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
  • G07B17/00435—Details specific to central, non-customer apparatus, e.g. servers at post office or vendor
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING OR CALCULATING; COUNTING
  • G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • G06Q30/00—Commerce
  • G06Q30/04—Billing or invoicing
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G06—COMPUTING OR CALCULATING; COUNTING
  • G06Q—INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • G06Q99/00—Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass
• • 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
  • G07B2017/0004—Determining the location of mailpieces outside 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
  • G07B17/00435—Details specific to central, non-customer apparatus, e.g. servers at post office or vendor
  • G07B2017/00443—Verification of mailpieces, e.g. by checking databases
• • 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

Definitions

• the present invention relates to the field of postage and tracking of shipments by courier companies, express couriers or parcel forwarders, hereinafter referred to as "the distributor”.
• the present invention relates more particularly to a method of franking and tracking consignments, letter or parcel type, sent by at least one shipper to at least one recipient on at least one distribution network.
• the method comprises a step of pre - franking the mail carried out by the senders, followed by a step of franking the mail carried out by the distributor, then a step of routing the consignment to the addressee with the implementation a tracking of the shipment throughout its routing by allowing the automatic sending of an acknowledgment of receipt when the shipment arrives at its destination.
• the current electronic stamps made with 2 - dimensional barcodes, also incorporate a lot of information useful for the processing of mail by forwarding companies: Name and address of the sender, postal code of destination, and sometimes address of destination, weight of shipment, date, value of stamp or postage, request for recommendation, information necessary to track mail, etc.
• This solution is a first step in automating and simplifying the monitoring process letters or parcels for individuals, because unlike other solutions used, it makes it possible to automate the sending of the acknowledgments to the senders when the mails have arrived at their destination.
• the present invention intends to overcome the drawbacks of the prior art by proposing a new solution for the "electronic and secure" postage for shipments, for individuals, without the need for complex machines, a computer, a printer, an electronic scale and a pair of scissors or without the need to connect to Internet sites for the purchase and downloading of "electronic stamps".
• the invention is therefore particularly suitable for individuals for whom the franking machines have too high acquisition and operating costs. Businesses are still interested in using franking machines. The majority of companies usually have good franking machines.
• the method according to the present invention meets particularly well the future expectations of the companies routing and transport of letters or parcels for which the certain identification of the senders is necessary for the good invoicing of the services. It also meets the expectations of individuals allowing them to send packages or couriers by printing very easily a bar code or equivalent and depositing the package or mail in a mailbox of the carrier, for example La Poste (trade name ). Another remarkable advantage of the method according to the present invention is that it saves the user from having to weigh his mail, from having to buy stamps and having to frank his mail before depositing it in a box. letters.
• the user no longer has to possess and / or to know the franking fee grids according to the weight and destination of his shipment.
• the user no longer has to perform calculations to determine the price of the postage of his shipments to be able to ship them.
• the automatic determination of the cost of postage by the distributor makes it possible, according to the present invention, to offer unprecedented services in the field of postage billing pricing: It becomes possible to carry out billing as accurately as possible. the price of the routing service, or the latter may finally be calculated on the basis of the actual weight and distance of travel between the sender and the addressee. In general, it becomes possible for the distributor to bill his services routing to the nearest kilometer and to the nearest gram. This new approach to billing, which is remarkably made possible by the present invention, also responds well to the concerns of the distributors who will appreciate the possibility of proposing new and attractive billing models for their customers, but especially with
• the invention relates, in its most general sense, to a method of franking and tracking items, such as letters or parcels, sent by at least one sending user on at least one distribution network equipped with a system.
• information system comprising:
• a first step of pre-franking said items by a user comprising a step of affixing an identification means on each item, said identification means comprising "identification information" to uniquely identify said item .
• Said identification information being consisting of at least one identification part of the dispatch rank of the consignment, which is variable and unique for each consignment,
• a weighing and pricing step the postage required by the distributor to route the shipment based on the service options requested by the shipper
• the method further comprises, if the identification information is valid, a step of affixing a postage meter having a market value corresponding to the determined postage.
• the affixing of a postage meter with a market value to the courier or the parcel may be effected by printing, by the distributor, with the aid of 'a special franking machine, an "Electronic Stamp" as it is currently defined in the standards and standards of the postal industry in Europe.
• this affixing of a means of franking having market value could consist, for example in the automated gluing, on the mail or the parcel, by means of an appropriate franking machine, of a RFID chip constituting an "Electronic Stamp".
• the method further comprises affixing an electronic date stamp or electronic seal or electronic seal.
