EP1756778A1 - Vignette a valeur variable - Google Patents

Vignette a valeur variable

Info

Publication number
EP1756778A1
EP1756778A1 EP05714936A EP05714936A EP1756778A1 EP 1756778 A1 EP1756778 A1 EP 1756778A1 EP 05714936 A EP05714936 A EP 05714936A EP 05714936 A EP05714936 A EP 05714936A EP 1756778 A1 EP1756778 A1 EP 1756778A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
code
token
mail item
customer
size
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP05714936A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Hans Demanowski
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Bundesdruckerei GmbH
Original Assignee
Bundesdruckerei GmbH
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Bundesdruckerei GmbH filed Critical Bundesdruckerei GmbH
Publication of EP1756778A1 publication Critical patent/EP1756778A1/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07B—TICKET-ISSUING APPARATUS; FARE-REGISTERING APPARATUS; FRANKING APPARATUS
    • G07B17/00—Franking apparatus
    • G07B17/00459—Details relating to mailpieces in a franking system
    • G07B17/00508—Printing or attaching on mailpieces
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07B—TICKET-ISSUING APPARATUS; FARE-REGISTERING APPARATUS; FRANKING APPARATUS
    • G07B17/00—Franking apparatus
    • G07B17/00185—Details internally of apparatus in a franking system, e.g. franking machine at customer or apparatus at post office
    • G07B17/00362—Calculation or computing within apparatus, e.g. calculation of postage value
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07B—TICKET-ISSUING APPARATUS; FARE-REGISTERING APPARATUS; FRANKING APPARATUS
    • G07B17/00—Franking apparatus
    • G07B17/00733—Cryptography or similar special procedures in a franking system
    • G07B2017/00822—Cryptography or similar special procedures in a franking system including unique details
    • G07B2017/0083—Postal data, e.g. postage, address, sender, machine ID, vendor

