Pc postage™ service indicia design for shipping label

Abstract

Systems and methods of insuring payment of a proper amount of postage, comprise receiving payment for an amount of postage, affixing a postage indicia to a piece of mail, wherein the postage indicia includes the postage amount in a format readable only by machine, and adjusting the postage amount at a time subsequent to receipt of payment.

1 .- 27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         28 . A system for preventing postage fraud comprising:
 a scanner for reading a unique parcel number and a unique postage number from a postage indicia affixed to a mailpiece;   a database in communication with the scanner, for verifying that the unique parcel number and the unique postage number are assigned to each other; and   an electronic interface for transmitting the postage indicia to a user, wherein the electronic interface is in communication with the database such that, upon purchase of the postage indicia by the user, the database is updated with a record for the postage indicia.   
     
     
         29 . (canceled) 
     
     
         30 . The system of  claim 28 , wherein the electronic interface is the Internet. 
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 28 , wherein the database further verifies that the unique postage number has not been used on a second mailpiece. 
     
     
         32 . (canceled) 
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 28 , wherein the unique parcel number and postage number are compared to an parcel number and postage number retrieved from a new mail parcel that enters a shipper's system. 
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 28 , wherein the database is further updated with a new record for a new parcel scanned in by the scanner, wherein the new record comprises a unique parcel number and a unique postage number. 
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 28 , wherein the scanner is a portable scanner. 
     
     
         36 .- 44 . (canceled) 
     
     
         45 . The system of  claim 28 , wherein the unique parcel number includes a unique delivery confirmation number. 
     
     
         46 . The system of  claim 28 , wherein the database is further configured to compare the unique parcel number and the unique postage number with other parcel numbers and other postage numbers already stored in the database. 
     
     
         47 . The system of  claim 46 , wherein the database is further configured to detect a duplication of the postage indicia based on the comparison. 
     
     
         48 . The system of  claim 46 , wherein the database is configured to substantially delay the comparison. 
     
     
         49 . The system of  claim 28 , further comprising a computer configured to:
 receive a user request including a payment for an initial postage amount; and   generate, in response to the user request, the postage indicia including the unique postage number and the unique parcel number.   
     
     
         50 . The system of  claim 28 , wherein the postage indicia further comprising billing information of a sender, and
 the database is further configured to:
 associate the billing information with the unique postage number; and 
 determine the buffing information according to the association between the billing information and the unique postage number. 
   
     
     
         51 . A method for preventing postage fraud comprising:
 receiving a user request for purchasing postage;   transmitting, in response to the user request, a postage indicia to the user, the postage indicia including a unique postage number and a unique parcel number;   updating a database with a record of the postage indicia;   receiving a mailpiece having the postage indicia;   scanning the unique parcel number and the unique postage number from the mailpiece; and   verifying that the unique parcel number and the unique postage number are assigned to each other.   
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 51 , wherein the receiving of the user request for purchasing the postage further comprises:
 receiving a payment for an initial postage amount; and   generating the postage indicia in response to the user request.   
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 51 , further comprising updating the database with the unique parcel number and the unique postage number. 
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 53 , further comprising:
 receiving a new mailpiece having a new parcel number and a new postage number; and   comparing the unique parcel number and the unique postage number previously stored in the database with the new parcel number and the new postage number.   
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 51 , further comprising substantially delaying the verification. 
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 51 , wherein the postage indicia further comprising billing information of a sender, and
 the method further comprises:
 associating the billing information with the unique postage number; and 
 determining the billing information according to the association between the billing information and the unique postage number. 
   
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 51 , further comprising comparing the unique parcel number and the unique postage number with other parcel numbers and other postage numbers already stored in the database. 
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 57 , further comprising detecting a duplication of the postage indicia based on the comparison.