Psi Systems, Inc.

Other

Sunspool Corporation

Stamps Com Inc.

Harry T Whitehouse

Scott Montgomery

David P Bagshaw

Michael A Kast

Eugene F Duval

Samuel Leinbach

Gilbert M Masters

Amine George Khechfe

Amine G Khechfe

In certain embodiments, transaction data retrieval from a postage vendor system database may be facilitated (e.g., via label generation with multiple barcode representations of a portion of a postage tracking identifier, where the tracking identifier is generated based on a carrier-specific tracking identifier unique within a carrier system with respect to accounts recognized by the carrier system). In some embodiments, the tracking identifier may be generated such that (i) the tracking identifier comprises the carrier-specific tracking identifier and (ii) enables a mail piece associated with a postage transaction to be tracked within the carrier system, and the tracking identifier portion is allocated to the postage transaction in one or more databases of the vendor system. An indicium identifier may be generated to comprise the tracking identifier portion, thereby enabling the vendor system to identify the postage transaction using one of the two identifiers without the other one of the identifiers.

System and method for facilitating transaction data retrieval

Systems and methods which provide for intelligent and/or optimized use of shipping services through facilitating consolidation of shipped items with respect to one or more leg of shipments are described. Embodiments provide a shipping consolidation management system operable to analyze various shipping parameters and identify situations in which consolidation of shipped items with respect to one or more legs of a shipment may be desired. Shipping consolidation management systems may provide operation to identify situations appropriate for forming consolidated shipments associated with a single shipper and/or a plurality of shippers. A shipping consolidation management system of embodiments operates to print consolidated shipment documentation for use with respect to the consolidated shipment. Embodiments may utilize various different shipping service providers and/or shipping services with respect to legs of shipments having a consolidated shipment, such as may include traditional shipping service providers and/or service providers not traditionally considered as shipping service providers.

Systems and methods for shipment consolidation

In certain embodiments, reduction of delay related to postage indicia dispensing may be facilitated. In some embodiments, a postage distributor system may retrieve indicia data representing postage indicia from a postage provider system associated with a postage provider. The postage distributor system may store the indicia data representing the postage indicia at a storage system of the postage distributor system. The postage distributor system may receive, via a user device, a request to purchase one or more indicia subsequent to the storage of the indicia data representing the postage indicia at the storage system. The postage distributor system may provide indicia data representing the requested indicia to the user device from the indicia data representing the postage indicia. In some embodiments, the postage distributor system's receipt of the request and providing of the indicia data representing the requested indicia occur during a downtime period of the postage provider system.

System and method for reducing delay related to postage indicia dispensing

A method and system for detecting postage fraud using an indexed lookup procedure is provided. The method includes generating, at a postage-issuing computer system, a unique postage indicium associated with a unique tracking number allocated to a postage transaction. The unique tracking number provides a mail piece tracking capability within the United States Postal Service (USPS). The method further includes indexing the postage transaction with the unique tracking number; and receiving, at the postage-issuing computer system, a request to validate a printed postage indicium carried on a mail piece received at the USPS. The request includes a tracking number identified from information further carried on the mail piece. The method also includes returning, to the USPS and in response to the request, a determination indicating whether the tracking number in the request matches any records stored in a transaction database.

Systems and methods for detecting postage fraud using an indexed lookup procedure

A system and method for retrieving a plurality of indicia are described. The method includes receiving, by a computer system associated with a postage provider a request from a user, the request including a number of the plurality of indicia, and a monetary value of each of the plurality of indicia; and authenticating the request. The method further includes verifying whether sufficient funds exist in an account of the user for the number and monetary value of the plurality of requested indicia. If the request is found authentic and the computer system determines that sufficient funds exist in the account of the user for the number and monetary value of the requested indicia, extracting the plurality of indicia. The method further includes assembling in a return message the plurality of indicia as at least one binary data message; and transmitting the message to a computer associated with the user.

High volume serialized postage at an automated teller machine or other kiosk

The field of the invention relates to online postage systems, and more particularly to systems and methods for establishing the colors of a customized stamp purchased through an online postage system. In one embodiment, a method is employed for customizing the colors of a customized stamp having a panel and an image. The method includes the steps of enabling a user to select a region of the image, retrieving a color value corresponding to the region of the image, and applying the retrieved color value to a visual feature of the panel, such as the background and text of the panel. The method also maintains a minimum amount of contrast in brightness and color between the background and the text of the panel.

