Pitney Bowes Inc.

Kevin L Strobel

James R Norris, Jr

John Rojas

John H Winkelman

Cheryl L Picoult

Perry A Pierce

Robert A Cordery

Frederick W Ryan, Jr

Richard W Heiden

Robert W Sisson

Kevin W Bodie

Edward Paul Daniels, Jr

John T Balga, Jr

Michael A Gagliardi

James M Valovich

Elissavet Soutloglou

Yuecheng Meng

Rojas W John

This present invention is a method and system for providing an up-to-the-minute location of a recipient for delivery of a message. A computerized system imports corporation databases containing employee location codes and delivery preference information (as well as addresses for various message media such as FAX telephone numbers, E-mail addresses, Pager telephone Numbers, etc.) to a database in or accessible by the corporation's Mail Room. The system includes WEB-based and telephone access to this information to allow employees to keep this information up to date.

System and method for obtaining and tracking up-to the-minute delivery locations of employees via a database system

A system and method for providing secure, on-demand printing of documents delivered to a printing device is disclosed. A user logs onto a delivery system using a mobile device and selects a document to be printed along with a destination printing device. The delivery system encrypts the document to be delivered and creates a key that is sent to the mobile device. The delivery system sends the encrypted document to the destination printing device where it is stored. When the user is physically at the destination printing device, a connection is established between the mobile device and the destination printing device. The mobile device identifies to the printing device the document to be printed and sends the key to the printing device. The printing device uses the key to decrypt the document and then prints the document.

Method and system for secure delivery and printing of documents

FIG.shows the operation of modulesin processing a request for a digital postal indicium. Atthe selected one of modulesreceives the indicium request and the requested meter record and, atconfirms that sufficient funds are available. If not the request is rejected at; again in a manner whose details form no part of the subject invention. Atthe selected module constructs an indicium message having an appended indicium signature, which when printed in relevant part on a mailpiece will evidence payment of postage in the amount shown, and atupdates the requested meter record and appends a meter record signature. Generation of indicia and updating meter records is more fully described in specifications for the Information Based Indicia Program (IBIP) published by the United States Postal Service and further discussion is not believed necessary for an understanding of the subject invention.) Atthe selected module updates the audit data. (Updating the postage and transaction data is a matter of simple addition. Updating of the error correcting code will be described further below.) Atthe updated audit data is stored in nonvolatile memory, and atthe signed indicium message and signed meter record are sent to serverfor processing as described above. The audit data and the indicium are transmitted to the server at the same time. The indicium is forwarded to customerand a copy of the audit data is stored in server. While perhaps less secure than data stored in modules, audit data stored in servercan be verified against that in modulesand can be used, for example, when a module is off-line.

Method for auditing a database and system for carrying out such method

The present invention is directed to a method and system for remote receipt of a message, such as a telephone, e-mail, facsimile or paper message. A server or data center is provided for receiving messages from a sender communicating with a recipient mobile device. The mobile device is then prompted to notify the recipient that a message is waiting. If the recipient desires to receive the message, he/she indicates this on his/her mobile device. The mobile device and the device which will receive the message, i.e., the destination device, are provided with a tag for wireless communication. The message recipient is prompted to bring the mobile device in close enough proximity to the destination device such that the tag sends information about the destination devise to the mobile device. The mobile device communicates the information via wireless communications means with the data center. The data center then determines if any translation or transcoding of the original message is required in order for the destination device to receive the message in proper format. Once transcoding or translation is effected, the message is routed to the destination device for output.

Method and system for remote retrieval of documents

A system and method for providing secure, on-demand printing of documents delivered to a networked printing device is disclosed. A user logs onto a networked document delivery system using a mobile device and selects a document to be printed along with a networked destination printing device. The document server encrypts and stores the selected document and creates a key. The key is sent to the mobile device. The document server sends a pointer, indicating the location of the document, to the destination printing device. When the user is physically at the printing device, a connection is established between the mobile device and the printing device. The mobile device identifies to the printing device the document to be printed and sends the key to the printing device. The printing device, using the pointer, retrieves the document from the network, uses the key to decrypt the document, and then prints the document.

