EP1842166A2

EP1842166A2 - Mail franking and tracking method

Info

Publication number: EP1842166A2
Application number: EP06709449A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Frédéric Jouvin; Jean-Luc Jouvin
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-01-27
Filing date: 2006-01-27
Publication date: 2007-10-10
Also published as: CA2595626A1; US20090216686A1; WO2006079756A2; WO2006079756A3; FR2881250A1; FR2881250B1

Abstract

The invention relates to a method of franking of mail such that it can be tracked by carriers and mail-routing services. More specifically, the invention relates to a method of franking and tracking mail, such as letters or parcels, sent by at least one sender through a distribution network which is equipped with an information system (SI). The invention is characterised in that it comprises the following steps, namely: a first pre-franking step (200 and 210) in which the mail is franked by a user, including a step consisting in affixing an identification means to each mail item, which can be used to identify each item in a unique manner and which contains information that identifies the item, said identification information comprising at least one part identifying the mail shipping rank which can vary with each mail item; and a step consisting in weighing the item and determining the postage price required by the carrier in order to route the item to the recipient (230), depending on the shipping options and complementary services requested by the sender of each mail item.

Description

POSTAGE AND COURIER MONITORING METHOD

The present invention relates to the field of postage and tracking of shipments by courier companies, express couriers or parcel forwarders, hereinafter referred to as "the distributor".

The present invention relates more particularly to a method of franking and tracking consignments, letter or parcel type, sent by at least one shipper to at least one recipient on at least one distribution network. The method comprises a step of pre - franking the mail carried out by the senders, followed by a step of franking the mail carried out by the distributor, then a step of routing the consignment to the addressee with the implementation a tracking of the shipment throughout its routing by allowing the automatic sending of an acknowledgment of receipt when the shipment arrives at its destination.

The prior art already knows many patents relating to the postage of mail, such as, for example, the patent FR2817382. In these patents relating to postage, the inventors have always sought to find innovative solutions for replacing the paper stamp with a secure "electronic" equivalent, in the form of a barcode or an electronic RFID chip. Generally, these "electronic stamps" also allow the implementation of additional services made possible by the use of barcodes or RFID chips that can store a large amount of coded information: For example, the "electronic stamp" generally incorporates an "electronic seal of the post office" to guarantee its authenticity and its obliteration numerically. The current electronic stamps, made with 2 - dimensional barcodes, also incorporate a lot of information useful for the processing of mail by forwarding companies: Name and address of the sender, postal code of destination, and sometimes address of destination, weight of shipment, date, value of stamp or postage, request for recommendation, information necessary to track mail, etc.

It is on the basis of these numerous patents that the postal industry has put in place new international standards for the creation of new generation franking machines. These new-generation franking machines, designed primarily for businesses and administrations, offer extensive possibilities thanks to these new standards that define and characterize the "electronic stamp".

Although these solutions are very efficient for businesses, the possession of a franking machine for the individual remains a problem that has not yet found an elegant solution. Indeed, the "electronic stamp" implements complex patented processes, including encryption of data, the weighing of shipments, the need to have an open customer account and credit in the routing company ... More these technologies, as conceived, can not reasonably be deployed in private homes because of their cost, their complexity and the size of such a machine. Finally, for reasons of security, it would not be advisable to deploy type of technology to individuals because of the risks of fraud and piracy: By way of example and illustration, and for the For the same reasons of security and because of the similar technical architectures employed, it can be seen, for example, in the field of bank credit cards, that only merchants and businesses are equipped with TPE (Electronic Payment Terminals). Giving direct access to franking machines for individuals would be equivalent to giving them direct access to electronic payment terminals, which is obviously not desirable or even conceivable for security reasons ...

To overcome this problem, the two leading groups in the development of franking machines, namely the companies NEOPOST and PITNEY BOWES, among others, decided to use an intermediate solution allowing individuals to use and buy "Electronic Stamps" without having a postage meter. The technical and technological solution adopted by the postal industry is somewhat disappointing; their solution consists of a website on the Internet (see for example the website www.swap.s.com for USPS), made available to the public, and which allows by means of the opening of an account, to download images of "Electronic Stamps". ", Generated in real time by the website, and paid online. Said stamps thus purchased and downloaded are then to be printed by the user with the help of his computer and his personal printer. The purchase of these "Electronic Stamps" on the Internet requires that users know the weight of the shipments they will ship: It is therefore necessary to have an electronic scale at hand to be able to buy these "Electronic Stamps". Some sites therefore offer to acquire a small electronic scale to connect to a USB port of the user 's computer, transforming his personal computer into a kind of hybrid franking machine ...

This solution may seem attractive on paper, it is nonetheless very painful and time consuming to use. It requires, in fact, the use of a website and to be subscribed to it, to have credited his account and / or to use a dedicated program to download on the PC of the user. The objective is then to generate a bar code using the said program on the user 's PC (the program in question being in communication with a special server via the Internet), or directly to download on the website an "Electronic Stamp" in the form of a "ready to print" image. The user must then print the "Electronic Stamp" on a self - adhesive label or directly on the envelope of his mail, or possibly on a sheet of paper which he will then cut out and that he will stick on his envelope, in order to franking. In addition to the mandatory use of a website which is far from being accessible to all users, this solution requires users to own and use a credit card for the purchase of their stamps, as well as have access to a printer, a personal computer, an electronic scale and an Internet connection to purchase, materialize and then use "Electronic Stamps". Finally, it is often necessary to make cuts with a pair of scissors barcode that the user will have printed on a sheet of paper to then paste on the envelope (The insertion of an envelope in the "A4 sheet tray" of an "inkjet" printer remains a delicate operation, which often results in many "Misfires" or "paper jams" before being able to print something correctly). All these operations are painful, long, and do not really favor the use of the "Electronic Stamp" for individuals, this is even more true when they are in a situation of mobility.

With these systems and methods described above, we are really in the situation where the new technologies proposed for the purchase and use of "electronic stamps" for private individuals are more restrictive and complex to use than their ancestor the paper stamp as we know it for more than 200 years:

The conclusion is clear: The solutions proposed today for individuals to enable them to purchase and use "electronic stamps" are unsatisfactory and deserve to be improved.

In the field of mail tracking, the prior art already knows, from the French patent FR 2,826,758 issued on October 24, 2003, a method of tracking shipments comprising a step of printing a barcode on each of the items, said bar code consisting of at least one identification part of the sender which is fixed for each sender, and part of the identification of the shipping rank of the sender which is variable for each sending. This technique makes it possible to identify the sender and the rank of the mail in a unique way, this combination ensuring the uniqueness of the sending for the tracking of the routing.

This solution is a first step in automating and simplifying the monitoring process letters or parcels for individuals, because unlike other solutions used, it makes it possible to automate the sending of the acknowledgments to the senders when the mails have arrived at their destination.

The present invention intends to overcome the drawbacks of the prior art by proposing a new solution for the "electronic and secure" postage for shipments, for individuals, without the need for complex machines, a computer, a printer, an electronic scale and a pair of scissors or without the need to connect to Internet sites for the purchase and downloading of "electronic stamps".

This is the objective of the present invention: To propose an innovative process making it possible to reduce the difficulty of sending a mail for private users to a level lower than that of sending an email or sending a letter with traditional "paper postage stamps".

The invention is therefore particularly suitable for individuals for whom the franking machines have too high acquisition and operating costs. Businesses are still interested in using franking machines. The majority of companies usually have good franking machines.

