EP1762985A1 - Method for obtaining a postage credit over a telecommunication network - Google Patents

Method for obtaining a postage credit over a telecommunication network Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1762985A1
EP1762985A1 EP06120221A EP06120221A EP1762985A1 EP 1762985 A1 EP1762985 A1 EP 1762985A1 EP 06120221 A EP06120221 A EP 06120221A EP 06120221 A EP06120221 A EP 06120221A EP 1762985 A1 EP1762985 A1 EP 1762985A1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
credit
postage
communication device
user
portable communication
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Ceased
Application number
EP06120221A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Inventor
Fabien Chatte
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Quadient Technologies France SA
Original Assignee
Neopost Technologies SA
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Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Neopost Technologies SA filed Critical Neopost Technologies SA
Publication of EP1762985A1 publication Critical patent/EP1762985A1/en
Ceased legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07B—TICKET-ISSUING APPARATUS; FARE-REGISTERING APPARATUS; FRANKING APPARATUS
    • G07B17/00—Franking apparatus
    • G07B17/00016—Relations between apparatus, e.g. franking machine at customer or apparatus at post office, in a franking system
    • G07B17/0008—Communication details outside or between apparatus
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07B—TICKET-ISSUING APPARATUS; FARE-REGISTERING APPARATUS; FRANKING APPARATUS
    • G07B17/00—Franking apparatus
    • G07B17/00459—Details relating to mailpieces in a franking system
    • G07B17/00661—Sensing or measuring mailpieces
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07B—TICKET-ISSUING APPARATUS; FARE-REGISTERING APPARATUS; FRANKING APPARATUS
    • G07B17/00—Franking apparatus
    • G07B17/00016—Relations between apparatus, e.g. franking machine at customer or apparatus at post office, in a franking system
    • G07B17/00024—Physical or organizational aspects of franking systems
    • G07B2017/00048—Software architecture
    • G07B2017/00056—Client-server
    • G07B2017/00064—Virtual meter, online stamp; PSD functions or indicia creation not at user's location
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07B—TICKET-ISSUING APPARATUS; FARE-REGISTERING APPARATUS; FRANKING APPARATUS
    • G07B17/00—Franking apparatus
    • G07B17/00016—Relations between apparatus, e.g. franking machine at customer or apparatus at post office, in a franking system
    • G07B17/0008—Communication details outside or between apparatus
    • G07B2017/00112—Wireless
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07B—TICKET-ISSUING APPARATUS; FARE-REGISTERING APPARATUS; FRANKING APPARATUS
    • G07B17/00—Franking apparatus
    • G07B17/00459—Details relating to mailpieces in a franking system
    • G07B17/00661—Sensing or measuring mailpieces
    • G07B2017/00709—Scanning mailpieces
    • G07B2017/00717—Reading barcodes

