EP1762985A1 - Verfahren zum Erlangen eines Postguthabens über ein Telekommunikationsnetzwerk - Google Patents

Verfahren zum Erlangen eines Postguthabens über ein Telekommunikationsnetzwerk Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1762985A1
EP1762985A1 EP06120221A EP06120221A EP1762985A1 EP 1762985 A1 EP1762985 A1 EP 1762985A1 EP 06120221 A EP06120221 A EP 06120221A EP 06120221 A EP06120221 A EP 06120221A EP 1762985 A1 EP1762985 A1 EP 1762985A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
credit
postage
communication device
user
portable communication
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.)
Ceased
Application number
EP06120221A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Inventor
Fabien Chatte
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.)
Quadient Technologies France SA
Original Assignee
Neopost Technologies SA
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 Neopost Technologies SA filed Critical Neopost Technologies SA
Publication of EP1762985A1 publication Critical patent/EP1762985A1/de
Ceased legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07B—TICKET-ISSUING APPARATUS; FARE-REGISTERING APPARATUS; FRANKING APPARATUS
    • G07B17/00—Franking apparatus
    • G07B17/00016—Relations between apparatus, e.g. franking machine at customer or apparatus at post office, in a franking system
    • G07B17/0008—Communication details outside or between apparatus
    • 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
    • G07B17/00661—Sensing or measuring mailpieces
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07B—TICKET-ISSUING APPARATUS; FARE-REGISTERING APPARATUS; FRANKING APPARATUS
    • G07B17/00—Franking apparatus
    • G07B17/00016—Relations between apparatus, e.g. franking machine at customer or apparatus at post office, in a franking system
    • G07B17/00024—Physical or organizational aspects of franking systems
    • G07B2017/00048—Software architecture
    • G07B2017/00056—Client-server
    • G07B2017/00064—Virtual meter, online stamp; PSD functions or indicia creation not at user's location
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07B—TICKET-ISSUING APPARATUS; FARE-REGISTERING APPARATUS; FRANKING APPARATUS
    • G07B17/00—Franking apparatus
    • G07B17/00016—Relations between apparatus, e.g. franking machine at customer or apparatus at post office, in a franking system
    • G07B17/0008—Communication details outside or between apparatus
    • G07B2017/00112—Wireless
    • 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
    • G07B17/00661—Sensing or measuring mailpieces
    • G07B2017/00709—Scanning mailpieces
    • G07B2017/00717—Reading barcodes