The method according to the present invention meets particularly well the future expectations of the companies routing and transport of letters or parcels for which the certain identification of the senders is necessary for the good invoicing of the services. It also meets the expectations of individuals allowing them to send packages or couriers by printing very easily a bar code or equivalent and depositing the package or mail in a mailbox of the carrier, for example La Poste (trade name ). Another remarkable advantage of the method according to the present invention is that it saves the user from having to weigh his mail, from having to buy stamps and having to frank his mail before depositing it in a box. letters.

On the other hand, advantageously according to the present invention, the user no longer has to possess and / or to know the franking fee grids according to the weight and destination of his shipment. Remarkably, according to the present invention, the user no longer has to perform calculations to determine the price of the postage of his shipments to be able to ship them. The cost of the franking of the items being determined, with the present invention, automatically by the distributor in his sorting centers.

Finally, the automatic determination of the cost of postage by the distributor makes it possible, according to the present invention, to offer unprecedented services in the field of postage billing pricing: It becomes possible to carry out billing as accurately as possible. the price of the routing service, or the latter may finally be calculated on the basis of the actual weight and distance of travel between the sender and the addressee. In general, it becomes possible for the distributor to bill his services routing to the nearest kilometer and to the nearest gram. This new approach to billing, which is remarkably made possible by the present invention, also responds well to the concerns of the distributors who will appreciate the possibility of proposing new and attractive billing models for their customers, but especially with

I the possibility of differentiating them strongly compared to those of their competitors, by adopting packages or business models or marketing strategies impossible to implement with the technologies of the prior art.

The possibility of implementing these new "dynamic" billing methods (according to, among other things, the distance covered by each shipment) and customizable for each shipper is really something remarkable and should be a great success for distributors as well as for users and should enable them to build effective differentiating strategies vis - à - vis their competitors, in a particularly difficult context due to the opening up of the retail mail distribution market for individuals in Europe, scheduled for 2007.

To this end, the invention relates, in its most general sense, to a method of franking and tracking items, such as letters or parcels, sent by at least one sending user on at least one distribution network equipped with a system. information system (SI), comprising:

A first step of pre-franking said items by a user comprising a step of affixing an identification means on each item, said identification means comprising "identification information" to uniquely identify said item . Said identification information being consisting of at least one identification part of the dispatch rank of the consignment, which is variable and unique for each consignment,

A weighing and pricing step the postage required by the distributor to route the shipment based on the service options requested by the shipper,

A step of reading the means of identification on the consignments and checking, in the SI, of the validity of the identification information read in said means of identification. and if said identification information is valid and authentic, a billing step to the user of the amount of the delivery service, including the options and additional services possibly requested by the sender.

In particular, the method further comprises, if the identification information is valid, a step of affixing a postage meter having a market value corresponding to the determined postage.

From a practical point of view, and by way of example, the affixing of a postage meter with a market value to the courier or the parcel may be effected by printing, by the distributor, with the aid of 'a special franking machine, an "Electronic Stamp" as it is currently defined in the standards and standards of the postal industry in Europe. In the more or less near future, this affixing of a means of franking having market value could consist, for example in the automated gluing, on the mail or the parcel, by means of an appropriate franking machine, of a RFID chip constituting an "Electronic Stamp". In a particular embodiment, the method further comprises affixing an electronic date stamp or electronic seal or electronic seal. This last one makes it possible to indicate, among other things, the date, the time and the references of the sorting center having taken care of the sending. This affixing of a dating means can be done by printing a barcode or by affixing an RFID chip constituting an "electronic seal".

In a particular embodiment, the electronic dating or electronic stamping means, as well as the possible means of delivery having market value (Electronic Stamp) affixed to the consignment can be physically realized in the same device (Code bar representing both an electronic stamp AND an electronic stamp, or RFID chip including both the data of an electronic stamp and an electronic stamp). In a particular case of the invention, if the means constituting the means of identification of each item is an RFID chip and this chip can be reprogrammed, then affixing the postage meter having a market value (of the electronic stamp) , and / or at least electronic dating (electronic seal, electronic postmark) may consist of a partial reprogramming of the RFID identification means of the items by an appropriate device by the distributor so as to add, in addition to consignment identification data, the data necessary to implement the postage meter with electronic value (electronic stamp), and / or the electronic dating method and / or the electronic postmark. The advantage of this system is that there is reuse of the RFID chip used by the sending user as "means of identification of the and the distributor dispenses with the application of a new RFID chip, which causes the distributor considerable time and money and greatly facilitates the affixing of the electronic postage meter and / or or electronic dating and / or the postmark. A particular version could be envisaged with a complete reprogramming of said RFID chip or the data of the electronic postage meter, and / or electronic date and / or electronic post stamp would completely overwrite and replace the identification information of the RFID chips. shipments from the pre-franking stage. This last variant also has the advantage of being able to make the mail more "anonymous" while it is in transit in the network of the distributor ...

In one embodiment, the postage billing step and any additional services and service options that may be requested by the sender are practically made from a single carrier. premium SMS, MMS or EMS (Premium Service) telephone message sent or received on the sender 's mobile phone, thereby enabling micro - payment. Other micropayment techniques may be employed according to the embodiments of the present invention. In addition, it is also possible to envisage micro - payment from the call of a premium - rate telephone number (Audiotel), or from the use of micro - payment means available on the Internet, such as, for example, the WHA system developed by Wanadoo and France Telecom. It is also possible to use the Micro Kiosk (Developed by France Telecom), which allows access to the Internet using a premium rate number. special. The use of the surcharged kiosks of the Minitel

(3615, 3616) could also be an interesting technical solution. Remarkably, since the present invention allows the user to ship mails or parcels in a mobility situation, the use of premium SMS, EMS, MMS messages appears as the preferred means of micro payment for the present invention. .

In particular, said method further comprises a step of automatically sending at least one SMS, MMS, EMS or an Email, Fax or even by sending a paper receipt, representing an accused person. reception when the mail has reached its destination. In addition, the implementation of the present invention also makes it possible to carry out a traditional mail tracking by consulting the status of a shipment via an Internet site, by indicating the rank number of dispatch, or the number user number and the shipping rank number of the mail according to the embodiments.

In a particular embodiment, said method comprises, in the procedure of affixing a means of pre - franking mail: - A step of identifying said user with S. I. the distributor;

A step of transmission between the user and the distributor of the identification information of the shipment; and, - a step of activating said identification part of the dispatch rank by the distributor in the IS.

In this embodiment, it is the transmission and prior approval of the numbers rank identification cards used between the user and the distributor to guarantee their authenticity and validity when they are used.

In another embodiment, there is no longer a step of transmitting the identification part of the shipping rank between the user and the distributor. The validation of the dispatch rank identification numbers is carried out by an electronic signature process, by the user 's apparatus, of the identification information of the shipment (including the rank identification number). shipping), then verification of said electronic signature by the IS of the distributor. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the electronic signature must at least relate to the shipping rank number, but all the identification data of the shipment may actually be signed without hindering this invention.

In a variant of this embodiment, the signature may advantageously be replaced by a validation code which guarantees the validity of a given identification rank number. In order to generate the validation code corresponding to an identification rank number, a local database is then interrogated at the user 's apparatus and, for example, an embodiment is searched. preferred, the validation code corresponding to a particular rank number in said database of validation codes (170). On the distributor side, verification of the validity of the validation code of a shipment is done by consulting a copy of the same validation code database, stored for each user in the used database in the information system. of the distributor. The distributor 's IS then interrogates its own "control" validation code base, corresponding to the mail user whose validity it seeks to check. identifying information, and obtains the validation code "control" corresponding to the rank identification number of the mail of said mail. To be valid, the validation code obtained by the distributor using its own validation code database "check" must be identical to that generated by the user 's device, and recorded in the identification information of the means of identification of the shipment.

