GB2188868A - Verification of postage in batch mailing - Google Patents

Description

1 GB 2 188 868 A 1

SPECIFICATION

Verification of postage in batch mailing 1 The present invention relates i nter alia to documents for verifying postage, to postal batches having verification data, to methods of preparing the documents and to mail pieces having verification data.

Subject matter related to the subject matter 75 contained in the present application may be found in UK Patent Application No. 8609030 in the name of Pitney Bowes Inc and filed April 14th, 1986.

Certain organizations periodically dispatch large amounts of mail. Examples of such organizations are: banking institutions, utility companies.

insurance companies, credit companies, and the like.

In orderto handle such large quantities of mail,these mailers normally pre-package and pre-sorttheir mail and are given a lower postage rate bythe postal service cause of the time saved bythe postal service.

There are generaHytwo ways in which such mail senders apply postageto their mail. The most common way is by use of a postage meterwhich is leased by the mailer from a postage meter manufacturer with which the amount of postage required is applied to each mail piece. Inserter systems have been developed whereby inserts may be placed into an envelope and the envelope may be sealed, addressed and have a postage indicia applied thereto. The mail pieces may beweighed on thefly or individual weighing may not be required if all the mail pieces are of like kind, i.e. only a sample mail piece need beweighed. These acts of processing mail may be performed at a relatively high rate of speed.

Asecond method of mailing large quantities of mail pieces isto employ a permit mail system. In such a system,the mailer places a permit number on the mail pieces and prepares a manifest listing that shows thetype and number of mail pieces being mailed on each occasion and the postage required.

With both such systems, inspection atthe site of the mail sender is usually required. In the case of the postage meter, the lessor of the postage meter, i.e., the postage meter manufacturer, is required by law to inspectthe postage meter at least twice a yearto assure thatthere is no evidence of tampering with the postage meterthatwill indicate an attemptto obtain unauthorized postage. In the case of permit mail, large quantities of the sametype of mail are mailed atthe same time and the postal service conducts an inspection to verifythatthe manifest listing accompanying the permit mail accurately accountsforthe amount of postage dueforthe mail that has been processed bythe postal service. This is accomplished by an inspection on the part of the postal service, by examining the records of the mail user on every occasion.

Obviously, each of these two systems has certain drawbacks. In the case of on-site inspection of postage meters, dueto the large number of postage meters in use by large mail senders, inspection thereof is an expensive matter. Furthermore, postage meters that process large quantities of mail must be replaced relatively frequently because of wear. With regard to the permit mail system, a shortcoming lies in the need of the postal serviceto send a representative frequentlyto thevarious mailer locationsto assure thatthe sender is accurately accounting forthe quantity of mail being sent. Such a scheme is nottotally reliable since it relies upon on-site verification using the mailers records which are notsecure.

Brieflystated, the present invention is directed inter alia to the provision of a system wherein a mailer is able to send large quantities or batches of mail withoutthe need of on-site inspections. This is accomplished bythe mailer having a secure accounting unit similarto a postage meter in which postagevalue is placed by a dispensing orcentral station. Astatement sheet, called a passport, accompanies each batch of mail, which statement contains information relativeto the mail and the amount of postage required. Communication between the central station and the mail sender allows postage value to be transferred to the user by the central station and mailing and verification data to be sentto the central station from the mailer. The mailing and verification data can bethe same asthat contained on the mailing statementsthat accompanythe batches of mail. This system provides a central station for a large number of mail senders whereby the postal service is relieved of its obligation of having on-site inspections and the central station acts as a clearning house forthe postal service through whom verification of postage can be conveniently and inexpensively achieved.

Another aspect of the present invention is that a unique serial number may be provided to the userto be stored in permanent memory to.identifythe user's accounting unit.

Afurther aspect of this invention is thatthe security features of a postage meter may be provided while allowing a high speed, relatively inexpensive printerto be used for printing the mail pieces.

Astill further aspect of the invention isthe provision of documentation forfacilitating the inspection of presorted or other batch processed mail while enhancing the security of funds for such mailing, as well the as provision of mail pieces so marked in accordance with the invention that correspondence between the documentation and mail pieces is readily established,to ensurethe accurate and proper accounting of funds.

Still another aspect of this invention isthe provision of a unique number printed of each mail piece of a plurality of mail pieces.

This invention is directed according to afurther aspectto the provision of a document for verifying the accounting of postage of a batch of mail and adapted to accompanythe batch of mail, comprising a substrate having first, second and third discrete portions, whereby said document may be folded to separately display said first, second and third portions. The first portion has imprinted thereon, identification of the mailer of the batch of mail,the number of pieces of mail in the batch, and the extent of authorization of the mailer to account for postage 2 GB 2 188 868 A 2 both priorto and after mailing of said batch of mail, postal indicia displaying the total amount of postage accounted for bythe mailer of the batch of mail, and a unique verification numberverifying the authenticity of the document as applied to said batch of mail. The second portion having imprinted thereon a summary of the pieces of mail in the batch showing the numbers of pieces of mail and amount accounted therefor of each rate class and weight class of presorted mail represented in the batch of mail, and also including the total amount accounted for bythe mailer in the mailing of the batch. Thethird portion having imprinted thereon a certification of signature bythe mailer of the correctness of the material imprinted on the document as well as a certification for signature by a postal inspector of the correctness of the document. The first, second and third portions are arranged on the document in sequence in that orderto facilitate the inspection of the batch of mail.

In accordance with a furtheraspectof the invention, a mail piece comprises a substrate and verification information imprinted thereon by a printer underthe control of a secure accounting system. Theverification information comprises information corresponding to the amountof postage said accounting system was authorized to dispense atthe time said information was imprinted on said substrate.

In accordance with a still further aspect, a postal batch includes a plurality of mail pieces each comprising a substrate and information imprinted thereon. The information comprises verification information comprised of a plurality of data items each corresponding to separate numbers of a sequence of numbers. Each substrate has a different one of said data items imprinted thereon, the numbers of said sequence of numbers differing from adjacent numbersthereof by an amount corresponding tothe postage required forthe 105 mailing of the respective mail pieces.

According to another aspect, the invention also provides the method of imprinting a plurality of mail pieces by a batch postage marking system having a printer and a rechargeable accounting register, 110 comprising imprinting on said mail pieces data corresponding to the contents of said register atthe time of said imprinting, wherebythe mail pieces provide an indication of the extent of authorization of said system to dispense postage.

A document for verifying the payment of postage for a batch of mail in accordance with anotheraspect of the invention comprises a substrate, a postage value printed on said substrate and representative of the value of postage required to mail the batch of mail, data printed on said substrate and representative of the device that printed data on the document; and data printed on said substrate and representing the number of mail pieces included in said batch of mail.

From another aspect, the invention provides a documentfor verifying the payment of postagefor a batch of maiLthe document comprising a substrate, a postagevalue printed on said substrate and representative of the value of postage required to mail the batch of mail, data printed on said substrate and representative of the device that printed data on the document; and data printed on said substrate and representing the number of mail pieces included in said batch of mail, said document including encrypted data thereon.

In a still further aspectthe docu mentfor verifying the payment of postage for a batch of mail may be produced by a device for printing data and including a register storing postage balances. The document comprises a substrate, a printed indicia postage value printed on said substrate and representative of a decremented register balance equal to the value of postage required to mail the batch of mail, data printed on said substrate and representative of the - device that printed data on the document; and data printed on said substrate and representing the numberof mail pieces included in said batch of mail.

A method of preparing a document in accordance with another aspect of the invention to verify payment of postage on a batch of mail which the document is to accompany to a post office, comprises printing a postage value upon the documentwhich is representative of the value of postage required to mail the batch of mail, printing a number on the document of the devicethat printed data on the document and printing on the document number representative of the number of pieces of mail contained in the batch of mail.