Definitions

  • the present invention relates exclusively to the field of mail processing and more particularly relates to a method for obtaining a postage credit through a telecommunications network.
  • TPE very small company
  • An alternative that does not apply to parcels may be to purchase pre-stamped envelopes, but these cover only standard basic fare mail.
  • the operation of inputting said unique identification number may comprise either a manual key entry of the portable communication device of a string of alphanumeric characters printed on the mail piece and forming this number of unique identification is a digital capture by the portable communication device of a bar code printed on the mail piece, said bar code being preferably a two-dimensional code selected from the following codes: Aztec code, Codablock, Code one , Code 16K, Code 49, data matrix, PDF 417, QR Code, Supercode, ie a reading / interrogation by the portable communication device of an RFID indicator carried by the article of mail or its contents.
  • the operation of sending a franking credit to the franking credit supply server from the portable communication device comprises sending an SMS message including the franking credit requested.
  • the debiting operation of the user's account includes a verification of the supply of the user's account with the postage-supply server or a verification of the user's credit credit with a user. the operator's telephone operator server.
  • the operation of sending a debit confirmation to the user's portable communication device from the postage-supplying server comprises the sending of an SMS message comprising the amount debited from the credit of the user. postage requested.
  • the invention also relates to a portable communication device for carrying out the method of obtaining a postage credit advantageously constituted by one of the following devices: a mobile or portable telephone, a personal digital assistant communicating, a communicating laptop.
  • the invention also relates to a computer program comprising code instructions for carrying out the steps of the method of obtaining a postage credit when it is executed on the portable communication device.
  • FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary network architecture necessary for carrying out the method of obtaining postage credit according to the invention. It is based on the use of a portable communication device 10 which is used to obtain and pay a postage credit relating to a mail item 12 which is desired to ensure shipment via any post office box 14 of the postal administration.
  • a portable communication device 10 which is used to obtain and pay a postage credit relating to a mail item 12 which is desired to ensure shipment via any post office box 14 of the postal administration.
  • mail article we mean no only an envelope but also a label to be stuck on any type of package to ship.
  • this mail item is previously provided with a unique identification number 12A, preferably sequential or non-removable random type, which was printed during the process of creating the article of mail, which guarantees the quality of printing, and whose uniqueness ensures that two items of mail can not in any case bear the same number.
  • this unique identification number may be stored in a contactless chip, or RFID tag, carried by the mailpiece or its contents. It is important to note that unlike a stamp or postage stamp of a postage meter, this number does not represent any postage amount and therefore does not contain any monetary value.
  • this unique identification number is advantageously in the form of a high-capacity coding code for numeric or alphanumeric data and error corrections, such as two-dimensional bar codes, the most known are: Aztec code, Codablock, Code one, Code 16K, Code 49, data matrix, PDF 417, QR Code or Supercode.
  • the high coding capacity of this type of code (up to 4296 characters for the most efficient) allows it to include not only the identification number but also other information related to the mail item. , as a format reference when it concerns an envelope or a manufacturer's number and a country code, as recommended by the EPC standard (electronic Product Code) developed by the eponymous standardization organization.
  • the portable communication device is linked to a postage-credit supplying server system 16, which server can itself be connected to a server system. of the postal administration 18 and possibly with a server system of an operator telephone 20 ensuring if necessary the debit of the postage credit requested directly on the telephone account which may be held by the user of the portable communication device.
  • the portable communication device 10 is any data processing device enabling long-distance wireless communication over a terrestrial or satellite wireless telecommunications network (such as GSM, UMTS, WiMax, etc. networks) such as a telephone. mobile or portable, a personal digital assistant communicating or a laptop communicating. According to the embodiment envisaged, it may comprise a digital capture device 10A, such as a digital camera or a two-dimensional bar code reader, or a module 10B for reading / interrogating non-contact chips to then cooperate with a transponder ( RFID indicator) carried by the article of mail or its contents when they are provided.
  • a digital capture device 10A such as a digital camera or a two-dimensional bar code reader
  • a module 10B for reading / interrogating non-contact chips to then cooperate with a transponder ( RFID indicator) carried by the article of mail or its contents when they are provided.
  • a transponder RFID indicator
  • the server system 16 disposed on a site of the supplier of postage credits integrates one or more computer central units comprising one or more databases and its control and management are conventionally provided by one or more computer terminals (not shown).
  • the server system 18 of the postal administration has a similar structure with one or more databases, including a database of identification numbers.
  • the server system 20 of the telephone operator has a similar structure with one or more databases, including a customer database integrating accounting data.
  • Figure 2 shows a flowchart illustrating the different steps of the method for obtaining a postage credit by a user.
  • a first step 100 of the method the user desiring a pre-printed letter 12 which he has previously acquired will click on the application icon Postage meter preinstalled on its portable communication device.
  • This validation will automatically activate the digital capture function of this device which will allow the user by means of the digital capture device 10A to enter in a step 102 an image of the 2D barcode affixed to the pre-printed article of mail, the validation of the capture of this image by the action on a shooting button (not shown) of the portable communication device, resulting in the immediate decoding of the code entered, that is to say the extraction of the number d unique identification contained in this code.
  • the digital capture function will automatically extract the identification number of this indicator by means of the reading / interrogation module 10B without any particular activation action of the indicator. other than the positioning of the portable communication device near the mail item.
  • the portable communication device then goes to a next step 104 via its display screen to ask the user to indicate the postage credit that he wishes to use to send his pre-printed mail article.
  • the amount of this postage credit which depends on the service or services requested (priority or economic for example), the geographical area of destination (national or foreign) and the weight class of the mail sent, is left to the only responsibility of the user who will have to have at his disposal the different postal rates in force on the date of his shipment. For example, for a shipment of a letter of less than 20 grams priority service to the United States, the user must apply for a credit of 0.90 Euros, while for the shipment in economic service of a package of 8kg to an overseas department, he will have to apply for a credit of 14 Euros.
  • the portable communication device then goes in a step 106 to send to the postage supply server 16 a request for a postage credit request. corresponding in the form of a short message (SMS) containing this credit and the identification number previously extracted.
  • SMS short message
  • the server 16 will receive this request and on the basis of the telephone number of the portable communication device (conventionally obtained on the basis of the IMSI or IMEI numbers of the portable communication device transmitted during the call).
  • the right of use of the user and if his account is sufficiently stocked (answer yes to the test of step 110), debit at step 112 his customer account of the corresponding amount. Failing that, he will then invite the user to recharge his credit and the communication will then be interrupted (step 114) and the user will then be able to post his mail item except to leave to the recipient the payment with a fine of the amount of postage .
  • the telephone operator 18 who can verify in turn, through access to its own customer database, if the account of the user has sufficient credit sufficient to pay the amount of the requested postage credit. If the telephone operator finds that the user's credit is insufficient, he will inform the credit provider who will then invite the user to recharge his credit and the communication will then be interrupted (step 114).
  • the server 16 will generate at step 116 , in response to the request to obtain a postage credit, a request for confirmation of obtaining the credit and send it to the portable communication device in the form of an SMS message.
  • the user being informed of the obtaining of the credit and the corresponding debit of his account can then without other formality to deposit his article of mail in the postal box 14 in a final step 118.
  • the postage credit supply server 16 will transfer to the server of the postal administration 20, all the data (identification number and associated credit) relating to the day's credit transactions or, more simply, give him access rights to all of this data.
  • any user can proceed very simply to the dispatch of any article of mail, envelope or parcel, to all destinations without having to go to an office of the postal administration, the number of unique identification (which replaces the stamp or the postage stamp of a franking machine of which he plays the role although having no monetary value) on each item of mail being sufficient for the postal administration to carry out a control of this article.
  • the postal administration will perform firstly an optical reading of the mail article to extract the identification number and the address of the recipient (for the determination of the destination zone), possibly the service when it is pre-printed on the mail item, for example "priority", and secondly a weighing of this mail item to determine the weight class and, based on this information, will calculate the amount of postage required for this mail item. It will only remain to verify that the credit paid by the user and associated with the identification number extracted from the mail item is at least equal to the amount of postage calculated to authorize its distribution to the recipient. In case of insufficient credit, the postal administration will calculate the premium payment to be made by the recipient to receive his mail item.
  • this number is a simple alphanumeric code. formed of a string of one or more tens of alphanumeric characters machine readable by means of an OCR reader or simply simply entered directly by the user on the keyboard of his portable communication device.