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a token with a defined value and to a method for transporting a mail item against payment with the following method steps: a) the mail item is provided with a token, b) the mail item provided with the token is placed at a mailing point for transport to a destination, c) the mail item is transported from the mail item drop-off point to a device for determining the postage fee, in which means for determining the size and weight of the mail item determine the size and weight of the mail item, the size and weight thus determined or signal values correlating therewith from the means for Determination of the size and weight of an evaluation unit are supplied, a data record of postal transport charges for different size and weight ranges or for signal quantities correlated therewith being stored in the evaluation unit, the evaluation unit a comparison of the specific size and the specific weight or signals correlated therewith with the size and weight ranges or signals correlated therewith, the postage fee applicable for the specific size and the specific weight being determined in accordance with the comparison.
  • the concept of tokens basically includes any tokens with which a defined fee is paid for a specific business transaction.
  • the remuneration is paid by the person carrying out the business transaction entrepreneurial unit or group collected and received.
  • Postal transport organizations are particularly suitable for this, with the token being a stamp.
  • a postal consignment can in principle be arbitrary and, in addition to preferred postcards, letters, parcels and packages, also any other consignments, including heavy goods, etc.
  • a postal transport organization is a business unit which
  • Carried mail In addition to the preferred classic postal companies, including all private ones. Carriers, the term also includes other carriers of goods and goods, such as trains, airlines, shipping companies, shipping companies, etc.
  • a token of the structure mentioned at the beginning is known in practice as a stamp.
  • a stamp has a defined value, this value being printed and readable by one person and by machine. The value of a stamp is therefore determined by the print and is not variable. Sending mail items with known stamps is cumbersome, expensive and error-prone. In addition, evaluation processes with regard to the required or applicable postage fee are sometimes carried out in double and triple redundancy.
  • the shipper determines the size, weight and destination of the mail item to be sent, and possibly also the category of the mode of transport (normal letter, registered mail, -Express delivery etc.). As an alternative or in addition, this takes place at a mailing point. Person served by a person (post office counter, acceptance point, etc.).
  • the mailpiece is franked with a stamp with a defined and printed value or a set of such stamps, the sum of the values corresponding to the postage fee due, either by the sender or the person at the mailing point.
  • the mail item is then sent from the mail item drop-off point to an automatic sorting system in which the size, weight, destination and value of the stamps applied are automatically determined and compared with target values for the above combination of properties.
  • the sorting system uses conventional recognition devices to determine that the total value of the stamps is below the target value for the combination of properties, the mail item is sorted out and returned to the shipper for postage. If the total value of the stamps is above or equal to the target value, regular transport to the destination takes place.
  • the disadvantages of this procedure are: - Risk of incorrect determination of the required transportation fee by the shipper or the person at the receiving point, especially if a property, such as weight, is close to a threshold for higher transportation fee, - Unintentional (or intended for security reasons) Overpayment by a shipper, - high personnel costs for shippers and at acceptance points of postal transport organizations, - high material and human expenditure in the manufacture, distribution and sale of stamps.
  • the invention is therefore based on the technical problem of providing a token, in particular a postage stamp, which ensures that the postage fee is paid automatically and always correctly.
  • the invention teaches a token with a variable and assignable defined value, but without a legible value, with a carrier layer, with a machine-readable individualization code attached to the carrier layer or in the carrier layer.
  • the individualization code can contain or consist of a customer identification code and / or a transaction code. If a customer ID code is set up, however, a transaction code will usually be associated with this if more than one transaction is to be permitted for a customer. Then it will be advisable if the customer ID code is different for different customers, and the transaction code for tokens with the same customer ID code is different. in principle However, it is also possible to work without a customer identification code, for example by assigning an individualization code, designed as a transaction code, or a group of such codes to a customer or a customer account. For example, a plurality of continuous individualization code beginning with 'a start code and ending associated with a stop code, for example as part of the output of tokens on. a customer.
  • An individualization code is a readable, in particular machine-readable, character string, a machine-readable signal sequence coding for a character string or the like, with a unique assignment of the individualization code to an individual transaction, in particular a transport of a mail item.
  • an individualization code occurs only once and is not used repeatedly for different transactions or tokens.
  • An individualization code ' can also be read by a person, for example as (possibly also machine-readable) numerals or characters, but also exclusively machine-readable. Examples of the latter are encodings as bar codes or as data sets on a magnetic stripe, chip, or the like. It is also possible, in addition to the machine-readable individualization code, to affix it separately and in a person-readable manner, for example as a person-readable imprint.
  • a customer identification code is a readable, in particular machine-readable, character string which is uniquely assigned to a customer or a shipper. A customer identification code is therefore unique for each customer.
  • a transaction code can be unique for each token, which is mandatory if a customer identification code is not attached. However, it can also be provided that a transaction code is used several times in the case of different customer identification codes. Then the combination of transaction code + customer ID code is unique for each token. Otherwise, the above statements regarding the individualization code or customer identification code apply to the transaction code in an analogous manner.
  • code that this refers to an objective code element that carries or represents the relevant code information.
  • the essential difference between a token according to the invention and a stamp is that the token has no fixed value until use and is therefore variable in value.
  • Each token of the present invention is individually characterized, 'that carries a unique individualization code or a unique combination of customer ID code and transaction code.
  • the defined value is only assigned as part of the implementation of the method according to the invention for the transportation of a mail item against payment with the following method steps: a) the mail item is provided with a value stamp according to the invention, b) the with the Mail item provided with a token is placed at a mail item drop-off point for transport to a destination, c) the mail item is transported from the mail drop drop-off point to a device for preferably automatically determining the postage fee, in which means for determining the size and weight of the mail item The size and weight of the mail item are determined, the size and weight determined in this way or signal sizes correlating therewith being determined by the means for determining the size and weight of a
  • Evaluation unit are supplied, a data record of postal transport charges for different size and weight ranges or for signal sizes correlated therewith being stored in the evaluation unit, the evaluation unit comparing the determined size and the specific weight or signals correlated therewith with the size and weight ranges or signals correlated with this, the postage fee applicable to the specific size and weight being determined in accordance with the comparison, d) before, simultaneously with or after stage c) the device for determining the postage fee determines the - individualization code, in particular the customer ID code and / or the transaction code of the token is read out, e) the applicable postage fee from stage c) and individualization code, in particular customer ID code and / or transaction code, are determined by the device de s Postage charges as a billing data record to a billing unit which a customer account correlated in a unambiguous manner with the individualization code with the applicable postage fee, optionally specifying the individualization code, in particular the Transaction codes, debited, f) the mail item is transported to the destination.
  • the device for preferably automatically determining the postage fee can also read the destination of the mail item, for example by means of a scanner and OCR or text recognition programs.
  • the data record then also includes destination areas and the comparison in the evaluation unit then additionally includes the comparison of the read destination with the destination areas and, in accordance with this comparison, the postal transport fee is then determined.
