Stamps Com Inc.

Auctane, Inc.

Kenneth Thomas McBride

John Roland Clem

J P Leon

James Michael Bortnak

Daniel David Farino

Kyle Huebner

John Michael Boswell

Richard Stables

Charles John Atkinson

Jp Leon

Keith David Bussell

Michael John Biswas

Damon Cleckler

Bry Willis

Systems and methods which utilize gravity feed for mail item movement in postage metering operations are shown. Embodiments provide for gravity drop feeding mail items into a portion of a postage metering system for metering operations, such as to activate or apply postage indicia thereto. Embodiments provide for gravity drop exit of mail items from a portion of a postage metering system after metering operations, such as activation or application of postage indicia thereto. Postage metering operations as performed by embodiments of the invention may comprise scanning and activation of preprinted tokens. Postage metering operations according to alternative embodiments of the invention may printing postage indicia. Embodiments provide processing in addition to or in the alternative to the aforementioned postage indicia activation or printing and mail item marking operations, such as weighing, sorting, etc.

Systems and methods utilizing gravity feed for postage metering

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention would determine exemplary projected routes, delivery dates, times and rates for multiple carriers and multiple delivery services/methods. Exemplary embodiments would generate and provide an exemplary interactive graphic comparison mapping of the exemplary projected carrier-specific, delivery-service-specific routes, and associated projected delivery dates, times and rates. Exemplary embodiments of the present invention would generate and provide an exemplary interactive graphic mapping of a projected carrier-specific, delivery-service-specific route, and associated projected delivery date, time and rate for a user-selected carrier and delivery service/method. Exemplary embodiments of the present invention would then track shipping/mailing progress and delivery status of the item according to carrier-provided shipping/mailing progress and delivery status 'events,' such as, for example, carrier-provided item scanning events.

Visual graphic tracking of item shipment and delivery

Systems and methods which provide postage indicia using mobile communication handsets are shown. According to embodiments, users are enabled to introduce mail pieces into a mail delivery stream which are accepted as having acceptable postage indicia having value associated therewith without the use of traditional metering systems or processor-based postage generation and printing systems. Instead, a mobile communication handset is used to obtain tokens to be used as postage indicia. The tokens may be transmitted to or otherwise printed by appropriate, available printing equipment, such as facsimile machines, network printers, network photo copiers, etc., in response to a request by a mobile communication handset for postage indicia. The foregoing tokens may be printed upon various stock for inclusion with or as a mail piece. The mail piece bearing the token may be placed into the mail stream for processing and delivery using the token as activated as postage indicia.

Systems and methods for on-demand mobile device postage printing and user access to printed postage indicium

Systems and methods which provide postage indicia using mobile communication handsets are shown. According to embodiments, users are enabled to introduce mail pieces into a mail delivery stream which are accepted as having activated, value comprising postage indicia associated therewith without the use of traditional metering systems, processor-based postage generation and printing systems, or even printers. Instead, a token comprising substantially unique identification information identifying a mail piece is activated as an activated token having postage value associated therewith using mobile communication handsets, such as a smart phone, network enabled personal digital assistant, etc. according to embodiments of the invention.

Systems and methods using mobile communication handsets for providing postage

Systems and methods which provide for activation of postage indicia at a point of sale are shown. In operation according to embodiments, unassigned (e.g., not yet activated or not yet representing postage value) tokens (e.g., IBI barcodes) suitable for later use as postage indicia are distributed to various point of sale locations, such as retail locations, consumer kiosks, vending machines, etc. and made available for purchase by users. Upon purchase, at a point of sale, such unassigned tokens are preferably activated as valid or 'live' postage indicia. Thereafter, the postage indicia may be used to post mail items.

Systems and methods for activation of postage indicia at point of sale

An exemplary embodiment of the present invention will provide a method using a computer, and a computer system, for providing image-customizing labels that are adapted for receiving computer-based, generic, value-bearing item indicia such as, for example, computer-based, generic, postage indicia. The exemplary embodiment of the present invention will comprise generating a display of a user interface screen that is adapted for receiving an order from a user for at least one image-customized label adapted for bearing a computer-based, generic, value-bearing item.

Image-customized labels adapted for bearing computer-based, generic, value-bearing items, and systems and methods for providing image-customized labels

Systems and methods which utilize gravity feed for mail item movement in postage metering operations are shown. Embodiments provide for gravity drop feeding mail items into a portion of a postage metering system for metering operations, such as to activate or apply postage indicia thereto. Embodiments provide for gravity drop exit of mail items from a portion of a postage metering system after metering operations, such as activation or application of postage indicia thereto. Postage metering operations as performed by embodiments of the invention may comprise scanning and activation of preprinted tokens. Postage metering operations according to alternative embodiments of the invention may comprise printing postage indicia. Embodiments provide processing in addition to or in the alternative to the aforementioned postage indicia activation or printing and mail item marking operations, such as weighing, sorting, etc.

Systems and methods provide for printing unactivated tokens which can be activated into valid postage indicia at a later time. Monetary liability for postage indicia value is postponed until the token is activated into a postage indicium; thus, the token does not have value and is not valid until activated into indicium. Consequently, a user is not made monetarily liable for printed tokens unless the tokens are activated into postage indicia.

Systems and methods for payment of postage indicia after the point of generation

The exemplary embodiment of the present invention will provide computer systems and methods for customizing computer-based value-bearing items, such as, for example, customizing a computer-based postage-indicia-bearing item such as exemplary image-customized computer-based postage labelin an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, depicted in FIG.. With reference to FIG., the exemplary customized computer-based postage labelwill bear an imagethat would be provided by a corresponding user, namely by the user that orders the customized computer-based postage label. The exemplary customized computer-based postage labelwill bear a human-readable indication of the countryfor which the postage is approved. The exemplary customized computer-based postage labelwill also bear a human-readable indication of an amount of postage. The exemplary customized computer-based postage labelwill also bear a human-readable identifierand a machine-readable set of information

Image-customization of computer-based value-bearing items

The exemplary embodiment of the present invention will provide computer systems and methods for printing computer-based value-bearing items such as, for example, an exemplary image-customized computer-based postage labelin an exemplary embodiment of the present invention as depicted in FIG.. With reference to FIG., the exemplary customized computer-based postage labelwill bear an imagethat would be provided by a corresponding user, namely by the user that orders the customized computer-based postage label. The user may provide imagein an electronic form, such as by uploading a digital representation of image. In a variation of the exemplary embodiment, a user could alternatively provide a hardcopy image. The exemplary customized computer-based postage labelwill bear a human-readable indication of the countryfor which the postage is approved. The exemplary customized computer-based postage labelwill also bear a human-readable indication of an amount of postage. The exemplary customized computer-based postage labelwill also bear a human-readable identifier (such as a serial number)that will uniquely identify the particular customized computer-based postage label. The exemplary customized computer-based postage labelwill also bear a machine-readable set of information

Growing community of inventors

Hermosa Beach, CA, United States of America

Kenneth Thomas McBride