Abstract

The method involves entering a unique identification number (12A) carried by a mail item (12) in the user`s possession, via a user`s portable communication device (10). A franking credit is entered into the communication device, and the requested franking credit is transmitted to a franking credits delivery server (16). The user`s account is debited by an amount corresponding to the requested franking credit, and a debit confirmation is transmitted by the franking credits delivery server to the communication device. The mail item is deposited in a post box (14) of a postal authority. An independent claim is also included for a computer program including code instructions for performing steps of a method of obtaining a franking credit.

Description

Domaine techniqueTechnical area

La présente invention se rapporte exclusivement au domaine du traitement de courrier et elle concerne plus particulièrement un procédé pour obtenir un crédit d'affranchissement au travers d'un réseau de télécommunication.The present invention relates exclusively to the field of mail processing and more particularly relates to a method for obtaining a postage credit through a telecommunications network.

Etat de la techniqueState of the art

Aujourd'hui, lorsqu'un particulier ou une très petite entreprise (TPE) qui ne possède pas de machine à affranchir souhaite procéder à l'affranchissement de son courrier, il est nécessaire, éventuellement après pesée, de coller un timbre sur chaque enveloppe ou colis à expédier. Une alternative qui ne s'applique toutefois pas aux colis peut consister à acheter des enveloppes pré-affranchies mais celles-ci ne concernent que des courriers au tarif de base standard.Today, when an individual or a very small company (TPE) that does not have a franking machine wants to postpone its mail, it is necessary, possibly after weighing, to stick a stamp on each envelope or parcels to be shipped. An alternative that does not apply to parcels may be to purchase pre-stamped envelopes, but these cover only standard basic fare mail.

Or, il existe un besoin, aujourd'hui non satisfait, pour un procédé d'obtention d'un crédit d'affranchissement plus universel, concernant aussi bien les enveloppes que les paquets et qui évite les inconvénients précités, notamment qui puisse être accessible par quiconque 24h sur 24h, 365 jours par an et dont la mise en oeuvre s'avère particulièrement simple.However, there is a need, today unmet, for a method of obtaining a more universal postage credit, concerning both the envelopes that packages and avoids the aforementioned drawbacks, in particular that can be accessed by anyone 24h on 24, 365 days a year and whose implementation is particularly simple.

Divulgation de l'inventionDisclosure of the invention

La présente invention a donc pour objet un nouveau procédé d'obtention d'un crédit d'affranchissement, comportant les opérations suivantes :

  • saisie sur un dispositif de communication portatif d'un utilisateur d'un numéro d'identification unique porté par un article de courrier à disposition de cet utilisateur,
  • saisie d'un crédit d'affranchissement au dispositif de communication portatif et envoi du crédit d'affranchissement ainsi demandé à un serveur de fourniture de crédits d'affranchissement,
  • débit du compte de l'utilisateur d'un montant correspondant au crédit d'affranchissement demandé et envoi par le serveur de fourniture de crédits d'affranchissement d'une confirmation de débit au dispositif de communication portatif de l'utilisateur, et
  • dépôt de l'article de courrier dans une boite postale.
The subject of the present invention is therefore a new method for obtaining a postage credit, comprising the following operations:
  • input on a portable communication device of a user a unique identification number carried by a mail item available to this user,
  • seizure of a postage credit to the communication device portable and sending the franking credit so requested to a server providing postage credits,
  • debiting the user's account of an amount corresponding to the requested postage credit and sending by the postage provisioning server a debit confirmation to the user's portable communication device, and
  • deposit of the article of mail in a postal box.

Ainsi, l'utilisation d'un simple téléphone portable permet d'obtenir à tout moment, et donc indépendamment des horaires d'ouverture des bureaux de postes, un crédit d'affranchissement permettant le paiement automatique de tout service d'affranchissement.Thus, the use of a simple mobile phone allows to obtain at any time, and therefore regardless of opening hours of post offices, a postage credit for the automatic payment of any franking service.

Selon le mode de réalisation envisagé, l'opération de saisie dudit numéro d'identification unique peut comporter soit une saisie manuelle au clavier du dispositif de communication portatif d'une chaîne de caractères alphanumériques imprimés sur l'article de courrier et formant ce numéro d'identification unique soit une capture numérique par le dispositif de communication portatif d'un code à barres imprimé sur l'article de courrier, ledit code à barres étant de préférence un code bidimensionnel choisi parmi les codes suivants : Aztec code, Codablock, Code one, Code 16K, Code 49, data matrix, PDF 417, QR Code, Supercode, soit une lecture/interrogation par le dispositif de communication portatif d'un indicateur RFID porté par l'article de courrier ou son contenu.According to the embodiment envisaged, the operation of inputting said unique identification number may comprise either a manual key entry of the portable communication device of a string of alphanumeric characters printed on the mail piece and forming this number of unique identification is a digital capture by the portable communication device of a bar code printed on the mail piece, said bar code being preferably a two-dimensional code selected from the following codes: Aztec code, Codablock, Code one , Code 16K, Code 49, data matrix, PDF 417, QR Code, Supercode, ie a reading / interrogation by the portable communication device of an RFID indicator carried by the article of mail or its contents.

