EP0747864A2 - Dispositif et procédé pour déterminer le transporteur postal le plus économique et pour le traitement des envois postals - Google Patents

Dispositif et procédé pour déterminer le transporteur postal le plus économique et pour le traitement des envois postals Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0747864A2
EP0747864A2 EP96250124A EP96250124A EP0747864A2 EP 0747864 A2 EP0747864 A2 EP 0747864A2 EP 96250124 A EP96250124 A EP 96250124A EP 96250124 A EP96250124 A EP 96250124A EP 0747864 A2 EP0747864 A2 EP 0747864A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
data
control module
memory
arrangement
shipping
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Ceased
Application number
EP96250124A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP0747864A3 (fr
Inventor
Wolfgang Dr. Thiel
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Francotyp Postalia GmbH
Original Assignee
Francotyp Postalia GmbH
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Francotyp Postalia GmbH filed Critical Francotyp Postalia GmbH
Publication of EP0747864A2 publication Critical patent/EP0747864A2/fr
Publication of EP0747864A3 publication Critical patent/EP0747864A3/fr
Ceased legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07B—TICKET-ISSUING APPARATUS; FARE-REGISTERING APPARATUS; FRANKING APPARATUS
    • G07B17/00—Franking apparatus
    • G07B17/00185—Details internally of apparatus in a franking system, e.g. franking machine at customer or apparatus at post office
    • G07B17/00362—Calculation or computing within apparatus, e.g. calculation of postage value
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07B—TICKET-ISSUING APPARATUS; FARE-REGISTERING APPARATUS; FRANKING APPARATUS
    • G07B17/00—Franking apparatus
    • G07B17/00016—Relations between apparatus, e.g. franking machine at customer or apparatus at post office, in a franking system
    • G07B17/00024—Physical or organizational aspects of franking systems
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07B—TICKET-ISSUING APPARATUS; FARE-REGISTERING APPARATUS; FRANKING APPARATUS
    • G07B17/00—Franking apparatus
    • G07B17/00016—Relations between apparatus, e.g. franking machine at customer or apparatus at post office, in a franking system
    • G07B17/0008—Communication details outside or between apparatus
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07B—TICKET-ISSUING APPARATUS; FARE-REGISTERING APPARATUS; FRANKING APPARATUS
    • G07B17/00—Franking apparatus
    • G07B17/00185—Details internally of apparatus in a franking system, e.g. franking machine at customer or apparatus at post office
    • G07B17/00193—Constructional details of apparatus in a franking system
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07B—TICKET-ISSUING APPARATUS; FARE-REGISTERING APPARATUS; FRANKING APPARATUS
    • G07B17/00—Franking apparatus
    • G07B17/00016—Relations between apparatus, e.g. franking machine at customer or apparatus at post office, in a franking system
    • G07B17/00024—Physical or organizational aspects of franking systems
    • G07B2017/00032—Determining the location of apparatus
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07B—TICKET-ISSUING APPARATUS; FARE-REGISTERING APPARATUS; FRANKING APPARATUS
    • G07B17/00—Franking apparatus
    • G07B17/00016—Relations between apparatus, e.g. franking machine at customer or apparatus at post office, in a franking system
    • G07B17/0008—Communication details outside or between apparatus
    • G07B2017/00112—Wireless
    • G07B2017/0012—Wireless in a mobile phone system
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07B—TICKET-ISSUING APPARATUS; FARE-REGISTERING APPARATUS; FRANKING APPARATUS
    • G07B17/00—Franking apparatus
    • G07B17/00016—Relations between apparatus, e.g. franking machine at customer or apparatus at post office, in a franking system
    • G07B17/0008—Communication details outside or between apparatus
    • G07B2017/00153—Communication details outside or between apparatus for sending information
    • G07B2017/00177—Communication details outside or between apparatus for sending information from a portable device, e.g. a card or a PCMCIA
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07B—TICKET-ISSUING APPARATUS; FARE-REGISTERING APPARATUS; FRANKING APPARATUS
    • G07B17/00—Franking apparatus
    • G07B17/00185—Details internally of apparatus in a franking system, e.g. franking machine at customer or apparatus at post office
    • G07B17/00193—Constructional details of apparatus in a franking system
    • G07B2017/00241—Modular design
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07B—TICKET-ISSUING APPARATUS; FARE-REGISTERING APPARATUS; FRANKING APPARATUS
    • G07B17/00—Franking apparatus
    • G07B17/00185—Details internally of apparatus in a franking system, e.g. franking machine at customer or apparatus at post office
    • G07B17/00314—Communication within apparatus, personal computer [PC] system, or server, e.g. between printhead and central unit in a franking machine
    • G07B2017/00346—Power handling, e.g. power-down routine
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07B—TICKET-ISSUING APPARATUS; FARE-REGISTERING APPARATUS; FRANKING APPARATUS
    • G07B17/00—Franking apparatus
    • G07B17/00185—Details internally of apparatus in a franking system, e.g. franking machine at customer or apparatus at post office
    • G07B17/00362—Calculation or computing within apparatus, e.g. calculation of postage value
    • G07B2017/00379—Calculation of different sending options for a mail piece
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07B—TICKET-ISSUING APPARATUS; FARE-REGISTERING APPARATUS; FRANKING APPARATUS
    • G07B17/00—Franking apparatus
    • G07B17/00185—Details internally of apparatus in a franking system, e.g. franking machine at customer or apparatus at post office
    • G07B17/00362—Calculation or computing within apparatus, e.g. calculation of postage value
    • G07B2017/00395—Memory organization
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07B—TICKET-ISSUING APPARATUS; FARE-REGISTERING APPARATUS; FRANKING APPARATUS
    • G07B17/00—Franking apparatus
    • G07B17/00185—Details internally of apparatus in a franking system, e.g. franking machine at customer or apparatus at post office
