Techniques for tracking mailpieces and accounting for postage payment
US7069253B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 26, 2002 |
| Grant date | Jun 27, 2006 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 30, 2022 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG07B2017/00709
- WIPO fieldControl
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A method of preparing a mailpiece includes applying a mailpiece identification (MI) code that uniquely identifies the mailpiece, and applying a destination code to the mailpiece signifying at least part of an address. Tracking and accounting for such a mailpiece includes: at an postal service mail processing (MP) site, obtaining the MI code and the destination code, and sending a mailpiece message including at least the MI code to a postage vendor (PV) site; and at the PV site, storing information from the mailpiece message, debiting an account of the mailer for postage, crediting an account of a postal service for postage, and when the mailpiece message indicates that the mailpiece has arrived at its destination, retiring the MI code as no longer available for use on a mailpiece (at least for some predetermined time).
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.