PROCEDURE FOR VALIDATION OF PREPAID POSTAGE ITEM

Description

Technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for validating a postal item provided with pre-paid postage. Description of the state of the art

[0002] It is known to pre-frank postal items such as postcards, envelopes, parcel boxes, etc., by an issuing postal service provider to save the sender from having to purchase additional postage (stamps, etc.). EP 1 477 937 A2 discloses a system that uses a postal item with two identifiers. A user / sender must use a digital pen, which itself has a unique identifier, to initiate a sending process. During this process, the two identifiers are linked and the transaction is processed via an intermediary that assigns the pre-franked issuer and facilitates payment of the postage.

[0003] From DE 10 2008 063010 A1 a method for franking postal items is known for which franking information with an associated activation code is provided. Summary of the invention

[0004] Based on this, a method for validating a postal item provided with pre-paid postage and having the features of claim 1 is proposed according to the invention.

[0005] The core of the invention lies in applying a verifiable, unique identifier, machine-readable, to the postal item as pre-postage. Using such an identifier makes it possible to issue postage independently of a specific postal service provider. Due to the uniqueness and verifiability provided by a cryptographic signature, it is ensured that every postal service provider can trust that the identity of the shipment (postal item) is established, traceable, and therefore unambiguous. According to the invention, a user / sender only commits to a specific postal service provider at the time of posting the item; this provider then carries out the transport of the item after successful verification.

[0006] The user handles the process using a telecommunications-enabled data capture device, such as a mobile phone with computer functionalities (a so-called smartphone). This device sends the identifier, captured (e.g., by scanning or photographing), to a transport service provider, which the sender has selected from a pool of available providers. The transport service provider verifies the identifier and stores it in a database accessible to them.

[0007] The shipper can select the carrier either before or after the due shipping fee is displayed on the scanning device. In the first scenario, the shipper selects their preferred carrier from a list of providers. The selection is acknowledged by the scanning device by displaying the due shipping fee. The shipper confirms the shipping fee, which may involve a payment obligation or direct payment, and the scanning device then sends the identifier to the carrier.In the second variant, the sender is shown a list of transport service providers along with the transport fees due for each provider, and the sender makes their selection by confirming a transport service provider / transport fee assignment, which in turn is linked to a payment obligation or direct payment, whereupon the recording device sends the identifier to the selected transport service provider.

[0008] The selected carrier can store the identifier in a proprietary database accessible only to them, so that verification access to check the correctness of the mail shipment is only possible for employees of the selected carrier. Alternatively, the carriers participating in the overall system can maintain a shared database. For example, transmitted and verified identifiers can be stored in a blockchain. The latter can also be combined with payment of the shipping fee using cryptocurrency.

[0009] Claim 5 defines the sender-side procedure of the inventive method.

[0010] The present invention also covers a computer program with the features of claim 6. Both the computer program itself (claim 6) and the program stored on a computer-readable medium (computer program product) (claim 7) are claimed.

[0011] Further advantages and embodiments of the invention will become apparent from the dependent claims, the description and the accompanying drawing.

[0012] The invention is schematically illustrated in the drawing using an exemplary embodiment and is described in detail below with reference to the drawing. Brief description of the drawing

[0013] Figure 1 shows a highly schematic representation of a system for carrying out a method according to the invention for validating a prepaid postal item. Detailed description

[0014] Figure 1Figure 10 shows a postal item (in the illustrated embodiment, an envelope) that is pre-franked. The pre-franked item is a machine-readable unique identifier 12, which, according to the invention, is also verifiable. Verifiability is achieved by a cryptographic signature of the identifier 12. The signature is applied by an issuer / manufacturer 30 of the pre-franked postal item. The identifier 12 is independent of a postal service provider subsequently selected by the sender. Machine readability can be achieved, for example, by converting the identifier into a barcode or binary-coded matrix code (also known as a QR code ® or Secure QR code ®), as illustrated by way of example in the figure. Furthermore, the postal item 10 includes, in a manner known per se, an address field 14 and a sender field 16.

[0015] To capture the identifier 12 of the prepaid postal item, a telecommunications-enabled capture device 20 in the form of a so-called smartphone is provided. The smartphone 20's camera can capture the identifier 12 and transmit the information associated with the identifier 12 via a telecommunications channel.

[0016] According to the invention, a sender can send the prepaid postal item 10 by means of a computer program (app) installed on the scanning device 20. For this purpose, the identifier 12 is detected by the scanning device 20 by capturing or photographing the identifier using a camera of the scanning device 20.

[0017] The computer program or app can be started manually, or the start is triggered automatically by the recording of identifier 12.

[0018] The sender then enters the information / data necessary for the invoice, such as the size, weight and destination of the shipment, as well as, if applicable, the shipping method, insurance of the shipment, etc. Due to pre-postage, the size of the shipment may already be included in identifier 12.

[0019] Furthermore, the sender must select a transport service from a number of available carriers (DL1, ..., DLn). This can be done, for example, by pre-configuring the app if the sender generally prefers a specific carrier. Alternatively, the computer program will display the carriers suitable for the shipment to be sent to the sender for selection. This can be done either without or already in conjunction with the applicable transport fee for the respective carrier. In the first option, the sender selects the carrier, and the transport fee is then displayed; in the second option, the sender makes the selection by choosing a transport fee. The transport fee is calculated by the (constantly updated) app of the scanning device 20 based on the shipment details.

