Pitney Bowes Inc.

John H Steinmetz

Maria P Parkos

Robert A Cordery

Lyle W Shaw

William E Ryan, Jr

Frederick W Ryan, Jr

Wallace Kirschner

Richard A Malin

Jerome E Jackson

Robert K Gottlieb

Edward J Naclerio

Kenneth A Schulz

Joseph D Mallozzi

Brad L Davies

Mark A Scribe

Edward Paul Daniels, Jr

Louis J Loglisci

Michelle S Breault

Daniel F Dlugos

Gary G Hansen

Arthur Rubinstein

Edward P Cornell

Thomas A D'Andrea

James F Giordano

Edward J Naclario

Joel L Wald

Joel I Wald

David T McPherson

Gary H Cholakian

A system for printing markings along the top and bottom of mailpieces, using a print head in a fixed position. The print head receives print instructions either from a print module or an inverted print module and prints one or more first markings onto the mailpiece, the mailpiece being in a first orientation. The mailpiece is rotated so that it is in a second orientation, which is approximately 180 degrees from the first orientation. The print head prints on the mailpiece one or more second markings that are oriented 180 degrees with respect to the orientation of the one or more first markings printed onto the mailpiece. The one or more second markings shares the same upright orientation as the one or more first markings when printed onto the mailpiece and when subsequently read.

System and method for printing on mailpieces using a fixed print head

The an embodiment of the present invention generally comprises a mailpiece sorting apparatus including an addressee database and a state/ZIP Code list generated from the addressee database. Mailpieces for which the addressee cannot be determined are processed using ZIP Code and/or State information read from the mailpiece. The state/ZIP Code information read from the mailpiece is compared to the state/ZIP Code list to determine if there is a match. If there is not match, the mailpiece is sorted to a &ldquo;return to sender&rdquo; bin.

Method of outsorting return to sender mail using an incoming mail sorting apparatus

An embodiment of the present invention comprises a mailpiece sorting apparatus including a voice recognition system performing a method of processing &ldquo;return to sender&rdquo; mailpieces using voice recognition. The operator obtains a &ldquo;return to sender&rdquo; mailpiece and determines a sender address segment for identification. The sender address segment is spoken by the operator to the recognition system. The voice recognition software interprets the information and communicates it to recipient matching software. The software narrows the potential sender matches in the mailpiece sorting apparatus addressee database. If a match is made, the operator is prompted to place the mailpiece onto mailpiece sorting apparatus which sends the mailpiece to the proper sort bin based on the identification performed by the matching software. The present invention may also calculate statistical information regarding reject mailpieces and chargeback information for the cost of sorting the &ldquo;return to sender&rdquo; mailpiece.

Method of processing return to sender mailpieces using voice recognition

This invention overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art by providing an apparatus that will assist in sorting mailpieces which increases the efficiency of the mail sorting apparatus, provides an organized space for intermediate storage of mailpieces and provides ergonomic features that reduce injury to the mail sorting apparatus operator and increases productivity. The present invention is directed to, in a general aspect, a mailpiece storage rack. The storage rack is used to hold partially sorted mailpieces between sorting passes in multiple pass sorting of mailpieces using a mail sorting apparatus or stores mailpieces after sortation and prior to delivery. The storage rack maintains the grouping, sequence and stack quality or alignment of partially sorted mailpieces which provides for more efficient refeeding. The rack is designed ergonomically for easy transferring of mail into and out of storage and also provides for organized workflow. The storage rack may be configured to accept containers such as, for example, standard tubs used by national posts, and/or custom tubs designed for mailer environments.

Storage rack for storing sorted mailpieces

This invention overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art by providing an apparatus that will assist in sorting mailpieces which increases the efficiency of the mail sorting apparatus, provides an organized space for intermediate storage of mailpieces and provides ergonomic features that reduce injury to the mail sorting apparatus operator and increases productivity. The present invention is directed to, in a general aspect, a mailpiece storage rack. The storage rack is used to hold partially sorted mailpieces between sorting passes in multiple pass sorting of mailpieces using a mail sorting apparatus or stores mailpieces after sortation and prior to delivery. The storage rack maintains the grouping, sequence and stack quality or alignment of partially sorted mailpieces which provides for more efficient re-feeding. The rack is designed ergonomically for easy transferring of mail into and out of storage and also provides for organized workflow. The storage rack may be configured to accept containers such as, for example, standard tubs used by national posts, and/or custom tubs designed for mailer environments.

The apparatus comprises: a first module including a universal key; a second module including a unique identifier and a unique key wherein the unique key is derived from the unique identifier and the universal key and incorporated into the second module during manufacture of the second module. The second module is in communication with the first module. The apparatus further comprises a controller for performing the following subsequent to manufacture of the first module and the second module: initiating a communication session between the first module and the second module; transmitting the unique identifier from the second module to the first module; and deriving the unique key in the first module using the unique identifier and the universal key. A method for synchronization of cryptographic keys between modules of a distributed system and a method of manufacturing a postage evidencing system are also provided.