The method forverifying the payment of postage fora batch of mail may comprise producing said documentwith a device for printing data and including a registerstoring postage balances printing a postagevalue on a substrate representative of a decremented register balance equal to the value of postage required to mail the batch of mail, printing data on said substrate representative of said; and printing data on said substrate representing the number of mail pieces included in said batch of mail.

The document in accordance with one embodiment of the invention for accompanying a batch of mall may havefirst data thereon corresponding to an amount of postage required for mailing the mail of said batch as well as second data identifying the sender of the batch of mail andthird data containing other information relating to said batch of mail, the documentfurther having thereon encrypted data, said encrypted data being comprised of an encryption of at least one of said first, second and third data, whereby said encrypted data verifies the authenticity of said document.

In a further embodimentthe documentfor accompanying a batch of mail has first data thereon corresponding to an amouht of postage required for mailing the mail of said batch as well as second data identifying the sender of the batch of mail and third data containing information uniquely identifying said document.

The method of preparing a documentfor accompanying a batch of mail may still further comprise assembling a batch of mail and applying firstdata to said document corresponding tothe amount of postage required to mail the batch of mail, applying second data to said document 3 GB 2 188 868 A 3 1 10 corresponding to the identity of the sender of said batch of mail, and applying third data to said document corresponding to other information related to said batch of mail, at least one of said steps of applying data comprising applying data to said document encrypted data that includes an encryption of the respective data, whereby said encryption data verifies the authenticity said document.

Still furtherthe document for verifying the payment of postage for a batch of mail may comprise a substrate, said substrate supporting first data representative of the value of postage required to mail the batch of mail, second data representative of the sender of said batch of mail, and third data representing other information related to the mailing of the mail pieces included in said batch of mail, at least one of said first, second and third data being in encrypted form.

In a stil 1 further embodiment of the invention, a mai 1 piece comprises a su bstrate and verification information imprinted thereon by a printer underthe control of a secure accounting system. The verification information comprises a line of character information including both alphanumeric and bar code characters incorporating information corresponding to the amount of postage said accounting system was authorized to dispense atthe time said information was imprinted on said substrate.

In orderthat the invention may be more clearly understood, exemplary embodiments thereof will now be disclosed in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a block diagram of a batch mailing system; Figure2 is an illustration of one form of statement that may accompany a batch of mail, in accordance with the invention; Figure 3 is is an illustration of an envelope marked 105 in accordance with one embodiment of the invention; Figures 4-6 are flow diagrams that describe the functions of the system shown in Figure 1; Figure 7is an illustration of an envelope printed in accordancewith a further embodiment of the invention; Figure Bis an illustration of a batch of mail with a statement sheet assembled thereon, in accordance with the invention; Figure 9 is an illustration of a form of statement sheet in accordance with the invention; Figure 10 is an illustration of an additional portion of a statement sheetthat may be employed in combination with that of Figure 9; Figure 11 is an illustration of a form that may be directed to the inserter of Figure 1 for controlling the inserter; Figure 12 is an illustration of a modification of a portion of the statement sheet of Figure 9;

Figure 13 is an illustration of a modification of the format of an envelope in accordance with the invention; and Figures 14and 15are illustrations of a modification of the statement of Figure 9, showing 130 the basic aspects thereof in accordance with the invention.

Referring now to Figure 1, a batch mailing system is shown generally at 10 and includes a post office 12, a central station 14 and a user location 16. The central station 14 has a processor 18. This processor 18 is a main frame type of computer orthe like having substantial capacity. Communication is provided between the post office 12 and one or more central stations 14 (only one being shown) through a line orcommunication link 19 having a communication device such as a telephone 20 therein. Associated with the processor 18 and in connection therewith is a large storage memory unit 22 where large amounts of data can be stored and a register setting device 23which includes encryption software of thetype required in the resetting of postage meters remotely. Systemsforthe resetting of meters remotely are well known, seeforexample U. S. Patent Nos. 3,792,446,4,097,923 and 4,447,890.

A remote user station 16 has a secure unit 25which will hereafter be referred to as a "server". The server 25 is preferably supplied by the operator of central station 14to the user and includes a user processor 24 which may be a processor of much smaller capacity such as an Intel 8085 processor available from Intel Corporation, Santa Ciara, California. Connected to the processor 24 are a pair of memories 26,27. Preferably the memories 26,27 are non-volatile memories. The first memory 26 serves as a descending register (DR) that is charged with postage value periodically and decremented as postage is printed. The descending register 26thus stores the postage value available to the user at any given time. The second memory 27 serves as ascending register (AR) that records the total value of postage processed by the server 25.

The user processor 24 is connected to the central station processor 18 by way of a communication link or line 28. A telephone 30 or other communicating device may be disposed within the line 28 to thereby provide selective communication between the processors 18,24. Also connected to the processor 24 are a RAM 32, a ROM 34, an encrypter 35 and a clock36whose respective functions will be described in detail hereinafter. An input/processor 38 is connected tothe user processor 24whereby data may be supplied, either manually orthrough a medium such as a disc ortape, to the user processor 24forthe purpose of providing data required in the processing of mail pieces. The input/processor38 may be any of a large number of personal computers having keyboard and display which are commercially available, such as an [BM XT personal computer.

A high speed inserter39 is in electrical communication with the server 25 and performsthe physical acts involved in processing the mail such as the inserting of inserts into envelopes, sealing the envelope flaps, orienting the mail pieces and conveying the mail pieces to a postage meter or printer. The term insert includes bills, advertising materials, notices, etc., which are of a size to be received within an envelope orthe like. High speed inserters 39 of this type are readily available 4 GB 2 188 868 A 4 commercially, as for example Inserter model No.

3100 series from Pitney BowesInc., Stamford,Ct.

Afirst printer 40 is in communication with the user processor 24 of the server 25 and with the In put/Processor 38 and is able to print upon mail pieces 42 such as envelopes containing inserts which it receivesfrom the inserter 39. This printer40 is one provided bythe user and is preferably an unsecured, high speed printerwhich may be controlled eitherthrough the processor24 or 75 through the input/processor38. Asecond printer44 is provided to print upon a statement sheet 46 or otherdocument. This second printer44 is also preferably an unsecure printer. Throughoutthe balance of the specification and claimsthe statement sheet46will be referred to as a "passport". Details of the passport46will be described hereinafter in conjunction with Figures 2 and 7.

Although only one user location 16 is shown and described, itwill be appreciated many user locations may be serviced bythe same central station 14. The central station 14 may be at the location of a postage meter manufacturer or other accountable organization.

In operation, the user atthe location 16 will generally be a sender of large quantities of mail who has been given an identification number bythe central station 14thatwill be placed in the DR 26 of the server25. This identification number is permanentand uniquefor each server25 and the user has no accessto that portion of the DR 26that storesthe identification number. Itwill be appreciated thatthisfeature may be appliedto postage meters aswell. Having the identification number in memory 26 eliminatesthe need of having a plate applied to a postage meter or a server25. It will be appreciated that a serverhas many characteristics of a postage meter, i.e., security, a descending register and the like, but certain elements are absent. The most evident absent 105 element is a printer, the advantage of which is described in the following paragraphs. Following installation of the identification number, the user communicates with the central station 14through the telephone 30 forthe purpose of indicating to the central station the amount of postagevalue itwishes to have accredited to its memory 26. An access code is then given to the userthatcan be addressed to the setting device 23 by direct computer connection or through the touch dial of thetelephone 30. Upon the receipt of the access code, the usertransmits to the central station 14the access code and his identification number and the requestfor an amount of postage value. The setting device 23 functions to charge, or increase, the postage value into the descending register 26 which is charged bythe central station 14with postagevalue periodically that is added to the amount of unused postage value stored in the AR from previous charges. As the user station 16 processes mail, the postage value in the descending registerwill be decreased in accordance with the postage required to processthe mail pieces 34. Devices for charging registers such asthe descending registers arewell known, as disclosed for example in U.S. Patent Nos. 3,792,446,4,097,923 and 4,447,890.