Definitions

  • the present invention relates exclusively to the field of mail processing and more particularly relates to a method for obtaining a postage credit through a telecommunications network.
  • TPE very small company
  • An alternative that does not apply to parcels may be to purchase pre-stamped envelopes, but these cover only standard basic fare mail.
  • the operation of inputting said unique identification number may comprise either a manual key entry of the portable communication device of a string of alphanumeric characters printed on the mail piece and forming this number of unique identification is a digital capture by the portable communication device of a bar code printed on the mail piece, said bar code being preferably a two-dimensional code selected from the following codes: Aztec code, Codablock, Code one , Code 16K, Code 49, data matrix, PDF 417, QR Code, Supercode, ie a reading / interrogation by the portable communication device of an RFID indicator carried by the article of mail or its contents.
  • the operation of sending a franking credit to the franking credit supply server from the portable communication device comprises sending an SMS message including the franking credit requested.
  • the debiting operation of the user's account includes a verification of the supply of the user's account with the postage-supply server or a verification of the user's credit credit with a user. the operator's telephone operator server.
  • the operation of sending a debit confirmation to the user's portable communication device from the postage-supplying server comprises the sending of an SMS message comprising the amount debited from the credit of the user. postage requested.
  • the invention also relates to a portable communication device for carrying out the method of obtaining a postage credit advantageously constituted by one of the following devices: a mobile or portable telephone, a personal digital assistant communicating, a communicating laptop.
  • the invention also relates to a computer program comprising code instructions for carrying out the steps of the method of obtaining a postage credit when it is executed on the portable communication device.
  • FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary network architecture necessary for carrying out the method of obtaining postage credit according to the invention. It is based on the use of a portable communication device 10 which is used to obtain and pay a postage credit relating to a mail item 12 which is desired to ensure shipment via any post office box 14 of the postal administration.
  • a portable communication device 10 which is used to obtain and pay a postage credit relating to a mail item 12 which is desired to ensure shipment via any post office box 14 of the postal administration.
  • mail article we mean no only an envelope but also a label to be stuck on any type of package to ship.
  • this mail item is previously provided with a unique identification number 12A, preferably sequential or non-removable random type, which was printed during the process of creating the article of mail, which guarantees the quality of printing, and whose uniqueness ensures that two items of mail can not in any case bear the same number.
  • this unique identification number may be stored in a contactless chip, or RFID tag, carried by the mailpiece or its contents. It is important to note that unlike a stamp or postage stamp of a postage meter, this number does not represent any postage amount and therefore does not contain any monetary value.
  • this unique identification number is advantageously in the form of a high-capacity coding code for numeric or alphanumeric data and error corrections, such as two-dimensional bar codes, the most known are: Aztec code, Codablock, Code one, Code 16K, Code 49, data matrix, PDF 417, QR Code or Supercode.
  • the high coding capacity of this type of code (up to 4296 characters for the most efficient) allows it to include not only the identification number but also other information related to the mail item. , as a format reference when it concerns an envelope or a manufacturer's number and a country code, as recommended by the EPC standard (electronic Product Code) developed by the eponymous standardization organization.
  • the portable communication device is linked to a postage-credit supplying server system 16, which server can itself be connected to a server system. of the postal administration 18 and possibly with a server system of an operator telephone 20 ensuring if necessary the debit of the postage credit requested directly on the telephone account which may be held by the user of the portable communication device.
  • the portable communication device 10 is any data processing device enabling long-distance wireless communication over a terrestrial or satellite wireless telecommunications network (such as GSM, UMTS, WiMax, etc. networks) such as a telephone. mobile or portable, a personal digital assistant communicating or a laptop communicating. According to the embodiment envisaged, it may comprise a digital capture device 10A, such as a digital camera or a two-dimensional bar code reader, or a module 10B for reading / interrogating non-contact chips to then cooperate with a transponder ( RFID indicator) carried by the article of mail or its contents when they are provided.
  • a digital capture device 10A such as a digital camera or a two-dimensional bar code reader
  • a module 10B for reading / interrogating non-contact chips to then cooperate with a transponder ( RFID indicator) carried by the article of mail or its contents when they are provided.
  • a transponder RFID indicator
  • the server system 16 disposed on a site of the supplier of postage credits integrates one or more computer central units comprising one or more databases and its control and management are conventionally provided by one or more computer terminals (not shown).
  • the server system 18 of the postal administration has a similar structure with one or more databases, including a database of identification numbers.
  • the server system 20 of the telephone operator has a similar structure with one or more databases, including a customer database integrating accounting data.
