Abstract:
An intelligent label for dynamically displaying an information bearing indicium. The label includes a microprocessor coupled to communications circuitry, a display and a storage device. The storage device stores instructions that are executed by the microprocessor to receive through the communications circuitry a request for location information, to send through the communications circuitry location information in response to the request, to receive information based upon a computed postage amount, and to show on the label display an information bearing indicium based upon the computed postage amount.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The disclosed embodiments relate to a postal service system that includes a label with communication and display capabilities. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF RELATED DEVELOPMENTS 
     A high volume postal customer may use a meter which incorporates a Postal Security Device (PSD) to secure the proof of payment of postal indicia. In an exemplary application, indicia may be applied to mailing items that identifies the value of the postage applied and other information. A customer may purchase postage and the purchased value may be stored in the PSD. As the postage indicia is applied to items, the value applied may be deducted from the stored value. Once postage indicia is applied, the item may then be dropped into the collection stream of the particular postal system and subsequently processed for delivery. 
     In various countries, for example the United States, postal meters may communicate with a remote data center to exchange information related to customer usage and funding for billing purposes and to have postage funds replenished. In the United States, a postal customer generally may add postage to the meter in two ways. The first is to physically take the meter to the postal authority, generally referred to herein as “the post,” where postage is purchased and added to the PSD. The second is to remotely add postage over a network, for example, a telephone line with a modem, or the Internet, where the added postage is deducted from an account usually maintained with a meter vendor or a trusted third party administrator, for example, a financial institution. In this case, customer or postal authority access to a meter&#39;s accounting system or memory system generally is not possible. Meters with this type of communication capability may initiate communication with a host computer to add funds or to reestablish authenticity. A communication cycle may be initiated automatically, or by a user of the meter. 
     Generally a mail piece includes a label that is printed with address information and indicia indicating that postage for the mail piece has been paid. It would be advantageous to provide an intelligent label that is capable of downloading and displaying information that does not require the address and indicia to be determined until it is convenient for the sender. 
     SUMMARY OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
     In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, a system for dynamically providing labeling information includes a meter with a communications port, and a label operable to receive and display address and indicia information from the meter. 
     In accordance with another exemplary embodiment, a label for dynamically providing labeling information includes a microprocessor, communication circuitry connected to the microprocessor and a display connected to the microprocessor. The communication circuitry is operable to transmit and receive information to and from a postage meter. The display is operable to display address and indicia information received from the postage meter. 
     In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, a postage meter for dynamically providing labeling information includes a microprocessor and a communications port connected to the microprocessor. The communications port effecting communication with a label and a data center. The postage meter is configured to dynamically provide indicia services to the label through the communications port. 
     In accordance with another exemplary embodiment, a data center includes a server and communications circuitry connected to the server for communicating with a postage meter. The data center is configured to receive delivery confirmation of a mail piece from the postage meter based on location information transmitted by a label. 
     In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, a method for dynamically providing labeling information includes identifying, with a postage meter, any labels connected to a network, the labels being operable to transmit and receive information. The method also includes the postage meter interrogating a label to obtain a location of the label, the postage meter computing an amount of postage based on the location of the label and a destination address associated with the label, sending postage indicium information containing at least the address that is to be displayed on the label, from the postage meter to the label and displaying the postage indicium information on a display of the label. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The foregoing aspects and other features of the disclosed embodiments are explained in the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  shows a block diagram of a system suitable for practicing the disclosed embodiments; 
         FIG. 2  shows a block diagram of meter according to the disclosed embodiments; 
         FIG. 3  shows a diagram of a label with display and communication capabilities according to the disclosed embodiments; 
         FIG. 4  shows a diagram of a postage infrastructure data center; and 
         FIG. 5  shows a flow diagram in accordance with a method of an exemplary embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       FIG. 1  shows a block diagram of a system  100  suitable for practicing the disclosed embodiments disclosed herein. Although the disclosed embodiments will be described with reference to the embodiment shown in the drawings, it should be understood that the disclosed embodiments can be embodied in many alternate forms of embodiments. In addition, any suitable size, shape or type of elements or materials could be used. 
     System  100  includes one or more labels  110   1  . . .  110   n  that communicate with a funding device, shown in  FIG. 1  as a meter  115  through a first network  120 . System  100  also includes a postal infrastructure data center  130  connected to the meter  115  through a second network  125 . 