• This last one makes it possible to indicate, among other things, the date, the time and the references of the sorting center having taken care of the sending.
• This affixing of a dating means can be done by printing a barcode or by affixing an RFID chip constituting an "electronic seal".
• the electronic dating or electronic stamping means, as well as the possible means of delivery having market value (Electronic Stamp) affixed to the consignment can be physically realized in the same device (Code bar representing both an electronic stamp AND an electronic stamp, or RFID chip including both the data of an electronic stamp and an electronic stamp).
• the means constituting the means of identification of each item is an RFID chip and this chip can be reprogrammed, then affixing the postage meter having a market value (of the electronic stamp) , and / or at least electronic dating (electronic seal, electronic postmark) may consist of a partial reprogramming of the RFID identification means of the items by an appropriate device by the distributor so as to add, in addition to consignment identification data, the data necessary to implement the postage meter with electronic value (electronic stamp), and / or the electronic dating method and / or the electronic postmark.
• the advantage of this system is that there is reuse of the RFID chip used by the sending user as "means of identification of the and the distributor dispenses with the application of a new RFID chip, which causes the distributor considerable time and money and greatly facilitates the affixing of the electronic postage meter and / or or electronic dating and / or the postmark.
• a particular version could be envisaged with a complete reprogramming of said RFID chip or the data of the electronic postage meter, and / or electronic date and / or electronic post stamp would completely overwrite and replace the identification information of the RFID chips. shipments from the pre-franking stage.
• This last variant also has the advantage of being able to make the mail more "anonymous" while it is in transit in the network of the distributor ...
• the postage billing step and any additional services and service options that may be requested by the sender are practically made from a single carrier.
• premium SMS, MMS or EMS (Premium Service) telephone message sent or received on the sender 's mobile phone, thereby enabling micro - payment.
• Other micropayment techniques may be employed according to the embodiments of the present invention.
• micro - payment from the call of a premium - rate telephone number (Audiotel), or from the use of micro - payment means available on the Internet, such as, for example, the WHA system developed by Wanadoo and France Telecom. It is also possible to use the Micro Kiosk (Developed by France Telecom), which allows access to the Internet using a premium rate number. special.
• said method further comprises a step of automatically sending at least one SMS, MMS, EMS or an Email, Fax or even by sending a paper receipt, representing an accused person. reception when the mail has reached its destination.
• the implementation of the present invention also makes it possible to carry out a traditional mail tracking by consulting the status of a shipment via an Internet site, by indicating the rank number of dispatch, or the number user number and the shipping rank number of the mail according to the embodiments.
• said method comprises, in the procedure of affixing a means of pre - franking mail: - A step of identifying said user with S. I. the distributor;
• the validation of the dispatch rank identification numbers is carried out by an electronic signature process, by the user 's apparatus, of the identification information of the shipment (including the rank identification number). shipping), then verification of said electronic signature by the IS of the distributor.
• the electronic signature must at least relate to the shipping rank number, but all the identification data of the shipment may actually be signed without hindering this invention.
• the signature may advantageously be replaced by a validation code which guarantees the validity of a given identification rank number.
• a local database is then interrogated at the user 's apparatus and, for example, an embodiment is searched.
• verification of the validity of the validation code of a shipment is done by consulting a copy of the same validation code database, stored for each user in the used database in the information system. of the distributor.
• the distributor 's IS then interrogates its own "control" validation code base, corresponding to the mail user whose validity it seeks to check.
• the validation code obtained by the distributor using its own validation code database "check" must be identical to that generated by the user 's device, and recorded in the identification information of the means of identification of the shipment.
• this technique of verification of authenticity by a validation code is based on a single key technique, or the same basis validation code must be both registered in a database of the user, and also in a database at the distributor, for each user.
• the validation code databases are preferably different for each user in order to increase security.
• the validation code may be dependent not only on the rank number but also, possibly, other variables present in the identification information of the consignment. However, this would then substantially increase the number of entries in said validation code base, making it difficult to operate. Indexing the validation codes only on the rand number of each mail seems to be the most optimal solution.
• the distributor will proceed to verify the validity of an electronic signature or a validation code, preferably according to the validation method. the rank number.
• said step of affixing an identification means consists of a step of printing, by the printing apparatus of pre-franking vouchers, of a pre-franking voucher on at least one shipment.
• said step of affixing an identification means consists in programming, by a suitable apparatus, an RFID chip on at least one item of mailing, said RFID chip being able to be already integrated in the mailing or glued thereafter on it and said chip further comprising, after said programming, the identification information of the shipment.