The balance of the server 25 includes the ROM 34 that contains information which formats address signals and stores a series of programs for controlling the functions of the server 25, a RAM 32 that holds and supplies real time data, a clock36 that provides the time and date and an encryptor 35 that stores the code required forthe descending register setting functions and for producing an encryption number on the passport. This encryption number is derived from data associated with a batch of mail processed by the user location 16. The encryptor35 can be any one of a number of encrypting devices including devices which use the Data Encryption Standards described in FIPS P4B 46, dated January 15,1977 and published bythe U.S. Departmentof Commerce, National Bureau of Standards,such as Intel Chip 8294A.

Itwill be appreciated thatthe printer 40 is a high speed, inexpensive, unsecured printer such as an ink jet printer or laser printer or any type of dot matrix printerwhich will apply the addresses of the addressee and addressorto the face of the mail pieces under command of the input/processor 38. In addition, other mailing information can be printed by the printer40 upon each mail piece 42 when under command of the processor24. This information includes a transaction number (T.A. Nolthe run of the particular batch of mail,the data and time of mailing,the class of mail and a batch number. The transaction number isthat number assigned to the userstation bythe central station everytime postage value is added to the server25 and ptored in the NVIV1 26. Thistransaction number isthe efor one or more batches of mail that are sent and remainsthe same until such time asthe descending register 26 is recharged with postage value, atwhich time a new transaction number is assigned and stored in the DR in place of the preceding transaction number. By changing thetransaction number upon each recharge, an element is provided forverifying postage. The batch number is one assigned bythe userthrough the input/processor 38whereby a given batch of mail, i.e., mail of a particulartype or character, is identified by a number assigned bythe user. In addition, a run number, which is a subsetof the batch, may be given to identified particular segments of the batch.

When a batch of mail is to be sent, the user supplies mailing and verification information through the input/processor 38 into the user processor 24 which transmits at least a portion of this information to the inserter 39. This information includes the number of mall pieces to be processed and numberof insertsto be placed in each envelope. Thetime and date may be suppliedtothe printer40 through the input/processor38 byoverridingthe clock36. This overriding is useful when future mail is being processed. The user processor24then commandsthe printer40to printthe appropriate postage,time, date, transaction numberand address on the mail pieces 42 for a particular run. This run is given a numberthat is associated with the particular mail to be sent, which number is printed on the envelopes 42 of that run. As the printer prints the GB 2 188 868 A appropriate information upon each mail piece, the number of mail pieces and amount of postage required is determined by the processor 24. At the end of the run or batch, the second printer 44 prints authorization information upon a passport46.

Referring nowto Figure 2, oneembodimentof the passport46is shown after having printedthereon thetotal postage (Post.Total) requiredto mail the batch of mail, the transaction number (T.A. No.), piece countfora batch, descending registeramount (Reg.Am.) after subtraction forthe postage, the date, the time, the class, the batch numberand the run number (optionally). Additionally, the server number, Le.,the identification numberstored inthe DR 26, user name and any desired graphics can be printed. This information on the passport 46 serves many purposes. Firstly, the ending balance of register amount acts as a physical record of the postage value remaining in the descending register of the DR 26. This amount is printed on the passport 46 on the upper right hand. The register amount is that amount in the descending register after all postal charges have been made forthe batch of mail to be sent. By placing this register amount on the passport 46 afterthe mailing of each batch, an ongoing, permanent record is maintained of the amount of postage value contained within the NVM 26. In this way, if there is a disasterwherein the server 25 is destroyed orthe memory 26 therein is erased inadvertently, the user still has means for verifying the amount of postage value remaining from that amount of postage value originally purchased and stored. The transaction number provides an authorization check as doesthe identification or server number. By changing the transaction numberwith each recharge of the server, one can readily determines if more postage accompanies a transaction numberthan is authorized. Also printed on the passport 46 will be the date and time the passport 46 is printed, the piece 105 count, i.e., the number of mail pieces mailed in the particular batch, and the class of mail. Upon the printing of the information on the passport ^the postage amountforthe batch is subtracted from postage value stored in the descending register 26.

The information printed upon the passport 46 is transmitted to the central station 14through the communication line 28 automatically following a requestfor additional postage value. This data is processed so that a record i maintained through the processor 18 that communicates with the memory 22. If there is a problem in terms of accountability, the requested postage value will not be charged to the DR. If the accounts are correct, the transfertakes place. The memory 22 includes ascending register data therein that corresponds to the ascending register 27 in the server 25, i.e., one is a duplicate of the other. As is known, an ascending register is one that accumulates charges over a long term.

Optionally, the memory 22 may have a descending register that duplicates the amounts in the descending register in the NVM on an ongoing basis.

By having the postagevalue contained within the memory 22 that correspondsto the value of the server 16, a correspondence is constantly available for assurance that there is a correspondence between the passport 46 information and the amount of postage paid by the user. More specifically, the total amount credited to the user station is stored in the memory 22 and if the amount in the ascending register of that memory exceeds thattotal amount credited to the user, the user location 16 is notified thatthere are insufficient funds. When a batch of mail is sent to a post office for processing, the passport 46 forthat particular batch accompanies the mail. The postal employee can determine whether it is anauthorized transmission of mail from the information contained upon the accompanying passport 46. If there is any question on the part of the postal service as to whetherthe information is authentic, it contacts the central station 14 and through the line 19 obtains the information from the central station to verifythe information contained on the passport 46. If this information is accurate, then the postal service knows thatthe mail is authorized, i.e., the postagefor the mail has been paid. On the other hand, if there is any discrepancy, the postal service is able to actto ferret anyf raud or correct any discrepancy. As is the usual practice in the user of postage meters, a user station 16 sends all its mail to an assigned post office.

Referring nowto Figure 3, an envelope 42 is shown as itwould be prepared in accordance with one embodiment of the present system 10. The upper left hand corner contains the address of the mail sender and the upper right hand corner contains a pre-print block43 containing the class of mail and gives the identification number or server number of the mail sender. This information may be preprinted on the envelopes 42 priorto processing of a batch. Such preprinting may be accomplished through direct communication of the input/processor 38with the printer 44 without any participation of the other components of the user location 16.

In the processing of batch mail, the three address lines are first printed in the address field with the name of the recipient, the street address and the city, state, zip code. The fourth line, or postage line, is then printed using information supplied bythe processor. This postage line, includes the postage amount$.22, the date, October 18,1985 and the transaction number, which in this case is C2,12743T56. Other information may be given on this postage line is so desired including the time the mail is processed. Although the postage line is shown in alphanumerics itwill be appreciated thatthe same may be printed in bar code and, optionally, bar code address information may be printed on the envelope as desired. Additionally, the information in the pre-print block 43 may be printed in the addressfield with the other information therein and the pre-print block may be eliminated.

Although an envelope 42 shown has the postage and address information printed on the face thereof the same scheme applies to a windowed envelope as shown in Figure 7. In a windowed envelope, it may be preprinted as previously described but instead of the printer 40 printing on the face of the envelope 42, an insert is printed with the same information shown 6 GB 2 188 868 A 6 on the face of the envelope 42 and inserted so as to beviewed from the window. Alternatively, the postage and address information may be printed upon a label and the label may be attached tothe envelope 42.