Several variants and similar techniques, known from the prior art may also be used. In comparison with the electronic signature validation technique, based on public key / private key encryption techniques, this technique of verification of authenticity by a validation code is based on a single key technique, or the same basis validation code must be both registered in a database of the user, and also in a database at the distributor, for each user. The validation code databases are preferably different for each user in order to increase security. The validation code may be dependent not only on the rank number but also, possibly, other variables present in the identification information of the consignment. However, this would then substantially increase the number of entries in said validation code base, making it difficult to operate. Indexing the validation codes only on the rand number of each mail seems to be the most optimal solution.

Thus, during said step of reading the means of identification on the items and checking the validity of the identification information contained in According to the embodiments (according to the validation techniques of the identification information of the selected consignments), the distributor will proceed to verify the validity of an electronic signature or a validation code, preferably according to the validation method. the rank number.

Only shipments with an authentic electronic signature, or a valid identification code and not yet used, are considered to have valid identification information and are therefore authorized to be forwarded and invoiced to the sender.

In particular, said step of affixing an identification means consists of a step of printing, by the printing apparatus of pre-franking vouchers, of a pre-franking voucher on at least one shipment.

According to a variant, said step of affixing an identification means consists in programming, by a suitable apparatus, an RFID chip on at least one item of mailing, said RFID chip being able to be already integrated in the mailing or glued thereafter on it and said chip further comprising, after said programming, the identification information of the shipment.

Optionally, said identification means further comprises an identification part of the sender user of the sending, which is invariable and unique for each user and / or a service option control part which is variable. for each shipment.

In this case, the unique identification of the sending is done by the set of identifier of rank of expedition and identifier of the user, these two identifiers being able to be transcribed on a restricted number of characters, for example six characters each . On the other hand, when only the rank number is present on the sending, then it must be unique by itself, which is why it is generally coded on a larger number of characters, for example 12.

In particular, said method may further include a step of indicating, on said shipment, a distinctive visual mark if a service option control part includes the service of sending an acknowledgment of receipt to the customer. user sender, and that this service is activated. This distinctive mark enables the postman to immediately and easily locate the tracked items, and can then proceed to read their means of identification when he distributes the items in question to the recipients.

In one embodiment, said shipping rank identification part is generated at the user level by said apparatus and said transmitting step comprises sending at least the rank identifier by the user. to the distributor.

In particular, said method further comprises a step of acknowledging the rank identifier activated by the distributor to the user.

In a particular embodiment, the method further comprises, and prior to the steps of affixing a means of identification, transmission and activation, a request from the user to the distributor initiating a step of generating said identifier. of rank by the distributor, which identifier is then activated by the distributor during said activation step in the SI. In particular, said transmission step consists in sending by the distributor to the user of said activated rank identifier. According to a variant, said step Generation is accompanied by the generation, by said distributor, of a pre-franking voucher comprising the identification means making it possible to uniquely identify the shipment, and said transmission step consists of downloading, via a network and by said user, said pre-franking voucher.

In particular, said apparatus does not comprise means of communication with a communication network but comprises user interface means, and then said user realizes the connection between said apparatus and said communication network when a communication is required with the IS.

In a variant, said apparatus comprises means of communication with a communication network, said communication means being wired or wireless.

In particular, said transmissions between the user and the distributor are carried out by communication means of the telephone message type (SMS, MMS, EMS).

The advantage of SMS, MMS messages over GSM is to ensure a secure identification of the recipient of the message or the sender of the message. Other means of transmission such as the Internet may also be used, with all the transmission protocols that the prior art knows at the level of the Internet and TCP / IP. In addition, the use of the Internet does not allow to guarantee the implicit identification of the users with the distributor, a step of identification, for example, with a login and a password, may be necessary in order to validate the authentication of the user to the S. I. of the distributor. In a particular embodiment, said rank identifying information transmitted during the transmission step is encrypted.

Alternatively, the identification information of the shipment contained in the identification means affixed to the shipments are encrypted.

Particularly, during said transmission, the identification information is signed by means of a digital signature. The encryption and signature means will not be described in this document because they are widely known in the prior art. In addition, it would be advantageous to use encryption and double-key signature means (a public key and a private key), but other encryption and signature means known from the prior art can be used.

Optionally, the rank identifier is generated pseudo-randomly. The generation of the identifier will preferably use an algorithm to prevent the same number from being regenerated a second time. The implementation of such an algorithm may require the maintenance of a small database to list the numbers already generated. With regard to the embodiment of the present invention using a validation code and a database of validation codes for validating the identification information of the items, provision will have to be made to implement, on said apparatus of the user

(50) a mechanism for "reloading" the validation code database when all rank numbers have been generated and used for a given user. This search can be implemented by downloading, or by reloading with a smart card, or by purchasing a smart card containing a "new validation code database".

The method may also comprise, in addition, a step of identification, on said apparatus, of the user. If the device uses a smart card, this identification can be carried out by means of a smart card itself, in the manner of the SIM cards of the GSM phones with the entry of a PIN code on the keypad. phone . Said smart card comprising user information enabling the operation of said apparatus, and possibly the databases necessary for the operation of the pseudorandom rank number generation algorithm previously described, or of the code database validation method necessary for the operation of the embodiment or the identification information of the items are validated with the aid of a validation code.

The invention also relates to a system for implementing the method comprising at least one database having a data table of the validated numbers listing the validated shipping rank identifiers, a user data table listing the personal information of the users. , as well as a table containing the information of the items that have the service of sending an automatic acknowledgment of receipt. The use of the postage and mail tracking service according to the present invention, by a user, requires a prior registration of the latter in the various databases of the distributor, and requires that he is given a device for generating data. means of personalized identification with its own data. The customization is preferably made through a smart card containing the information and parameters of each user. Finally, said user device may be a dedicated device, with or without its ability to communicate directly on wired or wireless telecommunications networks. The device may be a personal computer, equipped with a printer, or an RFID chip programmer, and appropriate software. It is also conceivable to provide software for transforming a "personal assistant" type Palm device to generate means of identification of sending. The same solution can be considered with mobile phones. In this case, an external printer or RFID chip programmer external to the phone and / or personal assistant will be required.

In one embodiment, said system further comprises a message management server connected to a communication network and able to process communications from users on at least one Internet telecommunications network, GSM, GRPS, UMTS, X25 ...

Finally, in one embodiment of the invention, an electronic "postage due" email message for each shipment, sent automatically after the weighing and franking step of each shipment by the distributor 's IS,

Finally, all data transmissions between the user and the distributor must give rise, preferably, to an authentication, a login, or a prior identification of the user, as well as any use of the user device. when the one implements an embodiment without transmission. Just like a bank card, or a mobile phone, the method according to the present invention is a "mode of payment" of the postage of the mail of the users, and must therefore include all the techniques of login, identification and authentication necessary to guarantee its operation in a secure way, and to protect the to use any fraudulent use of his equipment and / or his account by unauthorized and / or malicious people, according to a model and approach, preferably similar to this employee for bank cards or mobile phones.

The invention also relates to a method of franking and tracking consignments, such as letters or parcels, sent by at least one sending user to an address of at least one addressee, on a distribution network equipped with a delivery system. information item (SI), comprising: a first step of pre-franking said items by a user, comprising, among others, a step of affixing an identification means on each item, said identification means being characterized in that it makes it possible to uniquely identify each consignment by virtue of the consignment identification information contained therein, said information consisting of at least one identification part of the mail delivery rand, which is variable for each shipment, a step consisting, by the user, to deposit his pre - stamped shipments in a mailbox of the distributor. a step of weighing and determining the price of the necessary postage, carried out by the distributor for each shipment, in order to convey said shipments to their respective recipients, in according to the sending options and additional services requested by the user for each of the said items.

