System for dispensing, verifying and tracking postage and other information on mailpieces

A method of dispensing postage to, and tracking mailpieces, the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing a control computer to control and enable at least one host computer by providing an allotment of indicia symbols to said host computer;
• (b) enabling said host computer to direct at least one indicia printer to print an indicia symbol onto said mailpieces, wherein said symbol
• (i) indicates the allotted postage fee paid for said mailpiece, and
• (ii) provides mailpiece tracking information;
• (c) scanning said mailpieces with a field reader to capture said symbol imprinted thereon;
• (d) verifying the authenticity of said imprinted symbol using said captured symbol;
• and
• (e) verifying said tracking information using said captured symbol.

A system of dispensing postage and identifying information to mailpieces, the system comprising:

• (a) a control computer;
• (b) at least one host computer which is provided an allotment of postage by said control computer;
• (c) at least one printing system enabled by said host computer with said allotment of postage for imprinting an indicia symbol onto said mailpieces
• (i) as evidence of paid postage, and
• (ii) mailpiece identification data;
• (d) at least one field reader to capture said symbol imprinted thereon;
• and
• (e) means for verifying the authenticity of said symbol.

A system for marking postage fee paid and tracking the distribution of mailpieces, comprising:

• (a) an enabling control computer;
• (b) at least one host computer in communication with said control computer;
• (c) at least one printing system comprising
• (i) a printer CPU in communication with said host computer, and
• (ii) an indicia symbol marker;
• and
• (d) at least one field reading system in communication with said control computer;
• (e) wherein
• (i) said control computer communicates with said host computer through a first coded communication to enable said host computer to coordinate marking of said mailpieces by providing said host with said allotment of indicia symbols, wherein said indica symbols contain postage fee information and non postage fee and delivery information unique to said mailpiece,
• (ii) said host computer communicates with said printer CPU through a second coded communication to enable said symbol marker to print said indicia symbols as a pattern onto said mailpieces,
• (iii) said field reading system scans said mailpieces thereby capturing said indicia symbol marks, and
• (iv) said field reading system communicates with said control computer to compare said scanned patterns with a set of authenticated patterns entered into a data base on said control computer.

A method of dispensing postage to, and tracking mailpieces, the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing a control computer to control and enable at least one host computer by providing an allotment of indicia symbols to said host computer;
• (b) enabling said host computer to direct at least one indicia printer to print an indicia symbol onto said mailpieces, wherein said symbol
• (i) indicates the allotted postage fee paid for said mailpiece, and
• (ii) provides mailpiece tracking information;
• (c) scanning said mailpieces with a field reader which contains a computer to capture, in the form of a bitmap, said symbol imprinted thereon;
• (d) verifying the authenticity of said imprinted symbol using said captured symbol;
• and
• (e) verifying said tracking information using said captured symbol.

A system of dispensing postage and identifiers to mailpieces, the system comprising:

• (a) a control computer;
• (b) at least one host computer which is provided an allotment of postage by said control computer;
• (c) at least one printing system enabled by said host computer with said allotment of postage for imprinting an indicia symbol onto said mailpieces as evidence of paid postage and containing mailpiece identification data;
• (d) at least one field reader comprising a computer which is used to capture, in the form of a bitmap, said symbol imprinted thereon;
• and
• (e) means for verifying the authenticity of said symbol.