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.

A method for franking mail items fed to a franking machine. The mail items are drawn from the underside of a stack for separation or are fed individually on a conveying section upstream of the franking machine to a printing unit for franking, after franking, are discharged in the opposite direction from the printing unit. The mail items are fed via a diverter section to the conveying section, after franking, are conveyed via the diverter section which is switched over to change the conveying direction into a depositing apparatus below the diverter section. The mail items are guided in the opening region of the franking machine into the printing position and are returned out of the printing position. The printing position of a mail item fed to the printing unit is determined by a print head movement-controlled from a readiness position pursuant to the format length of the mail item.

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.

Assemblies, systems, and methods for applying postage indicia to one or more sequential mailpiece on a high speed mail sorter are disclosed. In some aspects, a system for franking one or more sequential mailpiece using a postal security device (PSD) hub assembly on a high speed mail sorter includes a plurality of PSDs configured to generate a coded digital signature for the one or more sequential mailpiece during a latency period, a plurality of photo sensors configured to define the latency period, a PSD host configured to receive the generated coded digital signature, wherein the generated coded digital signature is encoded in a data matrix, and an indicia printer configured to receive printer control data and to print the printer control data on the one or more sequential mailpiece in an order in which the plurality of PSDs are tasked during the latency period.

A computer-implemented system includes a printing apparatus and a processor. The printing apparatus is configured for printing a ballot and an envelope associated with the ballot and a voter. The processor is configured to access a request file defining voter data from a voter registration database and generate a set of print instructions including ballot print instructions for a ballot and envelope print instructions for an envelope. Both of the ballot print instructions and the envelope print instructions are generated using the request file, and the set of print instructions includes instructions for printing a first machine-readable identifier for the envelope. The processor is further configured to transmit an instruction to the printing apparatus to print the ballot and the envelope using at least a portion of the voter data defined by the request file, the envelope including the first machine-readable identifier corresponding to the voter.

A computer-implemented system for printing ballots, ballot envelopes, and associated elections documents is disclosed.

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.

Aspects of the technology described herein provide a pre-printed postage. As an initial step, the pre-printed postage is printed on a media, such as an envelope or sticker. Each instance of pre-printed postage comprises a unique identifier encoded in a machine-readable format. Postage is paid for through a payment process. In order to pay for an individual instance of pre-printed postage, the unique identifier encoded in the pre-printed postage needs to be provided to the payment application. At the end of the payment process, a central database is updated to associate the unique identifier with a postal value calculated during payment. When the Postal Service receives an item with pre-printed postage it validates the pre-printed postage and then indicates usage of the pre-printed postage by updating the central database.

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.

A method for franking mail items fed to a franking machine. The mail items are drawn from the underside of a stack for separation or are fed individually on a conveying section upstream of the franking machine to a printing unit for franking, after franking, are discharged in the opposite direction from the printing unit. The mail items are fed via a diverter section to the conveying section, after franking, are conveyed via the diverter section which is switched over to change the conveying direction into a depositing apparatus below the diverter section. The mail items are guided in the opening region of the franking machine into the printing position and are returned out of the printing position. The printing position of a mail item fed to the printing unit is determined by a print head movement-controlled from a readiness position pursuant to the format length of the mail item.