WO2013150506A1

WO2013150506A1 - System and method for producing, sorting and distributing printed letters

Info

Publication number: WO2013150506A1
Application number: PCT/IL2012/000145
Authority: WO
Inventors: Hami AZAR
Original assignee: Azar Hami
Priority date: 2012-04-03
Filing date: 2012-04-03
Publication date: 2013-10-10

Abstract

the present invention providing a "Web-To-Post" (WEB TO POST) system and methods facilitating web-based services for uploading, printing and optionally delivering letters. The mailing system includes a mailing server having a user's personalized letters and/or graphical files database(s), a processing unit and communication means between users and the system server. The WEB TO POST service, provided according to methods of the present invention, saves users a vast amount of time not having to go to the post office often on a daily basis, and provides an archive of letters sent. The service further saves in envelope use and thereby saves paper.

Description

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING, SORTING AND DISTRIBUTING PRINTED LETTERS

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to mail systems, and more particularly,

to a web-based system for handling printed mail, including printing, sorting,

25 optionally distributing letters, in an innovative way.

30 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION AND PRIOR ART

Handling bulk printed mail in offices such as law offices, accounting

offices and other offices can be man-power consuming. Tasks such as printing the letters, folding the letters, labeling and enclosing envelopes often require work

35 resources as well as storage resources.

There is therefore a need and it would be advantageous to have a

system and method for outsourcing the printing and mailing letters, in particularly large quantities of letters.

40

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will become fully understood from the detailed

45 description given herein below and the accompanying drawings, which are given

by way of illustration and example only and thus not limitative of the present invention.

FIG. I is a schematic block diagram of a system for printing and distributing letters, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an example schematic flow diagram of a method for creating and/or updating personal letter forms, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an example schematic flow diagram of a method for providing, printing and sending personal letters, according to a preferred embodiments of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Before explaining embodiments of the invention in detail, it is to be

understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of the components set forth in the host

description or illustrated in the drawings.

Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein

have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art of the invention belongs. The methods and examples provided herein are illustrative only and not intended to be limiting.

By way of introduction, the present invention provides an efficient

system and methods for producing, sorting and distributing personalized letters. Services based on the system and methods of the present invention, saves users a vast amount of time not having to go to the post office, which are often done on a daily basis. Such services further save in envelope use and thereby save paper. Furthermore, such services provide an archive of letters sent, enabling users to track mail sent, produce periodical and other reports, etc.

Figure 1 is a schematic block diagram of a WEB TO POST mailing system 100 for printing and distributing letters, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The illustrated system depicts users 1 10 connected to mail server 120 through a network 50, such as the INTERNET, LAN or WAN. Mail server 120 includes processing unit 130, users' personal letters memory database 140 and print controlling unit 160.

In variations the present invention print controlling unit 160 is

integrated into processing unit 130. Print controlling unit 160 is operatively connected to printing machine 180 facilitated to print letters for users 1 10.

Typically, a user 1 10 logs into mail server 120 and uploads one or

more electronic documents, such as graphical files containing designs and letter- form layout, personal letters, letter heads and envelopes, into memory database 140. When a user 1 10 submits a print request to WEB TO POST mailing system 100, user

1 10 selects the letter form/design from users' personal letters database 140 and provides the content information of the letter(s) user 1 10 wants to print.

Processing unit 130 merges the selected graphical data and the letter content information into a final letter product. Optionally, processing unit 130 provides user 1 10 with the final letter layout, for confirmation (or optionally, updating the letter layout). Once confirmed, the final letter product is printed and controlling unit 160 transfers the final letter layout to an appropriate printing machine 180 for printout (the print could be done in color or in grayscale). When a bulk of letters is produced for a respective list of recipients, print controlling unit 160 may sort the printing order in any pre-selected order.

Preferably, the printed letters are foldable and sealable into mailable

envelopes (for example of the type shown in patent IL94173). Finally, the ready-to- ship letter 190 is delivered to the recipient by any mail delivery service (such as first class mail, registered mail or certified mail).

Optionally, user 1 10 also selects a form and design for the mailing

envelope, stored in users' personal letters database 140. Optionally, WEB TO POST mailing system 100 folds and encloses each printed letter in a selected envelope and prints the recipient's mailing address on the envelope.

Preferably, a new user 1 10 of WEB TO POST mailing system 100 has to register to the service and upload persona! and recipient data, and acquire credit to his credit account. Then user 1 10 select or design one or more letter forms to his liking and uploads the letter form/design, to user's personal letters database 140.

