EP1438145B1 - Method and device for processing postal articles - Google Patents

Abstract

The post processing method uses a sorting system for automated sorting of the items of post. An automated check is carried out as to whether the item is franked or stamped and, if so, a code is applied to the item. The data from items which are not marked are detected in a data processing system. This may be followed by a rough and then a finer sorting process. Independent claims also cover a system for carrying out the method.

Description

The invention relates to a method for processing mailpieces, the mailpieces being at least one automated one Sorting system can be sorted, as well one for the implementation of the Method suitable device, according to the preamble of Claim 1 or 6.

The invention is based on the object as reliable as possible Determination of postal items to achieve, no sufficient remuneration or no fee has been paid.

According to the invention, this object is achieved by the method according to claim 1 and the system according to claim 6, Advantageous further developments The invention is the subject of the dependent claims.

The pay-back code is a mark, the information contains a result of the review carried out.

In principle, any payment assurance codes can be used become. However, it has been shown to be an insert of 2-digit pay-back codes, all interested To record payment guarantee transactions and in the further processing of the mail, in particular their Sorting, integrate.

The use of such a payment assurance code can both to another process control, for example targeted removal of mail in case of suspected fraud or the supply of mutually different, from the payback code dependent, further verification steps serve. In addition, the application of a Pay-back codes ensure that a mailing is only once subjected to the payment assurance process and / or only once in a shipment tracking system is detected.

For this purpose, it is particularly advantageous that during a processing checked the mail item in a processing machine whether the shipment is marked with a payback code is.

An effective recording of all mail while avoiding of double detections can be expediently achieve that data components of the postal items, which are not marked in a data processing system be recorded.

Such a processing step is for example a Rough Sorting in an Entry or Exit Brief Center.

Another processing step is for example a fine sorting in an entrance or exit center.

Further advantages, special features and expedient further education arise from the following description of preferred embodiments the invention.

The illustrated embodiments of the method and embodiments allow the device detection and Use of shipment-related data for process control and the execution of the processing steps in dependence from the data obtained.

All machine-readable mail items are by the invention Payment system recorded. If an uncoded Transmission is encoded in the machine run, the data becomes stored in the payment assurance system. Will be a coded Shipment entered into the machine, a data acquisition takes place only with successful recoding. The detection an existing coding is done by checking means, at least one in the investigation Surface determine whether the mailing contains a code.

A particularly suitable means for checking offers the extended use of automation in letter centers, so detailed information per automatically edited To win mailing. The result is the additional one Deduction of postal items in "pay-back compartments". On the other hand, data from the reading and Test processes in the machines per automatically processed Consignment collected and provided for the processes.

A particularly important feature is the optimization of processes in the mail centers and in all adjacent areas.

The invention enables the detection of information in a Variety, preferably at all possible for the mail Payment types.

The verification of the franking types can be based on various Checking steps adapted to the respective franking type respectively.

A check of generated with sender franking machines AFM Clearances are preferably as follows:

First, the most automated identification possible and checking the franking type.

Particularly useful is an identification and testing of Postage type in an address reading machine (ALM), or in an integrated reading and video coding machine (ILVM).

Shipments involved in the execution of the payment assurance process deviate from expected behavior a remuneration assurance warning. Such broadcasts will be treated separately, in particular at a suitable place locally controlled from the shipment history. Particularly suitable is a modulation in the fine sorting machines.

A modulation of the shipments in a fine sorting machine has the advantage that in the fine sorter more subjects for the different discharge of the mailings available stand. This allows the shipments with different to be taken into account for remuneration Incidents, for example, about 10, select auszuschleusen.

In the investigation of mail, the one with sender franking machines generated franking are included preferably all franking imprints recorded.

A particularly functional local testing of with sender franking machines stamped AFM broadcasts with the criteria of the machine sorting programs, in particular subsequently, if necessary manually and by means of a positive / negative file.

The verification of digital postage indicia having Mail enables due to the variety of in the information contained in digital postage indicia particularly effective verification of proper postage of the shipments.

Because of the preferred generation of such digital Freimachungen in personal computers (PC) becomes this franking kind hereafter referred to as PC franking. The designs but also apply to other digital postage stamps, for example, by suitable large serial printer or by for printing digital indicia equipped franking machines can be made.

Another advantage of verifying the authenticity of digital Freimachungen is the possibility of an automated Identifying and checking the postage type.

