Abstract:
Systems and methods which implement hybrid postage printer technology are shown. Embodiments provide a postage printing apparatus having a printable area larger than that associated with a postage meter stamp printed thereby and which can accommodate a variety of mail item and other media sizes. Embodiments employ a movable platen to accommodate various media thicknesses. Embodiments accommodate any size mail item or other media using a “C” configuration to allow a mail item or other media to extend beyond the print mechanism in at least three directions. According to an embodiment, the postage printer includes a web browser for hosting postage generation client software and to communicate with a postage generation server via the Internet or other network. Embodiments utilize a commercially available ink cartridge filled with a ink unique to postage metering applications and one or more color ink cartridges.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
   The present application is related to co-pending and commonly assigned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/323,462, entitled “High Speed Printing,” filed Dec. 30, 2005; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/324,181, entitled “Hybrid Postage Printer Systems and Methods,” filed Dec. 30, 2005; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/323,455, entitled “Hybrid Postage Printer Systems and Methods,” filed Dec. 30, 2005; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/606,579, entitled “System and Method for Automatically Processing Mail,” filed Jun. 26, 2003; and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/696,221 entitled “System and Method for Printing an Application of Dynamically Valued Stamps,” filed Oct. 29, 2003, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference. 
   TECHNICAL FIELD 
   The present invention relates generally to postage printers and, more particularly, to postage printers adapted to provide enhanced postage printing features. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Postage meters or franking devices have been in widespread use for many years. Such meters have traditionally been provided as a dedicated apparatus or “closed” system imprinting a postage indicium on postal items. U.S. Pat. No. 3,194,946 shows one example of a closed metering system. 
   In more recent years, the concept of an “open” metering system has been developed which utilizes a general purpose processor-based system, such as a personal computer system, operable under control of an instruction set defining operation as a postage metering apparatus. U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,606,507 and 6,385,731, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference, show examples of open metering systems. 
   Closed metering systems have generally been relatively easy to operate, requiring only that the user insert a mail piece or label, set a desired amount of postage, and activate the printing mechanism to obtain a postage meter stamp. However, closed metering systems suffer from an inability to perform additional functions, not being flexible with respect to a user&#39;s changing needs or accommodating upgrades as new technologies develop, and being limited in the size and what can be printed as or with the postage meter stamp. 
   For example, even the more modern closed metering systems which print information based postage indicia provide a print area limited to a single corner of an envelope or other media. Specifically, such closed meter systems generally implement ink nozzle (often referred to as ink jet) print cartridge technology which provides for an approximately 0.5 inch print width. This ink cartridge is often mounted on a carriage which allows approximately 2 inches of movement along an X axis. The carriage itself is movable along a Y axis to accommodate two-pass printing by the ink cartridge to “stitch” together an image twice as wide as the ink cartridge print width (e.g., providing a print form factor of approximately 1 inch along the Y axis by approximately 2 inches along the X axis). 
   In contrast to closed metering systems, open metering systems utilize general purpose systems which may be used to perform many functions in addition to postage metering. Moreover, open metering systems may typically be upgraded to include new features and new technologies by a simple software upgrade and/or addition of peripheral components. Many open metering technologies, such as that provided by Stamps.com, Santa Monica, Calif., implement an Internet architecture, facilitating enhanced services such as address verification, online delivery notification, etcetera. Open metering systems have generally utilized general purpose printers, such as laser printers or ink nozzle (often referred to as ink jet) printers, and thus provide flexibility in the size and content of what is printed as or with the postage meter stamp. 
   Many closed meter users have been reluctant to adopt the open metering technology despite advantages in flexibility associated therewith. For example, a traditional closed meter user expects to simply input a postage amount and print a postage meter stamp without the need to interface with a general purpose computer and its attendant software etcetera. Because the printers used in open metering systems are often general purpose printers, a traditionally closed meter user may experience difficulty in properly orienting and inserting an envelope for printing. Moreover, the closed meter user typically applies a postage meter stamp to a completed mail item (e.g., an envelope stuffed with one or more documents) which cannot be accommodated by general purpose printers. However, many open meter users prefer the use of open metering technology in order to obtain benefits such as the ability to print various configurations of postage meter stamps, the ability to print information (e.g., addressor address, addressee address, message, advertising logo, etcetera) in association with postage meter stamps, and various value added services (e.g., address verification, online delivery confirmation, detailed account activity analysis and reporting, etcetera). 
   BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention is directed to systems and methods which implement hybrid postage printer technology. Embodiments of the present invention provide a postage printing apparatus having a printable area larger than that associated with a postage meter stamp printed thereby and which can accommodate a variety of mail item and other media sizes as well as accommodating complete mail items (e.g., an envelope which is stuffed with documents to be posted). A postage printing apparatus provided according to an embodiment of the present invention is adapted to print information based postage indicia and associated information, graphics, and/or images, such as addressor address, addressee address, message, advertising logo, photos, etcetera. 
   A preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a postage printer having a media feed mechanism for moving a mail item or other media past a print head thereof along a Y axis. The print head itself is provided substantial movement (e.g., approximately 5-8.5 inches) along an X axis. Accordingly, such an embodiment may provide a print form factor of approximately 5-8.5 inches along the X axis and limited only by the mail item or other media along the Y axis. 
   In order to accommodate varying thicknesses of mail items, such as an empty envelope and an envelope stuffed with one or more documents, for printing postage, embodiments of the invention employ a platen which is movable along a Z axis. According to one embodiment, the aforementioned feed mechanism for moving a mail item or other media past a print head comprises a conveyer mechanism, such as one or more feed belts, providing controlled movement of the media along the Y axis. This feed mechanism is preferably disposed upon the aforementioned movable platen. The platen is provided movement along the Z axis by members pivotally attached thereto, such as may be spring biased to encourage media toward the print head, according to embodiments of the invention. 
   Embodiments of the invention are adapted to accommodate any size mail item or other media. According to a preferred embodiment, a postage printer mechanism is provided in a “C” configuration to accommodate a mail item or other media extending beyond the print mechanism in at least three directions (e.g., front, back, and one side). A preferred embodiment provides a postage printer configuration in which a print head and carriage assembly are disposed above the print media, a platen is disposed below the print media, and a support member coupling the carriage assembly and platen is disposed on a side of the print media, thereby forming a print mechanism having a C configuration. 
   Postage printers of embodiments of the present invention may interface with a general purpose processor-based system, such as a personal computer, to provide a desired postage metering system. For example, a personal computer system may operate under control of postage generation client software, such as that available from Stamps.com, Santa Monica, Calif., to communicate with a postage generation server, such as that provided by Stamps.com, via the Internet or other network in order to generate a desired information based postage indicium and associated information (e.g., addressor address, addressee address, message, logo, photo, etcetera). The postage generation client software may communicate with the postage printer to control printing of the information based postage indicium and associated information on a mail item or other media. 
   Additionally or alternatively, postage printers of embodiments of the present invention may operate independent of a user host system, such as the aforementioned personal computer system. For example, a postage printer of embodiments of the invention includes processor-based logic for executing instructions to control generation and printing of information based postage indicia without interaction with a user host computer. According to an embodiment of the invention, the postage printer includes a web browser for hosting postage generation client software and to communicate with a postage generation server via the Internet or other network in order to generate and print a desired information based postage indicium and associated information. The aforementioned web browser may additionally or alternatively be used for functions such as purchasing postage value, managing an account, obtaining detailed account activity information, download software/firmware updates, etcetera. 
   Embodiments of the invention provide a configurable or modular postage printer configuration. For example, a base postage printing mechanism may be provided which may interface with the aforementioned user host system for printing postage. However, modules, such as a touch screen user interface module and a postal scale module, may be interfaced with the base postage printing mechanism (e.g., using a universal serial bus (USB) or other interface) to provide desired functionality. A touch screen user interface module may be coupled to the base postage printing mechanism to facilitate its use independent of a user host system. A postal scale module may be coupled to the base postage printing mechanism, with or without a user host system attached thereto, to facilitate automatic postage calculations. 
   Preferred embodiments of a postage printer provided according to embodiments of the present invention implement ink nozzle printer technology, such as to utilize commercially available ink nozzle printer ink cartridge technology. Embodiments of the invention utilize a commercially available ink cartridge filled with a ink unique to postage metering applications, such as a red or black fluorescent ink. Moreover, embodiments utilize a multiple ink cartridge configuration, such as to include the aforementioned postage metering ink cartridge and one or more color ink cartridges, such as a multi-color photo ink cartridge for printing photo stamps. 
