EP1581910A1

EP1581910A1 - Method and device for processing graphical information located on surfaces of postal articles

Info

Publication number: EP1581910A1
Application number: EP03795760A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Dieter Stumm; Carsten Vullriede
Original assignee: Deutsche Post AG
Current assignee: Deutsche Post AG
Priority date: 2003-01-02
Filing date: 2003-12-18
Publication date: 2005-10-05
Also published as: DE10300297A1; RU2005120771A; WO2004061779A1; RU2338257C2; PL376094A1; NZ540953A; AU2003298069A1; ZA200506112B; US20060161506A1; CA2528842A1; AU2003298069B2

Abstract

The aim of the invention is to provide a method that enables an examination of postage paid impressions on bulk mailings and/or a billing of charges for bulk mailings, whereby the method, above all, should be suitable for billing specific types of delivery. The inventive method is carried out in such a manner that it can be used for processing large quantities or postal articles and, in particular, can be integrated into processing processes in letter or parcel distribution centers. According to the invention, graphical information located on the surface of the postal articles are detected and items of information are determined. These items of information are used for assigning the postal articles to a respective type of delivery during which an address of an addressee, and a detail that identifies the postal article and/or identifies a deliverer of the postal article is determined, and during which the number of postal articles delivered by a deliverer is established. The determined items of information are associated with one another in such a manner as to establish a delivery structure, and the established number and the established delivery structure are compared with a delivery job batch, which contains a number of the delivered postal articles and a delivery structure and which is conveyed by a customer, and/or a delivery job batch containing the number and the delivery structure is created. In addition, the deliver job batch is compared to a customer record that contains a prepaid postage amount and/or a limit for a postage amount.

Description

Method and device for processing on

Graphic information surfaces of mail items

Description :

The invention relates to a method for processing mail items, in which graphic information located on the surface of a mail item is recorded and examined in the area of a letter processing station, whereupon it is transmitted to an image processing unit and further processed by this image processing unit.

The invention further relates to a device suitable for carrying out the method.

From the international patent application WO 98/17405 AI a method and an apparatus for online processing of mail items to be forwarded are known. In this method, an image of the mail item is recorded and the mail item is transported to an intermediate store. After digitizing the image of the mail item, areas with information of interest are determined and existing forwarding labels are read on the item fertilizers.

The international patent application WO 01/04768 AI discloses an OCR server on a message basis. In this case, a device consists of a processor and a computer-readable medium which is encrypted with program instructions, the program instructions being executable on the processor in order to receive a first message from a remote computer, the message containing image data. At least part of the image data is converted into text data and a second message is sent to the remote computer. This second Message contains the text data.

German Offenlegungsschrift DE 198 58 229 AI describes a method and a device for detecting postal matter and the corresponding postage franking, a weight control of the postal matter automatically taking place in a postal matter conveyor line.

German Offenlegungsschrift DE 197 37 232 AI describes an electronic method for franking mail items, in which a bar code assigned by a central computer is used for the identification of unpaid postal items that have been cleared. This barcode can be applied to any mail item by any commercially available PC printer without any additional devices.

US Pat. No. 5,229,932 discloses a method and an apparatus for categorizing and certifying mail items. For bulk shipments, the class, number, size and weight of the shipments are recorded and the ZIP code contained in the address is read in order to determine the geographical target region and the legibility of the address block and to verify the address. All information is saved and a report is created which, in addition to the information entered, also contains the postage determined from it. This report is compared with the customer's posting details, in particular the postage is verified.

An analog method and an analog device are known from European patent application EP 0 356 228 A2, in which, however, the information is not determined for each shipment

but the recording is limited to random samples, from which conclusions can be drawn on the corresponding information for all shipments within a bulk shipment.

European patent application EP 0 373 972 A2 discloses a postage verification system which includes a calibrated scale and a reading unit connected to a computer. In addition to the weight and address of the individual consignments, the number of consignments is also determined when bulk mailings are posted, and the information is transferred to the computer. The postage to be paid for each shipment is determined using a table, and this is printed on the shipment. If the shipments already have a postage imprint, this is recorded and compared with the postage to be paid.

European patent specification EP 0 589 723 B1 relates to a mail processing system for checking the postage amount, which contains a balance and a franking machine which prints a postage resulting from the weight of the mail items on the mail items. The printing of the valid postage amount can be preceded by the reading of the ZIP code of the recipient's address, and the shipments within a bulk shipment can be sorted according to ZIP codes, so that reduced postage is printed on the shipments if a certain number of shipments for a specific one ZIP code has been accumulated.

US Pat. No. 4,821,195 discloses a method and a device for the sequential numbering of fertilizers. To frank mail, the customer of a postal company receives a postage amount into which a register is loaded in an access unit, the postage being transmitted together with a transaction number. The shipments are provided with the postage of the transaction number and a consecutive number, and for a bulk shipment a report is printed that includes the total postage and the number of items included. The transaction number and the consecutive numbering can be used to determine whether the mail items have valid frankings.

Furthermore, the German patent specification DE 100 56 599 C2 describes a method for sending mail items with postage indicia, in which a customer system loads a fee amount from a value transmission system and the customer system controls the printing of postage indicia on mail items. The data transmitted by the value transmission system are encrypted using a random number, and a background system checks whether the credit amounts contained in the customer system are actually reduced by the amount of fees that are printed on as postage indicia.

The invention has for its object to provide a method that enables a review of postage indicia for bulk mailings and / or a charge for bulk mailings, the method should be particularly suitable for billing specific types of posting. In particular, the object of the invention is to carry out the method in such a way that it can be used for processing large quantities of mail items and in particular can be integrated into processing operations in letter or parcel distribution centers.

According to the invention, this object is achieved by a method according to claim 1.

It is provided that information is determined on the basis of which the mail items are each assigned to a product type, that at least one of the mail items and / or an identifier identifying a consignor of the mail item is determined at least in part on the basis of the recorded graphical information, that it is determined in what number of mail items the consignor has been processed and that the number of processed mail items is compared with a delivery job record.