In particular, said pre-franking step of the shipments further comprises, for each shipment: a user identification step, a step of generating said shipment rank identification part for said shipment, - a step of validating the identification information of said shipment,

A step of generating the identification means for said sending.

According to one embodiment: said step of generating said dispatch rank identification part for said sending is carried out by means of a suitable apparatus (50), by the user, - said generating step is followed by a step of validating the identification information of the item, characterized in that it further comprises:

A first step of transmission, by the user, by means of an appropriate apparatus, of at least said identification part of the rank of dispatch of said identification information of the sending to the IS of the distributor.

Followed by a second step of registering, by the distributor 's IS, at least said shipment rank identifying part of the received shipment in a data table of valid rank numbers in the IS of the distributor, Followed by a third step of transmission, by the IS of the distributor, of at least one validation confirmation of the identification information of said shipment. Said validation step is followed by a step of generating the means of identification of said item to be affixed to said item from the identification information of said item, after the reception by the user by means of a device. of said confirmation of validation of the identification information of said consignment.

According to a variant: said step of generating said shipment rank identification part for said consignment is characterized in that it further comprises:

A first step of transmission, by the user, by means of an appropriate apparatus, of at least the request for generation of a rank of dispatch identifier for said sending by the SI to said distributor SI, followed by a second step of generating, by the SI of the distributor, said shipment rank identification part of said consignment after receipt by the distributor 's IS of said generation request, said generating step is followed by a validation step of the identification information of said shipment, characterized in that it comprises, in addition: - A first step of recording, by the SI distributor, at least said rank identification part of said shipment generated in a data table valid rank numbers in the IS of the distributor, Followed by a second step of transmission, at least of said rank identification part generated by the SI of the distributor to said user, - Said validation step is followed by a step of generating the identification means of said sending to affix said shipment from the identification information of said consignment, after receipt by the user, by means of an appropriate apparatus, of the dispatch rank identification part of said consignment.

In particular, said step of generating and validating the dispatch rank identification part of the consignment is accompanied by the generation by said distributor and the transmission to the user by at least one telecommunications network. an image file graphically representing a pre - franking voucher containing the identification information of the shipment in the form of a mono or two - dimensional barcode and thus constituting said identification means to be affixed to the consignment enabling identification in a unique way the sending, and certainly and secure way the sender user.

According to various embodiments: - said identification step is performed by an authentication of the user with the SI of the distributor prior to any transmission between the user and the SI of the distributor,

for each sending, during said transmission steps between the distributor 's IS and the user, all or part of the transmitted information is encrypted or signed by means of a digital signature, and said digital signature is added to said transmitted information; for each dispatch, all or part of the said identification information present in the means of identification of each item is encrypted or signed by means of a digital signature, and the said digital signature is then added, for each item, to the said item of information; identification of each shipment, prior to said step of generating the means of identification of each shipment.

According to another variant: said step of generating said shipment rank identification part for said sending is carried out by means of a suitable apparatus, by the user, - said generation step is followed by a step of validation consisting in the generation of a digital signature, all or part of the identification information of said shipment and said shipping rank identification part of said shipment, and said digital signature then being added to said identification information; said sending, said validation step is followed by a step of generating the identification means of said sending to affix said sending from the identification information of said sending including said signature.

According to yet another variant: said step of generating said dispatch rank identification part for said sending is carried out by means of a suitable apparatus, by the user, said generating step is followed by a step of validation consisting of a step of generating a validation code, said code being obtained by the reading, from a data table of the validation codes, the code corresponding to said identification part of the shipping rank of said shipment, and said code being added to the identification information of said shipment, said validation step is followed by a step of generating the identification means of said sending to affix said sending from the identification information of said sending including said validation code, and said data table of the validation codes is characterized in that it is different for each user, and that a copy of this table of the validation codes is stored in the appropriate apparatus of the user and that another copy of "control" of this same data table is stored in the data of said user. in the user data table in the distributor's IS for each user.

Optionally, the method further comprises, prior to said step of weighing and determining prices, for each shipment: a reading step by the distributor, using appropriate equipment, identification information of said shipment contained in the means identifying said shipment, affixed to said shipment, a step of verification by the distributor, of the validity of the identification information of the shipment read in said means of identification of said shipment, - if said verification step is a success , the triggering of said weighing step and determining the price of the necessary postage, carried out by the distributor, to convey said shipment to the recipient, depending on the shipping options and additional services requested by the user for the said.

According to various embodiments: - said verification step by the distributor consists of checking the presence, in said data table valid rank numbers, of said shipping rank identification part read in said means of identification of said sending, - said step of verification by the distributor consists in checking the validity of the digital signature read in the means of identification of said sending on at least the identification part of the shipping rank of the identification information of said sent in the means of identification of the consignment,

- said verification step by the distributor consists in verifying the equality of the validation code read in the identification means of said sending with the validation code of "control" obtained by reading, in the data table of the codes of validation corresponding to the user of said sending and stored the user data table, of the validation code corresponding to said identification part of the dispatch rank of said item read in said means of identification of said item, - for each item, said identification information of said shipment contained in the identification means of said shipment further comprises an identification part of the sending user of said consignment, which is invariable and unique for each user, and in that said step of verification may include, in addition, the verification of this user identification data,

the process comprises, for each shipment, following said step of weighing and determining the price of the postage, an additional step of affixing, by the distributor, by means of an appropriate apparatus, a postage meter having a market value corresponding to the previously determined franking price,

the method comprises, for each consignment, following said postage weighing and pricing step, an additional step of affixing, by the distributor by means of an appropriate apparatus, a means for dating the postage. taking charge of the shipment, said dating means corresponding to an "electronic date stamp" or "electronic stamp",

- The method further comprises, during said step of determining the price of the postage, for each dispatch by the distributor, a step of calculating the distance between the point of deposit of said sending by the user and the address. of destination of said shipment, and in that said determination of the price of the postage is also a function of said calculated distance,

for each shipment, said identification information of said consignment contained in said identification means affixed to said consignment during said pre - franking step further comprises a portion of control of service options and additional services which is variable; for each shipment. Optionally, for each shipment, said shipment identification information contained in said shipment identification means further contains, in the service option and supplementary service order portion, a control portion of the shipment. service option of automatically sending an acknowledgment to the user when said mail is delivered to the addressee, the method further comprises, for each item of delivery, an optional indication step, on said sending, during the pre - franking step of said item, of a distinctive visual mark on said item of mailing if the part of the order service and supplementary service options of the said transmission contained in the means of identification of the said consignment contain a part of the service option command for the automatic sending of an acknowledgment to the user, and that said option is activated, an automatic sending step, by the distributor 's IS, of an "acknowledgment" electronic message to the user via at least one telecommunications network if said sending is correctly delivered to the recipient, and the said consignment contains the said visual mark, or the part of the order of service and supplementary service options of the said consignment contained in the means of identification of the said consignment contains an opti control part. A service for sending an automatic acknowledgment of receipt to the user, and that said option is activated for said sending.

for each sending, said step of generating and affixing the identification means on said sending consists in programming, by an appropriate apparatus, an RFID chip, said RFID chip being already integrated in the packaging of the sending , or inserted previously or not in the shipment, or then pasted thereon and said chip further comprising, after said programming, further said identification information of said shipment,

for each sending, said step of generating and affixing the identification means to said sending consists of printing, by an appropriate apparatus, a bar code to be affixed or to be affixed to said sending, said code bar can be directly printed on said shipment, and said bar code further comprising said identification information of said shipment in the form of a barcode, the method comprises, for each shipment, following said step of weighing and determination of postage price, a step of automated sending, by the distributor 's IS, of an electronic "postage paid" message to the user for said sending, through at least one network of postage meters; telecommunications, and said electronic message may contain all or part of the identification information of said shipment, and may also contain all or part of the information resulting from the step of weighing and calculating the price of the franking of said item,

