Postage meter system

Virtual postage meter with multiple origins of deposit

6922678

Abstract

A system and method of evidencing postage payment includes a local postage printing system requesting to a remote data metering center for the generation of postage evidencing information. The request includes a postage amount to be printed on a mailpiece. The remote data metering center determines a postal origin corresponding to the request for postage evidencing information, then accounts for the postage amount in a general account corresponding to the local postage printing system and in a payment account corresponding to the determined postal origin. The remote data metering center generates postage evidencing information in response to the request. The postage evidencing information includes a digital token and the determined postal origin. The remote data metering center sends the postage evidencing information to the local postage printing system which prints the postage evidencing information and the determined postal origin on the mailpiece.


Claims

1. A method for processing a postage evidencing transaction comprising:

receiving at a data center a request from a remote postage printing system for postage evidencing information, the request including a postage amount;

determining at the data center a postal origin of deposit corresponding to the request;

accounting at the data center for the postage amount in a first account corresponding to the remote postage printing system;

accounting at the data center for the postage amount in a second account corresponding to the determined postal origin of deposit;

generating the postage evidencing information; and

sending the generated postage evidencing information to the remote postage printing system.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the second account is a subset of the first account.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the postage evidencing information includes the determined postal origin of deposit.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein determining a postal origin of deposit further comprises:

extracting the postal origin of deposit from the request for postage evidencing information.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein accounting in a first account further comprises:

debiting the postage amount from the first account.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein accounting in a second account further comprises:

crediting the postage amount to the second account.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein accounting in a first account further comprises:

charging the postage amount to the first account.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein accounting in a second account further comprises:

crediting the postage amount to the second account.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the request is received via an originating communication, and determining a postal origin of deposit further comprises:

obtaining an origin identifier of the originating communication;

obtaining an address corresponding to the origin identifier; and

determining the postal origin of deposit by obtaining postal code information for the address.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the originating communication is a phone call, and obtaining an origin identifier further comprises:

using caller ID to obtain a phone number from which the remote postage printing system initiated the originating communication, wherein the phone number is the origin identifier.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the originating communication is received via a network, and obtaining an origin identifier further comprises:

determining a network address of the originating communication.

12. A data center for a postage metering system comprising:

a communication device to communicate with a plurality of remote postage printing systems;

a determining device to determine a postal origin of deposit corresponding to requests for postage evidencing information from the plurality of remote postage printing systems;

a plurality of first accounts each associated with a respective one of the plurality of remote postage printing systems; and

a plurality of second accounts each associated with a respective postal origin of deposit,

wherein when the data center receives a request for postage evidencing information, including a postage amount, via the communication device from one of the plurality of remote postage printing systems, the determining device determines a postal origin of deposit corresponding to the request, accounts for the postage amount in the first account associated with the remote postage printing system, accounts for the postage amount in the second account associated with the determined postal origin of deposit, generates the postage evidencing information, and sends the generated postage evidencing information to the remote postage printing system.

13. The data center of claim 12, wherein the data center accounts for the postage amount in the first account by debiting the postage amount from the first account and accounts for the postage value in the second account by crediting the postage amount to the second account.

14. The data center of claim 12, wherein the data center accounts for the postage amount in the first account by charging the postage amount to the first account and accounts for the postage value in the second account by crediting the postage amount to the second account.


Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to a postage metering system and method for evidencing postage payment in an open system and, more particularly, to a postage metering system and method for evidencing postage payment in a virtual meter configuration.

BRIEF 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 is a block diagram of a system for dispensing postage embodying the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the Data Center Database for virtual postage metering system with multiple origins of deposit for each account;

FIG. 3 is a flow chart of the process for trickle charge method for accounting and distributing funds to multiple origins of deposit in accordance with the present invention; and

FIG. 4 is a flow chart of a prepayment method for accounting and distributing funds to multiple origins of deposit.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

In describing the present invention, reference is made to the drawings, wherein there is seen in FIG. 1, a virtual postage metering system, generally designated 10. The virtual postage metering system 10 includes a plurality (only one is shown) of personal computer (PC) systems, generally designated 20, each having access to a printer 22 for printing evidence of postage on an envelope or label. PC 20 is connected with a transaction processing Data Center 30 that performs postal accounting and evidencing of postage. The virtual postage metering system 10 allows each mailer to use a conventional PC to remotely obtain evidence of postage payment on an as needed basis. Unlike conventional postage metering systems, virtual postage metering system 10 does not include any meter hardware located at the mailer's site. Nor are any postal funds stored at the mailer's site. All the metering and accounting of funds occur at Data Center 30 using functional software and database records representing the mailer's "postage meter". The accounting method for the virtual postage metering system 10 may be a conventional prepayment or post-payment system. However, the preferred embodiment of the present invention is a real-time payment method in which the amount of a transaction is charged to a mailer's credit card account when the transaction occurs. This method is referred to herein as a "trickle charge" postage payment, because the mailer does not pay for postage for a mailpiece until the mailer is ready to print the mailpiece.

