Systems and techniques are provided that allow for efficient and simple provision of reprint indicia, refund requests and refunds for erroneous or damaged indicia, and combinations thereof, without the technical and administrative overhead common to conventional postage systems.

A limited-function computing device is provided that allows a user to print postage indicia or other value-bearing items on demand, without requiring the user to log in to or otherwise access specialized software executing on a general-purpose computer.

An exemplary embodiment of the present invention will provide a method using a computer, and a computer system, for providing image-customizing labels that are adapted for receiving computer-based, generic, value-bearing item indicia such as, for example, computer-based, generic, postage indicia. The exemplary embodiment of the present invention will comprise generating a display of a user interface screen that is adapted for receiving an order from a user for at least one image-customized label adapted for bearing a computer-based, generic, value-bearing item.

A host computer, a plurality of thermal carving machines, and a user terminal are connected to a network. The host computer includes seal image creation means that permits edition of a seal image using the user terminal, site selection means that allows a user to specify one site from a site candidates list, ID issuing means that issues an order ID for identifying the contents of an order, and order information registration means that registers the issued order ID and order information in a database. A control device of the thermal carving machine includes order acceptance means that accepts an order ID input when information on the input order ID is registered in the database, and carving control means that performs seal carving of a stamp based on seal image data associated with the order ID.

Various embodiments of the present invention would provide shape-customized, value-bearing item labels, such as, for example, shape-customized, postage-indicia-bearing labels and would further provide systems and methods for creating and providing shape-customized, value-bearing item labels, such as, for example, shape-customized, image-customized, postage-indicia-bearing labels. Various embodiments of the present invention would provide shape-customized labels adapted for receiving value-bearing item indicia, such as, for example, postage indicia and would provide systems and methods for creating and providing shape-customized labels, such as, for example, shape-customized, image-customized labels, adapted for receiving value-bearing item indicia, such as, for example, postage indicia.

A method and apparatus for generating a Value Bearing Indicium (VBI) for on-line ticketing applications. A VBI may be generated by hashing user information to create a message digest that is used to create a digital signature. The digital signature is combined with the user information to create a VBI that can be validated by a variety of stand-alone or on-line methods. An on-line ticketing application using the VBI is described.

In an embodiment, an apparatus comprises one or more processors and one or more memories communicatively coupled to the one or more processors and storing instructions which, when processed by the one or more processors, cause: evaluating historical mail fulfillment data for a plurality of physical mail items delivered to a plurality of recipients; dynamically assigning mail bins for the plurality of recipients based, at least in part, on the historical mail fulfillment data for the plurality of recipients; and distributing mail into the dynamically assigned mail bins for the plurality of recipients using the mail distribution mechanism.

The present invention is directed to systems and methods which identify fraudulent situations during the transaction phase. In one embodiment, such detection is accomplished by monitoring for situations either outside the range of normal for the general population or outside the range of normal for this particular user. The normal range could be rule driven and, for example, could include size of a given purchase, frequency of purchases, identity the equipment being utilized for the current transaction, etc. The rule could be relaxed or tightened, at least in part, based on the length of time that the user has been a customer and the user's past payment history. In one embodiment, device ids are used to detect fraudulent users. These device (or software) ids could, for example, be a fingerprint of the user's equipment, or a cookie previously downloaded to the user that identifies the user to the fulfillment system. In situations where fraud is detected downloading the value to the user is interrupted.

A method and apparatus for generating a Value Bearing Indicium (VBI) for on-line ticketing applications. A VBI may be generated by hashing user information to create a message digest that is used to create a digital signature. The digital signature is combined with the user information to create a VBI that can be validated by a variety of stand-alone or on-line methods. An on-line ticketing application using the VBI is described.

A mail delivery assistance system comprises a letterbox for receiving mail consignments that has an opening and an electronic locking mechanism, a data processing device that comprises a database having an address file in which a respective addressee is associated with a building address, and a reader for capturing mail consignment data of a mail consignment. The reader, during operation, is communicatively connected to the data processing device in order to send the mail consignment data to the data processing device. The data processing device checks whether the mail consignment data match an addressee in the address file, and, if this is the case, generates a control signal for the locking mechanism in order to open the opening and to allow delivery of the mail consignment.