Patent ID: 7613661
Filing Date: 2009-11-03
Classification: G07B

Abstract:
1. A method of detecting possible duplicate printing of postal indicia by a mail processing system, comprising: receiving image data for printing a current postal indicium; determining, by a processing device, from said image data a number of pixels that will be printed in a defined zone of said current postal indicium; obtaining stored pixel count data, said stored pixel count data including one or more stored pixel counts, each of said stored pixel counts representing a number of pixels that were printed in the defined zone of a prior postal indicium previously printed by said mail processing system; determining whether said number of pixels equals any one of said stored pixel counts; initiating one or more fraud prevention actions if it is determined that said number of pixels equals any one of said stored pixel counts; and printing said current postal indicium based upon said image data if it is determined that said number of pixels does not equal any one of said stored pixel counts.