In the virtual postage metering system, a "meter" vendor, such as Pitney Bowes Inc., provides the mailer with client software that runs on PC 20. The client software initiates communications with Data Center 30 which performs metering transactions to evidence postage for single mailpieces or batches of mailpieces. In the preferred embodiment, the client software establishes a connection to the Data Center, and requests postage by providing postal information relating to the requested transactions, such as postage amount, addressee information and (optionally) the origin of deposit for each mailpiece. Data Center 30 receives the postal information, determines the origin zip for the mailpiece(s), performs accounting functions and generates an encrypted evidence of postage payment, such as a token or digital signature, and sends indicium information including the token, to PC 20. The encrypted evidence of postage payment can include, for example, at least part of the addressee information, i.e., the destination address of the mailpiece, and the determined postal origin. PC 20 receives the indicium information, creates an indicium bitmap, which can be displayed on a PC monitor (not shown) and printed on the mailpiece by printer 22. PC 20 then disconnects from Data Center 30 or requests another transaction. The connection between PC 20 and Data Center 30 may be through a Network Service Provider, such as on the Internet, or by direct dial using the PC's modem.

Virtual postage metering system 10 eliminates the need to maintain and account for traditional metering devices at each mailer's site and provides flexibility for handling requests from multiple origins of deposit by each mailer. Virtual postage metering system 10 also provides value added services that are not available with conventional meter devices, such as, real-time address hygiene, direct marketing services and trickle charge postage payment. Virtual postage metering system 10 provides user authentication by Data Center 30 to identify mailers with valid accounts. When a mailer has been authenticated for each request, for example, by a user name, password or other conventional methods, Data Center 30 services the request, and returns indicium information to the PC 20 where the indicium is created and printed on the mailpiece.

Referring again to FIG. 1, the mailer initiates a postage evidencing transaction by running client software in PC 20, which contacts Data Center 30. At Data Center 30, a Communication Server 32 supports connectivity from various communication technologies and protocols. The Communication Server merges all incoming traffic and routes it to a Function Server 34, which supports mailer sign-on, postage dispensing and postal reporting. All mailer information,, including use of public or private keys, is accessed from a Database Server 36 where the mailer information is securely stored using secure cryptographic processes and protocols. (It will be understood that, for security purposes, some information may be stored in a secure device or location, such as the Key Management System 38.) All sensitive cryptographic processes occur in the Key Management System 38, which includes a secure, tamper-evident and tamper-responding enclosed area.

Mailers establish accounts through an on-line sign-up process with Data Center 30. During sign-up, the mailer enters, at PC 20, account information, such as user name, password and method of payment. Any registration fees can be charged at this time. Data Center 30, preferably administered by a meter vendor, such as Pitney Bowes Inc., arranges all meter licenses and agreements between its mailers and the Post.

In the preferred embodiment, the method of payment is a real-time, trickle charge, for example to the mailer's credit card, wherein the credit card is charged only for the postage dispensed for evidencing before the evidencing occurs. Alternatively, a traditional prepayment method may be used, wherein each mailer is required to put a minimum amount of money into the mailer's virtual meter account. As account funds drop below a specific level a refill is charged against the mailer's account.

In previously noted U.S. Pat. No. 6,061,670, a meter (or PSD) is registered at several different post offices. The meter has internal sub-registers corresponding to each post office for which the meter is authorized. The meter further has a register for the national postal service. When the customer makes a refill call, the meter reports the status of each sub-register to the refill Data Center. Funds are transferred by a refill transaction to the national postal service register. Status of the sub-registers is reported from the refill Data Center to the national postal service to allow the postal service to account for postage at each local post office.

In the present invention, the PSD does not exist, i.e., there is no metering device coupled to the PC from which postage payment is requested. Virtual postage metering system 10 replaces the accounting and metering functions of the PSD with metering software at PC 20 and mailer account information performed and updated at Data Center 30.