• said identification means further comprises an identification part of the sender user of the sending, which is invariable and unique for each user and / or a service option control part which is variable. for each shipment.
• the unique identification of the sending is done by the set of identifier of rank of expedition and identifier of the user, these two identifiers being able to be transcribed on a restricted number of characters, for example six characters each .
• a restricted number of characters for example six characters each .
• the rank number when only the rank number is present on the sending, then it must be unique by itself, which is why it is generally coded on a larger number of characters, for example 12.
• said method may further include a step of indicating, on said shipment, a distinctive visual mark if a service option control part includes the service of sending an acknowledgment of receipt to the customer. user sender, and that this service is activated.
• This distinctive mark enables the postman to immediately and easily locate the tracked items, and can then proceed to read their means of identification when he distributes the items in question to the recipients.
• said shipping rank identification part is generated at the user level by said apparatus and said transmitting step comprises sending at least the rank identifier by the user. to the distributor.
• said method further comprises a step of acknowledging the rank identifier activated by the distributor to the user.
• the method further comprises, and prior to the steps of affixing a means of identification, transmission and activation, a request from the user to the distributor initiating a step of generating said identifier. of rank by the distributor, which identifier is then activated by the distributor during said activation step in the SI.
• said transmission step consists in sending by the distributor to the user of said activated rank identifier.
• said step Generation is accompanied by the generation, by said distributor, of a pre-franking voucher comprising the identification means making it possible to uniquely identify the shipment, and said transmission step consists of downloading, via a network and by said user, said pre-franking voucher.
• said apparatus does not comprise means of communication with a communication network but comprises user interface means, and then said user realizes the connection between said apparatus and said communication network when a communication is required with the IS.
• said apparatus comprises means of communication with a communication network, said communication means being wired or wireless.
• said transmissions between the user and the distributor are carried out by communication means of the telephone message type (SMS, MMS, EMS).
• SMS telephone message type
• MMS mobile phone message type
• EMS EMS
• SMS, MMS messages over GSM is to ensure a secure identification of the recipient of the message or the sender of the message.
• Other means of transmission such as the Internet may also be used, with all the transmission protocols that the prior art knows at the level of the Internet and TCP / IP.
• the use of the Internet does not allow to guarantee the implicit identification of the users with the distributor, a step of identification, for example, with a login and a password, may be necessary in order to validate the authentication of the user to the S. I. of the distributor.
• said rank identifying information transmitted during the transmission step is encrypted.
• the identification information of the shipment contained in the identification means affixed to the shipments are encrypted.
• the identification information is signed by means of a digital signature.
• the encryption and signature means will not be described in this document because they are widely known in the prior art.
• the rank identifier is generated pseudo-randomly.
• the generation of the identifier will preferably use an algorithm to prevent the same number from being regenerated a second time.
• the implementation of such an algorithm may require the maintenance of a small database to list the numbers already generated.
• (50) a mechanism for "reloading" the validation code database when all rank numbers have been generated and used for a given user.
• This search can be implemented by downloading, or by reloading with a smart card, or by purchasing a smart card containing a "new validation code database”.
• the method may also comprise, in addition, a step of identification, on said apparatus, of the user. If the device uses a smart card, this identification can be carried out by means of a smart card itself, in the manner of the SIM cards of the GSM phones with the entry of a PIN code on the keypad. phone . Said smart card comprising user information enabling the operation of said apparatus, and possibly the databases necessary for the operation of the pseudorandom rank number generation algorithm previously described, or of the code database validation method necessary for the operation of the embodiment or the identification information of the items are validated with the aid of a validation code.
• the invention also relates to a system for implementing the method comprising at least one database having a data table of the validated numbers listing the validated shipping rank identifiers, a user data table listing the personal information of the users. , as well as a table containing the information of the items that have the service of sending an automatic acknowledgment of receipt.
• the use of the postage and mail tracking service according to the present invention by a user, requires a prior registration of the latter in the various databases of the distributor, and requires that he is given a device for generating data. means of personalized identification with its own data.
• the customization is preferably made through a smart card containing the information and parameters of each user.
• said user device may be a dedicated device, with or without its ability to communicate directly on wired or wireless telecommunications networks.
• the device may be a personal computer, equipped with a printer, or an RFID chip programmer, and appropriate software. It is also conceivable to provide software for transforming a "personal assistant" type Palm device to generate means of identification of sending. The same solution can be considered with mobile phones. In this case, an external printer or RFID chip programmer external to the phone and / or personal assistant will be required.