Possible types of mail items can be standard mail types of a postal company carrying out the method, for example standard letters, compact letters and large letters.

However, it is also possible to define separate shipment types for certain consignors or certain groups of consignors.

The mail items are preferably classified into types of items by recording their dimensions and / or their weight. In an exemplary application with at least four different types of mail (standard letters, compact letters, large letters and maxi letters), it is possible to assign minimum and maximum lengths and widths as well as a maximum height and a maximum weight to the respective types of mail.

The invention is therefore in no way limited to use with such standard broadcast types. The invention is particularly suitable for billing specific types of delivery, such as pre-sorted items.

Such billing is preferably carried out by combining the recorded data from different mail items in such a way that a posting structure is determined from which information relevant to payment results. Information relevant to payment is, for example, identifying information and information about the number and type of product, as well as about the existence of an indicium or its correctness in terms of amount.

However, the information relevant to charges is not limited to the examples mentioned. The term encompasses all parameters that can be used for charging the mail items, for example also features that result in a fee reduction, for example by the consignor pre-sorting the mail items and checking the presence and correctness of this pre-sorting and taking it into account in the pay accounting becomes.

According to the invention, the speed of the analysis of the graphic information can be increased by carrying out the analyzes first at the local level and then in a second step on a central database. The recorded information is compared with a data material available in a database and determined or specified for certain subject-matter relationships to be defined in subsequent processes.

It is particularly advantageous to sort the post fertilizers depending on the previously analyzed data. For example, consignments with an insufficient fee are removed from the processing process or placed in a buffer, in which they remain until it is ensured that a sufficient fee has been paid for the respective consignment. This fee-specific handling of the mail items can be carried out using various methods and processing devices. A combination of several of the method and device features presented in this patent application is particularly advantageous. way.

An important feature of the analysis is that the consignment should be delivered under certain conditions. Therefore, the type of product, the charge of the consignment, the consignment number, the acquisition date, the acquisition time, the customer or identification number, etc. are recorded.

Another possible work step is to analyze the contracts on which the transport order is based using special indicators (e.g. specific identification number of a customer's franking facility, an order number or the like) and, if the overall result is positive, the confirmation of a delivery structure to a customer data management system centrally (KDMz ) to give.

If desired or necessary, this confirmation of delivery can be communicated to the customer automatically or upon request.

As a result of this posting information to the KDMz, it is advisable to create a job record, provided that the customer has not reported a job to the postal company centrally by electronic order for this day. The job rate can be used for later billing of the postal company's services.

According to the invention, this job set should preferably create a sufficiently specific customer data structure via the information in the KDMz and be stored locally at the distribution center at which the graphic information was recorded (KDM = customer data management system (local). As a supplement to the customary data in the customer data set (KDS) data such as prepayment amount and / or customer limit are also transferred in order to exploit all potential of the system. tems with the resulting subsequent processes.

If there is a discrepancy between the entry information and the customer's target data for the job (e.g. the order), the system creates a difference log (delta log) and sends it to the KDM at the local level. According to the invention, the next step requires clearing information as a response from the customer. Subsequently, reimbursement and / or follow-up procedures can be triggered system-based or manually.

The task of the distribution center is, using this procedure according to the invention, to sum up the data per job and customer number for the graphical information of all recorded mail items and to store them in the KDMz.

Processing of mail items with different franking can be achieved by assigning the graphic information on the surfaces of the mail items to one or more of the expected types of mail items and by checking them in reading devices that are specialized for the postage types.

In this case, it is advantageous to assign the graphic information to standardized franking systems and specialized reading devices, even if the graphic information is captured by a central image processing unit which supplies special reading devices with digital information via standardized interfaces.

Examples of these specialized reading devices are devices which can determine encoded information contained in the graphic information by deciphering the code and can compare it with other information. For example, such serve specialized readers for capturing information from encoded information contained in digital indicia.

Such reading devices are examples of image processing units in a device suitable for carrying out the method.

At a specified point in time, this locally recorded information (jobs) is reported to the KDM from all letter centers so that the graphical information can be recorded in a customer-specific manner.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, in a next step the individual jobs are summarized taking into account information stored in the KDMz periodic data. When the end of a data entry period is reached, the customer accounting data is transferred, listing the shipment data and entry times, as well as products and individual prices, to the financial accounting department and a central accounting office.

In order to enable DPWN to efficiently secure sales, the items for which there is no order or no customer approval for the recorded item volume, item prices or discount levels after the DPWN has been determined can be provided with a special coding feature, which leads to particular criteria based on certain payment assurance criteria sorted ejection of consignments that have not been released.

It is also possible to bill shipments from certain customers who have given us a registration and direct debit authorization according to the invention in an automated manner and according to the period. Particularly preferred embodiments of the invention are characterized in that the recording and processing of graphical surface information of the mail items is used, a delivery confirmation (customer) to be sent a delivery confirmation - preferably transmitted via the KDMz - and billing information from the analysis of the automatically recorded information to generate.

In particular, it is advantageous to record mail items (deliveries) that are not based on a contractual relationship and / or that have no other indication of sufficient postage.

Such programs can either be removed and the

Consignors (customers) are returned or recorded with the customer's existing authorization to collect and debit and then billed - for example, in accordance with the period or when a certain shipment quantity is reached.

It is particularly advantageous to carry out the method in such a way that at least one additional charge-relevant information item is recorded about each of the mail items.

A particularly preferred embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the determined information is connected to one another in such a way that a delivery structure is determined.

The term delivery structure has a variety of meanings supported by the present invention.

For example, this is information about which letter or freight centers each have how many mail fertilize certain types of consignments, or certain other specified or specifiable properties.

An example of a delivery structure that is particularly relevant to charges is a pre-sorting of the mail items. By pre-sorting the mail items - for example on the basis of the zip codes of the respective recipients - the processing operation of the mail item can be carried out in a manner that deviates from the standard throughput of the mail items.