- The method comprises, for each shipment, following said weighing step and postage price determination, a step of billing said price to the user by a means of payment. Optionally, for each shipment, said billing step is performed from the sending by the user of a premium SMS +, EMS +, MMS +, or Audiotel (Premium Service) telephone message to the distributor's IS via at least one telecommunications network, or by the user receiving the "postage due" message from said sending sent by the distributor 's IS in the form of an SMS +, MMS +, or EMS + message by means of a message. at least one telecommunications network, sending or receiving said SMS +, EMS +, MMS +, or audiotel message making it possible to carry out a micro payment to the user of the cost of franking said item,

for each sending, said generation of the rank identification part is a pseudo-random generation, said step of identifying the user is performed by an authentication of the user on said apparatus,

each user's appropriate apparatus may contain a smart card containing all the parameterization information necessary for the operation of the method, and said apparatus may also integrate data transmission means compatible with wireless or wired telecommunications networks,

for each shipment, if said means of identification of said shipment is constituted by an RFID chip, said steps of affixing a franking means having a market value or affixing a dating means are replaced by a a partial reprogramming step of said RFID chip constituting said identification means of said sending, and said reprogramming step allowing to add the additional data necessary, to implement said "electronic dating" means or said electronic stamp postage means "In the means of identification of said item in addition to the identification information of said item,

said transmissions of messages or said transmissions of information between the IS of the distributor and the user are carried out by means of at least one telecommunications network,

The invention also relates to a system for implementing the method comprising at least one database having a validated number data table listing the validated shipping rank identifiers and the other item identification information, a table. listing the items for which the sending of an acknowledgment message to the user has been requested, a user data table listing the personal information of the users and means suitable for processing, according to the data of said database, shipments having pre-franking vouchers containing rank identification data and weighing and determining franking price of said shipments if the rank identification data are valid with respect to the data contained in said database.

It is understood that the technical aspects mentioned above and widely described in the following may be subject to specific protection, each of these aspects being independently protected. Note the importance of the different pre-franking modes: with user generation and transmission validation; with generation by the distributor and validation by transmission; with generation by the user and validation by electronic signature. - with generation by the user and validation by validation code. with the use of a barcode; using an RFID chip; with download of an image generated by the distributor ...

The invention will be better understood by means of the following description, given for purely explanatory purposes, of one embodiment of the invention, with reference to the appended figures in which:

- Figure 1 illustrates a block diagram of the franking device and tracking shipments according to the present invention; FIG. 2 is a flow chart of the method of franking a shipment according to the present invention;

- Figures 3 and 4 illustrate two pre-franking methods of shipments by a user according to the present invention.

As described in document FR 2 826 758 mentioned above, the bar code that the sender prints on the envelope comprises: - a bar code initialization and termination part;

- an identification part of the sender (or user): it is a unique number assigned to a single user; - a part identifying the dispatch number: this is a different number for each consignment of the same sender;

- part of ordering service options, such as the dispatch of an acknowledgment of receipt and / or an acknowledgment of dispatch of the shipment.

These three pieces of information make it possible to uniquely identify a shipment sent through the distribution network, and to issue, automatically and in a very short time, deposit and receipt acknowledgments without the sender having to consult a website or an interactive voice server, or a Minitel telematic service, which is of major interest and user comfort.

Subsequently, the term "distributor" or "distribution company" refers to the structures or companies in charge of the delivery of parcels and couriers from the assumption of responsibility for these until the delivery to the recipient. In France, a distributor can be La Poste (commercial name) or any parcel carrier, goods, ...

In one embodiment, the invention is a method, carried out by the user, of pre - franking of items, of the parcel or letter type, sent by at least one user, said method comprising a printing step of a bar code, for example as described above, on each item, the bar code comprising at least one identification part of the dispatch rank of the item, this part being variable for each item.

The method further includes transmitting between the user and a server of the distribution company the rank identifier used for sending, and the activation of that identifier by the server of the distribution company.

The distribution network may be a postal distribution network such as that of La Poste (commercial name) but also any other distribution network of goods.

The present invention is based on the activation of a rank identifier which will be used for a sending. This activation is carried out by means of a dedicated server of the distributor. For the user requesting this activation step, only the sending comprising this identifier is processed by the distribution organization. The user initially registered with the distribution network by the deposit of personal information stored in a database of users (110) with which is associated with the unique identifier of the user provided by the distributor. A more detailed description of the registration process and the data transmitted is provided in the aforementioned patent. The user database also contains the mobile phone number of the user in order to be able to send him messages of the SMS, MMS or EMS type, but also to be able to identify the user by means of his mobile phone number.

The advantages of using GSM messages over other solutions that can nevertheless be used in the context of the present invention are to automatically guarantee a secure identification of the sender / receiver of the messages while transmitting information, but also to constitute a means of payment if necessary. In some solutions that do not offer this guarantee, a personal identification code is added in the transmitted information.

Method of franking and tracking shipments.

The user who wants to send a mail prints using a dedicated device (50), for example that described in the patent FR 2 826 758, a barcode comprising its unique user identifier, the identifier of rank of mail to send and service option information

(acknowledgment of receipt / receipt) if there are any. Further details on the bar code are provided in this document. At no time does the user need to weigh his shipment or to buy and to deliver a stamp with a market value. Here the printed barcode has not been bought, so it has no market value. The user has previously activated (200) the rank number with the distribution organization (see in the following description) so that it can process the shipment bearing this number and coming from the user whose the identifier is contained in the bar code. Methods of generating and activating rank numbers.

Generation by the user

With reference to FIG. 3, a first embodiment of the generation and activation of the rank number is proposed.

The apparatus (50) for printing bar codes or a module which is connected to this apparatus generates (300) pseudo randomly a new rank number at the request of the user. The unit has a LCD screen to display the generated number. This rank number consists of alphanumeric characters, for example numbers. According to one embodiment, the rank numbers comprise at least two digits. In particular, they are composed of four or six digits. Unlike document FR 2 826 758, the rank identifiers are randomly generated or pseudo-random and comprise a larger number of digits. This embodiment makes it possible to increase security since any hacker would find it more difficult to find an active rank number among a million than among a hundred. The apparatus or device may include means for storing the last numbers generated so as to ensure that a number is not regenerated in a too short time, for example two months. The user then edits an SMS message containing the rank number generated and then transmits it (310), via a telecommunications network (60), to the information system (SI) of the distributor. The IS is the set of technical and computer resources (servers, databases) at the level of the distributor allowing the management of shipments, customers, ... It contains a message management server (140) connected to the telecommunications network and able to receive, transmit and process connections. It is envisaged to provide the apparatus (50) with communication means (e.g. Bluetooth) with the phone. The apparatus (50) then transmits the rank number to the SI directly via the telephone.

Optionally, the user can add to the rank number, a text field to qualify the shipment, for example "tax" or "invitation". This field may then be mentioned in all the exchanges between the user and the distributor in order to facilitate the recognition, for the user, of the item concerned.

By using the telephony type of communication means, the user ensures the IS to be able to identify it surely: for example, the telephone number of the sender of the telephone messages is unique to the user.

The active IS (320) the rank number received by storing it in a database of active numbers (150), associated with the identifier of the user, the latter having been retrieved from the database of users through his telephone number .

When the received rank number is already in the database (150) active numbers for the same user, it means that it is already in use for a current shipment. The information system then sends a message to the user to inform him.