  • the properties size and weight can also be replaced and / or supplemented by other properties that are critical parameters for the determination of a postage fee.
  • the method according to the invention can be carried out with a relatively low degree of automation.
  • the destination of the mail item can be read in with a manual scanner.
  • a high degree of automation is preferred, in which all functions of the device for determining the applicable postage fee are automatically, i.e. without handling by operators.
  • Process steps c) (without transport) to e) also represent an independent process for the automatic franking of mail items.
  • a shipper no longer has to worry about the appropriate franking.
  • an overpayment is definitely excluded, as is under-franking, since the mailing fee is determined only at the only relevant point, for example a sorting station.
  • the checking and / or determination of postage charges by persons in mailing drop-off points does not apply; rather, a shipper only has to drop the mail item into a mailbox or drop it into an automated acceptance point.
  • a significant simplification is achieved with improved reliability and considerably reduced personnel costs.
  • classic devaluation as is the case, for example, with stamping, can be dispensed with. This also eliminates the considerable costs of purchasing, maintaining and operating validation devices.
  • a token according to the invention can be developed in a wide variety of ways.
  • at least one machine-readable and / or person-readable security element can be attached to the carrier layer or in the carrier layer.
  • security elements are: holograms, moiré-generating structures, micro-fonts, fluorescent fibers, planchettes or colors, special colors with spectral peculiarities, magnetic properties, ⁇ or thermochromic properties, liquid crystal elements, lattice structures, conductors in formation and arrangement as an antenna with a defined Resonance frequency, ' printed images under lens arrangements, such as cylindrical lenses or Fresnel lenses, etc.
  • a token of value according to the invention can also be designed like a polymer-based adhesive seal instead of the conventional paper-based structure, the seal no longer being able to be removed non-destructively after the adhesive has been applied.
  • a token according to the invention is intended to be stuck on.
  • an adhesive layer is set up on a main surface of the carrier layer, which can be self-adhesive or adhesive after moistening. Printing can then be provided on the opposite main surface, the customer identification code and the transaction code and, if appropriate, the security element then also being attached to this side.
  • the backing layer may plastic coated from a paper material, if necessary • or be formed from a Polymerwerkstoff-.
  • the token on adhesive-free manner for mounting on a mailing, for example, for insertion into a stick-on transparent bag, etc.
  • the design eg size, color, 'pattern elements Picture elements
  • lettering or other machine-readable elements can set up distinguishable stamp categories.
  • elements or features can be provided which differentiate whether a mail item is to be transported by express transport, as registered mail, etc.
  • the device for automatically determining the postage fee can then additionally the stamp category can be recognized, for example by means of scanners and image, OCR or text recognition programs.
  • the detection can, however, take place using means other than image-based means. Examples of suitable features or elements are: Reading a chip or transponder attached to the mail item, etc.
  • the data record then also includes the various possible categories and the comparison in the evaluation unit then additionally includes the comparison of the category read out with the stored categories and in accordance with this comparison, the mailing fee is then determined and, optionally, an automatic control of the further distribution of the mailpiece.
  • a read-in individualization code or a read-in combination of transaction code and customer ID code can thus be blocked in the billing unit. This prevents multiple uses of the same stamp. Furthermore, this prevents the likelihood of misuse through counterfeiting, at least insofar as a simple copy is reliably recognized when it is used and recognized by the billing unit as "used". In this case, it can be provided that the billing unit e generates a sorting signal which is sent to the device for automatically determining the postage fee and controls it to sort out the mail item.
  • a customer account can be debited in a variety of ways. First, a customer can set up a debit account with the mailing organization that is performing the procedure.
  • the debit is then made to the debit account.
  • the accounting unit causes a mail item to be sorted out if a reading of the debit account shows that the credit is no longer sufficient to carry out the current debit.
  • the customer can issue a direct debit authorization from the customer's private account. Then the accounting unit automatically debits each transaction from the private account, preferably again specifying the respective individualization or transaction code.
  • the billing unit automatically generates an invoice, preferably by specifying the individualization or transaction code, and sends it to the customer.
  • the customer must then settle the invoice in a suitable manner.
  • a collective invoice or collective collection can take place, in which case the respective transaction codes are listed collectively.
  • the above account statements or invoices also serve the customer as proof of posting. If the individualization code does not include a customer identification code, the individualization code of the token must be assigned to a customer or customer account when the token is issued to a customer. With a registered customer, this is not a problem, for example by assignment to the customer account. If a customer is not registered, registration is of course required first, whereby customer-specific information such as customer account is queried and saved.
  • a token 1 according to the invention in the example for sticking on mail items, has a customer identification code 2 and a transaction code 3.
  • Customer ID code 2 and transaction code 3 are designed on the one hand as a machine-readable barcode and on the other hand as a person-readable character string.
  • a security feature 4 which is designed as a hologram.
  • the illustration has a machine-readable element 5, embodied as "X", which is characteristic of the relevant stamp category, for example express transportation.
  • the machine-readable element 5 can already be printed be, but it is also possible to design the machine-readable element 5 as a field to be marked or labeled by the sender. In the latter case, the shipper has attached the "X" in the exemplary embodiment.
  • the token 1 is formed from a multi-layer polymer material, the above features being arranged between a cover layer and a carrier layer.
  • An adhesive rail is arranged on the side of the carrier layer opposite the illustration side. Backing layer and adhesive layer are designed in such a way that the token 1 can no longer be removed non-destructively once it has been stuck on.
  • a device 7 is part of the sorting system . set up for automatic determination of the postage fee and a sorting unit 8.
  • the sorting unit 8 sorts letters according to destinations in the usual way and need not be explained in more detail.
  • the device 7 for automatically determining the postage fee comprises means 9 for determining the weight and size of letters delivered, means 10 for reading out the destination, the category, as well as the customer identification code 2 and the transaction code 3 of a token 1 of a letter sent.
  • An evaluation unit 11 connected to the above means 9, 10 is also set up.
  • the evaluation unit 11 comprises a processor 12 with an operating program and a memory 13 in which data sets are stored.
  • the data sets include various weight ranges, size ranges, destination areas and categories, each of the above criteria or each combination of criteria being an appropriate one Postage fee is assigned.
  • a billing unit 14 is connected to the evaluation unit 11.
  • the method according to the invention works as follows.
  • a letter sent by a shipper, for example in a mailbox and provided with a token 1, is fed to the device 7 for the automatic determination of the postage fee.
  • the size and weight of the mail item are then determined by the means 9 for determining the size and weight and fed to the evaluation unit 11.
  • the mail item then passes through the means 10 for reading, which read out the destination or the destination from the mail item in a conventional manner and additionally read out the machine-readable element 5, the customer ID code 2 and the transaction code 3.
  • machine-readable security features 4 can also be checked.
  • the read-out data are then also fed to the evaluation unit 11, the processor 12 carrying out an assignment to the previously determined data of size and weight.
  • the evaluation unit 11 calculates the appropriate postage fee using the data record stored in the memory 13 and assigns this to the read customer ID code and transaction code.
  • Customer ID code, transaction code and postage fee are then supplied as a billing data record to billing unit 14, in which the customer account correlated with the customer ID code is then debited with the postage fee, specifying the transaction code.
  • the letter is then fed to the sorting system 8 and from there to the destination.