     It is a feature of the disclosed embodiments for the one or more labels to  110   1  . . .  110   n  to communicate with meter  115  to receive address and indicia information. For example, one or more of the labels  110  may be applied to a number of packages. A user may enter or obtain address information through meter  115  for a particular package. The meter  115  may initiate communication with a particular label attached to the package and download information to be displayed on the label, for example, address and indicia information. 
     As another example, when a particular package with one of the exemplary labels is introduced or about to be introduced into a mail stream, the label may initiate communication with the meter and request address and indicia information to be displayed. Communications between the labels  110   1  . . .  110   n  and the meter  115  may be wireless. 
       FIG. 2  shows a general block diagram of meter  115 . Meter  115  may include a communications port  117  and a microprocessor  118  for performing electronic accounting functions, control functions, and franking functions according to programs stored in a storage device  119 . Some of these functions or subsets of these functions may be grouped within a secure perimeter as what is commonly referred to as a Postal Security Device (PSD). 
     Storage device  119  generally stores machine readable program code which is adapted to cause microprocessor  118  to perform the functions of the disclosed embodiments. Storage device  119  may utilize optical, magnetic, semiconductor, electronic, or other types of suitable devices to store the program code. 
     Microprocessor  118  typically performs the electronic accounting functions in relation to franking items. Data associated with the accounting functions may include an accumulated total value of credit entered into the PSD, an accumulated total value of charges dispensed by the PSD by franking items, a count of the number of items franked, and a count of the number of items franked with a charge in excess of a predetermined value. The accumulated total value of credit may be stored in an ascending credit register  160 , the accumulated total value of postage charges dispensed may be stored in a descending register  165 , and the count of items may be stored in an items count register  170 . The various registers may be located in storage device  119 . 
     The franking functions performed by microprocessor  118  typically include providing labels  110   1  . . .  110   n  with address information, indicia information and other information, and reporting the number of items, value marked and other parameters to the accounting functions. Such address information, indicia information and other information are referred to herein as indicia services. 
     The meter  115  may also provide indicia services locally utilizing a printer  140  and may be capable of franking a label, directly franking a mail piece, or franking any other suitable substrate. Meter  115  may be capable of printing stamps, barcodes, addresses, planet codes, images, text, indicia, logos, graphics, or any other printable item in any desired order. 
     The control functions performed by microprocessor  118  may include utilizing communications port  117  to communicate with and provide indicia services to the one or more labels  110   1  . . .  110   n . Communications port  117  generally includes an antenna  190  and support circuitry  195  or other signaling devices  200  for communicating with the labels  110   1  . . .  110   n . The signaling devices  200  may utilize first network  120  to provide an air interface, a wired interface, a wireless interface, or an electrical, electromagnetic, radio, infrared, or other suitable facility for communicating with labels  110   1  . . .  110   n . The support circuitry  195  may also include location determining circuitry, for example, a GPS facility for determining the location of the meter  115 . 
     The control functions may further include utilizing communications port  117  for communication with the postal infrastructure data center  130  through the second communication network  125 . The antenna  190  and support circuitry  195 , as well as the other signaling devices  200  may support such communication in a manner similar to the communication provided with labels  110   1  . . .  110   n  through first network  120 . 
     The provision of indicia services is performed by microprocessor  118  under the control of programs located in storage device  119 . 
     As another feature of the disclosed embodiments, meter  115  may identify that one or more of the labels  110   1  . . .  110   n  is capable of communicating with meter  115 . For example, meter  115  may attempt to identify any labels  110   1  . . .  110   n  connected to network  120 , for example by polling network addresses or other identification techniques (Block  501 ,  FIG. 5 ). Meter  115  may also attempt to identify labels by broadcasting a paging signal or other type of signal that requests a response. 
     First network  120  may include any suitable communications network, for example, the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), a wireless network, a wired network, a Local Area Network (LAN), a Wide Area Network (WAN), virtual private network (VPN), air interface, etc. The air interface may include any suitable wireless communication protocol or signaling techniques or standards, for example TDMA, CDMA, IEEE 802.11, Bluetooth, close range RF, optical, any appropriate satellite communication standards, etc. 