Above all, a local modulation of shipments takes place in one Sorting machine, especially in a fine sorting machine. This broadcasts are controlled, which in the context of Check generate a payback warning.

The further method steps essentially take place accordingly the previous example.

For the remuneration, the shipment data of the customers, who free their shipments with PC franking and compacted provided. The data delivery is in the Application DB franking, for example customer data, positive and negative file, and integrate the postage point. Here, the shipment data is assigned to the customer data.

The various verification methods are embodiments a machining operation with a detection of the individual Consignment, a subsequent coding of the consignment in Dependence on the result of a remuneration assurance process step and, where appropriate, the removal of consignments, where the suspicion of breach of committed Clearance requirements.

A particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention is characterized by the fact that every shipment in the payment assurance system read only once, to double counts to avoid the shipment data.

• Wenn eine uncodierte Sendung - Freimachungsarten AFM/PC-F - im Maschinenlauf codiert wird, werden die Daten für das Entgeltsicherungssystem erfasst.
• Wenn eine codierte Sendung in die Maschine eingegeben wurde, erfolgt keine Erfassung für das Entgeltsicherungssystem (außer bei erfolgreicher Nachcodieraktion).
• Die Erkennung einer bereits vorhandenen Codierung wird von der Technik sichergestellt.
• Sonderregelungen gelten für Belegungen bei der Linearcodeabtastung.

In der Betriebsart "LAT aus" (Linearcodeabtastung aus) erfolgt keine Codierung. Die Freimachung wird jedoch gelesen, ausgewertet und das Ergebnis für das Entgeltsicherungssystem erfasst. Sendungen mit Entgeltsicherungswarnung können in diesem Fall in ein Grobsortierfach der Anschriftenlesemaschine ALM ausgeschleust werden.Taking into account preferred operational processes, the following processes were defined for machine-readable and machine-capable mailpieces:

• If an uncoded shipment - franking types AFM / PC-F - is encoded in the machine run, the data for the compensation system is recorded.
• If an encoded shipment has been entered into the machine, there will be no collection for the compensation system (except for successful post-encoding action).
• The detection of an existing coding is ensured by the technology.
• Special regulations apply to assignments for linear code scanning.

In the "LAT off" mode (linear code scan off) no coding takes place. However, the franking is read, evaluated and the result recorded for the remuneration assurance system. In this case, consignments with a charge-back warning can be removed into a coarse bin of the address reader ALM.

Below is the processing of the mail in letter centers shown. Basically, the illustrated is suitable Processing of postal items for all letter centers.

The first processing of a consignment in a letter sorting plant, in particular in an address reading machine integrated therein, leads to the registration in the remuneration assurance system. The coding depends on the Destination information and machine readability. The quantities in the reject compartment For example, the ALM does not qualify for pay-back data detected. Subsequently, a renewed processing takes place in the integrated reading and video coding machine ILVM, or the video coding machine VCM. At the end Processing in the ILVM / VCM becomes the quantity in the reject bin not in this embodiment for the remuneration assurance system recorded in the BZA operation.

The programs in the reject bin of the ILVM / VCM go to the last one Pass into the remaining hand sorting.

Shipments with a payback warning, which back in be given the transport run, are preferably in the ALM / ILVM sorted to the FSM sort programs. Preferably this is done by the address reading machines and fine sorting machines, or the integrated ones Reading and video coding machines, in a special mode operated, the sorting according to the code Suppress the payout codes ("ESi off").

It is also appropriate for the fine sorting machines (FSM), in which subjects for the discharge of the shipments equipped with payment assurance features, the function To provide "ESi-off".

• Resthandsortierung (RHS)
• E+1 KOOP-Sendungen (LR-Vorsortierung)
• Sendungen für ALM/ILVM (BZE)

über die Anschriftenlesemaschinen, beziehungsweise integrierten Lese- und Videocodiermaschinen, in den Eingangsbriefzentren führt zur Erfassung in dem Entgeltsicherungssystem des Eingangsbriefzentrums, sofern sie codiert wird. Die Codierung ist dabei abhängig von der Zielinformation und Maschinenlesbarkeit.The processing of uncoded broadcasts with

• Residual sorting (RHS)
• E + 1 KOOP shipments (LR pre-sorting)
• Shipments for ALM / ILVM (BZE)

via the address reading machines, or integrated reading and video coding machines, in the entry letter centers leads to the registration in the payment guarantee system of the entry letter center, if it is coded. The coding depends on the destination information and machine readability.

