Methods and systems consistent with the present invention provide a barcode image. A client is operable to create a request for a barcode image and send the request to a server. The request comprises data to be converted to a barcode. The server is operable to receive the request from the client via a network, generate a barcode image from the data, and encode the barcode image. Thereafter, the server provides the encoded image to the client.

Aspects of the technology described herein provide an activatable postage. As an initial step, the activatable postage is printed on a media, such as an envelope or sticker. Initially, the activatable postage has no postage value and will not have any value until activated. Each instance of activatable postage comprises a unique identifier encoded in a machine-readable format. Postage value is added to the activatable postage through an activation process. In order to activate an individual instance of activatable postage, the unique identifier encoded in the activatable postage needs to be provided to the activation application. At the end of the activation process, a central database is updated to associate the unique identifier with a postal value calculated during activation. When the Postal Service receives an item with activatable postage it validates the activatable postage and then deactivates the activatable postage by updating the central database.

A method includes distributing a number of printer devices across a computer network with corresponding logistical nodes associated therewith, and, through a server, dynamically extracting, from a number of digital pre-print mail files related to physical mailing items, metadata related thereto and mailing constraints based on scanning the number of digital pre-print mail files, and classifying the number of digital pre-print mail files into groups based on an extent to which the dynamically extracted metadata is shared between constituents thereof. The method also includes, through the server, matching each classified group to a logistical node based on the dynamically extracted metadata shared between the constituents thereof and dynamically tracked printer characteristics, and commingling the extracted metadata within the each classified group into a master document in which the extracted metadata is laid out to enable printing thereof through a printer device associated with the matched logistical node.

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.

Aspects of the technology described herein provide an activatable postage. As an initial step, the activatable postage is printed on a media, such as an envelope or sticker. Initially, the activatable postage has no postage value and will not have any value until activated. Each instance of activatable postage comprises a unique identifier encoded in a machine-readable format. Postage value is added to the activatable postage through an activation process. In order to activate an individual instance of activatable postage, the unique identifier encoded in the activatable postage needs to be provided to the activation application. At the end of the activation process, a central database is updated to associate the unique identifier with a postal value calculated during activation. When the Postal Service receives an item with activatable postage it validates the activatable postage and then deactivates the activatable postage by updating the central database.

Systems described herein for controlling, requesting, and coordinating the creation and generation of labels can be a label broker, providing a centralized location for storing label information created by various entities, and managing the requests for generation of physical labels coming from various sources and entities.

In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the stamp issuing method using a stamp card comprises these steps: offer a sales procedure by stamp card type and issue stamp cards through the procedure; receive purchase request signals from a user terminal, offer a procedure to select mail options and decide a payment method according to the information and service type chosen by the user through the procedure; offer a payment procedure depending on whether pre-payment or post-payment or a procedure to print a postal registration certificate; and offer a procedure to issue a stamp or print out an FDC after the postage is payed through the procedure.

Systems described herein for controlling, requesting, and coordinating the creation and generation of labels can be a label broker, providing a centralized location for storing label information created by various entities, and managing the requests for generation of physical labels coming from various sources and entities.

Mailpiece manufacturing, distribution and communication system comprising at least one production center, a production software/server for generating and sending production orders to at least one processing equipment over a network for printing documents and assembling the printed documents in a mailpiece, a distribution center for delivering the mailpiece to a customer and a domain server for interactive customer communication, the mailpiece comprising a single barcode containing a web page link for accessing the domain server and comprising processing equipment control codes or a mailpiece identifier for controlling the at least one processing equipment and for interactive customer communication.

A computer-implemented method for obfuscating sensitive information associated with mail delivery is disclosed. The computer-implemented method includes identifying that a piece of mail directed towards a potential recipient includes a particular type of sensitive information. The computer-implemented method further includes selecting a mail obfuscation policy for the particular type of sensitive information based on the particular type of sensitive information. The computer-implemented method further includes performing an obfuscation action with respect to the particular type of sensitive information based on the selected mail obfuscation policy.