However, it is of course also possible to give a discount for the presence of a delivery structure if the processing of the mail items remains unchanged.

However, it is particularly advantageous to check the presence and, if necessary, the correctness of a pre-sorting, so that the respective consignor can receive a fee reduction for carrying out the pre-sorting.

A particularly preferred embodiment of the checking of the pre-sorting carried out by the consignor includes checking whether the pre-sorting took place on the basis of recipient addresses.

This is expediently done by checking whether the pre-sorting was carried out on the basis of postal codes of the respective recipients of the mail items.

Furthermore, it is expedient to determine whether the mail items have been pre-sorted according to mailing properties, for example according to the respective weights or weight classes. It is also advantageous that it is determined for the mail items whether they have an identification number and that the identification number of the mail items is used for billing.

A particularly preferred embodiment of the invention is characterized in that it is determined in each case for the mail items whether they have a customer number and that the customer number of a consignor is used for a payroll accounting.

It is also advantageous that a billing data record is determined on the basis of the number of mail items from the supplier and / or the determined delivery structure.

This is expediently carried out in that the delivery job set is transmitted to a customer data management system (KDM) and that the customer data management system determines whether there are any discrepancies between the billing data record and the delivery job set, and that Customer data management system in the event that deviations between the billing data record and the posting job record occur, recorded this in a difference log.

It is also advantageous that a check is carried out to determine whether a customer has submitted a posting job set and that in the event that the customer has not generated a posting job set, a posting job set is generated automatically.

A particularly expedient embodiment of the invention is characterized in that a delivery confirmation for the consignor is created on the basis of recorded information. The delivery confirmation can be sent to the consignor in various ways. In principle, push processes are just as suitable for this as pull processes. Examples of push processes are emails, SMS or automatically generated mail items. Examples of pull processes are information that is made available for download on a web page.

It is advisable to adapt the delivery confirmation to the requirements of the consignor. For example, while individual consignors would like to have confirmation that each and every one of the mail items was recorded - preferably based on the respective identification number of the mail item - other consignors require less detailed information, for example only about the charges to be paid and / or about the correctness of the delivery parameters, for example one possibly pre-sorting.

According to the invention, delivery confirmations for individual mail items as well as delivery confirmations are thus provided via a delivery structure.

An increase in the speed of the processing of the graphic information can expediently be achieved in that the graphic information located on the surface of the mail items is first evaluated locally, that it is determined whether the graphic information deviates from expected graphic information and that in the event that the determined graphic information deviate from expected graphic information, the determined graphic information is transmitted to a central image processing unit.

It is particularly advantageous that the mail items are sorted in dependence on the graphic information determined. formations.

The graphic information present on the mail items is preferably also used for other applications, for example in order to achieve quick and reliable addressing of the mail items.

Another advantageous development of the invention is characterized in that a comparison between the graphic information present on the mail items and expected graphic information is used to check the fee paid for the mail items.

In order to further increase the efficiency of this method, it is advantageous that the check as to whether the mail items have an expected remuneration takes place in two stages, the graphic information present on the mail items being first compared locally with the expected graphic information in the area of the processing machines. and that the graphic information of the mail items, in which deviations between the existing graphic information and the expected graphic information were determined in the local processing stations, there is a new comparison between the determined graphic information and the expected graphic information in the central image processing unit.

Processing of mailpieces with different frankings can be achieved by assigning the graphic information on the surfaces of the mailpieces to one or more expected types of mailings and by checking them in reading devices that are specialized for the franking types.

It is particularly expedient here that the assignment of the graphic information on the reading devices is carried out by the central image processing unit.

Examples of the specialized reading devices shown are devices which can determine encoded information contained in the graphic information by deciphering the code and can compare it with other information. For example, specialized readers of this type are used to capture coded information contained in digital postage indicia.

Such readers are examples of image processing stations in the device suitable for carrying out the method.

A particularly suitable device for processing mail items with a plurality of processing machines for the mail items, the processing machines containing means for capturing graphic information located on the mail items, is characterized in that the means for capturing the graphic information with at least one means for processing the graphical information Information is connected in such a way that the means for processing the graphic information can process the graphic information from several processing machines.

Further advantages, special features or expedient developments of the invention result from the subclaims and the following illustration of preferred exemplary embodiments.

In the following illustration, a processing center for mail items, for example a letter or freight center, contains a central image processing unit. The the associated representation is particularly advantageous since it enables the most effective use of computing capacities with little use of data transfers between the different computing units.

However, the invention is not limited to the examples shown. For example, a processing center for mail items can contain several central image processing units, or a central image processing unit can process the graphic information of several letter or freight centers.

In the following example, the image processing system with other components is connected to a local computer network within a mail center.

The image processing system has a connection to the respective letter processing machines, in particular the address reading machines or the video coding stations.

In the case shown, the image processing system is used to process mailpiece images that could not be read successfully by the primary readers of the image processing machines. As an alternative, it is possible to use essentially all of the primary readers with the central one

Image processing unit to edit. For example, it is possible to carry out this processing independently of the reading result of the primary readers.

The image processing system receives from the image processing machines the graphic information present on the mail items and preferably additional accompanying information.

A particularly fast and reliable processing of the Mail items can be achieved in that the accompanying information contains results of one or more checking steps of the mail items.

The graphic information present on the mail items can be processed both sequentially and in parallel.

In particular, it is advantageous to carry out the method in such a way that existing image processing capacities are used as effectively as possible by effectively distributing the image processing tasks to different image processing units.

In the image processing system shown, the local image processing units connected to the processing machines act as primary readers and the specialized reading units act as secondary readers. However, it is also possible for the image processing units of other processing machines to act as secondary readers. As a result, the existing processing capacity of the image processing devices is used.