De préférence, l'opération d'envoi d'un crédit d'affranchissement au serveur de fourniture de crédits d'affranchissement depuis le dispositif de communication portatif comporte l'envoi d'un message SMS comportant le crédit d'affranchissement demandé.Preferably, the operation of sending a franking credit to the franking credit supply server from the portable communication device comprises sending an SMS message including the franking credit requested.

Avantageusement, l'opération de débit du compte de l'utilisateur comporte une vérification de l'approvisionnement du compte de l'utilisateur auprès du serveur de fourniture de crédits d'affranchissement ou une vérification du crédit téléphonique de l'utilisateur auprès d'un serveur de l'opérateur téléphonique de l'utilisateur.Advantageously, the debiting operation of the user's account includes a verification of the supply of the user's account with the postage-supply server or a verification of the user's credit credit with a user. the operator's telephone operator server.

De préférence, l'opération d'envoi d'une confirmation de débit au dispositif de communication portatif de l'utilisateur depuis le serveur de fourniture de crédits d'affranchissement comporte l'envoi d'un message SMS comportant le montant débité du crédit d'affranchissement demandé.Preferably, the operation of sending a debit confirmation to the user's portable communication device from the postage-supplying server comprises the sending of an SMS message comprising the amount debited from the credit of the user. postage requested.

L'invention se rapporte aussi à un dispositif de communication portatif destiné à la mise en oeuvre du procédé d'obtention d'un crédit d'affranchissement constitué avantageusement par l'un des dispositifs suivants : un téléphone mobile ou portable, un assistant numérique personnel communiquant, un ordinateur portable communiquant.The invention also relates to a portable communication device for carrying out the method of obtaining a postage credit advantageously constituted by one of the following devices: a mobile or portable telephone, a personal digital assistant communicating, a communicating laptop.

L'invention concerne également un programme informatique comportant des instructions de code pour la réalisation des étapes du procédé d'obtention d'un crédit d'affranchissement lorsqu'il est exécuté sur le dispositif de communication portatif.The invention also relates to a computer program comprising code instructions for carrying out the steps of the method of obtaining a postage credit when it is executed on the portable communication device.

Brève description des dessinsBrief description of the drawings

D'autres caractéristiques et avantages de la présente invention ressortiront mieux de la description suivante, faite à titre indicatif et non limitatif, en regard des dessins annexés, sur lesquels:

  • la figure 1 montre un exemple d'une architecture de réseau permettant la mise en oeuvre du procédé de délivrance d'un service d'affranchissement selon l'invention, et
  • la figure 2 est un organigramme explicitant les différentes étapes du procédé mis en oeuvre sur le réseau de la figure 1.
Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will emerge more clearly from the following description, given by way of non-limiting indication, with reference to the appended drawings, in which:
  • FIG. 1 shows an example of a network architecture allowing the implementation of the method for delivering a franking service according to the invention, and
  • FIG. 2 is a flowchart explaining the various steps of the method implemented on the network of FIG. 1.

Mode(s) de réalisation de l'inventionMode (s) of realization of the invention

La figure 1 illustre un exemple d'architecture de réseau nécessaire à la mise en oeuvre du procédé d'obtention de crédit d'affranchissement selon l'invention. Elle repose sur le recours à un dispositif de communication portatif 10 qui est utilisé pour procéder à l'obtention et le paiement d'un crédit d'affranchissement relatif à un article de courrier 12 dont on souhaite assurer l'expédition via une boite postale quelconque 14 de l'administration postale. Par article de courrier, on entend non seulement une enveloppe mais aussi une étiquette destinée à être collée sur tout type de paquet à expédier.FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary network architecture necessary for carrying out the method of obtaining postage credit according to the invention. It is based on the use of a portable communication device 10 which is used to obtain and pay a postage credit relating to a mail item 12 which is desired to ensure shipment via any post office box 14 of the postal administration. By mail article, we mean no only an envelope but also a label to be stuck on any type of package to ship.

Pour la mise en oeuvre du procédé de l'invention, cet article de courrier est préalablement muni d'un numéro d'identification unique 12A, de préférence séquentiel ou de type aléatoire non retirable, qui a été imprimé lors du processus de création de l'article de courrier, ce qui en garanti la qualité d'impression, et dont l'unicité assure que deux articles de courrier ne peuvent en aucun cas porter le même numéro. Dans un mode de réalisation alternatif, ce numéro d'identification unique peut être stocké dans une puce sans contact, ou indicateur RFID, porté par l'article de courrier ou son contenu. Il est important de noter que contrairement à un timbre ou une empreinte postale d'une machine à affranchir, ce numéro ne représente aucun montant d'affranchissement et ne contient donc aucune valeur monétaire.For the implementation of the method of the invention, this mail item is previously provided with a unique identification number 12A, preferably sequential or non-removable random type, which was printed during the process of creating the article of mail, which guarantees the quality of printing, and whose uniqueness ensures that two items of mail can not in any case bear the same number. In an alternative embodiment, this unique identification number may be stored in a contactless chip, or RFID tag, carried by the mailpiece or its contents. It is important to note that unlike a stamp or postage stamp of a postage meter, this number does not represent any postage amount and therefore does not contain any monetary value.

