certification to said information when distributed.

A postage accounting device comprising a microcomputer having an accounting register, said microcomputer comprising means for determining first amounts of postage to be imprinted on each of a plurality of pieces of mail in accordance with a given algorithm based upon predetermined characteristics of said pieces of mail, means for imprinting said first amounts on the respective pieces of mail and decrementing said accounting register by said first amounts, and further comprising means for determining if said pieces of mail have said predetermined characteristics, and means responsive to the operation of said characteristic determining means for decrementing said accounting register in accordance with a second algorithm if said pieces of mail do not have said predetermined characteristics.

A communication system for processing information for distribution, comprising:

• a central data station, a plurality of user stations, each of said user stations including a plurality of components forming a path for the proper distribution of said information, a communication link interconnecting said user stations with said central data station, said central data station including means for periodically interrogating via said communication link a user station for determining the operational status of each of said components, means located within said central data station for detecting an error condition in any one of said components, and means at said central data station for transmitting a condition signal from said central data station to said user station for indicating to said user station said error condition.

A communication system for processing information for distribution, comprising:

• a central data station, a plurality of user stations, each of said user stations including a plurality of mail processing components forming a path for the proper distribution of said information, a communication link interconnecting said user stations with said central data station, said central data station including means for periodically interrogating via said communication link a user station for determining the operational status of each of said components, means located within said central data station for detecting an error condition in any one of said mail processing components, and means at said central data station for transmitting a condition signal from said central data station to said user station for indicating to said user station said error condition.

A communication system for processing mailer-related information for distribution to mailers, comprising:

• a computerized central data station, a plurality of user mailer stations, each of said user stations including a computer controlling a plurality of components useful in processing mail at the user station facility, a communication link interconnecting said user stations with said central data station, said central data station including means for periodically interrogating via said communication link a user station for determining the operational status of each of said mail processing components and for receiving back from the user station operational status information, means located within said central data station in response to said user station operational status information for detecting an error condition in any one of said components, and means at said central data station upon detecting an error condition for transmitting a condition signal from said central data station to said user station for indicating to said user station said error condition.

An apparatus for performing postal functions in a multicomponent interrelated system comprising:

• a central processor, a plurality of means for performing postal functions for calculating appropriate postage based on a predetermined input, said central processor monitoring the operation of each of said components, means coupled to said central processor for monitoring compliance of each of said components with a standard for acceptability of each of said postal functions, means for certifying the resultant product of said apparatus as being in accordance with said standards, a communication means for communicating with a central data facility, said central processor including first means responsive to a signal received from said central data facility for providing a response signal indicative of the status of select ones of said plurality of means, and second means responsive to a non-compliance status response from said central data facility for causing an alarm condition in said central processor.

A central data station for use in a communication system for processing mailer-related information for distribution to mailers, comprising:

• a computer, means for connecting said computer to a communication link to a plurality of user mailer stations each having a computer controlling a plurality of components useful in processing mail at the user station, means for periodically interrogating via said communication link a user station for determining the operational status of each of said mail processing components and for receiving back from the user station operational status information, means in response to said user station operational status information for detecting an error condition in any one of said components, and means upon detecting an error condition for transmitting a condition signal to said user station for indicating to said user station said error condition.

A mailer station for use in a communication system for processing mailer-related information for distribution to mailers, comprising:

• a computer controlling a plurality of components useful in processing mail, means for connecting the computer to a communication link to a central data station, means for allowing said central data station to periodically interrogate via said communication link the computer for determining the operational status of each of said mail processing components, means for transmitting back to the central station operational status information, and means for receiving from said central station a condition signal indicating to said user station a error condition has been detected in any one of said mail processing components.

A system for facilitating mail processing operations by separate users having mail facilities comprising:

• a computerized central data station having a database and monitor means, a plurality of user stations each containing computerized means for performing mail-processing functions and having a database containing Postal Service tariffs, means at said central data station for maintaining in its database current Postal Service tariffs, a communications link connecting each of the user stations to the central data station, means at said central data station for monitoring the operation of each of said user stations, and means for generating at said central station a record of the operational status at each of said user stations.

An apparatus for performing postal functions in a multicomponent interrelated system comprising:

• a user station having a central processor, a plurality of means at said user station for performing postal functions for calculating appropriate postage based on a predetermined input, said user central processor monitoring the operation of each of said components, a central station having means coupled to said user central processor for monitoring compliance of each of said components with a standard for acceptability of each of said postal functions, and means for generating at said central station a record of the status of each of said components, and means for producing said record upon request.

An apparatus for performing postal functions for a user in a multicomponent interrelated system comprising:

• a user central processor, a plurality of means for performing postal functions for calculating appropriate postage based on a predetermined input, said user central processor monitoring the operation of each of said components, means coupled to said user central processor for monitoring compliance of each of said components with a standard for acceptability of each of said postal functions, means for certifying the resultant product of said apparatus as being in accordance with said standards, a communication means for communicating with a central data facility, said user central processor including means for storing mailing data, means for storing funding and means for storing volume uses, means for intercommunication from said central data facility with said user central processor to access each of said means for storing, whereby said central facility can establish a data base, means for manipulating said data base at said central facility to establish processes to better manage an entity of the system.

