Abstract:
A processor based postage metering system includes structure for entering user input data including first and second fold configurations selected from a plurality of fold configurations; apparatus for accounting for postage dispensed by the processor based postage metering system; a document program running on the processor based postage metering system, the document program operable for controlling creation of a document based on the user input data; apparatus for automatically determining based on the first fold configuration a first designated location within the document for printing a first evidence of postage; structure for automatically determining based on the second fold configuration a second designated location within the document for printing a second evidence of postage; and apparatus for printing the document and the first and second evidences of postage such that the first and second evidences of postage are respectively printed in the first and second designated locations of the document.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates generally to value printing systems and, more particularly, to postage metering systems which dynamically determine the printing location of postage indicia on a document. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Since the issuance of U.S. Pat. No. 1,530,852 to Arthur H. Pitney, the postage meter has evolved from completely mechanical postage meters to meters that incorporate extensive use of electronic components. Although postage meters have performed satisfactorily in the past, and continue to perform satisfactorily, with the advancement in computer controlled digital printing technology the United States Postal Service (USPS) and other Posts are considering requirements for new technology metering devices. 
   The USPS is presently considering requirements for two metering device types: closed systems and open systems. In a closed system, the system functionality is solely dedicated to metering activity. Examples of closed system metering devices, also referred to as postage evidencing devices (PEDs), include conventional digital and analog postage meters wherein a dedicated printer is securely coupled to a metering or accounting function. In a closed system, since the printer is securely coupled and dedicated to the meter, printing cannot take place without accounting. Recently, Pitney Bowes Inc. has introduced the PostPerfect® and Personal Post Office™ meters which are new closed system metering devices that include a dedicated digital printer securely coupled to a secure accounting module. 
   In an open system, the printer is not dedicated to the metering activity thereby freeing system functionality for multiple and diverse uses in addition to the metering activity. Examples of open system metering devices include personal computer (PC) based devices with single/multi-tasking operating systems, multi-user applications and digital printers. An open system metering device is a PED with a non-dedicated printer that is not securely coupled to a secure accounting module. Examples of PC based open metering systems are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,781,438 and 5,801,944 which are each incorporated herein by reference. 
   When a PED prints a postage indicia on a mailpiece, the accounting register within the PED must always reflect that the printing has occurred. Postal authorities generally require the accounting information to be stored within the postage meter in a secure manner with security features that prevent unauthorized and unaccounted for postage printing or changes in the amounts of postal funds stored in the meter. In a closed system, the meter and printer are integral units, i.e., interlocked in such a manner as to ensure that the printing of a postage indicia cannot occur without accounting. 
   Since an open system PED utilizes a printer that is not used exclusively for printing proof of postage payment, additional security measures are required to prevent unauthorized printing evidence of postage payment. Such security measures include cryptographic evidencing of postage payment by PEDs in the open and closed metering systems. The postage value for a mailpiece may be encrypted together with other data to generate a digital token. A digital token is encrypted information that authenticates the information imprinted on a mail piece including postage values. Alternatively, the United States Postal Service has proposed utilizing public key cryptography to print a bar coded encrypted message on the mailpiece which message can be verified by the postal authority to establish the authenticity of the mailpiece. The combination of the printed postal indicia together with the encrypted information (whether a digital token or a bar coded encrypted message) is referred to as a postal revenue block. 
   Digital tokens and bar code encrypted messages may be utilized in both open and closed metering systems. However, for open metering systems, the non-dedicated printer may be used to print other information in addition to the postal revenue block and may be used in activity other than postage evidencing. In an open system PED, addressee information is included in the postal data which is used in the generation of the digital tokens. Such use of the addressee information creates a secure link between the mailpiece and the postal revenue block and allows unambiguous authentication of the mail piece. 