The decision as to whether a program encodes or uncodes is, arrives in the sorting system integrated pre-barcode Reader.

It is particularly useful, already coded broadcasts not recapture in the pay-as-you-go system and at the same time Make sure that all non-encoded Consignments (subsequently) are recorded.

It is appropriate to provide that all remuneration assurance alerts, which is required for coding in the entry letter center be, with other codes for the digits T1 and T2 are encrypted as when coding in the exit letter center. It is advantageous to use the function "ESi-off" also in the Inbound letter center for the sorting and coding units provided.

The quantities in the reject bin of the sorting system are not for the pay-as-you-go system detects and becomes residual sorting in the entrance letter center BZE.

For a consignment quantity, that in the dispatch center (BZA) without Linear code scanning has been processed so that for the fee collection system has already been recorded in the BZA, the following applies: an operational BZE editing only in the RHS or over Sorting program "BZE LAT OFF" is allowed, otherwise - caused due to the missing guide code - a re-capture in ZinS and coding in the BZE would be done.

The transmission quantity from LAT from programs BZA must in appropriate letterboxes (BfBeh) arrive in the BZE, to take them from those in the sorting system of the BZE Differentiate shipments. A sorting program "BZE LAT out "would avoid double counting for ZinS because Here the capture would be turned off in ZinS.

To carry out the respective types of verification are suitable in particular the verification steps shown below.

The shipments become one unit of the sorting system, for example a coding machine, read-fed. With The Prebarcodereader is checked whether the shipment is a complete Barcode carries. Shipments with complete barcode go into the normal transport run and will not be in ZinS recorded. With all other broadcasts, the image becomes everyone Transmission at the IMM and the connected AFM and 2D barcode reading unit forwarded. The IMM and the reader check the presented image. Is it a broadcast with AFM imprint, becomes the AFM ID and the AFM franking read.

Can not read AFM imprint or parts of it is automatically encoded a payback warning and the consignment in the FSM into the remuneration assurance compartment "AFM identifier unreadable "or" AFM franking unreadable " discharged. Has the AFM mark (AFM mark and AFM mark) been read, it will check if the AFM identifier is recorded in a negative file or in a positive file and / or whether the consignment is underfranked.

If the AFM ID is present in the negative file, a Remuneration alert coded and the shipment in the FSM into the payback security "AFM negative file".

If the AFM ID does not exist in the negative file, then they have been tested for presence in the positive file. Is the AFM identifier not included in the positive file will be on the Broadcast encoded an ESi warning and the broadcast in the FSM into the ESi subject "AFM-Not in positive file".

If the AFM ID is present in the positive file, the Height of franking tested. Is the consignment underfranked, an ESi warning is encoded on the program and the program is encoded in the FSM in the ESi subject "AFM Unterfrankierung" discharged.

If the AFM ID is not in the negative file, but in the Positive file and if there is no lower franking, the Shipment coded without ESi warning and goes into the normal transport run.

In a preferably local database all are called AFM identified shipments and the identifier with the associated Franking registered. This data will be for the evaluation and preparation of the local production report provided.

1. Zeitachse (Auswertung nach Schichtbeginn/-ende mit einem Zeitfenster von mind. 15 Minuten)

2. FSM (Maschinendaten)

3. Anzahl der Sendungen pro Entgeltsicherungvorfall (maschinell/Nachbearbeitung)

4. Anzahl der Sendungen pro Entgeltsicherungsfach (maschinell/Nachbearbeitung)

5. Esi-Codes

6. Zusätzliche Informationen:

• Nummer des Briefzentrums
• Erstellungsdatum
• Beginn und Ende der Erfassung (Uhrzeit)

In a local pay-as-you-go system, a production report is added daily to supplement the results of post-processing the shipments, such as a local database, with the following content:

1st time axis (evaluation after beginning / end of shift with a time window of at least 15 minutes)

2. FSM (machine data)

3. Number of shipments per payment guarantee incident (machine / postprocessing)

4. Number of shipments per payment assurance compartment (machine / post-processing)

5. Esi codes

6. Additional information:

• Number of the letter center
• Creation Date
• Start and end of the recording (time)

The transfer of local reports to a central database (ZinS-Zentral) takes place every working day after distribution and entering the supplementary entries.

