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.

Systems, methods, and media for the delivery of physical items using a digital stamp. Various implementations include operations such as receiving a request from a user to deliver an item to a destination using a digital stamp, wherein the item includes destination information and lacks any physical indicator that the delivery fee for the item has been paid or will be paid; receiving a destination address from the user; determining a delivery fee for the item; and generating a digital stamp using the destination address, the delivery fee, and user account information for the user. The operations may also include obtaining an image of the item including the destination information; determining, from the image, that the item lacks any physical indicator regarding the delivery fee; checking for a digital stamp corresponding to the item; and directing the item for delivery to the destination information, if the digital stamp is found.

Systems and methods which operate to reserve an amount of value associated with a value bearing indicia (VBI) request or requests are shown. Embodiments facilitate completion of a multiple VBI session without failing due to insufficient value balance once the session has begun. Additionally or alternatively, embodiments facilitate later or subsequent (e.g., scheduled) completion of a VBI session, whether a session for a single VBI or multiple VBI, without failing due to insufficient value balance. Value reservations may be made automatically and/or manually. Embodiments provide various reservation priority levels, such as to individual users, user groups, user systems, sessions, types of sessions, jobs, etc., in order to facilitate completion of various desired operations without failure due to insufficient value. Value reservation techniques according to embodiments do not introduce additional transactions into a normal VBI session flow.

The present disclosure provides methods and systems for the collection and delivery of physical items. Implementations consistent with the present disclosure provide a method including receiving, by a user interface device, a request from a user to deliver an item to a destination using a digital stamp, wherein the item includes destination information. The method also includes receiving, by the user interface device, a destination address from the user. The method also includes providing, by the user interface device, the delivery fee for the item. The method also includes generating the digital stamp using the destination address received from the user, the delivery fee for the item, and user account information. The method also includes collecting the item, wherein the item lacks any physical indicia that the delivery fee for the item has been paid or will be paid.

Systems, methods, interface devices, and media for the delivery of physical items using a digital stamp. Various implementations include operations such as receiving a request from a user to deliver an item to a destination using a digital stamp, wherein the item includes destination information and lacks any physical indicator that the delivery fee for the item has been paid or will be paid; receiving a destination address from the user; presenting a delivery fee for the item; and causing the generation of a digital stamp using the destination address and the delivery fee, which may be correlated with the item.

Systems, methods, and media for the delivery of physical items using a digital stamp. Various implementations include operations such as receiving a request from a user to deliver an item to a destination using a digital stamp, wherein the item includes destination information and lacks any physical indicator that the delivery fee for the item has been paid or will be paid; receiving a destination address from the user; determining a delivery fee for the item; and generating a digital stamp using the destination address, the delivery fee, and user account information for the user. The operations may also include obtaining an image of the item including the destination information; determining, from the image, that the item lacks any physical indicator regarding the delivery fee; checking for a digital stamp corresponding to the item; and directing the item for delivery to the destination information, if the digital stamp is found.

Systems and methods which provide for activation of postage indicia at a point of sale are shown. In operation according to embodiments, unassigned (e.g., not yet activated or not yet representing postage value) tokens (e.g., IBI barcodes) suitable for later use as postage indicia are distributed to various point of sale locations, such as retail locations, consumer kiosks, vending machines, etc. and made available for purchase by users. Upon purchase, at a point of sale, such unassigned tokens are preferably activated as valid or “live” postage indicia. Thereafter, the postage indicia may be used to post mail items.

A postage evidencing system for tracking postage amounts for multiple users comprising at least two register set partitions is disclosed. Each of the partitions includes an ascending register holding a number representing a value of postage that can be evidenced by the device, a descending register holding a number representing a value of postage that has been previously evidenced by the device, and an identification representing a source of mail pieces that are evidenced with postage from the partition. A security module limits access to the partitions and registers. The identifier for a selected partition is printed on mail pieces as part of an Information Based Indicia (IBI) to identify the source of the mail pieces.

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.