   The previously mentioned publication, U.S. Pat. No. 5,801,944, describes a PC based open metering system that provides the capability of merging an accounted for postal revenue block into another document (such as a letter on 8.5 by 11 inch paper) so that the letter is printed with the postal revenue block thereon in the upper right hand corner. U.S. Pat. No. 5,801,944 describes that the document with postal revenue block can then be folded in a manner such that the postal revenue block can be viewed through a window of a windowed envelope upon the insertion of the document into the envelope. This feature provides the advantage that in high speed mailing systems the separate step of printing a postal revenue block on the envelope after the document has been inserted therein is no longer required. Moreover, if the destination address is printed on the document in relation to the postal revenue block such that after folding of the document the destination address can be seen through another window of the envelope, the further step of matching an addressed envelope to its corresponding document is also eliminated. 
   Despite the advantages of the technology set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 5,801,944, the only described embodiment therein assumes that the postal revenue block will be printed at the top right hand corner of the document and then the document is folded appropriately so that the postal revenue block is visible through the envelope window. Thus, the location of the postal revenue block mandates that only a limited number of type folds can be used in order ensure that the postal revenue block is visible upon its insertion in the envelope. In today&#39;s environment, however, there are various ways that documents can be folded including Z-folds, C-folds, and half-folds. Moreover, within each of the fold types set forth above, there are different ways in which the particular type fold is created that will directly impact exactly at what location on the printed side of the document that the printed indicia or postal revenue block must be printed in order to be used within a windowed envelope or as a self-mailed product. Accordingly, the prior art devices are limited in that they do not dynamically account for the type of fold the document will be subjected to as an input in determining the printing location of the postage indicia or postage revenue block within the document. 
   In addition to the above, it is often the case that when a mailpiece, such as a billing statement, is mailed a response is required by the addressee. In order to ensure that the response is timely sent, it is desirable to reuse the original mailpiece as the response mailpiece and to provide an indication of the method for payment of postage on the mailpiece for both the originally mailed mailpiece and the returned response mailpiece. However, in order to ensure there is no confusion at the postal authority it is also preferred that the generation of the original mailpiece includes printing of the indications of postage payment methods such that only one of the indications of postage payment methods is visible when the mailpiece is folded. That is, the indications of postage payment methods are printed so that if one way of folding is applied to the mailpiece only the indicia associated with the original mailing is visible and if a second method of folding is applied to the mailpiece only the indicia associated with returned response mailpiece is visible. Therefore, a method and apparatus are needed which can dynamically determine the printing locations on a single mailpiece for a plurality of indications of postage payment methods based on the types of folds the mailpiece will be subjected to as both an original mailed mailpiece and a returned response mailpiece. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   It is thus an object of the invention to provide a system and method for dynamically determining a location within a document where an outgoing indication of postal payment and a return response indication of postal payment are to be printed based on the types of folds the document will be subjected to and for printing such indications of postal payment in the determined location. 
   This object is met by providing a processor based postage metering system includes structure for entering user input data including first and second fold configurations selected from a plurality of fold configurations; apparatus for accounting for postage dispensed by the processor based postage metering system; a document program running on the processor based postage metering system, the document program operable for controlling creation of a document based on the user input data; apparatus for automatically determining based on the first fold configuration a first designated location within the document for printing a first evidence of postage; structure for automatically determining based on the second fold configuration a second designated location within the document for printing a second evidence of postage; and apparatus for printing the document and the first and second evidences of postage such that the first and second evidences of postage are respectively printed in the first and second designated locations of the document. 