Such a procedure is particularly suitable for rapid adaptation of the image processing capacities to special features of the operational process. For example, in the event of a failure of mechanical components of a letter processing machine, the image processing capacity available in it can be used by the other image processing machines, so that interference with the processing of the mail items is avoided as far as possible even in the event of operational malfunctions.

The image processing process can be carried out quickly, effectively and reliably through the measures shown. The image processing process preferably includes the following steps:

First of all, the graphic information present on the mail items is recorded, for example by one or more sensors and / or a camera.

If the information is not already obtained in digital form, digitizing the graphic information is advantageous.

The graphic information is then subjected to one or more image processing steps.

The image processing steps can include both an evaluation of the graphical information and a targeted forwarding of the graphical information to a specialized and / or free processing capacity image processing unit.

The term image processing, or the image processing unit, is therefore not to be understood in any way restrictive. In particular, it includes the transformation of the graphic information into further graphic information, for example the conversion into another format, the forwarding of the graphic information and / or the evaluation of further information contained in the graphic information or obtainable from the graphic information, such as reading a recipient address or deciphering encoded information contained in the graphic information.

The term image processing also includes the features that are occasionally used in the field of image processing. borrowed as an image interpretation. This includes, for example, the deciphering of recipient addresses by reading the graphic information representing the recipient address (for example in handwriting).

The various image processing steps are preferably divided into different image processing units depending on the respective specification of the image processing unit and / or the free capacity of the image processing units.

For example, the shipment process for shipments that contain digital postage indicia can be carried out as follows:

In a first image processing unit, which is preferably assigned to one of the processing devices for mail items, a separate process routine first checks whether the local image processing unit contains sufficient processing capacity for processing the graphic information on the mail item.

If this is not the case, the graphic information is forwarded to a further image processing unit that has free processing capacity.

In the event that the image processing unit assigned to the processing machine for the mail item has a capacity sufficient for processing the image data, forwarding the recorded graphic information is advantageous for individual mail items.

A forwarding of the graphic information is particularly expedient if the graphic information corresponds in whole or in part to a special franking. Such forwarding is particularly expedient if the graphic information corresponds to a special type of franking, for example a sender's franking or a digital franking.

The image data of such items are forwarded to the specialized readers for the franking types sender franking AFM and digital franking marks (digital franking) PC-F.

If the existence of such a franking type is recognized, the associated verification steps are carried out.

For example, the AFM reader takes over the broadcast image from the central image processing unit as an example of a specialized reading device.

The AFM reader then searches for a sender franking within an expected franking zone. The imprint of the sender's franking preferably consists of three parts, from which the AFM reader recognizes the franking imprint.

These are preferably the charge stamp imprint with recognition of the stamp machine, the daily stamp imprint and the additional field for sender details and advertising.

The AFM reader recognizes the charge stamp impression as a whole and identifies it by means of one or more suitable graphic symbols, for example a post horn contained in the charge stamp.

The AFM reader then reads the identifier of the fee stamp and the printed fee amount. In the event that the indicia cannot be read or does not correspond to an expected indicia, a warning message is generated.

Such a warning message can preferably take the form of a suitable payment security code, for example, as a so-called payment security code, to indicate a possible reason for suspected counterfeiting.

Examples of such a fee protection coding are the information that the identifier or the franking is not readable.

When using digital postage indicia, for example, encrypted information contained in the postage indicium is compared with the unencrypted information contained on the associated postal item.

In the event of deviations, for example in the event that the mailpiece contains a recipient address which does not correspond to the encrypted addresses contained in the digital franking mark, the corresponding mailpiece is also provided with a payment security code.

The mail items provided with such a fee security code can be processed with suitable further checking steps and / or can be specifically removed from the mail item history.

The image processing method shown is particularly suitable for such use in a payment assurance system, but it can also be used otherwise for more effective control of the processing of the mail items. Further advantages, special features and expedient developments of the invention result from the subclaims and the following illustration of preferred exemplary embodiments with reference to the drawings.

Show from the drawings

1 shows a schematic diagram of system components of a payment assurance system;

2 shows a particularly preferred embodiment of the payment assurance system, hand scanner and payment assurance PC);

Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram of a generation and review of postage indicia and

4 shows a further particularly preferred embodiment of the checking method with a particularly preferred sequence of partial checks.

The invention is explained below using the example of sender postage. However, it is also possible to use the invention for mail items that have not been provided with postage indicia. In this case, it is particularly advantageous to provide the respective mail items with identification information about the respective mail item and / or about the consignor of the mail item, in order in this way to enable payroll accounting.

If digital postage indicia already generated are checked, a crypto system is particularly suitable for this. The term crypto system refers to a system that is able to decrypt encrypted information and evaluate if necessary.

The illustrated examples of cryptographic postage indicia are only meant as examples and can be applied to any other types of postage or, which is a further important advantage, to any marked or identifiable mail items.

The invention is suitable both for processing operations in which mail items inadvertently do not have sufficient postage due to attempted manipulation by abusive consignors, and for the use cases in which a consignor delivers mail items without postage.

In this advantageous case, the respective postal company offers the consignor a franking service. This means that the postal company takes over the franking of the consignments for the consignor and settles the frankings made, including, if applicable, a fee for making the frankings with the consignors.

The decentralized check shown at individual control points, in particular in letter centers, is particularly preferred, but a centralized check is equally possible.

In a first embodiment of the invention, the authenticity of the postage indicia is preferably checked on a random basis by individual scanners.

A suitable inspection system preferably contains the components shown in FIG. 1. 1 shows the subsystems with which the crypto system is related. They are briefly described below.

scanner

The scanners are used to read the digital franking note of the digital franking. The postage indicia are preferably 2D codes in the data matrix format with the ECC200 error correction used. Depending on the type of scanner, the data is transmitted by radio or cable, whereby the radio scanners have a multi-cell display and thus an output option and a touchscreen, or a keyboard for rudimentary input.

