System and method for printing multiple postage indicia

Abstract

An envelope having a window for allowing a printed postage indicia to show through is shown. According to a preferred embodiment, the postage indicia window may be provided with a glassine covering. Preferably the postage indicia may be put in a corner of a document to be mailed and the document placed in the envelope so that the postage indicia shows through the postage indicia window.

1 - 35 . (canceled)  
   
   
       36 . A mailing system comprising: 
 a portable storage device that securely stores a postage value;    a network connection that allows the postage value to be incremented upon authorization from a remote site;    a printer that prints the postage for an item to be mailed and decrements the postage value; and    software that tracks the postage value and provides statistics on postage usage to a user.    
   
   
       37 . The mailing system of  claim 36 , wherein the portable storage device comprises a memory and a processor.  
   
   
       38 . The mailing system of  claim 36 , wherein the network connection is a digital network connection.  
   
   
       39 . The mailing system of  claim 36 , wherein the network connection is a telephone network connection.  
   
   
       40 . The mailing system of  claim 36 , wherein the network connection is an Internet connection.  
   
   
       41 . The mailing system of  claim 36 , wherein the remote site is a U.S. Postal facility.  
   
   
       42 . The mailing system of  claim 36 , wherein the printer prints the postage onto an envelope of the item.  
   
   
       43 . The mailing system of  claim 36 , wherein the printer prints the postage onto a label for attachment to the envelope of the item.  
   
   
       44 . The mailing system of  claim 36 , wherein the printer prints the postage on the item which is displayed through a window on the envelope.  
   
   
       45 . The mailing system of  claim 36 , further comprising: 
 a scale that weighs the item to be mailed to determine the postage for the item.    
   
   
       46 . The mailing system of  claim 36 , wherein the postage that is printed comprises at least one of a human readable portion and a logo portion.  
   
   
       47 . The mailing system of  claim 46 , wherein one of the human readable portion and the logo portion is a user selected personalized indicia.  
   
   
       48 . A mailing system comprising: 
 means for securely storing a postage value;    means for connecting the mailing system to a remote site to allow the postage value to be incremented upon authorization from the remote site;    means for printing the postage for an item to be mailed;    means for decrementing the postage value that operates in response to the means for printing; and    means for providing statistics on postage usage to a user based on the postage value.    
   
   
       49 . The mailing system of  claim 48 , wherein the means for connecting establishes a digital network connection.  
   
   
       50 . The mailing system of  claim 48 , wherein the means for connecting establishes a telephone network connection.  
   
   
       51 . The mailing system of  claim 48 , wherein the means for connecting establishes an Internet connection.  
   
   
       52 . The mailing system of  claim 48 , further comprising: 
 means for weighing the item to be mailed to determine the postage for the item.    
   
   
       53 . The mailing system of  claim 48 , wherein the postage that is printed comprises at least one of a human readable portion and a logo portion.  
   
   
       54 . The mailing system of  claim 53 , wherein one of the human readable portion and the logo portion is a user selected personalized indicia.  
   
   
       55 . A method of mailing an item comprising: 
 weighing the item to be mailed to determine a postage for the item;    securely storing a postage value;    printing the postage for an item to be mailed;    decrementing the postage from the postage value;    connecting to a remote site to allow the postage value to be incremented upon authorization from the remote site; and    providing a statistic on postage usage to a user based on the postage value.    
   
   
       56 . The method of  claim 55 , wherein the printing comprises: 
 printing the postage onto an envelope of the item.    
   
   
       57 . The method of  claim 55 , wherein the printing comprises: 
 printing the postage onto a label for attachment to the envelope of the item.