Abstract:
A method to create secure postal indicia that is fixed in two or more different mediums, i.e., printed on a mail piece with normal ink and/or invisible ink and recorded in a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag that allows the operator of a dual meter to obtain a postage refund without physically going to a Postal Service office. The foregoing is accomplished by placing a postal value and information in a dual meter archival memory, writing the postal value and information in a postal indicia and recording at the same time the postal value and information in a memory of a RFID tag. The foregoing postal value and information is uploaded to a data center.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The invention relates generally to the field of mailing systems and, more particularly, to meter refund systems.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    Governments have created postal services for collecting, sorting and distributing the mail. The postal service typically charges mailers for delivering the mail. Mailers may pay the postal service for this service by purchasing a stamp, i.e., a printed adhesive label or tape, issued by the postal service at specified prices, that is affixed to all letters, parcels or other mail matter to show prepayment of postage. Another means of payment accepted by the postal service is mail that is metered by a postage meter. Postage meters are approved by the postal service and licensed to the meter user by the meter manufacturer. A postage meter is an electromechanical device that maintains, through “electronic registers” or “postal security devices,” an account of all postage printed, and the remaining balance of prepaid postage; and prints postage postmarks (indicia) or provides postage postmarks (indicia) information to a printer, that are printed and accepted by the postal service as evidence of the prepayment of postage.  
           [0003]    Currently, mailers are able to use their desktop computer, a postal security device, and a printer to apply postage directly onto envelopes or labels while applying an address. The postage is applied in the form of an Information Based Indicia (IBI). The IBI consists of a two-dimensional bar code containing hundreds of bytes of information about the mail piece (certain human-readable, alpha numeric information). The indicia include a digital signature to preclude the forgery of indicia by unauthorized parties. The postal security device is a unique security device that provides a cryptographic digital signature to the indicia and performs the function of postage meter registers.  
           [0004]    In postage meters and computer postage systems, the need for security is absolute, because postage meters and computer postage system are printing value; and, unless security measures are taken, one would be able to print unauthorized postage, i.e., postage for which no payment is made, thereby defrauding the postal service.  
           [0005]    Unfortunately, sometimes postage meters and computer postage systems print indicia that are not useable, because the indicia was printed with insufficient ink, the indicia ink smeared, the envelope was damaged, a meter power failure, etc., and the user of the meter or computer postage system wants a refund for the postage that was paid. People also want postage refunds when they decide not to mail the mail piece, i.e., incorrect address, incorrect postage or they changed their mind, etc. To obtain a refund for the postage, the user must return the mail piece to the postal service, which is a time-consuming and labor-intensive process.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0006]    This invention overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art by utilizing a method to create secure postal indicia that is fixed in two or more different mediums, i.e., printed on a mail piece with normal ink and/or invisible ink and recorded in a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag that allows the operator of a dual meter to obtain a postage refund without physically going to a postal service office. The foregoing is accomplished by placing a postal value and information in a dual meter archival memory, writing the postal value and information in a postal indicia and recording at the same time the postal value and information in a memory of a RFID tag. The foregoing postal value and information is uploaded to a data center. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0007]    [0007]FIG. 1A is a drawing of a mail piece having a prior art digital postal indicia affixed thereto;  
         [0008]    [0008]FIG. 1B is a drawing of a mail piece having a prior art information based indicia affixed thereto;  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 2A is a drawing of a mail piece having a label with a postal meter indicia printed on the label and a radio frequency identification tag device embedded in the label that is affixed to the mail piece;  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 2B is a drawing of a mail piece having a label with a refunded postal meter indicia printed on the label and a mutilated radio frequency identification tag device embedded in the label that is affixed to the mail piece; FIGS. 3A and 3B are drawings showing the information that is being processed by radio frequency identification tag  15 ;  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a dual meter that contains an electronic postage meter, a radio frequency identification tag mutilator, and a radio frequency identification reader/writer;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 5 is a drawing showing how mail pieces are processed from mail entry office  18  of a carrier to a recipient and how data is captured and distributed; and  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 6 is a drawing of indicia tag usage data center  78 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0014]    Referring now to the drawings in detail and more particularly to FIG. 1A, the reference character  11  represents a mail piece, i.e., letter, flat, parcel, etc., that has a sender address field  12 , a recipient address field  13  and a prior art digital postal indicia  14 .  