Abstract:
A personal postal product and a system for producing same. The postal product includes a personal image area for receiving a personal image and an official postal image area having a machine-readable code. The machine-readable code is configured so as to extend around at least a portion of the personalized image area. The code may be colored and coordinated with a color present in the personal image The personal image area and official postal image have may a variety of shapes. The system includes a computer for processing image data, a data entry device for entering a digital and a printer for producing the postal indicia.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to an article and system used for creating and printing of customized official postage as an aesthetic border for a personal postal product. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,725,718 discloses using indicia in the form of a code for identifying the postage amount, the mail address and authenticity of the postage. U.S. Pat. No. 4,831,555, discloses a postage applying system where the device used for printing of postage and the accounting unit are separated from one another by an unsecured link and the authenticity of the postage is insured by encryption. Both of these patents disclose printing of postage using a device such as an off the shelf printer. U.S. Pat. No. 5,801,944 discloses a system for printing a postage meter stamp, including a desired postage amount and personalized postage indicia onto a label or directly onto a document. The processing system that formats and prints the document, calculates the appropriate postage for the document, encrypts selected information into machine readable format, and prints the appropriate postage for that document at the same time the document is being printed. The processing system interacts with the customer to generate personal stamp indicia and prints the information onto the outside of a mailing envelope. U.S. Pat. No. 5,819,240 discloses printing a postage meter stamp including the postage amount and a personalized postage indicia onto a piece of mail. The personalized postage indicia can be created by the user or selected from a list of graphics supplied by the Post Office and placed on a postal storage device. Also disclosed is the use of two compatible computer programs. One program runs on a computer at the Post Office and a second program that runs on the user&#39;s computer. 
     These previously mentioned patents disclose a method which allows a customer to print postage using their computer and an off the shelf printer at a location remote from the post office. When the postage is printed using an off the shelf printer and not a secured postage meter, an encryption scheme as described in the patents previously set forth is used. In each of the cases described above, the postage printed is akin to postage printed using a postage meter. The postage indicia are applied using a single color of ink. 
     There are several problems with the systems and methods disclosed. The first is that the postage printed is limited to one or two colors. Again as mentioned above these indicia are typically very rudimentary and are no more than line drawings. Another problem is the personalized indicia are typically printed in close proximity to any customized postal indicia or personalized image associated with the postage. The encrypted postage is not actually part of the personalized image itself. Because the postage is encrypted using a form of one or two-dimensional bar code, the encrypted postage detracts from the aesteteic appearance of any personalized indicia or image. One of the characteristics of encrypted official postage indicia is the relationship between the official postage indicia and any personal or custom indicia printed on an article of mail. An example of an article of mail is an envelope, post card, etc. 
     The present invention provides a method and system for customizing an official postal product that solves many of the problems of the prior art. The method and system also provides high quality images on official postal products having the required quality, characteristics, and content standards. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with one aspect of the present invention there is provided a personal postal product comprised of a personal image area for receiving a personal image and an official postal image area having a machine-readable code. The machine-readable code is configured so as to extend substantially around the personalized image area. 
     Another aspect of the present invention is provided a personal postage product wherein the official postal image area is printed using a color. The color of the code may be coordinated with a color present in the personal image or be in direct contrast to at least one of the colors in personal image. 
     In yet a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a personal postal product comprised of a personal image area having a substantially polygonal shape, and the official postal image area comprised of a machine-readable code configured to extend substantially along at least two sides of the polygon. The personal image area also may have a generally ellipsoid shape where the official postal image area comprised of a machine readable code is configured to extend along at least a portion of the periphery of said ellipsoid shape. 
     In still another aspect of the present invention a system for producing postal indicia comprised of a computer for processing image data. A data entry means for entering a digital image, which is to be incorporated into part of the postal indicia. A printer for producing the postal indicia, the postal indicia is comprised of a personal image area for receiving a personal image and an official postal image area. The official postage image area is comprised of a machine-readable code configured to extend substantially around the postal image area. 
     In another aspect of the present invention there is provided a personal postal product comprised of a personal image area for receiving a personal image and an official postal image area having a machine-readable code. The machine-readable code is within or mixed with the personalized image area. 
