Abstract:
A method for electronic proof of induction/acceptance for manifested special service mail. The foregoing may be accomplished by having the post office notify the mailer&#39;s postage meter of the induction/acceptance of the manifested mail pieces when the post office scans the manifest and mail pieces at the beginning of the delivery process.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]     Reference is made to commonly assigned co-pending patent application Attorney Docket No. F-800 filed simultaneously herewith, entitled “Special Service Mail Electronic Uploads With Automatic Return Of Legal Proof Of Induction/Acceptance” in the names of Erik D. N. Monsen, Ronald P. Sansone and Ian A. Siveyer. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The invention relates generally to the field of mailing and, more particularly, to the field of inducting manifest mail into a mail stream.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     The United States Postal Service (hereinafter “USPS”) currently handles large volumes of normal mail, i.e., first class mail, standard mail and third class mail. However, when it comes to specialty mail, i.e., priority mail, certified mail and registered mail, the USPS uses gummed service stickers and forms to indicate and process the specialty mail. The use of gummed service stickers and completion of forms by hand is unnecessary, time-consuming, error prone and raises the expense for those receiving these services. Furthermore, the use of some services, i.e., certified mail, registered mail, and the obtaining of a certificate of mailing, requires the mailer to physically deliver the mail piece to a postal clerk at the counter of the post office.  
         [0004]     Currently the USPS is utilizing a manifest mailing system. The manifest mailing system is a postage payment system that enables the USPS to accept and verify permit imprint mailings that contain non-identical weight and/or non-identical rate pieces of the same mail class and same mail processing category. The mail pieces are prepared by the mailer according to certain standards and require a mailer prepared manifest.  
         [0005]     The mailer brings the manifest and the manifested mail pieces to a postal facility where a USPS employee checks the information on the manifest to insure that the manifest accurately represents the mail pieces being inducted into the USPS. Then the mailer pays the USPS, i.e., by check for mailing the manifested items, and the USPS employee stamps a copy of the manifest for the mailer to retain.  
         [0006]     A problem with the foregoing manifest mailing system is that there is no record of each specific mail piece that was received by the USPS. There is only a record that the USPS received a certain number of mail pieces having a certain aggregate weight.  
         [0007]     An additional problem with the foregoing is that the USPS is not open for business twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, and mailers are unable to obtain proof of mailing every hour of the day.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0008]     The present invention overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art by providing an inexpensive and time-saving method for electronic proof of induction/acceptance for manifested special service mail. The invention permits a mailer to obtain legal proof of induction/acceptance of many mail pieces without requiring the mailer to bring the mail piece to the post office. This invention also reduces the number of trips that a mailer has to make to the post office, and the time that a mailer has to wait in line at the post office counter. The foregoing may be accomplished by having a mailer prepare a manifest. The manifest lists information about individual mail pieces including the USPS special service used, a unique number that specifically identifies each mail piece, i.e., the mail piece tracking number, the destination zip code, the total number of manifested mail pieces, and a request for a certificate of induction for some or all of the mail pieces listed in the manifest, etc. The USPOS also notifies the mailer&#39;s postage meter and/or a designated web site, and/or an e-mail address of the induction/acceptance of the mail pieces when the post office scans the manifest and mail pieces at the beginning of the delivery process. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING  
       [0009]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram showing the overall flow of the method and system for providing proof of mailing a mail piece utilizing a postage meter or personal computer postage meter;  
         [0010]      FIG. 2A  is a flow chart describing an information gathering procedure at a postage meter for obtaining proof of mailing from a postage meter that uses manual recipient address entry;  
         [0011]      FIG. 2B  is a flow chart describing an information gathering procedure at the postage meter for obtaining proof of mailing that uses optical character recipient address entry;  
         [0012]      FIG. 3  is a flow chart describing the proof of mailing process with regard to a Postage By Phones data center;  
         [0013]      FIGS. 4A and 4B  are drawings of mail piece  11  of  FIG. 1  addressed to different people in greater detail;  
