Patent ID: 6226626
Filing Date: 2001-05-01
Classification: G07B

Abstract:
A method for data processing in a shipping system for separate pieces of mail, said method comprising the steps of:(a) providing a postage meter device having a transport path by which pieces of mail are transported to said postage meter machine, each piece of mail comprising a container containing at least one item and each piece of mail having an information-containing mark printed thereon;(b) detecting a piece of mail, as a detected piece of mail, in said transport path;(c) scanning the mark of the detected piece of mail in said transport path;(d) using the information in the mark of the detected piece of mail, identifying an item count equal to a number of items contained in the detected piece of mail;(e) providing data from which a weight associated with shipping said detected piece of mail is derivable;(f) calculating a calculated weight associated with shipping said detected piece of mail from said data;(g) making said calculated weight available to said postage meter device and calculating in said postage meter device a fee for shipping said detected piece of mail based on said calculated weight; and(h) conducting an accounting for charging said fee, and generating print data in said postage meter device including said fee and supplying said print data to said print head printing a franking imprint on said detected piece of mail incorporating a printed representation of said fee.