In accordance with the present invention, virtual postage metering system 10 provides each mailer with a metering system that has the capability of originating transactions from multiple origins of deposit. In one embodiment, which is analogous to the metering system disclosed in previously noted U.S. Pat. No. 6,061,670, the PSA is registered at several different post offices and has internal sub-registers corresponding to each post office for which the PSA is authorized. When the mailer requests postage evidencing from the Data Center, the Data Center determines the origin of deposit based on where the mailer originates the request for postage, or alternatively from the request itself, and, if the PSA is authorized for such origin of deposit, the Data Center completes the generation of postage evidencing and accounts for the amount of postage accordingly in the PSA and sub-register corresponding to the origin of deposit.

In the preferred embodiment, there is no need for pre-authorized origins of mailing. Once the Data Center determines a valid origin of deposit based on where the mailer originates the request for postage, the Data Center completes the generation of postage evidencing and accounts for the amount of postage accordingly in the PSA and sub-register corresponding to the origin of deposit. Such accounting is described in more detail below.

Various methods can be used to determine the origin of deposit for a requested transaction. For example, a method for determining origin zip code using a caller ID from a telephone call is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,943,658, assigned to the assignee of the present invention, which is hereby incorporated in its entirety by reference. Specifically, if a transaction is requested via a modem connection over a standard telephone line, the Data Center determines the phone number from which the customer is placing the call using the Caller ID feature that is present in most phone systems. This is usually accomplished by demodulating the data sent between the first and second ring. This data contains the phone number which originated the call and the time of the call.

Once the phone number has been determined, a national phone directory (which is currently available on CD-ROM) is used to determine the address from which the call is being placed. After the address has been determined, the ZIP code from which the call originated may be determined by accessing a similar national database of ZIP codes (also currently available on CD-ROM). For other types of connections (such as a network or the Internet) the origin of deposit may be determined using appropriate databases that already exist or which can be easily created (such as network ID or internet address). For example, if the communication is via a network, the network address can be used as the identifier to determine the origin of deposit for a requested transaction. Of course, a mailer can enter the origin of deposit through the PC, or the Data Center can determine origin of deposit from return address information provided by the mailer. However, it will be appreciated that the latter methods are less reliable.

Referring now to FIG. 2, the Database Server 36 file structure is shown. The database comprises a plurality of PSAs (postal security accounts), each PSA representing a metering account administered by Data Center 30. Each PSA has a register (RNPS) for the national Postal Service. Each PSA is also registered at up to (N) different post offices (PO1, Po2, PON), i.e., origins of deposit. Each PSA has internal sub-registers (RPO1, RPO2, . . . RPON) corresponding to each post office for which the PSA is authorized. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, each PSA has an RPO for each valid origin of deposit. For each postage evidencing transaction, the Data Center accounts in the RNPS of a PSA and in one of the RPO for postage evidenced. Thus, the present invention allows a request for evidence of postage to include an origin of mailing other than the origin of mailing for a master postal register of the PSA. An alternate file structure for Database Server 36, each PSA includes a national Postal Service register. However, instead of the sub-registers in each PSA, Database Server 36 has a separate account register for each origin of deposit in which real-time accounting occurs for each transaction for an origin of deposit.

The Function Server at the Data Center performs the accounting and postage evidencing generation functions and stores transaction and accounting information in the PSA and the appropriate sub-registers.

At some predetermined interval, such as daily or when the refill of the PSA occurs, Data Center 30 reports the status of PSA and each RPO to the Postal Service. In the preferred embodiment of a trickle charge method of payment, since credit card transactions have accounted for all postage payment being reported, the Postal Service verifies payment of total transactions being reported and assigns funds from such payment to the appropriate local post offices. When a prepayment method is being used, Data Center initiates the transfer of funds to the Postal Service accordingly. The mailer requests funds transferred to the RNPS register. The funds are transferred by a refill transaction to the national postal service register. Reports of the sub-registers (RPO1, RPO2, RPON) are reported from the refill Data Center to the national Postal Service to allow the Postal Service to account for postage at each local post office. The register RNPS may have ascending and descending registers. The RPO registers may simply be a total of postage evidenced for mail destined for the corresponding post office.

The foregoing description of the preferred embodiment of the present invention makes use of existing infrastructure of the current postal system for post payment to local post offices. It will be understood that the current infrastructure could be bypassed by implementing a method for direct payments to local post offices at the time the transaction is evidenced.