• said system further comprises a message management server connected to a communication network and able to process communications from users on at least one Internet telecommunications network, GSM, GRPS, UMTS, X25 ...
• a message management server connected to a communication network and able to process communications from users on at least one Internet telecommunications network, GSM, GRPS, UMTS, X25 ...
• an electronic "postage due” email message for each shipment sent automatically after the weighing and franking step of each shipment by the distributor 's IS,
• the method according to the present invention is a "mode of payment" of the postage of the mail of the users, and must therefore include all the techniques of login, identification and authentication necessary to guarantee its operation in a secure way, and to protect the to use any fraudulent use of his equipment and / or his account by unauthorized and / or malicious people, according to a model and approach, preferably similar to this employee for bank cards or mobile phones.
• the invention also relates to a method of franking and tracking consignments, such as letters or parcels, sent by at least one sending user to an address of at least one addressee, on a distribution network equipped with a delivery system.
• information item (SI) comprising: a first step of pre-franking said items by a user, comprising, among others, a step of affixing an identification means on each item, said identification means being characterized in that it makes it possible to uniquely identify each consignment by virtue of the consignment identification information contained therein, said information consisting of at least one identification part of the mail delivery rand, which is variable for each shipment, a step consisting, by the user, to deposit his pre - stamped shipments in a mailbox of the distributor. a step of weighing and determining the price of the necessary postage, carried out by the distributor for each shipment, in order to convey said shipments to their respective recipients, in according to the sending options and additional services requested by the user for each of the said items.
• said pre-franking step of the shipments further comprises, for each shipment: a user identification step, a step of generating said shipment rank identification part for said shipment, - a step of validating the identification information of said shipment,
• a step of generating the identification means for said sending is a step of generating the identification means for said sending.
• said step of generating said dispatch rank identification part for said sending is carried out by means of a suitable apparatus (50), by the user, - said generating step is followed by a step of validating the identification information of the item, characterized in that it further comprises:
• a second step of registering, by the distributor 's IS, at least said shipment rank identifying part of the received shipment in a data table of valid rank numbers in the IS of the distributor followeded by a third step of transmission, by the IS of the distributor, of at least one validation confirmation of the identification information of said shipment.
• Said validation step is followed by a step of generating the means of identification of said item to be affixed to said item from the identification information of said item, after the reception by the user by means of a device. of said confirmation of validation of the identification information of said consignment.
• said step of generating said shipment rank identification part for said consignment is characterized in that it further comprises:
• said step of generating and validating the dispatch rank identification part of the consignment is accompanied by the generation by said distributor and the transmission to the user by at least one telecommunications network.
• said identification step is performed by an authentication of the user with the SI of the distributor prior to any transmission between the user and the SI of the distributor,
• said step of generating said shipment rank identification part for said sending is carried out by means of a suitable apparatus, by the user, - said generation step is followed by a step of validation consisting in the generation of a digital signature, all or part of the identification information of said shipment and said shipping rank identification part of said shipment, and said digital signature then being added to said identification information; said sending, said validation step is followed by a step of generating the identification means of said sending to affix said sending from the identification information of said sending including said signature.
• said step of generating said dispatch rank identification part for said sending is carried out by means of a suitable apparatus, by the user, said generating step is followed by a step of validation consisting of a step of generating a validation code, said code being obtained by the reading, from a data table of the validation codes, the code corresponding to said identification part of the shipping rank of said shipment, and said code being added to the identification information of said shipment, said validation step is followed by a step of generating the identification means of said sending to affix said sending from the identification information of said sending including said validation code, and said data table of the validation codes is characterized in that it is different for each user, and that a copy of this table of the validation codes is stored in the appropriate apparatus of the user and that another copy of "control" of this same data table is stored in the data of said user. in the user data table in the distributor's IS for each user.
• the method further comprises, prior to said step of weighing and determining prices, for each shipment: a reading step by the distributor, using appropriate equipment, identification information of said shipment contained in the means identifying said shipment, affixed to said shipment, a step of verification by the distributor, of the validity of the identification information of the shipment read in said means of identification of said shipment, - if said verification step is a success , the triggering of said weighing step and determining the price of the necessary postage, carried out by the distributor, to convey said shipment to the recipient, depending on the shipping options and additional services requested by the user for the said.