   
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The above and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters refer to like parts throughout, and in which: 
       FIG. 1  shows the inventive postage metering system; 
       FIG. 2  is a block diagram of a portion of the postage metering system of  FIG. 1 ; 
       FIG. 3  shows a postal revenue block; 
       FIG. 4  shows a document with a postal revenue block which is set up to be subjected to a first type C Fold; 
       FIG. 5  shows the document of  FIG. 4  in the first type C Fold configuration; 
       FIG. 6  shows a document with a postal revenue block which is set up to be subjected to a second type C Fold; 
       FIG. 7  shows the document of  FIG. 6  in the second type C Fold configuration; 
       FIG. 8  shows a document with a postal revenue block which is set up to be subjected to a third type C Fold; 
       FIG. 9  shows the document of  FIG. 8  in the third type C Fold configuration; 
       FIG. 10  shows a document with a postal revenue block which is set up to be subjected to a first type half fold configuration; 
       FIG. 11  shows a document with a postal revenue block which is set up to be subjected to a second type half fold configuration; 
       FIG. 12  shows a document with a postal revenue block which is set up to be subjected to a first type Z fold configuration; 
       FIG. 13  shows the document of  FIG. 12  in the first type Z Fold configuration; 
       FIG. 14  shows a document with a postal revenue block which is set up to be subjected to a second type Z fold configuration; 
       FIG. 15  shows the document of  FIG. 14  in the second type Z Fold configuration; 
       FIG. 16  is a flow chart of the process for determining a printing location within a document for a postal revenue block based on a selected fold type; 
       FIG. 17  shows a first document having two indications of postage payment; 
       FIG. 18  shows a second document having two indications of postage payment; and 
       FIG. 19  shows a third document having two indications of postage payment. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
   Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a PC metering system  10  in which the instant invention is implemented is shown. PC metering system  10  includes a conventional personal computer  12 , a display  14 , a keyboard  16 , and a non-secure general purpose digital printer  18  which is preferably a laser or ink jet printer. PC metering system  10  further includes a removable electronic vault  20  (such as a Smart Card or PMCIA card) in which postage funds are stored and accounted for as postage is dispensed by PC metering system  10 . In operation, an operator, via keyboard  16 , initiates the printing of a desired amount of postage by the postage metering system  10 . PC  12  sends the request for the printing of postage to vault  20  via its vault controller  21  and a vault controller interface  22  of vault  20 . Vault  20 , via its own processor  23  and programs stored in memory  24 , then determines in a conventional manner if sufficient postage is available within conventional accounting circuitry  25  to accommodate the postage request. If sufficient postage is available, vault  20  reconciles the accounting within accounting circuitry  25  to account for the requested postage amount to be dispensed and provides a message to personal computer  12  authorizing the printing of the postage and providing digital tokens (or an encrypted message) uniquely associated with the instant postage transaction. Personal computer  12  then utilizes the digital token data received from the vault  20  to build an electronic image of a postal revenue block  26  having digital tokens  26   a  (see  FIG. 3 ). Further details of the specific components of the vault and personal computer in generating the postal revenue block, except for those set forth below, are not considered necessary for an understanding of the claimed invention and are therefore not presented herein. However, these components are further described in the aforementioned U.S. Pat. No. 5,781,438 and in copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/575,112 which is incorporated herein by reference. 
   Referring specifically to  FIG. 2 , the personal computer  12  is controlled via a central processing unit  30 . A memory  32  contains application programs such as word processing programs or other document producing programs which an operator can access via keyboard  16 . The application programs  32  are used to create a document, such as a letter, in a conventional manner. However, in the instant invention, the application program  32  can be modified so that upon creation of a document and prior to printing, the operator can select the option of having an authenticated and accounted for postage revenue block  26  printed thereon. 
   Upon the selection of the postage option, a postage request message  33  is sent to an application interface module  34  together with the image data  35  for the created document. The application interface module  34  relays the postage request message  33  to an indicia image generation module  36  which requests, via vault controller  21 , approval of the postage transaction and receipt of digital tokens from the vault  20  Once vault  20  has authorized the postage transaction, it sends a postage authorization signal to the indicia image generation module  36  together with the uniquely generated tokens for that transaction. The indicia image generation module  36  creates and sends bit map image data  37  of the postal revenue block  26  to application interface module  34 . Application interface module  34  then sends the postage request message  33 , the bit map image data  37 , and the document image data  35  to a document image manipulation module  38 . Document image manipulation module  38  receives the above-mentioned data together with secondary data  39  such as envelope dimensions with indicia window position, document fold type, document page orientation, fold orientation, and page size. This information is used to calculate the exact position within the document that the postal revenue block  26  is to be printed. Naturally, if the folded document is to be a self mailed product, information concerning the envelope is not required. 
