Abstract:
A self-service apparatus (100) capable of automatically handling envelopes and packages through various stages of processing, including touch screen (110) to handle various inputs from the customer, digitized voice (112) to prompt the customer and instruct him in the processing, electronic weighing (138), electronic printing (142) of the ZIP+4 barcode, electronic printing of the shipping label (140), electronic printing of the receipt (128), electronic printing (140) of the manifest documentation for both the letters and packages, and maintaining of the manifest documentation for both the letters and packages. Mailing charges are deducted from a prepaid magnetic card through the use of a magnetic card reader (122). Maintaining postage and shipping rates, ZIP+4 CD-ROM directory in order to locate the ZIP+4 information. A dual floppy disk system (124, 126) to allow the mailer to send electronic mail. A built-in facsimile apparatus (120) to allow the customer to send "FAX" information through the telephone line.
Abstract:
In a method for making a recording medium (2), which can be handled physically and includes information content, available at a mail delivery point (PDL) for a receiver (3), mailing address data (PDA) and information content data (IID) representing the information content of the recording medium (2) are provided, and the mail delivery point (PLD) assigned to the mailing address (PA) is determined by utilizing the provided mailing address data (PAD) and by utilizing a database, and the information content data (IID) are subsequently transmitted to the assigned mail delivery point (PDL), and the recording medium (2), which can be handled physically, is subsequently implemented at the assigned mail delivery point (PDL) with the aid of the transmitted information content data (IID).