    
    
     These and other aspects, objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood and appreciated from a review of the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments and appended claims, and by reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     In the detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention presented below, reference is made to the accompanying drawings in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a plan view of a prior art envelope printed with a personal image and an official postal image comprised of a machine-readable code; 
     FIG. 2 is a plan view of a postal product printed with personal image and an official postal image comprised of a machine-readable code printed as a frame around the personal image made in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 3 a  is an enlarged partial color view of a postal product having the personal image with the official postal image of FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 3 b  is a view (also in color) similar to FIG. 3 a  effectively a different color scheme; 
     FIG. 4 a  is an enlarged partial view of a postal product having a personal image with an official postal image machine-readable code printed adjacent two sides of the periphery also made in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 4 b  is an enlarged partial view of a postal product having a personal image with an official postal image machine-readable code printed on the partial length of each of the four sides of the periphery also made in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIGS. 5 a  and  5   b  are an enlarged partial view of a postal product having a personal image and an official postal image printed in a triangular format also made in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 6 a  is an enlarged partial view of a postal product having a personal image and an official postal image comprised of a machine-readable code printed in a curved format also made in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIGS. 6 b  is an enlarged partial view of a postal product having a personal image and an official postal image comprised of a machine-readable code printed in a curved and straight sided format also made in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 7 is an enlarged partial view of a postal product having a personal image and an official postal image comprised of a machine-readable code printed in an elliptical format also made in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 8 is an enlarged partial view of a postal product having a personal image and an official postal image comprised of a machine-readable code printed in a octagon format also made in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIGS. 9 a ,  9   b , and  9   c  are enlarged partial views of a postal product illustrating a variety of shapes in which the machine-readable code may be printed in relationship to the personal image area also made in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIGS. 10 a  and  10   b  are enlarged partial views of a postal product having a personal image and an official postal image printed in an alternate format also made in accordance with the present invention; 
     FIG. 11 is schematic diagram of a system made in accordance with the present invention for making postal products in accordance with the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring now to FIG. 1, a plan view of an envelope  10  printed with a personal image  20  and an official postal image  30  in accordance with the prior art. The official postal image  30  is comprised of a eye-readable information such as the denomination of the stamp  25  and a machine-readable code  35  printed in a format that is currently known in the art. One example of the machine-readable code is PaperDisk™ developed by Cobblestone Software, Inc. of Lexington, Mass. PaperDisk™ is a flexibly configurable 2D bar code. PaperDisk™ is described in a white paper delivered to the Information Based Indicia Program Technology Symposium, sponsored by the United States Postal Service, Nov. 25-26, 1996 by Thomas Antognini, Ph.D., Cobblestone Software, Inc. and Walter Antognini, J. D., Cobblestone Software, Inc. and Pace University and is hereby incorporated by reference. The machine-readable code  35  is printed in a block format next to the personal image area  20  or some other type of customized indicia. An example of a customized indicia maybe a logo representing a business, advertising message, etc. In other instances the complete code  35  is printed above or below the personal image area  20 . The machine-readable code  35  as described above is a two dimensional bar code. The standard bar code currently used by the Post Office is POSTNET ZIP+4 described in Postal Service Publication number  67 . An example of the type of code used by the Post Office is the Universal Product Code (UPC) seen on many products. The advantage of the two dimensional bar code over the standard bar code is the amount of data that can be encrypted. Because of the amount of additional information required to print an official postal image  30  using a personal computer and off the shelf printer at a location remote from the post office the two dimensional bar code is currently preferred. However, it is to be understood that any suitable machine readable code may be used that is currently available or may become available, for example but not by way of limitation, a bar code. 
     Referring now to FIG. 2, FIG. 2 is a plan view of a postal product  12 printed with a postage area  40 , made in accordance with the present invention. In the embodiment illustrated the postal product is an envelope. However, the postal product  12  may be a postcard, stamp, label or any other item now used for retaining official postage. The postage area  40  comprises an official area  50  bounded on the outer circumference by periphery  55  and on the inner circumference by periphery  60  and a personal image area  20  bounded on the outer circumference by periphery  55 . The official section  50  is comprised of an official postal image  30  comprising a machine-readable code  35  as described with respect to FIG.  1 . The user using any type of digital image file, graphic, text or any combination of the three can create the personal image area  20 . In FIG. 2 the official postal area  50  has been configured as a border or frame printed around the personal image area  20 . 