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 1B is a drawing of a mail piece  11  having a prior art information based indicia  10  affixed thereto. Mail piece  11  has a sender address field  12  and a recipient address field  13 .  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 2A is a drawing of a mail piece having a label  17  with a postal meter indicia  10  printed on label  17  and an electronic device, i.e., a radio frequency identification tag device  15  embedded in the label that is affixed to the mail piece. Mail piece  11  has a sender address field  12 , a recipient address field  13 , and a radio frequency identification tag  15  that contains specified information. Postal indicia  14  may be a digital postal indicia or a permit indicia. Information based indicia  10  may be substituted for indicia  14 . It would be obvious to one skilled in the art that indicia  10  or  14  may be directly printed on mail piece  11  and tag  15  affixed to mail piece  11  by an adhesive. An invisible ink that may be viewed with an ultraviolet light source such as a red fluorescent or blue fluorescent ink, etc., may be used to print indicia  10  or indicia  14 . Radio frequency identification (RFID) tag  15  may be the 4×6 RFID Smart Label Philips manufactured by RAFEC USA of 999 Oakmont Plaza Drive, Suite 200, Westmont, Ill. 60559. The information contained in tag  15  is a unique sequenced identification number that is placed in tag  15  in the factory during the manufacture of tag  15 , a number generated by the dual meter using the unique sequenced identification number, the meter number, the date indicia  10  or  14  was affixed to mail piece  11 , the time indicia  10  or  14  was affixed to mail piece  11 , an entry post office zip code, a 12 digit numeric field contained in the postal indicia, etc.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 2B is a drawing of a mail piece having a label  17  with a postal meter indicia  10  printed on label  17  and an electronic device, i.e., a radio frequency identification tag device  15  embedded in the label that is affixed to the mail piece. Mail piece  11  has a sender address field  12 , a recipient address field  13 , and a radio frequency identification tag  15  that contains specified information. Postal indicia  14  may be a digital postal indicia or a permit indicia. Information based indicia  10  may be substituted for indicia  14 . It would be obvious to one skilled in the art that indicia  10  or  14  may be directly printed on mail piece  11  and tag  15  affixed to mail piece  11  by an adhesive. An invisible ink that may be viewed with an ultraviolet light source, such as a red fluorescent or blue fluorescent ink, etc., may be used to print indicia  10  or indicia  14 . The information contained in nonvolatile memory  152  of tag  15  is a unique sequenced identification number that is placed in tag  15  at the factory during the manufacture of tag  15 , a number generated by the dual meter using the unique sequenced identification number, the meter number, the date indicia  10  or  14  was affixed to mail piece  11 , the time indicia  10  or  14  was affixed to mail piece  11 , an entry post office zip code, a 12 digit numeric field contained in the postal indicia, etc.  
         [0018]    When a refund of postage is given for mail piece  11 , a star  153  is punched in nonvolatile memory  152  to destroy the information contained in nonvolatile memory  152 , and a refunded mark  154  is printed on label  17 .  
         [0019]    [0019]FIGS. 3A and 3B are drawings showing the information that is being processed by radio frequency identification tag  15 . Box  110  illustrates that during the manufacture of tag  15 , a unique sequenced identification number is stored in each memory of tag  15 . Then in box  111 , when tag  15  is sold, the identification numbers stored in the memories  152  of tag  15  are read and linked to the buyer&#39;s meter number and archived in the meter provider&#39;s database  90 . The unique sequenced identification number may be 00000012345678922, which is written into the memory  152  of tag  15  of label  17 .  
         [0020]    Now, in box  112  during usage of the dual meter, a “new” meter-based encryption/write process replaces the unique sequenced identification number by combining it mathematically with a unique resident internal dual meter numeric parameter, storing it in the memory  152  of tag  15  of label  17  during the ink-based indicia printing sequence of the dual meter. A number, i.e., 1, may be added to the unique sequenced identification number to obtain a processed unique sequenced identification number. Thus, the processed unique sequenced identification number will be 00000012345678923. It would be obvious to one skilled in the art that a unique sequenced identification number may be changed to a processed unique sequenced identification number by performing some mathematical function on the unique sequenced identification number, i.e., addition, subtraction, division, multiplication, etc. The data center may also control the changing of a unique sequenced identification number to a processed unique sequenced identification number by encrypting a unique sequenced identification number using a downloaded and updateable encryption key. The meter number, the date indicia  10  or  14  was affixed to mail piece  11 , the time indicia  10  or  14  was affixed to mail piece  11 , an entry post office zip code, a 12-digit numeric field contained in the postal indicia, etc., are also written into nonvolatile memory  152 .  
         [0021]    Then in box  114 , upon request by the user of dual meter  49 , dual meter  49  is switched to the metered indicia refund mode by the placing of a mail piece  11  containing a label  17  in tape/mail piece feed module  148  (FIG. 4).  
         [0022]    [0022]FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a dual meter  49  that contains electronic postage meter  50 , a radio frequency identification reader/writer  51 , tape/mail piece feed module  148 , OCR reader  149 , hole punch  150 , and a tape attach module  9 . Postage meter  50  may be the B700 Post Perfect postage meter manufactured by Pitney Bowes Inc. of Stamford, Conn.  
