Patent Application
20070022059
The present invention relates to a system and method for producing a mailpiece, and more particularly, to a system and method for producing mailpieces having a Value Added Service (VAS).
The vast majority of mailpieces for delivery by a mail carrier enter the mail distribution system via a mailbox, kiosk, or similar device. One of the few instances that a visit to a local post office or carrier service may be required relates to certain requests for special handling or delivery of a mailpiece, i.e., requests for Value Added (VA) services. That is, should it be decided that “First Class” or “Priority” mailing is required to expedite delivery, a trip to the post office may then be required. Processing the request typically involves the completion of one or more forms, a review of the completed form(s) by a mail clerk, calculation of the required postage and induction of the mailpiece into the mail delivery system. As such, it will be appreciated that this manual process is laborious, time consuming and costly.
Difficulties associated with obtaining VA services is exacerbated in those instances where multiple mailpieces are to be delivered, e.g., bulk mailing of an advertisement to a large number of recipients. Rather than individually weighing and/or applying postage to each mailpiece, the United States Postal Service (USPS) encourages the use of a Manifest Mailing System (MMS) which is an automated postage payment system used to calculate and document postage. While a manifest is any listing of multiple mailpieces, in the context of the MMS, a manifest is a document which includes (i) a sequential listing of mailpieces in a batch or tray, (ii) a calculation of the postage based upon various rate options and presort levels claimed, and (iii) a signed/executed statement that, to the best of the mailer's belief, the calculated postage is true and correct.
Qualification to use the MMS requires that a mailer meet certain minimum requirements, i.e., 200 mailpieces or 50 pounds which may be satisfied by the mailing of mixed classes in the same batch. That is, to the extent that a mailer does not have the minimum 200 mailpieces in a particular class, the MMS permits a batch to include any one of a variety of classes, e.g., First Class, Certified, Return Receipt etc. Consequently, an itemized manifest, i.e., listing each mailpiece together with its class of service, may be used wherein, upon induction, a mail clerk accepts the batch, samples a few mailpieces (e.g., weighting each of the few selected) and approves the manifest. Of course, the USPS reserves the right to audit any of the manifests submitted for delivery.
The MMS significantly reduces the time sorting, labeling and calculating postage for the USPS, however, the burden is merely shifted to the mailer (albeit discounts are available as an incentive to use the MMS). While certain sophisticated mailers, who routinely prepare bulk mailings, may take full advantage of the MMS, many others lack the necessary proficiency (i.e., inefficient in the practice of printing, presorting and generating a manifest) to use the system effectively. This is particularly true for mailers requiring a variety of VA Services (i.e., mixed classes of mail) for mailing its products or services as part of its daily business. To request such VA services, specialized labels are typically required inasmuch as postage requirements vary from one class of mail to another.
With respect to the foregoing, an automated approach to printing labels, envelopes and manifest documents via a computerized system could provide significant efficiencies. On the other hand, the investment of time and funds may be difficult to justify when employing conventional tools and/or techniques for its development/implementation. More specifically, when modeling a solution based upon traditional software architecture, one of two development paths is commonly considered. These include creating dedicated application software or, alternatively, introducing specialized program code for each application. With respect to dedicated software, this approach requires that, each time a VA service may be requested, the user (i) leave a current software application e.g., word processing software, (ii) launch the dedicated VA service software and (iii) input data which may already exist in the other software application, i.e., where the mailpiece may have originally been created. Aside from the inconvenience of opening dedicated VA service software, such software requires additional data input for preparing each mailpiece. With respect to the development of specialized program code, each of the software applications (i.e., hundreds of applications which may be capable of producing mailpieces requiring VA services) would now require individual program modification.
In view of the absence of such software in the marketplace, whether dedicated application software or as a modification to existing application software, it may be reasonable to conclude that there is insufficient demand for this type of software product/product modification.
A need, therefore, exists to facilitate the creation of mailpieces having a VA service, minimize data input associated with mailpiece production, and mitigate complexities associated with the MMS while expediting the preparation of a manifest document.
A system is provided for producing a mailpiece for delivery in accordance with a Value Added (VA) service. The system comprises a computer processor having Value Added Services (VAS) program code adapted to operate in combination with the processor's print driver code. Further, the VAS program code is operative to receive operator input data in connection with a Value Added Service. Additionally, the system includes at least one peripheral device, operating in combination with the VAS program code, for (i) determining charges in connection with the mailpiece based upon the VA service and (ii) printing VAS data/postage indicia on the mailpiece. In one embodiment of the invention, the system includes a VAS database for collecting VAS data and performing various accounting services (e.g., charge-back, financial tracking) or producing a manifest document when using a Manifest Mailing System.
