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.

For protecting confidential information in a printed document, the invention provides a system and method for, on one hand, encrypting the confidential content of the document and then printing the part or parts of the document with confidential information in an encrypted form and the rest of the document in a non-encrypted form, and, on the other hand, decrypting the encrypted document content for display and use or for printing. In addition, for preventing unauthorized copying and tampering of a printed document, the invention provides a system and method for managing a unique tag, which is attached to the document and which authenticates the document.

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.

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.

Methods, systems and devices for item processing. The systems can include a PASS module that can include features that receive inputs relating to an item for processing and provide those inputs to other components and/or modules of a PASS system and/or of another system. The PASS system can include a variety of modules, including the PASS module, and can collect information and/or inputs from the variety of modules of the PASS system and use that information in item processing. The methods of item processing can use the PASS system and the PASS module to perform a variety of functions including, for example, revenue protection, sorting of items, task management, sampling and data collection, redirecting if enroute items, and personnel management.

Methods, systems and devices for item processing. The systems can include a PASS module that can include features that receive inputs relating to an item for processing and provide those inputs to other components and/or modules of a PASS system and/or of another system. The PASS system can include a variety of modules, including the PASS module, and can collect information and/or inputs from the variety of modules of the PASS system and use that information in item processing. The methods of item processing can use the PASS system and the PASS module to perform a variety of functions including, for example, revenue protection, sorting of items, task management, sampling and data collection, redirecting if enroute items, and personnel management.

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.

An identifier is received with a portion of a postal address. That portion is compared against multiple additional postal addresses associated with the identifier. If a match is detected, a confirmation is transmitted to a requestor who originally sent the identifier and the portion of the postal address.

A method for uniquely identifying mailpieces having non-personalized enclosures during an inserting and printing process in a mailpieces production system, the method including: creating a Job file containing at least a mailing list of addresses to be printed on mailpieces, allocating a distinct mailpiece identifier for a mailpiece, allocating a temporary machine identifier to a non-personalized enclosure extracted from an insert feeder of the mailpiece production system, associating said temporary machine identifier with said distinct mailpiece identifier and recording the mailpiece identifier as being in process, creating the mailpiece by inserting at least the non-personalized enclosure into an envelope, printing on the envelope an address associated with the mailpiece identifier, and recording the mailpiece identifier as being inserted.