| Patent application number | Description | Published |
|---|
| 20090069928 | VIRTUAL CODE FOR DELIVERY TO THE NEAREST BUILDING OF ORGANIZATIONS HAVING MULTIPLE BUILDINGS - A method that enables the post to deliver mail addressed to a recipient nearest location virtual address to be delivery directly to the recipient's nearest designated location or facility to the place the mail was posted. Mail addressed to the nearest location virtual address (mapping to a street address or post office box) would be captured by the post during the post's sortation process and routed to the nearest location or facility to the place the mail was posted. This enables the recipient to receive their mail more quickly since the amount of delivery time is reduced. | 03-12-2009 |
| 20090078618 | SYSTEM AND PROCESS FOR REDUCING NUMBER OF STOPS ON DELIVERY ROUTE BY IDENTIFICATION OF STANDARD CLASS MAIL - A system and method are disclosed for sorting mail pieces that may include both standard and higher class mail. The mail pieces are for delivery to various addresses, and the present invention postpones delivery to some addresses if those addresses are receiving insufficient mail. According to this method, data is collected about each mail piece, and that data for each mail piece is associated with a respective holder that holds the mail piece. Mail is withheld from immediate delivery if the collected data associated with the holder indicates that the mail piece is standard class having a non-immediate delivery deadline, provided that the collected data associated with other holders indicates that there are no other pieces having the same address and having either a higher class or an immediate delivery date. | 03-26-2009 |
| 20090083187 | MAIL STERILIZATION INDICATOR - A mail piece having a sterilization indicator includes an irradiation status area applied to a part of said mail piece. The irradiation status area is adapted to be activated by radiation. The irradiation status area has a first color prior to activation by radiation. The irradiation status area has a second color subsequent to activation by radiation. A method for the processing a mail piece having a sterilization indicator embodying the present invention includes the steps of introducing the mail piece into a postal processing system. The mail piece has an irradiation status area which is adapted to be activated by radiation. The mail piece is radiated and processed to determine whether the radiation has activated the irradiation status area. | 03-26-2009 |
| 20090154766 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DETECTING MALFUNCTIONING PRINT ELEMENTS IN POSTAGE METER INDICIA PRINTER - In a mailing machine, an image element included in a postage meter indicium printed on a mail piece is transported past a linear image capture device. The image capture device is operated to produce a smeared image of the image element. The smeared image is then automatically analyzed to detect failures in the print elements of a postage meter that is part of the mailing machine. | 06-18-2009 |
| 20090157745 | ADDRESS CORRECTION OPTIMIZATION SYSTEM AND METHOD - According to some embodiments, a method and a system are provided to store data regarding a plurality of patterns among recipients listed in a mailing list, and determine whether to request an address correction service for a mailing to the recipients based on (a) a planned date for the mailing and (b) the stored data. | 06-18-2009 |
| 20090166401 | TIME LIMITED BUSINESS REPLY MAIL - Systems and methods for utilizing time-dependent markings in systems including a mail delivery system for utilizing time-limited business reply mail are described. A business reply mail authorization permit is applied to a business reply mail piece using a time-dependent marking such as time-dependent ink. After the time-dependent ink changes state, the mail piece is no longer marked as an authorized business reply mail piece. | 07-02-2009 |
| 20090166438 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PRODUCING AND PROCESSING TIME DEPENDENT DYNAMIC BARCODES IN A MAIL DELIVERY SYSTEM - Systems and methods for utilizing time-dependent dynamic barcodes in systems including a mail delivery system for manipulating delivery charges and/or sorting and delivery processing preferences are described. | 07-02-2009 |
| 20100049536 | METHODS FOR CREATING CONSOLIDATED MAILPIECES - A method includes receiving a plurality of mail messages. The plurality of mail messages are all appointed for delivery by mail to the same recipient. Each of the mail messages includes a respective account number for the mail recipient. The method further includes combining the received mail messages into a single combined mailpiece addressed to the mail recipient. All of the account numbers included in the mail messages are mutually different from each other. | 02-25-2010 |
| 20100067071 | FLEXIBLE SYSTEM FOR FEEDING AND PROCESSING MULTI-PAGE DOCUMENTS - A system for feeding and processing documents includes a document transport system adapted to transport documents to document processing stations. A fastening device detecting station is connected to the transport system and is adapted to detect a fastening device securing together pages of a document. A fastening device removing station is connected to the transport system. The fastening device removing station is adapted to remove a fastening device securing together pages of a document. A scanning station is connected to the transport system. The scanning station is adapted to scan the pages of a document. A page flipping station is connected to the transport system. The page flipping station is adapted to flip pages of a document having a fastening device securing together pages of a document such that each document pages is positioned to be scanned at the scanning station. A systems controller is interactively connected to and controls the operation of the document transport system, the fastening device detecting station, the fastening device removing station, the scanning station and the page flipping station. The systems controller controls the operation of the transport system and the stations based on information provided to the systems controller by the fastening device detecting station for a document to be scanned at the scanning station, to cause such document to be scanned to be processed by the fastening device removing station to remove a fastening device securing together pages of a document before scanning of the document or by the page flipping station during scanning of the document to be scanned. A method may be employed where depending on a determination of the nature of a document to be processed, the document is either routed along a first path of travel where the fastener is removed and the document pages are fed seriatim for processing or along a second path of travel where the document pages are turned during processing. | 03-18-2010 |