In this way a method is provided for allowing an organization to send large amou nts of mail without having to use a postage meterto print postage indicia on every piece of mail. In addition, the postal service is saved the problem of requiring on-site inspections atthe user station 16 in orderto verify that no unauthorized mail is being sent. By correlating the amount of postage, thetransaction number, piece count, registration amount and the like, verification can be made withoutthe need of encryption if desired. The central station 14 acts more or less as a bank representing the postal service and handles the funds on its behalf as well as maintains records forverification. The funds or postage value charged to the server 25 may be either pre-paid or charged to the user by the central station 14 on a credit arrangement. The central station 14 may be accountable to the postal service forthe postage value placed in the server on a immediate basis. The central station may be a postage meter or server 25 manufacturer or any other reliable entity.

Another advantage of this system is thatthe printer 40 that printsthe large numbers of mail pieces is not part of a secure number, i.e., the server 25, as in the case of a postage meter. Because of this, the printer may be replaced frequently without the expense or inconvenience of entire replacement. It will be appreciated that one printer may be used in place of the two printers 40,44 shown and described, butthe preferred embodiment contemplates the use of two printers forthe reasons given.

Figures 4-6 are flow diagrams showing preferred operation methods forthe arrangement of the invention, as illustrated in Figure 1. Thus, Figure 1 illustrates briefly a background program for processor 24, Figure 5 illustrates a program forthe processor 24forthe determination of the postage to be accounted for and the printing of the mail pieces, and Figure 6 illustrates a program forthe processor 24forthe development of data for, and the printing of, the passport.

Figure 7 is an illustration of a windowed envelope 99 printed by an apparatus such as disclosed with respectto Figu re 1, for presorted mail. Any desired desig n 100 may be preprinted on the envelope or printed by a printer to evidence postage has been paid. The mail ing or destination address may be printed on afacing insert forthe windowed envelope 99m bevisible inthewindow 101, orit maybe printed on a non-windowtype of envelope, as 120 previously described. In this embodimentthe printer also prints the verification line 102 on the envelope 99. The verification line 102 includes the postal rate 103,the class of mail 104, the date of mailing 105,the passport serial number 106 and a registervalue 107. The registervalue 107 may bethe descending registervalue in DR 26, ora value or series of alphanumeric character orcode characters derived therefrom. The registervalue 107 thus is a number (or series of alphanumeric characters or other data) that enables the reconstruction of the descending register of the server 25 at the time that the envelope was printed. It is to be especially noted that the register value 107, as well as some oral I of the remainder or the verification I ine, maybe presented in bar code format, and that regardless of the format employed therefor, some or a] I of the information maybe encrypted. This feature, in accordance with the invention, enables reconstruction of the actual contents of the server register in the event of destruction thereof before a record has been made or before accounting in the server 25 atthe central station 14. Thus, in accordance with the invention, the proof of the number 107 may permit recovery of funds bythe operator of the server 25, in the event of massive failure of the device.

While reference has been made to the use of a descending register in the server 25, it is apparent thatthe same function may be effected by an ascending register, and that hence the number 107 may correspond to any changing number stored in the server 25 representing the instantaneous value of funds forwhich the server 25 is authorized to enable the processing of mail. It is a most desirable feature, however, thatthe numbers or other characters followa recognizable sequence, following their physical positioning inthe batch, in orderthatany given pieceof mail maybe readily retrieved, for example for postal inspection functions.

Ascliscussed above,the "passport" constitutesa record adaptedto accompanya batch of mail,for inspection bythe postoffice priorto actual mailing. Such an assemblage is illustrated in Figure 8, wherein processed envelopes 150 may be assembled in a stack or other convenient forms, with the passport46, being assembled at a visible location on the stack.

In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, an improved embodiment of a passport 151 for assemblage with the batch of mail is illustrated i n Figure 9. This passport comprises a sheet of paper or other su bstrate having an upper section 200, a central section 300 and a lower section 400. The passport may be formed on a conventional 8 1/2 X 11 sheet of paper, with the portions being su bstantially equal to enable the passport to be folded along fold lines 201,301 to permitthefolded documentto be readily placed upon thetop of the stackof pieces 150 of a batch of mail processed by the printer40. Thethree sections 200,300 and 400 of the passport 151 are arranged in a manner in orderto facilitatetheir review by a postal inspector.

Thus, the upper section 200 includes an indicia area 202 within which the equivalent value of mail accounted for in the accompanying batch is printed. The indicia area may thus conveniently be in the form of a conventional pictorial postal city, state and date indicia, showing a value corresponding to the total postage value forthe mail in the given batch as well as the city, state and date appropriate forthe mailing transaction.

The portion 200 of the passport, which is intended to be folded to be visible when assembled on top of the stack 150jurther includes the permit number 203 7 GB 2 188 868 A 7 of the user of the device 16, as assigned by the post office, as well as the address information 204 of the user. In addition, this portion of the passport may include an identification 205 of the class of the user (for example, non-profit, in the illustrated document) to provide a postal inspectorwith initially available information concerning the user.

The portion 200 still further includes an authorization number block 206. These authorization numbers are coded numbersthat have been generated bythe server25, and are encrypted representations that are unique tothe given batch of mail which the passport accompanies. The number block 206 allows the central station 14, upon request of the post office priorto orfollowing an inspection of the batch, to determinethe validity of the passport and the batch, the encryption thereof hence being known only to the operator of the central station. This feature provides a further check on the validity of accounting forthe batch of mail, in the event any question thereof arises.

The passport section 200 further includes the beginning serial number 207 and the ending serial number 208. These numbers may be, for example, the ascending register values atthe beginning and end of the processing of the batch of mail, and preferably. correspond tothe series of numbers or othercharacters 107 printed on the envelopes. The passport section 200 further includes a number209 corresponding into the total number of pieces in a given batch, and the sum 210 isthe amount in the descending register atthe time of starting the printing of the batch. The amount indicated by 211 is the amount of the postage registered during processing of a batch of mail and postage used 212 shows the amount of postage required to mail the batch of mail. The final balance 213 showsthe remaining balance in the descending register after the postage used 212 has been debited.

In addition, the passport portion 200 includes the date 214 of preparation thereof, the date 215 of mailing, and the identif ication 216 of the post office atwhich the batch will be mailed, which is referred to as the post office or U.S.P.S. entry point. Still further, the passport section 200 may include the number 217 of the current copy of the passport (i.e. if multiple copies have been made thereof), in orderto facilitate processing of the passport if more than one copy is necessary.

The passport section 200 thereby provides 115 identification information, aswell asverification information, enabling a postal inspectorto beclearly advised of adequate information to enable a determination of whether or notthe mail is authorized. Sincethis portion of the passport is initially visible when assembled with the respective batch of mail, the postal inspector, upon inspection thereof,will be ableto make any necessary checks of the information to assurethatthe batch itself is authorized, and may be led to a more careful 125 inspection of the batch and the authorization to prepare it, in the event of any apparent discrepancies.

The second portion 300 of the passport is a summary of the calculation of postage forthe mail 130 pieces In the batch. Thus, the summary provides a listing of the number of pieces of mail, and amount for mailing thereof, in accordancewith rate classifications and weight classifications. The rate of classifications include the various classes of presorted mail, such as first class presorted mail, carrier route presorted mail, etc. The summary includes a totals column 202 for this information, as well as an additional column 203 summarizing the postage accounted for mail pieces that had been processed by presorting techniques but did not conform to the requirements of the various presorting classes to enable rate reduction. For example, column 203 may include data concerning mail addressed to determined zip codeswhen an insufficient number of mail pieces is directed to such zip codetofall within reduced rate postage classification. The passport section 300 mayfurther listthetotal number of pieces of mail, thetotal weight in the batch, and other information such as a number of sacks, trays, pallets orthe like, as well as the total amount of postage accounted forwith respectto the accompanying batch of mail pieces. The total amount of accounted postage must of course coincide with the amount on the indicia area 202 of the passport section 200, as well asthe number listed on line 212 of the passport portion 200. This provides a still further verification checkfor the postal inspector,to enablethe ready detection of discrepancies.