• said verification step by the distributor consists of checking the presence, in said data table valid rank numbers, of said shipping rank identification part read in said means of identification of said sending
• - said step of verification by the distributor consists in checking the validity of the digital signature read in the means of identification of said sending on at least the identification part of the shipping rank of the identification information of said sent in the means of identification of the consignment
• said verification step by the distributor consists in verifying the equality of the validation code read in the identification means of said sending with the validation code of "control" obtained by reading, in the data table of the codes of validation corresponding to the user of said sending and stored the user data table, of the validation code corresponding to said identification part of the dispatch rank of said item read in said means of identification of said item, - for each item, said identification information of said shipment contained in the identification means of said shipment further comprises an identification part of the sending user of said consignment, which is invariable and unique for each user, and in that said step of verification may include, in addition, the verification of this user identification data,
• the process comprises, for each shipment, following said step of weighing and determining the price of the postage, an additional step of affixing, by the distributor, by means of an appropriate apparatus, a postage meter having a market value corresponding to the previously determined franking price,
• the method comprises, for each consignment, following said postage weighing and pricing step, an additional step of affixing, by the distributor by means of an appropriate apparatus, a means for dating the postage. taking charge of the shipment, said dating means corresponding to an "electronic date stamp” or “electronic stamp”,
• the method further comprises, during said step of determining the price of the postage, for each dispatch by the distributor, a step of calculating the distance between the point of deposit of said sending by the user and the address. of destination of said shipment, and in that said determination of the price of the postage is also a function of said calculated distance,
• said identification information of said consignment contained in said identification means affixed to said consignment during said pre - franking step further comprises a portion of control of service options and additional services which is variable; for each shipment.
• said shipment identification information contained in said shipment identification means further contains, in the service option and supplementary service order portion, a control portion of the shipment.
• the method further comprises, for each item of delivery, an optional indication step, on said sending, during the pre - franking step of said item, of a distinctive visual mark on said item of mailing if the part of the order service and supplementary service options of the said transmission contained in the means of identification of the said consignment contain a part of the service option command for the automatic sending of an acknowledgment to the user, and that said option is activated, an automatic sending step, by the distributor 's IS, of an "acknowledgment" electronic message to the user via at least one telecommunications network if said sending is correctly delivered to the recipient, and the said consignment contains the said visual mark, or the part of the order of service and supplementary service options of the said consignment contained in the means of identification of the said consignment contains an opti control part.
• said step of generating and affixing the identification means on said sending consists in programming, by an appropriate apparatus, an RFID chip, said RFID chip being already integrated in the packaging of the sending , or inserted previously or not in the shipment, or then pasted thereon and said chip further comprising, after said programming, further said identification information of said shipment,
• said step of generating and affixing the identification means to said sending consists of printing, by an appropriate apparatus, a bar code to be affixed or to be affixed to said sending, said code bar can be directly printed on said shipment, and said bar code further comprising said identification information of said shipment in the form of a barcode
• the method comprises, for each shipment, following said step of weighing and determination of postage price, a step of automated sending, by the distributor 's IS, of an electronic "postage paid" message to the user for said sending, through at least one network of postage meters; telecommunications, and said electronic message may contain all or part of the identification information of said shipment, and may also contain all or part of the information resulting from the step of weighing and calculating the price of the franking of said item,
• the method comprises, for each shipment, following said weighing step and postage price determination, a step of billing said price to the user by a means of payment.
• said billing step is performed from the sending by the user of a premium SMS +, EMS +, MMS +, or Audiotel (Premium Service) telephone message to the distributor's IS via at least one telecommunications network, or by the user receiving the "postage due" message from said sending sent by the distributor 's IS in the form of an SMS +, MMS +, or EMS + message by means of a message.
• at least one telecommunications network sending or receiving said SMS +, EMS +, MMS +, or audiotel message making it possible to carry out a micro payment to the user of the cost of franking said item,
• said generation of the rank identification part is a pseudo-random generation
• said step of identifying the user is performed by an authentication of the user on said apparatus
• each user's appropriate apparatus may contain a smart card containing all the parameterization information necessary for the operation of the method, and said apparatus may also integrate data transmission means compatible with wireless or wired telecommunications networks,
• said means of identification of said shipment is constituted by an RFID chip
• said steps of affixing a franking means having a market value or affixing a dating means are replaced by a a partial reprogramming step of said RFID chip constituting said identification means of said sending, and said reprogramming step allowing to add the additional data necessary, to implement said "electronic dating" means or said electronic stamp postage means "In the means of identification of said item in addition to the identification information of said item,
• the invention also relates to a system for implementing the method comprising at least one database having a validated number data table listing the validated shipping rank identifiers and the other item identification information, a table. listing the items for which the sending of an acknowledgment message to the user has been requested, a user data table listing the personal information of the users and means suitable for processing, according to the data of said database, shipments having pre-franking vouchers containing rank identification data and weighing and determining franking price of said shipments if the rank identification data are valid with respect to the data contained in said database.
• FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of the franking device and tracking shipments according to the present invention
• FIG. 2 is a flow chart of the method of franking a shipment according to the present invention
• FIG. 3 and 4 illustrate two pre-franking methods of shipments by a user according to the present invention.
• the bar code that the sender prints on the envelope comprises: - a bar code initialization and termination part;
• an identification part of the sender (or user): it is a unique number assigned to a single user; - a part identifying the dispatch number: this is a different number for each consignment of the same sender;
• distributedor or “distribution company” refers to the structures or companies in charge of the delivery of parcels and couriers from the assumption of responsibility for these until the delivery to the recipient.
• a distributor can be La Poste (commercial name) or any parcel carrier, goods, ...
• the invention is a method, carried out by the user, of pre - franking of items, of the parcel or letter type, sent by at least one user, said method comprising a printing step of a bar code, for example as described above, on each item, the bar code comprising at least one identification part of the dispatch rank of the item, this part being variable for each item.
• the method further includes transmitting between the user and a server of the distribution company the rank identifier used for sending, and the activation of that identifier by the server of the distribution company.
• the distribution network may be a postal distribution network such as that of La Poste (commercial name) but also any other distribution network of goods.
• the present invention is based on the activation of a rank identifier which will be used for a sending.
• This activation is carried out by means of a dedicated server of the distributor.
• For the user requesting this activation step only the sending comprising this identifier is processed by the distribution organization.
• the user initially registered with the distribution network by the deposit of personal information stored in a database of users (110) with which is associated with the unique identifier of the user provided by the distributor. A more detailed description of the registration process and the data transmitted is provided in the aforementioned patent.
• the user database also contains the mobile phone number of the user in order to be able to send him messages of the SMS, MMS or EMS type, but also to be able to identify the user by means of his mobile phone number.
• the user who wants to send a mail prints using a dedicated device (50), for example that described in the patent FR 2 826 758, a barcode comprising its unique user identifier, the identifier of rank of mail to send and service option information
• the apparatus (50) for printing bar codes or a module which is connected to this apparatus generates (300) pseudo randomly a new rank number at the request of the user.
• the unit has a LCD screen to display the generated number.
• This rank number consists of alphanumeric characters, for example numbers.
• the rank numbers comprise at least two digits. In particular, they are composed of four or six digits.
• the rank identifiers are randomly generated or pseudo-random and comprise a larger number of digits. This embodiment makes it possible to increase security since any hacker would find it more difficult to find an active rank number among a million than among a hundred.
• the apparatus or device may include means for storing the last numbers generated so as to ensure that a number is not regenerated in a too short time, for example two months.
• the user then edits an SMS message containing the rank number generated and then transmits it (310), via a telecommunications network (60), to the information system (SI) of the distributor.
• the IS is the set of technical and computer resources (servers, databases) at the level of the distributor allowing the management of shipments, customers, ... It contains a message management server (140) connected to the telecommunications network and able to receive, transmit and process connections. It is envisaged to provide the apparatus (50) with communication means (e.g. Bluetooth) with the phone. The apparatus (50) then transmits the rank number to the SI directly via the telephone.
• communication means e.g. Bluetooth
• the user can add to the rank number, a text field to qualify the shipment, for example "tax” or “invitation”. This field may then be mentioned in all the exchanges between the user and the distributor in order to facilitate the recognition, for the user, of the item concerned.
• the user ensures the IS to be able to identify it surely: for example, the telephone number of the sender of the telephone messages is unique to the user.
• the active IS (320) the rank number received by storing it in a database of active numbers (150), associated with the identifier of the user, the latter having been retrieved from the database of users through his telephone number .
• the received rank number is already in the database (150) active numbers for the same user, it means that it is already in use for a current shipment.
• the information system then sends a message to the user to inform him.
• the database (150) of the active numbers further contains another field (for example, a "status" tag) for specifying whether the number is only “active” (activated by the user but the mail of this rank has not yet been taken care of by the distributor) or if it is "in the course of routing" (the mail of this number of rank was taken care by the distributor).
• a "status" tag for specifying whether the number is only "active” (activated by the user but the mail of this rank has not yet been taken care of by the distributor) or if it is "in the course of routing" (the mail of this number of rank was taken care by the distributor).
• the IS deals only with the messages received from the users and more precisely the telephone numbers of the users, numbers stored in the user database.