   The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features and technical advantages of the present invention in order that the detailed description of the invention that follows may be better understood. Additional features and advantages of the invention will be described hereinafter which form the subject of the claims of the invention. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the conception and specific embodiment disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention. It should also be realized by those skilled in the art that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the invention, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages will be better understood from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying figures. It is to be expressly understood, however, that each of the figures is provided for the purpose of illustration and description only and is not intended as a definition of the limits of the present invention. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
     For a more complete understanding of the present invention, reference is now made to the following descriptions taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which: 
       FIGS. 1A and 1B  show a postage printer adapted according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  shows a functional block diagram showing detail with respect to a base postage printer mechanism of an embodiment of the invention; 
       FIG. 3  shows detail with respect to one embodiment of platen and media feed assembly of a postage printer adapted according to an embodiment of the present invention; and 
       FIGS. 4A and 4B  show connectivity of a postage printer of embodiments of the present invention. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     FIGS. 1A and 1B  show a postage printer adapted according to an embodiment of the present invention. Postage printer  100  of  FIGS. 1A and 1B  includes base postage printing mechanism  110 , user interface module  120 , and scale module  130 . As can be seen in  FIG. 1B , postage printer  100  of the illustrated embodiment is provided in a modular configuration such that user interface module  120  and/or scale module  130  may be added or removed from base postage printing mechanism  110  depending upon whether the features thereof are desired. 
   According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, base postage printing mechanism  110  comprises printer technology adapted to accept postal items and other media of various sizes and thicknesses and to print information based postage indicium and/or other information (whether text, graphics, or photos) thereon. Accordingly, base postage printing mechanism  110  is shown in  FIGS. 1A and 1B  having a C configuration. 
   Specifically, base postage printing mechanism  110  of the illustrated embodiment includes front opening  111 , side opening  112 , and a back opening (not shown) corresponding to front opening  111  to accommodate any size of media. Additionally or alternatively, platen and media feed assembly  115  of base postage printing mechanism  110  is movable along the Z axis to accommodate various thicknesses of media and to encourage the media toward one or more print heads of the preferred embodiment, as will be discussed in further detail below. Platen and media feed assembly  115  of embodiments includes media handling members, such as may comprise a conveyer mechanism having one or more feed belts, providing controlled movement of the media along the Y axis. 
   Base postage printing mechanism  110  of embodiments includes a print head carriage mechanism providing movement along the X axis to one or more print heads of base postage printing mechanism  110 . The print head is preferably provided substantial movement (e.g., approximately 5-8.5 inches) along the X axis. Because base postage printing mechanism  110  of the illustrated embodiment provides media openings at both the front and back, printing upon such media along the Y axis is unlimited. Accordingly, the illustrated embodiment may provide a print form factor of approximately 5-8.5 inches along the X axis and limited only by the mail item or other media along the Y axis. Embodiments of the invention may, therefore, print information based postage indicia accompanied by addressee and/or addressor address, shipping labels with or without postage indicia, sheets of multiple stamps, bills of lading, and/or the like. 
   User interface module  120  shown in  FIGS. 1A and 1B  preferably provides a touch screen user interface removeably coupled to base postage printing mechanism  110 . For example, user interface module  120  may interface with base postage printing mechanism  110  for information communication via a serial (e.g., USB) interface, a network interface, a parallel interface, a wireless interface, an infrared interface, etcetera. User interface module  120  may display information with respect to the operation of base postage printing mechanism  110 , such as an operational status thereof various user options selected or offered for selection, postage information, postage amount, print preview, etcetera. Accordingly, user interface module  120  facilitates operation of base postage printing mechanism  110  as a postage metering system independent of a user host system according to embodiments of the invention. 
   Moreover, user interface module  120  of embodiments may be utilized with respect to enhanced services. For example, user interface module  120  may be utilized to input information, such as addressee information and/or addressor information for verification of the address and/or printing with a postage indicium, special delivery instructions (e.g., return receipt requested), a message for printing with a postage indicium, etcetera. User interface module  120  may be utilized to obtain information, such as detailed account activity analysis and reporting. User interface module  120  may additionally or alternatively be used to obtain postage value and/or other goods and services. For example, where postage printer  100  has a web browser associated therewith, user interface module  120  may be utilized to communicate with a server to pay for and obtain postage value, to order supplies, to report a fault and request service, etcetera. 
