Patent Application
20100332415
The invention disclosed herein relates generally to postage printing systems, and more particularly to a stamp printing device that prints postage stamps on demand.
It is a common practice throughout the world to use postage stamps as an indication that postage has been paid for the delivery of a mail piece, which can include letters, packages, and the like. These postage stamps are typically produced and issued by a government agency and procured for use by the general public. The postage stamps can either be obtained at a local post office, or procured out of a postal vending machine (either pre-printed stamp vending or print on demand stamp vending). Moreover, for certain holidays, occasions, or special events, e.g., religious holidays, birthdays, weddings, and the like, the postal authority often produces special edition or commemorative stamps that specifically relate to such holidays, occasions, or special events and add a personal touch to the mail piece. However, if the sender of the mail piece is unaware that these stamps exist, the sender will not be able to utilize such stamps.
The present invention provides a stamp printer that provides a user with a selection of appropriate postage stamps related to the mail piece that the user is sending.
In accordance with embodiments of the present invention, a stamp printer includes a memory device that stores a library of available images approved for use as a postage stamp. A code that identifies the item that will be included in the mail piece, such as, for example, the Universal Product Code (UPC) barcode, is input to the stamp printer using, for example, a scanning device or keyboard. Using the information obtained from the code, the stamp printer identifies the item and searches the library of postage stamp images to identify those images that are related in some way to the specific item. The stamp printer can then display the identified postage stamp images to the user and allow the user to make a selection. Upon receiving a selection from the user, the stamp printer can then print the postage stamp selected by the user. Additionally, the information obtained from the code can be used to determine the amount of postage required based on the item to be included in the mail piece.
Therefore, it should now be apparent that the invention substantially achieves all the above aspects and advantages. Additional aspects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description that follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. Moreover, the aspects and advantages of the invention may be realized and obtained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.
The accompanying drawings illustrate a presently preferred embodiment of the invention, and together with the general description given above and the detailed description given below, serve to explain the principles of the invention. As shown throughout the drawings, like reference numerals designate like or corresponding parts.
In describing the present invention, reference is made to the drawings, wherein there is seen in
In step 120, the controller 12, using the information obtained about the item to be sent by the customer in step 110, obtains appropriate stamp images that are related to the item. These images can be stored in the memory 14 of the stamp printer 10 (and updated from time to time by communications with the remote data center 32), or can be obtained from a database located at the remote data center 32 using the communications device 22 and network 30. Thus for example, if the item is a birthday card, stamp images related to birthdays will be obtained by the controller 12. If the item is a birthday card that has a design of a specific cartoon character on it, the controller 12 can also obtain stamp images that include that specific cartoon character, if available. If the item is a stuffed animal, the controller 12 can obtain stamp images that include that type of animal, if available. If the item is a toy, the controller 12 can obtain stamp images related to that type of toy, if available. In step 130, the controller 12 will display the obtained stamp images to the customer using the display of the I/O device 16. Alternatively, if the stamp printer 10 is coupled to another device that has a display, such as, for example, a point of sale terminal that includes a display, the obtained stamp images could be displayed on the display of the other device. Depending upon the number of stamp images obtained, it may be necessary for multiple screens to be displayed to the customer, and allow the customer to move between the different screens to view all of the images. Thus, the customer can then review the available images that are related in some way, e.g., similar occasion, similar design, etc., to the item to be mailed. Since the stamp printer 10 automatically selects appropriate stamp images and displays them to the customer, the customer is not required to sift through multiple screens of all available images to find only appropriate images from the full library of available images.
Once the customer has decided on the stamp image to be included on the mail piece for mailing the item, in step 140 the customer will enter the selection, preferably using the I/O device 16 of the stamp printer 10. Alternatively, the customer can make a selection using a hand-held device that can transmit the selection to the stamp printer 10. Upon receiving the selected stamp image, then in step 150 the controller 12 will cause the printing device 18 to print a postage stamp using the image selected by the customer. Such printing can either be directly on the mail piece, e.g., the envelope, or on a label to be affixed to the mail piece.
Additionally, as an option in step 150 before the postage stamp is printed, the controller 12 can utilize the information obtained from the code in step 100 to determine the amount of postage to be included in the stamp. For example, the information about the item obtained by the controller 12 could indicate that additional postage is required to send the item. In the case of a card, for example, the information could indicate that the card is oversized, or has an irregular shape, or is overweight, each of which would require additional postage for the card to be delivered. Using this information, the controller 12 can determine the correct postage amount required to deliver the item, and print a postage stamp, using the image selected by the customer, that has the correct postage amount included therein.
Thus, the stamp printer 10 according to the present invention includes several advantageous features with respect to selecting an image to be included on a postage stamp printed by the stamp printer 10. The stamp printer 10 enables a customer to easily identify appropriate images that are related some way, e.g., similar occasion, similar design, etc., to the item to be mailed. Since the stamp printer 10 automatically selects appropriate stamp images and displays them to the customer, the customer is not required to sift through multiple screens of all available images to find only appropriate images from the full library of available images. While preferred embodiments of the invention have been described and illustrated above, it should be understood that these are exemplary of the invention and are not to be considered as limiting. Additions, deletions, substitutions, and other modifications can be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be considered as limited by the foregoing description.
