Pitney Bowes Inc.

Victor Girardi

Paul A Kovlakas

Michael Kelley

Allen L Kramer

Nanette Brown

Patrick Rolling

Charles R Malandra, Jr

Campbell A Moore

Daniel J Clemens

David Feinstein

James S Bratsanos

A processor based postage metering system includes structure for entering user input data including first and second fold configurations selected from a plurality of fold configurations; apparatus for accounting for postage dispensed by the processor based postage metering system; a document program running on the processor based postage metering system, the document program operable for controlling creation of a document based on the user input data; apparatus for automatically determining based on the first fold configuration a first designated location within the document for printing a first evidence of postage; structure for automatically determining based on the second fold configuration a second designated location within the document for printing a second evidence of postage; and apparatus for printing the document and the first and second evidences of postage such that the first and second evidences of postage are respectively printed in the first and second designated locations of the document.

Method and apparatus for dynamically locating and printing a plurality of postage payment indicia on a mailpiece

The invention is a method and system of modifying print stream data. The method begins by sending a print stream from an application through a graphical device interface to a print spooler. A print stream monitor determines whether or not the print stream comprises a set of text data and/or a set of address data. If the print stream comprises text data, then the text data is tagged and sent to a user mode module where it is stored in a local buffer. The tagged and stored text data is then retrieved and parsed for any address which may be contained within the tagged text. The address data is then extracted from the print stream and placed in an envelope print format to create an envelope data set. An envelope printer device context is then created and the envelope data set is transmitted to an envelope kernel for creating an envelope printer device language file. The print stream is converted by a document printer command language (PCL) generator into an envelope printer language. The envelope data set is then printed. The envelope data set is injected back into the print stream from which it was extracted by merging the set of text data and the set of envelope data. The print stream is then transmitted to a next destination such as a document printer, where a printer driver is then activated for causing a printer to print the document data to one or more sheets.

Method and system for modifying print stream data to allow printing over a single I/O port

A processor based postage metering system includes structure for entering user input data including a fold configuration selected from a plurality of fold configurations; apparatus for accounting for postage dispensed by the processor based postage metering system; a document program running on the processor based postage metering system, the document program operable for controlling creation of a document based on the user input data; structure for automatically determining based on the fold configuration a designated location within the document for printing evidence of postage; and structure for printing the document and the evidence of postage such that the evidence of postage is printed in the designated location of the documentd. A method incorporates the functions of the apparatus.

Method and apparatus for dynamically determining a printing location in a document for a postage indicia

The invention is a method for creating a mailpiece object. The method includes encapsulating a software control within an object to form a mailpiece object, wherein the mailpiece object is OLE enabled. Encapsulation of the software control provides a software application with a set of mailpiece production capabilities when the mailpiece object is embedded within the application. The method begins with the instantiation of the mailpiece object which establishes a programming interface for the object. The properties of the mailpiece object are then established by: placing a set of object methods; a set of mailpiece production functionalities; and, a set of data tables within the mailpiece object by utilizing the programming interface. A human interface is next established and placed within the mailpiece object by utilizing the programming interface. The mailpiece object is then embedded within a software application; and the embedded mailpiece object is utilized to produce a mailpiece under direction of the software application. Once embedded in the one or more software applications selected by the data processing system and the system user, the embedded mailpiece object becomes an OLE enabled OCX and, the OCX further includes a set of pre-determined mailpiece production functions and a property setting comprising selectable functionality for one or more postal markets.

OLE automation server for manipulation of mail piece data

The invention is a method and system of capturing a destination address from a label print stream in a data processing system which is capable of supporting an object oriented programming environment. The method begins with the initiation of a print stream from a label application. A virtual driver is selected as the intended destination device of the print stream. The virtual driver directs the print stream to a print intercept automation server (PIAS). The PIAS causes the system to display on a monitor a print field selection. The system operator selects an envelope print field from the print intercept automation server. The envelope print field is a set of objects established in the object oriented environment and comprises a mailpiece OCX and an indicia printing control object. The print stream is then parsed to extract a set of address data defining a destination address from the print stream by the print automation server. The parsing routine comprises instructions which control parsing the print stream to identify address data resident in the print stream. The instructions further facilitate the compiling of an address list comprising the address data. The parsed address data is then applied to the selected envelope print field; and the envelope is then printed.

Method and system for capturing destination addresses from label data

The invention is a method and system for establishing and printing a medium print field. The method begins with the initiation of a design software application which utilizes a display for representation of the medium and for displaying one or more component print fields on the medium representation. Each of the component print fields can be modified through utilization of a preferences input routine which further comprises: a printer selection option; a measurement scaling option; and, a return address selection option. The initiation further includes selection of a medium type and a set of characteristics for the medium. The representation displayed on the screen can be modified to the extent of its component print fields which comprise: a return address block; a postal indicia; a destination address block; and, a message block. Modifying the component print fields comprises selecting a database to attach to the selected field before assigning a first file from a related field of the database to the component print field. Once the field has been established, the system operator can begin scrolling through the viewable field by utilizing directional selection means to scroll from one file to another until selection of the component print field for modification has been made. An attachable component print field can also be selected. The method then confirms the modification and the attachment, to establish a finished print field for printing to the selected medium.

Method and system of displaying database contents in envelope data fields

The invention is a method and system for determining an address from a print stream. Address determination begins by initiating the print stream at a remote application. The print stream is transmitted through a graphical driver interface to a virtual driver where a system operator can select a data interface mode such as an eavesdrop mode and an intercept mode. The eavesdrop mode allows the virtual driver to pass the print stream through to the output device while producing a duplicate copy of the print stream for transmission to a server which is linked to an address parsing module for parsing the print stream. The intercept mode allows the virtual driver to pass the print stream directly to the server for parsing the print stream. The server will in turn pass the print stream to an output device such as a printer or monitor over transmission means. Parsing of the print stream to obtain address data is performed in accordance with instructions resident in the module. The address data is then placed into an address list or database. The selection of the address parsing module is further based upon the address characteristics required by the system user. The characteristics are defined by creating an address data profile comprised of tokens and wherein the tokens further define a characteristic of an address. The address parsing module can then be selected as based upon its particular address format which can be representative of a particular carrier.

Method and system of print stream address extraction

The invention is a method of right justifying a line in an address field to be printed on a mail piece. A list of addresses is submitted as part of a mail piece print job, and a first address is selected from the list. The printing system initializes the vertical edge of the address field; and, after initialization one or more fonts are selected for printing the address field on the mail piece. The address field is scanned by the printing system and an end of line position of the Optional Endorsement Line (OEL) is determined relative to the right vertical edge of the print field. If the end of the line is past the initialized right edge, then the end of line position becomes the new vertical edge delineation and the line is a justified line. If, however, the end of line position is not past the vertical edge, then the initialized edge is retained as the right-most reference point of the print field. Each of the subsequent lines in the address field is scanned for length and an end of line position determined. If the length of the subsequent line exceeds the length of the OEL, then the OEL is extended by adding characters until its length is equal to the length of the longest subsequent line. After scanning each of the lines in the address field for length, the justified line is printed, then each of the subsequent lines of the address field are printed.

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Oxford, CT, United States of America

Victor Girardi