   Scale module  130  shown in  FIGS. 1A and 1B  preferably provides a scale removeably coupled to base postage printing mechanism  110 . For example, scale module  130  may interface with base postage printing mechanism  110  for information communication via a serial (e.g., USB) interface, a network interface, a parallel interface, a wireless interface, an infrared interface, etcetera. Scale module  130  of embodiments weighs postal items and provides weight information to base postage printing mechanism  110 , such as for automatic calculation of postage, completing a bill of lading, etcetera. It should be appreciated that scale module  130  may be utilized with other host systems, such as a user host personal computer system, if desired. 
   Directing attention to  FIG. 2 , a functional block diagram showing detail with respect to base postage printer mechanism  110  of an embodiment of the invention is shown. Base postage printer mechanism  110  of  FIG. 2  includes print mechanism  210 , control logic  220 , and interface  230 . 
   Print mechanism  210  of the illustrated embodiment includes print head and carriage assembly  211  and platen and media feed assembly  115 . Print mechanism  210  preferably operates under control of control logic  220 . 
   Print head and carriage assembly  211  of preferred embodiments comprises an ink nozzle print head carrier. For example, a print head and carriage assembly of an embodiment of the invention utilizes ink nozzle printer ink cartridge technology commercially available from vendors such as Hewlett Packard Company, Palo Alto, Calif., Cannon, U.S.A., Inc., Lake Success, N.Y., and U.S. Epson, Inc., Long Beach, Calif. Embodiments of the invention utilize a commercially available ink cartridge filled with a ink unique to postage metering applications, such as a red or black fluorescent ink. Moreover, embodiments utilize a multiple ink cartridge configuration, such as to include the aforementioned postage metering ink cartridge and one or more color ink cartridges, such as a multi-color photo ink cartridge for printing photo stamps. 
   It should be appreciated that ink cartridges of postage printers adapted according to embodiments of the present invention may be utilized for printing various information, objects, images, etcetera. For example, one or more color ink cartridges may be utilized in printing a postage indicia in addition to or in the alternative to printing images, such as photo quality images of a photo stamp. Moreover, such color ink cartridges may be utilized in printing human readable information, such as postage amount, meter stamp date, address information, etcetera. An ink cartridge having fluorescent ink may be used to print a facing mark, such as a facing identification mark (FIM) as are commonly used by the United States Postal Service (USPS), in addition to or in the alternative to printing postage indicia. 
   Platen and media feed assembly  115  of preferred embodiments is movable as described below to accommodate various thicknesses of media and includes media handling members providing controlled movement of the media relative to print head and carriage assembly  211 . For example, embodiments of platen and medial feed assembly  115  are adapted to accommodate media thicknesses from a single sheet of paper to a postal item approximately 5/16ths of an inch thick. Further detail with respect to one embodiment of platen and media feed assembly  115  is shown in  FIG. 3 . 
   Platen and media feed assembly  115  shown in  FIG. 3  includes platen  301 , lift members  302  pivotally attached to platen  301 , and conveyer belts  303  disposed across a surface of platen  301 . Platen  301  support a postal item or other media during printing. Lift members  302 , such as may be biased by springs (not shown), provide a lifting force to encourage platen  301  and any media thereon toward a print head of ink cartridge  310  (along the Z axis). Conveyer belts  303  provide relative motion (along the Y axis) with respect a print head of ink cartridge  310  to media disposed on platen  301 . In operation, ink cartridge  310 , and a print head associated therewith, is moved back and forth (along the X axis) across carriage bar  311 . This movement of the print head in association with the relative movement of the media being printed upon provides two dimensional (X-Y) printing. The movement of platen  301  along the Z axis accommodates postal items and media of varying thicknesses within print mechanism  210 . 
   Referring again to  FIG. 2 , control logic  220  of the illustrated embodiment includes print control  221 , web browser  222 , and vault  223 . Control logic  220  preferably comprises a processor, such as a PENTIUM microprocessor available from Intel, Santa Clara, Calif., or a POWERPC microprocessor available from Motorola, Schaumburg, Ill., and a memory, such as random access memory (RAM), read only memory (ROM), flash memory, magnetic memory, optical memory, etcetera, storing an instruction set or sets providing print control and/or web browser functionality. 
