MAIL PROCESSING SYSTEM WITH UNIQUE MAILPIECE AUTHORIZATION ASSIGNED IN ADVANCE OF MAILPIECES ENTERING CARRIER SERVICE MAIL PROCESSING STREAM

摘要

A mailing list is created including destination addresses for mailpieces to besubmitted to a carrier service for delivery. A unique mailpiece identifier associatedwith mailpieces on the mailing list is generated by the carrier or other trusted thirdparty. The unique mailpiece identifier is printed on the mailpiece with which it isassociated. The mailpieces with the printed unique identifier are submitted to thecarrier service. The carrier service obtains the printed unique identifier from themailpiece. The obtained unique identifier from each said mailpiece is utilized toverify that data associated with the mailpiece has been processed by the carrier ortrusted third party. When the unique number has been obtained from themailpieces, the carrier service, if desired, may note this fact in the carrier records toprevent reuse of the unique identifier. The carrier service as part of issuing theunique identification may: charge the mailer's account of other fund depository forthe carrier service charges associated with the mailpiece; and/or, assign adestination delivery code; and/or, provide address hygiene for the mailpiece; and/orchange of address processing. When the unique identifier is obtained from themailpiece, a delivery point destination code may be printed on the mailpiece, basedon the corrected address. As an alternative, the destination delivery code may beprovided to the mailer with the unique mailpiece identifier to be printed on themailpiece by the mailer. Various cryptographic techniques may be employed toauthenticate the mailer and the carrier service and to protect the transmittedinformation between the parties. The payment for the carrier services can beimplemented prior in time to the entry of the mailpieces to the carrier servicemailstream. Unauthorized mailpieces may be out sorted early in the carrier serviceprocessing procedure.