The passport section 400 provides the necessary certification locations forthe user as well as the postal inspector, the provision of this portion of the form insuring that the batch of mail will be inspected by both, as required.

The passport sections 200,300 and 400 as illustrated in Figure 9, all being one piece of paper or other suitable substrate, and being folded with the section 200 uppermost, enable a logical sequence of inspection steps by the postal inspector, thereby not only simplifying the test of the postal inspector, but also providing adequate and concise information to facilitate the detection of discrepancies orthe need forfurther investigation.

Forfurther completeness of the passport, and in orderto further facilitate the inspection of the batch, one or more additional pages may be provided therewith, also printed bythe printer 44, as illustrated in Figure 10. This material is preferably entered on one or more pieces of paper or substrates than that on which the information of Figure 9 is provided.

As illustrated in Figure 10, the further information may include a portion 500 providing details of the mail that has not qualified for rate discounts. This portion may listthe rate, aswell asthe range of registervalues or othercharacters corresponding to the characters 107 imprinted on the mail piecesfor mail piecesthat have not qualified for postal discounts and hence are accounted for in the portion 203 of theform of Figure 9. The information thus includesthe numberof pieces in each sequence of non-qualifying mail, thefee rate thereof, the total fees, an explanation of the reasonthatthe mail is non qualifying, and totals concerning the adjustments 8 GB 2 188 868 A 8 that had been required and accounted for in determining the postage for mailing these pieces of mail. The listing of the register or other range in this portion of the passport enables the postal inspector to readily physically locate the envelopes that are listed in view of the notation of the register or other values on the mail pieces themselves, so thatthe calculations represented in this portion of the passport may be readily verified. Prior verification techniques rendered the inspection of non-qualifying mail very difficult.

It is of course apparentthatthe portion 500 of the passportwill be of sufficient length to include all register ranges of non-qualifying mail. Accordingly, this portion of the passport may be absent if no non-qualifying mail is present, or it may require several pages.

The additional page may also include a summary

600 of outsorts. For example, if the inserter 39 did not find any code markings, if the weightwas out of range, if an envelope is missing, or if a presort error occurs, the item may be disregarded or otherwise properly handled. For example if an excessive weight had been erroneously reported bythe inserter orthe inserterwas not provided with markings indicating the insertto accompany pieces of mail,these pieces of mail will not automatically be handled bythe printer40, and may be outsortedfor separate manual handling. The passport mayshow the manner in which these pieces of mail were handled atcolumn 203, and in the passportsection 500.

The passport may still further include a mail run statistical data portion 700 to facilitatethe evaluation of the operation of the mailing machine. Thus, a percentage figure maybe provided of the ultilization proportion of the presort feature of the mailing machine in orderto apprise the user of the effectiveness of the presorting technique forthe mailing operations. In addition, the outsort level may 105 be indicated to provide an indication of whether or not steps should be taken to correct an excessive numberof outsort envelopes. Further errors may be also indicated. In addition, based on this statistical data, the report may indicate thatthe postal official the level of inspection of the batch that should preferably be made, to insure thatthe accounting of postage is correct. The passport illustrated in Figure indicates a "standard" level of care of inspection, based upon conventional ranges of outsort and other errors. If, for example, the number of outsorts is large, orthe number of non-qualifying mail pieces is large, the report may indicateto the postal inspectorthat a different degree of inspection should be instituted,to insure thatthe postages provided in 120 the passportwere indeed correct.

Figure 11 is an illustration of a form that may be employed for insertion in a windowenvelope, having instructions thereon forthe inserter. Thus, as illustrated in Figure 1 1,theform has a portion 800for 125 the printing of the address information, bythe printer40. This portion is of course positioned to be visible in thewindowof the envelopewhen theform is printed. In addition, the form contains a unique identification, such as stripes 801 which, when read bythe inserter39, indicatethe numberand identity of inserts39, indicatethe numberand identityof insertsto accompany the form when itis inserted in the envelope. The stripes 801 may of course be of any configuration desired, and in varible form to provide the necessary information to the inserter. It is apparentthe absence of the stripes 801 orsimilar information indicates an errorto the inserter, sothat a record is made thereof in the portion 600 of the passport as illustrated in Figure 10.

Figure 12 illustrates a modification of the upper section 200 of the passport or record adapted to accompany a batch of mail. In this embodiment, a pictorial representation 900 is illustrated in the indicia area of the document, the pictorial representation illustrating that a proprietary format as an example of a picture that may be employed, thereby enabling recognition of the type of system that had been employed in the preparation of the envelopes of the batch and the document itself. This recognition servesto assistthe postal inspector in interpretation of the format employed forthe document, since in batch mailing there is no need to provide identification of the type of postal meter used or postage on the envelope itself as in the case of metered mail.

In addition, as illustrated in Figure 12, at least some of the data may be imprinted on the document in a form other than alphanumeric. Thus, the beginning serial no. 207, ending serial no. 208,total number of pieces 209, and server-passport no. 902 have been imprinted in barcodeformat. It is of course apparentthat other character formats may be alternatively employed, such as, but not limited to, half-barcode. These formats haveihe advantage of ready machine readability by currently available devices. It is apparent, however, that alphanumeric characters are also machine readable, although at the currenttime by somewhat more expensive apparatus.

It isfurther apparentthatthe differentformat of the characters may be employed forother portions of the document, and thatthe characters throughout the document may be encrypted, whether alphanumeric, bar-code, etc. characters. The encryption may be advantageously effected onthe basis of information present on the document itself such as the identification of the sender, identification of the document itself, etc. This enables the verification of the authenticity of the document on the basis of information available on the document, of course, in combination with algorithms available to the postal inspector.

The server-passport data 902, as above discussed, includes information uniquely identifying the server, i.e. the device or apparatus preparing the batch and the document, as well asthe document itself. In one embodiment, the firstfour characters may identify the device which prepared the document and the batch of mail and, the lastthree may identifythe.serial no." uniquely representing the document itself. This unique identification ensures thatthe inspector can ascertain the authenticity of the documentto ensure thatthe postage forthe batch of mail has been in fact prepared legitimately. When 9 GB 2 188 868 A 9 the data is imprinted by otherthan alphanumeric characters, and asJor example bar codes, it is of course apparentthat it may inciudethe same information.

Machine readability of the data, whether in non-encrypted form orencrypted form, may be effected by other known techniques, such asJor example only,the provision of magnetic inks in the imprinting of the data, employing reflective inks or the like, the inventive concept herein disclosed incorporating such modifications.

Figure 13 illustrates an especially advantageous modification of the envelope 100 of Figure 7. In this embodiment of the invention, theverification line 102 inputted on the envelope includes not onlythe passportserial no. 106 and the registervalue 107, but also a barcode 910. Whilethe barcode 910 has been illustrated as a half-bar code it is apparent that other barcodes or other non-alphanumeric characters may alternatively be employed. The barcode 910 constitutes preferably a bar code representation of thedata 106and 107, thereby simplifying the machine readability of this data by conventionally available devices. The placements of the bar code on the saryfe line as the alphanumeric characters of data 106 and 107 provides the unique feature in accordance with the invention thatthe bar code data and the alphanumeric data corresponding thereto may be imprinted on a single pass of the printing device, employing for example an inkjet printer adapted to imprint both bar code and alphanumeric data. This feature simplifies the process of printing the envelopes while attaining the advantages of bar codes or similar data thereon.

Figures 14 and 15 are illustrations of basicformats of a portion of a passport in accordance with the invention, incorporating therein those elements that enable the postal inspectorto readily orientthe inspection of the document and batch of mail in accordance with the invention.