1. Zeitachse, beispielsweise anhand der Bearbeitungszyklen in einem Briefzentrum

2. AFM-Kennung

3. Kundendaten (EKP-Nummer, Name, Adresse) -die Daten werden von der Datenbank Freimachung zur Verfügung gestellt

4. Freimachungsdaten incl. Nachbearbeitung Anzahl je Entgelthöhe)

5. Gegebenenfalls Entgeltsicherungsvorfälle und Ausschleusungsdaten incl. Nachbearbeitung

6. Anzeige von Sendungsmenge und Produktion incl. Nachbearbeitung

In a central payment assurance unit, for example a central database, substantially corresponding data of several processing centers are stored and for each AFM identifier a production report customer with the following content is created:

1st Timeline, for example, based on the processing cycles in a letter center

2. AFM identifier

3. Customer data (EKP number, name, address) -the data is provided by the franking database

4. franking data incl. Post-processing number per fee amount)

5. If necessary, payment guarantee events and discharge data including post-processing

6. Display of shipment quantity and production including post-processing

The data of the production report become customer for the production account report forwarded to the franking database.

• Verbrauchter kumulierter Freimachungsbetrag
• Kumulierter Betrag der bezahlten Wertkarten/Wertvorgaben.

The franking database automatically compresses the own data and data transmitted by ZinS Zentral every working day for each AFM ID:

• Used accumulated franking amount
• Cumulative amount of paid prepaid cards / prizes.

At a specified date, the database compares franking the sum of the amounts stamped and the sum of the paid prepaid cards / prizes for each of those in each Reporting period read AFM identifier. Exceed the Comparison results between read and paid amounts certain set limits override the database Freeze the data of the corresponding AFM identifier automatically into an "alarm file" that is evaluated and continued is processed.

It will also record the appropriate customer information in causes the negative file to update daily via the central remuneration system to the local remuneration system can be sent.

Mailings that appear to be a digital franking (PC-F) are presented to the ACR. The ACR analyzes the front of the program and tries to compare patterns a known franking method (AFM, PC-F etc.) to recognize.

If the franking type PC-F is detected, the shipment is registered in the Tray 1 or 2 for further processing in the coding machines set up correctly.

The broadcasts are supplied to the coding machines in a reading-correct way. With the Prebarcodereader is checked whether the shipment carries a full barcode.

Shipments with complete barcode go into the normal transport run and are not recorded in ZinS. At all other broadcasts, the image of each shipment to one central image capture unit IMM and the connected AFM and 2D barcode reader forwarded. The IMM and the reading unit check the presented image. Is it? for a PC-F broadcast, the 2D barcode is read.

If the 2D barcode can not be read, it will become automatic encoded a payment assurance alert and the shipment in the Fine sorting machine FSM in the pay-back security compartment "PC-F Negative file / barcode not readable "rejected.

• prüfen der PC-F Version
• prüfen der Postage-ID
• vergleichen der Lizenznummer mit der Negativdatei
• vergleichen der Hash-Werte
• prüfen des Datums im 2D Barcode
• prüfen der Mindestfreimachung

If the 2D barcode has been read, the following checks are performed after decrypting the crypto string:

• check the PC-F version
• check the postage ID
• compare the license number with the negative file
• compare the hash values
• Check the date in the 2D barcode
• check the minimum clearance

If the PC-F version is invalid, an ESi warning is coded and the program in the FSM in the ESi subject "PC-F version / date / sub-franking" discharged.

If the PC-F version is valid, the Postage ID is checked. is If the Postage ID is invalid, the shipment will receive an ESi warning coded and the broadcast in the FSM in the ESi tray "PC-F suspected counterfeit" rejected.

If the Postage ID is valid, it will automatically be with the negative file compared. If the postage ID is in the negative file, an ESi warning is encoded on the program and the program is encoded in the FSM in the ESi partition "PC-F negative file / barcode not readable ".

If the license number is not in the negative file, the Hash value compared. If the hash value is not correct, an ESi warning is encoded on the program and the program is encoded in the FSM in the ESi subject "PC-F falsification suspected" discharged.

If the hash value is ok, the date will be in 2D barcode checked. Dips the date in the 2D barcode by more than one Day off the actual date will be on the shipment one ESi warning coded and the broadcast in the FSM in the ESi tray "PC-F version / date / lower franking" removed.

If the date is valid in the 2D barcode, the minimum clearance will be checked. If the consignment is underfranked, will be on the Broadcast encoded an ESi warning and the broadcast in the FSM into the ESi subject "PC-F version / date / lower franking".

The system detects the height of the franking from the barcode and compares them to stored values.