Scanner controller / validation controller

The interfaces between the scanners and the other systems of the preferred payment assurance digital franking system form the scanner controller and the validation controller as components. The scanner controller manages a queue of matrix codes that is coming to the test via the hand scanner and essentially maintains contact with the scanners, and is only in contact with the other system via the validation scanner.

The scanner controller and validation controller serve as an interface between the scanners and the other systems for checking the 2D barcodes. The 2D barcode content converted and corrected from the optical recording is transmitted to them, and they then initiate the check and, in the case of the radio scanners, ensure that the reading and test results are output and serve as an interface between any manual reworking that may be necessary. and examinations of the auditor and the other systems.

Crypto system

The crypto system ensures the content and cryptographic verification of the 2D barcode content as well as the protected storage of security-relevant data and algorithms.

Fee amount loading point (value transfer center)

The fee amount loading point (value transfer center) is the central system within digital franking. It serves as an interface to the customer systems. Customers can unload the specified amounts from it for subsequent franking. The keys for securing the procedure are generated at the fee amount loading point (value transfer center). It also serves as an interface to the accounting systems. The following interfaces are provided for the preferred payment security system for digital franking:

• Shipment information via the 2D barcode

• Symmetrical keys • Master data, such as default amounts, account balances

Preferred payment protection central

In the preferred central remuneration system, the shipment-related information is collected and others

Systems made available. This is where the production reports are created, which in turn lead to the creation of the negative files. Furthermore, the centralized payment system receives the current key data from the fee amount loading point (value transfer center) and directs it these to the individual crypto servers.

data providers

To check the content of the 2D barcodes, a number of master data are required, such as negative files, minimum fees, validity periods in relation to the product and payment assurance, warning and follow-up processing codes. This data is provided from different systems (BDE, VIBRIS, local remuneration system).

Payment assurance application

With the remuneration security application, the inspection unit, who has to rework the PC franking items that have been removed, can carry out a more detailed verification of the franking, in which the display of the inspection results is not restricted by the limited output options of the scanner. In addition, the examiner can also view further data here, such as the validity period of the postage amount to which the current shipment relates, as well as the amount and the frankings used.

Automatic capture of 2D barcodes

The 2D barcodes are automatically recorded within the SSA. For this purpose, the image information is forwarded to the AFM-2D code reader. There the image is converted into the content of the data matrix code. The 2D barcode content is then transmitted to the crypto system for verification, the returned verification result is evaluated and transmitted to the optical recording system (IMM) for coding the shipment. Preferred components of an inspection method that has been expanded in this way are shown in FIG. 2. AFM-2D code reader

There is one AFM 2D code reader per reading machine (ALM / ILVM), which receives the image data of the consignments via an optical recording system (IMM) and processes them further for payment security purposes. In the context of preferred payment security digital franking, in the case of a recognized 2D code, this means that the 2D data matrix code is extracted from the image data and, with the aid of the error correction method ECC200, converted into a byte chain which represents the content of the 2D barcode.

This byte chain is passed to the Validation Controller for verification. The test result is then forwarded via the interface of the optical detection system and used there for coding.

Crypto system for AFM 2D code readers

The abbreviation AFM used in the illustration means that the sender is franked. Such a sender franking AFM can be generated in various ways, for example by a franking machine of a user or by the franking service described in this invention of the postal company carrying out the overall method.

Depending on the properties of the crypto cards, around 27 checks per second can be expected, for example. Since the rate of the reading machines is around 10 read items per second, it does not seem to make sense to combine each of the AFM-2D code readers with a crypto system. In addition, it cannot be assumed that one hundred percent of PC-F shipments will be produced on all machines at the same time. the. It therefore makes sense to separate the crypto systems and to operate several PC-F readers with one crypto system. The solution should be chosen so that it can be scaled, i.e. several crypto systems per letter center are possible. This is relevant, for example, for letter centers with a high volume of mail items and a high number of reading machines, where initially a second crypto system can be provided. In addition, the number of servers can be increased later in operation if required.

In order to reduce the complexity, the architecture should preferably be chosen such that the individual reading machines are permanently assigned to a crypto system and possibly also expanded by an additional fallback configuration which tries to switch to another crypto system in the event of an error.

The separation of the crypto system and AFM-2D code reader also has the advantage that both the machine reading and the hand scanner check can be carried out with the same crypto system, and therefore the same function cannot be implemented twice, which is also the case offers significant advantages in the implementation of the invention.

Preferred method steps for providing a postal consignment with a digital postage indicium after loading a fee amount from a central loading point (value transfer center) and generating the postage indicium by a local PC as well as subsequent delivery of the postal consignment and checking the postage indicium applied to the postal consignment are shown in FIG. 3.

Regardless of the key distribution, the process is such that a customer first loads a postage amount onto his PC. A random number is generated to identify the request. A new postage amount for the respective customer is generated at the fee amount loading point (value transfer center) and further information about the identity of the customer system (the customer system identification information, hereinafter referred to as the identification number of a franking device of the customer) and the postage amount from the random number transmitted the so-called cryptostring is created, which is encrypted with a secret symmetric key that exists at the fee amount loading point (value transfer center).

This crypto string and the corresponding postage amount are then transferred to the customer's PC and, together with the random number, stored securely in the "Safe Box" to prevent unauthorized access.

If, following this process, the customer franked a mail item with the postage received, the shipment data relevant for the 2D barcode, including cryptostring, franking date and franking amount, will be expanded by the random number and the identification number of a franking device of the customer in unencrypted form, and a hash value is created that uniquely identifies the content.

Since the random number is present in encrypted form within the crypto ring and in unencrypted form within the hash value, it is ensured that the shipment data cannot be changed or generated arbitrarily, and a conclusion can be drawn about the creator.

The relevant data for the shipment is then converted into a 2D barcode and used as a corresponding franking The customer's printer printed the license plate number on the shipment. The finished shipment can then be placed in the mail cycle.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the payment security, the 2D barcode in the mail center is read by an AFM-2D code reader or a hand scanner and then checked. The associated process steps are clear in the figure under process numbers 5-8. In order to check the correctness of the 2D barcode, the AFM 2D code reader transfers the complete shipment data to the crypto system. There, cryptographic information contained in the mailing data, in particular the crypto ring, is decrypted in order to determine the random number used in creating the hash value.