     Referring to FIG. 3 a , FIG. 3 a  is an enlarged partial color view of a postal product  12  having the postal image  40  shown in FIG.  2 . FIG. 3 a  shows the machine-readable code  35  of the official postal area  50  printed in a colored ink as opposed to the standard black ink currently used. In the embodiment illustrated the color of postal area  50  is matched to one of the colors present in personal image area  20 . Alternatively the color of the code  35  may be complimentary, contrasting or as desired. For example the color in the sky  36  matches the color of the code  35 . The color used to print the machine-readable code  35  may be a complimentary hue or shade of one the colors present in the personal image area  20 . The color for code  35  can be automatically determined by an algorithm that identifies an appropriate color for code  35  from the colors present in the personal image area  20 . This is accomplished by determining the colorimetric values of the image pixels of the digital file of the personal image in the image area  20  using standard colorimetric techniques. Colorimetry is the measurement of color. A set of colorimetric parameters for an object, based on measured colorimetric parameters, can quantify the color of the object as it appears to the average observer under a specific set of viewing conditions. Techniques described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,528,339 can be used to identify the colorimetric values of the image suitable for use with the present invention. Using these techniques, colors can be determine automatically for printing the code  35  which can be complimentary or contrasting as desired. 
     Referring to FIG. 3 b , FIG. 3 b  is an enlarged partial color view of a postal product  12  having the postal image  40  shown in FIG.  2 . FIG. 3 b  shows the machine-readable code  35  of the official postal area  50  printed in a color contrasting with one of the colors present in the personal image area  20 . For example the color in the sky  36  contrasts with the color of the code  35 . 
     While in the present embodiment, the code  35  is shown substantially surrounding the periphery of the image; the present invention is not so limited. FIG. 4 a  is a enlarged partial view of a postal product  12  having the personal image area  20  with the machine-readable code  35  of the official postal area  50  shown in FIG. 2, printed along two sides  21  and  22  of the of the personal image area  20 . 
     FIG. 4 b  is a plan view of a postal product  12  having the personal image area  20  with the machine-readable code  35  of the official postal area  50  shown in FIG.  2 . The machine-readable code  35  is printed along the partial length of four sides  21 ,  22 ,  23 , and  24  of the of the personal image area  20 . 
     The machine-readable code  35  as shown in both FIGS. 4 a  and  4   b  may be printed along any of the sides  21 ,  22 ,  23 , or  24  or along any combination of sides or any portion of any one side. 
     FIGS. 5 a  and  5   b  are plan views of a postal product  12  having the personal image  20  and the official postal area  50  printed in a triangular format. 
     Referring to FIG. 5 a , FIG. 5 a  shows the machine-readable code  35  of the official area  50  bounded on the outer border by lines  70 ,  80 , and  90  and on the inner border by lines  100 ,  110 , and  120 . The personal image area  20  is bounded on the outer border by lines  100 ,  110 , and  120 . 
     Referring to FIG. 5 b , FIG. 5 b  shows the machine-readable code  35  of the official postal area  50  printed partially along the three sides  130 ,  140  and  150  of the personal image area  20 . The machine-readable code  35  as shown in both FIGS. 5 a  and  5   b  may be printed along any of the sides  100 ,  110 ,  120 ,  130 ,  140  and  150  respectively or along any combination of sides or any portion of any one side. 
     FIGS. 6 a  is a plan view of the personal image  20  and the official postal area  50  comprised of a machine-readable code  35  printed in a curved format on a postal product  12 . 
     Referring to FIG. 6 a , shows the machine-readable code  35  of the official postal area  50  printed along a portion of the periphery of the circular personal image area  20  indicated by line  180 . The portion of the periphery of the circular personal image area  20  where no code is printed is indicated by line  190 . The outer border of the personal image area  20  is bounded by line  180 . 
     Referring to FIG. 6 b , FIG. 6 b  is an enlarged partial view of a postal product  12  having the personal image area  20  and machine-readable code  35  printed in a curved and straight-sided format. FIG. 6 b  shows the machine-readable code  35  printed along the curved portion indicated by line  195  of the outer periphery of the personal image area  20  leaving the remaining portion blank. The machine-readable code  35  may be printed along any of the sides  195 ,  196 ,  197  and  198  or along any combination of sides or any portion of any one side. 
     Now referring to FIG. 7, FIG. 7 is a plan view of a personal image area  20  and the official postal area  50  printed in an elliptical format on a postal product  12 . FIG. 7 illustrates the machine-readable code  35  of the official postal area  50  printed along a portion of the periphery indicated by line  200 . The machine-readable code  35  may be printed along any portion of the outer periphery of the personal image area  20  leaving the remaining portion of the periphery blank. 
     Now referring to FIG. 8, FIG. 8 is a plan view of a personal image area  20  and the official postal area  50  printed in an octagon format on a postal product  12  indicated by lines  210 ,  215 ,  220 ,  225 ,  230 ,  235 ,  240 , and  245 . FIG. 8 illustrates the machine-readable code  35  of the official postal area  50  printed along a portion of the periphery indicated by lines  235 ,  240 , and  245 . The machine-readable code  35  may be printed along any of the sides or along any combination of sides or any portion of any one side. 