Reference is now also made to Figure 2, which is an example

schematic flow diagram of a method 200 for creating and/or updating personal letter forms, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

In step 205, processing unit 130 determines if it is the first time for user 1 10 to log into WEB TO POST mailing system 100. If it is the first time for user 1 10 to log into WEB TO POST mailing system 100, then user 1 10 has to register (step 210) to WEB TO POST mailing system 100. Preferably, in step 220, user 1 10 downloads postman driver to his computer .

When done designing a letter/envelope (step 230), user 1 10 uploads (step 240) the resulting graphic file containing letter/envelope mail server 120. The system then stores the user's graphic files in a specific location such as

designated storage region 142 (see Figure 1). Method 200 is given by way of example only.

Referring now to Figure 3, which is an example of schematic flow diagram of a method 300 for providing, printing and sending personal letters, according to 140 embodiments of the present invention. Each registered user 1 10 can

send one or more letters to one or more recipients, using WEB TO POST mailing system 100.

145 In step 310 user 1 10 creates or prepares a letter or any other electronic document, for printing and mailing via WEB TO POST mailing system 100.

In step 320 user 1 10 executes postman driver and selects the desired printer from postman driver printer list.

150

In step 330 user 1 10 uploads prepared letter/document into mail server 120.

In step 340 user 1 10 selects a desired graphic file(s), from the list of graphic files stored at the mail server 120, said graphic file(s) will serve as background and/or 155 logo for user's 1 10 printed letter/document and envelope.

In step 350 the processing unit 130 merges user's 1 10 letter(s) and said graphic file(s) into designed electronic letter/document.

160 In step 360 the user selects the mail delivery method and recipient(s) from his recipients list.

In step 370 the user 1 10 selects the printing order for his letters/documents.

165 In step 380 the printing machine 180 prints the user's 1 10 designed letter(s) and seals it into mailable envelope(s). in step 390 the printed and sealed letter(s)/document(s) are send out to recipient(s).

170

In variations of the present invention, WEB TO POST mailing system 100 provides invoices and printed reports to one or more users 1 10. The reports may be history of services rendered, accounting reports or any other reports.

175

The terms "an embodiment", "embodiment", "embodiments", "the embodiment", "the embodiments", "one or more embodiments", "some embodiments", "certain embodiments", "one embodiment", "another embodiment" and the like mean "one or more (but not all) embodiments of the disclosed invention", unless expressly 180 specified otherwise. The term "variation" of an invention means an embodiment of the invention, unless expressly specified otherwise. A reference to "another embodiment" in describing an embodiment does not imply that the referenced embodiment is mutually exclusive with another embodiment (e.g., an embodiment described before the referenced embodiment), unless expressly specified otherwise. The terms "including¹¹, "having", "comprising" and variations thereof mean "including but not limited to", unless expressly specified otherwise. The terms "a", "an" and "the" mean "one or more", unless expressly specified otherwise. The term "plurality" means "two or more", unless expressly specified otherwise.

The term "herein" means "in this patent application, including anything which may be incorporated by reference", unless expressly specified otherwise. The phrase "at least one of, when such phrase modifies a plurality of things (such as an enumerated list of things) means any combination of one or more of those things, unless expressly specified otherwise.

When an ordinal number (such as "first", "second", "third" and so on) is used as an adjective before a term, that ordinal number is used (unless expressly specified otherwise) merely to indicate a particular feature, such as to distinguish that particular feature from another feature that is described by the same term or by a similar term.

When a single device or article is described herein, more than one device/article (whether or not they cooperate) may alternatively be used in place of the single device/article that is described. Accordingly, the functionality that is described as being possessed by a device may alternatively be possessed by more than one device/article (whether or not they cooperate). Similarly, where more than one device or article is described herein (whether or not they cooperate), a single device/article may alternatively be used in place of the more than one device or article that is described. The functionality and/or the features of a single device that is described may be alternatively embodied by one or more other devices which are described but are not explicitly described as having such functionality/features. Thus, other embodiments need not include the described device itself, but rather can include the one or more other devices which would, in those other embodiments, have such functionality/features.

Numerous embodiments are described in this patent application, and are presented for illustrative purposes only. The described embodiments are not, and are not intended to be, limiting in any sense. The presently disclosed invention is widely applicable to numerous embodiments, as is readily apparent from the disclosure. One of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the disclosed invention may be practiced with various modifications and alterations. Although particular features of the disclosed invention may be described with reference to one or more particular embodiments and/or drawings, it should be understood that such features are not limited to usage in the one or more particular embodiments or drawings with reference to which they are described, unless expressly specified otherwise.

