GB2360120A

GB2360120A - Apparatus for printing postage indicia

Info

Publication number: GB2360120A
Application number: GB0004800A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Alan Haslehurst; John Laughton
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2000-03-01
Filing date: 2000-03-01
Publication date: 2001-09-12
Also published as: GB0004800D0

Abstract

Apparatus for printing postage indicia for use on items of mail includes a computer 2, a printer 8 and software 1. The apparatus may include means for making electronic payments for the indicia over the internet, for instance using encryption. The indicia may vary according to the weight of the mail and current postal rates.

Description

t A software utility to aid post room management

The Description

2360120 This document describes a new method for the purchase and application of Royal Mail impressions.

The current method of creating an item that can be transported and delivered by Royal Mail for smaller to medium sized users is either, the use of a paid for stamp attached to the item or impression on the item indicating a licence from Royal Mail saying that postage has been paid:

1) The current methods employed are time consuming to use.

2) And expensive to implement and administrate for smaller to medium sized user.

Essential Features The essential features of this invention are that software supplied to the user enables that user to purchaser a token from a licensed site on the Internet set up for the purpose of issuing such tokens.

The functionality of the supplied software to be installed on the users PC or Workstation is that it will integrate with the existing operating system and application software.

Software will when used activate a modem and connect via a Internet service provider to a remote secure server, where a transaction will take place and if accepted, (The user is immediately informed whilst still connected that the application has been successful or not), will exchange electronic tokens for an electronic payment.

The software will allow the tokens to be downloaded and updates the supplied software enabling the user to create a Royal Mail accepted impression on envelopes or labels.

17- The supplied software will have self auditing built in, to validate all operation of receipt and issue of impressions, and will be capable of on output of the results of such validation to screen and hardcopy.

The software to be installed on the users PC's data bank will be encrypted to current industry standards to meet Royal Mail requirements on security. Software updates downloaded on to the users PC's data bankwill only be carried out from secure servers dedicated for the purpose, by the financial institution used and its Internet service provider.

Further features are:

Will be cheap to install as most users have PC Hardware, with Internet connection.

East to use as PC's are in general use.

The software will have the ability to calculate the weight to token ratio.

Price fluctuations will be addressed by software upgrades available from the same remote site to address Royal Mail price changes.

Creates usage reports by integrating with existing software.

Ability to print impressions without the need for dedicated hardware.

Figure 1: A data flow chart illustrating a typical transaction as explained below.

Figure 2: Illustrates the diagrammatic form of a single user situation.

Figure 3: Illustrates the diagrammatic form of a multi user situation 1 Flowchart of typical transaction Figure 1: A data flow chart illustrating a typical transaction in graphical representation of data movement through the transaction process, to emphasize the logic underlying the software process, commencing with the activation of the computer software.

It's connection to the Internet and the request for a transaction to purchase tokens.

It shows the process of validation and from acceptance and the payment to the financial institution, the issue of the token into the users computer software, and updating that software and finally the printing of the impression on envelopes or labels.

It Figure 2, shows the situation of a single user or small volume users.

It is expected that a user will have a PC (2) with modem (3) with a Internet connection through an Internet service provider. The software data bank (1) specifically written to be integrated into existing software applications and ready for use will be supplied and downloaded onto the users PC (2).

When the user needs to initially purchase tokens or to replenish a stock of tokens the following action is undertaken.

A connection is made to the Internet via a modem (3) and a connection (4) is made to a remote server using the supplied software.

On reaching the remote server website details of the transaction are entered into a formulated template held within the remote server database (6).

When the transaction form is complete a send button will submit the application for the required number of tokens, and offering payment to the financial institution being used for validation. If the validation is rejected the user will be informed giving a reason for the rejection and returns back via connection (4).

If the validation is excepted payment is made electronically to the financial institution and the remote server (5) issues tokens, which are automatically downloaded via connection (4) through the modem (3) and updates the existing software data bank (1).

The user is now able to print the impressions for the purpose of single or multiple uses from the software data bank (1), and integrating and used with the application software on the PC (2).

S- Figure 3, shows the situation a multiple user situation.

It is expected that a user will have a Workstation (2) with modem (3) with a Internet connection through an Internet service provider. The software data bank (1) specifically written to be integrated into existing software applications and ready for use will be supplied and downloaded onto the users Workstation (2).

This will be distributed internally within the users operation to other Workstations (2) When the user needs to initially purchase tokens or to replenish a stock of tokens the following action is undertaken.

When the transaction form is complete a send button will submit the application for the required number of tokens, and offering payment to the financial institution being used forvalidation. If the validation is rejected the user will be informed giving reason for the rejection and returns back via connection (4).

If the validation is accepted payment is made electronically to the financial institution and the remote server (5) issues tokens, which are automatically downloaded via connection (4) through the modem (3) and updates the existing software data bank (1).

The user is now able to print the impressions for the purpose of single or multiple use from the software data bank (1), and integrating and used with the application software on the Workstations (2), (0

Claims

The Claims

1 The invention will produce an impression (prepaid duty) to send items of mail using specially designed software, using any form of PC or workstation and printed with any PC or workstation supported printer.

2.

The impression as claimed in claim 1, can vary in value to match the duty rate pro rata the weight of the item to be sent, by software and hardware means.

3. The impression as claimed in claim 2, the ability to use, the pro-rata weight of the item to be sent, can be removed for the single user situation.

4. The impression as claimed in claim 1 can be updated to reflect Royal Mail duty rate changes, by software means.

5. The impression as claimed in claim 1 has impression producing software which is recharged by request and electronic payment over the Internet to a secure server set up for the purpose of electronic commerce and token distribution and held in tokens within the PC or workstation software ready to be printed out

6. In addition to 1 security is maintained by integral encryption or external hardware or a combination of both.

7. The impression will be designed to meet requirements current at the time of use.