Lorsqu'il est imprimé, ce numéro d'identification unique se présente avantageusement sous la forme d'un code à haute capacité de codage de données numériques ou alphanumériques et de corrections d'erreurs, comme les codes à barres à deux dimensions dont les plus connus sont : l'Aztec code, le Codablock, le Code one, le Code 16K, le Code 49, le data matrix, le PDF 417, le QR Code ou encore le Supercode. La haute capacité de codage de ce type de code (comportant jusqu'à 4296 caractères pour le plus performant) permet ainsi à celui-ci de comporter non seulement le numéro d'identification mais aussi d'autres informations relatives à l'article de courrier, comme une référence de format lorsqu'il s'agit d'une enveloppe ou encore un numéro de fabricant et un code pays, comme le préconise le standard EPC (electronic Product Code) élaboré par l'organisme de standardisation éponyme.When printed, this unique identification number is advantageously in the form of a high-capacity coding code for numeric or alphanumeric data and error corrections, such as two-dimensional bar codes, the most known are: Aztec code, Codablock, Code one, Code 16K, Code 49, data matrix, PDF 417, QR Code or Supercode. The high coding capacity of this type of code (up to 4296 characters for the most efficient) allows it to include not only the identification number but also other information related to the mail item. , as a format reference when it concerns an envelope or a manufacturer's number and a country code, as recommended by the EPC standard (electronic Product Code) developed by the eponymous standardization organization.

Lors du processus d'obtention d'un crédit d'affranchissement, le dispositif de communication portatif est mis en relation avec un système serveur de fourniture de crédits d'affranchissement 16, ce serveur pouvant lui-même être mis en relation avec un système serveur de l'administration postale 18 et éventuellement avec un système serveur d'un opérateur téléphonique 20 assurant le cas échéant le débit du crédit d'affranchissement demandé directement sur le compte téléphonique dont peut être titulaire l'utilisateur du dispositif de communication portatif.During the process of obtaining a postage credit, the portable communication device is linked to a postage-credit supplying server system 16, which server can itself be connected to a server system. of the postal administration 18 and possibly with a server system of an operator telephone 20 ensuring if necessary the debit of the postage credit requested directly on the telephone account which may be held by the user of the portable communication device.

Le dispositif de communication portatif 10 est tout dispositif de traitement de données permettant une communication sans fil longue distance au travers d'un réseau de télécommunication sans fil terrestre ou satellitaire (tel que les réseaux GSM, UMTS, WiMax, etc.) comme un téléphone mobile ou portable, un assistant numérique personnel communiquant ou encore un ordinateur portable communiquant. Selon le mode de réalisation envisagé, il peut comporter un dispositif de capture numérique 10A, tel un appareil photo numérique ou un lecteur de code à barres bidimensionnel, ou un module 10B de lecture/interrogation de puces sans contact pour coopérer alors avec un transpondeur (indicateur RFID) porté par l'article de courrier ou son contenu lorsque ceux-ci en sont pourvus.The portable communication device 10 is any data processing device enabling long-distance wireless communication over a terrestrial or satellite wireless telecommunications network (such as GSM, UMTS, WiMax, etc. networks) such as a telephone. mobile or portable, a personal digital assistant communicating or a laptop communicating. According to the embodiment envisaged, it may comprise a digital capture device 10A, such as a digital camera or a two-dimensional bar code reader, or a module 10B for reading / interrogating non-contact chips to then cooperate with a transponder ( RFID indicator) carried by the article of mail or its contents when they are provided.

Le système serveur 16 disposé sur un site du fournisseur de crédits d'affranchissement intègre une ou plusieurs unités centrales informatiques comprenant une ou plusieurs bases de données et son contrôle et sa gestion sont assurés classiquement par un ou plusieurs terminaux informatiques (non représentés). Le système serveur 18 de l'administration postale comporte une structure semblable avec une ou plusieurs bases de données, notamment une base de données des numéros d'identification. De même, le système serveur 20 de l'opérateur téléphonique comporte une structure semblable avec une ou plusieurs bases de données, notamment une base de données client intégrant des données comptables.The server system 16 disposed on a site of the supplier of postage credits integrates one or more computer central units comprising one or more databases and its control and management are conventionally provided by one or more computer terminals (not shown). The server system 18 of the postal administration has a similar structure with one or more databases, including a database of identification numbers. Similarly, the server system 20 of the telephone operator has a similar structure with one or more databases, including a customer database integrating accounting data.

La figure 2 montre un organigramme illustrant les différentes étapes du procédé permettant l'obtention d'un crédit d'affranchissement par un utilisateur.Figure 2 shows a flowchart illustrating the different steps of the method for obtaining a postage credit by a user.

