Personal funds metering system and method

US7840492B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Pitney Bowes Inc. · US

Inventors

• Alan Leung · New York, US
• John W. Rojas · Norwalk, US
• James R. Norris · Wilton, US
• Jean-Hiram Coffy · Norwalk, US
• Arthur Parkos · Southbury, US
• John F. Braun · Fairfield, US
• Wendy Chui Fen Leung · New Rochelle, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 30, 2002
• Grant date: Nov 23, 2010
• Expiry date: Sep 19, 2029

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G07B2017/00443
• WIPO field: Control
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

Methods and systems for dispensing value are described. In one configuration, a unique tangible indicia is enabled with a value and then disabled after the value is redeemed. In another configuration, a user enables a unique coded stamp and associates a postage payment with the stamp. The postal service cancels the stamp by deactivating the stamp from a list of active stamps and optionally audits the payment association.