Virtual postage meter with multiple origins of deposit
US6546377B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 2, 1999 |
| Grant date | Apr 8, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 2, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG07B2017/00967
- WIPO fieldControl
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A system (10) and method of evidencing postage payment include a local postage printing system (20, 22) requesting to a remote data metering center (30) for the generation of postage evidencing information (220, 320). The request includes a postage amount to be printed on a mail piece. The remote data metering center (30) determines a postal origin (220, 320) corresponding to the request for postage evidencing information (220, 230), then accounts for the postage amount in a general account (220, 320) corresponding to the local postage printing system (20, 22) and in a payment account corresponding to the determined postal origin (240, 340). The remote metering center (30) generates postage evidencing information (220, 320) in response to the request. The postal evidencing information includes a digital token and the determined postal origin (220, 320). The remote data metering center (30) sends the postage evidencing information to the local postage printing system (20, 22) which prints the postage evidencing information and the determined postal origin on the mail piece.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.