   Print control  221  of embodiments operates to control print mechanism  210  to print information based postage indicia and associated information. For example, in a configuration adapted for operation independent of a user host system (e.g., having user interface module  120  coupled thereto), print control  221  may solicit postage information from a user (e.g., postage amount, postage class, special delivery instructions, addressor address, addressee address, size of postal item, and/or the like), operate to generate an information based postage indicium, and control print mechanism  210  to print the information based postage indicium, perhaps in combination with printing other information. Interfacing with the user to solicit information and/or provide information to the user by print control  221  may utilize web browser  222 . Generation of the information based postage indicia may include use of interface  230  to communicate with a server (e.g., server  410  of  FIG. 4A ) or other system via a network (e.g., Internet  420  of  FIG. 4A ) for verifying address information, for obtaining postage value (such as may be stored in vault  223 ), for providing postage information and receiving postage indicia data in return, etcetera. It should be appreciated that the foregoing postage printer configuration adapted for operation independent of a user host system provides a postage meter printer having more traditional meter operation while utilizing open metering system backend functionality to provide robust features and enhanced services. 
   Embodiments of base postage printer mechanism  110 , however, may operate as a part of a postage printing system in which a user host system (e.g., user host  430  of  FIG. 4B ) interfaces with a user and/or a server (e.g., server  410  of  FIG. 4B ) or other system provides postage value, postage indicia data, address verification, etcetera. It should be appreciated that postage printer  100  of such embodiments may communicate with the foregoing server or other system via a network (e.g., Internet  420  of  FIG. 4B ) through the user host system or directly (as represented by the dotted line in  FIG. 4B ). 
   Web browser  222  of embodiments provides an intuitive user interface consistent with web browsers widely available on a number of devices, such as personal computers, cellular telephones, personal digital assistants (PDAs), etcetera. Web browser  222  of embodiments facilitates user navigation of internal functions, such as those provided by print control  221 , and external functions, such as those provided by server  410 . For example, a user may utilize web browser  222  to input a desired amount of postage to print and to control printing of an information based postage indicium by postage printer  100 . Additionally or alternatively, a user may utilize web browser  222  to purchase postage value from server  410 , to order supplies such as additional ink cartridges from a supplier, etcetera. Accordingly, embodiments of postage printer  100  provide an Internet appliance configuration. 
   Vault  223  of embodiments operates to security store postage meter related data. For example, vault  223  may store postage value to facilitate operation of postage printer  100  without communicating with a server or other host. Additionally or alternatively, vault  223  may store data such as an ascending register, a descending register, a meter number, an electronic serial number, cryptographic keys, a digital certificate, and/or the like. Vault  223  may comprise any suitably secure memory, such as a touch memory utility button available from Dallas Semiconductor Corporation, Dallas, Tex., a PCMCIA card, secure digital card, etcetera. 
   Interface  230  of the illustrated embodiment includes module interface  231 , user host interface  232 , and server interface  233 . Interface  230  preferably facilitates communications between control logic  220  and other systems, such as systems external to base postage printer mechanism  110 . 
   Module interface  231  of embodiments provides a communication interface for coupling modules, such as user interface module  120  and scale module  130 , to control logic  220 . User host interface  232  of embodiments provides a communication interface for coupling a user host system, such as a personal computer system, to control logic  220 . Server interface  233  of embodiments provides a communication interface for coupling a server or other external system, such as a remote postage server, to control logic  220 . Accordingly, any of module interface  231 , user host interface  232 , and server interface  233  may comprise a serial (e.g., USB) interface, a network interface, a parallel interface, a wireless interface, an infra red interface, and/or the like. 
   It should be appreciated that, although a preferred embodiment has been described herein with reference to various functional blocks, embodiments of the present invention may not implement each of the described functional blocks and/or may implement additional or alternative functional blocks. For example, embodiments of the invention may omit vault  223  and/or one or more of module interface  231 , user host interface  232 , and server interface  233 . 
   Although the present invention and its advantages have been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations can be made herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. Moreover, the scope of the present application is not intended to be limited to the particular embodiments of the process, machine, manufacture, composition of matter, means, methods and steps described in the specification. As one of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate from the disclosure of the present invention, processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps, presently existing or later to be developed that perform substantially the same function or achieve substantially the same result as the corresponding embodiments described herein may be utilized according to the present invention. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended to include within their scope such processes, machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps.