Patent Application
20090182687
The present invention relates to the field of postage. More particularly, in various specific embodiments, it involves methods and systems directed to providing a postage adjustment system.
The United States Postal Service (USPS) is an independent government agency that provides mail delivery and other services to the public. The USPS is widely recognized by individual customers as a safe and reliable means for sending and receiving parcels through a physical mail stream.
Many customers seek greater convenience in sending parcels. They wish to prepare parcels, such as packages and other items of various sizes, shapes and weights, without having to visit a delivery system operator. These include the USPS™, Federal Express (FEDEX™), or United Parcel Service (UPS™). Customers may wish for the flexibility of mailing a parcel from home, without the burden of a face-to-face postage purchase. Yet customers do not want the inconvenience of underpaying for a parcel and having it returned, or overpaying for a parcel and not receiving credit for the overpayment. Both of these inaccurate payments stem from customer misestimates of the size and weight of a parcel.
On the Internet, customers now are able to access information and computer application programs (“applications”) for generating postage, using standard computer equipment, such as a personal computer with a display and a connection to the Internet. Typically, they access information using a computer program called a “web browser,” which provides an interface to the Internet. Examples of web browsers include Netscape Navigator™ from Netscape Communications Corporation or Internet Explorer™ from Microsoft Corporation. Using a web browser, customers can access an application for generating postage, such as PCPostage™, Click-N-Ship™, and Global Express Guaranteed™ available on the USPS web site (http://www.usps.gov). However, the application for generating postage does not provide confirmation that the customer's estimate of dimension and weight of a parcel is accurate.
Thus, there is a need for delivery system operators to efficiently provide for the adjustment of postage value. More specifically, delivery system operators desire to efficiently provide credit or debit of overpayment or underpayment of postage amounts. In an increasingly competitive environment, it is essential for delivery system operators to reduce costs and exceed the expectations of those who receive a service. Thus, there exists a need for efficiently providing postage value adjustment in the physical mail stream.
In one aspect, a method for receiving payment for postage by a delivery service provider from a customer is provided. The method includes receiving payment from the customer for a first postage value; receiving the parcel for delivery, the parcel including a machine-readable postage indicia indicating the amount of the received payment; determining parcel attributes; calculating a determined postage value for the parcel based on the determined parcel attributes; determining the first postage value from the indicia; and transmitting a postage payment adjustment amount based on a comparison between the first postage value and the determined postage value.
In another aspect, a method for receiving payment for postage by a delivery service provider from a customer is provided. The method includes receiving from the customer mailing information for a parcel, the mailing information comprising customer-determined attributes of the parcel; calculating a first postage value based on the customer-determined attributes; transmitting data to the customer to permit printing by the customer of a mailing label for the parcel, the mailing label including an indication of the first postage value; charging a customer account for the first postage value; determining attributes of the parcel by the delivery system operator; calculating a second postage value for the parcel based on the actual attributes; and transmitting a postage payment adjustment amount to the customer account based on a comparison between the first and second postage values.
In yet another aspect, a system for correcting a postage value is provided. The system including a memory having program instructions; and a processor responsive to the program instructions to: storing a first postage value derived from customer-determined attributes of a parcel; receiving payment for the first postage value; generating a second postage value based on attributes of the parcel determined by the delivery system operator; comparing the first and second postage values; providing a credit to the customer if the first postage value is greater then the second postage value; and generating a charge to the customer if the second postage value is less then the first postage value.
Both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed.
The accompanying drawings provide a further understanding of the invention and, together with the detailed description, explain the principles of the invention. In the drawings:
Reference will now be made to various embodiments consistent with this invention, examples of which appear in the accompanying drawings and will be obvious from the description of the invention. In the drawings, the same reference numbers represent the same or similar elements in the different drawings whenever possible.
When a customer intends to send a parcel and does not wish to visit a delivery system operator to purchase postage, the customer may use an Internet application to generate and purchase postage. The customer may determine parcel attributes, such as height, length, and width, and the weight of the parcel, either by measurement or estimation. Using the determined dimensions and weight, the Internet application calculates postage and produces a mailing label. The customer prints a mailing label, which includes the customer-determined postage value, at his location and attaches the label to the parcel before depositing it into the physical mail stream.
At a designated Point-of-Service (POS) in the-physical mail stream, the delivery system operator determines the attributes (dimensions and weight) of the parcel, in order to generate a required postage value. If the customer-determined dimensions and weight are accurate, the customer-determined and operator-determined postage values are the same, and the parcel can continue its path through the physical mail stream to the destination. If there is a discrepancy between the customer-determined and operator-determined postage values, the customer's account may be credited or debited with a postage payment adjustment amount, and then the parcel may continue its path through the physical mail stream.
Embodiments of the present invention may be implemented in connection with various types of computing devices. By way of a non-limiting example, an exemplary implementation will be described with reference to use of a computer system. As those skilled in the art can appreciate, embodiments of the invention can be implemented in many types of computing systems, such as desktop system, laptops, PDA's, mobile phones, settop boxes, thin-client devices, and/or any computing devices that have network access. The computing device can also be a specifically designed device.
While in the physical mail stream, leading from customer site 130 to destination 150, parcel 160 passes through a Point-of-Service (POS) 140. At POS 140, the parcel can be evaluated to determine if the customer-determined postage value was accurate. Parcel 160 may be a United States Postal Service Priority Mail package, a United States Postal Service Express Mail package, Global Express package, Global Express Guaranteed package, odd-sized package, or other package or item.
POS 140 may utilize a weighing and image capturing system to determine attributes of parcel 160. Parcel 160 is passed through weighing and image capturing system to determine the weight of parcel 160, to obtain the image of parcel 160, and to determine physical dimensions, such as thickness, of parcel 160. In one embodiment, weighing and image capturing system may comprise a video camera, an in-line scale, a thickness sensor, and a weighing and image-capturing server. While a video camera, an in-line scale, and a thickness sensor may be utilized to determine the image, weight, and physical dimension of parcel 160 respectively, those skilled in the art will appreciate that may other devices may be utilized to obtain this data. With the image, weight, and physical dimension of parcel 160 obtained, this data may be stored in dimension weight record for parcel 160. In an alternate embodiment, the height, width, and length of parcel 160, along with other information about parcel 160 may be measured.
Postage provider 260 may be associated with a delivery system operator, such as USPS™ or FedEX™. Postage provider 260 includes an application for generating mailing labels accessible via network 210. Postage provider 260 is connected to data storage 230. In some embodiments, postage provider 260 and data storage 230 are one element. Postage provider 260 may be connected to postage broker 270, either directly or through a network. Postage broker 270 creates a delivery payment code, which is the equivalent of an electronic stamp. Examples of postage broker 270 include Envelope Manager Software of Palo Alto, Calif., Neopost Online of Redwood City, Calif., and Stamps.com.
Postage provider 260 may be connected to payment engine 250, either directly or through a network. Payment engine 250 may be a communication link between postage provider 260 and payment broker 240. Payment engine 250 may be connected to payment broker 240 either directly or over a network. Payment broker 240 may perform the transaction of crediting or debiting a customer account. An example of payment broker 240 is a bank, such as First Merchant Service Bank. Data storage 230 may be used to store information about customer accounts and parcel transaction records.
POS 140 may transmit the dimension weight of parcel 160 to data storage 230 or postage provider 260 over network 210. Network 210 may comprise, for example, a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), and/or the Internet. Such networking environments are commonplace and are known by those skilled in the art.
Postage provider 260 receives the dimension weight record either from POS 140 directly or through data storage 230. The dimension weight record may be compared to the transaction record of parcel 160 stored in the data storage 230. The comparison is used to determine if the customer-determined attributes were accurate. If inaccurate, a compensation or debit amount may be calculated. Payment engine 250 and payment broker 240 may be used to facilitate the compensation or debit to customer 110.
Computing system 300 may include a number of components, such as a processor or central processing unit (CPU) 310, a memory 320, a network interface 330, I/O devices 340, and/or a display 350. Such components may be, interconnected by a system bus 360. CPU 310 may be a microprocessor such as the Pentium® family of microprocessors manufactured by Intel Corporation. However, any other suitable microprocessor, micro-, mini-, or mainframe computer may be used, such as a micro-controller unit (MCU), or a digital signal processor (DSP).
Memory 320 may include a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), a video memory, mass storage, and/or cache memory such as fixed and removable media (e.g., magnetic, optical, or magnetic optical storage systems or other available mass storage technology). Memory 320 stores support modules such as, for example, a basic input/output system (BIOS), an operating system (OS), a program library, a compiler, an interpreter, and/or a text-processing tool. Support modules are commercially available and can be installed on computing system 300 by those of skill in the art. For simplicity, these modules are not illustrated. Further, memory 320 may contain an operating system, an application routine, a program, such as a web browser program, an application-programming interface (API), and/or other instructions for performing methods consistent with embodiments of the invention.
Network interface 330, examples of which include Ethernet, dial-up telephone and/or other conventional data port connections, may be used to communicate with other devices through, for example, a communication network (not shown). Computing system 300 may also receive input via input/output (I/O) devices 340, which may include a keyboard, pointing device, or other like input devices. Computing system 300 may also provide output via input/output (I/O) devices 340, which may include a printer 205. Computing system 300 may also present information and interfaces, such as an Internet application, via by display 350 to customer 110.
Bus 360 may be a bidirectional system bus. For example, bus 360 may contain thirty-two address bit lines for addressing a memory 320 and thirty-two bit lines across which data is transferred among the components. Alternatively, multiplexed data/address lines may be used instead of separate data and address lines.
As illustrated on
Next, the customer enters transaction data into the Internet application, such as the customer-determined or estimated weight and/or size (“dimensional weight”) of the parcel to be shipped (step 720). Customer 110 may also indicate a desire for home or office pickup.