A system for tracking an article through a delivery system employing a plurality of uniquely identified delivery stages, comprising:

• a user station for preparing said article

A system for tracking an article through a delivery system employing a plurality of uniquely codified delivery stages, comprising:

• a user station for preparing said article for entry into said system, said user station including codification means for placing a tracking code on said article, a communication link connecting said user station to a central data station, said central data station including means responsive to a tracking request for interrogating each of said delivery stages over said communication link, means responsive to receipt of a response including said tracking code and said unique identification code for storing same, means for automatically stripping off said identifying code and comparing same to a data base located at said central station for identifying said delivery stage, and means for transmitting the identity of said delivery stage to said user station.

A system for tracking mail articles through a mail delivery system, comprising a plurality of separate delivery stages in the system for the mail, each of said delivery stages comprising means for recognizing and storing tracking codes associated with said mail articles, a user station for preparing mail articles for entry into said delivery system, said user station including coding means for placing a tracking code on said mail articles, a computerized central data station;

• communication links connecting said user station to said central data station and said delivery stages to said central data station, said central data station including means responsive to a tracking request for interrogating each of said delivery stages over said communication link for the presence thereat of the mail articles being tracked, means responsive to receipt of a response from a delivery stage that the mail article including said tracking code is present for storing the current location of said mail article, and means for transmitting to said requesting user station the current location of said mail article being tracked.

An apparatus for performing postal functions in a multicomponent interrelated system comprising:

• a central processor, a plurality of component means for performing postal functions for calculating appropriate postage based on a predetermined input, said central processor monitoring the operation of each of said components, means coupled to said central processor for monitoring compliance of each of said components with a standard for acceptability of each of said postal functions, and means for certifying the resultant product of said apparatus as being in accordance with said standards, said means for certifying including means for placing a certification code including an identification code on said product, said certification code positioned on said product for tracking said product through a delivery system employing a plurality of uniquely codified delivery stages, a central data station, said central data station including means responsive to a tracking request for sampling each of said delivery stages over a data line, means responsive to receipt of a response including said code and said identification code, means for stripping off said identifying code and comparing same to a data base located at said central data station for identifying said delivery stage, and means for transmitting said delivery stage identification information to said central processor.

An apparatus for performing postal functions in a multicomponent interrelated system comprising:

• a computer, a plurality of means for performing postal functions based on a predetermined input, a central data facility, a communication means connected to the computer for communicating with said central data facility, said central data facility including first means responsive to a signal received from said computer for providing a response signal indicative of a training request from said computer, said response signal including a set of interactive training instructions transmitted to said computer.

A communication system for processing information for distribution, comprising:

• a central data station having a database, a plurality of user stations, each of said user stations including a plurality of components forming a secure path for the proper distribution of said information, a communication link interconnecting said user stations with said central data station, said central data station including means for periodically interrogating a user station for determining the operational status of each of said components, means located within said central data station for indicating a request from a user station for graphic display data to be included in said information distribution by said user and derived from said central data station data base, and means responsive to said request for downloading said graphic display data to said user station from said central data station.

A communication system for improving the mailer-related operations of separated users having mail-processing facilities, comprising:

• a computerized central data station having a database containing mailer training data and advertising data, a plurality of computerized user stations each having means for storing data a communication link interconnecting said user stations with said central data station, means located within said central data station for responding to a request by one of said user stations for either training data an advertising data to be derived from said central data station database, and means responsive to said request for downloading the requested data to said user station from said central data center for use by the mail-processing facility at said user station.

An apparatus for performing postal functions in a multicomponent interrelated system comprising:

• a central processor, a plurality of means for performing postal functions for calculating appropriate postage based on a predetermined input, said central processor monitoring the operation of each of said components, means coupled to said central processor for monitoring compliance of each of said components with a standard for acceptability of each of said postal functions, and means for certifying the resultant product of said apparatus as being in accordance with said standards, a communication means for communicating with a central data facility, said central data facility including first means responsive to a signal received from said central processor for providing a response signal indicative of a training request from said central processor, said response signal including a set of interactive training instructions for training operators.

A central data facility for use with apparatus for performing postal functions in a multicomponent interrelated system comprising:

• a computer, means for connecting the computer to a communication link to a user facility carrying out mail processing functions, a data base of interactive training instructions for training operators in the carrying out of mail processing functions, means responsive to a signal received from a user facility indicative of a training request for transmitting to said user facility a set of interactive training instructions for training personnel to properly use the equipment at said facility.

A mail processing facility comprising a computer, apparatus for performing postal functions in a multicomponent interrelated system, means for connecting the computer to a communication link to a central facility having a data base of interactive training instructions for training operators in the carrying out of mail processing functions, means for transmitting to the central facility a request for a set of interactive training instructions, and means connected to the computer for receiving from the central facility said requested set of interactive training instructions for use in training operators in the carrying out of mail processing functions with said apparatus at said mail processing facility.