The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jun. 29, 1999
Filed:
Dec. 24, 1996
Ronald P Sansone, Weston, CT (US);
Paul A Levitsky, Bridgeport, CT (US);
Pitney Bowes Inc., Stamford, CT (US);
Abstract
The invention is a method for selecting, producing, and delivering a finished mail piece. The method includes the step of selecting, at an initiating node, a set of parameters which together comprise a mail piece to be produced at a remote location. The selection is made from a series of menus within a program resident within a data processing system. Among the parameters which can be selected or determined are the destination address, type of delivery service to be used, and a choice of the media stock upon which a selected text can be printed. Additionally, a choice of language for the text can be made, and an account number for debiting the cost of the transaction may be entered. The selected parameters are transmitted to a data center which reads the destination address and then determines the most appropriate destination node. It is possible for the data center to be co-located with the initiating node or, to be the destination node. The data center, which maintains all data with respect to a particular transaction, will transmit the selected parameters to the destination node. Upon receipt of the data, the destination node prints the selected text upon a media which is inserted into an envelope with the destination address printed upon the envelope. The envelope is then franked in proper local currency and delivered to a local postal stream for final delivery to the destination address.