Abstract:
A method for permitting mailers to obtain legal proof of induction/acceptance of mail pieces without requiring the mailer to bring the mail piece to the post office. The foregoing may be accomplished by having the post office notify the mailer&#39;s postage meter of the induction/acceptance of the mail piece when the post office scans the mail piece at the beginning of the delivery process.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The invention relates generally to the field of mailing and, more particularly, to the field of inducting mail into a mail stream.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     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.  
         [0003]     The post office is not open twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, and legal notice under many contracts is obtained by the delivery of a mail piece to the post office. Thus, mailers are unable to obtain proof of mailing every hour of the day.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0004]     The present invention overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art by providing an inexpensive and time-saving method for reducing the use of gummed service stickers and the completion by hand of special forms and cards for specialty mail and certificates of mailing. The invention permits a mailer to obtain legal proof of induction/acceptance of 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 the post office notify the mailer&#39;s postage meter of the induction/acceptance of the mail piece when the post office scans the mail piece at the beginning of the delivery process. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING  
       [0005]      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;  
         [0006]      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;  
         [0007]      FIG. 2B  is a flow chart describing an information gathering procedure at the postage meter for obtaining proof of mailing;  
         [0008]      FIG. 3  is a flow chart describing the proof of mailing process with regard to a Postage By Phone® data center;  
         [0009]      FIG. 4  is a drawing of mail piece  11  of  FIG. 1  in greater detail;  
         [0010]      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  indicating that mail piece  11  has entered the delivery process; and  
         [0011]      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. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0012]      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 , that is described in the description of  FIG. 4 .  
         [0013]     Meter  12  places adequate postage on mail piece  11 . The mailer  10  submits the mail piece  11  to a USPS mail pick up spot  16 . A hand-held scanner  17  may read unique identification code  15  at mail pick up spot  16 , or a scanner  18  may read identification code  15  at entry USPS facility  19 . Facility  19  will process mail piece  11  and deliver it to the recipient&#39;s destination  20 .  
         [0014]     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 .  
         [0015]     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 .  
         [0016]     After scanners  17  or  18  read identification code  15 , identification code  15  is 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.  
         [0017]      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  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 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  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 .  
         [0018]     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.  
         [0019]     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 indicia 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  126 . Block  126  sends the files to data center  21 , and then the procedure goes back to block  100 .  
         [0020]      FIG. 2B  is a flow chart describing an information gathering procedure at the postage meter for obtaining proof of mailing. The procedure begins in 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 .  
         [0021]     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 .  
         [0022]     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  226 . Block  226  sends the files to data center  21 , and then the procedure goes back to block  200 .  
         [0023]      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 , Postage By Phone Data Center  21  sorts files by entry zip code. Then, in block  302 , Postage By Phone Data Center  21  creates a batch file with header. Now, in block  304 , Postage By Phone 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 , Postage By Phone Data Center  21  receives a certificate of induction update batch file from the post office. Now, in block  308 , Postage By Phone 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 certificate of induction  30  and resets the message indicator to off.  
         [0024]      FIG. 4  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 unique number  44 , i.e., the date and time meter  12  fixed indicia  41  to mail piece  11 . Field  37  contains a postal indicia  41  that has a two-dimensional bar code  42  that may be encrypted, unique identification number  15  in the form of a bar code, and a mailer reference number  40  and the number  45 , i.e., the serial number of meter  12 .  
         [0025]      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  indicating 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  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 .  
         [0026]      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  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 .  
         [0027]     The above specification describes a new and improved method for providing proof of mailing of a mail piece. 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.