Restricted printing of postage with layout constraints in a browser
AssigneeStamps.com Inc.
InventorGeoffrey C. Begen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention is directed to systems and methods which restrict the use of Value Bearing Indicia (VBI) such that a general purpose interface application can be used to securely and/or precisely print VBI. A method and/or system of embodiments of the invention, includes a general purpose interface application being operated on a general purpose processor to request VBI, and in response to that request, receiving a content object comprising both the VBI and defined parameters which are controlled such that the general purpose interface application's use of the VBI is restricted.
Claims25
A method comprising:
- using a general purpose processor based system to request purchase of value bearing indicia via a general purpose browser;
- receiving, from a server in response to said purchase request, a content object comprising at least one content object parameter and a purchased value bearing indicia, wherein content object parameters restrict a use of said purchased value bearing indicia by said general purpose processor based system, wherein said restricting said use comprises preventing said general purpose browser from adding headers or footers when printing said purchased value bearing indicia, and wherein all printing options associated with the value bearing indicia are defined before the general purpose browser receives the content object;
- and
- using said content object to print, by a printer, said purchased value bearing indicia in accordance with said at least one content object parameter.
A computer program product having computer executable code stored on a non-transitory computer readable medium, said computer program product comprising:
- code for receiving a purchase request at a website for value bearing indicia from a general purpose browser operating on a general purpose processor based system;
- code for restricting use of said purchased value bearing indicia by said general purpose processor based system, wherein said code for restricting comprises:
- code for defining at least one content object parameter, wherein content object parameters restrict use of said purchased value bearing indicia by said general purpose processor based system, wherein said defined parameters prevent at least headers or footers from being added to said purchased value bearing indicia, wherein said at least one content object parameter prevents said general purpose processor based system from defining a printing option associated with the value bearing indicia after the general purpose browser receives the content object, and wherein all printing options associated with the value bearing indicia are defined before the general purpose browser receives the content object;
- code for creating a content object comprising said at least one content object parameter and said purchased value bearing indicia;
- and
- code for sending said content object to said general purpose processor based system using said content object to print, by a printer, said purchased value bearing indicia in accordance with said at least one content object parameter.
A system comprising:
- a content object comprising purchased value based indicia and at least one handler for communication between a webpage and said content object, wherein said content object further comprises content object parameters, wherein said webpage uses said at least one handler to define at least one of said content object parameters, and wherein said defined content object parameters restrict use of said content object;
- a general purpose processor based system operable to access said webpage, wherein a general purpose browser operating on said general purpose processor based system receives, from said webpage, said content object, wherein said general purpose processor based system is further operable to print, by a printer, said purchased value based indicia according to said defined content object parameters, wherein said restricting use of said content object comprises preventing headers or footers from being added when printing said purchased value bearing indicia, and wherein all printing options associated with the value bearing indicia are defined before the general purpose browser receives the content object.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.