    • G07B17/00362—Calculation or computing within apparatus, e.g. calculation of postage value
    • G07B2017/00395—Memory organization
    • G07B2017/00403—Memory zones protected from unauthorized reading or writing
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07B—TICKET-ISSUING APPARATUS; FARE-REGISTERING APPARATUS; FRANKING APPARATUS
    • G07B17/00—Franking apparatus
    • G07B17/00459—Details relating to mailpieces in a franking system
    • G07B17/00508—Printing or attaching on mailpieces
    • G07B2017/00572—Details of printed item
    • G07B2017/0058—Printing of code
    • G07B2017/00588—Barcode
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07B—TICKET-ISSUING APPARATUS; FARE-REGISTERING APPARATUS; FRANKING APPARATUS
    • G07B17/00—Franking apparatus
    • G07B17/00459—Details relating to mailpieces in a franking system
    • G07B17/00508—Printing or attaching on mailpieces
    • G07B2017/00653—Special inks, e.g. fluorescent
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07B—TICKET-ISSUING APPARATUS; FARE-REGISTERING APPARATUS; FRANKING APPARATUS
    • G07B17/00—Franking apparatus
    • G07B17/00459—Details relating to mailpieces in a franking system
    • G07B17/00661—Sensing or measuring mailpieces
    • G07B2017/00701—Measuring the weight of mailpieces

Definitions

  • the invention relates to an arrangement for determining the cheapest mail carrier and for processing mail items for multispedition shipping and a method for determining the cheapest mail carrier, according to the type specified in the preamble of claims 1, 18, 21 and 25. It is for a franking machine or a similar device that can be operated for a large number of mail carriers.
  • the invention relates to an arrangement for franking mail items, i.e. for attaching the postage to the post, which has a printer module and a control module, and storage means and receiving means which communicate with the storage means in order to transmit data via a transmission means.
  • U.S. Patent No. 3,635,297 discloses a postage meter with automatic billing.
  • a removable read-only memory (ROM) contains a postage fee schedule according to which the postage fee is calculated when the weight of a package or other shipping information is entered.
  • the disadvantage of this is the effort required if the fees in the storage table have to be changed when a new fee rate comes into force. There is no guarantee that the user of the device will have the memory replaced at the right time, i.e. when it's time to update.
  • the German patent DE 38 23 719 also includes the printing of a representative character pattern under a certain date.
  • the printed date and the mark are compared with the mark approved for that date.
  • An authorization device which has a storage device for storing the character patterns and date data is used for printing.
  • the data which assign the representative character pattern to a specific date are then updated each time by means of an external dialing device during a remote value setting with credit reloading, i.e. when the corresponding user of the franking machine registers for a new credit.
  • this security system is limited to fixed networks and cannot be used for mobile franking machines that can be moved from one location to another (mobile office).
  • the memory of the postage meter machine according to DE 42 13 278 A1 has updatable segments for at least one table linked to a specific condition, in particular at least one updated postage fee table and for information and / or Additional information that is linked to at least one condition.
  • a specific condition in particular at least one updated postage fee table and for information and / or Additional information that is linked to at least one condition.
  • current and future tariff tables for a mail carrier are only provided.
  • Modern franking machines for example published in EP 566 225 A2, are equipped with at least one input means, a control module and a printer module.
  • a portable franking machine has a memory and receiving means that communicate with it in order to transmit data via a transmission means.
  • the postage amounts used by the franking machine are subtracted from an amount that can be loaded via the transmission means.
  • these means are in the form of a chip card.
  • Such franking machines have so far been primarily for cooperation with a national mail carrier, i.e. the respective public postal authority and would have to be converted accordingly for cooperation with another private postal requester.
  • an object of the invention to provide an arrangement for processing mail items and a multi-carrier shipping system that overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages of the previously known devices of this general type and offers security against fraudulent manipulation of any kind and that Application of the postage or the shipping fee in accordance with the applicable postal charges as a function of the postable weight and format can be guaranteed.
  • Another object is largely aimed at providing a mobile franking machine of the type mentioned above, which can be operated regardless of the location.
  • An additional task is to create a shipping system that allows the loading and use of fee tables and similar specific data from different carriers in the franking machine.
  • a routine according to the invention which runs in the control module (processor) of the franking machine, automatically ensures that it matches current carrier-related data, which are stored in the memory of a transmission means or a data center. It is provided that the control module and the receiving means are programmed to access means for downloading data from the external memory which relate to at least one data table, the data table containing information which is linked to at least one condition, the conditions with an input means can be entered to automatically generate request data for downloading the aforementioned data.
  • the control module has means for storing the data received by said receiving means relating to at least one data table in one of said predetermined storage areas of said storage means, further means allowing the selection of current data from the at least one data table which are used to determine the shipping fee for a Package is required.
