Patent ID: 9639822
Date: 2017-05-02
CPC Classifications: G06Q,G07B

Claim:
1. A method of processing a mailing label through a postal service, comprising: receiving, by a computer system associated with a postage provider, a request via the internet to generate a mailing label for mailing a mail piece or shipping a package, from a computer associated with a user having an account with the postage provider, the account being stored in a database associated with the postage provider, the account of the user being associated with a credit card of the user, a financial credential of the user, or funds held by the postage provider for the benefit of the user; causing, by the computer system associated with the postage provider, the mailing label for mailing the mail piece or shipping the package to be generated, the mailing label including a tracking mark and a postage indicium having a zero monetary value or having a fictitious monetary value, the mailing label being generated without charging the user account any real monetary value; receiving, by the computer system associated with the postage provider, an indication that the tracking mark is detected when the mail piece or the package is inducted in the mail stream or during transit of the mail piece or the package in the mail stream; creating, by the computer system associated with the postage provider, a record of a transaction for an amount of postage for mailing the mail piece or shipping the package based on the received indication that the tracking mark is detected; storing, by the computer system associated with the postage provider, the record in the database associated with the postage provider; and charging, by the computer system associated with the postage provider, the account of the user with the amount of postage for mailing the mail piece or shipping the package.