Dans une première étape 100 de en oeuvre du procédé, l'utilisateur désirant un de courrier préimprimé 12 dont il aura fait l'acquisition préalable va cliquer sur l'icône de l'application d'affranchissement préinstallée sur son dispositif de communication portatif. Cette validation va activer automatiquement la fonction de capture numérique de ce dispositif qui va permettre à l'utilisateur au moyen du dispositif de capture numérique 10A de saisir dans une étape 102 une image du code à barres 2D apposé sur l'article de courrier préimprimé, la validation de la saisie de cette image par l'action sur un bouton de prise de vue (non représenté) du dispositif de communication portatif, entraînant le décodage immédiat du code saisi, c'est-à-dire l'extraction du numéro d'identification unique contenu dans ce code.In a first step 100 of the method, the user desiring a pre-printed letter 12 which he has previously acquired will click on the application icon Postage meter preinstalled on its portable communication device. This validation will automatically activate the digital capture function of this device which will allow the user by means of the digital capture device 10A to enter in a step 102 an image of the 2D barcode affixed to the pre-printed article of mail, the validation of the capture of this image by the action on a shooting button (not shown) of the portable communication device, resulting in the immediate decoding of the code entered, that is to say the extraction of the number d unique identification contained in this code.

On notera que lorsque l'article de courrier est muni d'un indicateur RFID, la fonction de capture numérique va extraire automatiquement le numéro d'identification de cet indicateur au moyen du module de lecture/interrogation 10B sans action d'activation particulière de l'utilisateur autre que le positionnement du dispositif de communication portatif à proximité l'article de courrier.Note that when the mail article is equipped with an RFID indicator, the digital capture function will automatically extract the identification number of this indicator by means of the reading / interrogation module 10B without any particular activation action of the indicator. other than the positioning of the portable communication device near the mail item.

Le dispositif de communication portatif va alors dans une étape suivante 104 via son écran d'affichage demander à l'utilisateur de lui indiquer le crédit d'affranchissement qu'il souhaite utiliser pour envoyer son article de courrier préimprimé. Le montant de ce crédit d'affranchissement qui est fonction du ou des services demandés (prioritaire ou économique par exemple), de la zone géographique de destination (nationale ou étranger) et de la classe de poids du courrier envoyé, est laissé à la seule responsabilité de l'utilisateur qui devra donc avoir à sa disposition des différents tarifs postaux en vigueur à la date de son expédition. A titre d'exemple, pour un envoi d'une lettre de moins de 20 grammes en service prioritaire vers les Etats Unis, l'utilisateur devra demander un crédit de 0,90 Euros, alors que pour l'envoi en service économique d'un colis de 8Kg vers un département d'outre-mer, il devra demander un crédit de 14 Euros.The portable communication device then goes to a next step 104 via its display screen to ask the user to indicate the postage credit that he wishes to use to send his pre-printed mail article. The amount of this postage credit which depends on the service or services requested (priority or economic for example), the geographical area of destination (national or foreign) and the weight class of the mail sent, is left to the only responsibility of the user who will have to have at his disposal the different postal rates in force on the date of his shipment. For example, for a shipment of a letter of less than 20 grams priority service to the United States, the user must apply for a credit of 0.90 Euros, while for the shipment in economic service of a package of 8kg to an overseas department, he will have to apply for a credit of 14 Euros.

Le dispositif de communication portatif va alors dans une étape 106 envoyer vers le serveur de fourniture de crédits d'affranchissement 16 une requête en demande d'obtention du crédit d'affranchissement correspondant sous la forme d'un message court (SMS) contenant ce crédit et le numéro d'identification extrait préalablement.The portable communication device then goes in a step 106 to send to the postage supply server 16 a request for a postage credit request. corresponding in the form of a short message (SMS) containing this credit and the identification number previously extracted.

Dans une nouvelle étape 108, le serveur 16 va recevoir cette requête et sur la base du numéro de téléphone du dispositif de communication portatif (obtenu classiquement sur la base des numéros IMSI ou IMEI du dispositif de communication portatif transmis lors de l'appel) vérifier le droit d'utilisation de l'utilisateur et si son compte est suffisamment approvisionné (réponse oui au test de l'étape 110), débiter à l'étape 112 son compte client du montant correspondant. A défaut, il invitera alors l'utilisateur à recharger son crédit et la communication sera ensuite interrompue (étape 114) et l'utilisateur ne pourra alors poster son article de courrier sauf à laisser à son destinataire le paiement avec amende du montant d'affranchissement.In a new step 108, the server 16 will receive this request and on the basis of the telephone number of the portable communication device (conventionally obtained on the basis of the IMSI or IMEI numbers of the portable communication device transmitted during the call). the right of use of the user and if his account is sufficiently stocked (answer yes to the test of step 110), debit at step 112 his customer account of the corresponding amount. Failing that, he will then invite the user to recharge his credit and the communication will then be interrupted (step 114) and the user will then be able to post his mail item except to leave to the recipient the payment with a fine of the amount of postage .