Could the PC-F program read the 2D barcode, the PC-F version and the Postage-ID are valid and not an entry are present in the negative file, the hash value and the date is valid and there is no underfranking the shipment is encoded without ESi warning and goes to normal Conveying sequence.

Shipments requiring manual reading and testing with the Handheld scanner confirms that the postage ID is invalid or the Hash value comparison is incorrect, were rightly rejected. The consignments are removed from the transport run for evidential purposes taken.

Shipments where manual reading and testing with the Handheld scanner confirms that the shipment is underfranked, will be returned to the sender or paid with additional payment and delivered to the recipient.

Shipments where manual reading and testing with the Handheld scanner confirms that the postage ID is in the negative file is taken from the transport run.

In a preferably local database, all as PC-F Identified shipments recorded and registered. The data be used for the evaluation and creation of the local production report provided.

1. Zeitachse (Auswertung nach Schichtbeginn/-ende mit einem Zeitfenster von vorzugsweise mindestens 15 Minuten)

2. FSM (Maschinendaten)

3. Anzahl der Sendungen pro Esi-Vorfall (maschinell/Nachbearbeitung)

4. Anzahl der Sendungen pro Esi-Fach (maschinell/Nachbearbeitung)

5. Entgeltsicherungscodes

6. Zusätzliche Informationen:

• Nummer des Briefzentrums
• Erstellungsdatum
• Beginn und Ende der Erfassung (Uhrzeit)

Die Übertragung der lokalen Berichte an ZinS-Zentral erfolgt vorzugsweise arbeitstäglich nach Verteilschluss und Eingabe der Ergänzungsbuchungen.In einer zentralen Entgeltsicherungseinheit, die vorzugsweise mit einer zentralen Datenbank zusammenwirkt, werden im Wesentlichen entsprechende Daten mehrerer Bearbeitungszentren gespeichert und je Lizenznummer ein Produktionsbericht Kunde mit folgendem Inhalt erstellt:

7. Zeitachse (=BZ-Tag)

8. Lizenznummer

9. Kundendaten (EKP-Nummer, Name, Adresse) -die Daten werden von der Datenbank Freimachung zur Verfügung gestellt

10. Freimachungsdaten incl. Nachbearbeitung Anzahl je Entgelthöhe)

11. Ggf. Esi-Vorfälle und Ausschleusungsdaten incl. Nachbearbeitung

12. Anzeige von Sendungsmenge und Produktion incl. Nachbearbeitung

In a local payment assurance unit, which in particular is equipped with a local database (ZinS-Lokal), for example, a production report, supplemented by the AGB-Prüfer with the results of a post-processing of the consignments, is automatically created with the following content:

1st time axis (evaluation after the beginning / end of the shift with a time window of preferably at least 15 minutes)

2. FSM (machine data)

3. Number of shipments per Esi incident (machine / post-processing)

4. Number of shipments per ESI tray (machine / post-processing)

5. Remuneration insurance codes

6. Additional information:

• Number of the letter center
• Creation Date
• Start and end of the recording (time)

The transfer of the local reports to ZinS-Zentral preferably takes place every working day after the distribution deadline and entry of the supplementary bookings. In a central payment assurance unit, which preferably cooperates with a central database, substantially corresponding data of several processing centers are stored and a production report customer with the following content is created for each license number :

7. Timeline (= BZ-Tag)

8. License number

9. Customer data (EKP number, name, address) -the data is provided by the franking database

10. franking data including post-processing number per fee amount)

11. If necessary Esi incidents and discharge data including post-processing

12. Display of shipment quantity and production incl. Post-processing

To post a production postage amount report in the database to be able to create the calculated used franking amounts from the usage profile from the Postage Point to these and cumulated there. The time intervals depend on when the customer is in contact with the Postage Point had (at least every 3 months).

1. Lizenznummer

2. Kumulierter Freimachungsbetrag aller im Produktionsbericht Kunde erfassten Sendungen (Produktionswert)

3. Berechneter verbrauchter Freimachungsbetrag aus dem Nutzungsprofil

4. Portobetrag aus dem Postage-Point

After the last requested postage amount of each individual customer has been transferred from the Postage Point to the franking database and the production reports are sorted by license number for each customer, the Postage Daily updated daily - sorted by license number - automatically displays a production postage amount report with the following content created:

1. License number

2. Accumulated franking amount of all shipments recorded in the production report customer (production value)

3. Calculated used postage amount from the usage profile

4. Postage amount from Postage Point

Preferably, per day the cumulative franking amount per customer all shipments recorded in the production report compared with the postage amount from the Postage Point and the Results saved. Is the production value as reported higher than the postage amount, the database will overwrite the postage the customer data automatically into an "alarm file". Furthermore will record the customer data in the negative file causes them to be updated daily via the central Remuneration system ZinS Central to the local remuneration system ZinS local can be sent.