  • an optimization program runs in the processor of the postage meter machine which makes suggestions for low mail transport costs.
  • the automatic carrier selection according to the respective criteria set for shipping has the advantage over manual selection that the cheapest carrier is now also selected according to objective criteria without error.
  • the manual selection of the cheapest carrier for the intended transport of a package would also be one for the franking machine user time-consuming comparison of the transport and tariff conditions of the carriers in question. Because the machine does this comparison for him, real time and cost advantages are possible for the individual shipper.
  • the possibilities of the franking machine have been expanded by a more comfortable input and simulation with the display of a large number of parameters on the screen for a wide variety of mail pieces to be processed and can advantageously be used when entering further shipping data.
  • a manually using the keyboard / display unit (user interface) of the franking machine or automatically selected mail carrier, the postage value of the letter created and other shipping information, such as the shipping method, as well as, if applicable, the cost center charged for booking the accounting data are at least displayed and saved.
  • an arrangement for franking mail items consisting of a control module and a printer module, with predetermined storage areas of the storage means connected to the control module, with a receiving means communicating with the storage means for receiving data which are transmitted via transmission means.
  • the receiving means include means for downloading at least one data table from the transmission means, the data table containing information that is linked to at least one condition.
  • the control module has means for storing the at least one data table received by the receiving means in one of the predetermined storage areas of the storage means when the arrangement is put into operation.
  • the control module further includes means for extracting from the at least one data table a subset of relevant data, in particular a current data table and information relating to specific ones Select functions that are then available in the arrangement for franking mail items as a function of the at least one condition.
  • the at least one data table includes a set of postage fee tables for a plurality of mail carriers, but at least two postage fee tables; which are loaded into storage means via downloading means when the arrangement is initialized or put into operation.
  • the set of a large number of mail carriers or with at least two mail carriers is defined before the data sets for table data and other data are loaded.
  • the at least two postage fee tables are loaded by the transmission means via the receiving means into one of the predetermined storage areas of the storage means.
  • the control module has means to determine the cheapest mail carrier by comparing the determined postage fees.
  • the control module also has means for selecting an applicable postage from the currently valid postage fee table depending on the place of origin of the mail item and a current date.
  • the receiving means include means for reading a chip card and the transmission means is a chip card.
  • Said chip card has a memory with predetermined memory areas, the predetermined memory areas containing at least one area for storing a postage fee table and an associated date , which defines a date on which the postage fee table comes into force.
  • the above-mentioned at least one area contains a plurality of areas and each area is available for at least one postage fee table and an assigned date.
  • the receiving means comprise means which automatically transfer the information received from the cellular communication network into the memory when the mobile franking machine is switched on. Location identification data is entered into the franking machine.
  • the predetermined memory areas of the memory of the chip card or of the cellular communication network contain memory areas for at least one postage fee table, additional function tables and additional information to be loaded via the receiving means, and the arrangement includes input means which allow the operator to Enter such information as country of origin, place of origin, country and date and, if applicable, local time. For example, the aforementioned information is entered before switching off and remains non-volatile until the franking machine is switched on again.
  • the aforementioned information is requested in connection with the update conditions applicable to the respective mail carrier in order to form special request data which are transmitted to the memory of the transmission means or by modem to the data center before the reloading starts with carrier-related update data. Entering the change of location is necessary to generate a modified stamp image depending on the place of dispatch.
  • the arrangement includes a communication bus that connects the control module to other modules and components, and a battery-backed clock / date module that supplies the arrangement with the time and date via the bus.
  • the data transmitted via the transmission means include zoned postage fee tables as well as input means for entering a weight of the mail item, a postal class and a type of mail for each zone of the postage fee tables, which can be downloaded into the arrangement.
  • the input means permit direct manual input by an operator to determine the postage.
  • the transmission means contain stored data relating to the additional functions to be downloaded, which are only valid for a limited period and only for a predetermined geographical location from a certain date, some of the additional functions being freely selectable and others not being manipulated for security reasons are.
  • control module the printer module, the storage means, the Receiving means and, as an option, other properties mentioned above built into a mobile franking device.
  • the arrangement includes a communication bus connecting the control module and other modules and components, and a programmable clock / date block for supplying the arrangement with an appropriate local time when a specific location is determined.
  • the input means include a scale for weighing the mail item, which in a preferred embodiment has the form of an integrated scale module and is connected to the arrangement via an interface.
  • the receiving means comprise means for reading a chip card and the transmission means is a chip card; the method then further includes inserting a chip card into the chip card reading means for downloading with the receiving means and removing the chip card before the arrangement is processed, in particular franked or provided with a corresponding imprint.
  • the invention is based on the fact that the transmission of the new postage to all franking machines, in particular to mobile franking machines that have not been switched on in the meantime or are not ready to run, has not taken place at the appropriate time, so that the fees are stored in a memory Transmission means are temporarily stored and the current fee rate is automatically adopted by the franking devices when they are switched on.
  • the invention is also based on the concept from DE 42 13 278 A1, i.e. planning for an early preparation of postage fee tables if a change in postage is expected so that the postage fees can be made available to all customers of the postal service long before they come into effect.
  • the intention is to provide the majority of the participants with an updated postage fee table in good time and not, as for example in DE 28 03 982 C2 or DE 28 03 919 C2, only on the day in question and simultaneously.
