Pitney Bowes Inc.

Pitney Bowas Inc.

Richard W Heiden

Robert A Cordery

Ronald P Sansone

Brian M Romansky

Joseph L Gargiulo

Frederick W Ryan, Jr

Leon A Pintsov

Thomas J Foth

Walter J Baker

David K Lee

Monroe A Weiant, Jr

Gary M Heiden

Chunhua Li

Jeffrey D Pierce

Jean-Hiram Coffy

Arthur J Parkos

Steven M Kaye

Robert W Sisson

Kenneth G Miller

Elizabeth Bernobich

William Berson

Douglas B Quine

Bertrand Haas

Boris Rozenfeld

Arthur H DePoi

Perry A Pierce

John F Braun

Robert G Arsenault

Bradley R Hammell

Kevin L Strobel

Yakup J Igval

Deborra J Zukowski

Ronald Reichman

Anthony F Violante

Christopher C Lang

Cindy Mangiameli

Kwan Cheung Wong

Richard A Potoczek

Amy E Harris

Erik D N Monsen

Kevin Lockwood

Anuja S Ketan

A system and method for enabling capture and replay of digital media files using multimodal documents including a context manager for managing multimodal documents with a virtual media content management system coupled to the context manager. The virtual media content management system contains digital content which is adapted to be managed by the virtual media content management system. An input system is coupled to the context manager and includes a stylus operable to select digital content to be processed. The context manager is operable to issue multimodal document management instructions to the virtual media content management system to process digital content selected by the stylus based on input information from the input system.

Method and system for collaborative capture and replay of digital media files using multimodal documents

A method for creating an intelligent physical mailpiece includes looking up a mailpiece preference of an addressee concerning mail received by the addressee. A physical mailpiece to the addressee is prepared and includes on the mailpiece the addressee preference. The mailpiece is scanned to determine the addressee preference. The mailpiece may also be processed to link the owner of a meter employed to imprint an indicia on the mailpiece to the mailpiece. The intelligent physical mailpiece system may include a database of recipient preferences. A sender mail creation means is coupled to the recipient preference database. A processor is coupled to a scanner. A communications means is coupled between the processor and the sender mail creation means for communicating recipient preferences to the sender mail creation means for storage in the database of recipient preferences.

Intelligent physical mail method and system

A system for processing documents having fastening devices includes a document transport system and a fastening device detecting station connected to the transport system that is adapted to detect a fastening device securing together pages of a document. The fastening device removing station is adapted to remove a fastening device securing together pages of a document. A scanning station is adapted to scan the pages of a document. A page flipping station is adapted to flip and position pages of a document to be scanned. A systems controller controls the transport system and the stations based on information provided by the fastening device detecting station for a document to be scanned, to cause such document to be processed by the fastening device removing before scanning of the document or by the page flipping station during scanning of the document to be scanned.

Flexible system for feeding and processing multi-page documents

A method of managing and recovering from the failure of cryptographic devices in a secure transaction processing system including a database, a plurality first cryptographic devices and a standby cryptographic device. Each of the first cryptographic devices periodically generates and sends to the database a total freshness counter record and generates and sends to another of the first cryptographic devices a digital signature and time stamp record. Upon failure of a first cryptographic device, the standby cryptographic device requests and receives the current total freshness counter record and digital signature and time stamp record for the failed first cryptographic device, and uses the digital signature and time stamp record to verify that the total freshness center record is most current. If so verified, the standby cryptographic device assumes the operation of the failed first cryptographic device.

System and method for securing database records from tampering and managing and recovering from component failure in devices such as postage value dispensing systems

A system for producing a mailpiece for delivery in accordance with a Value Added (VA) service. The system comprises a computer processor having Value Added Services (VAS) program code adapted to operate in combination with the processor's print driver code. Further, the VAS program code is operative to receive operator input data in connection with a Value Added Service. Additionally, the system includes at least one peripheral device, operating in combination with the VAS program code, for (i) determining charges in connection with the mailpiece based upon the VA service and (ii) printing VAS data/postage indicia on the mailpiece. In one embodiment of the invention, the system includes a VAS database for collecting VAS data and performing various accounting services (e.g., charge-back, financial tracking) or producing a manifest document when using a Manifest Mailing System. The method includes the steps of attaching the VAS program code to the print driver code and/or registering the VAS code with the peripheral device to establish the location or portal for sending integrated VAS data.

System and method for producing a mailpiece including value added services

The present invention overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art by enabling a sender to easily and automatically track mail. The foregoing is accomplished by first requiring the sender to register the sender's acquisition and possession of a booklet of tracking labels. Sender may indicate to the system the nature of the automated tracking sender wishes (delivery only, failure only, mailing events forwarding, etc.) Sender may override the system for specific mail. Sender is in possession of the labels contained in the booklet which may be wrapped with tamper evidencing material, may register the labels by entering the booklet security code as well as the first sequential label tracking code in a system. The booklet security code is not obtained until the tampering evidencing material is opened.

