Patent ID: 6282525
Filing Date: 2001-08-28
Classification: G07B

Abstract:
A method for data processing in a mail shipping system having a postage meter device with a transport path leading thereto, comprising the steps of:printing out a document having an address field and a mark thereon identifying a carrier to be used for shipping of said document;causing said document to enter into said transport path of said postage meter device and detecting a presence of said document in said transport path;upon detection of said document in said transport path, scanning said address field and said mark and automatically entering information corresponding to the carrier identified in said address field and mark into said postage meter device;entering and non-volatilely storing setting data into said postage meter device for generating a plurality of carrier-specific print formats respectively for said plurality of carriers, and automatically calling a stored print format for the carrier identified in said address field and mark of said document;allocating a predetermined carrier identifier uniquely to each carrier and, for inspection or modification of a print format, entering a carrier identifier into said postage meter device;conducting an accounting in said postage meter device by modifying an account, accessible by said postage meter device, uniquely related to the carrier identified in said address field and mark by an amount corresponding to a cost of shipping said document using the carrier identified from said mark; andproducing a franking imprint on said document after conducting said accounting using said carrier-specific print format for the carrier identified from said mark.