While the invention has been disclosed and described with reference a limited number of embodiments, it is apparent thatvariations and modifications may be made therein, and it is therefore intended in the following claims to cover each such variation and modification as fails within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims (62)

1. A document for verifying the accounting of postage of a batch of mail and adapted to accompanythe batch of mail, the document comprising:

a substrate having first, second and third discrete portions, whereby said document maybe folded to separately display said first, second and third portions; said first portion having imprinted thereon, identification of the mailer of the batch of mail, the number of pieces of mail in the batch, and the extent of authorization of the mailerto account for postage both priorto and after mailing of said batch of mail; a postal indicia displaying thetotal amount of postage accounted for bythe mailerof the batch of mall; a unique verification number verifying the authenticity of the document as applied to said batch of mail; said second portion having imprinted thereon a summaryof the pieces of mail in the batch showing the numbers of pieces of mail and amountaccounted therefor of each rate class and weight class of presorted mail represented in the batch of mail, and also including the total amount accounted for bythe mailer in the mailing of the batch; said third portion having imprinted thereon a certification for signature bythe mailer of the correctness of the material imprinted on the document as well as a certification for signature by a postal inspector of the correctness of the document; and, said first, second and third portions being arranged on the document in sequence in that order to facilitate the inspection of the batch of mail.

2. A document according to claim 1 wherein said first portion has further imprinted thereon data indicating a range of sequential identification numbers imprinted sequentially on mail pieces of said batch.

3. A document according to claim 1 or 2 wherein said first portion has further imprinted thereon the identification of a post office atwhich said batch isto be mailed, the date of preparation of said document and the date on which said batch isto be mailed.

4. A document according to anyone of the preceding claims wherein said first portion has further imprinted thereon a number indicating the number of copies of said documentthat have been made prior to the printing of said document.

5. A document according to anyone of the preceding claims wherein said identification of said mailer on said first portion includes the name and address of said mailer, the permit number of the user forthe mailing of presorted mail, and a number uniqueto the mailer and the document.

6. A document according to anyone of the preceding claimswherein said second portion has further imprinted thereon the numberof pieces of mail of the batch for non-presorted mail represented in said batch of mail.

7. A document according to anyone of the preceding claims wherein said first, second and third portions are imprinted on a single substrate.

8. A document according to claim 7 wherein said document includes a second substrate, including a non-qualifying mail summary of the numberof -pieces of mail of the batch of mail and amount of postage accounted thereforfor non-presorted mail represented in said batch of mail.

9. A document according to claim 8, wherein said second substrate has further imprinted thereon a summary of outsorted mail.

10. A document according to claim 8 or 9 wherein said second substrate has further imprinted thereon a summary of the proportion of presorted mail in said batch of mail.

11. A document according to any oen of claims 8 to 10 wherein said second substrate has further imprinted thereon a summary of the proportion of GB 2 188 868 A pieces of mail outsorted from said batch of mail.

12. A mail piece comprising a substrate and verification information imprinted thereon bya printer underthe control of a secure accounting system, wherein said verification information comprises information corresponding to the amount of postage said accounting system was authorised to dispense atthe time said information was imprinted on said substrate.

13. A mail piece according to claim 12 wherein said information corresponding to said amount of postage comprises the contents of an ascending register in said accounting system.

14. A mail piece according to claim 12 or 13 wherein said information corresponding to said amount of postage comprises the contents of a descending register in said accounting system.

15. A mail piece according to claim 12,13 or 14 wherein said verification information further includes information representative of the last modification of authorization of said accounting system to dispense postage.

16. A postal batch including a plurality of mail pieces each comprising a substrate and information imprinted thereon, wherein said information comprises verification information, said verification information comprising a plurality of data items each corresponding to separate number of a sequence of numbers, each substrate having a different one of said data items imprinted thereon,the numbers of said sequence of numbers differing from adjacent numbers thereof by an amount related to the postage required forthe mailing of the respective mail pieces.

17. A postal batch according to claim 16 further comprising a document assembled therewith and having imprinted thereon the identification of at least one range of said numbers represented by imprinting on the mail pieces of said batch of mail pieces.

18. A postal batch according to claim 17 wherein said identification imprinted on said document includesthe ranges of said sequence of numbers corresponding to all of said mail pieces that are not subjectto presorted mail postage rates.

19. A postal batch according to anyone of claims 16to 18 wherein said mail pieces are arranged in the order of the sequence of the corresponding said numbers.

20. A postal batch according to anyone of claims 16 to 19 wherein said batch further includes a document having a substrate having data thereon, said data comprising encrypted data identifying the sender of said postal batch.

21. A postal batch according to claim 20 wherein said encrypted data is machine readable.

22. A postal batch according to claim 21 wherein said encrypted data comprises a bar code identifying said sender.

23. A postal batch according to anyone of claims 16to 22wherein said batch further includes a document having a substrate having data thereon, said data comprising unencrypted data related to the mailing of said mail pieces and encrypted data that is an encryption of at least a portion of said unencrypted data.

24. A postal batch according to claim 23 wherein said encrypted data that is an encryption of at ieasta portion of said unencrypted data is machine readable.

25. A method of imprinting a plurality of mail pieces by a batch postage marking system having a printer and a rechargeable accounting register, comprising imprinting on said mail pieces data corresponding to the contents of said register atthe time of said imprinting, whereby said mail pieces provide an indication of the extent of authorization of said system to dispense postage.

26. A method according to claim 25 further comprising printing upon each said mail piece second data identififying the last recharging of said register, whereby all of said mail piecesthat are imprinted between adjacent rechargings of said register havethe same second data.

27. A document for verifying the payment of postage fora batch of mail, the document comprising:

a s u bstrate; a postage value printed on said substrate and representative of the value of postage reqduired to mail the batch of mail; data printed on said substrate and representative of the device that printed data on the document; and, data printed on said substrate and representing the number of mail pieces included in said batch of mail.

28. A document according to claim 27 including a printing on said substrate that is representative of a post office entry point.

29. A document according to claim 28 including a printing on said document indicative of the date said batch of mail is delivered to said post office.

30. A document according to anyone of claims 27to29 including a printing on said document indicative of the amount of postage value stored in the device preparing said document.

31. A document according to anyone of claims 27 to 30 including an encrypted number printed upon said substrate, which encrypted number is derived from data printed upon said substrate.

32. A document according to anyone of claims 27to31 wherein said document includes encrypted datathereon.

33. A document according to anyone of claims 27 to 32 wherein said document has been produced by a device for printing data and including a register storing postage balances, and wherein said postage value is representative of a decremented register balance equal to the value of postage required to mail the batch of mail.

34. A method of preparing a document to verify payment of postage on a batch of mail which the document is to accompanyto a post office, comprising:

using a printing device to print upon a substrate a postage value which is representative of thevalue of postage required to mail the batch of mail; printing on the substrate a number of said device; and 11 GB 2 188 868 A 11 printing onthesubstrate data representative of the numberof pieces of mail contained in the batch of mail.

35. A method according to claim 34 including the step of printing on the substrate data identifying the 70 post off ice to which the batch of mail is to be presented.

36. A method according to claim 35 including printing on the substrate the date the batch of mail is to be presented to the post office.

37. A method according to anyone of claims 34 to 36 including printing on the substrate the amount of postage value stored in the device that prepared thedocument.

38. A method according to anyone of claims 34 80 to 37 including printing on the substratean encrypted number that is derived from data printed upon the substrata by said device.

39. A method for verifying the payment of postage fora batch of mail comprising producing a 85 document by a device for printing data and including a register for storing postage values, said step of producing comprising:

printing a postage value on a substrate representative of a decremented register balance 90 equal to the value of postage required to mail the batch of mail; printing data on said substrate representative of said device; and, printing data on said substrate representing the number of mail pieces included in said batch of mail.

