Stamps Com Inc.

E-stamp Corporation

Martin J Pagel

Salim G Kara

Manish Desai

Peiyuan Yan

Mohammas A Husain

Eran Librach

Ken D Hinh

A system and method for remote postage metering of postage indicia, including demanding a desired postage amount and subsequently printing the postage indicia onto a piece of mail. A user inputs certain necessary information, as well as additional desired information, into a local processor-based system. The local system then assembles a postage demand in suitable format and transmits the same to a remote postage metering device. The remote postage metering device then verifies the demand for authority to demand and valid funding. Upon verification, the remote postage meter assembles a data packet representing an authorized postage indicia. The data packet is transmitted to the local system for printing. Printing of the postage indicia may be unaccompanied, or may include additional information. Such additional information may include destination and return address, machine readable routing or identification information, or a complete document to be posted.

System and method for remote postage metering

A system and method for transmission of a document from a sending location to a receiving location by way of a trusted way location is disclosed. A selected document is physically or electronically transmitted by a sending location to a letter server operated by a delivery service. A confirmation of transmission of the document is provided the sender by the delivery service. Thereafter, the letter server reproduces the document in original quality, accompanied by any necessary items such as a delivery container and/or delivery instructions. The delivery service then delivers the reproduced document such as through electronic delivery or inducting the reproduced document into its delivery paradigm for physical delivery to the indicated recipient.

Postage server system and method

A system and method for transmission of a document from a sending location to a receiving location by way of a trusted way location is disclosed. A selected document is physically or electronically transmitted by a sending location to a letter server operated by a delivery service A confirmation of transmission of the document is provided the sender by the delivery service. Thereafter, the letter server reproduces the document in original quality, accompanied by any necessary items such as a delivery container and/or delivery instructions. The delivery service then delivers the reproduced document such as through electronic delivery or inducting the reproduced document into its delivery paradigm for physical delivery to the indicated recipient.

There is disclosed a printer control system and method for abstracting the data flow to a printer, or other device, and for using the abstracted information for controlling additional processes with respect to the printer. In one embodiment, the abstracted information is used to print envelope information, such as addressee and/or a postage indicia. The postage indicia can be either generated from the abstracted data or the indicia itself can be abstracted from the data stream. In another embodiment, the process to be controlled is as downline process, such as a folding operation or the printing of information related to the original printed document.

Postal printer driver system and method

A method and system for dispensing and evidencing indicia by an indicia generating device is disclosed in a system having a plurality of indicia generating devices that have been divided into n groups. Each of the indicia generating devices generates and prints indicia on a media that is to be received at a plurality of establishments, wherein the establishments are associated with different geographic designations. The method and system include receiving a plurality of verification keys, wherein each one of the received verification keys is encrypted as a function of a respective geographic designation. A plurality of key IDs are also received, where each one of the key IDs is associated with one of the verification keys and is encrypted as a function of the same geographic designation used to encrypt the corresponding verification key. In response to receiving a request to generate an indicium for a media destined for a particular one of the establishments, the indicia generating device evidences the indicium by generating one of the verification keys and the corresponding key ID assigned to indicia generating device's group based on the geographic designation associated with the particular establishment, and using the generated verification key to create a digital signature, and digitally signing the indicia by including the digital signature and the generated key ID in the indicia.

Evidencing indicia of value using secret key cryptography

A method and system for evidencing payment of indicia using secret key cryptography is disclosed. The method and system include a plurality of indicia generating devices that are divided into groups for generating and printing indicia on a media that is to be received at a plurality of establishments, wherein the establishments are associated with different geographic designations. The method and system include assigning a plurality of verification keys to each indicia generating device in each of the groups, wherein each of the verification keys assigned to each of the groups is encrypted as a function of a respective geographic designation. A key ID is associated with each of the verification keys and is encrypted as a function of the same geographic designation used to encrypt the corresponding verification key. After the verification keys and key ID's are assigned, each one of the establishments receives the verification keys and the key ID's that were encrypted as a function of the geographic designation associated with the establishment. When generating indicia for media destined for a particular one of the establishments, the indicia generating devices evidence the indicia by generating one of the verification keys and the corresponding key ID assigned to indicia generating device's group based on the geographic designation associated with the particular establishment, and uses the generated verification key to create a digital signature. The indicia generating devices digitally sign the indicia by including the digital signature and the generated key ID in the indicia. Upon receiving the media at the particular establishment, the indicia on the media is verified by using the key ID on the indicia and the distributed verifications keys to compute a digital signature, and comparing the computed digital signature with the digital signature on the indicia.

Evidencing and verifying indicia of value using secret key cryptography

A system and method for remote postage metering of postage indicia, including demanding a desired postage amount and subsequently printing the postage indicia onto a piece of mail. A user inputs certain necessary information, as well as additional desired information, into a local processor-based system. The local system then assembles a postage demand in suitable format and transmits the same to a remote postage metering device. The remote postage metering device then verifies the demand for authority to demand and valid funding. Upon verification, the remote postage meter serves the transaction by configuring a shared device using virtual user device data structures and assembles a data packet representing an authorized postage indicia. The data packet is transmitted to the local system for printing. Printing of the postage indicia may be unaccompanied, or may include additional information. Such additional information may include destination and return address, machine readable routing or identification information, or a complete document to be posted.

Virtual security device

Window portion of a stampless envelope

A system and method for conducting secure fault tolerant transactions, such as financial transaction, remotely is disclosed. The transactions are conducted utilizing a portable processor device which is initialized and authorized according to the present invention. Thereafter, the portable processor operates to conduct transactions involving information exchange through unsecured communication paths according to a predetermined protocol. The protocol includes the use of atomic transactions within the portable processor device.

Growing community of inventors

Kirkland, WA, United States of America

Martin J Pagel