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:
Feb. 29, 2000
Filed:
Jun. 30, 1997
James L Harman, Southport, CT (US);
Patrick Rolling, Cheshire, CT (US);
Pitney Bowes Inc., Stamford, CT (US);
Abstract
The invention is a system and method for producing a mail piece wherein the system includes at least one printer for printing documents and envelopes in response to signals generated by a host computer under control of an application program. In addition, the system includes: a mail finishing unit which forms the mail piece from the envelopes and documents; and, a control unit which controls the finishing unit to form each individual mail piece within the set of produced mail pieces. Each individual mail piece is comprised of attributes specific to that mail piece. The control unit receives signals generated by the host computer, parses the signals received therefrom, and extracts control signals embedded therein by the host computer. The control signals identify the individual attributes associated with each individual mail piece. The control unit responds to the extracted control signals by generating finishing control signals for the finishing unit to create the individual mail piece. The control unit is further programmed to extract print signals for controlling the print unit. The system user may designate a particular format or protocol to a document page which in turn identifies the page to the control unit as a control page, containing control signals whose elements are not to be printed but which in turn will direct the system in the production of the corresponding document which is to be included within the mail piece.