Patent ID: 6044405
Filing Date: 2000-03-28
Classification: H04L

Abstract:
A method for conveying a document in an electronic domain from a sender via a service network to a recipient at a location geographically remote from the sender, comprising:initiating a transmission by transporting a document from a sender to a primary hub of a service network, said primary hub being more geographically proximate to the sender than to a recipient;associating an electronic invoice with the document, said electronic invoice containing: (i) document identification indicia uniquely identifying the document; and (ii) attribute indicia identifying a characteristic attribute related to a fee for transmission of the document to the receiver, wherein the fee is determinable, based on the attribute information, before the transmission is complete;electronically transmitting the document on the service network from the primary hub to a secondary hub of the service network, said secondary hub located more geographically proximate to the recipient than to the sender;transporting the document from the secondary hub to the recipient, thereby to complete the transmission; andusing the attribute indicia of the electronic invoice to determine the fee based on said characteristic attribute.