A secure electronic mailbox is provided to a customer having an electronic account. The electronic account links the secure electronic mailbox to a physical address of the customer. The customer can send and receive secure and non-secure messages via the secure electronic mailbox. The customer can also access electronic services such as electronic bill presentment and payment using the secure electronic mailbox.

Methods and systems for providing a secure electronic mailbox

Apparatus and method for a modular postage accounting system. An open system metering device of the present invention includes a general purpose computer, a digital printer and a secure metering device (SMD). The SMD performs the accounting functions of a postage meter and generates encrypted postage indicia data for transmission by the computer to the digital printer and subsequent printing on a mailpiece by the digital printer. Postage credit data can be entered into the SMD using a computerized meter resetting system just as it is in a conventional postage meter.

Method and apparatus for a modular postage accounting system

A system and method for optimizing mail delivery of batch mail A network is established interconnecting plural batch mailers, a data center, and the Postal Service Mail data on the mail batches is transmitted to the data center This enables the data center to generate data to the mailers for merging mail batches to achieve additional postage discounts, to schedule and route mail carriers external to and within the Postal System to increase efficiency of handling, and to interact with the Postal Service for logistics planning and drop-off point and timing of mail batches to expedite processing

Optimizing mail delivery systems by logistics planning

The invention relates to a universal delivery and collection box unit (UDCBU). In one implementation, a UDCBU includes a mail compartment (110/120) accessible by one door (210) and a storage compartment (130) accessible by a second door (220). The mail compartment allows the postal service to deliver and pickup mail. The storage compartment allows both the postal service and authorized delivery services to deliver larger parcels. In this implementation, information would be recorded regarding access to this storage compartment and transmitted electronically to a consumer.

Universal delivery and collection box unit (udcbu)

A mailing system that generates data representative of the total postage value of a stream of mail pieces to provide proof of the debiting of a stored postal value includes a portable device having a processor and a memory.

Mailing system with postage value transfer and accounting capability

An automated mailing system includes a scale having a weighing device, a keyboard for entering postage value determining data, a postage value determining processor and a programmable read only memory containing postal rate and zip to zone conversion data. A peripheral controller interface provides communication capability between the scale processor and a plurality of peripheral mailing devices including a series of electronic postage meters each of which is adapted to provide postage value denominations for mail originating from different postal zone distribution points. A data steering interface, which may be included within the peripheral controller interface, provides interconnection between the communications lines received from the scale system processor and the communication lines of the respective electronic postage meters. A selector switch provides selection signals to the data steering interface for directing the interface to establish communication links between the scale processor through the peripheral interface controller and a desired one of the electronic postage meters.

Drop shipment mailing system

There is disclosed a volatile electronic counter wherein the count is retained over power off periods. This is accomplished by the use of a non-volatile memory with means for rapidly writing therein the contents of the volatile memory upon sensing a power down condition. Upon later sensing a power up condition, the contents of the non-volatile memory are returned to the volatile memory.

Electronic counter with non-volatile memory

An automated mailing system includes a scale having a weighing device, a keyboard for entering postage value determining data and an electronic postage meter selection code, a postage value determining processor and a programmable read only memory containing postal rate and zip to zone conversion data. A peripheral controller interface provides communication capability between the scale processor and a plurality of peripheral mailing devices including a series of electronic postage meters each of which is adapted to provide postage value denominations for mail originating from different postal zone distribution points. A data steering interface, which may be included within the peripheral controller interface, provides interconnection between the communications lines received from the scale system processor and the communication lines of the respective electronic postage meters. A code, entered through the keyboard, is transmitted serially to the peripheral controller interface and, in turn, to a selector latch decoder which provides selection signals to the data steering interface for directing the interface to establish communication links between the scale processor through the peripheral interface controller and a desired one of the electronic postage meters.

Meter selection for drop shipment mailing system

A regulated power supply circuit includes a transformer having a primary winding and a secondary winding electromagnetically coupled by an iron core A source of AC operating voltage is coupled to the primary winding of the transformer via an actuable switch means A load circuit coupled to the secondary winding circuit is adapted to be energized by a voltage developed in the secondary winding circuit Means are provided for sensing the polarity of each half cycle of said source of AC operating voltage Memory means are coupled to the transformer for providing information representative of the polarity of each half cycle of the source of operating voltage applied to the primary winding of the transformer The memory means are operable to maintain the information for a period of time when the switch is actuated to be opened Means are also provided for sensing a parameter in the secondary winding circuit related to the energy available in the secondary winding circuit Means couple the memory means, the AC operating voltage sensing means and the parameter sensing means to the actuable switch means

Energy efficient regulated power supply system

A bipolar driver controls the operation of a reversible polarity load such as a motor. The driver links one terminal of the motor with either a positive or a negative potential power supply in response to processor command signals comprising a combination of logic levels appearing at a pair of driver input lines. The input lines are monitored to detect the presence of an illegal code combination which would otherwise function to simultaneously interconnect the load terminal with both positive and negative power supplies. The load terminal is linked to the power supplies by a separate power transistor for each power supply. Each power transistor is biased into conduction through a drive transistor. Upon detection of an illegal code, monitoring logic generates a signal which interrupts the emitter circuit of each of the drive transistors to inhibit both power transistors.

Vincent G. Coppola

Papers

Drop shipment mailing system

Electronic counter with non-volatile memory

Meter selection for drop shipment mailing system

Energy efficient regulated power supply system

Bipolar driver with illegal code detector