  • Figure 2 shows a flowchart illustrating the different steps of the method for obtaining a postage credit by a user.
  • a first step 100 of the method the user desiring a pre-printed letter 12 which he has previously acquired will click on the application icon Postage meter preinstalled on its portable communication device.
  • This validation will automatically activate the digital capture function of this device which will allow the user by means of the digital capture device 10A to enter in a step 102 an image of the 2D barcode affixed to the pre-printed article of mail, the validation of the capture of this image by the action on a shooting button (not shown) of the portable communication device, resulting in the immediate decoding of the code entered, that is to say the extraction of the number d unique identification contained in this code.
  • the digital capture function will automatically extract the identification number of this indicator by means of the reading / interrogation module 10B without any particular activation action of the indicator. other than the positioning of the portable communication device near the mail item.
  • the portable communication device then goes to a next step 104 via its display screen to ask the user to indicate the postage credit that he wishes to use to send his pre-printed mail article.
  • the amount of this postage credit which depends on the service or services requested (priority or economic for example), the geographical area of destination (national or foreign) and the weight class of the mail sent, is left to the only responsibility of the user who will have to have at his disposal the different postal rates in force on the date of his shipment. For example, for a shipment of a letter of less than 20 grams priority service to the United States, the user must apply for a credit of 0.90 Euros, while for the shipment in economic service of a package of 8kg to an overseas department, he will have to apply for a credit of 14 Euros.
  • the portable communication device then goes in a step 106 to send to the postage supply server 16 a request for a postage credit request. corresponding in the form of a short message (SMS) containing this credit and the identification number previously extracted.
  • SMS short message
  • the server 16 will receive this request and on the basis of the telephone number of the portable communication device (conventionally obtained on the basis of the IMSI or IMEI numbers of the portable communication device transmitted during the call).
  • the right of use of the user and if his account is sufficiently stocked (answer yes to the test of step 110), debit at step 112 his customer account of the corresponding amount. Failing that, he will then invite the user to recharge his credit and the communication will then be interrupted (step 114) and the user will then be able to post his mail item except to leave to the recipient the payment with a fine of the amount of postage .
  • the telephone operator 18 who can verify in turn, through access to its own customer database, if the account of the user has sufficient credit sufficient to pay the amount of the requested postage credit. If the telephone operator finds that the user's credit is insufficient, he will inform the credit provider who will then invite the user to recharge his credit and the communication will then be interrupted (step 114).
  • the server 16 will generate at step 116 , in response to the request to obtain a postage credit, a request for confirmation of obtaining the credit and send it to the portable communication device in the form of an SMS message.
  • the user being informed of the obtaining of the credit and the corresponding debit of his account can then without other formality to deposit his article of mail in the postal box 14 in a final step 118.
  • the postage credit supply server 16 will transfer to the server of the postal administration 20, all the data (identification number and associated credit) relating to the day's credit transactions or, more simply, give him access rights to all of this data.
  • any user can proceed very simply to the dispatch of any article of mail, envelope or parcel, to all destinations without having to go to an office of the postal administration, the number of unique identification (which replaces the stamp or the postage stamp of a franking machine of which he plays the role although having no monetary value) on each item of mail being sufficient for the postal administration to carry out a control of this article.
  • the postal administration will perform firstly an optical reading of the mail article to extract the identification number and the address of the recipient (for the determination of the destination zone), possibly the service when it is pre-printed on the mail item, for example "priority", and secondly a weighing of this mail item to determine the weight class and, based on this information, will calculate the amount of postage required for this mail item. It will only remain to verify that the credit paid by the user and associated with the identification number extracted from the mail item is at least equal to the amount of postage calculated to authorize its distribution to the recipient. In case of insufficient credit, the postal administration will calculate the premium payment to be made by the recipient to receive his mail item.
  • this number is a simple alphanumeric code. formed of a string of one or more tens of alphanumeric characters machine readable by means of an OCR reader or simply simply entered directly by the user on the keyboard of his portable communication device.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Management, Administration, Business Operations System, And Electronic Commerce (AREA)
  • Telephonic Communication Services (AREA)
  • Devices For Checking Fares Or Tickets At Control Points (AREA)
EP06120221A 2005-09-09 2006-09-06 Verfahren zum Erlangen eines Postguthabens über ein Telekommunikationsnetzwerk Ceased EP1762985A1 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR0509183A FR2890769B1 (fr) 2005-09-09 2005-09-09 Procede d'obtention d'un credit d'affranchissement au travers d'un reseau de telecommunication

