Patent ID: 7251608
Filing Date: 2007-07-31
Classification: G07B

Abstract:
1. A delivery service, comprising: a first mail system configured to receive a mail piece addressed to an entity and including postage indicia indicating an initial value, determine a cost for delivering the mail piece to the entity, modify the postage indicia to indicate a remaining value wherein the remaining value indicates the initial value reduced by the cost for delivering the mail piece, and transfer the mail piece; and a second mail system configured to receive the postage indicia indicating the remaining value, process the postage indicia to determine the remaining value of the postage indicia, and indicate the remaining value of the postage indicia wherein the postage indicia with the remaining value is a negotiable instrument configured to allow multiple people to electronically negotiate and trade the postage indicia between each other before the postage indicia is redeemed electronically, by crediting a valid account with the remaining value of the postage indicia.