         [0014]      FIG. 5A  is a drawing of a certificate of induction indicating that a scanner of the post office has read unique identification code  15  on mail piece  11 , which unique identification code  15  indicates that mail piece  11  has entered the delivery process;  
         [0015]      FIG. 5B  is a drawing of a certificate of non-induction indicating that a scanner of the post office has not read unique identification code  15  on mail piece  11  indicating that mail piece  11  has not entered the delivery process;  
         [0016]      FIG. 5C  is a drawing of a certificate of induction indicating that a scanner of the post office has read manifest  100 ;  
         [0017]      FIG. 6  is a drawing of a manifest;  
         [0018]      FIG. 7  is a drawing of a plurality of mail pieces being bound by a manifest; and  
         [0019]      FIG. 8  is a drawing of a top view of a mail tray  120  containing mail pieces  11  and a manifest  50  (not shown) in pocket  121 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0020]      FIG. 1  shows a mailer  10  who is going to mail a mail piece  11 . The mailer  10  uses a postage meter  12  to pay the postage for mailing mail piece  11 . Meter  12  may be an electronic meter manufactured by Pitney Bowes Inc. of 1 Elmcroft Road, Stamford, Conn., or a personal computer postage meter system with a secure data storage device manufactured by Pitney Bowes Inc. of 1 Elmcroft Road, Stamford, Conn. An optical character recognition scanner  27  reads the recipient&#39;s address on mail piece  11 , or the user of meter  12  enters the recipient&#39;s address into meter  12 . Mail piece  11  contains a unique identification code  15 , i.e., the meter serial number and the date and time that a postal indicia was affixed to mail piece  11  (mail piece  11  is more fully described in the descriptions of  FIGS. 4A and 4B ). Unique identification code  15  may include the above with or without a United States Special Service Tracking Number  8 , which is a unique identification code that is described in the description of  FIGS. 4A-4B . Unique codes  8  and  15  may also be contained in a radio frequency identification tag. The United States Special Service Tracking Number  8  may be assigned to mailers by the USPS, created by meter  12 , placed on labels provided by the USPS, or created by meter  12  or data center  21 .  
         [0021]     Meter  12  places adequate postage on mail pieces  11  and prints a manifest  70  ( FIG. 7 ). The mailer  10  binds mail pieces  11  with manifest  70  and submits manifest  70  along with mail pieces  11  to a USPS mail pick up spot  16 . A hand-held scanner  17  may read unique manifest  70  at mail pick up spot  16 , or a scanner  18  may read manifest  70  at entry USPS facility  19 . A scanner  9  at entry postal facility  19  may read the identification codes  15  on mail pieces  11 . Facility  19  will process mail piece  11  and deliver it to the recipient&#39;s destination  20 .  
         [0022]     Meter  12  is coupled to a data processing center such as Pitney Bowes Postage By Phone data center  21 . Data center  21  contains a message sending device  22 , i.e., voice response unit, telephone, facsimile, e-mail, etc., a certificate of induction process/database  23 , and a meter link  24 . Meter  12  is coupled to messaging receiving device  25 , i.e., telephone, facsimile, e-mail. Data center  21  is also coupled to USPS data center  26 .  
         [0023]     A plurality of meters  12  may upload the unique identification code  15  that is placed on a specific mail piece  11  to meter link  24 . Meter link  24  transfers the identification codes to certificate of induction process/database  23 . From time to time, process/database  23  is used to produce a batch file from identification codes  15  that it has received from a plurality of meters  12 . The batch file is transmitted to USPS data center  26 .  
         [0024]     After scanners  17  and/or  18  read manifest  70 , the information contained in manifest  70  is sent to USPS data center  26 . Data center  26  stores the information contained in manifest  70 .  
         [0025]     After scanner  9  reads identification codes  15 , identification codes  15  are processed and transmitted to USPS data center  26 . Data center  26  stores the identification codes  15  that it receives from scanners  17  and/or  18 , and performs a matching process with the identification codes  15  that it receives from certificate of induction process/database  23 . A batch file of those matches is produced by data center  26  and is sent to process/database  23 . Then, each matched identification code  15  produces a digitally signed message that indicates the USPS has noted the entry of the mail piece  11  that has identification code  15  affixed thereto. The digitally signed message is sent to meter  12  where it is stored in the meter&#39;s non-volatile memory awaiting mailer&#39;s  10  command to print a certificate of induction  30 , which will be described in the description of  FIG. 5A , on a paper tape. Meter  12  may also print on a paper tape (not shown) a certificate of non-induction  60  which will be described in the description of  FIG. 5B . Process/data base  23  is coupled to messaging sending device  22  to provide and store a message announcing the arrival of a certificate of induction  30  being available at meter  12 . The message may also be sent to the user of meter  12  via messaging device  25 , i.e., e-mail, facsimile, telephone, etc.  