The method includes the steps of attaching the VAS program code to the print driver code and/or registering the VAS code with the peripheral device to establish the location or portal for sending integrated VAS data.
Reference is now made to the various figures wherein like reference numerals designate similar items in the various figures and in which:
A system and method is described for producing a mailpiece in combination with a Value Added (VA) service and/or including Value Added Services (VAS) data. In the context used herein, a VA service may include a request for expedited delivery of a mailpiece (e.g., overnight delivery), a signed acknowledgement that the recipient has received the mailpiece (e.g., return receipt), or a system for tracking the expenses/charges incurred by a particular customer or group of customers (e.g., a charge-back accounting system) Moreover, the system and method are described in the context of computer architecture having a standard operating system which employs program code for accessing at least one print driver. An exemplary operating system which may be adapted to employ the teachings of the invention includes Windows® 2000 OS (Windows is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation having its principle operations in the State of Washington, USA). It should be appreciated, however, that the invention may be adapted to any operating system which provides access to and/or modification of its print driver program code.
The invention also describes program code adapted to operate a computer, display a dialog box, and/or effect certain printing options. To the extent that one skilled in the art can readily produce program code to (i) cause a computer to perform conventional operations, (ii) display a user interface for interaction with a keyboard or “point-and-click” input device such as a computer mouse, or (iii) provide communication protocol between commonly connected devices, e.g., a printer and a mailing machine, such program code will only be described as method steps or in algorithmic form. It will be appreciated that program code of the type described can be produced in many computer languages and arranged in a variety of ways. Consequently, such program code will not be described in greater detail and only to the extent that one skilled in the art can, with the teachings of the invention, construct suitable program code to perform the functions described herein.
In the broadest sense of the invention, the system for producing a mailpiece including a Value Added (VA) service comprises: a computer processor having Value Added Services (VAS) program code adapted to operate in combination with the processor's print driver code. Further, the system includes at least one peripheral device, operating in combination with the VAS program code, for (i) determining charges in connection with the mailpiece and (ii) printing VAS data/postage indicia on the mailpiece. In one embodiment of the invention, the system includes a data storage means for collecting VAS data, and performing various accounting services (e.g., charge-back, financial tracking) or producing a manifest document.
More specifically, and referring to
In
In the described embodiment, the common interface and rendering codes 181C, 18RC are capable of accepting “plug ins” or other program code for modifying the print driver code 18. While the type of modifications typically anticipated are those required for specialty printing or unique printers, the present invention uses this resource or plug-in capability to introduce Value Added Services (VAS) program code 20.
The VAS program code 20 is operative to: (a) provide an electronic interface 22 for receiving operator input data 24 in connection with a Value Added (VA) service, (b) integrate the operator input data 24 with other mailpiece/print stream data 26 to produce integrated VAS data 28, and (c) create/maintain a VAS database 30 relating to the VA services, i.e., storing/tracking data relating to the mailpiece 12 and the VA service associated therewith. With respect to the latter, the VAS database may be used for (i) determining charges in connection with delivery of the mailpiece 12, (ii) printing the integrated VAS data 28 to produce the mailpiece 12 and (iii) developing a manifest document when using the Manifest Mailing System (MMS).
The printer and mailing machine 16P and 16M are conventional, however, the VAS program code, discussed in greater detail in subsequent paragraphs, controls these devices in an unconventional manner. Before discussing the VAS program code 20 in greater detail, however, it is useful to briefly describe the remaining elements of the system architecture.
The printer 16P may be any of a variety of devices including dot-matrix, inkjet, bubble jet, or laser printers. Generally, any printer capable of printing envelopes or labels may be employed. In the described embodiment, a primary purpose of the printer 16P is the generation of mailpiece content, however, another use (described in greater detail below when discussing the system function) may include printing a machine and/or human readable symbol for mailpiece identification. The mailing machine 16M may be for example, one of the DM series mailing machines designed and manufactured by Pitney Bowes Inc. having it base operations in Stamford, Conn. While this mailing machine 16M has many features and functions which are useful for creating mailpieces, the functions relating to weighing and printing human/machine readable postage/postage indicia are relied upon for practicing the present invention.
Referring to
More specifically, in step C, VAS program code 20 provides a Graphic User Interface (GUI) 32 for accepting the VAS input data 24 from an input device 34 such as a keyboard 34K or computer mouse 34M. The GUI 32 may present a conventional dialog box DBVAS (see
Inasmuch as the VAS input data 24 will be integrated with other mailpiece data 26, i.e., data in the print stream, the dialog box DBVAS may display portions of such data to preview the information or print format thereof. For example, a destination address window 44D and return address window 44R may be provided to review select mailpiece data in advance of printing. Yet other drop-down or selection buttons 48 may be provided including whether to use the standard default print settings when printing on an envelope or label. The dialog box DBVAS as illustrated is not intended to display an exhaustive list of possible selection options, but merely shows how an electronic interface 22 may be constructed in the context of the present invention.
Following entry of the input data, in step D, the VAS data 24 is processed in combination with other mailpiece data 26 to produce integrated VAS data 28. More specifically, in step D1, the VAS program code 20 integrates the VAS data 24 with the mailpiece print stream 26 and, in step D2, generates data elements which uniquely identify the mailpiece, e.g., assigns a unique numeric code to the mailpiece, and information in connection with the type of VA service requested. Alternatively, the mailing machine 16M, in communication with the processor 14, may assign the unique identifier to the mailpiece 12. In step D3, the VAS program code 20 records and/or stores these data elements in a VAS database 30 residing in the processor memory. At minimum, the VAS database 30 will store the assigned mailpiece identification number and information relating to the type of VA service being requested. For example, the database 30 may retain and receive updates concerning the current charges for such VA services by particular postal service providers. Furthermore, as will be discussed in subsequent paragraphs, the database 30 may be used in connection with generating a manifest document when using the Manifest Mailing System (MMS).
In step E, the integrated VAS data 28 is then sent to a destination address, established in the registration step B discussed above, corresponding to the location or portal of the peripheral device 16. Generally, the VAS data 28 will be routed to a dedicated mailing machine 16M, however, if the mailpieces 12 are generated by one of a plurality of senders, i.e., each having a dedicated mailing machine 16M, then the integrated VAS data 28 may be directed to a portal/mailing machine 16M corresponding to the particular sender.
In step F, the printer 16P prints the mailpiece content material and mailpiece envelope. More specifically, the mailpiece identification number and any special markings which may be desirable or required in connection with the VAS service are printed on the envelope 12. Referring additionally to
This calculation may be performed by either the computer processor 14 or a mailing machine 16M equipped with a general purpose processor (not shown). To the extent, however, that the variable expense of the mailpiece weight is obtained by the mailing machine 16M, it may be preferable to acquire the fixed expense of the VA service by communicating with the VAS database 30 over a network and calculate the total cost by the mailing machine 16M. Notwithstanding where the calculation is performed, the mailing machine 16M prints the postage indicia indicative of the total cost on the mailpiece 12.
In addition to calculating the required postage, the processor 14 may. In step H perform accounting services such as tracking, storing and/or assigning charges to various customers/client accounts. For example, the portal for the mailing machine may be associated with a particular customer/client such that all mailpieces created at that address, i.e., on that mailing machine, will be recorded and charged back to the customer/client.
In addition to printing the mailpiece, a manifest document 70, a sample thereof being illustrated in
In summary, the system and method produces a mailpiece having the requisite elements and data for delivery pursuant to a request for Value Added services. Furthermore, this capability is provided without the need for a dedicated (stand alone) software product or modification to existing software products used for mailpiece creation. That is, the drawbacks associated with these potential solutions are obviated by attaching the VAS program code 20 to the print driver code 18 residing in a computer system's operating system OS. Moreover, the system employs the existing or concurrently developed mailpiece data, i.e., the data print stream, without the need for redundant data entry. That is, having previously input, for example, a destination or return address into a software application, e.g., word processing software, the system 10 integrates the VAS input data without the need to re-enter or import data already existing (typically required when using dedicated software). Finally, the system and method facilitates financial tracking/accounting, e.g., charge-back allocation, postage calculations etc., and enables the production of supplemental documents such as a manifest.
While the present invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiment. For example, while the peripheral device 16 is illustrated as two separate electronic devices, i.e., a printer 16P and mailing machine 16M, it will be appreciated that the mailpiece printing (i.e., the contents of the mailpiece), weighing and printing postage may be performed by a peripheral device including a printing, weighing and metering station combined as an integral unit. Furthermore, while the processor 14 is shown in combination with a computer monitor and input device, i.e., a Personal Computer (PC) it will be understood that the processor 14 may be a single microprocessor located in a central processing unit or multiple processors cooperating together. That is, microprocessors may be disposed in a PC, a printer, and a mailing machine and communicate over a local or wide area network. It should be appreciated, therefore, that the system and method described herein is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.