40. A document for accompanying a batch of mail and having a first data thereon corresponding to an amount of postage required for mailing said batch as well as second data identifying the sender of the batch of mail and third data containing other information relating to said batch of mail, said document further having thereon encrypted data, said encrypted data being comprised of an encryption of at least one of said first, second and third data, whereby said encrypted data verifiesthe authenticity of said document.

41. A document according to claim 40 wherein said encrypted data is machine readable.

42. A document according to claim 40 wherein said encrypted data is machine readable.

43. A document according to anyone of claims to 42 wherein said encrypted data comprises an encryption of said second data.

44. A document for accompanying a batch of mail and having first data thereon corresponding to an amount of postage required for mailing said batch as well as second data identifying the sender of the batch of mail and third data containing information uniquely identifying said document.

45. A document according to claim 44 wherein said information uniquely identifying said document comprises encrypted data unique to said document.

46. A document according to claim 44 or45 wherein said third data comprises a group of characters including information identifying both the senderof said batch of mail aswell as information unique to said document.

47. A document according to claim 46 wherein said group of characters comprises an encryption of 130 information identifying said sender and said unique information.

48. A document according to claim 47 wherein said group of characters comprises a bar code.

49. A document for accompanying a batch of mail and having imprinted thereon a group of adjacent characters, said characters identifying the sender of said batch of mail and including a number unique to said document.

50. A document according to claim 49 wherein said group of characters comprises an encryption of said number and information.

51. A document according to claim 50 wherein said group of characters comprises a bar code.

52. A method of preparing a documentfor accompanying a batch of mail comprising assembling the batch of mail and applying firstdata to said document corresponding to the amount of postage required to mail the batch of mail, applying second data to said document corresponding to the identity of the sender of said batch of mail, and applying third data to said document corresponding to other information related to said batch of mail, at least one of said steps of applying data comprising applying encrypted data to said documentthat includes an encryption of the respective data, whereby said encryption data can verifythe authenticity of said document.

53. A method according to claim 52 wherein said at least one step of applying encrypted data comprises applying said encrypted data in machine readableform.

54. A method according to claim 53 wherein said at least one step of applying encrypted data comprises applying said encrypted data in the form of a bar code.

55. A method according to anyone of claims 52 to 54 wherein said at least one step of applying encrypted data comprises applying encrypted data that is an encryption of said second data.

56. A method according to anyone of claims 52 to 55 wherein said at least one step of applying comprises applying encrypted data to said documentwith a device, the encrypted data identifying said device.

57. A document for cerifying the payment of postage fora batch of mail, the document comprising a substrate supporting:

first data representative of the value of postage required to mail the batch of mail; second data representative of the sender of said batch of mail; and third data representing other information related to the mailing of the mail pieces included in said batch of mail, at least one of said first, second and third data being in encrypted form.

58. A document according to claim 57 wherein said data in encrypted form is machine readable.

59. A document according to claim 58 wherein said machine readable data is in the form of a bar code.

60. A mail piece comprising a spbstrate and verification information imprinted thereon by a printer underthe control of a secure accounting 12 GB 2 188 868 A 12 system, wherein said verification information comprises a line of character information including both alphanumeric and bar code characters incorporating information corresponding to the amountof postage said accounting system was authorized to dispense atthe time said information was imprinted on said substrate.

61. A mail piece according to claim 60 wherein at least said bar code characters comprise an encryption of said information.

62. A method of verifying the payment of postage substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Printed for Her Majesty's Stationery Office by Croydon Printing Company (L1 K) Ltd,8187, D8991685. Published by The Patent Office, 25 Southampton Buildings, London, WC2A I AY, from which copies maybe obtained.

62. A document for verifying the payment of postage fora batch of mail substantially as shown in anyone of Figures 9to 15.

63. A document according to anyone of claims 8 to 11 wherein said second substrate has imprinted thereon details identifying sequences of non-presorted mail in said batch of mail, the numbers of said pieces of non-presorted mail and the amount accounted thereforforthe non-presorted mail, thereby facilitating inspection of accounting for non-presorted mail pieces in said batch.

64. A postal batch according to anyone of claims 16 to 24 wherein said amount related to the postage is an amount corresponding to the postage required forthe mailing of said respective mail pieces.

65. A method for payment of postage fora batch of mall comprising producing a document bya device for printing data and including a register storing postage values, said step of producing comprising printing on a substrate a postage amount representative of the value of postage required to mail the batch of mail.

66. A document for verifying the payment of postage fora batch of mail, aid document having been produced by a device fpr printing data and including a registerfor storing postage values, the document comprising:

a substrate; and a printed postage value printed on said substrate and representative of the value of postage required to mall the batch of mail.

67. A documentfor verifying the payment of postage fora batch of mail, the document comprising a substrata supporting:

first data representative of the value of postage 110 required to mail the batch of mail; second data representative of the sender of said batch of mail; and third data representing other information related to the mailing of the mail pieces included in said batch of mail.

68. A document for verifying the payment of postage fora batch of mail.substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

69. A mail piece having verification information thereon substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

70. A postal batch comprising a plurality of mail pieces and a verification document substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

71. A method of preparing a postal verification document substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings. 130 72. A method of verifying the payment of postage substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Amendments to the claims have been filed, and have thefollowing effect:(a) Claims 1 to 72 above have ben deleted (b) New claims have been filed as follows:A to 62 1. Adocumentforverifying the payment of postage fora batch of mail, comprising:

a substrate and data printed on said substrate representative of the value of postage required to mail said batch of mail.

2. The document of claim 1, further comprising:

second data, printed on said substrate, representative of the sender of said batch of mail.

3. The document of claim 2, further comprising:

third data, printed on said substrate, containing information uniquely identifying said document.

4. The document of claim 3 wherein said information uniquely identifying said document includes encrypted data unique to said document.

5. The document of claim 4wherein said third data includes a group of characters including information identifying both the sender of said batch of mail aswell as information uniqueto said document.

6. The document of claim 5 wherein said group of characters comprises:

an encryption of information identifying said senderand said unique informatiop.

7. The document of claim 6whdrein said group of characters comprises a bar code. ' 8. The document of claim 6whprein said encrypted data is machine readabip.

9. The document of claim 3 further comprising:

fourth data, printed on said substrate, containing information representative of the device that printed data on said substrate.

10. The document of claim 9 further comprising:

fifth data, printed on said substrata, containing information representative of the number of mail pieces in said batch of mail.

11. The document of claim 10 including a printing on said substrate that is representative of a post office entry point.

12. The document of claim 11 including a printing on said document indicative of the date said batch of mail is delivered to said post office.

13. The document of claim 12 including a printing on said document indicative of the amount of postage value stored in the device preparing said document.

14. The document of claim 10 including an encrypted number printed upon said substrate, said encrypted number being derived from data printed upon said substrate.

15. The document of claim 10 further including:

a first portion, said first portion having said data and said second, third, fourth and fifth data printed therein.

16. The document of claim 15 wherein said data is a postal indicia displaying the total amount of postage accounted for by the mailer of said batch of 13 GB 2 188 868 A 13 mail.

17. The document of claim 16 further comprising:

a second portion having imprinted thereon a summary of the pieces of mail in said batch showing the numbers of pieces of mail and amount accounted therefor of each rate class and weight class of presorted mail represented in said batch of mail, and also including the total amount accounted for bythe mailer in the mailing said batch; and a third portion having imprinted thereon a certification for signature by said mailer of the correctness of the material imprinted on said document as well as a certification for signature by a postal inspector of the correctness of said document; said first, second and third portions being arranged on said document in sequence in that orderto facilitate the inspection of said batch of mail such that said document may be folded to separately display each said portion and accompany said batch of mail.