   The secondary data  39  can be entered by a user via keyboard  16  in response to a prompt on display  14  or some of the data such as page size and page orientation can come directly from the application program that created the document together with the document image data  35 . Once the location of the postal revenue block  26  within the document has been calculated, the document data image manipulation module  38  analyzes the document image data stream  35  and integrates the postal revenue block image data  37  within the document image data stream  35 . The integration of the postal revenue block image data  37  and the document image data  35  is done in a manner so that a resulting bit map image of the document includes a postal revenue block  26  which is positioned within the document at a location that is dependent upon the secondary data. The integrated image data stream  41  is then sent to the drivers  43  of printer  18  which use the data stream  41  to print the document including the postal revenue block  26 . Accordingly, for any number of mailpieces, the type of fold that the mailpieces will be subjected to can be specified and the postage metering system  10  will automatically, in real time, determine the proper location within the mailpiece that the postage revenue block  26  should be printed. 
   In order to more fully understand the invention described herein, reference is made to  FIGS. 4 through 15 . In  FIG. 4 , a document  40  is created using for example, a word processing program stored within application programs memory  32 . The document  40  is an 8.5 by 11 inch sheet of paper but could be any other size. Document  40  includes written information  42  which in the embodiment of  FIG. 4  is in the form of a letter having a date, address, body of the letter, and a signature block. Dashed lines  44 ,  46  represent horizontal fold lines where document  40  is folded to create a “C Fold” document as shown in  FIG. 5 . The fold lines  44 ,  46  also define top, middle, and bottom panels of the document  40  respectively designated  48 ,  50 , and  52 . It is to be noted that in the C Fold of  FIG. 5 , the top panel  48  is positioned on top of the folded document  40 . Thus, when document  40  is to be subsequently placed in a conventional windowed envelope having a window in its upper right hand corner, the postage revenue block  26  must be printed in the upper right hand corner of top panel  48  in order to be seen through the window of the envelope. 
     FIGS. 6 and 7  differ from  FIGS. 4 and 5  in that the postage revenue block  26  needs to be printed in the upper right hand corner of bottom panel  52 . This is because, as shown in  FIG. 7 , while a C Fold is still being used, the panels  48 ,  50 , and  52  are folded such that the bottom panel  52  is now positioned on the top of the folded document  40 . Therefore in order for the postal revenue block  26  to appear through the envelope window, the postal revenue block must be printed in the upper right hand corner of the bottom panel  52 . 
     FIG. 8  shows another document  40  having a postal revenue block  26  printed in the upper right hand corner of the middle panel  50  to accommodate the type of C Fold shown in  FIG. 9  in which the middle panel  50  ends up positioned on the top of the folded document  40 . 
     FIGS. 10 and 11  both show a document  40  having a single horizontal fold line  60  which divides the document into top and bottom panels  62  and  64 , respectively. Both of these documents are folded along their respective fold line to create a one half fold document. In  FIG. 10  the bottom panel  64  is folded upward behind the top panel  62  such that the postal revenue block  26  is required to be printed in the upper right hand corner of top panel  62 . In contrast, in  FIG. 11  the top panel  62  is folded down behind the bottom panel  64  such that the postal revenue block  26  must be printed in the upper right hand corner of the bottom panel  64 . 
     FIG. 12  shows a document  40  having a postal revenue block  26  printed in the upper right hand corner of top panel  48 .  FIG. 13 , shows the document  40  of  FIG. 12  in a Z fold which requires the top panel  48  to be positioned on the top of the folded document  40 . Conversely,  FIG. 14  shows a document  40  having a postal revenue block  26  printed in the upper right hand corner of bottom panel  52  and  FIG. 14  shows the document  40  of  FIG. 13  in a Z Fold so that the bottom panel  52  ends up on top of the folded document. 