A hash value (also called a message digest) for the shipment data including the decrypted random number is then determined, and it is checked whether the result is identical to the hash value contained in the 2D barcode.

In addition to the cryptographic validation, there are other content checks (process number 7b), which, for example, rule out the double use of a 2D barcode, or check whether the customer has been noticed through fraud attempts and is therefore listed on a negative file.

The corresponding test result is then transmitted to the PC-F reader, which forwards the result to the optical detection system (IMM) for coding the bar code. The barcode is then sprayed onto the letter and the items are rejected if the test result is negative. The planned minimum wage is also checked.

In addition, an identification number (identification number of a franking device of the customer) of the customer system controlling the generation of the franking mark is checked.

This is followed by a comparison of the identification number with a negative list.

These checking steps make it possible, in this particularly simple and expedient form, to easily determine unauthorized postage indicia.

The result of the transmission is transmitted as a digital message, the digital message being able to be transmitted to the original radio scanner, for example. In this way, for example, a user of the radio scanner can eject the program from the program run. If this method variant is carried out automatically, it is of course equally possible to eject the mail item from the normal processing run of the mail items.

The result of the test is preferably logged in the area of the test unit.

The code belonging to the payment security incident and the associated text message as well as the 2D barcode object should be returned as the return value.

Examination procedure for the AFM 2D code reader

The session ID and the content of the 2D code are also used as input parameters for the test routine for the AFM 2D code reader. Barcodes and the unique identification of the currently active sorting program are expected.

4 shows an overview of the course of the test within the validation controller in the event that it was triggered by a reading system.

In order to clarify the process, the figure also shows the optical recording system (IMM system) and the AFM-2D code reader to show the overall context of the test. However, the share of the crypto system is limited to checking the functions between the 2D barcode and the return and the logging of the result.

In the case of the telegram manager interface, several service tasks would be started on the validation controller, which would wait for test request telegrams and would call the test routine with the telegram content. The result of the test routine is waited for and packed in a telegram and sent back to the requesting client.

4 shows a further preferred embodiment of a control of a sequence of partial tests by the checking unit (validation controller). In this further preferred embodiment, the postage indicia are recorded by an automatic optical recognition system (Prima / IMM). The data are converted from the optical verification unit to a reading and detection unit (AFM-2D code reader).

In the embodiment of the method for checking the validity of digital postage indicia shown in FIG. 4, the digital postage indicia are preferably read in in an even more automated manner. based manner, for example by optically detecting a location of a mail item, on which an indicium is preferably arranged.

The return value of the check routine consists, on the one hand, of the payment assurance code and an associated message, as well as the converted content, which has been expanded to include the identification number of a customer's franking device. A telegram is generated from these return values and transmitted to the requesting reading system.

Version number check

Input: current 2D barcode object Description:

The version of the 2D barcode can be seen from the first three fields. This also shows whether the franking mark is actually a 2D barcode from Deutsche Post and not a 2D barcode from another

Service provider. The field contents are to be compared with a list of valid values preconfigured in the application. If no match is found, a payment security warning "PC-F version" is returned. Checking further content-related and cryptographic aspects is then meaningless and should not be pursued further.

Return value: Warning code 00 if version check is OK, otherwise warning code for payment protection incident

"PC-F version" Check the identification number of the franking device

Input: 2D barcode object with decrypted identification number of the franking device

Description :

The identification number of the franking device contained in the 2D barcode is secured by a check digit procedure (CRC 16), which must be checked at this point. If this check fails, then ^'retreat just as a result of a payment assurance warning "PC-F corruption suspected" to-.

Check the timeout

Input: 2D barcode object

Description: This function is used to automatically check the time interval between franking a franked item and processing it at the BriefZentrum. There can only be a certain number of days between the two dates. The number of days depends on the product and its duration plus a waiting day.

The configuration of the period is preferably saved in a product-validity period relation and maintained centrally in a maintenance mask. In relation to every possible product franking for digital franking

Key (field of the 2D barcode) the associated number of days that may lie between franking and processing at the BriefZentrum. In a simplified procedure, only a period of time is preconfigured that relates to standard shipments and as a constant in the system is deposited.

For checking purposes, the number of days between the current test date during processing and the date contained in the 2D barcode is formed, for example 02.08. until 01.08. = 1 day. If the determined number of days is greater than the value specified for the product, the payment assurance code assigned to the warning case "PC-F date (franking)" is returned to the Validation Controller, otherwise a code that documents the successful check. If In a simplified procedure, it is always compared with the value for standard consignments, after the test result has been output, the possibility should be given, for example manually using a button on the scanner, to correct this test result if the current product allows a longer runtime.

A further check of the timeout relates to the content of the identification number of a customer's franking facility. The postage amount downloaded as part of a specification and thus also the identification number of a franking device of the customer have a specified validity period in which the items are to be franked. The identification number of a customer's franking device contains the time up to which the postage amount is valid. If the franking date is a certain number of days later than this validity date, the remuneration safeguard warning code belonging to the remuneration safeguard warning "PC-F date (postage amount)" is returned.

Return value: Code "00" if check is OK, otherwise warning code for payment protection incident "PC-F date (postage amount)" or "PC-F date (franking)"

pay check

Input: 2D barcode object; current sorting program ID

Description :

Within this function, the fee contained in the 2D barcode is checked against a minimum fee defined for shipments of the associated sorting program. The amounts are euro amounts.

The assignments between the sorting program and the minimum fee are delivered via an automatic interface.

A simplified procedure is similar to the timeout check. Here, a constant minimum fee is defined in the configuration file for the application, which applies to all shipments. It is therefore not necessary to transfer the sorting program.