For the processing of the discharged consignments is a local test device available. The local test device consists of a data acquisition unit, a graphical Display unit, one or more input units, a scanner and possibly other aids such as a printer for printing labels and a letter scale.

The device can directly in the field of erection and Sorting machines are used individually. The data relation way Mains supply via existing Interfaces (traffic lights) in production.

Modular to the franking types (for example AFM and PC-F) customized editing programs support capturing, Evaluation and documentation of the read franking types.

The connected handheld scanners (radio / wire) provide information to the condition as well as to decrypt the 2D barcode with the support of a crypto server.

The letter scale is used to check the remuneration, a (planned) Label printer allows you to create stickers for the return of shipments, or the printing of Labels for collecting late pay.

The illustrated embodiments are merely exemplary to understand.

The illustrated method for processing mailpieces and the illustrated apparatus may include a variety of different configurations have to different To fulfill functions.

The use of pay-back codes allows in all Embodiments provide effective protection of the postal company against abuse and combines this protection with a comprehensive one Privacy of customers of the postal company and the full respect of postal secrecy.

List of abbreviations

term definition 2D Barcode Two-dimensional matrix code that is printed on the program and contains broadcast-specific information in machine-readable form. sender Actual contract partner of Deutsche Post. Debtor of the transport fee. Does not have to be the same as the consignor / producer of a letter. ACR → Advanced Color Recognizer Advanced Color Recognizer Technical device for recognizing stored PWz (and possibly other franking types) using a simple image. Sender-recipient relation Who sends within the FRG in which Leitregion? Who sends abroad? Originator Canceled Consignments that are printed by the consignor using a franking machine with the transport fee for the purpose of payment. Sender franking machine Technical device for franking consignments. The required fee is printed directly on the shipment. The franking machine user buys a "credit" from the post office. With each stamp, the credit is reduced by the amount set on the machine. Cancellation by the sender Devaluation of the PWz with stamp imprint by the producer before the delivery (only with the products Infopost and Infobrief) SFM identification 7-digit alphanumeric identifier of the sender franking machine of a postal customer. The first digit is a letter that identifies the manufacturer of the machine, the next six digits identify the postal customer. Conditions Examiner Staff at the letter center. Checks in operation whether the consignments for carriage comply with the "General Terms and Conditions of Deutsche Post". ALM Address reading machine AT THE Erection and stamping machine address field The area on an envelope captured by the ALM / ILVM reader to read the address (street, house number, PO box number, post code and city) of the recipient. discharging Machine sorting of certain shipments into a designated compartment barcode Barcode that codes the recipient's address, as well as the ESi warning. 2D Barcode Distinguishing feature of franking type PC franking 2D barcode reader Reading device in the IMM that can read, decrypt and check the 2D barcode. Barfreimachung Payment of the fee for a delivery in cash at a branch of Deutsche Post. The consignments receive a franking mark as proof of payment. conveying sequence Term for all processing steps of a consignment in the BZ. BMF Federal Ministry of Finance: publisher of the PWz letters All shipments processed via the mail centers: Letter Postcard Book Mailing-Merchandise-Infopost / Catalog Info Letter / Catalog Mailing Mail-Dossal Mailing (Free of Charge) Mail services The sender may request one or more additional services for some products upon payment of an additional fee. Additional services are: Registered letter-in-hand-written-return-note-cash on delivery These additional services require a treatment of the shipments that differs from the normal processing. BZ letter center BZA-time window The time available to a BZ for the processing of shipments until the departure of the vehicles (main run). BZL Mail services CCCS Customer Care Center Software; Sales information system, which is used by the business customer service (call center) in Bielefeld to document customer discussions. hand sensor Technical device for the manual authenticity check of PWz Database FORMATION (DBFM) (DBFM) The database FREIMACHUNG (DBFM) contains customer-related data of all AFM and PC-F customers and is the basis for automated payment assurance Direct Marketing Center (DMC) The direct marketing centers serve customers with a letter turnover of up to 25,000 DM p.a. The aim of the DM Center is to generate a larger volume of advertising mail. Franking DV program of the customer, which determines after entering certain information for the respective shipment to be paid fee and prints on the shipment. The individual shipments are numbered consecutively. The total fee for a posting will be withdrawn from the customer account by the responsible regional accounting center. Grower Producer of a correspondence. Does not have to be the same as the sender. Consignment BZ Letter Center, which is located in the area where the postal customer delivers his shipments. delivery date Day on which the customer receives a shipment, e.g. at a post office, surrenders. collection fee Fee for the expense of Deutsche Post to collect the missing fee. EKP no. Uniform customer and product number. receiver Addressee of a shipment. Not contractual partner of Deutsche Post. remuneration The amount that must be paid to Deutsche Post for the transport performance of a shipment; Franking Erfassungstag The day a correspondence passes through the sorting machine. Investigating agency Organizational unit of Deutsche Post; responsible for the pre-determinations in facts to the damage of the post by internal (coworker) and external persons. In criminal cases, the interface of the post office to the prosecutor. It I Remuneration insurance All measures that contribute to Deutsche Post receiving the remuneration due for the services rendered. Assurance compartment For the removal of consignments of the remuneration assurance available compartment at the FSM. Branch district headquarters Organizational unit of Deutsche Post, link between franking machine manufacturer, franking machine owner and business customer service MAIL COMMUNICATION fluorescence Part of postage stamps; chemical