Si par contre l'utilisateur ne possède pas de compte client au niveau du serveur de fourniture de crédits d'affranchissement, celui-ci va retransmettre le montant du crédit demandé et le numéro de téléphone du dispositif de communication portatif qui lui est associé au serveur de l'opérateur téléphonique 18 qui pourra vérifier à son tour, par accès à sa propre base de données client, si le compte de l'utilisateur présente un crédit téléphonique suffisant pour payer le montant du crédit d'affranchissement demandé. Si l'opérateur téléphonique estime que le crédit de l'utilisateur est insuffisant, il en informera le fournisseur de crédit qui invitera alors l'utilisateur à recharger son crédit et la communication sera ensuite interrompue (étape 114).If, on the other hand, the user does not have a customer account at the level of the postage supply server, the latter will retransmit the amount of the credit requested and the telephone number of the portable communication device associated with it to the server. the telephone operator 18 who can verify in turn, through access to its own customer database, if the account of the user has sufficient credit sufficient to pay the amount of the requested postage credit. If the telephone operator finds that the user's credit is insufficient, he will inform the credit provider who will then invite the user to recharge his credit and the communication will then be interrupted (step 114).

Dans le cas contraire, si les droits d'utilisation de l'utilisateur sont valides (crédit suffisant chez l'opérateur téléphonique) et son compte alors débité du montant correspondant à l'étape 112, le serveur 16 va générer à l'étape 116, en réponse à la requête en obtention d'un crédit d'affranchissement, une requête de confirmation de l'obtention du crédit et l'envoyer au dispositif de communication portatif sous la forme d'un message SMS.In the opposite case, if the rights of use of the user are valid (sufficient credit at the telephone operator) and his account then debited the amount corresponding to the step 112, the server 16 will generate at step 116 , in response to the request to obtain a postage credit, a request for confirmation of obtaining the credit and send it to the portable communication device in the form of an SMS message.

L'utilisateur étant informé de l'obtention du crédit et du débit correspondant de son compte pourra alors sans autre formalité aller déposer son article de courrier dans la boite postale 14 dans une étape terminale 118.The user being informed of the obtaining of the credit and the corresponding debit of his account can then without other formality to deposit his article of mail in the postal box 14 in a final step 118.

Chaque jour en fin de journée, de préférence dans les dernières minutes, le serveur de fourniture de crédits d'affranchissement 16 transférera vers le serveur de l'administration postale 20, l'ensemble des données (numéro d'identification et crédit associé) relatives aux opérations de crédit effectuées de la journée ou, plus simplement, lui donnera des droits d'accès à l'ensemble de ces données.Each day at the end of the day, preferably in the last minutes, the postage credit supply server 16 will transfer to the server of the postal administration 20, all the data (identification number and associated credit) relating to the day's credit transactions or, more simply, give him access rights to all of this data.

Ainsi, avec la présente invention, tout utilisateur peut procéder très simplement à l'expédition d'un article de courrier quelconque, enveloppe ou colis, vers toutes destinations sans avoir à se rendre dans un bureau de l'administration postale, le numéro d'identification unique (qui remplace le timbre ou l'empreinte postale d'une machine d'affranchissement dont il joue le rôle bien que n'ayant aucune valeur monétaire) porté sur chaque article de courrier étant suffisant pour que l'administration postale procède à un contrôle de cet article.Thus, with the present invention, any user can proceed very simply to the dispatch of any article of mail, envelope or parcel, to all destinations without having to go to an office of the postal administration, the number of unique identification (which replaces the stamp or the postage stamp of a franking machine of which he plays the role although having no monetary value) on each item of mail being sufficient for the postal administration to carry out a control of this article.

En effet, lors de la remise de l'article de courrier dans un de ses bureaux de réception, l'administration postale va effectuer d'une part une lecture optique de l'article de courrier pour en extraire le numéro d'identification et l'adresse du destinataire (pour la détermination de la zone de destination), éventuellement le service lorsque celui-ci est préimprimé sur l'article de courrier par exemple « prioritaire », et d'autre part une pesée de cet article de courrier pour en déterminer la classe de poids et, à partir de ces informations, elle va calculer le montant d'affranchissement nécessaire à cet article de courrier. Il ne lui restera plus qu'à vérifier que le crédit payé par l'utilisateur et associé au numéro d'identification extrait de l'article de courrier est au moins égal au montant d'affranchissement calculé pour autoriser sa distribution à son destinataire. En cas d'insuffisance de crédit, l'administration postale calculera le paiement majoré qui devra être effectué par le destinataire pour recevoir son article de courrier.Indeed, during the delivery of the mail item in one of its reception offices, the postal administration will perform firstly an optical reading of the mail article to extract the identification number and the address of the recipient (for the determination of the destination zone), possibly the service when it is pre-printed on the mail item, for example "priority", and secondly a weighing of this mail item to determine the weight class and, based on this information, will calculate the amount of postage required for this mail item. It will only remain to verify that the credit paid by the user and associated with the identification number extracted from the mail item is at least equal to the amount of postage calculated to authorize its distribution to the recipient. In case of insufficient credit, the postal administration will calculate the premium payment to be made by the recipient to receive his mail item.

On notera que si la présente invention a été décrite essentiellement en rapport avec un article de courrier muni d'un numéro d'identification unique du type code à barres 2D, on peut envisager dans une version plus simplifiée que ce numéro soit un simple code alphanumérique formé d'une chaîne d'une ou plusieurs dizaines de caractères alphanumériques lisible par machine au moyen d'un lecteur OCR voire tout simplement saisi directement par l'utilisateur au clavier de son dispositif de communication portatif.Note that if the present invention has been described essentially in connection with a mail item having a unique identification number of the 2D barcode type, it is possible to envisage in a more simplified version that this number is a simple alphanumeric code. formed of a string of one or more tens of alphanumeric characters machine readable by means of an OCR reader or simply simply entered directly by the user on the keyboard of his portable communication device.