In one embodiment, the database (150) of the active numbers further contains another field (for example, a "status" tag) for specifying whether the number is only "active" (activated by the user but the mail of this rank has not yet been taken care of by the distributor) or if it is "in the course of routing" (the mail of this number of rank was taken care by the distributor).

The IS deals only with the messages received from the users and more precisely the telephone numbers of the users, numbers stored in the user database. When a message from an unknown number is received by the message management server (140), the latter may either ignore it or return a message informing that the user must register or modify his personal data. Once the rank number has been activated (stored in the dedicated database), the SI can send an SMS message (330) back to the user to inform him that the rank number is activated and can be used for sending the parcel. The activation (320) and confirmation (330) steps must be carried out rapidly, for example in real time (less than the time required for the user's pre-franking operations, for example one minute), so that the user knows if he can use this rank number for the mail to be sent. In a particular embodiment, the acknowledgment sent by S. I. from the distributor to the user can be replaced by sending (downloading) a file including a pre - franking form ready to be printed ...

This message also makes it possible to inform the user of the amount of the postage, and possibly to proceed to the payment by the use of surcharged SMS, for example. Optionally, the activated rank number can be retrieved by the user by calling a voice server and identifying with it.

Other digital network technologies make it possible to transmit messages between the user and the IS, for example the Internet.

Using a dedicated terminal

It is also expected that barcode printing terminals will be available from Distributor's package deposits. These terminals have means of identifying the user wishing to pre-frank his package. Solutions for such means are present in the prior art, for example personalized smart cards (the user opens, in advance and from the distributor, a management account for the items in exchange for a personal card, this account being used then for billing), personalized RFID chips, a Wi-Fi or Bluetooth connection with a light terminal of the user, ...

The user therefore inserts his smart card into the terminal and selects the service options he desires. This terminal, if connected to a network, may issue a request to know and activate a new rank number. Otherwise it generates a rank number pseudo-random, the user must then activate this number.

The terminal then prints on the package the bar code containing the required information.

Generation by the distributor

With reference to FIG. 4, a second embodiment of the generation and activation of the rank number is proposed.

The user desires a valid and active rank number for sending a mail. It sends a request (400), for example in the form of an SMS message, to the distributor's message management server.

The information system identifies the user through the SMS dispatch telephone number. This identification is implicit in the mode of transmission of the request. Indeed, it is equally possible to implement encryption means by private key-public key or digital signature means to ensure a secure identification of the user by the information system.

The information system generates (410) pseudo randomly a rank number not present in the database of active numbers and records it in this database with the user 's identifier. By this operation (410), it ensures that the generated rank number is active.

Then, the information system sends an SMS message to the user (420) indicating the active generated rank number. The user then enters (430) this number into the barcode printer. It can, for example, use a keyboard input connected to the device.

In a variant of the invention, the printing apparatus and the mobile telephone are provided with wireless communication means, of the Bluetooth or Wifi type.

The operation of entering the rank number between the device and the telephone is simplified by the transmission via these wireless communication means of the row number in question.

In another variant of the invention, the rank number is encrypted either by the printing apparatus or by the distributor information system. Only the encrypted number is transmitted between the user and the distributor 's IS while the unencrypted number is printed in the bar code. The opposite is also possible, ie the printing of the encrypted rank number and the transmission of the unencrypted number. Only the apparatus and the IS know the encryption and decryption algorithm, which can be machine specific ("hard" in the machine) or a user (with the unique identifier of the machine as a parameter). the user). The interest of encryption is to prevent an attacker who might have intercepted the transmission content to print a valid barcode by encrypting the information exchanged with the S. I. Thus, when a person is able to retrieve one of the data sent (clear or encrypted rank number), he is not able to determine the associated rank number required for activation.

In a particular embodiment, the user issues a request to the distributor's IS to generate a pre-franking voucher. This request can be made by any means of communication: Internet, telephony, ... The distributor then generates a pre-franking voucher downloadable from the Internet. In this pre-franking voucher, are integrated means of secure identification of the shipment associated with it. The pre-franking voucher is a graphical representation containing the means of identification, for example in the form of a single or two-dimensional bar code, of a 2D coded image. The pre-franking voucher is then printed and affixed to the parcel to be sent.

If the distributor identifies the requesting user, then the means of identification may contain the user identifier plus a rank number generated by the IS: the combination of these two numbers is unique and ensures the certain identification of the package. . Optionally, the user identifier may not be used (unrecognized user) in which case a rank number on a large number of digits is generated in a unique manner: this number alone allows the certain identification of the parcel. The distributor makes the pre-franking voucher available on the Internet for download, either by secure access with user identification or directly in response to the user's request. The latter then downloads this coupon and prints it before affixing it to his package. When the coupon is downloaded, the shipping rank identifier is transmitted between the IS and the user. This rank number is intrinsic to the pre-franking voucher. Said pre-franking item is preferably and advantageously constituted by an "image" file representing a barcode, in a standard image format known from the prior art, such as for example a JPEG, GIF or BMP file, or same PDF. The advantage of this embodiment is that the user is sent a pre-franking coupon ready to be printed and requiring no particular software. This embodiment therefore has the advantage of being able to be implemented by means of a computer connected to the Internet, a communicating PDA or an MMS mobile phone coupled to a printer, and without it being necessary to Have specific hardware or software available to use the service and print the coupon. In this embodiment, the transmission of the pre-franking voucher can therefore be carried out by the distributor by sending an Email or an MMS containing an image file in a standard format, for example in JPEG, GIF, BMP or PDF format. But the transmission can also be done through an FTP or HTTP server to which the user will have to connect to download the image file of the pre-franking voucher.

After printing (210) the barcode on the envelope, the user deposits (220) his shipment (letter or parcel) in one of the dedicated boxes or in one of the depot centers belonging to the network. distribution. The distribution company then carries out the removal of the centers and deposit boxes, processes the mail in its sorting center. This processing can consist of the weighing of the mail and then the determination of the postage necessary for the distribution of said mail by an electronic stamp, for example. "Electronic stamp" means any means affixed to parcels associated with the payment of routing costs and which requires electronic means to read all or part of the information contained. For example, an electronic stamp may be an RFID chip, or a coded print.

On this occasion, the envelope barcode is read (240) by an appropriate device (eg automatic reading) to determine the sender identifier, the service options to adapt postage and billing, and the rank number of the mail. Then the enterprise information system is requested (request on the server 130) to check (250) that the rank number present on the envelope is valid (active) for the sender. For this, the processing server will compare the rank number read with those present in a database of active rank numbers. If the number of rank is valid, it is that the user has made the request to activate this number, which ensures that the sending has been posted by the user in question. The bar code is valid, the "status" tag of the database of active numbers is changed to "in progress" for the rank number and the distributor can print (260) on the envelope a stamp, for example electronic, with dedicated franking equipment. Many electronic stamp solutions are available in the prior art and are already, for example, an exploitation, for example in Italy.

If the rank number has not been activated in the database, then it is an impersonation of either the user identifier or the rank number. The mail is then rejected (280) by the distributor.

Optionally, the distributor may inform (290) the user whose identifier is present in the barcode so that the latter corrects the situation (ie activates the rank number) if it is an oversight.

If the rank number is valid, the mail is supported by the distributor at this stage. He then proceeds to his delivery to his addressee. When delivering the mail to the recipient (275), the rank number of this mail is then removed from the database of the active numbers. The rank number is available again for a new shipment.

In parallel, it sends (270) on the mobile phone of the user, a particular message type SMS, MMS or EMS, allowing, on the one hand, to inform and summarize the information of the user. processing of mail (mail supported, options chosen, date, cost of postage, ...) and, on the other hand, to carry out the micro - payment of the services requested: the postage of the mail, the printing electronic stamp, the payment of the selected service options (deposit, receipt).