substance that is visible by irradiation with UV light and is needed in the stamping machines to detect PWs and align the shipments. franking Postal term for payment of the carriage charge for a letter. Franking Possibilities to pay the fee for letter mail. One distinguishes: Postage Stamp Sender Freistempelung-Barfreimachung-DV-franking-Frankierservice-PC-Franking indicia Marking on a consignment that the fee for the entire consignment was paid in cash at a Deutsche Post office. The franking mark contains the name of the receiving office. The shipment fee is not specified. Franking impression Imprint provided on the consignment by a franking machine as proof of payment. The indicia stamp consists of: Fee stamp with indication of the AFM identification, the fee, lettering "Deutsche Post AG" or "Deutsche Bundespost" and the Posthorn, day cancellation with indication of the date and the agreed place of delivery (postal code and place), advertising use of the sender. Infopost or Infobrief contain the addition "remuneration paid" in the franking imprint or the product specification. At present, the impression is applied in red. For better machine reading, a more contrasty blue color will be used in the future. Franking machine Sender franking machine freestyle Freistempler InfoLine, database analysis tool for the remuneration protection in the Mail division of Deutsche Post. It uses the data of other business units collected in the area of the sender franking and organizes and consolidates these under the aspect of remuneration protection. FSM Fine sorting machine large letters large letters GKS Business customer service BRIEF KOMMUNIKATION, Bielefeld Responsible for all contract matters for sender franking machines. Maintains the master data of the "franking" database. Hand Scanner Technical device for reading a 2D barcode. Used in case of failure of the barcode reader or for test purposes in PC franking. Hash Function for encrypting data transmitted over the Internet. (Storage) History The saved versions of files are archived separately and comprehensibly with their respective storage date. ilvM Integrated reading and video coding machine IMM Image Management Module running time Duration of transportation of a shipment from delivery by the customer to delivery to the recipient. Swiss Post has fixed certain delivery times as a quality target for its products. Propagation delay Extension of the term by certain events. LAT Linear code scanning Local system here: local ZinS calculator in each BZ. marketing plan The marketing plan specifies targets for sales and sales for each Deutsche Post product. Master function Central access to local ZinS computers. Mindestfreimachungswert Corresponds to the pay of the "cheapest" consignment. Currently this is Infopost Standard National = 0.47 DM. Nachentgelt For lower franking: additional payment = collection fee + difference for correct franking. Inadequately franked consignments are always rejected in the BZA and returned to the sender. If there is no sender, the items will be sent at a later payment. negative file Contains in suspected cases certain possibly approved AFM codes and customer data of the PC franking. The file is created and maintained centrally. PC-F customer system The PC-F customer system includes the hardware and software used by the customer for PC franking. PC-F PC franking PC franking New form of franking at Deutsche Post, with which customers can print "digital franking marks" on domestic letters etc. using a conventional PC with printer and additional software and, if necessary, hardware as well as Internet access. ZIP cluster Individual postcodes should be condensed into postcode clusters as part of the ZinS project in order to reduce the data stock and make it more manageable. postage amount Amount that is electronically loaded into a "purse" in the PC-F customer system and used to make postage indicia. positive file The file contains all approved AFM IDs with the corresponding postal code according to the date stamp. It is centrally provided daily by the database FREIMACHUNG (DBF _M ) and updated by the business customer service BRIEF KOMMUNIKATION in Bielefeld. Postage Point The DP provides a postage point on the Internet, through which postage amounts can be loaded. Post suppression Unauthorized removal of shipments from the operational run; Criminal offense. Pre-Barcode Reader Part of the letter sorting system, which scans all shipments for existing codes. As a result, double-codings are avoided or reclocking possible by discharging the program into a separate compartment. pwz Postage stamps; Of postage. RHS Residual manual sorting Key data (PC-F) The key data consists of a random number and the default ID. The default ID contains information about the identity of the customer, the specification itself, and the validity of the indicia produced with this specification. The key data is provided in the postage point. Scoring Model Models that trigger actions automatically when significant changes occur; Example: If the usage behavior of a customer changes, the responsible sales representative should be informed. SF superfluorescence SFS Super fluorescence sensor Shipments without code Shipments that have no address and ESi coding. S / CBF Standard / Kompaktbrief SoC Shipments without code superfluorescence Fabric that enables fastness detection on PWz using a superfluorescence sensor or hand sensor Super fluorescence sensor Technical device in the set-up machine, which checks the PWz for authenticity. sales Business key figure: Sales = Quantity * Unit price; here: 1. Value of the transported consignments (sum of the individual charges of all consignments of a customer). 2. Credit purchased by the customer from the post office (e.g., purchased prepaid cards for a particular franking machine). sales analysis The following sums (sales) are compared for individual customers: "Value of the delivered consignments" (sum of franking values) and fees received by the customer "(eg purchased values for franking machines). insufficient postage Underrun of the stipulated by the terms and conditions for a consignment. Example: Provided fee for a standard letter is 1.10 DM. The shipment is stamped only with 0.80 DM. VCM Videocodiermaschine verification Verify correctness by checking. The shipments automatically discharged by the system are manually checked by the AGB examiner for the correctness of the discharge. Default ID Number formed in the PostagePoint, which contains information about the identity of the customer, the specification and the validity of the postage indicia produced with this specification. Central sales controller Employee of the Central Sales Control Department (Dept. 142) at the headquarters. Interest Additional information about shipments