     FIGS. 4 through 15  show that the printing of the postal revenue block  26  on any document  40  will be dependent upon the type of fold that the document  40  will be subjected to after printing. While the above examples assume that the postal revenue block  26  should appear in the upper right hand corner of the folded document  40 , one possessing ordinary skill in the art will recognize that deviations from this standard are possible depending upon specific postal regulations and the type of windowed envelope product or self mailed product being used. 
   Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 15  and as previously discussed, a user can enter information concerning the type of fold the document  40  will be subjected to via keyboard  16 . This information is provided to document data image manipulation module  38  (step S 1 ) which determines if a Z Fold has been requested (step S 3 ). If the answer is YES, the program proceeds to step S 5  where an inquiry is made as to whether the top panel  48  will be on top of the folded document  40 . If the answer is NO, it is assumed that the bottom panel  52  is on top of the folded document  40  (step S 7 ) and the determination is made that the postal revenue block  26  is to be printed in the upper right hand corner of the bottom panel  52  of document  40  (step S 9 ). Returning to step S 5  however, if the answer is YES, a determination is made that the postal revenue block  26  is to be printed in the upper right hand corner of the top panel  48  of document  40  (step S 11 ). 
   In the event however that at step S 3  the answer is NO, the program at step S 13  queries as to whether a C Fold will be applied to the document  40 . If the answer is YES, the program moves to step S 15  and queries if the top panel  48  will be on top of the folded document  40 . If the answer is YES, the determination is made at step S 11  to print the postal revenue block  26  in the upper right hand corner of top panel  48  of document  40 . Returning to step S 15 , if the answer is NO, an inquiry is made at step S 17  to determine if the bottom panel  52  will be on top of folded document  40 . If the answer is YES, the program proceeds to step S 9  where it is determined that the postal revenue block  26  is to be printed in the upper right hand corner of bottom panel  48 . 
   On the other hand, if the answer to the inquiry at step S 17  is NO, it is determined that the middle panel  50  is on top of the folded document  40  (step S 19 ) and the program proceeds to step S 21  where it is determined that the postal revenue block should be printed in the upper right hand corner of the middle panel  50  of document  40 . 
   At step S 13  if the answer is NO the program assumes that a half fold will be applied to document  40  (step S 23 ) and proceeds to step S 25  to determine if the top panel  62  will be on top of the folded document  40 . If the answer is YES at step  27  it is determined that the postal revenue block  26  should be printed in the upper right hand corner of the top panel  62 . On the other hand, if the answer to the inquiry is NO, at step S 29  it is assumed that the bottom panel  64  will appear at the top of the document  40  and at step S 31  a decision is made to print the postal revenue block  26  in the upper right hand corner of the bottom panel  26 . 
   Once the general position of the postal revenue block  26  has been determined by the document data image manipulation module  38 , the secondary data  39  is used to identify the exact position within the document data image stream  35  where the postal revenue image data  37  is to be integrated. One skilled in the art can readily program the document image manipulation module  38  to perform such integration based on the document image stream  35 . That is, for example, if the document image data stream  35  is the result of a word processing program, the secondary data  39  can be utilized to precisely position the postal revenue block image data within the document image data stream  35 . 
   Once the integrated image data stream  41  is completed, it is sent to the printhead drivers  43  which drive the printhead  18  to print the document  40  together with a properly positioned postal revenue block  26 . Subsequent to printing, the document  40  can be manually folded in the selected fold configuration and placed in a windowed envelope so that the postal revenue block is visible through the envelope window. Alternatively, the document  40  can be fed in a conventional manner from the printing mechanism  18  to a conventional folder  45  which can be set up to perform the selected fold automatically. The folded document would be transported in a conventional manner to a known inserter  47  where it is inserted into the windowed envelope. The automatic folding  45  and inserter  47  mechanisms are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,628,249 which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
   As previously mentioned, the folded document does not have to be placed in a windowed envelope but can be sent directly into the mailstream as a self mailed mailpiece. In this scenario, the printed document is folded and then the folded document is secured in place such as by stapling or the application of a tab. 