18. The document of claim 1 wherein said pieces of mail have sequential identification numbers imprinted thereon, and said first portion has further imprinted thereon the range of said sequential identification numbers.

19. The document of claim 18 wherein said first portion has further imprinted thereon a number indicating the number of copies of said document that have been printed prior to the printing of said document.

20. The document of claim 19 wherein said second data includes the name and address of said mailer, the permit number of said mailerforthe mailing of presorted mail.

21. The document of claim 20 wherein said second portion has imprinted thereon the number of pieces of mail of said batch of mail and amount of postage accounted therefor for non-presorted mail represented in said batch of mail.

22. The document of claim 21 wherein said first, second and third portions are imprinted on a single substrate.

23. The document of claim 22 further including a second substrate, said second substrate including a non-qualifying mail summary of the number of pieces of mail of said batch of mail and amount of postage accounted therefor for non-presorted mail represented in said batch of mail.

24. The document of claim 23 wherein said second substrate has further imprinted thereon a summary of outsorted mall.

25. The document of claim 23 wherein said second substrate has further imprinted thereon a summary of the proportion of presorted mail in said batch of mail.

26. The document of claim 23 wherein said second substrate has f u rther imprinted thereon a summary of the proportion of pieces of mail outsorted from said batch of mail.

27. A mail piece comprising:

a substrate having verification information imprinted thereon by a printer underthe control of a secure accounting system, said verification information including information corresponding to the amount of postage said accounting system was authorized to dispense at the time said information was imprinted on said substrate.

28. The mail piece of claim 27 wherein said information corresponding to said amount of postage includes the contents of an ascending register in said accounting system.

29. The mail piece of claim 27 wherein said information corresponding to said amount of postage includes the contents of a descending register in said accounting system.

30. The mail piece of claim 27 wherein said verification information further includes information representative of the last modification of authorization of said accounting system to dispense postage.

31. In a mail piece comprising:

a substrate and verification information imprinted thereon by a printer underthe control of a secure accounting system, said verification information including barcode characters incorporating information corresponding to the amount of postage said accounting system was authorized to dispense at the time said information was imprinted on said su bstrate.

32. The mail piece of claim 31 wherein said bar code characters comprise an encryption of said information.

33. The mail piece of claim 31 wherein said verification information further includes alphanumeric character information.

34. In a postal batch including q plurality of mall pieces each said mail piece comprising:

a substrate and information imprinted thereon, said information includes verification information, said verification information including a plurality of data items each corresponding to separate numbers of a sequence of numbers, each substrate having a different one of said data items imprinted thereon, the numbers of said sequence of numbers differing from adjacent numbers thereof by an amount related to the postage required forthe mailing of the respective mail pieces.

35. The postal batch of claim 34 further comprising:

a document assembled therewith and having imprinted thereon the identification of at least one range of said numbers represented by imprinting on the mail pieces of said batch of mail pieces.

36. The postal batch of claim 35 wherein said identification imprinted on said document includes the ranges of said sequence of numbers corresponding to all of said mail pieces that are not subjectto presorted mail postage rates.

37. The postal batch of claim 34 wherein said mail pieces are arranged in the order of the sequence of the corresponding said numbers.

38. The postal batch of claim 34 wherein said batch further comprises:

a document having a substrate having data thereon, said data including encrypted data identifying the sender of said postal batch.

39. The postal batch of claim 38 wherein said encrypted data is machine readable.

40. The postal batch of claim 38 wherein said 14 GB 2 188 868 A 14 encrypted data comprises:

a bar code identifying said sender.

41. The postal batch of claim 34 wherein said batch further comprises:

a document having a substrate having data thereon, said data including unencrypted data related to the mailing of said mail pieces and encrypted data that is an encryption of at least a portion of said unencrypted data.

42. The postal batch of claim 41 wherein said encrypted data is machine readable.

43. The method of imprinting a plurality of mail pieces by a batch postage marking system having a printer and a rechargeable accounting register, said method comprising the step of:

imprinting on said mall pieces data corresponding to the contents of said register atthe time of said imprinting, whereby said mail pieces provide an indication of the extent of authorization of said system to dispense postage.

44. The method of claim 43 further comprising the step of:

printing upon each said mail piece second data identifying the fast recharging of said register, whereby all of said mail piecesthat are imprinted between adjacent rechargings of said register have the same second data.

45. In a method of preparing a documentto verify payment of postage on a batch of mail thatthe document is to accompanyto a post office, the step comprising:

printing a postage value upon the documentwhich is representative of the value of postage required to mail the batch of mall.

46. The method of claim 45 including the step of:

printing on the document data identifying the post office to which the batch of mail is presented.

47. The method of claim 46 including the step of: printing on the document the date the batch of mail is delivered to the

post office.

48. The method of claim 47 including the step of:

printing on the document the amount of postage value stored in the device that prepared the document.

49. The method of claim 45 including the step of: 110 printing an encrypted number of the document that is derived from data printed upon the document bythe document preparing device.

50. A method for verifying the payment of postage fora batch of mail comprising the steps of:

producing a document by a device for printing data and including a register storing postage values, said producing step comprising the steps of:

printing a postage value on a substrate representative of a decremented register balance equal to the value of postage required to mail the batch of mall; printing data on said substrate representative of said device; and, printing data on said substrate representing the number of mail pieces included in said batch of mail.

51. The method of preparing a document for accompanying a batch of mail comprising the steps of:

assembling a batch of mail and applying first data 130 to said document corresponding to the amount of postage required to mail the batch of mail; applying second data to said document corresponding to the identity of the sender of said batch of mail; and applying third data to said document corresponding to other information relatedto said batch of mall, at leastone of said steps of applying data includes applying data to said document encrypted data that includes an encryption of the respective data, whereby said encryption data verifies the authenticity said document.

52. The method of claim 51 wherein said one step of applying encrypted data comprising the step of:

applying said encrypted data in machine readable form.

53. The method of claim 52 wherein said one step of applying encrypted data comprises the step of:

applying said encrypted data in the form of a bar code.

54. The method of claim 51 wherein said one step of applying encrypted data comprises the step of:

applying said encrypted data that is an encryption of said second data.

55. The method of claim 51 wherein said one step of applying comprises the step of:

applying encrypted data to said document with a device, the encrypted data indentifying said device.

56. A method of payment of postage fora batch of mail includes producing a document by a device for printing data and including a register storing postage values, said producing step comprising the step of:

printing a postage amount on a substrate representative of the value of postage required to mail the batch of mail.

57. A document forverifying the accounting of postage of a batch of mail said document comprising:

a substrate, said substrate having first, second and third discrete portions; said first portion having imprinted thereon, identification of the mailer of said batch of mail,the numberof pieces of mail in said batch, the extentof authorization of the mailerto accountfor postage both priorto and after mailing said batch of mail,a postal indicia displaying the total amount of postage accounted for bythe mailer of said batch of mail, and a uniqueverif ication numberverifying the authenticity of said document as applied to said batch of mail; said second portion having imprinted thereon a summary of the pieces of mail in said batch showing the numbers of pieces of mail and amountaccounted therefor of each rate class and weightclass of presorted mail represented in said batch of mail, and also including the total amount accounted for bythe mailer and the mailing of said batch; said third portion having imprinted thereon a 1A certification for signature bythe mailer of the correctness of the material imprinted on said document aswell as a certification for signature by a postal inspector of the correctness of said document; and said first, second and third portions being GB 2 188 868 A is arranged on said document in sequence in that order to facilitate the inspection of said batch of mail such that said document maybe folded to separately display said first, second and third portions and 5 accompany said batch of mail.

58. A document for verifying the payment of postage fora batch of mail substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

59. A mail piece having verification information thereon substantially as herein before described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

60. A postal batch comprising a plurality of mail pieces and a verification document substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

61. A method of preparing a postal verification document substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.