• the message management server 140
• the latter may either ignore it or return a message informing that the user must register or modify his personal data.
• the SI can send an SMS message (330) back to the user to inform him that the rank number is activated and can be used for sending the parcel.
• the activation (320) and confirmation (330) steps must be carried out rapidly, for example in real time (less than the time required for the user's pre-franking operations, for example one minute), so that the user knows if he can use this rank number for the mail to be sent.
• the acknowledgment sent by S. I. from the distributor to the user can be replaced by sending (downloading) a file including a pre - franking form ready to be printed ...
• This message also makes it possible to inform the user of the amount of the postage, and possibly to proceed to the payment by the use of surcharged SMS, for example.
• the activated rank number can be retrieved by the user by calling a voice server and identifying with it.
• barcode printing terminals will be available from Distributor's package deposits. These terminals have means of identifying the user wishing to pre-frank his package. Solutions for such means are present in the prior art, for example personalized smart cards (the user opens, in advance and from the distributor, a management account for the items in exchange for a personal card, this account being used then for billing), personalized RFID chips, a Wi-Fi or Bluetooth connection with a light terminal of the user, ...
• This terminal if connected to a network, may issue a request to know and activate a new rank number. Otherwise it generates a rank number pseudo-random, the user must then activate this number.
• the terminal then prints on the package the bar code containing the required information.
• the user desires a valid and active rank number for sending a mail. It sends a request (400), for example in the form of an SMS message, to the distributor's message management server.
• the information system identifies the user through the SMS dispatch telephone number. This identification is implicit in the mode of transmission of the request. Indeed, it is equally possible to implement encryption means by private key-public key or digital signature means to ensure a secure identification of the user by the information system.
• the information system generates (410) pseudo randomly a rank number not present in the database of active numbers and records it in this database with the user 's identifier. By this operation (410), it ensures that the generated rank number is active.
• the information system sends an SMS message to the user (420) indicating the active generated rank number.
• the user enters (430) this number into the barcode printer. It can, for example, use a keyboard input connected to the device.
• the printing apparatus and the mobile telephone are provided with wireless communication means, of the Bluetooth or Wifi type.
• the rank number is encrypted either by the printing apparatus or by the distributor information system. Only the encrypted number is transmitted between the user and the distributor 's IS while the unencrypted number is printed in the bar code. The opposite is also possible, ie the printing of the encrypted rank number and the transmission of the unencrypted number. Only the apparatus and the IS know the encryption and decryption algorithm, which can be machine specific ("hard” in the machine) or a user (with the unique identifier of the machine as a parameter). the user). The interest of encryption is to prevent an attacker who might have intercepted the transmission content to print a valid barcode by encrypting the information exchanged with the S. I. Thus, when a person is able to retrieve one of the data sent (clear or encrypted rank number), he is not able to determine the associated rank number required for activation.
• the user issues a request to the distributor's IS to generate a pre-franking voucher.
• This request can be made by any means of communication: Internet, telephony, ...
• the distributor then generates a pre-franking voucher downloadable from the Internet.
• a pre-franking voucher are integrated means of secure identification of the shipment associated with it.
• the pre-franking voucher is a graphical representation containing the means of identification, for example in the form of a single or two-dimensional bar code, of a 2D coded image.
• the pre-franking voucher is then printed and affixed to the parcel to be sent.
• the means of identification may contain the user identifier plus a rank number generated by the IS: the combination of these two numbers is unique and ensures the certain identification of the package. .
• the user identifier may not be used (unrecognized user) in which case a rank number on a large number of digits is generated in a unique manner: this number alone allows the certain identification of the parcel.
• the distributor makes the pre-franking voucher available on the Internet for download, either by secure access with user identification or directly in response to the user's request. The latter then downloads this coupon and prints it before affixing it to his package. When the coupon is downloaded, the shipping rank identifier is transmitted between the IS and the user.
• This rank number is intrinsic to the pre-franking voucher.
• Said pre-franking item is preferably and advantageously constituted by an "image" file representing a barcode, in a standard image format known from the prior art, such as for example a JPEG, GIF or BMP file, or same PDF.
• the advantage of this embodiment is that the user is sent a pre-franking coupon ready to be printed and requiring no particular software.
• This embodiment therefore has the advantage of being able to be implemented by means of a computer connected to the Internet, a communicating PDA or an MMS mobile phone coupled to a printer, and without it being necessary to Have specific hardware or software available to use the service and print the coupon.
