Systems and methods for a label with postage API

US8170959B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• United States Postal Service · US

Inventors

• Stuart Willoughby · Oakton, US
• Ronald F. Smith · Monroe, US
• Daniel J. Lord · Huddersfield, GB
• Charles Outman · Damascus, US
• Joseph A. Otten · San Francisco, US
• John Gullo · Alexandria, US
• Anna Vale · Pearland, US

Key dates

• Filing date: May 15, 2002
• Grant date: May 1, 2012
• Expiry date: Feb 11, 2027

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G07B2017/0062
• WIPO field: Control
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A label and a method for providing a label to a user is described. The label may be a mailing label to be placed on letters or parcels. The label includes information such as postage, delivery address, return address, and a barcode for tracking delivery information. A user may request both a label and postage in what, to the user, appears to be a single computerized connection on a single internet web-page. A postage indicia is provided through a postage provider with whom the user has a deposit or credit. The label itself may be generated through a label-generating application hosted or generated by an entity separate from the postage provider.