         [0023]    Metering controller  52  functions as a meter controller for postage meter  50  and a controller for radio frequency identification reader/writer  51 . Controller  52  is coupled to last tag identification value buffer  57 , comparator  58 , current read tag buffer  59 , radio frequency identification read nonvolatile memory buffer  60 , radio frequency identification encode/decode routines  61 , radio frequency identification read, erase and record routine  2 , issued tag data registers nonvolatile memory  140 , refunded postage tag data registers nonvolatile memory  141 , OCR reader  149 , and refund data comparator  155 . Comparator  58  is coupled to last tag identification buffer  57  and current tag read buffer  59 . Buffer  59  is coupled to radio frequency identification read module  76 , and radio frequency identification encode/decode routines  61  is coupled to radio frequency identification read, erase and record routine  2 . Routines  2  are also coupled to radio frequency identification read/erase/record module  77 .  
         [0024]    Electronic meter  50  includes meter routines  53 , modem  54 , indicia image routines read only memory  55 , clock calendar nonvolatile memory registers and battery  56 , I/O routines  7 , I/O ports keyboard and display  8 , buffer memory  9  and compose and print indicia image data fields  65  and hole punch  150 . Controller  52  is coupled to modem  54 , I/O routines  7 , meter routines  53 , I/O port keyboard and display  8 , clock calendar nonvolatile memory registers and battery  56 , indicia images  55  and hole punch  150 . Compose and print indicia  65  is coupled to meter indicia print module  73  and controller  52 .  
         [0025]    Meter  50  begins to function when a user  70  sets the postage dollar amount by weighing mail piece  11  (FIG. 1) on scale  71  and enters the type of service for mail piece  11  into I/O ports, keyboard and display  8  of meter  50 . The weight and amount of postage for mail piece  11  is displayed by display  8 . Controller  52  will compose an image of indicia  10 ,  14  (FIGS. 1, 2) using the fixed graphic indicia images from indicia images ROM  55  and compose and print indicia images and data field  65 . The above image will be stored in buffer memory  9 . Buffer memory  9  will provide the above image to meter controller  52 .  
         [0026]    Meter routines  53  will handle the accounting functions of meter  50 . Routines  53  are not being described, because one skilled in the art is aware of their operation and function. Clock calendar nonvolatile memory registers and battery  56  will transmit the date and time to controller  52 .  
         [0027]    Modem  54  may communicate with meter data upload data center  72  during a refill of postage meter  50  by exchanging funds. User  70  of dual meter  49  communicates with I/O ports keyboard display  8 . Postal scale  71  is coupled to I/O ports keyboard display  58  and is used to determine the weight of mail piece  11 . Meter data upload data center  72  is coupled to usage data center  78 . Office  18  receives mail that has been processed by dual meter  49 . Mail flows from office  18  to destination delivery office  85  (currently the USPS has approximately 35,000 mail entry and destination offices). Data center  78  is coupled to mail entry office  18 . The images and data fields of indicias  10  and  14  will be transmitted from compose and print indicia  65  to meter indicia print module  73 .  
         [0028]    Comparator  58  will compare the last tag identification value stored in buffer  57  with the value read by module  76 . If comparator  58  determines that the above values are not the same, then tag  15  is a new tag.  
         [0029]    Radio frequency identification read buffer  60  is a nonvolatile memory that is used to store the information that is read from tag  15  in case of a power failure, and radio frequency identification encode/decode routines  61  are used to decode the information read from tag  15  and encode data that is going to be recorded in tag  15 . Radio frequency identification read, erase and record routine  2  are used to read, erase and record information into tag  15 . Issued tag data registers nonvolatile memory  140  stores the information recorded in tag  15 , which is uploaded to data center  78  via data center  72 .  
         [0030]    Tape and feed module  148  contains a stack of labels  105  that include tag  15 . Label  17  (FIG. 2B) is transported past radio frequency identification read module  76 . Module  76  is positioned in a manner that it will be able to read the information recorded in tags  15  so that module  76  will be able to determine whether or not information has been previously recorded into tag  15 . Then label  17  will be transported to module  77  where information will be read, erased and recorded on tag  15 . Then label  17  will be transported to paper tape attach module  49 . After information is recorded or re-recorded on tag  15 , label  17  will be positioned adjacent module  73  so that indicias  10  or  14  may be printed on label  17 . Module  49  will affix label  17  to mail piece  11  (FIGS. 1, 2).  