  • the mail items to be franked include letters and parcels as well as parcels. From a predetermined thickness, the mail items to be franked, the imprint prescribed by the mail carrier is printed on a strip which is then connected to the mail item.
  • the franking machine according to this invention therefore allows the user to choose from the services of different, competing freight forwarders or mail carriers.
  • the data of the generally available forwarding agents can therefore be stored in the franking machine when it is dispatched and can then be confirmed by the user or the dealer.
  • Additional carriers with only a local presence e.g. city-wide express courier services or city-to-city special delivery
  • the franking machine will signal this to the user. For example, a warning and a request to another carrier in the set of are displayed via display means To waive freight forwarders. In the case of a freight forwarder, which is preferably selected via the menu, this is done by manual input using the input means. In a further variant, this deletion of data for the rarest used forwarder can take place automatically.
  • Postage fee tables are usually updated from time to time.
  • the tariffs in such fee tables are usually increased for certain services.
  • Base price increases which are basically valid throughout, are also possible. Such increases are typical for the national postal service (for example, in the USA for the US Postal Service) and for private forwarders such as the Federal Express, United Parcel Service, DHL, TNT Skypack etc.
  • the freight forwarder is asked about his current fees after this freight forwarder has been selected. This is done either by selecting the forwarding center or a database in a data center that is maintained by the manufacturer of the franking machine.
  • the franking machine can automatically generate request data in order to initiate communication.
  • the current fee table is then called up when the carrier is chosen and saved in the franking machine.
  • the request can be limited to simply asking whether this fee table is still up to date.
  • the disadvantage here is that such a data connection causes costs which greatly reduce or even cancel out the cost savings achieved by choosing an alternative forwarder.
  • the above can be improved by automatically contacting the data center only at certain times, e.g. when the franking machine is switched on in the morning. In addition, if the franking machine is not switched off, it is possible to access the data centers during an automatic call at night in order to update all the data required for the set of mail carriers and carriers by the start of the shift or daybreak.
  • dial-up connection is only established after certain periods have elapsed.
  • a typical period for the validity of a fee schedule is one year. Accordingly, these "typical" periods are stored together with the data of the last change for each carrier. The most likely date for the next fee change can therefore be easily calculated for each carrier.
  • the internal clock / date block of the franking machine monitors this data for each carrier. When this date is approached, a data connection to the forwarding center or the manufacturer of the franking machine is established and the new fee table is loaded.
  • the fee table for each mail carrier or freight forwarder has an "expiry date". Accordingly, as soon as the processor contained in the control module in connection with the clock / date module of the franking machine detects such an expiry date (when the date changes at midnight or during the initialization routine when the franking machine is switched on in the morning), the franking machine initiates an automatic data connection and the new one
  • the fee table for the relevant postal carrier or forwarder is downloaded. It is clear that the conditions under which the up-to-dateness of the data must be checked can vary greatly depending on the postal carrier or forwarder. This is taken into account when forming request data that initiate communication with a remote data center or with a transmission medium.
  • each of the data tables contains information associated with at least one condition
  • the control module selects from the data tables an up-to-date data table and information regarding specific functions, which are then in the arrangement for franking as a function of the at least one a condition is available.
  • the plurality of data tables include at least two shipping fee tables; the control module, when the arrangement is put into operation, loads the two shipping fee tables from the transmission means, via the receiving means, into one of the predetermined storage areas of the storage means; and the control module selects an applicable shipping fee from the currently applicable shipping fee tables, depending on a place of origin of the shipment to be shipped and a current date.
  • a method for determining the shipping fee for mail items for the mailing of which several of the set of postal carriers or forwarding agents are possible is currently running in An arrangement consisting of a control module, a memory connected to the control module with predetermined memory areas and a receiver which is communicatively connected to the memory in order to receive data transmitted via transmission means, comprising the following steps:
  • the block diagram shown in FIG. 1a for a franking machine shows a chip card 10 or smart card of the type which is already known for setting the value on direct debit or customer credit accounts and the like.
  • the chip card 10 is used as the transmission medium and has current shipping fee tables plus additional shipping fee tables which are valid for the upcoming fees.
  • the block diagram of Figure 1a shows a franking device 1 according to the invention with a chip card reader / writer 2 as a corresponding receiving means.
  • the arrangement for processing mail items consists of an interconnection of a control module 5, with an input / output control means 6 having interfaces 61, 62, to which input means 2, 8 and output means 4 and a printer module 7 are connected, with storage means 3, 9 which have predetermined memory areas, with a receiving means 2 that is communicatively connected to said storage means in order to receive correspondingly transmitted data from an external memory 10.
  • a bus 11 connects the components to one another, e.g. the storage means 3 with the display means 4, with the control module 5 and with the input / output control means 6.
  • a printer module 7, an input means 8 and the chip card read / write device 2 are connected to the input / output control means 6.
  • the separate bus 11 can be omitted.
  • the weight of a mailpiece can be read and entered from an external scale (not shown in FIG. 1a).
  • FIG. 1b for a franking machine differs from that shown in FIG. 1a by an interface RS 232 for connection 62 of a MODEM and / or optionally 61 of a weighing module 14 in order to automatically enter the weight value.
  • the aforementioned connection 61, 62 takes place either via the input / output control means 6 or directly via the bus 11.
  • the connection of the card read / write device 2 is additionally provided.