Landscapes

  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Mathematical Physics (AREA)
  • Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
  • Computer Security & Cryptography (AREA)
  • Devices For Checking Fares Or Tickets At Control Points (AREA)
  • Management, Administration, Business Operations System, And Electronic Commerce (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne une vignette (1) à valeur définie variable et attribuable, ne comportant toutefois pas d'indication de valeur lisible, qui comprend une couche support munie d'un code d'individualisation appliqué sur ladite couche ou intégré dedans, lisible par machine, notamment un code d'identification client (2) et/ou un code de transaction (3). L'invention concerne également un procédé d'acheminement payé pour envoi postal.
EP05714936A 2004-02-23 2005-01-31 Vignette a valeur variable Withdrawn EP1756778A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE200410009045 DE102004009045B4 (de) 2004-02-23 2004-02-23 Wertvariables Wertzeichen
PCT/DE2005/000185 WO2005083641A1 (fr) 2004-02-23 2005-01-31 Vignette a valeur variable

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1756778A1 true EP1756778A1 (fr) 2007-02-28

Family

ID=34853638

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP05714936A Withdrawn EP1756778A1 (fr) 2004-02-23 2005-01-31 Vignette a valeur variable

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1756778A1 (fr)
DE (1) DE102004009045B4 (fr)
WO (1) WO2005083641A1 (fr)

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE102010029846A1 (de) 2010-06-09 2011-12-15 Deutsche Post Ag Verfahren und Vorrichtung zum Versenden einer Postsendung

Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1313068A2 (fr) * 2001-11-15 2003-05-21 Pitney Bowes Inc. Procédé pour compter des tarifs postaux nationaux et internationaux

Family Cites Families (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CA1274314A (fr) * 1986-04-04 1990-09-18 Sung S. Chang Machine a affranchir imprimant des informations autres que les frais
US5375172A (en) * 1986-07-07 1994-12-20 Chrosny; Wojciech M. Postage payment system employing encryption techniques and accounting for postage payment at a time subsequent to the printing of postage
GB9301395D0 (en) * 1993-01-25 1993-03-17 Ediriwira Gananath W A more versatile postage stamp or stamp ancillary to a postage stamp
DE10039569C5 (de) * 2000-08-09 2007-04-26 Vodafone Ag Verfahren zur Bezahlung an beliebigen Verkaufs- bzw. Dienstleistungsstellen mit Mobiltelefon
US20030225711A1 (en) * 2002-02-20 2003-12-04 Martin Paping Method and apparatus for postal user identification and billing

Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1313068A2 (fr) * 2001-11-15 2003-05-21 Pitney Bowes Inc. Procédé pour compter des tarifs postaux nationaux et internationaux

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
See also references of WO2005083641A1 *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE102004009045A1 (de) 2005-09-15
DE102004009045B4 (de) 2008-11-20
WO2005083641A1 (fr) 2005-09-09

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