Claims (11)

Procédé d'obtention d'un crédit d'affranchissement, caractérisé en ce qu'il comporte les opérations suivantes : - saisie sur un dispositif de communication portatif (10) d'un utilisateur d'un numéro d'identification unique (12A) porté par un article de courrier (12) à disposition de cet utilisateur, - saisie d'un crédit d'affranchissement au dispositif de communication portatif et envoi du crédit d'affranchissement ainsi demandé à un serveur de fourniture de crédits d'affranchissement (16), - débit du compte de l'utilisateur d'un montant correspondant au crédit d'affranchissement demandé et envoi par le serveur de fourniture de crédits d'affranchissement d'une confirmation de débit au dispositif de communication portatif de l'utilisateur, et - dépôt de l'article de courrier dans une boite postale (14). Method for obtaining a franking credit, characterized in that it comprises the following operations: - input on a portable communication device (10) of a user of a unique identification number (12A) carried by a mail item (12) available to this user, - Entering a postage credit to the portable communication device and sending the postage credit so requested to a postage supply server (16), - Debiting the user's account of an amount corresponding to the requested postage credit and sending by the postage provisioning server a debit confirmation to the portable communication device of the user, and - deposit of the mail item in a mail box (14). Procédé selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que l'opération de saisie dudit numéro d'identification unique comporte une saisie manuelle au clavier du dispositif de communication portatif d'une chaîne de caractères alphanumériques imprimés sur l'article de courrier et formant ce numéro d'identification unique.Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the operation of entering said unique identification number comprises a manual key entry of the portable communication device of a string of alphanumeric characters printed on the mail item and forming that number. unique identification. Procédé selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que l'opération de saisie dudit numéro d'identification unique comporte une capture numérique (10A) par le dispositif de communication portatif d'un code à barres imprimé sur l'article de courrier.A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the operation of inputting said unique identification number comprises a digital capture (10A) by the portable communication device of a bar code printed on the mail piece. Procédé selon la revendication 3, caractérisé en ce que ledit code à barres est un code bidimensionnel choisi parmi les codes suivants : Aztec code, Codablock, Code one, Code 16K, Code 49, data matrix, PDF 417, QR Code, Supercode.A method according to claim 3, characterized in that said bar code is a two-dimensional code selected from the following codes: Aztec code, Codablock, Code one, Code 16K, Code 49, Data matrix, PDF 417, QR Code, Supercode. Procédé selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que l'opération de saisie dudit numéro d'identification unique comporte une lecture/interrogation (108) par le dispositif de communication portatif d'un indicateur RFID porté par l'article de courrier ou son contenu.A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the operation of entering said unique identification number comprises a reading / interrogation (108) by the portable communication device of an RFID indicator carried by the article of mail or its contents . Procédé selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que l'opération d'envoi d'un crédit d'affranchissement au serveur de fourniture de crédits d'affranchissement depuis le dispositif de communication portatif comporte l'envoi d'un message SMS comportant le crédit d'affranchissement demandé.Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the operation of sending a franking credit to the franking credit supply server from the portable communication device comprises sending an SMS message including the credit postage requested. Procédé selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que l'opération de débit du compte de l'utilisateur comporte une vérification de l'approvisionnement du compte de l'utilisateur auprès du serveur de fourniture de crédits d'affranchissement ou une vérification du crédit téléphonique de l'utilisateur auprès d'un serveur (20) de l'opérateur téléphonique de l'utilisateur.A method according to claim 1, characterized in that the debiting operation of the user's account includes verifying the provisioning of the user's account with the postage provisioning server or a verification of the telephone credit. of the user to a server (20) of the user's telephone operator. Procédé selon la revendication 7, caractérisé en ce que l'opération d'envoi d'une confirmation de débit au dispositif de communication portatif de l'utilisateur depuis le serveur de fourniture de crédits d'affranchissement comporte l'envoi d'un message SMS comportant le montant débité du crédit d'affranchissement demandé.A method according to claim 7, characterized in that the operation of sending a debit confirmation to the portable communication device of the user from the postage provisioning server comprises sending an SMS message including the amount debited from the requested postage credit. Dispositif de communication portatif (10) destiné à la mise en oeuvre du procédé d'obtention d'un crédit d'affranchissement selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 8.Portable communication device (10) for carrying out the method of obtaining a postage credit according to any one of Claims 1 to 8. Dispositif selon la revendication 9, caractérisé en ce qu'il est constitué par l'un des dispositifs suivants : un téléphone mobile ou portable, un assistant numérique personnel communiquant, un ordinateur portable communiquant.Device according to claim 9, characterized in that it is constituted by one of the following devices: a mobile or portable telephone, a personal digital assistant communicating, a communicating laptop. Programme informatique comportant des instructions de code pour la réalisation des étapes du procédé d'obtention d'un crédit d'affranchissement selon l'une quelconque des revendications 1 à 8 lorsqu'il est exécuté sur le dispositif de communication portatif.A computer program comprising code instructions for performing the steps of the method of obtaining a postage credit according to any one of claims 1 to 8 when executed on the portable communication device.
EP06120221A 2005-09-09 2006-09-06 Method for obtaining a postage credit over a telecommunication network Ceased EP1762985A1 (en)

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