Synchronization of cryptographic keys between two modules of a

A postage evidencing system including a plurality of domains for partitioning a population of postage meters according to an operating characteristic, a data center, a postage meter in operative communication with the data center and a printer in operative communication with the postage meter. The postage meter is initialized to operate in a particular domain while the printer is capable of operating in each of the plurality of domains. To update or enable a domain in the printer, the postage meter transmits an indication of the particular domain to the data center. Then, the data center encrypts the indication and transmits the indication to the postage meter which in turn forwards the encrypted indication to the printer. The printer decrypts the encrypted indication and using the indication enables a respective domain in the printer corresponding to the particular domain of the postage meter. A method for updating domains in a postage evidencing system is also provided.

Updating domains in a postage evidencing system

A mailing system includes a mailing machine having a printing mechanism for printing an indication of postage value on a mailpiece and structure for controlling relative movement between the printing mechanism and the mailpiece to ensure the mailpiece is properly positioned relative to the printing mechanism during printing of the indication of postage value; a meter vault having a securely sealed housing, and apparatus, within the securely sealed housing, for accounting for the printed indication of postage value, wherein the meter vault is removably mounted in the mailing machine for easy removal via a plug-in connector; and a printing mechanism control module for securely controlling printing by the printing mechanism based on data received from the meter vault, the printing mechanism control module being removably mounted in the mailing machine for easy removal via a quick disconnect connector; wherein the meter vault and the printing mechanism control module are in electrical communication via the mailing machine. The mailing system can also include ciphered communications between the vault and the printing mechanism.

Modular mailing system

A mailing system is includes of a mailing machine operating under the control of a microcontroller having a communication port with a first channel and a second channel. The mailing system also includes a meter vault which operates under the control a microcontroller mounted in a secure housing and having a communication port with a first channel and a second channel. A printer is included which operates under the control of a microcontroller mounted in a secure housing and having a communication port having a first channel and a second channel. A printer interface is included for providing a number of independent communication paths. A first path provides communication between first channel of the mailing machine and the first channel of the meter vault. A second path provides communication between the second channel of the mailing machine and the second channel of the printer, and a third path for providing communications between the second channel of meter vault and the first channel of the printer.

Digital postage meter system

A mail management system (MMS) is comprised of a host system communicatively coupled to one or more operator workstations. Each workstation may be further coupled to a postage dispensing device, such as a postage meter. A transaction record for each postage mailing transaction is collected, stored and transmitted to the host system from the workstation. The transaction record comprises a plurality of data fields. Some of the data fields are fixed data fields, that is they are transmitted for each transaction record. Other data fields are optional data fields which are transmitted from the workstation to the host system only if the host system has previously indicated to the workstation that the particular field is to be included within the transaction record.

Mail management system transaction data customizing and screening

A mail management system (MMS) comprises a host system coupled to one or more operator workstations. The host is operable for receiving from each of the workstations account identification codes. The host, after verifying the validity of the account code, transmits an enabling signal to the workstation which permits the workstation to activate an attached postage dispensing device. The MMS also provides a fallback mode of operation wherein each workstation is operable for verifying that the format of an entered account identification code is correct and to thereby activate the postage dispensing device. This fallback mode of operation allows for the continued operation of the MMS even if the host system is for any reason disabled from communicating with a workstation.

Mail management system account validation and fallback operation

A circuit for testing a segment of a digital display comprising a segment of a digital display having a cathode filament for conducting electrical current and for emitting electrons, and detecting means connected to the cathode filament for detecting electrical current flow across it. Also provided is a method for testing the proper operation of characters or digits of a digital display.

Digital display testing circuit

A control system is employed to selectively inhibit false signal transmissions between a communications processor and a plurality of peripheral devices during transient power states. The control system includes a comparator which detects a decrease in the unregulated power supply voltage as compared to the regulated voltage to anticipate an impending loss in regulated voltage. In response to a detected drop in unregulated voltage, a transistor interrupts the power supply to communications lines. Simultaneously, the transistor interrupts the power supply to a light source of an optically coupled relay which is employed to actuate a peripheral such as a mailing machine. In order to assure that the communications processor will initiallize after a transitory drop and a recovery in line voltage, a processor reset signal is also generated by the control system as a function of a detected decrease in unregulated voltage.

Control system for inhibiting processing communications

A postage value computing system includes both apparatus and a method for determining the postage of an article to be mailed for various domestic and international classes of postal service. Postal information such as carrier type, class and destination data are introduced into the system and used to access a memory which stores common structured rate data. Major rate structures are defined by weight headers which specify the upper and lower limits of weight ranges and the weight increments within those ranges. To minimize memory requirements, foreign countries are grouped as a function of such common structured rate data including permissible weight limits. Memory space is conserved through the utilization of a common postage computation routine including various equation subroutines for generating requisite postage values in accordance with the retrieved postage rate data.

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Bridgeport, CT, United States of America

John H Steinmetz