The Internet application displays to customer 110 a postage value based on customer-determined attributes of dimension and/or weight. Payment engine 250 or payment broker 240 may calculate the postage value required based on the customer-determined attributes and provide this information to the Internet application. Payment engine 250 or payment broker 240 may also verify that sufficient funds exist in the customer account. Only after a determination of sufficient funds is the postage created and applied to the mailing label. In another embodiment, a credit card would remain open for an additional charge or credit.
If customer 110 chooses to proceed with the transaction, the customer account may be debited. If the customer does not have sufficient funds in the account or does not have an account with the postage provider, the customer may be prompted to identify a credit card to be billed.
Payment verification data is then transmitted by the delivery system operator and received by PC 125 of customer 110 to initiate printing of a mailing label 600 (step 730). Mailing label 600 may include a unique identification code 650, such as a machine readable code like a barcode, series of characters, or another detectable image, or indicator. Mailing label 600 may contain an indication of a paid postage value based on the customer-determined attributes of parcel 160. This indication may be provided by postage broker 270. Mailing label 600 is then printed and affixed to parcel 160 (step 735).
Parcel 160 is then placed in the physical mail stream, where it passes through POS 140 (step 740). At POS 140, mailing label 600 is scanned to read unique identification code 650 and parcel 160 is processed to determine the dimensions and/or weight of parcel 160. In one embodiment, postage broker 270 may verify that a unique and not duplicated postage value has been assigned to parcel 160. In one embodiment, the customer-determined attributes are stored in transaction record 500 in data storage 230. The operator-determined dimensions and/or weight is compared with the customer-determined attributes (step 750). In one embodiment, POS 140 performs a look-up and compares stored customer-determined attributes to operator-determined attributes for parcel 160. In another embodiment, postage provider 260 or a third party may perform the look-up.
In an alternate embodiment, the operator-determined dimensional weight is used to calculate a postage value. The operator-determined postage value is compared with the postage value indicated on the parcel, the postage value generated based on the customer-determined attributes. In some cases, the customer-determined attributes may be inaccurate, but a sufficient postage value may still be generated.
If the customer-determined attributes generate a sufficient postage value for parcel 160, it continues through the physical mail stream (step 760). If the customer-determined attributes generate a postage value that is greater than the operator-determined postage value, a credit may be applied to the customer's account, either as a direct repayment of the overpayment, or as a credit toward future purchases (step 770). If customer-determined attributes generate a postage value that is less than the operator-determined postage value, a debit may be made to the customer account (step 780). Thus, even if the postage value on mailing label 600 is insufficient, parcel 160 may continue without delay and without the added burden and expense of returning parcel 160 to customer 110 for additional postage. Further, the. customer receives assurance that any overpayment will be credited.
In another embodiment, customer 110 pays for the transaction by credit card in the amount calculated from customer-determined attributes. Payment engine 250 delays processing the payment until after the parcel has passed though POS 140 and adjustments to the postage value have been made to correct any discrepancy between the calculated amount an the actual postage value. This provides for a single change to the credit account, and avoids multiple transaction fees levied by payment broker 240.
In another embodiment, a communications system, for example, regular mail, e-mail, facsimile, Internet, or an interactive voice response telephone system, is utilized to inform customer 110 of an additional charge or credit. An image of parcel 160 may be included along with the information about the adjustment to the postage value.
The above-noted features and aspects of the present invention may be implemented in various environments. Such environments and related applications may be specially constructed for performing the various processes and operations of the invention, or they may include a general-purpose computer or computing platform selectively activated or reconfigured by program code to provide the functionality. The processes disclosed herein are not inherently related to any particular computer or other apparatus, and aspects of these processes may be implemented by any suitable combination of hardware, software, and/or firmware. For example, various general-purpose machines may be used with programs written in accordance with teachings of the invention, or it may be more convenient to construct a specialized apparatus or system to perform the required methods and techniques.
Embodiments of the present invention also relate to computer-readable media that include program instructions or program code for performing various computer-implemented operations based on the methods and processes of embodiments of the invention. The program instructions may be those specially designed and constructed for the purposes of the invention, or they may be of the kind well known and available to those having skill in the computer software arts. Examples of program instructions include, for example, machine code, such as produced by a compiler, and files containing a high-level code that can be executed by the computer using an interpreter.
Other embodiments of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of the specification and practice of the embodiments of the invention disclosed herein. For example, the steps of the exemplary methods of
Under provisions of 35 U.S.C. § 119(e), the Applicant claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/407,582, filed Aug. 29, 2002, and incorporated herein by reference. This application is related to an application entitled PC Postage™ Service Indicia Design For Shipping Label bearing attorney docket number 07451-0924.00000 filed on the same date as the present application, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60407582 | Aug 2002 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 10630589 | Jul 2003 | US |
| Child | 12382462 | US |