During the routing of the mail, new messages may be sent (275) to the user or the recipient to inform them of the follow up of their mail. Management elements of such mail tracking are provided by the patent FR 2 826 758, for example a shipment tracking database (120).

To inform the user about the follow - up of his / her / its sending, it is planned to print on the sending a distinctive mark, for example the letter "R" or a frame around the barcode, if there is a follow - up of sending. This impression takes place at the same time as the printing of the barcode since it is on this occasion that the choice of the follow - up is indicated or not. This distinctive mark enables the factor, upon delivery of the package, to know whether to read the bar code to send the tracking information (here delivery) to the sender user. There are in the state of the art portable machines for reading these bar codes. These machines can be connected directly to the distributor 's information system (connection by telecommunications network for example) to transmit to the sender in real time the package delivery information.

During the routing of the mail, new messages may be sent to the user or the recipient to inform them of the follow - up of their mail. Elements for managing such mail tracking are provided by the patent FR 2 826 758, for example a shipment tracking database (120).

The method according to the present invention ensures the strong identification of the user by means of the bar code printed on the envelope and by the operation of prior activation of the rank number used in the bar code. The user must activate each rank number that he uses before sending it, this activation operation ensuring that only the user and the distributor 's information system are aware of the active rank numbers.

Micro-payment In a variant of the invention, other means of micro-payment can be used for the payment of the services requested by the user. It can be envisaged to have a direct debit, a payment by the Internet, a payment by credit card via the mobile phone, it is also envisaged that the user can have a prepaid account or not with the distributor and on which is taken the amount of the transactions.

In a variant of the invention, the bar code printed on the envelope does not contain the identifier of the sender user. This variant guarantees the anonymity of the sender. The active rank numbers are then no longer indexed by the user identifier: they can be of increased length, for example on eight or ten digits.

In a particular embodiment, the information making it possible to uniquely identify the items of mail is parameterized in a chip, for example of the RFID type, enabling easy remote reading. Optionally, the chip is already integrated in the packaging of the package or it is then glued on the package to be sent and the process of reading and franking by the distributor is all the easier to automate.

In this embodiment, the user has a RFID chip setting machine operating in a manner similar to the barcode printing machine described above: generation or entry of the rank number, presence of the sender number, choice of sending options. The user can also go to a postal center where an RFID terminal allows him, from a personal smart card, to edit chips to use.

In a particular embodiment, the mailboxes of users of the service also has a user identifier: barcode or RFID chip. The presence of this identifier allows the factor to verify that the recipient corresponds to the one mentioned on the package, but also to inform the recipient by sending an SMS message that a package is available or to mention the elements of the recipient in the acknowledgment message provided to the sender of the shipment.

Claims

1. Method of franking and tracking items, letters or parcels, sent by at least one sending user to an address of at least one recipient, on a distributor network provided with an information system (IS ), characterized in that it comprises: a first step of pre-franking (200 and 210) of said items by a user, comprising, inter alia, a step of affixing an identification means on each item, said means identification device being characterized in that it uniquely identifies each item by means of the item identification information contained therein, said item consisting of at least one identification part of the book shipping of mail, which is variable for each shipment, a step consisting, by the user, to deposit his prepaid mailings (220) in a mailbox of the distributor. a step of weighing and determining the price of the necessary postage, carried out by the distributor for each shipment, in order to route said shipments to their respective recipients (230), according to the sending options and the additional services. requested by the user for each of the said items.

2. Method of franking and tracking of shipments, according to the preceding claim, characterized in that said pre-franking step of the shipments further comprises, for each shipment:

A step of identification of the user, a step of generating said shipment rank identifying part for said sending, a step of validating the identification information of said sending, - a step of generating the identification means for said sending.

3. Method of franking and tracking consignments, according to claim 2, characterized in that: - said step of generating said shipping rank identification part for said shipment is performed (300) by means of an appropriate apparatus (50), by the user, said generating step is followed by a step of validating the identification information of the sending, characterized in that it further comprises:

A first step of transmission (310) by the user, using a suitable apparatus (50), of at least said identification part of the rank of dispatching said identification information of the dispatch; at the IS of the distributor.

- Followed by a second registration step (320), by the distributor 's IS, of at least said shipment rank identification part of the received shipment in a valid rank number data table. (150) in the SI of the distributor,

Followed by a third transmission step (330), by the distributor 's IS, of at least one confirmation of validation of the identification information of said shipment. Said validation step is followed by a step of generating the means for identifying said sending item (210) (340) to be affixed to said item from the identification information of said item, after the user has received the item. means of a suitable apparatus (50), said validation confirmation of the identification information of said item.

4. The method of franking and tracking consignments, according to claim 2, characterized in that: said step of generating said dispatch rank identification part for said consignment is characterized in that it comprises, in addition :

A first transmission step (400) by the user, using an appropriate apparatus (50), of at least the request to generate a rank of dispatch identifier for said sending by the SI auditing SI of the distributor,

- Followed by a second generation step (410), by the SI of the distributor, said shipping rank identification part of said shipment after receipt by the distributor SI of said generation request. said generating step is followed by a step of validating the identification information of said sending, characterized in that it further comprises:

A first step of recording, by the SI of the distributor (410), at least of said rank identification part of said sending generated in a table. data of valid rank numbers (150) in the distributor's IS,

Followed by a second step of transmission (420), of at least said rank identification part generated by the SI of the distributor to said user, said validation step is followed by a step of generating the means of identification of said shipment (210) (440) to be affixed said shipment from the identification information of said shipment, after the receipt (430), by the user, by means of a suitable apparatus (50), of the part d identification of the shipping rank of said shipment.

5. Method of franking and tracking shipments, according to any one of claims 3 and 4, characterized in that said step of generating and validating the dispatch rank identification part of the shipment (410) is accompanied by the generation by said distributor and the transmission to the user, by at least one telecommunications network, of an image file graphically representing a pre-franking voucher containing the identification information of the customer. sending in the form of a mono or two - dimensional bar code and thus constituting said identification means (210) to be affixed to the item making it possible to uniquely identify the sending, and certainly and securely, the sender user.

6. Method of franking and tracking shipments, according to any one of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that said identification step is performed by an authentication of the user with the IS of the distributor prior to any transmission between the user and the IS of the distributor.

7. Method of franking and tracking consignments, according to any one of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that, for each shipment, during said transmission steps between the SI of the distributor and the user, all or part of the transmitted information is encrypted or signed by means of a digital signature, and said digital signature is added to said transmitted information.

8. Method of franking and tracking shipments, according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, for each shipment, all or part of said identification information present in the means of identification of each shipment is encrypted or signed by means of a digital signature, and said digital signature then being added, for each sending, to said identification information of each item, prior to said step of generating the identification means of each item.

The method of franking and tracking consignments, according to claim 2, characterized in that: said step of generating said shipment rank identification part for said shipment is performed (300) by means of an appropriate apparatus (50), by the user, said generating step is followed by a validation step consisting of the generation of a digital signature, all or part of the identification information of said item and said part of the item. identification of the shipping rank of said shipment, and said digital signature then being added to said identification information of said shipment, said validation step is followed by a step of generating the identification means of said sending (210) to affix said sending from the identification information of said sending including said signature.

