Generating a courier shipping label or the like, including an ornamental graphic design, at a non-courier printer

Abstract

A digital electrical computer apparatus located at an order center is used to control shipping a product from a remotely located distribution center. A method includes the steps of: producing output electrical signals representing a packing list for an order of a product by causing an ordering apparatus located at an order center to change input digital electrical signals into the output digital electrical signals, the ordering apparatus including a digital electrical computer having a processor, the processor electrically connected to a memory device for storing and retrieving machine-readable signals in the memory device, to an input device for receiving input data and converting the input data into the input electrical signals, and to an output device for receiving the output electrical signals, and wherein the processor is controlled by a computer program to implement the step of producing; assigning shipping information signals to the order with a digital electrical computer shipping apparatus; linking, by digital communication, the signals representing the packing list with the shipping information signals; transmitting signals representing the packing list and the shipping information signals to, and receiving the signals representing the packing list and the shipping information signals at, a printer device at a distribution center located remotely from the order center and from the digital electrical computer shipping apparatus; printing the packing list and a shipping label at the printer device at the distribution center; and shipping the product, along with the shipping label, from the distribution center.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A method for generating an ornamental design on a courier shipping label at a non-courier printer in connection with printing the label for a particular shipment specified on the label, the method including the steps of: 
 assigning shipping information signals corresponding to a shipping label for a particular shipment with a digital electrical computer shipping apparatus;    transmitting the shipping information signals corresponding to the shipping label for the particular shipment to a non-courier printer device;    combining the shipping information signals corresponding to the shipping label for the particular shipment with signals corresponding to an ornamental design; and    printing the shipping label for the particular shipment at the non-courier printer device including an ornamental design.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the ornamental design includes a heart.  
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the ornamental design includes a wreath.  
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the ornamental design is printed in color.  
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the ornamental design is a printing of bit map, said bit map not including a logo, shipment, or courier information.  
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the ornamental design is a first design and said first design includes a second design.  
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further including the step of controlling addition of the design to the shipping label at an ordering system computer.  
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further including the step of controlling addition of the design to the shipping label at an ordering center system computer.  
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further including the step of controlling addition of the design to the shipping label at a financial institution system computer.  
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further including the step of controlling addition of the design to the shipping label at a distribution center system.  
     
     
         11 . A method for generating an ornamental design on a sheet including a member from a group consisting of a courier shipping label, a greeting card, and a packing list, the member printed at a shipper printer device in connection with a particular shipment, the method including the steps of: 
 assigning digital electrical signals corresponding to a member of the group for a particular shipment;    transmitting the digital electrical signals corresponding to the member of the group for the particular shipment to a shipper printer device;    combining the digital electrical signals corresponding to the member of the group for the particular shipment with signals corresponding to an ornamental design; and    printing the member of the group, including the ornamental design, for the particular shipment at the shipper printer device.    
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the ornamental design includes a heart.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the ornamental design includes a wreath.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the ornamental design is printed in color.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the ornamental design is a printing of bit map, said bit map not including a logo, shipment, or courier information.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the ornamental design is a first design and said first design includes a second design.  
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 11 , further including the step of controlling addition of the design at an ordering system computer.  
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 11 , further including the step of controlling addition of the design at an ordering center system computer.  
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 11 , further including the step of controlling addition of the design at a financial institution system computer.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 11 , further including the step of controlling addition of the design at a distribution center system.  
     
     
         21 . A method for generating an ornamental design on a sheet including a member from a group consisting of a courier shipping label, a greeting card, and a packing list, the member printed at a shipper printer device in connection with a particular shipment including at least two members of the group, the method including the steps of: 
 assigning digital electrical signals corresponding to a member of the group for a particular shipment;    transmitting the digital electrical signals corresponding to the member of the group for the particular shipment to a shipper printer device;    combining the digital electrical signals corresponding to the member of the group for the particular shipment with signals corresponding to an ornamental design; and    printing the member of the group, including the ornamental design, for the particular shipment at the shipper printer device.    
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein said at least two members are printed on the same sheet.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein all said members are printed on the same sheet.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 20 , further including the steps of: 
 combining ornamental design signals with signals for printing another member of the group; and    printing the member of the group, including the ornamental design, for the particular shipment at the shipper printer device.    
     
     
         25 . A method for using a digital electrical computer apparatus located at an order center for shipping a product from a remotely located distribution center, the method including the steps of: 
 producing output electrical signals representing a packing list for an order of a product by causing an order center apparatus located at an order center to change input digital electrical signals into the output digital electrical signals, the order center apparatus including a digital electrical computer having a processor, the processor electrically connected to a memory device for storing and retrieving machine-readable signals in the memory device, to an input device for receiving input data and converting the input data into the input electrical signals, and to an output device for receiving the output electrical signals, and wherein the processor is controlled by a computer program to implement the step of producing;    assigning shipping information signals to the order with a digital electrical computer shipping apparatus;    linking, by digital communication, the signals representing the packing list with the shipping information signals;    transmitting the signals representing the packing list to, and receiving the signals representing the packing list at, a printer device at a distribution center located remotely from the order center;    printing the packing list at the printer device at the distribution center; and    shipping the product specified by the packing list, in accordance with the shipping information signals, from the distribution center.    entering more of the input data at the input device to produce more of the output electrical signals representing a customized message received from an ordering system for communication to a recipient of the product;    the step of linking includes linking, by digital communication, the signals representing packing list with the signals representing the customized element;    the step of transmitting includes transmitting the signals representing the customized element, along with the shipping information signals, to the printer device at the distribution center;    the step of printing includes printing the customized graphical element, along with the packing list and a shipping label, at the printing device at the distribution center; and    the step of shipping is carried out by shipping the customized graphical element, along with the product, from the distribution center.    
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the step of printing includes printing the message and the graphical element on a greeting card.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 25 , wherein the step of printing is carried out by locating a sheet in the printer, the sheet including a greeting card for the message and having preprinted artwork and demarcations for detaching the greeting card from the packing list and the shipping label; and wherein the step of shipping includes separating the packaging list, the shipping information, and the greeting card by tearing the sheet at the demarcations.