  • FIG. 1c shows a block diagram for a franking machine according to a third variant.
  • an internal transmitting / receiving device 200 is provided, which in the following is simply called receiving means.
  • a block diagram of a GSM communication variant will be explained later with reference to FIG. 4.
  • a card reader / writer 2 can optionally be provided to take a chip card or smart card, credit card or prepaid card
  • the control module 5 and the receiving means 2, 200 and 15 are programmed to access means 31 for downloading data from the external memory 12, 300, 301, 302 or 305, the data relating to at least one data table.
  • the data table contains information which is linked to at least one condition, the conditions being able to be input using an input means 8 in order to automatically generate request data for downloading the aforementioned data.
  • a means 30, for example a routine stored in the memory area of the memory means 3, or special hardware is provided for the formation of request data.
  • the external memory is a memory 300, 301, 302 of the cellular communication network.
  • Memory segments are provided in the memory of the cellular communication network and the means 3, 5, 6 of said arrangement 1 and 100 are connected to the receiving means 200 in order to receive input information, including a geographical location, from a service of the cellular communication network .
  • each postage meter there is a programmable battery-operated clock / date module 9, which has such programming and accuracy that the correct data regarding the date are provided, so that the current date data and the future data for the date on which the assigned postage fee table comes into force, can be loaded into the storage means 3 of the franking device.
  • the programming relates in particular to the locally variable time to be taken into account, to time zones which essentially depend on the longitude and to the considering the date line.
  • the clock / date module 9 likewise has memory areas with data which can interact with the means 30 for forming request data.
  • the franking device configuration includes a programmable clock component 9 that determines the applicable local time or franking device time based on one defined current or a future specific location.
  • a programmable clock component 9 that determines the applicable local time or franking device time based on one defined current or a future specific location.
  • the clock may be sufficient to set the clock only once, namely at the factory, provided that the local time can be set by entering the current geographical position.
  • a memory area is available for the clock component and contains the relevant locations with the assigned time difference for a location, so that the clock can be set.
  • the time difference takes the form of additions to and subtractions from Greenwich Mean Time.
  • the franking machine 1 has means in the control module 5 which, when the franking machine 1 is put into operation, has at least one postage fee table for the franking machine 1, for example from the chip card 10, via the receiving means 2 and 6, in a predetermined memory space 33, 34 of the storage medium 3 load.
  • the franking machine 1 also includes other means 30, 31, 32 and 35 which, in the control module 5, perform routines in order to use the means 3, 4, 8, 9 and 11, based on the mailing country or location entered and the date, select the currently applicable postal fee schedule, which will then determine the applicable postage.
  • Hardware and / or software is used to produce these means in the form of a programmable logic module or a microprocessor control program.
  • the chip card 10 is intended for use as a direct debit card (debit or credit card) or prepaid card with national or international validity, although this should in no way preclude other means of processing money data.
  • the chip card is valid for the European Community. Adaptations to various North American systems are within the ability of the normal specialist. The fees are paid and billed e.g. through a central service office or service center for the national postal authorities and other private mail carriers or freight forwarders.
  • the at least one data table contains a set of postage fee tables, wherein when the arrangement 1, 100 is put into operation, said downloading and storage means 3, 31, 32 at least from the external memory 12 or 300, 301, 302 of the transmission means 10 or GSM via the receiving means 2, 200 or by modem 15 from a database 305 of a data center DZ load the set of postage fee tables into one of said predetermined storage areas 33, 34 of said storage means 3 and said control module 4 accesses further means 36 , to select an applicable postage from the currently valid postage fee table, depending on a place of origin of the mail item and a current date.
  • control module 5 accesses further means 37 in order to select current data and information relating to specific functions from the at least one data table, which are then available as a function for processing mail items.
  • the national postal authority to which the sending location of the mail item belongs can determine a printout that can only be machine-read by this national postal service.
  • This expression can e.g. be the business number for the approval check, represented as a barcode, or another contractually agreed symbol that is printed on the post using the same printer or a different printer at a specific location.
  • FIG. 2 shows a memory area with a memory segment which is assigned an update date for the current postal fee table and the future postal fee table.
  • at least one postage fee table is available as a function of the storage area associated with a sending country. This enables the charges to be set correctly for each machine using the information stored in the transmission medium.
  • a regionally valid postage fee table or a valid one Postage fee table with different regional tariffs are used.
  • Each postal fee table for a national postal system is divided into zones for the mail to be sent from the place of dispatch (the post office at which the mail box is assigned to which the mail is thrown) to the place of delivery to which it is sent.
  • the zones which are associated with distances and / or are assigned to locations inland relative to locations abroad or the distance from the sending location to the receiving location can be stored in the memory in such a way as an additional function that they are stored in a further memory area A, B, C etc. can be called up and determined for each country and that the corresponding zone in the current table is addressed by the control means (Fig. 3a - 3c).
  • the postal customer can choose from the services that have been agreed between the various national postal systems and the postage machine manufacturer, i.e. in relation to the type of dispatch or post class (letter, reply postcard, printed matter, letters of the second order, parcel, etc.), form of dispatch or type of post (value, registered mail, shipment by private person, return receipt requested, cash on delivery, express mail, airmail, preferred mail, general delivery, etc .) and additional services (free envelope) or similar imprints (logo, advertising, etc.).
  • type of dispatch or post class letter, reply postcard, printed matter, letters of the second order, parcel, etc.