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1762985A1 true EP1762985A1 (de) 2007-03-14

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Family Applications (1)

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EP06120221A Ceased EP1762985A1 (de) 2005-09-09 2006-09-06 Verfahren zum Erlangen eines Postguthabens über ein Telekommunikationsnetzwerk

Country Status (3)

Country Link
US (1) US20070078795A1 (de)
EP (1) EP1762985A1 (de)
FR (1) FR2890769B1 (de)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP2192557A1 (de) * 2008-12-01 2010-06-02 Pitney Bowes Inc. Verfahren zur Postbetrugsdetektion für an der Verkaufsstelle aktivierte Postmarken
EP2202692A1 (de) 2008-12-23 2010-06-30 Deutsche Post AG Verfahren und System zum Versenden einer Postsendung

Families Citing this family (19)

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US8612361B1 (en) 2006-12-27 2013-12-17 Stamps.Com Inc. System and method for handling payment errors with respect to delivery services
US8775331B1 (en) 2006-12-27 2014-07-08 Stamps.Com Inc Postage metering with accumulated postage
FR2922345A1 (fr) * 2007-10-12 2009-04-17 Neopost Technologies Sa Systeme d'affranchissement a point de distribution controle
US10373398B1 (en) * 2008-02-13 2019-08-06 Stamps.Com Inc. Systems and methods for distributed activation of postage
US7963437B1 (en) 2008-04-15 2011-06-21 Stamps.Com Inc. Systems and methods for distributed printing of personalized postage indicia
US9978185B1 (en) 2008-04-15 2018-05-22 Stamps.Com Inc. Systems and methods for activation of postage indicia at point of sale
US9208620B1 (en) 2008-04-15 2015-12-08 Stamps.Com, Inc. Systems and methods for payment of postage indicia after the point of generation
US20100100233A1 (en) * 2008-10-22 2010-04-22 Lockheed Martin Corporation Universal intelligent postal identification code
US9911246B1 (en) 2008-12-24 2018-03-06 Stamps.Com Inc. Systems and methods utilizing gravity feed for postage metering
FR2952459B1 (fr) * 2009-11-10 2011-12-16 Neopost Technologies Procede de securisation des affranchissements au travers d'un reseau de telecommunication
US10032239B2 (en) 2010-06-10 2018-07-24 United Parcel Service Of America, Inc. Enhanced payments for shipping
US10713634B1 (en) 2011-05-18 2020-07-14 Stamps.Com Inc. Systems and methods using mobile communication handsets for providing postage
US10846650B1 (en) 2011-11-01 2020-11-24 Stamps.Com Inc. Perpetual value bearing shipping labels
US9805329B1 (en) 2012-01-24 2017-10-31 Stamps.Com Inc. Reusable shipping product
US10922641B1 (en) 2012-01-24 2021-02-16 Stamps.Com Inc. Systems and methods providing known shipper information for shipping indicia
US9721225B1 (en) 2013-10-16 2017-08-01 Stamps.Com Inc. Systems and methods facilitating shipping services rate resale
US10417728B1 (en) 2014-04-17 2019-09-17 Stamps.Com Inc. Single secure environment session generating multiple indicia
US10521754B2 (en) 2016-03-08 2019-12-31 Auctane, LLC Concatenated shipping documentation processing spawning intelligent generation subprocesses
GB2565851B (en) 2017-08-25 2022-05-04 Haldex Brake Prod Ab Braking system

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DE10133887A1 (de) * 2001-07-12 2003-01-30 Siemens Dematic Ag Verfahren zum Frankieren und Bearbeiten von Postsendungen
GB2387259A (en) * 2002-04-02 2003-10-08 Sendo Int Ltd Method for obtaining a postage verification code
US20040002926A1 (en) * 2002-06-30 2004-01-01 Jean-Hiram Coffy Systems and methods using a digital pen for funds accounting devices and postage meters
EP1477937A2 (de) * 2003-05-12 2004-11-17 Pitney Bowes Inc. System und Verfahren zur Bearbeitung von Postsendungen mit digitalem Stift

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US5319562A (en) * 1991-08-22 1994-06-07 Whitehouse Harry T System and method for purchase and application of postage using personal computer
US6865560B1 (en) * 1999-12-28 2005-03-08 Pitney Bowes Inc. Method and system for reporting carrier delivery status to a mailer
JP2001337978A (ja) * 2000-05-26 2001-12-07 Takashi Mine デジタル情報入力システム
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US7840492B2 (en) * 2002-12-30 2010-11-23 Pitney Bowes Inc. Personal funds metering system and method
US20050006469A1 (en) * 2003-07-10 2005-01-13 United Parcel Service Of America, Inc. Methods, systems, and computer-readable media for linking object identification data to package identification data
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Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE19940448A1 (de) * 1999-08-25 2001-03-01 Nt Innovation Ohg I Gr Verfahren und Vorrichtung zur Ausgabe virtueller Wertmarken
DE10133887A1 (de) * 2001-07-12 2003-01-30 Siemens Dematic Ag Verfahren zum Frankieren und Bearbeiten von Postsendungen
GB2387259A (en) * 2002-04-02 2003-10-08 Sendo Int Ltd Method for obtaining a postage verification code
US20040002926A1 (en) * 2002-06-30 2004-01-01 Jean-Hiram Coffy Systems and methods using a digital pen for funds accounting devices and postage meters
EP1477937A2 (de) * 2003-05-12 2004-11-17 Pitney Bowes Inc. System und Verfahren zur Bearbeitung von Postsendungen mit digitalem Stift

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP2192557A1 (de) * 2008-12-01 2010-06-02 Pitney Bowes Inc. Verfahren zur Postbetrugsdetektion für an der Verkaufsstelle aktivierte Postmarken
EP2202692A1 (de) 2008-12-23 2010-06-30 Deutsche Post AG Verfahren und System zum Versenden einer Postsendung

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
FR2890769A1 (fr) 2007-03-16
FR2890769B1 (fr) 2008-03-28
US20070078795A1 (en) 2007-04-05

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