The present disclosure is neither a literal description of all embodiments of the invention nor a listing of features of the invention which must be present in all embodiments.

A description of an embodiment with several components or features does not imply that all or even any of such components/features are required. On the contrary, a variety of optional components are described to illustrate the wide variety of possible embodiments of the present invention.

Although process steps or the like may be described in a sequential order, such processes may be configured to work in different orders. In other words, any sequence or order of steps that may be explicitly described does not necessarily indicate a requirement that the steps be performed in that order. The steps of processes described herein may be performed in any order practical. Further, some steps may be performed simultaneously despite being described or implied as occurring non-simultaneously (e.g., because one step is described after the other step). Although a process may be described as including a plurality of steps, that does not imply that all or any of the steps are essential or required. Various other embodiments within the scope of the described invention(s) include other processes that omit some or all of the described steps. Unless otherwise specified explicitly, no step is essential or required.

An enumerated list of items (which may or may not be numbered) does not imply that any or all of the items are mutually exclusive, unless expressly specified otherwise. Likewise, an enumerated list of items (which may or may not be numbered) does not imply that any or all of the items are comprehensive of any category, unless expressly specified otherwise.

Numerous references to a particular embodiment does not indicate a disclaimer or disavowal of additional, different embodiments, and similarly references to the description of embodiments which all include a particular feature does not indicate a disclaimer or disavowal of embodiments which do not include that particular feature.

Having thus described several aspects of at least one embodiment of this invention, it is to be appreciated various alterations, modifications, and improvements will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Such alterations, modifications, and improvements are intended to be part of this disclosure, and are intended to be within the scope of instant invention. Accordingly, the foregoing description and drawings are by way of example only.

Claims

1. Computer based method for handling mail documents, said method comprising:

a. preparing at least one electronic document;

b. executing postman driver and selecting printer from postman driver print list;

c. uploading, via network, said at least one electronic document into mail server;

d. selecting at least one graphic file from memory database;

e. merging said electronic document and said graphic file, thus

creating designed electronic document;

f. selecting mail delivery method and recipients;

g. selecting printing order for printing designed electronic documents; h. printing at least one copy of said designed electronic document and sealing it into mailable envelope;

i. sending said printed and sealed designed electronic document to at least one recipient.

2. Method of claim 1, wherein said electronic document is a letter.

3. Method of claim 1 or 2, wherein said printing is color printing.

4. Method of claim 1 or 2, wherein said printing is grayscale printing.

5. Computer based method for handling mail documents, said method

comprising:

a. registering to a web to post mailing system;

b. downloading, via network, postman driver from mail server to user's computer;

c. creating at least one graphic file and uploading it to memory

database;

d. preparing at least one electronic document; e. executing postman driver and selecting printer from postman driver print list;

f. uploading, via network, said at least one electronic document into mail server;

g. selecting at least one graphic file from memory database;

h. merging said electronic document and said graphic file, thus

creating designed electronic document;

i. selecting mail delivery method and recipients;

j. selecting printing order for printing designed electronic documents; k. printing at least one copy of said designed electronic document and sealing it into mailable envelope;

1, sending said printed and sealed designed electronic document to at least one recipient.

6. Method of claim 5, wherein said registering to web to post mailing system comprising uploading user's data and recipient data to mail server and acquiring credit account.

7. Method of claim 6, wherein said electronic document is a letter.

8. Method of claim 5 or 6 or 7, wherein said printing is color printing.

9. Method of claim 5 or 6 or 7, wherein said printing is grayscale printing.

10. Computer based method for handling mail documents, said method

comprising:

a. creating at least one graphic file and uploading it to memory

database;

b. preparing at least one electronic document;

c. executing postman driver and selecting printer from postman driver print list;

d. uploading, via network, said at least one electronic document into mail server;

e. selecting at least one graphic file from memory database; f. merging said electronic document and said graphic file, thus creating designed electronic document;

g. selecting mail delivery method and recipients;

h. selecting printing order for printing designed electronic documents; i. printing at least one copy of said designed electronic document and sealing it into mailable envelope;

j. sending said printed and sealed designed electronic document to at least one recipient.

1 1. Method of claim 10, wherein said electronic document is a letter.

12. Method of claim 10 or 1 1 , wherein said printing is color printing.

13. Method of claim 10 or 1 1, wherein said printing is grayscale printing.

14. System for handling mail documents, said system comprising:

a. a mail server connected to network and comprising processing unit, print controlling unit connected to said processing unit and memory database connected to said processing unit;

b. a printing machine connected to said mail server.