  • form of dispatch or type of post value, registered mail, shipment by private person, return receipt requested, cash on delivery, express mail, airmail, preferred mail, general delivery, etc .
  • additional services free envelope or similar imprints (logo, advertising, etc.).
  • the postage can be found automatically according to the zones.
  • Other postage tables (not shown in Fig. 2, but which will be valid in the future or are valid from the current update date) for further mail carriers and preferably for each of the national mail carriers are stored in separate storage areas. For each table, the date (to be entered) of the date stamp that appears on the shipment appears to be compared with the update date, ie with the date on which the table comes into force; this comparison being carried out by the control means 5.
  • FIGS. 3a-3c show the additional function tables which are stored in the further memory areas and each of which corresponds to a sending country A, B or sending location and / or a date.
  • a sending country A, B By entering the sending country A, B for each area, a first selection from among the functions to be loaded into the franking device is made manually or automatically and loaded into its storage means when the franking device is put into operation.
  • 3b relates to a table for a number of additional functions that are to be transmitted to the franking device and can then be freely selected.
  • mail is picked up when a franking device is in stationary operation. It is also possible to arrange a stationary mailbox in-house with the post office.
  • other services of the postal system assignment of postcodes and numbers for post offices to place names) must necessarily be used.
  • the data for mailboxes in public places such as ports, airports, train stations, places with increased traffic and other nodes, which are constantly open and serve as mail delivery and delivery points, are listed in another, not shown, updatable directory and are suitable, call up stored information or make functions available, with which this data for open acceptance points and the date can be entered manually in a field.
  • Another Storage area is provided for this purpose. If a number of functions cannot be selected for local reasons, another place of origin that allows these functions can be determined.
  • An agreement may also be made between the customer and the manufacturer that certain additional information will be printed on the post at another location, in particular certain calendar information and temporary advertising messages. For example, advertise an exhibitor for a trade show. This information to be printed appears automatically in the print image according to the previous programming. A further memory area can also be made available for this purpose.
  • 3c relates to a table for the additional functions, which are firmly agreed and are transmitted to the postage meter if a condition is met.
  • Data is loaded for additional functions, in particular for security or for error control and control for fraudulent manipulations and to facilitate use.
  • the former data relating to security can be new code keys, for example, which are used to generate cryptographically encrypted data.
  • Such cryptographically encrypted data are also printed out in addition to the other franking data, as was described in more detail, for example, in EP 576 113 A2 with the title: Method and arrangement for quickly generating a security imprint. With the help of such data, the mail carrier can determine whether the mailing was properly billed or whether a valid postage rate table was used.
  • the additional functions that create an additional identification mark serve e.g. to ensure security in recognizing the backdating of future mail, or in other words, where the post has been provided with postage in advance.
  • Such functions are agreed between the manufacturer of the franking device and the individual mail carriers and are determined by the pre-dated time at which the mail is brought to the place where it is posted.
  • a further selection from the functions to be loaded into the franking device takes place automatically and is loaded into the storage means of the franking device when it is put into operation (FIGS. 3b and 3c), by entering a field to indicate the place of delivery of the post Specify the position of the mailbox and in particular the postcode (ZIP) or the number of the responsible post office. Additional security markings (security signs) are printed with which the correct debit and settlement can be verified.
  • the postal service or the private carrier will then carry out checks on their side and ensure that the account has been correctly debited. If the place of origin or the freight forwarder is incorrect or if an incorrect or fake postage table has been used, the consignment will be sorted out and will not be transported by the corresponding freight forwarder.
  • cellular communication networks in particular Groupe Speciale Mobile (GSM) networks
  • GSM networks have a radio switching subsystem (SSS) for mobile subscribers 100 with connections on the one hand to other radio and stationary networks (NETWORK), in particular PSTN, ISDN and PDN, and on the other hand to mobile subscribers 100 via radio-operated base station subsystems (BSS).
  • SSS radio switching subsystem
  • BSS controller BCE of the BSS system with which a plurality of cellular components, i.e. the various base transceiver stations (BTS) are connected, which form the transmission means of the cellular communication network to the subscribers 100.
  • the BSS control device (BCE) or components of the radio switching subsystem (SSS), such as the operation and maintenance center (OMC) connected to the radio switching center (MSC) or the control device (BCE) of the operating and Maintenance centers (OMC) are equipped with a storage medium (300, 301 or 302).
  • the storage means (300, 301 or 302) contains storage segments for the published postage tables which can be called up, for the non-secret additional function tables and for other service and additional information or other services. Such services can also be provided by the operator of the GSM networks to determine the location of the franking machine.
  • the country or place of dispatch and the country or local time can preferably be entered automatically. In Europe, this is done, for example, by using the services offered by the GSM network or the digital European wireless telephone network DECT (Digital European Cordless Telephone).
  • GSM Global System for Mobile Communications
  • DECT Digital European Cordless Telephone
  • An information field - shown in Fig. 5 - for date, place of dispatch, weight, format, selected carrier name, postage amount and other typical information and for the additional functions approved by the corresponding national postal authority or by the private postal carrier can be in the display means 4 or 400 of the corresponding franking machine (FM) 1 or 100 are displayed to make a selection of the mail carrier and / or functions.
