Computerized apparatus and methods useful for authentication and/or handling and tracking of users and objects such as e.g., items being shipped or baggage associated with a user during travel. In one embodiment, a computerized apparatus located at a departure location (e.g., a kiosk) includes digital imaging and scanning apparatus to enable biometric user authentication, imaging of chattel associated with the user, as well as networked access to a computerized travel reservation system, so as to enable authentication of the user (and/or the item being shipped) as well as other aspects of the shipment transaction. The kiosk may further enable computerized control and operation of an item shipment receptable so as to allow or deny access based on the authentication processing.

A financial services ecosystem for providing a collaborative worldwide payment system includes: a computer-based system configured to credit a merchant, by way of a merchant bank, for goods sold or services rendered to a consumer; and a payment process platform configured to receive data from a user application. The payment process platform is configured to generate a disposable bank identification number (BIN). The disposable BIN is converted from a BIN issued by a financial institution or credit card company. The disposable BIN is used by a biller as an authorization BIN to document that the consumer has paid a bill.

A computer controlled mail piece assembly and wrapping system discloses a process for culling candidate mail pieces from bulk mail pieces, a mail piece feeder, a mail piece reader coupled to the feeder that identifies suitable candidate mail pieces, a collator coupled to the feeder for collating multiple identified mail pieces, a buffer coupled to the collator for regulating the delivery rate of the multiple mail pieces exiting to a wrap inserter, a wrap inserter coupled to the buffer for wrapping mail pieces and selected inserts into a mailing container, a printer interfaced with the wrap inserter for printing information onto the mailing container; an outstacker coupled to the wrap inserter for transferring envelope wrapped mail pieces and selected inserts to a desired location, and a computer with suitable programming for operating the system.

A computer controlled mail piece assembly and wrapping system discloses a process for culling candidate mail pieces from bulk mail pieces, a mail piece feeder, a mail piece reader coupled to the feeder that identifies suitable candidate mail pieces, a collator coupled to the feeder for collating multiple identified mail pieces, a buffer coupled to the collator for regulating the delivery rate of the multiple mail pieces exiting to a wrap inserter, a wrap inserter coupled to the buffer for wrapping mail pieces and selected inserts into a mailing container, a printer interfaced with the wrap inserter for printing information onto the mailing container; an outstacker coupled to the wrap inserter for transferring envelope wrapped mail pieces and selected inserts to a desired location, and a computer with suitable programming for operating the system.

A mail item sortation system and method that includes an external controller for culling candidate letters in a mailing job to produce groupings of letters based on industry average weights and/or thicknesses in order to place all the candidate letters going to a single address adjacent to each other, an internal controller, interfaced with the external controller, that utilizes the groupings of letters to manage multiple letter sorters, wherein a specific letter sorter is selected to pair a calculated number of pockets to accommodate the groupings with an actual number of pockets in the selected letter sorter, and a transfer process for moving letters within the letter sorter pockets to a StatementPack machine.

A method and system for detecting postage fraud using an indexed lookup procedure is provided. The method includes generating, at a postage-issuing computer system, a unique postage indicium associated with a unique tracking number allocated to a postage transaction. The unique tracking number provides a mail piece tracking capability within the United States Postal Service (USPS). The method further includes indexing the postage transaction with the unique tracking number; and receiving, at the postage-issuing computer system, a request to validate a printed postage indicium carried on a mail piece received at the USPS. The request includes a tracking number identified from information further carried on the mail piece. The method also includes returning, to the USPS and in response to the request, a determination indicating whether the tracking number in the request matches any records stored in a transaction database.

A multi-level distribution and tracking method is described. Processing equipment processes multi-level distribution items, the multi-level distribution items being associated with first, second, and third level entities. The multi-level distribution items include a computer readable code thereon. The processing equipment captures an image of the multi-level distribution item, reads a computer readable code associated with the first level entity, sender information for the second level entity, and destination address information for the third level entity. The distribution system delivers the item to the destination address for the third level entity. The processing equipment generates scan information based on the processing of the multi-level distribution item, and can send the tracking information to the first level entity.

A system for securely controlling deposition and retrieval of shipments (40), including a managing distribution centre, at least one electronic locker unit connected to the managing distribution centre through a communication network, and having several lockable compartments (28i) of different sizes, wherein said at least one electronic locker unit comprises a weighing shipment module (50) located inside each compartment (28i) and made up of an arrangement of several thin flexible force sensors, linked together to circuit board, located under upper bearing plate and attached to bottom of the compartment within respective active measuring areas.

A mechanism for providing secure feature and key management in integrated circuits is described. An example integrated circuit includes a secure memory to store a secret key, and a security manager core, coupled to the secure memory, to receive a digitally signed command, verify a signature associated with the command using the secret key, and configure operation of the integrated circuit using the command.

Device for weighing flat objects in motion comprising a conveyor (12) with drive rollers (22A, 22B) for conveying the flat objects along a transport path (14), a weighing plate (16) facing said transport path and comprising a set of free rollers (160) for receiving the flat objects, and a weighing sensor (18) attached to the weighing plate for measuring the weight of the flat objects during their passage between the conveyor and the weighing plate, wherein the weighing sensor is arranged above the transport path and the conveyor is adapted to move vertically in order to press the flat objects in motion against the weighing plate.