In a franking system and method for franking of individual items of correspondence by a sender, a weighing device determines the weight of an item of correspondence and determines a postage amount associated with the item of correspondence. A printing device prints a value imprint corresponding to the postage amount and prints a code associated with the item of correspondence that represents a unique identity number onto the item of correspondence. A control computer creates a data set associated with the item of correspondence. A memory is associated with the control computer, in which the data set is stored in a file associated with the sender. The data set includes the identity number of the item of correspondence and the postage amount that is to be debited on the part of the delivery service from the sender using the data set. A registration unit is associated with the control computer, which registers the possibility of the presence of a misprint and, given the presence of a possible misprint, writes to a first data field of the data set with information about the presence of the possible misprint.

The technology described herein provides a handwritten postage that comprises handwriting on a postal item that forms a unique identifier for the postal item (e.g., envelope, postcard, sticker) when analyzed by a computer vision application. The unique identifier is computer derived from the handwritten postage and allows one instance of handwritten postage to be differentiated from all other instances of handwritten postage. The unique identifier may be derived from an image of an envelope that includes an instance of handwritten postage when the handwritten postage is activated. The unique identifier may be formed from a combination of handwriting content (e.g., to and from address), metadata (e.g., date activated), pre-printed content on the postal item (e.g., fiducial marks), post-printed content (e.g., to or from address) and the visual image created by all or a portion of the handwriting. Postage value is added to the handwritten postage through an activation process.

Methods, computer systems, and memory media for preparing instructions for printing a plurality of postage items. A graphical user interface (GUI) receives first user input. Responsive to the user input, an addressee data file is uploaded, features are extracted from a plurality of columns of the addressee data file, and the plurality of columns are associated with respective address field types based on the extracted features. The GUI displays an indication of the association between columns and address field types. User input may modify or correct the association. Responsive to second user input, instructions are prepared for printing entries from the columns of the addressee data file on respective postage items of the plurality of postage items as respective address fields, and the instructions are stored in a non-transitory computer-readable memory medium.

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.

Systems and methods are provided for address verification support. One embodiment includes a print server. The print server includes an interface that receives a print job comprising multiple mail pieces which each include an address of record from a client, and a controller that processes the print job according to a first workflow of the print server accessible by a first set of operators, detects address anomalies within the mail pieces by accessing an address verification system of a delivery entity, generates a second workflow that is for handling a mail piece having an address anomaly and is accessible only by a second set of operators distinct from the first set of operators, and confirms that the address of record for the mail piece in the second workflow has been updated based on input from the second set of operators.

A system of producing files containing information about printed mailpieces comprising a plurality of folder inserters (22, 24, 26) each having a reading device for extracting at least a job ID and a mailpiece ID, the system comprising at least: a processing node (32, 34, 36) adapted to check the job ID and mailpiece ID from the printed mailpiece and to check out a relevant job against locally held rules; a storage node (38) connected to the processing node and adapted to store the job ID and mailpiece ID sent by the processing node; and an interface node (40) connected to the storage node and adapted to import and export the files.

A method includes distributing a number of printer devices across a computer network with corresponding logistical nodes, and, through a server, dynamically extracting, from a number of digital pre-print files, metadata related to documents and pre-conditions based on scanning thereof, and classifying the number of digital pre-print 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 and dynamically tracked printer characteristics, commingling the extracted metadata within the each classified group into a master document in which the extracted metadata is laid out to enable printing through a printer device associated with the matched logistical node, and reclassifying a constituent of the classified group under another group based on a status of unsuitability of the printer device.

Mail processing systems and methods. A method includes receiving a plurality of mailpieces in the mail processing system and associating a unique identifier with each of the plurality of mailpieces. The method includes obtaining destination address information for each of the plurality of mailpieces and comparing the destination address information with a potential move table to determine destination addresses for which there is a potential change of address. The method includes sending the destination address information to a change of address (COA) server and receiving COA results from the COA server. The method includes printing destination information on each mailpiece according to the COA results.

A method for processing change-of-address (COA) forms. The method includes capturing a first image of a first COA form. The method includes assigning a unique identifier to the first COA form and associating the unique identifier with the first image data. The method includes transmitting the first image data and the unique identifier to a cloud computing system. The cloud computing system performs an optical-character-recognition process on the first image data to produce name and address data including both an old address and a new address, validates the name and address data, and stores the name and address data in a change of address database.

A method is disclosed which is performed by at least one first apparatus. In the method, information indicative of at least one characteristic of a franking is obtained. It is determined whether or not the franking is a counterfeit franking and/or a reused franking based on the obtained information or based on the obtained information and based on reference information indicative of at least one characteristic of a franking. The at least one characteristic includes at least one of a physical characteristic of the franking, a visual characteristic of an image provided on the franking, and/or a characteristic based on at least one material of the franking.