[0020] By selecting the transport fee, the sender pays it using a payment method stored on the scanning device (which can either be integrated into the described app or be available as a separate app on the scanning device).

[0021] Upon payment of the transport fee, the identifier 12 is linked to the selected transport service provider, and the app transmits this information to the transport service provider by sending them the identifier 12.

[0022] The selected service provider DL1, ..., DLn receives the identifier 12 and verifies it using a public key of the identifier's publisher 30. Publisher 30 publishes this public key on the internet. Publisher 30 also guarantees the uniqueness of the identifier 12.

[0023] After successful verification by the service provider, the provider stores the identifier in a database accessible to it DB1, ..., DBn, BC and, if necessary, acknowledges receipt of the transport order to the sender.

[0024] As previously explained, the database DB1, ..., DBn, BC can either be a proprietary database accessible only to the respective service provider, or it can be accessible to at least all participating transport service providers. Database access for the sender may also be configured as part of shipment tracking. Alternatively, the identifier can be stored in a blockchain (BC), which can be set up and maintained by the participating transport service providers. In combination with a blockchain, payment of the transport fee can also be processed using the corresponding blockchain currency (cryptocurrency).

[0025] Delivery centers or delivery personnel entrusted with shipment processing can use mobile devices, if necessary, to read / scan the franking, i.e., the identifier 12, and check its validity by referring to the database DB1, ..., DBn, BC. Reference symbol list

[0026] 10 Mail item 12 Identifier 14 Address field 16 Sender field 20 Capture device 30 Issuer / Publisher 50 Delivery person / Delivery center BCBlockchain DL1 to DLnTransportation service provider DB1 to DBnDatabases

Claims

1. Method for validating a pre-franked postal item (10), wherein a unique, verifiable identifier (12), which is applied in a machine-readable manner for pre-franking of the postal item (10) and cryptographically signed by a manufacturer (30) of the postal item (10), is detected by means of a telecommunications-enabled detecting device (20) which is operated by the sender, and the detecting device (20) sends the detected identifier (12) to a transport service provider (DL1, ..., DLn), which is arbitrarily selected by the sender from a plurality of possible transport service providers (DL1, ..., DLn), for verification of the identifier (12) by the selected transport service provider (DL1, ..., DLn) by means of signature verification using a suitable public key and for storage of the verified identifier (12) in a database (DB1, ..., DBn) accessible to the selected transport service provider (DL1, ..., DLn), wherein the detecting device (20) is designed to calculate and display at least one possible transport fee, and wherein a link between the identifier (12) and the selected transport service provider (DL1, ..., DLn) is made by a confirmation of a displayed transport fee by the sender.

2. Method according to claim 1, wherein the transport fee is based on specific transport data for at least one of the plurality of possible transport service providers (DL1, ..., DLn).

3. Method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a sender selects the transport service provider from the plurality of possible transport service providers (DL1, ..., DLn) before the transport fee is calculated or after the transport fee is calculated.

4. Method according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the sending of the identifier (12) to the selected transport service provider (DL1, ..., DLn) is triggered by a confirmation of a displayed transport fee by the sender.

5. Method for validating a postal item (10) pre-franked by a sender, comprising the following steps: - providing a postal item (10) with a unique, verifiable identifier (12) which is applied in a machine-readable manner and cryptographically signed by a manufacturer (30) of the postal item (10), - detecting the identifier (12) of the postal item (10) by means of a telecommunications-enabled detecting device (20), - displaying a plurality of possible transport service providers (DL1, ..., DLn) on the detecting device (20) and displaying at least one transport fee that is due, - the sender selecting a transport service provider (DL1, ..., DLn) and confirming a displayed transport fee, wherein a link is made between the identifier (12) and the selected transport service provider (DL1, ..., DLn), - sending the detected identifier (12) to the selected transport service provider (DL1, ..., DLn), - receiving an acknowledgment of acceptance of a transport order after successful verification of the identifier by the selected transport service provider (DL1, ..., DLn) by means of signature verification using a suitable public key.

6. Computer program comprising program code means designed to carry out, when the computer program is executed on a telecommunications-enabled detecting device (20), a method for validating a postal item (10) pre-franked by a sender, the method comprising the following steps: - detecting an identifier (12) on a provided postal item (10) by means of the telecommunications-enabled detecting device (20), wherein the identifier (12) is a unique, verifiable identifier (12) which is applied in a machine-readable manner and cryptographically signed by a manufacturer (30) of the postal item (10), - displaying a plurality of possible transport service providers (DL1, ..., DLn) on the detecting device (20) and displaying at least one transport fee that is due, - accepting a selection of a transport service provider (DL1, ..., DLn) and the sender confirming a displayed transport fee, wherein a link is made between the identifier (12) and the selected transport service provider (DL1, ..., DLn), - sending the detected identifier (12) to the selected transport service provider (DL1, ..., DLn), - receiving an acknowledgment of acceptance of a transport order after successful verification of the identifier by the selected transport service provider (DL1, ..., DLn) by means of signature verification using a suitable public key.

7. Computer program according to claim 6, which is stored on a computer-readable data carrier.