Method and system for secure delivery and printing of documents via a network device

The present invention provides a mobile device equipped with a wireless communication capability for generating electronic documents. The mobile device uses the wireless communication capability to communicate with a separate wireless communication tag. The wireless communication tag includes such information as a print device destination address, and the capabilities of the print device matching the destination address. The mobile device receives the destination device information and sends it and a document to a remote data processing center. The document and information may be sent via a network connection or a mobile communication device to a data-processing center. Once the data center receives the information and document the data processing center, the data center determines if any translation or transcoding of the original message is required in order for the destination device to receive the message in the a format which is compatible to the desired destination device. Once transcoding or translation is effected, the message is routed to the identified destination device, which then print the message.

Method and system for remote printing of documents

The present invention is directed to a method and system for remote receipt of a message, such as a telephone, e-mail, facsimile or paper message. A server or data center is provided for receiving messages from a sender communicating with a recipient mobile device. The data center sends the message to the mobile device. If the recipient desires to receive the message, he/she indicates this on his/her mobile device. The mobile device and the device which will receive the message, i.e., the destination device, are spontaneously networked such that the mobile device communicates the information to the destination device without requirement of ensuring the compatibility of programs or networks. Prior to transmission, the mobile device determines if any translation or transcoding of the original message is required in order for the destination device to receive the message in proper format. Once transcoding or translation is effected, the message is routed to the destination device for output.

Method and system for remote retrieval of messages using spontaneous networking technology

A method for removing postal funds from a postage meter provides an accounting unit of a postage meter with indicium-related information which is invalid for mailing such as invalid origin zip or date. The accounting unit generates a digital signature, which is an encrypted value of the postal funds removed from the postage meter and other postal data including the indicium-related information. The accounting unit through a Host PC sends to a data center the amount of the postal funds removed from the postage meter and the digital signature. The data center verifies that the digital signature has been generated using the indicium-related information. The meter is disabled when the digital signature cannot be verified. When the digital signature is verified a request for a refund is sent by the data center to a postal authority. An example of the indicium-related information is an invalid destination postal code or an invalid origination postal code.

Method for removing funds from a postal security device

The invention is a method and system for printing images to a substrate wherein the commands normally input by an operator, or resident within the printer, can be determined at a host data processor. The system can control address and postal code printing functions beginning at the host computer together. The system will derive printing data, including address data, from a selected application resident in the host computer. The host computer creates and then transmits printer command sets and printing data, via transmitting means to a microprocessor within the printer. The microprocessor drives a language interpreter which directs the printer commands to a parsing step for determining the address location from within the data to be printed. The language interpreter then assigns delivery point digits to a zip code that was isolated from the transmitted address data. The newly created zip code is then matched with the bar code data stored within the microprocessor's corresponding memory. A bar code corresponding to the new zip code is selected. The language interpreter then directs the printer's controller to prepare to print the address with its corresponding zip code, any graphics images that may have been included within the print data, and text, if any. The printer controller positions the bar code for printing, and then prints the bar code and address data, zip code, and any graphics images and text to an envelope or other substrate.

Printer command set for controlling address and postal code printing

The invention is a method whereby soft font data and graphic images which are stored on a host computer in a variety of formats are converted to a bitmap graphics format comprised of a group of printer commands designed for bitmap graphics printing and then downloaded and printed using a single set of printer control commands.

Method for downloading and printing bitmapped graphics

A printing system for printing mail pieces including at least one page having an address. The system includes a printer, a controller, and a feeder for selectively feeding an envelope or a cut sheet to the printer. The controller examines the text of each page to identify a destination address, and when the destination address is found prints it on an envelope for the mail piece. The system also has the capability to identify and print return addresses and the capability to print the envelope either before or after pages included in the mail piece.

Growing community of inventors

Fairfield, CT, United States of America

Kevin L Strobel