The subsequent check compares whether the minimum wage contained in the 2D barcode is below this mark. If this is the case, the code assigned to the "PC-F under franking" payment security incident is returned, otherwise the success code.

Return value: Code "00" if the check is OK, otherwise warning code for EntgeltSicherung incident

"PC-F insufficient postage"

Comparison with negative file Input: 2D barcode object with decrypted identification number of a customer's franking facility

Description: This function is used to check whether the identification number belonging to the customer's franking device belonging to the 2D barcode is contained in a negative file. The negative files are used to remove consignments from customers that have attracted attention due to attempted misuse or that have had their PC stolen from the transport run.

The negative files are maintained centrally as part of the franking database project. As part of the interface to this project, the procedure for the exchange of data on the decentralized letter center systems is to be determined.

If the maintenance application or data exchange may not yet exist, a transition mechanism must be created here. This data could be maintained temporarily in an Excel sheet from which a csv file is generated. This file should be sent to the testing unit by email and read in by the import unit in the systems. Later, the transfer then takes place via the path defined within the preferred IT security concept.

The identification number of a customer's franking device identifies a single specification that a customer retrieves from the system (value transfer center). These specifications are saved in a so-called safebox on the customer system. It is a hardware component in the form of a SmartCard including a reading system or a dongle. The preset amounts are saved in the rather stored and the customer can call up individual franking amounts without being connected online to the fee amount loading point (value transfer center).

Each Safe Box is identified by a unique ID. This Safebox-ID is entered in the negative file if the related consignments are to be removed due to suspected misuse. The Safebox ID is composed of several fields. In addition to the unique key, the Safebox ID also contains other fields such as the validity date and check digit. The first three fields of the Safebox ID are decisive for the clear identification of the safe box. These can also be found in the first three fields of PostagelD, which means that the assignment between Safebox and specification can be made. The fields are described in the table below:

b3, b4, b5 3 serial number XX XX XX For each mer of the Mo-approved dells model of each manufacturer from 00 00 01 to FF FF FF to be documented in ascending order.

If the first three fields of the identification number of a franking device of the customer of the currently checked franking are identical to the first three fields of a Safebox ID contained in the negative file, the remuneration security incident assigned to the customer within the negative file is returned, otherwise the success code.

Return value: Code "00" if the check is OK, otherwise the customer or the customer

Warning code assigned to the safe box in the negative file

Comparison of 2D barcode content with shipment plain text

Input: 2D barcode object

Description:

To prevent copies of 2D barcodes from being created, a comparison is made between the shipment data encoded in the 2D barcode and the data specified in plain text on the letter. This comparison is possible directly with the radio scanners because there are sufficient display and input options. In the case of handheld scanners with wire connection, the test must be carried out on the PC (payment assurance system).

The process looks like that of the Validation Controller Process of the automated checks causes the data of the 2D barcode to be output on the radio scanner or on the payment assurance PC. For this purpose, he has a callback method that is assigned at the beginning of a session.

He calls this up with the current 2D barcode object. The scanner controller or the payment security PC are then responsible for displaying the 2D barcode content and return a "00" or an associated error code as the return value (after processing by the examiner) of the callback method.

If the evaluation is successful, the success code is returned, otherwise the code of the remuneration warning "PC-F plain text".

This check is not required for an automatic check. Here, the check can preferably be carried out offline as part of the central evaluations either by comparing sales or by comparing the destination postal code with the postal code contained in the 2D barcode.

Return value: Code "00" if check is OK, otherwise warning code for payment protection-

incident

"PC-F plain text"

Cryptographic exams

The cryptographic check consists of two parts:

a) decrypting the crypto ring and b) comparing the hash value. Both methods are to be carried out in the protected area of the crypto card, since a customer could generate valid franking hash values if the information generated during processing is spied on.

Decrypt cryptostring

Input: 2D barcode object

Description :

This function receives the split 2D barcode object of the scan result as an input parameter. On the basis of the franking date and the key number, the symmetrical key valid for this point in time is selected and the cryptostring of the transferred object is decrypted using this key using the Triple DES CBC method. With which value the initialization vector is to be pre-assigned, or whether one works with inner or outer bound CBC and with which block length, is within the scope of the

Interface to the payment assurance system decided.

If the key contained in the 2D barcode is not available on the cryptosystem, the payment protection warning "suspected counterfeiting (key)" is returned with the error message that the key with the key number was not found.

The result of the operation consists of the decrypted identification number of a customer's franking device and the decrypted random number. The decrypted PostagelD is entered in a corresponding field of the 2D barcode object. The random number should not be made known for security reasons, since the customer will generate valid hash values if they have this information and could fake with 2D barcodes.

Following the decryption, the hash value calculation is called from the method and its return value is returned.

hash value

Input: 2D barcode object decrypted random number from the crypto string (the decrypted random number must not be known outside the card)

Description:

The function of hash value calculation determines the first 60 bytes from the original scan result contained in the 2D barcode object. The decrypted identification number of a franking device of the customer and the decrypted random number transferred are attached to it. A hash value is calculated from this using the SHA 1 method and compared with the hash value of the 2D barcode contained in the 2D barcode object. If all 20 bytes match, then the cryptographic check is successful and an appropriate return value is returned.

In the event of a mismatch, a remuneration warning "PC-F suspicion of forgery (hash value)" is returned to the Validation Controller.

The calculated hash value is also transmitted as the return value so that it can be output with the test result.

Return value: calculated hash value Code "00" if check is OK, otherwise warning code for EntgeltSicherung-

incident

"PC-F suspected counterfeiting (hash value)" or "PC-F suspected counterfeiting (key)"

Results output

Display test and reading results

Description :

The validation controller can use a callback method to control the output of results on the output device belonging to the current test. For this purpose, he transfers the 2D barcode object and the determined security protection warning code to this callback method. The code of the postprocessing process selected by the examination unit can be supplied as the return value.