   The use of a folded mailpiece as a self mailed mailpiece provides additional benefits when used in conjunction with the ability to dynamically locate and print a postal revenue block  26  based on the type of fold being applied to the mailpiece. Referring to  FIG. 17 , a mailpiece  60  includes a postal revenue block  26 , fold lines  44 ,  46  and top, middle, and bottom panels  48 ,  50 , and  52 . Top panel  48  includes addressee information  62  while middle panel  50  includes reply information  64  that is required to be completed by the addressee upon receipt. In the embodiment of  FIG. 17 , the reply information  64  is the return portion of a billing statement which shows the amount due and provides places for the addressee to enter the amount paid, the type of payment (i.e. credit card or check), and a credit card number if required. When the mailpiece  60  is then folded in the Z Fold configuration of  FIG. 13  and secured in place, the reply information  64  is concealed from view and the addressee information  62  and postal revenue block  26  are on the top of the folded document  60  for placement in the mailstream to be delivered to the addressee. 
   It is often the case however, that the sender of the mailpiece  60  wants to better ensure the timely return of the reply information  64  together with the actual payment. Accordingly, it is desirable to design the mailpiece  60  such that it can be refolded and placed back into the mailstream subsequent to the reply information  64  being completed by the addressee without requiring an envelope. To further ensure the timely return of the reply information  64 , the sender may wish to include a second postal revenue block or a return postage to be paid by sender block (either of which is generically referred to as a return postage block and represented by element  66  in  FIG. 17 ) as part of the original mailpiece  60 . 
   The return postage block  66  is shown in  FIG. 17  in dashed line form as being printed on the reverse side of mailpiece  60  from the postal revenue block  26 . Thus, when the mailpiece  60  is sent from the sender to the addressee, it is folded in the Z Fold configuration of  FIG. 13  so that the reply information  64  and the return postage block  66  are both hidden from view. However, when the addressee wishes to return the mailpiece  60  with the reply information completely filled out, the mailpiece  60  is turned over so that the return postage block  66  is visible in the top right hand corner of the mailpiece  60 . Then, the mailpiece  60  is folded again in the manner shown in  FIG. 13  and secured in place such that the addressee information  62 , the outgoing postal revenue block  26  and the completed reply information  64  are all hidden within the folded document  60  while the return postage block  66  is visible on the top of the folded mailpiece  60 . A return address can then be printed near the return postage block  66  either by the user at the time of the return mailing or could be preprinted during generation of the document  60 . In either case, the return mailpiece  60  is ready to be placed in the mailstream. 
     FIG. 18  shows a configuration where the mailpiece  60  has the reply information  64  printed in the bottom panel  52 . In this configuration, the mailpiece  60  being sent to the original addressee is subjected to the C Fold of  FIG. 5  so that the addressee information  62  and the postal revenue block  26  are visible on the top of the folded document  60  while the postage return block  66  is hidden within the folded document  60 . In this situation however, when the reply mailpiece  60  is to be returned, the mailpiece  60  is turned over from its  FIG. 18  position and subjected to the C Fold of  FIG. 5  such that only the postage return block  66  is visible while the addressee information  62 , postal revenue block  26 , and reply information  64  are all hidden from view. 
     FIG. 19  is yet another embodiment which differs from  FIG. 17  in that the return postage block  66  is printed on the same side of the mailpiece  60  but in the bottom panel  52 . This configuration permits the original mailpiece  60  to be folded in the Z Fold manner shown in  FIG. 13  so that only the postal revenue block  26  and the addressee information  62  are visible. However, for the return mailing, the mailpiece  60  is folded in the manner shown in  FIG. 14  whereby only the return postage block  66  is visible. 
