(19)
(11) EP 0 741 375 A3

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88) Date of publication A3:
05.01.2000 Bulletin 2000/01

(43) Date of publication A2:
06.11.1996 Bulletin 1996/45

(21) Application number: 96106907.7

(22) Date of filing: 02.05.1996
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)7: G07B 17/02
(84) Designated Contracting States:
DE FR GB

(30) Priority: 09.04.1996 US 629719
02.05.1995 US 432733

(71) Applicant: PITNEY BOWES INC.
Stamford Connecticut 06926-0700 (US)

(72) Inventors:
  • Pintsov, Leon A.
    West Hartford, CT 06107 (US)
  • Shannon, William T.
    Shelton, CT 06484 (US)
  • Cordery, Robert A.
    Danbury, CT 06811 (US)
  • Gravell, Linda V.
    Guilford, CT 06437 (US)
  • Weiant, Monroe A., Jr.
    Trumbull, CT 06611 (US)

(74) Representative: Avery, Stephen John et al
Hoffmann Eitle, Patent- und Rechtsanwälte, Arabellastrasse 4
81925 München
81925 München (DE)

   


(54) Closed loop transaction based mail accounting and payment system with carrier payment through a third party initiated by mailing information release


(57) A method for mail accounting and payment includes creating a mail batch including a plurality of mailpieces and creating a statement of mailing (1014) containing data relating to the mail batch (1016). The statement of mailing is digitally signed to facilitate a subsequent verification of the integrity of the data in the statement of mailing. The digital signature is included as part of the statement of mailing. The statement of mailing is submitted to a transaction processing center (1008). The transaction processing center (1008) initiates a funds transfer to a carrier delivery service for carrier delivery services (1010) payment for the batch of mail (1016). The statement of mailing or other mailing data may be stored in a nonvolatile memory means. The nonvolatile memory means allows the statement of mailing (1014) to be stored therein and erased therefrom but not modified.






Search report