Techniques, including systems and methods, for virtual resource cost tracking account for unused capacity of implementation resources that are dedicated to particular customers and, as a result, are unusable for maintaining virtual resources for other customers. Customers requesting dedicated use of implementation resources are charged in a manner that compensates the virtual resource provider for the lost ability to use unused capacity of implementation resources to serve other customers. Customer charges may be determined by a pricing function that is calculated such that, for a base of customers, expected revenue from the base of customers approximates a revenue goal. The revenue goal may be determined based on revenue that would have been expected had the unused capacity of the dedicated implementation resources been available for serving other customers.

Assemblies, systems, and methods for applying postage indicia to one or more sequential mailpiece on a high speed mail sorter are disclosed. In some aspects, a system for franking one or more sequential mailpiece using a postal security device (PSD) hub assembly on a high speed mail sorter includes a plurality of PSDs configured to generate a coded digital signature for the one or more sequential mailpiece during a latency period, a plurality of photo sensors configured to define the latency period, a PSD host configured to receive the generated coded digital signature, wherein the generated coded digital signature is encoded in a data matrix, and an indicia printer configured to receive printer control data and to print the printer control data on the one or more sequential mailpiece in an order in which the plurality of PSDs are tasked during the latency period.

Disclosed are various embodiments for automatically creating printed works. A subset of electronic publications from a collection of electronic publications is periodically selected in at least one computing system. The selecting is directed at least in part by at least one rule predefined by a user. The subset of electronic publications includes at least two distinct electronic publications. A printed work that includes the subset of electronic publications is encoded for printing.

A method and system for aggregating services is provided. The method includes receiving and processing a service request. The service request is submitted to a service catalog and dispatched to a data integration and API module. The service request is transmitted to a management module and processed with respect to a plurality of service providers. Inter process communications associated with the service request are managed. Additionally, an account associated with the service request and the plurality of service providers is managed.

Systems and methods which provide a shipping interface within a user interface are shown. A shipping interface of embodiments is provided within a open architecture or multiple application user interface, such as a browser user interface. A user may be enabled to use a same shipping account with respect to any number of applications or functions. Moreover, a user may be enabled to select a shipping provider of preference, even where the underlying application or function does not support the selected shipping provider or any shipping functions. Embodiments provide comparison of various shipping providers to a user for selection. Embodiments comprise a browser plug-in operable to provide a shipping interface, such a by inserting one or more shipping buttons within a page displayed by the browser, within a popup window, within a frame along the main browser window, within a browser menu bar, tool tray, etcetera.

Systems and techniques are provided that allow for pre-paid return shipping labels to be generated using an automated kiosk or comparable device. A return shipper provides an item to be sent to the initial shipper to the kiosk, which verifies that the item matches the initially-shipped item and generates a suitable return shipping label.

Systems and techniques are provided that allow for pre-paid return shipping labels to be generated using an automated kiosk or comparable device. A return shipper provides an item to be sent to the initial shipper to the kiosk, which verifies that the item matches the initially-shipped item and generates a suitable return shipping label.

A method is described for biometric enrolment of a biometrically authorisable device having a biometric sensor for identification of an authorised user and a processor capable of permitting access to one or more secure feature(s) based on authentication of the user's identity. The enrolment method includes mounting the biometrically authorisable device to a holder in order to form an enrolment system arranged to be delivered to the end user by mail. The holder has a power source such that during delivery the supply of power is deactivated and the holder includes a switching arrangement configured to activate the supply of power in response to manipulation of the holder. The enrolment system is delivered to the user and the supply of power is activated in response to manipulation of the holder by the user.

A method for transporting a plurality of articles with a transportation container that can be carried in a transport container of one of a plurality of robots. The plurality of articles is placed in the transportation container. The transportation container is placed in a pickup location at a first location. A robot is navigated to the first location and the transportation container is autonomously moved from the pickup location to the transport container of the robot. The robot is navigated over an outdoor transportation network to a second location and the transportation container is autonomously moved from the transport container to a recipient location at the second location.

A method for transporting a plurality of articles with a transportation container that can be carried in a transport container of one of a plurality of robots. The plurality of articles is placed in the transportation container. The transportation container is placed in a pickup location at a first location. A robot is navigated to the first location and the transportation container is autonomously moved from the pickup location to the transport container of the robot. The robot is navigated over an outdoor transportation network to a second location and the transportation container is autonomously moved from the transport container to a recipient location at the second location.