Claims (7)

1. A method for processing mailpieces, whereby the mailpieces are sorted by at least one automated sorting installation, whereby an automated checking procedure is carried out to ascertain whether the mailpiece has the expected postage and whereby the completion of the checking of the mailpiece is marked by applying a code onto the mailpiece,
   characterized in that,
   in processing the mailpiece, a processing machine checks whether the mailpiece is marked with a payment assurance code and in that the checking as to whether the mailpiece has been provided with a payment assurance code as well as the application of a payment assurance code in case the mailpiecc had not already been provided with a payment assurance code are done by the same processing machine.
2. The method according to Claim 1,
   characterized in that
   data record components of the mailpieces that are not marked are recorded in a data processing system.
3. The method for processing according to one or both of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that
   one processing step consists of a preliminary sorting in a mail center for incoming mail and in a mail center for outgoing mail.
4. The method according to one or more of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that
   one processing step consists of a fine sorting in a mail center for incoming mail and in a mail center for outgoing mail.
5. The method according to one or more of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that
   the automated checking procedure to ascertain whether the mailpiece has the expected postage comprises a process step in which it is checked whether the mailpiece has been franked with a certain type of postage.
6. A system for payment assurance, comprising several devices for processing mailpieces, whereby the devices for processing mailpieces are each connected to a unit for recording information that is present on at least one surface of the mailpieces, whereby at least some of the devices have a means for checking the presence of a payment assurance code,
   characterized in that
   it encompasses various mail centers, whereby at least some of the mail centers are set up as outgoing mail centers for a preliminary sorting of mailpieces for incoming mail centers and whereby the system encompasses several incoming mail centers, and in that the incoming mail centers as well as the outgoing mail centers are equipped with devices for processing maitpieces that have means for checking the presence of a payment assurance code.
7. The system according to Claim 6,
   characterized in that
   essentially all of the devices for processing mailpieces that comprise a unit for recording information that is present on at least one surface of the mailpieces are equipped with a means for checking the presence of a payment assurance code.