The callback method for the output is also assigned at the start of the session when logging on to the Validation Controller.

result logging

Input: 2D barcode object, code of the test result

Description: The results are logged in a simplified procedure in a file on the system on which the Validation Controller is running. As a rule, the results or the correction rates are transmitted directly to BDE and, via the preferred payment protection BDE interface, into the database of the preferred local payment protection system. system.

The identification number of a franking device of the customer, the consecutive number, the franking date, the charge, the product key, the zip code, the payment assurance result code, the message text, the duration of the check, the time of the check, the ID of the scanner, are preferably stored Operating mode of the scanner, the acquisition mode and the type of further processing. All values are separated from each other by a semicolon in one sentence per shipment and can thus be further evaluated in Excel, for example.

If the system is in the "First acquisition" mode, an "e" must be entered in the Acquisition mode column, otherwise an "n" for subsequent acquisition.

Master Data Deployment

Description:

A number of master data are useful for checking the content. These are:

PC-F negative file • Sorting programs and minimum fees

General minimum wage

Product key PC-F

Maximum delivery time per product key PC-F

General maximum posting time • Increase in incidents, priorities and allocation to

Follow-up instructions • Follow-up instructions

Master data can be used in a transition period with the exception of the PC F-negative file and the cryptographic key of the fee amount loading point (value transfer center) are pre-configured.

If necessary, simple editing and distribution applications can be implemented for some of the data. Maintenance can be done, for example, in an Excel sheet, from which a csv file is generated. This file should be sent to the examination unit by email and read in by the system using a mechanism to be provided.

The illustrated embodiments are each to be understood as examples. While the use of individual measures already increases the accuracy and completeness of the payroll accounting and contributes to a simplification of procedures, the entire interaction of the components results in a synergistic use of the information obtained and their combination.

In particularly advantageous embodiments, it is possible not only to improve the use of the postal company by increasing the security of charges, but also to send additional information to the consignor of mail items, for example about the processing of mail items and / or about the presence of a delivery structure.

Claims

Claims:

1. Method for processing mail items, in which the graphic located on the surface of the mail items

Information is recorded and information is determined, on the basis of which the mail items are each assigned to a type of mail item, in which the recipient address, an item of information identifying the mail item and / or a consignor of the mail item is ascertained, and in which the number of mail items delivered by a consignor is ascertained are characterized, because.cLu_i-.G_b_, that the determined information is connected to one another in such a way that a delivery structure is determined and that the determined number and the determined delivery structure with a delivery containing a number of the delivered mail items and a delivery structure and transmitted by a customer -Job record is compared and / or a posting job record containing the number and the delivery structure is created and that the posting job record is compared with a customer record that includes a prepaid postage amount and / or Limit for a postage amount included.

2. The method of claim 1, cla-c -trc-ti gjelcennzexc_h.net-- that at least one additional fee-relevant information about each of the mail items is recorded.

3. The method according to one or both of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the check of the delivery structure includes a check whether the mail items have been pre-sorted by the seller.

5

4. The method according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is checked whether the pre-sorting was carried out on the basis of 0 recipient addresses.

5. The method according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that 5 it is checked whether the presorting on the basis of

Postal codes of the respective recipients of the mail items were made.

6. The method according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is determined whether the mail items have been pre-sorted according to mailing properties.

5 7. The method according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is checked whether the presorting was carried out on the basis of one or more sizes. 0

8th . Method according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that 5 it is checked whether the pre-sorting is of a weight the mail was carried out accordingly.

9. The method according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is determined in each case for the mailpieces whether they have an identification number, and that the identification number of the mailpieces is used for billing. 0

10. The method according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is determined in each case for the mail items whether they 5 have a customer number, and that the customer number of a consignor is used for a payroll accounting.

11. The method according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that a billing data record is determined on the basis of the number of mail items of the seller and / or the determined delivery structure. 5

12. The method according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the posting job record is transmitted to a customer data management system (KDM) and that the customer data management system determines whether there are any discrepancies between the billing data record and the posting Job record exist, and that the customer data management system in the event that 5 discrepancies between the accounting record and the Posting job record occur, this recorded in a difference log.

13. The method according to one or more of the preceding ^' claims, characterized in that it is checked whether a customer has submitted a posting job set, and in the event that the customer has not generated a posting job set, an automated posting job set is produced.

14. The method according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that a delivery confirmation for the consignor is created on the basis of recorded information.

15. The method according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the delivery confirmation contains one or more components of the determined delivery structure.

16. The method according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the postal items are assigned a franking type on the basis of the graphic information and are transmitted to a reading means for checking the authenticity of the franking information, and in that the graphic information of the respective postal items is dependent on the respective one Postage type to one for the authenticity check of the respective Franking type specialized reading material.

17. The method according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the graphic information is assigned to a franking type by the image processing unit.

18. The method according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the selection of the specialized reading means depends on the current capacities of available reading means.

19. The method according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the graphic information located on the surface of the mail items after the detection is examined by the letter processing station to determine whether the recorded graphic information deviates from expected graphic information and that the determined graphic information in the event that they deviate from the expected graphic information, are transmitted to the image processing unit, where a new comparison takes place.

20. The method according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that by a comparison between the graphic located on the surfaces of the mail items Information and expected graphic information is checked for the expected fee for the mailing.

21. The method as claimed in one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the check as to whether a mail item has an expected charge takes place in two stages, the graphic information on the mail items with the expected graphic information initially being provided by a means in the area of the letter processing station are compared, and that the graphic information of the mail items, in which deviations between the existing graphic information and the expected graphic information were determined in the area of the processing machines, there is a new comparison between the determined graphic information and the expected graphic information in a specialized reading means.

22. The method according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that a letter processing station transmits the captured graphic information of a mail item together with accompanying information to an image processing unit.

23. A method according to claim 23, characterized in that the accompanying information includes results carried out in one or more means of a letter processing station Verification steps of the mail item were determined.

24. The method according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the mailpieces are sorted in dependence on the recorded graphic information.