     After a connection has been established, one or more of the labels  110   1  . . .  110   n  may utilize meter  115  for indicia services. As mentioned above, the meter  115  generally provides a label with address and indicia information for display by the label  110 . 
     These functions and selections may include purchasing postage, purchasing admission to one or more events, purchasing merchandise or services, or otherwise producing indicia that has value. 
     As another feature of the disclosed embodiments, meter  115  may have the capability to access the postal infrastructure data center  130  to download updates or additional service capability as desired. For example, meter  115  may access the postal infrastructure data center  130  to provide delivery confirmation for specific mail pieces. 
     Returning to  FIG. 1 , as mentioned above, meter  115  communicates with the postal infrastructure data center  130  through the second communication network  125 . Second communication network  125  may include any suitable communications network, for example, the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), a wireless network, a wired network, a Local Area Network (LAN), a Wide Area Network (WAN), virtual private network (VPN), an air interface, etc. The air interface may include any suitable wireless communication protocols or signaling techniques or standards, for example TDMA, ODMA, IEEE 802.11, Bluetooth, close range RF, optical, any appropriate satellite communication standards, etc. In one embodiment, the first communication network  120  may be the same as the second communication network  125 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , the postal infrastructure data center  130  may generally include a server  400 , several data bases  410 ,  415 ,  420 , a power facility  425 , for example, a power distribution network, and communication circuitry  430 . Communication circuitry  430  may include an antenna  440  and other circuitry and devices  435  for communication with meter  115  through the second network  125 . 
     In other embodiments, devices  435  may include suitable circuitry, programs, transmitters and receivers for any appropriate type of wireless communication utilizing radio frequency (RF), infrared (IR), optical, acoustical, any type of electromagnetic based technology, or any other type of wireless communication. The postal infrastructure data center  130  may also include a user interface facility  445  which may provide local users with access to postal infrastructure data center services. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , the label  110  may generally include a microprocessor  300 , on-board memory  310 , an analog to digital converter  315 , a real time clock interrupt controller  320 , a power source  325 , for example, a battery, and communication circuitry  330 . Communication circuitry  330  may include an antenna  345  and other circuitry and devices  340  for wireless communication with meter  115 . In other embodiments, devices  340  may include suitable circuitry, programs, transmitters and receivers for any appropriate type of wireless communication utilizing radio frequency (RF), infrared (IR), optical, acoustical, any type of electromagnetic based technology, or any other type of wireless communication. The devices  340  may also include location determining circuitry, for example a GPS facility, for determining the location of the label  110 . 
     The microprocessor  300  may operate under the control of programs found in the on board memory  310 . The on board memory  310  may provide storage information associated with the operation of the label  110 . The on board memory  310  may be configured as a non-volatile memory which retains its contents in the event of a power loss. 
     The label  110  generally includes a user interface  335  that may include an input device  355 , for example a button, keypad, or other input device, and a display  360  which may utilize liquid crystal, plasma, or any other appropriate display technology. The label  110  is generally able to display postage, ticket allowing admission to one or more events, stamps, barcodes, addresses, planet codes, images, text, indicia, logos, graphics, or any other displayable item, either alone or in combination. 
     As another feature of the disclosed embodiments, meter  115  may download indicia information specific to a location from which a mail piece bearing the label  110  is to be placed into a postal service collection point. 
     In this aspect of the disclosed embodiments, when communication is established between the label  100  and the meter  115 , the meter may interrogate the label as to its location, for example by requesting location information from devices  340  (Block  502 ,  FIG. 5 ). Upon receiving the location information, meter may compute indicia information or postage based on the address that is to be displayed on the label and the present location of the label and download the information to the label to be displayed (Blocks  503 - 505 ,  FIG. 5 ). 
     For example, a user in the vicinity of a postal service collection point may operate the user interface to indicate that a mail piece bearing the label  110  is about to be deposited in a mail stream. A connection is established between the label  110  and the meter  115  as described above. The meter determines the location of the label  110  and then may determine which post office or postal system services that location, and may provide appropriate indicia information to the label  110 . 
     It should be understood that the foregoing description is only illustrative of the disclosed embodiments. Various alternatives and modifications can be devised by those skilled in the art without departing from the disclosed embodiments. Accordingly, the disclosed embodiments is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variances which fall within the scope of the appended claims.