     As shown in FIGS. 9 a ,  9   b , and  9   c  it is to be understood that the personal image area  20  may take any shape/configuration desired and the machine-readable code  35  may take a variety of other shapes and configurations, many of which are not shown. Additionally while the machine-readable code  35  is shown being adjacent to the periphery  250 , the machine-readable code  35  may be partially or total spaced from the personal image area  20  so as to provide various aesthetically pleasing designs. Thus the machine-readable code  35  may take a variety of shapes correspondingly or complimentary to that shape of the personal image area. 
     In the embodiments discussed above the code  35  is place about the periphery of the personal image area  20 . However, the present invention is not so limited. If desired the official postal area  50  may be within the personal image area  20  or intermixed there with as illustrated by FIGS. 10 a  and  10   b . FIG. 10 a  illustrates the code  35  place within the personal image area  20 . FIG. 10 b  illustrates that the code  35  is intermixed with the sky  36  of the personal image area  20 . In this embodiment, the code is placed in a generally non-interesting area. This may be for example an area where the tone and/or color scale is generally uniform. These characteristics can be automatically obtaining by digital scanning of the personal image to be placed in image area  20  and analyzing of the scanned image. When printing the code  35  in the personal image area  20 , the code  35  may be printed using an ink, pigment or dye which is not visible on normal lighting conditions. Such inks may be visible under UV or infra red light. An example of such an ink is sold by the Eastman Chemical Company under the trade name N.I.R.F. (near-infrared fluorophore) inks sells appropriate suitable ink for placement of the information. 
     Referring to FIG. 11 there is illustrated a system for practicing of the present invention. In the embodiment illustrated a computer  300 , such as personal computer, connected to a printer  302 . The printer  302  may be a postage meter or franking device that keeps track of the amount of postage being printed and subtracts the monetary amount of the printed postage from an amount stored in the postage meter. In another example the postage meter is remote from the accounting agency and communicates with the accounting agency via a data transmission system such as the Internet. In another example postage meter or franking device may be connected to an accounting device that receives the monetary amount of postage from the accounting agency and store it in it&#39;s own memory which is addressable by the postage meter. An optional scanner  304 , or other data entry means, may be provided for obtaining of a personal image for placement in the personal image area  20 . The computer  300  has appropriate communication software and hardware that allows the computer  300  to be electronically connected to other computers, data bases, etc. via a modem  310  over a communication network  306 . In the embodiment illustrated the network  306  may include the internet. The personal images may be obtained from any source, for example electronically from stored image files or over a communication network such as the internet. Also in the embodiment illustrated the computer  300  is shown in communication via a modem  312  and computer  314  with an authorizing authority  308  capable of authorizing the printing of official postage. This may be the official governmental postal authority  308  or some other independent business that has been authorized. The authorizing authority  308  in addition to authorizing amounts of postage to be printed, may also provide coded information that would be placed in code  35 . This coded information can later be read to confirm the amount, the individual or business that has been authorized to print the official postal indicia, and authenticity of the official postal indicia. It is of course understood that any other appropriate information may be encoded within code  35 . The use of a two-dimensional code allows the providing of relatively large amounts of related and/or independent information. 
     The invention has been described in detail with particular reference to certain preferred embodiments thereof, but it will be understood that variations and modifications can be effected within the scope of the invention, the present invention being deferred by the following claims. 
     PARTS LIST 
       10  Envelope 
       12  Postal product 
       20  Personal image area 
       21  Side 
       22  Side 
       23  Side 
       24  Side 
       25  Eye-readable official postage 
       30  Official postal image 
       35  Machine-readable code 
       36  sky 
       40  Postage area 
       50  Official area 
       55  Outer periphery 
       60  Inner periphery 
       70  Outer border lines 
       80  Outer border lines 
       90  Outer border lines 
       100  inner border lines 
       110  inner border lines 
       120  inner border lines 
       130  side 
       140  side 
       150  side 
       180  line 
       190  line 
       195  line 
       196  line 
       197  line 
       198  line 
       200  line 
       210  line 
       220  line 
       225  line 
       230  line 
       235  line 
       240  line 
       245  line 
       250  periphery 
       300  computer 
       302  printer 
       304  scanner 
       306  network 
       308  authorizing authority 
       310  modem 
       312  modem 
       314  computer