         [0026]      FIG. 2A  is a flow chart describing an information gathering procedure at a postage meter for obtaining proof of mailing, i.e., certificate of induction, from a postage meter that uses manual recipient address entry. The procedure begins in block  99  where the operator of meter  12  selects the manifest mode. Then the procedure goes to block  100  where meter  12  detects the presence of mail piece  11 . Then the procedure goes to decision block  102 . In block  102 , the mailer is asked whether or not the mailer wants the certificate of induction option, i.e., proof of mailing. If the mailer decides that the certificate of induction option is not desired, the procedure goes to block  104  where a normal postal indicium indicating payment of postage is printed on mail piece  11 . If the mailer decides that the certificate of induction option is desired, the procedure goes to block  106  where the mailer is asked to select the class of mail, i.e., first class, priority mail, express mail, etc. After the mailer selects the class of mail, the procedure goes to block  108  where the mailer selects the service level, i.e., certified mail, delivery confirmation, insured mail, registered mail, signature confirmation, etc. After the mailer enters the service level, the procedure goes to block  110  where the mailer is asked to enter the recipient&#39;s name and address and the mailer&#39;s reference number, i.e., docket number. After the mailer enters the information in block  110 , the procedure goes to decision block  112 .  
         [0027]     Decision block  112  asks the mailer if mail piece  11  is going to be mailed to a United States destination address. If block  112  determines that mail piece  11  is not going to be mailed to a United States destination address, the procedure goes to block  116  where the mailer is asked to enter the country code for the destination address of mail piece  11 . If block  112  determines that mail piece  11  is going to be mailed to a United States destination address or the mailer has entered the country code in block  116 , the procedure goes to block  114 . At block  114 , postage meter  12  validates all of the above entries provided by the mailer.  
         [0028]     After all of the entries are validated, the procedure goes to block  118 , where meter  12  computes the postage rates and service fees and stores them in a buffer of meter  12 . Now the procedure goes to block  120  to create and store a header for the record regarding mail piece  11  in a buffer of meter  12 . Then the procedure goes to block  122  and causes meter  12  to print a normal postal indicium and identification code  15  on mail piece  11 . Now the procedure goes to decision block  124 . Block  124  determines whether or not there are any more mail pieces. If block  124  determines there are additional mail pieces, the procedure goes back to the input of block  100 . If block  124  determines there are no additional mail pieces, the procedure goes to block  125  where meter  12  prints manifest  70 . Then the procedure goes to block  126 . Block  126  sends the files to data center  21 , and then the procedure goes back to block  100 .  
         [0029]      FIG. 2B  is a flow chart describing an information gathering procedure at the postage meter for obtaining proof of mailing that uses optical character recipient address entry. The procedure begins in block  199  where the operator of meter  12  selects the manifest mode. Then the procedure goes to block  200  where meter  12  and optical character recognition device  27  ( FIG. 1 ) detect the presence of mail piece  11 . Then the procedure goes to decision block  202 . In block  202 , the mailer is asked whether or not the mailer wants the certificate of induction option, i.e., proof of mailing. If the mailer decides that the certificate of induction option is not desired, the procedure goes to block  204  where a normal postal indicia indicating payment of postage is printed on mail piece  11 . If the mailer decides that the certificate of induction option is desired, the procedure goes to block  206  where the mailer is asked to select the class of mail, i.e., first class, priority mail, etc. After the mailer selects the class of mail, the procedure goes to block  208  where the mailer selects the service level, i.e., certified mail, delivery confirmation, insured mail, registered mail, signature confirmation, etc. After the mailer enters the service level, the procedure goes to block  211  where meter  12  obtains recipient&#39;s name and address and identification information by scanning the face of mail piece  11 . Then the procedure goes to decision block  212 .  