• the transmission of the pre-franking voucher can therefore be carried out by the distributor by sending an Email or an MMS containing an image file in a standard format, for example in JPEG, GIF, BMP or PDF format. But the transmission can also be done through an FTP or HTTP server to which the user will have to connect to download the image file of the pre-franking voucher.
• an electronic stamp means any means affixed to parcels associated with the payment of routing costs and which requires electronic means to read all or part of the information contained.
• an electronic stamp may be an RFID chip, or a coded print.
• the envelope barcode is read (240) by an appropriate device (eg automatic reading) to determine the sender identifier, the service options to adapt postage and billing, and the rank number of the mail. Then the enterprise information system is requested (request on the server 130) to check (250) that the rank number present on the envelope is valid (active) for the sender. For this, the processing server will compare the rank number read with those present in a database of active rank numbers. If the number of rank is valid, it is that the user has made the request to activate this number, which ensures that the sending has been posted by the user in question.
• an appropriate device eg automatic reading
• the enterprise information system is requested (request on the server 130) to check (250) that the rank number present on the envelope is valid (active) for the sender. For this, the processing server will compare the rank number read with those present in a database of active rank numbers. If the number of rank is valid, it is that the user has made the request to activate this number, which ensures that the sending has been posted by the user in
• the bar code is valid, the "status" tag of the database of active numbers is changed to "in progress" for the rank number and the distributor can print (260) on the envelope a stamp, for example electronic, with dedicated franking equipment.
• a stamp for example electronic
• Many electronic stamp solutions are available in the prior art and are already, for example, an exploitation, for example in Italy.
• the rank number has not been activated in the database, then it is an impersonation of either the user identifier or the rank number.
• the mail is then rejected (280) by the distributor.
• the distributor may inform (290) the user whose identifier is present in the barcode so that the latter corrects the situation (ie activates the rank number) if it is an oversight.
• the mail is supported by the distributor at this stage. He then proceeds to his delivery to his addressee.
• the rank number of this mail is then removed from the database of the active numbers. The rank number is available again for a new shipment.
• new messages may be sent (275) to the user or the recipient to inform them of the follow up of their mail.
• Management elements of such mail tracking are provided by the patent FR 2 826 758, for example a shipment tracking database (120).
• new messages may be sent to the user or the recipient to inform them of the follow - up of their mail.
• Elements for managing such mail tracking are provided by the patent FR 2 826 758, for example a shipment tracking database (120).
• the method according to the present invention ensures the strong identification of the user by means of the bar code printed on the envelope and by the operation of prior activation of the rank number used in the bar code.
• the user must activate each rank number that he uses before sending it, this activation operation ensuring that only the user and the distributor 's information system are aware of the active rank numbers.
• Micro-payment In a variant of the invention, other means of micro-payment can be used for the payment of the services requested by the user. It can be envisaged to have a direct debit, a payment by the Internet, a payment by credit card via the mobile phone, it is also envisaged that the user can have a prepaid account or not with the distributor and on which is taken the amount of the transactions.
• the bar code printed on the envelope does not contain the identifier of the sender user.
• This variant guarantees the anonymity of the sender.
• the active rank numbers are then no longer indexed by the user identifier: they can be of increased length, for example on eight or ten digits.
• the information making it possible to uniquely identify the items of mail is parameterized in a chip, for example of the RFID type, enabling easy remote reading.
• the chip is already integrated in the packaging of the package or it is then glued on the package to be sent and the process of reading and franking by the distributor is all the easier to automate.
• the user has a RFID chip setting machine operating in a manner similar to the barcode printing machine described above: generation or entry of the rank number, presence of the sender number, choice of sending options.
• the user can also go to a postal center where an RFID terminal allows him, from a personal smart card, to edit chips to use.
• the mailboxes of users of the service also has a user identifier: barcode or RFID chip.
• This identifier allows the factor to verify that the recipient corresponds to the one mentioned on the package, but also to inform the recipient by sending an SMS message that a package is available or to mention the elements of the recipient in the acknowledgment message provided to the sender of the shipment.

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• Devices For Checking Fares Or Tickets At Control Points (AREA)

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• 2005
  • 2005-01-27 FR FR0500858A patent/FR2881250B1/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2006
  • 2006-01-27 WO PCT/FR2006/050065 patent/WO2006079756A2/fr not_active Ceased
  • 2006-01-27 US US11/814,938 patent/US20090216686A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2006-01-27 EP EP06709449A patent/EP1842166A2/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2006-01-27 CA CA002595626A patent/CA2595626A1/fr not_active Abandoned

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