  • a display area has, for example, three fields for displaying a number of carriers between which a selection can be made, for displaying the postage determined, if corresponding shipping information, such as shipping method and shipping method, and the weight value have been entered and for displaying carrier-related billing information.
  • the latter can include, for example, an indication of the available credit or the type of settlement.
  • the cost center that is charged for posting the accounting data can also be displayed.
  • the screen image shown in FIG. 5 did not show the display of information that can only be called up by means of a password, such as the serial number of the franking device, the business number, the number of items, the registration amount and the postage amount; and a direct debit statement of the amounts deducted.
  • a password such as the serial number of the franking device, the business number, the number of items, the registration amount and the postage amount; and a direct debit statement of the amounts deducted.
  • the screen branches from the main menu to other screens if there is a corresponding user input, such as in the unpublished German application under the title: Method and arrangement for entering data into a franking machine (official file number 195 49 305.2-53 ) has been explained in more detail.
  • the franking machine must save the services and fees of the various forwarding agents in a comparable form.
  • FIG. 6 shows a table of comparable carrier services as an example of a possible embodiment of the stored data.
  • the user of the franking machine first defines the desired services. This is done by entering the data relating to the shipping zone (the target zone) and the desired additional services, such as express delivery (E), return receipt (R), etc. An additional required entry would be the number of shipments to be sent by the discount available for bulk shipping to use.
  • those mail carriers or forwarders who offer the desired services are determined with the aid of a mask, possibly similar to the illustration in FIG. 6. For example, a shipment to Zone B with the desired return receipt excludes the forwarding agents 1, 2 and 4 in accordance with the table in FIG. 6 and the further selection process is limited only to forwarding agents 3 and 5.
  • P3 and P5 are compared and the carrier with the smaller amount (Pmin) is suggested as the optimal carrier.
  • Pmin the carrier with the smaller amount
  • recommendation P3 appears in the first place in a special display area 20 as the optimal carrier Pmin.
  • a preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 5 also displays a second (and third) choice in the special display area 20 to allow the user to come to his own conclusion and selection.
  • the user may have less rational reasons (e.g. familiarity with the service, the pick-up driver currently used is particularly efficient, etc.) and may wish to ignore the optimized recommendation and decide on the second or third choice.
  • any reference herein to "mailing”, “postage” and the like is not limited to the state postal service, but rather privately operated mail carriers or forwarding services and their shipping charges are also meant.
  • the automatic selection solution according to the invention is not limited to paper mail items, such as letters and postcards, or the like, and can also be applied to the selection of the cheapest forwarder when sending parcels or other mail items will. And if we refer to a franking machine, the same can also apply to a device that determines the shipping costs without printing a franking stamp, ie without actually franking the item itself.
  • FIG. 7 An exemplary embodiment, which is shown in FIG. 7, illustrates the method for determining the cheapest carrier.
  • the franking machine When the franking machine is started up, the franking machine must be initialized in one step with regard to the location and a selected number from a number of mail carriers. It can be initialized for a group of carriers in step 16.
  • the data of the marketable carriers can already be stored in the franking machine by the manufacturer and confirmed by the user or dealer. Additional carriers that are only active locally, for example, can be reloaded using a corresponding query routine using the keyboard.
  • the data center which is now operated by the franking machine manufacturer, in order to only bill against a state postal carrier and to retrieve accounting data from the franking machine, for example to effect remote loading of the franking machine, is expanded accordingly to include the billing to other or alternative mail carriers to make.
  • the latter make their postage rate tables available to the data center, which prepares them for storage and for the purpose of making them available as part of suitable services.
  • the database 305 of the data center or Memory in the transmission means are updated accordingly by the data center and can deliver the desired update data to the franking machines on request.
  • the uniqueness of the assignment of the update data is achieved via a number (CIN) assigned to each carrier or forwarder.
  • carrier-related data of a group of carriers exist in the memories of the franking machine.
  • the data in the non-volatile memories of the franking machine are constantly monitored according to criteria specific to the carrier.
  • the preselection of a group of carriers and the storage of the carrier-related tariffs for the services offered are carried out, for example, by means of a modem or with chip cards or other means of transmission.
  • the desired carrier can then be selected by the customer or automatically according to the criteria entered by the customer.
  • the up-to-dateness of the stored data is ensured by a corresponding routine, which is also loaded using one of the aforementioned transmission means.
  • the pre-selection leads in step 16 to the presetting of the group of carriers, for example 10 locally operating carriers.
  • a next step 17 within a program sequence allows automatic carrier selection based on the selected services and / or other criteria. In the example shown in FIG.
  • the carriers are identified with the numbers 1, 2, 4 and m to 1, who offer the desired service or meet the desired criteria.
  • the respective postage value P 1 , P 2 , P 4 and P m is calculated for the aforementioned selected carriers, which results from the current tariff.
  • a comparison and evaluation takes place according to the cheapest postage value.
  • the postage value P 4 was determined as the cheapest postage value, which is why the fourth carrier is assigned the ranking I.
  • places II to IV there are for example the first, the second and an m-th carrier.
  • the result is displayed and stored by means of display means 4 in a display area 20 of the screen image shown in FIG. 5.
  • the franking machine carries out an event-based monitoring of the up-to-dateness of the carrier-specific data based on time data and / or quantity data, in accordance with the carriers from a group which has been preselected from a large number of public and private carriers.