         [0030]     Decision block  212  asks the meter if mail piece  11  is going to be mailed to a United States destination address. If block  212  determines that mail piece  11  is not going to be mailed to a United States destination address, the procedure goes to block  216  where the device  27  provides the information to enter the country code for the destination address of mail piece  11 . If block  212  determines that mail piece  11  is going to be mailed to a United States destination address or the device  27  has provided the information to enter the country code in block  216 , the procedure goes to block  214 . At block  214 , postage meter  12  validates all of the above entries provided by the device  27  and meter  12 .  
         [0031]     After all of the entries are validated, the procedure goes to block  218 , where meter  12  computes the postage rates and service fees and stores them in a buffer of meter  12 . Now the procedure goes to block  220  to create and store a header for the record regarding mail piece  11  in a buffer of meter  12 . Then the procedure goes to block  222  and causes meter  12  to print a normal postal indicia and unique identification code  15  on mail piece  11 . Now the procedure goes to decision block  224 . Block  224  determines whether or not there are any more mail pieces. If block  224  determines there are additional mail pieces, the procedure goes back to the input of block  200 . If block  224  determines there are no additional mail pieces, the procedure goes to block  225  where meter  12  prints manifest  70 . Then the procedure goes to block  226 . Block  226  sends the files to data center  21 , and then the procedure goes back to block  200 .  
         [0032]      FIG. 3  is a flow chart describing the proof of mailing process with regard to Postage By Phone® data center  21 . The process begins in block  300 . In block  300 , data center  21  sorts files by entry zip code. Then, in block  302 , data center  21  creates a batch file with header. Now, in block  304 , data center  21  sends the batch file to the USPS. At this point, in block  400 , the post office adds files to “Waiting For Entry”. Now, in block  410 , the post office creates a new batch file. Then, in block  420 , the post office sorts the file by meter manufacture. Now, in block  430 , the post office sends the batch files to data center  21 . Then, in block  306 , data center  21  receives a certificate of induction update batch file from the post office. Now, in block  308 , data center  21  sorts the file by meter number and sends certificate of induction updates to both the mailer and the meter. Then, in block  310 , meter  12  stores messages and sets the message indicator of messaging device  25  indicating that a message is present. Now in block  312 , meter  12  prints certificates of induction  30  and/or certificates of non induction  60  and certificate of manifest induction  100  and then resets the message indicator to off.  
         [0033]      FIG. 4A  is a drawing of mail piece  11  of  FIG. 1  in greater detail. Mail piece  11  has a recipient address field  35 , a sender address field  36  that contains sender&#39;s name and address, and a field  37  that was printed by meter  12 . Address field  35  contains recipient name and address  38 , a postnet bar code  39 , and unique number  15  in human-readable form, i.e., the serial number of meter  12 , and the date and time meter  12  fixed indicia  41  to mail piece  11 . Field  37  contains a postal indicium  41  that has a two-dimensional bar code  42  that may be encrypted and unique identification number  15  in the form of a bar code. United States Special Service Tracking Number  8 , which is a unique identification code contains (1) a two-digit application identifier code; (2) a two-digit service type code; (3) a nine-digit D-U-N-S number; (4) an eight-digit sequence number; and (5) a one-digit check number. The application identifier code is used to denote that delivery confirmation service is required for the mail piece. The service type code is used to describe the product and service type, such as priority mail or standard mail (B). The D-U-N-S number is assigned to the mailer by the Dun &amp; Bradstreet Corporation. The mail piece sequence number is assigned by the mailer to each mail piece. The check number is used to detect errors resulting from manual data entry or errors from data transmission.  
         [0034]     Thus, meter  12 , having serial number 004346212, affixed indicia  41  to mail piece  11  on Feb. 25, 2000, at 15:05000, and the sequence number for the mail piece addressed to Mr. A. Jones is 12345670.  
         [0035]      FIG. 4B  is a drawing of mail piece  11  of  FIG. 4A  addressed to a different recipient than that addressed in  FIG. 4A . In  FIG. 4B , mail piece  11  is addressed to Mr. A. Smith of 123 Main Street, Anytown, Conn. 12345 6711. Meter  12 , having serial number 004346212, affixed indicia  41  to mail piece  11  on Feb. 25, 2000 at 15:05091, and the sequence number for the mail piece addressed to Mr. A. Smith is 12345678. Thus, 0.091 seconds elapsed between the affixing of indicia  41  to the mail piece addressed to Mr. A. Jones and the mail piece addressed to Mr. A. Smith.  