   The above mailpieces  60  can be produced by the postage metering system  10  shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2  as follows. A document application program stored in memory  32  creates the mailpiece  60 , without the postal revenue block  26  or the return postage block  66 . Upon entering a request, via keyboard  16 , for postage to be applied to the created document  60 , another program in memory  32  is accessed to query the user via display  14  as to whether a return postage block  66  is also desired. If the operator enters “NO”, via the keyboard  16 , the printing of the document  60  with the postal revenue block  26  proceeds as previously described in connection with  FIGS. 1–16 . However, if the operator responds that a return postage block  66  is desired, the system  10  requests the operator to enter the outgoing mailpiece fold configuration. Then, either the program can automatically determine the return mailpiece fold configuration or request that the operator to provide this information via the keyboard  16 . Once the fold configurations have been identified, they sent together with the postage request as part of the message  33 . In the case where the return postage block  66  is a postal revenue block  26 , the indicia image generation module  36  obtains two digital tokens from the vault  20  and builds the outgoing postal revenue block  26  and the return postal revenue block  66  data images which are sent via the application interface module  34  to the document data image manipulation module  38 . In the situation of  FIGS. 17 and 18 , where the return postage data block  66  is on the reverse side of mailpiece  60 , the outgoing postal revenue block  26  image data is dynamically merged into the document image data  35  based on the outgoing mailpiece  60  designated fold. The document data image manipulation module  38  also determines the location of the postage data block  66  on the back of the mailpiece  60  based on the return fold configuration. All of the image data is then sent to the printhead drivers  43  which drive the printhead  18  to perform the duplex printing. Duplex printers are known in the art, such as those disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,688,057, 5,797,079 and 5,670,995. Alternatively, a single sided printer could be used in a manual mode to obtain the double sided printing. 
   In the event that the mailpiece  60  of  FIG. 19  is desired, the same steps for  FIGS. 17 and 18  are followed except that the document data image manipulation module  38  is programmed to recognize based on the fold inputs, that the postal revenue block  26  and the return postage data block  66  are both to be printed on the front of mailpiece  60  in the positions shown in  FIG. 19 . The document data image manipulation module  38  merges the image data for both the postal revenue block  26  and the return postage data block  66  at the appropriate places within the document image data stream  35  and sends this merged data stream to the printhead drivers  43  for subsequent printing by printhead  18 . 
   As previously discussed, the return postage data block  66  can be an indication that postage is to be paid by the sender (post payment) versus a postal revenue block  26  which is prepaid postage accounted for in the vault  20 . In this situation, indicia image generation module  36  interacts with vault  20  to obtain a token to build the postal revenue block  26  but does not require an interface with vault  20  for the post paid return postage data block  66 . That is, since the return postage is paid subsequent to delivery, only an image identifying that the postage is to be paid by the sender needs to be printed as the return postage data block  66 . This image data is stored within the indicia image generation module  36  and is provided via the application interface module  34  to the document data image manipulation module  38 . 
   Additional advantages and modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, the invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specific details and representative devices, shown and described herein. Accordingly, various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the general inventive concept as defined by the appended claims Moreover, the term “evidence of postage” is meant to mean a postage indicia, a postal revenue block, a return postage data block as discussed above, or any equivalent indications of postage payment methods. Furthermore, the particular fold types and postage evidencing data block positions shown in the Figures are representative examples and one possessing ordinary skill in the art is capable of determining other fold configurations which can achieve the same results. Lastly, while  FIGS. 17–19  deal with a self mailed mailpiece, the dynamic placement of a postal revenue block and a return postage data block can also be utilized on mailpieces which will be inserted into windowed envelopes. In this situation, the printing location of the postal revenue block and the return postage data block  66  will be dynamically determined taking into account the envelope window position as well as the fold configurations.