The method of franking and tracking consignments, according to claim 2, characterized in that: said step of generating said shipment rank identification part for said mailing is performed (300) by means of an appropriate apparatus (50), by the user, said generating step is followed by a validation step consisting of a step of generating a validation code, said code being obtained by reading, in a table validation codes (170), code corresponding to said identification part of the dispatch rank of said shipment, and said code being added to the identification information of said shipment, - said validation step is followed by a step of generating the identification means of said sending (210) to affix said sending from the identification information of said sending including said validation code, - and said data table of the validation codes (170) are characterized in that it is different for each user, and that a copy of this table of the validation codes is stored in the appropriate apparatus of the user (50) and that another copy of "control" of this same data table (170) is stored in the data of said user, in the user data table (110) in the distributor's SI, for each user.

11. Method of franking and tracking shipments, according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises, in addition and prior to said step of weighing and pricing, for each shipment: a reading step by the distributor, using appropriate equipment, identification information of said shipment contained in the means of identification of said shipment, affixed to said shipment, - a step of verification by the distributor, the validity of the information d identification of the item read in said identification means of said item (240 and 250).

If said verification step is successful, the triggering of said postage weighing and postage determination step, performed by the distributor, to route said shipment to the recipient, depending on the shipping and delivery options. additional services requested by the user for the said shipment.

12. Method of franking and tracking consignments, according to the preceding claim and one of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that said verification step by the distributor consists of checking the presence in said table. data of the valid rank numbers (150) of said shipping rank identification part read in said identification means of said mailing.

13. Method of franking and tracking consignments, according to claims 9 and 11, characterized in that said verification step by the distributor consists of checking the validity of the digital signature read in the means of identification of said shipment on at least the identification part of the shipping rank of the identification information of said shipment read in the means of identification of said shipment.

14. Method of franking and tracking consignments, according to claims 10 and 11, characterized in that said verification step by the distributor consists in checking the equality of the validation code read in the identification means. said sending with the validation code of "control" obtained by reading, in the data table of the validation codes (170) corresponding to the user of said sending and stored in the data table of the users (110), of the validation code corresponding to said identification part of the shipping rank of said consignment read in said identification means of said consignment.

15. Method of franking and tracking consignments, according to claims 1, 2 and 11, characterized in that, for each shipment, said identification information of said shipment contained in the means of identification of said shipment comprises, in in addition, an identification part of the sending user of said sending, which is invariable and unique for each user, and in that said verification step may furthermore comprise the verification of this user identification data item. .

16. Method of franking and tracking consignments, according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises, for each shipment, following said weighing step and postage price determination, an additional step of affixing, by the dispenser, by means of a suitable apparatus (260), a franking means having a market value corresponding to said franking price previously determined.

17. Method of franking and tracking consignments, according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises, for each shipment, following said weighing step and postage price determination, an additional step of affixing, by the dispenser by means of an appropriate apparatus (260), a means of dating the assumption of responsibility for the mailing, said dating means corresponding to an "electronic date stamp" or an "electronic seal".

18. Method of franking and tracking shipments according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it further comprises, during said step of determining the price of postage, for each shipment by the distributor, a step of calculating the distance between the point of deposit of said sending by the user and the destination address of said sending, and in that said determination of the price of the postage is also a function of said calculated distance.

19. Method of franking and tracking consignments, according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, for each shipment, said identification information of said shipment contained in said identification means affixed to said shipment when said pre-franking step further comprises a control portion of service and supplementary service options which is variable for each shipment.

20. Method of franking and tracking consignments, according to the preceding claim, characterized in that, for each shipment, said identification information of the shipment contained in said means of identification of the shipment contain, in in addition, in the service option and supplementary service control part, a service option control part for automatically sending an acknowledgment to the user when said mail is delivered to the recipient.

21. Method of franking and tracking consignments, according to claim 20, characterized in that it further comprises, for each shipment: an optional indication step, on said shipment, during the pre-shipment step. - freeing said consignment from a distinctive visual mark on said consignment if the service and service option control part of said consignment contained in the means of identification of said consignment contains a service option command part of said shipment; automatic sending of an acknowledgment to the user, and that said option is activated. an automatic sending step, by the distributor 's IS, of an "acknowledgment" electronic message to the user via at least one telecommunications network if said sending is correctly delivered to the recipient, and the said consignment contains the said visual mark, or the service and supplementary service option control part of the said consignment contained in the means of identification of the said consignment contains an automatic transmission service option control part of an acknowledgment to the user, and that said option is activated for said sending.

22. Method of franking and tracking consignments, according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, for each shipment, said step of generating and affixing the means of identification on said shipment consists of programming , by a suitable device (50), an RFID chip, said RFID chip may already be integrated into the package of the shipment, or inserted previously or not in the shipment, or subsequently bonded thereto and said chip further comprising after said programming, further, said identification information of said shipment.

23. Method of franking and tracking consignments, according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, for each shipment, said step of generating and affixing the means of identification on said shipment consists of printing by a suitable apparatus (50), a barcode to be affixed or affixed to said mailing, said bar code being directly printed on said mailing, and said bar code further comprising said identification information of said mailing in the form of bar code.

24. Method of franking and tracking consignments, according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises, for each shipment, following said postage weighing and pricing step, an automated sending step, by the distributor 's IS, of an "acknowledgment" electronic message to the user for said sending, by means of at least one telecommunications network, and said electronic message may contain all or part of the identification information of said consignment, and may also contain all or part of the information resulting of the step of weighing and calculating the price of the franking of said shipment.

25. Method of franking and tracking consignments, according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises, for each shipment, following said weighing step and postage price determination, a billing step (270) of said price to the user by a means of payment.

26. Method of franking and tracking consignments, according to the preceding claim, characterized in that, for each shipment, said billing step (270) is performed from the sending by the user of a premium - rate SMS +, EMS +, MMS +, or Audiotel (Premium Service) telephone message to the distributor 's IS via at least one telecommunications network, or by the user receiving the "postage due" message from said distributor; sending sent by the distributor 's IS in the form of an SMS +, MMS +, or EMS + message by means of at least one telecommunications network, sending or receiving said SMS +, EMS +, MMS +, or audiotel message allowing to make a micro payment to the user of the cost of the franking of said shipment.

27. Method of franking and tracking shipments, according to any one of claims 2 to 5, 9 and 10, characterized in that, for each shipment, said generation of the rank identification part is a generation pseudo-random.

28. Method of franking and tracking shipments, according to any one of claims 2 to 5, 9 and 10, characterized in that said step of identifying the user is performed by an authentication of the user on said apparatus (50).

29. Method of franking and tracking consignments, according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said appropriate apparatus (50) of each user can contain a smart card containing all the parameterization information necessary for operation. of the method, and said apparatus can also integrate data transmission means compatible with wireless or wired telecommunications networks.

30. Method of franking and tracking consignments, according to claim 16 or 17 characterized in that, for each shipment, if said means of identification of said shipment is constituted by an RFID chip, said appending steps of postage means having a market value or affixing a dating means are replaced by a partial reprogramming step (260) of said RFID chip constituting said means of identification of said sending, and said reprogramming step allowing adding the additional data necessary to implement said "electronic dating" means or "electronic stamp" postage means in the identification means of said mailing in addition to the identification information of said mailing,

31. Method of franking and tracking shipments, according to any one of claims 3 to 5, 21, 24 and

26, characterized in that said transmissions of messages or said transmissions of information between the SI of the distributor and the user are carried out by means of at least one telecommunications network.

32. System for implementing the method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises at least one database presenting a data table of validated numbers.

(150) listing the validated shipping rank identifiers and other shipping identification information, a table listing shipments for which an acknowledgment message was sent to the user was requested (120). ), a user data table (110) listing the personal information of the users and means able to process, according to the data of said database, items with pre-franking vouchers containing rank identification data and weighing and determining the franking price of said shipments if the rank identification data are valid with respect to the data contained in said database.