         [0036]      FIG. 5A  is a drawing of certificate of induction  30  indicating that a scanner of the post office has read unique identification code  15  on mail piece  11 , which unique identification code  15  indicates that mail piece  11  has entered the delivery process. Certificate of induction  30  contains eagle  51 , the fee for the certificate of induction  52 , an indication that it has been paid  53 , the recipient&#39;s name and address  54 , a seal (round stamp)  55  of the entering post office that indicates the date of receipt of mail piece  11 , the time  56  a scanner controlled by the post office read unique identification code  15 , the serial number  58  of meter  12  indicating that a secure message was received from meter  12 , the sender&#39;s name  57 , and the mailer&#39;s docket number  59 , which will remind the mailer to place certificate of induction in the correct file. It would be obvious to one skilled in the art that the sender&#39;s address may also be included, because the licensee&#39;s name and address of meter  12  is known to data center  21 .  
         [0037]      FIG. 5B  is a drawing of a certificate of non-induction  60  indicating that a scanner of the post office has not read unique identification code  15  on mail piece  11  indicating that mail piece  11  has not entered the delivery process. Certificate of non-induction  60  contains eagle  61 , the fee for the certificate of induction  62 , an indication  63  that the fee for the certificate of induction has been refunded to meter  12 , the recipient&#39;s name and address  64 , a seal (round stamp)  65  of the entering post office that indicates the date that meter  12  notified data center  21  that a certificate of induction is being requested for mail piece  11 , an indication  66  that a scanner controlled by the post office has not read unique identification code  15  or that there is no USPS record of reading identification code  15 , the serial number  68  of meter  12 , the sender&#39;s name  67 , and the mailer&#39;s docket number  69 , i.e., F-800, which will remind the mailer that mail piece  11  was not received by the post office, to place certificate of non-induction in the correct file, and to contact the recipient. Certificate of non-induction  60  will be prepared after a time interval determined by the post office data center  21  receives an indication that a certificate of induction was placed on mail piece  11  by meter  12 . It would be obvious to one skilled in the art that the sender&#39;s name and address may also be included because the name and address of the licensee of meter  12  is known to data center  21 .  
         [0038]      FIG. 5C  is a drawing of a certificate of manifest induction  100  indicating that a scanner of the post office has read manifest  70 . Certificate of induction  100  contains eagle  101 , the fee for the certificate of induction  102 , an indication that it has been paid  103 , the recipient&#39;s unique identification code  15 , a seal (round stamp)  105  of the entering post office that indicates the date of receipt of manifest  100 . Certificate of induction  100  also indicates the time  106  a scanner controlled by the post office reads unique identification code  15 , that certificates of induction were requested for special service  110 , and the total number of mail pieces  111 . It would be obvious to one skilled in the art that the recipient&#39;s United States Special Service Tracking Numbers  8  may also be included with recipient&#39;s unique identification code  15 .  
         [0039]      FIG. 6  is a drawing of a manifest  70 . Manifest  70  contains an indication of the meter number  71 , the sender  72 , mail pieces unique identification codes  73 , the service  74  requested, and the total number  75  of mail pieces  11  mentioned in manifest  70 . Thus, the mailer requested certificates of induction for mail pieces  11  having unique codes 00043462120225/001505000 and 00043462120225/001505090, and the mailer requested that the mail piece  11  having unique code 00043462120225/001505051 be sent by certified mail. It would be obvious to one skilled in the art that the recipient&#39;s United States Special Service Tracking Numbers  8  may also be included with recipient&#39;s unique identification code  15 .  
         [0040]      FIG. 7  is a drawing of a plurality of mail pieces  11  being bound by a manifest  70 . A rubber band  71  is used to keep mail pieces  11  together.  
         [0041]      FIG. 8  is a drawing of a top view of a mail tray  120  containing mail pieces  11  and a manifest  50  (not shown) in pocket  121 .  
         [0042]     The above specification describes a new and improved method for providing proof of mailing of manifested mail pieces. 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.