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.

The invention relates to a method for marking a consignment unit in a logistics process. The invention furthermore relates to a system for marking a consignment unit in a logistics process. The method according to the invention for marking a consignment unit in a logistics process contains the steps of initially creating a first image of the surface of a consignment unit in order to then link this image to an identification number and store the image and the identification number on a data processing unit.

Systems, methods, and articles of manufacture for protecting personal data in digital and physical worlds in which the personal data of a networked computing system is used for physical world communications. Preauthorized permissions or rules of a computing system specify how personal data of a first user, as a user that will receive a mailer, can be used by a different, second user to communicate with the first user in the physical world by sending the first user a mailer. The mailer may be a greeting card is generated and includes personal data (such as recipient name and address) to be sent to the receiving user, but the sender is not provided with the receiving user's personal data such that the sending user may not know the receiving user's address or even the receiving user's real name.

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.

Computerized apparatus and methods useful for causing provision of location-based services to users via a user portable wireless computerized device or other device. In one embodiment, the user device establishes a secure communication session with a network server (e.g., proxy process for a service coordinator or provider) to provide user-specific location-based services such as a time-limited rental of a tangible object or space. In one variant, dynamic generation of a response to the user included providing image data relating to provision of the user-specific location-based service, the image data enabling the user to authenticate at least one aspect of the provision of the user-specific location-based service by the third party service provider.

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.

Computerized apparatus useful within vehicles for causing provision of location-based services to users via a portable wireless computerized device. In one embodiment, the vehicle comprises a global positioning system (GPS) based receiver capable of providing location data to the computerized apparatus.

This disclosure relates to a good processing apparatus with a first communication module. The first communication module is connected to a controller. The good processing apparatus is designed to accommodate at least one second communication module. The controller is designed to determine whether the second communication module is ready for operation.

A system for printing an imprint on a flat material includes a cartridge holding a consumable (e.g. ink) and at least one material processing device (MPD) (e.g. franking machine) having a printer and a data processor connected to the printer to control use of the cartridge to produce the imprint. The MPD is configured to detect insertion of the cartridge into the printer and generate current consumption information representing the use of the cartridge by the printer since insertion. The cartridge can include a first non-volatile memory that (unchangeably) stores a unique cartridge identification of the cartridge. The data processor is configured to: cause, based on a predeterminable usage-relevant event occurring, a current use-information, generated based on the current consumption information logically linked to the cartridge identification, to be stored in a second memory, and write to an irreversibly writable memory area of the first memory when the event occurs.

A goods processing apparatus includes a controller including a program memory, a security module, a first communication interface that is configured to, in cooperation with the security module, securely communicate with a remote server, and an acoustic output device electrically connected with the controller and configured to output audio files or sound files. The security module and the first communication interface can be electrically connected with the controller. The program memory may store a program to control the acoustic output via the acoustic output device. The program can facilitate external commands being transmitted from the remote server, or from one or more other internet sources, to the controller. Via security measures, operational security of the goods processing apparatus is prevented from being negatively affected, or harmful code is prevented from being transmitted to controller.