Preregistered tracking labels

A system for generating digital postage stamps wherein a PC requests digital postage stamps from a data center. The data center generates a digital book of postage stamps, which the PC downloads to its hard drive. The digital book of postage stamps includes a read-only software module that prints each digital postage stamp using stamp related information contained within the software module. The software module on the PC verifies that the signature of the PC is identical to the PC signature that was stored in the software module when the software module was configured at the data center. If verified, the software module generates the digital postage stamp and then initiates printing on a printer coupled to the PC. The software module renders the data associated with the digital postage stamp being printed unusable for subsequent generations of digital postage stamps.

Software based stamp dispenser

A method and system for creating and maintaining databases of user profiles and value ratings for information sources, and for generating lists of information sources having high estimated values. User controlled systems for accessing information sources through the internet or other networks are monitored by a server. The server updates the user profiles and computes value ratings associated with the user profiles for various information sources in accordance with monitored information. Estimated values for information sources to a particular user are obtained as a function of the value ratings associated with profiles of other users and the degree of similarity between the particular user's current profile and other user profiles. Previous profiles are not deleted when updated but are retained and treated substantially as other profiles in computing value estimates. Information sources can be other users.

Method and system for creating and maintaining a database of user profiles and a related value rating database for information sources and for generating a list of information sources having a high estimated value

A method and apparatus for protecting against a replay attack in a database system makes use of customer records including a counter, and freshness records that include the customer counters and a freshness record counter. The counter from the customer records, the customer records in the freshness records, and the freshness record counter are used by a cryptographic device together with a cryptographic device counter to verify the freshness of the customer record prior to updating the customer record with respect to a recent transaction.

Architecture and method to secure database records from tampering in devices such as postage value dispensing mechanisms

Systems and methods for providing a track and trace capabilities for checks in the mail stream and in the bank check clearing system are described. A mailing machine facilitates the association of a confirmation tracking number with a mail piece and a check. The track and trace system provides for tracking the check through the mail stream and also through the bank check clearing system using the confirmation tracking number.

System and method for tracking checks

A postage printing system, having a computer, a data center and a control system. The computer is in operative communication with a printer for printing a postal indicia on an envelope. The data center is in operative communication with the computer which in turn is located remotely from the data center. The data center includes a plurality of user accounts and a plurality of advertiser accounts where each of the plurality of advertiser accounts includes respective ad data including message data and restriction data. The control system is in operative communication with the data center and the computer and is for: (i) establishing a transaction session between a user of the computer corresponding to one of the plurality of user accounts and the data center; (ii) obtaining recipient address information from the user; and (iii) using the recipient address information and the restriction data from the plurality of advertiser accounts to identify message data available for printing on the envelope in conjunction with the postal indicia.

Postage printing system having subsidized printing of third party messages

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

A system and method that allows mailers of all sizes to pay for permit mail without presenting cash or a check at the time of induction is provided. A permit payment aggregator establishes a master account with the postal system for the payment of permit mail. A plurality of mailers each establish a separate account with the permit payment aggregator and transfer control of payment of mail inducted under their respective permit imprints to the permit payment aggregator. When the mailer desires to send a mailing, a request for payment of postage is made to the permit payment aggregator, which processes the information related to the mailing. The induction site communicates with the permit payment aggregator and the mailing as presented is compared with the information processed by the permit payment aggregator. If the mailing is accepted, the master account is debited for payment.

Method and system for payment of permit mail

A method and system for creating, reviewing and revoking, if necessary, a certificate for a client of a service provider of a communications network, wherein the client has a client private key and a client public key. The method includes the steps of establishing a communications link with the service provider through a dedicated communication channel; requesting a client certificate from the service provider; obtaining a caller-ID, including a telephone number from an operator of the dedicated communication channel; and creating the requested client certificate including the caller-ID. Preferably, the method also includes the step of verifying that the caller-ID obtained from the operator of the dedicated communication channel is the same as client identifying information provided by the client when requesting the client certificate. The certificate can be stored at a caller ID server or a client's storage. The method includes the steps of periodically reviewing issued certificates against a reverse telephone book to determine if the included telephone number is still associated with the client and revoking the certificate if it is not.

Method and system for revocation of certificates used to certify public key users

A method and system for creating a certificate for a client of a service provider of a communications network, wherein the client has a client private key and a client public key. The method includes the steps of establishing a communications link with the service provider through a dedicated communication channel; requesting a client certificate from the service provider; obtaining a caller-ID from an operator of the dedicated communication channel; and creating the requested client certificate using the caller-ID. Preferably, the method also includes the step of verifying that the caller-ID obtained from the operator of the dedicated communication channel is the same as client information provided by the client when requesting the client certificate. The certificate can be stored at a caller ID server or a client's storage.

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Shelton, CT, United States of America

Richard W Heiden