Postage payment system with security for sensitive mailer data and enhanced carrier data functionality

Abstract

A method and system for processing mail including imprinting on a mailpiece mailer identification information. Data is encrypted relative to the mailpiece with a private key associated with the mailer identification information. The private key also has an associated public key. The encrypted data is imprinted on the mailpiece and the mailpiece is placed in a mail delivery stream of a mail carrier. The mail is thereafter processed to determine from the mailer identification information the public key. The encrypted data is decrypted with the public key to authenticate the mailer and the mailers billing records are updated for mailer charges associated with the mailpiece. The addressee information for the mailpiece may be included as part of the encrypted data for mailpiece authentication. The billing record of the mailer may be encrypted with the mailer public key and transmitted to the mailer. The various mailpieces of the mailer deposited with the carrier service may be consolidated into a single encrypted statement and provided to the mailer, either in physical form or electronically along with other information including address hygiene, availability of special services from the carrier and the like. Authentication and receipt of the mailpiece are provided using an encrypted data on the mailpiece which may include an encryption of the hash function of data associated with the mailpiece being delivered or of the content of the mailpiece being delivered. The hash code may be generated by the mailer, carrier or the recipient.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.