Systems and methods for establishing the colors of a customized stamp

A method and system of processing a mailing label through a postal service are provided. The method includes causing, by a computer system associated with a postage provider, a mailing label for mailing a mail piece to be generated, the mailing label including a tracking mark; receiving, by the computer system associated with the postage provider an indication that the tracking mark is detected when the mail piece is inducted in the mail stream or during transit of the mail piece in the mail stream; and creating, by the computer system associated with the postage provider, a record of a transaction for an amount of postage based on the received indication that the tracking mark is detected.

Method and system for detecting a mailed item

The present invention is generally directed to online postage services and systems that have an online connection, and more particularly to systems and methods for enabling a shipping label service to be integrated with a third party application or website. One preferred embodiment includes a computer program product having a computer-usable medium with a sequence of instructions, which when executed by a processor, causes the processor to execute a process that provides an online postage and shipping label service. The computer program product is configured to be integrated into a third party application, and the process includes the steps of enabling a user of the third party application to purchase postage, and enabling a user to generate one or more images of one or more shipping labels via the third party application.

Integrated postage and shipping label system

The systems and methods described herein relate generally to the integration of a shipping label with a customs form to provide a single label having postage, addressing, customs and other information for international shipping. In one embodiment, a method for generating an international shipping a package comprises the steps of providing shipping information associated with the package, the information comprising address information of the origin, address information of the destination, postage information including a postage amount due to a post service and a customs form number unique within the post service; processing a shipping label having the shipping information displayed thereon; and affixing the shipping label to the package.

Integrated shipping label and customs form

A method and system for using a tracking ID to facilitate the refunding of unused postage is provided. Information for a postage transaction, along with the tracking ID and an associated delivery status, is stored. This delivery status is updated when the mail piece carrying the tracking ID is delivered. Unused postage can be confirmed by retrieving the stored postage transaction information and determining from that whether there are duplicative postage transactions. The delivery statuses for the duplicative postage transactions can then be reviewed to determine whether the mail pieces associated with these postage transactions have been delivered. If not, one of the postage transactions may be refunded.

Auditable and secure systems and methods for issuing refunds for misprints of mail pieces

A method and system for using an indexing identifier (such as, e.g., a tracking ID or the combination of a postage vendor ID, user account, and piece count) to decrease the size of the postage indicium transmitted to an end user computer, or eliminate transmission of the postage indicium altogether, is provided. When the postage indicium for the end user computer is generated, it is stored, and the indexing identifier, rather than the postage indicium, is transmitted to the end user computer. The indexing identifier is applied to a mail piece, which is then scanned by the postal authority. The postal authority can obtain the stored postage indicium by reference to the indexing identifier. In this manner, the postal authority has access to the postage indicium without having to apply it to the mail piece. The indexing identifiers can optionally be used to index sender identification information for verifying that the sender of a mail piece is a trusted individual or entity.

The systems and methods described herein relate generally to the electronic recordation of the transfer of a package from a shipper to a responsible postal carrier. In one embodiment, a method of recording the acceptance of a package from a package shipper shipped via a post service includes the steps of: generating a unique header number to preface a record of package transactions made over a time period for a specific shipper, the header number being unique within the post service, wherein each package transaction is made with a centralized computer system and has an associated delivery confirmation number unique within the post service; transmitting the unique header number and transaction record to the post service; generating a scannable indicia representative of the unique header number; and scanning the indicia to confirm acceptance of the package by the post service, wherein the indicia is scanned by a post service representative.

Tracking recordation system for packages

A postage printing system enables users to generate postage indicia and print mail pieces at client computers. Upon user determination of a mail piece print failure, a mail metering application on the client computer sends reprint request to an authorizing authority at a remote location. The reprint request includes information identifying an account for printing a postage indicia. A server computer used by the authorizing authority receives the reprint request from a client computer and evaluates the request. When the account is verified and other criteria are satisfied, a reply is sent to the client computer that includes a reprint authorization. Otherwise, a negative reply is sent to the client computer that does not include the reprint authorization. Upon receiving a reprint authorization from the authorizing authority, the client computer prints a replacement mail piece with the postage indicia. The mail metering application prevents the user from reprinting the mail piece when a reprint authorization is not received from the authorizing authority.

Growing community of inventors

Portola Valley, CA, United States of America

Harry T Whitehouse