Systems and methods for providing an express mail label

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for generating a mailing label. In one embodiment, a method includes requesting, through a communication channel, a tracking number for the mailing label, wherein the tracking number identifies that the mailing label is printable by a user on a single-sheet medium; receiving, through the communication channel, a response to said request, such that the response includes the tracking number provided by a source of one or more tracking numbers; and enabling the user to print the mailing label with the received tracking number.

1 .- 90 . (canceled) 
     
     
         91 . A computer-implemented method for providing a mailing label to be affixed to a mail item, the method comprising:
 receiving, by a computer, a request for a tracking number from a user;   transmitting, by the computer, a response to the request to the user, the response including the tracking number and a representation of a mailing label printable by the user for mailing a mail item;   providing, by the computer, a receipt to the user, wherein the receipt serves as a proof of the mailing of the mail item; and   providing, by the computer, the receipt and the tracking number to a financial database, the receipt being associated with the tracking number in the financial database.   
     
     
         92 . The method of  claim 91 , further comprising determining, by the computer, whether the request is for the mailing label and whether the mailing label is printable on a single-sheet medium. 
     
     
         93 . The method of  claim 91 , further comprising storing in a storage device the tracking number. 
     
     
         94 . The method of  claim 91 , wherein the receiving of the request further comprises receiving payment information corresponding to the user. 
     
     
         95 . The method of  94 , wherein the receiving of the payment information further comprises receiving a credit card number corresponding to the user. 
     
     
         96 . The method of  claim 94 , further comprising:
 recording a credit in the financial database; and   recording against the credit a payment received from a bank.   
     
     
         97 . The method of  91 , wherein the receiving of the request for comprises receiving a ZIP code for a destination of the mail item. 
     
     
         98 . The method of  claim 91 , further comprising determining the tracking number in response to the request. 
     
     
         99 . The method of  claim 98 , further comprising:
 transmitting information identifying the user to a source database; and   determining the tracking number according to the source database.   
     
     
         100 . The method of  claim 99 , further comprising receiving a response from the source database, wherein the response includes the tracking number corresponding to the user. 
     
     
         101 . The method of  claim 91 , wherein the tracking number includes a unique prefix. 
     
     
         102 . The method of  claim 101 , wherein the unique prefix is a two-character prefix. 
     
     
         103 . The method of  claim 101 , wherein the unique prefix distinguishes the mailing label printable on a single-sheet medium from other mailing labels printable on multi-sheet media. 
     
     
         104 . The method of  claim 101 , wherein the unique prefix distinguishes the mailing label printable by the user from other mailing labels printable by persons other than the user. 
     
     
         105 . The method of  claim 91 , wherein the mailing label is an Express Mail label. 
     
     
         106 . The method of  claim 91 , wherein the transmitting of the response further comprises transmitting the response to the user through a network. 
     
     
         107 . A computer-readable medium comprising instructions, which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform a method for providing a mailing label to be affixed to a mail item, the method comprising:
 receiving a request for a tracking number from a user;   transmitting a response to the request to the user, the response including the tracking number and a representation of a mailing label printable by the user for mailing mail item;   providing a receipt to the user, wherein the receipt serves s a proof of the mailing of the mail item; and   providing the receipt and the tracking number to a financial database, the receipt being associated with the tracking number in the financial database.   
     
     
         108 . A computer system for providing a mailing label to be affixed to a mail item, the system comprising:
 a memory for storing instructions;   a processor for executing the instructions, which cause the processor to:
 receive a request for a tracking number from a user; 
 transmit a response to the request to the user, the response including the tracking number and a representation of a mailing label printable by the user for mailing a mail item; 
 provide a receipt to the user, wherein the receipt serves as a proof of the mailing of the mail item; and 
 provide the receipt and the tracking number to a financial database, the receipt being associated with the tracking number in the financial database. 
   
     
     
         109 . The computer system of  claim 108 , further comprising a source database for storing a plurality of tracking numbers. 
     
     
         110 . The computer system of  claim 108 , wherein the instructions further cause the processor to retrieve the tracking number from the source database in response to the request by the user.