| 20100080441 | CONFIRMING CANCELLATION OF TRUNCATED CHECKS - A method of operating a check processing system includes scanning a check on a first occasion to generate a first image of the check. The first image is transmitted to a financial institution. The check is scanned on a second occasion later than the first occasion to generate a second image of the check. The second image of the check is transmitted to the financial institution. The second image of the check is examined to determine whether the check was cancelled prior to the second occasion. | 04-01-2010 |
| 20100144376 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PRODUCING HARD COPIES OF ELECTRONIC INFORMATION EMPLOYING A PORTABLE PERSONAL RECEIVING DEVICE - A method for producing hard copies of electronic information employing a portable personal receiving device includes the steps of selecting information to print and utilizing the receiving device to identify available printers based on the location of the receiving device for printing the selected information in hard copy form. The portable receiving device is connected to one of the available printers and the selected information is printed in hard copy form. A system for producing hard copies of electronic information employing a portable personal receiving device includes a portable receiving device having a program enabling selection of information to print. The portable device includes a program to identify available printers based on the location of the receiving device. A communications link connects the portable receiving device to an available printer. The receiving device may be a cell phone and global positioning satellite functionality and/or cell phone tower positions may be employed to determine the location of the receiving device. | 06-10-2010 |
| 20100155494 | PRINT CONTAINMENT OF PIXELS TO IMPROVE READABILITY - A method to improve the image of a printed barcode by causing controlled “bleeding” of the print pixels within solid printed areas surrounded by a barrier to improve the print contrast ratio within the barcode data element by homogenizing the printed data without causing image bleed into unintended areas. Hence, the printed material will contain more clearly defined printed and non printed areas to enable the printed material to be accurately read. | 06-24-2010 |
| 20100157007 | PRINT ENHANCEMENT OF PIXELS TO IMPROVE READABILITY - A method to improve the image of a printed barcode by enhancing coverage of the print pixels within solid printed areas to improve the print uniformity and decrease the graininess of the typical ink jet printing by dissolving a small percentage of the colorant and distributing more uniformly. The parameter improved by the invention is the graininess or uniformity of coverage. The contrast ratio within barcode data elements can be also improved without causing unwanted image bleed into unintended areas. Hence, the printed barcode will contain more clearly defined printed and non printed areas to enable the barcode to be accurately read. The invention prevents also unwanted bleeding in areas where it could lower the quality of the printed material by avoiding application of enhanced coverage facilitators when desired white space is identified within a minimum distance. | 06-24-2010 |
| 20110024488 | REUSABLE WINDOWED ENVELOPE - A reusable mailing envelope includes a plurality of panels which, in combination, define a pocket for receipt of internal content material. One of the panels includes a window adapted to receive printed information to facilitate routing of the mailing envelope during the initial mail delivery. The reusable envelope also includes a means for preventing the readability of the printed information on the window during a subsequent mail delivery such that the routing instructions associated with the initial mail delivery are not interpreted and executed by the automated scanning equipment during the subsequent mail delivery. | 02-03-2011 |
| 20110071924 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROCESSING CONSUMER TRANSACTIONS USING A CENTRAL SERVER AND A MOBILE PROCESSOR - A system and method for obtaining an item includes retrieving consolidated data concerning an item from a provider infrastructure, the consolidated data including data elements from a source of the item and data elements concerning a mobile user of the provider infrastructure. Verifiable authorization is retrieved from the provider infrastructure for the mobile user of the provider infrastructure to obtain the item from the source of said item consistent with the consolidated data. The consolidated data may have various data elements specific to the source of the items such as price offers, rebates, incentives and discounts and location of the item and various data elements specific to the mobile user such as gift certificates, loyalty programs, buyers' group participation and location of the mobile user in relation to the specific source. The verifiable authorization from said provider infrastructure is displayed on a device for said mobile user of said provider infrastructure to obtain the item from the source of the item consistent with the consolidated data. If a purchase decision is made, the system and method for obtaining an item may also include retrieving payment verification from the provider infrastructure for the item from the source of the item. This payment verification is consistent with the consolidated data and by a preselected method of payment by the mobile user of the provider infrastructure. The provider infrastructure is updated with data related to the mobile user of the provider infrastructure and the source of the item. | 03-24-2011 |
| 20110153418 | BROADCAST DATA MINING FOR TARGETED MAIL STREAM SOLICITATIONS - A computer receives information that indicates viewing and/or skipping of television commercials by a number of viewers. The computer uses the information to compile statistics that summarize viewing and/or skipping of the television commercials within a geographical area. Based on the statistics, an advertising solicitation is selected by the geographic area and is dispatched on paper to recipients in the geographical area. | 06-23-2011 |