         [0031]    When postage meter  50  prints an indicia that is not useable, because the indicia was printed with insufficient ink, the indicia ink smeared, the envelope was damaged, a meter power failure, etc., or the user of the meter wants a refund for the postage that was paid, because they decided not to mail the mail piece, the user obtains a refund through dual meter  49 . The foregoing is accomplished by having the user of dual meter  49  insert the mail piece  11  for which a refund is being requested in tape/mail piece feed module  148 . Module  148  will transport mail piece  11  with tag  15  attached to label  17  past radio frequency identification read module  76 . Module  76  is positioned in a manner that it will be able to read the information recorded in tags  15  so that module  76  will be able to determine whether or not information has been previously recorded into tag  15 . Then label  17  will be transported to module  77  where information will be read, erased and recorded on tag  15 . OCR reader  149  will read the information printed in indicia  10  or  14 . Now comparator  155  will compare the information recorded in tag  15  with the information read from indicia  10  or  14 . If the aforementioned information matches and the processed unique sequenced identification number are found in issued tag data register  140 , then the value of the refund, i.e., amount of postage, will be stored in refunded postage tag data registers nonvolatile memory  141  for upload to data center  72 . Data center  72  will credit dual meter  49  for the amount of refunded postage. If comparator  155  does not find a match, a refund will not be given. Punch  150  will punch a hole in tag  15  to mutilate and destroy tag  15  so that tag  15  may not be reused.  
         [0032]    [0032]FIG. 5 is a drawing showing how mail is processed from mail entry office  18  of a carrier to a recipient&#39;s mail box  84  and how data is captured and distributed. Mail piece  11  that is produced by dual meter  49  enters mail entry office  18  where it is sorted by mail sorter  30 . The processed unique sequenced identification number is transmitted to data center  78 . The unique sequenced identification number stored in tag  15  at the factory may also be transmitted to data center  78 . Data center  78  receives information from mail entry office  18  and meter data center  72 , which receives indicia and tag  15  data, i.e., processed unique sequenced identification numbers from meter  49  and/or unique sequenced identification numbers and processed unique sequenced identification numbers from meter  49  and postal values contained in tag  15  and indicia  10  or  14 .  
         [0033]    Data center  78  will be more fully described in the description of FIG. 6. Postal inspection service data center  80  is coupled to data center  78  and postal destination office  85 . Data center  78  prepares reports that indicate the usage of tags  15  and returned postage for tags  15 .  
         [0034]    Data center  80  may inform postal destination office  85  of the mail pieces  11  that they want to hold in bin  83 . Data center  80  may investigate and/or arrest people who are generating and/or copying fraudulent tags  15 . Mail sorter  82  sorts the mail to allow mail piece  11  to be delivered to mail box  84 . Data center  80  accepts reports from postal destination office  85  and postal destination office  85  receives mail pieces from mail entry office  18 .  
         [0035]    [0035]FIG. 6 is a drawing of indicia tag usage data center  78 . Data center  78  includes master meter tag stock archive database  90 , which is coupled to search engine  93  which is coupled to exception database  94  which is coupled to report engine  96 , which is coupled to postal inspection service data center  80 . Indicia usage database  91  is coupled to search engine  93 , meter data center  72  and to entry indicia data  92 , which is coupled to mail entry office  18 . Refunded indicia database  151  is coupled to search engine  93 .  
         [0036]    Postal inspection service data center  80  is coupled to search engine  93 , reports engine  96  and main entry office  18 . Mail entry office  18  is coupled to entry indicia data  92 .  
         [0037]    Master meter tag stock archive database  90  contains an archived list of the unique sequenced identification numbers stored in the memory of each tag  15 , that is linked to the tag buyer&#39;s meter number. Indicia usage database  91  receives the identity of dual meter  49 , the activity of dual meter  49  and the refunds from data center  72 . Entry indicia data  92  receives the information read from tag  15  (FIGS. 1, 2) from mail entry office  18 . When search engine  93  is activated, engine  93  reads databases  91  and  92  for mail pieces  11  and examines database  90  for matches, i.e., the information stored in archive  90  should match the information buffered in indicia usage data  91  and entry indicia data  92 . In other words, are the unique sequenced identification numbers and the processed unique sequenced identification numbers stored in the memory of tags  15  archived in database  90 ? When a match is found, the records of archive database  90  record this fact. If a match is not found, an exception is created and stored in exception database  94 . If more than one match is detected, one or more copies have been detected, which are stored in exception database  94 . Search engine  93  will search indicia usage database  91  and refunded indicia database  151  for duplicate requests for refunds.  
         [0038]    Report engine  96  sends reports to data center  80 . The aforementioned reports may contain information regarding the suspicious usage of tags  15 , i.e., the tags  15  that have the same processed unique sequenced identification numbers and/or the tags  15  that do not have a processed unique sequenced identification number or unique sequenced identification number stored in archived database  90  and tags  15  that have identification numbers that are not associated with a dual meter  49  and tags  15  for which a refund has been previously requested.  
         [0039]    The above specification describes a new and improved method for obtaining refunds from a meter that produces dual postal indicia. It is realized that the above description may indicate to those skilled in the art additional ways in which the principles of this invention may be used without departing from the spirit. Therefore, it is intended that this invention be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.