  • the franking machine automatically checks whether the selected services are available and otherwise starts communication with a remote data center or with a transmission means, with special request data being sent and the required data being received by the data center or the receiving means of the transmission means and loading the necessary data in their store.
  • an automatic carrier selection with processing of inputs relating to places of service requests to the carrier takes place in a step 17 according to the invention, as a result of which a number of those carriers from the aforementioned group of carriers who fundamentally meet the specified service requirements are selected can.
  • the franking machine In addition to the services, the franking machine also stores the tariffs of the carriers in a comparable form. With this and based on the determined weight, the postage values are calculated according to the current tariffs.
  • the postage fee P m for the m-th carrier from a group of carriers 1 ⁇ m ⁇ l is calculated in step 18 on the basis of Current tariffs for selected service requirements according to the general formula (1): (D 1m * ..D rm ) (B m + C 1m + .. C Hm + .. C km ) + E 1m + .. E gm + ..
  • E nm P m with the basic tariff B m for a service of the m-th carrier, with tariffs C 1 to C h or C k in the range from - ⁇ to 0 for 1 to k services of the carrier (for example regarding the form of dispatch and mode of dispatch) or in the range from - ⁇ to 0 for 1 to h services of the postal consignor (for example pre-sorting Bundling) with discounts for services D 1 to D r in the range from 0 to ⁇ for certain mail volumes and with tariffs E 1 to E g or E n in the range from 0 to ⁇ for 1 to g special services of the carrier, such as insurance and the like, or in the range from - ⁇ to 0 for 1 to n special services of the mail order company (for example regarding the type of delivery and type of delivery ) or one-time price reductions by the carrier.
  • the postage fee Pq for the qth carrier from a group of carriers 1 ⁇ q ⁇ l is also calculated on the basis of current tariffs for selected service requirements according to the aforementioned general formula (1).
  • the postage fees Pq ⁇ P m ?, P m ⁇ Pq? to optimize costs for the closer automatic selection of the cheapest carrier or to create a list sorted by the costs for the postage fee.
  • a carrier identification number (CIN) is assigned to each carrier.
  • the determination of the cheapest carrier in step 19 is preceded by a postage determination in step 18 in accordance with the shipping information entered in the second selection step 17.
  • the postage value is stored and then the carrier identification number CIN is incremented until a next CIN of a following carrier from the set of carriers is reached.
  • the postage carrier is again determined in accordance with the shipping information entered, the postage value being stored and the carrier identification number then being incremented again in the aforementioned manner.
  • the mail carrier name shown in the first field (from the left) in the first line in the display area 20 according to FIG. 5 identifies the automatically determined cheapest mail carrier. For the personal or other reasons mentioned, however, a mail carrier name shown in the second or other subsequent next line can also be activated or selected in order to prepare the carrier service by the desired postal carrier by processing the mail item.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mathematical Physics (AREA)
  • Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
  • Devices For Checking Fares Or Tickets At Control Points (AREA)
  • Management, Administration, Business Operations System, And Electronic Commerce (AREA)
  • Data Exchanges In Wide-Area Networks (AREA)
EP96250124A 1995-06-07 1996-06-07 Dispositif et procédé pour déterminer le transporteur postal le plus économique et pour le traitement des envois postals Ceased EP0747864A3 (fr)

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US08/484,071 US5699258A (en) 1992-04-16 1995-06-07 Assembly for franking postal matter, and multi-carrier shipping system
US484071 1995-06-07

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EP0747864A2 true EP0747864A2 (fr) 1996-12-11
EP0747864A3 EP0747864A3 (fr) 1998-09-02

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EP0854449A3 (fr) * 1996-12-31 2000-03-29 Pitney Bowes Inc. Procédé de détermination automatique du code postal d'origine par utilisation de l'identification d'appel
EP0895172A3 (fr) * 1997-07-29 2002-04-17 Francotyp-Postalia Aktiengesellschaft & Co. Méthode pour facturer des services d'expedition
EP0992947A2 (fr) 1998-10-09 2000-04-12 Francotyp-Postalia Aktiengesellschaft & Co. Dispositif et procédé de stockage de données d'utilisation d'un appareil par un utilisateur
DE19857778A1 (de) * 1998-12-04 2000-06-08 Francotyp Postalia Gmbh Verfahren zum Verarbeiten veränderbarer Dienstdatenstrukturen und Displaytexten in einem Verarbeitungsmodul und Anordnung zur Durchführung des Verfahrens
EP1017024A3 (fr) * 1998-12-04 2000-12-13 Francotyp-Postalia Aktiengesellschaft & Co. Procédé pour traiter des structures de données de service et des textes d'affichage variables dans une module de traitement et dispositif pour la mise en oeuvre de ce procédé
EP1037169A2 (fr) * 1999-03-17 2000-09-20 Francotyp-Postalia Aktiengesellschaft & Co. Procédé et dispositif d'entrée d'image de marquage dans une machine à affranchir
DE19913066A1 (de) * 1999-03-17 2000-09-21 Francotyp Postalia Gmbh Verfahren und Anordnung zur Druckstempeleingabe in eine Frankiermaschine
EP1524627A3 (fr) * 2003-09-18 2007-03-14 Pitney Bowes Inc. Methode et systeme pour associer automatiquement une valeur postale entree manuellement a une classe de service

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EP0747864A3 (fr) 1998-09-02

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