When an amount of postage needed for each transaction is determined, for example, by specific request by the mailer or by automatic determination at the Data Center, the amount of postage may be deducted from the mailer's PSA in a pre-payment method, added to the mailer's PSA in a post-payment method or charged directly to a pre-authorized credit card of the mailer in a real-time payment method. In the latter and preferred method, the PSA contains no funds until the time of postage evidencing at which time postage funds are present only during the transaction. In this real-time payment method, funds can be transferred to the origin of deposit when the postage evidencing occurs, or preferably at a predetermined interval. Each transaction is logged to the meter database records as an historical record. It will be understood that refilling of the PSA in a prepayment method or payment in a post-payment method could be completed with an automatic credit card transaction. The following description of the present invention will include the real-time payment method, however either of the pre-payment, also described below, or post-payment methods can be used with the present invention as well.

Referring now to FIG. 3, the process for distributing funds in accordance with a trickle charge method of payment begins at step 200, with the mailer, through PC 20, authorizing use of a credit card account to a funds control center, such as a bank. (Such authorization may occur through the Data Center to the funds control center.) At step 205, the funds control center acknowledges such authorization and notifies Data Center 30. At step 210, the Data Center activates the mailer's PSA by assigning the mailer's credit card account to it and notifies the mailer. At step 215, the mailer, through PC 20, initiates a request for indicium information from the Data Center 30, providing postal information, such as, postage amount and destination information. At step 220, Data Center 30 responds to the request by verifying sufficient funds are available, charging the mailer's credit card account, determining valid origin zip for the request, calculating a digital token or digital signature corresponding to the postal information provided with the request, and forwarding the indicium information including the digital token to PC 20. Data Center 30 also stores information relating to each transaction as a historical record to be forwarded to the Postal Service at a predetermined interval. At step 225, PC 20 obtains the indicium information from Data Center 30, generates an indicium bitmap and prints the indicium on the mailpiece. At some predetermined interval, for example daily, at step 230, Data Center 30 notifies the Postal Service of the total postage amount for each meter ID (PSA) and origin zip combination by forwarding the historical record to the Postal Service. At step 235, the Postal Service combines the transactions for each origin zip to determine the amount owed to each origin zip (local) post office. At step 240, the Postal Service assigns an appropriate amount of funds from the funds control center to each local post office. Alternatively, steps 235 and 240 could be performed at the Data Center or funds control center.)

Referring now to FIG. 4, the process for distributing funds in accordance with a prepayment version of the present invention begins at step 300, with the mailer, through PC 20, sending funds to a funds control center, such as a bank. At step 305, the funds control center acknowledges such authorization and notifies Data Center 30. At step 310, the Data Center adjusts the PSA for the mailer to account for the additional funds and notifies the mailer. At step 315, the mailer, through PC 20, initiates a request for indicium information from the Data Center 30, providing postal information, such as, postage amount and destination information. At step 320, Data Center 30 responds to the request by verifying sufficient funds are available, debiting the mailer's account, determining valid origin zip for the request, calculating a digital token or digital signature corresponding to the postal information provided with the request, and forwarding the indicium information including the digital token to PC 20. Data Center 30 also stores information relating to each transaction as a historical record to be forwarded to the Postal Service at a predetermined interval. At step 325, PC 20 obtains the indicium information from Data Center 30, generates an indicium bitmap and prints the indicium on the mailpiece. At some predetermined interval, for example daily, at step 330, Data Center 30 notifies the Postal Service of the total postage amount for each meter ID (PSA) and origin zip combination by forwarding the historical record to the Postal Service. At step 335, the Postal Service combines the transactions for each origin zip to determine the amount owed to each origin zip (local) post office. At step 340, the Postal Service assigns an appropriate amount of funds from the funds control center to each local post office.

It will be understood that, although the embodiments of the present invention are described as postage metering systems, the present invention is applicable to any value metering system that includes transaction evidencing, such as monetary transactions, item transactions and information transactions. It will also be understood that, although the present invention is described with regard to origin zip codes, the present invention is suitable for any postal code utilized by various postal systems or any other postal accounting system (such as one where payment for parcels and letters are assigned to different postal departments).

While the present invention has been disclosed and described with reference to embodiments thereof, it will be apparent, as noted above, that variations and modifications may be made therein. It is, thus, intended in the following claims to cover each variation and modification that falls within the true spirit and scope of the present invention.

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