WO2000008605A1

WO2000008605A1 - A system and method for remotely providing mailing/shipping services to customers

Info

Publication number: WO2000008605A1
Application number: PCT/US1999/017518
Authority: WO
Inventors: Nino Vaghi
Original assignee: Nino Vaghi
Priority date: 1998-08-04
Filing date: 1999-08-03
Publication date: 2000-02-17
Also published as: US6047273A

Abstract

An automated mailing/shipping system (1, 2, 3) and method communicates an activation key (90) to a customer terminal (2) for modifying one or more features of a mailing/shipping program (100) installed at the customer terminal (2). The modification performed may be the activation, de-activation, or addition of those features (100). Communication of the activation key (90) may take place over a computer network such as the Internet (4), and if so, encryption information may be sent with the key (70) to protect information exchanges between the customer terminal (2) and a service provider terminal (1) which sent the key. In accordance with other aspects of the method, a data base of customer information maintained at the service provider terminal is searched (200) for customers (210) who might be interested in receiving a new feature of the mailing/shipping system (220) or who have pre-purchased a rate table update service (250). An electronic mail message containing the new feature or rate table is communicated (240) to the customer terminal (2) for installation and access by the customer.

Description

A SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR REMOTELY PROVIDING MAILING/SHIPPING SERVICES TO CUSTOMERS

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention.

This invention generally relates to electronic mailing/shipping systems, and more particularly to a system and method for providing mailing/shipping services to one or more customers .

1. modifying a mailing/shipping program in use at a customer terminal of an electronic mailing/shipping system.

2. providing rate tables to any one, including those who do not have the provider's mailing/shipping software

3. data base searching for customers

2. Description of the Related Art.

A recent technological innovation in automated mailing and shipping systems is the integration of a personal computer (PC) with more traditional machines, such as scales, postal meters, and label printers . Use of PCs in these systems has produced a number of advantages over conventional systems. PCs have, for example, allowed mailing/shipping system service providers to increase the number and variety of features that they can offer to customers wishing to mail or ship letters and parcels. Thus, with PCs, a number of mailing/shipping options can be provided to customers and customers can then select the best and/or least expensive mailing/shipping carrier.

Perhaps most advantageously, PCs have allowed many mailing/shipping functions to be automated, such as printing shipping labels and tracking mailed parces . Automation of this latter function is especially desirable, in that it is expected to pave the way for allowing customers to electronically connect to mail/shipping carrier web sites to determine the status of their mailed letters and packages. PCs have also allowed accounting features to be used to monitor, allocate, and manage mailing and shipping costs, all to the customer's advantage.

Known automated mailing/shipping systems are not without drawbacks, however, and one of the chief drawbacks centers around their inability to be upgraded, if at all, in a convenient and economical manner. Generally, these systems come in one of two types: 1) ones that are a complete and fully capable system that provides a full range of features, and 2) ones which come with a basic set of features and which can, at a later date, can be upgraded to add features .

The system that is fully loaded (first type) is not economically practical because a majority of customers will not use all the features offered on the system. Consequently, these customers end up paying for a more sophisticated system than they originally wanted, or wanted to pay for. Further, such a system typically cannot be modified to include new or upgraded features. The system that provides a basic set of features (second option) provides customers with a more cost-effective, tailorable solution. However, upgrading this system has proven to be cumbersome and time-consuming. Upgrading a system of this type, for example, requires a visit from a technician, who must determine the customer's current configuration, determine which new features might be beneficial to the customer, describe available feature options, and place the order on behalf of the customer. This is frequently inconvenient for the customer and adds significant cost to the overall upgrading process.

From the foregoing, it is clear that a need exists for an improved automated mailing system and method, and more specifically one which can be upgraded or otherwise modified in a manner which is more efficient, more economical, and easier to use than known automated mailing systems and methods.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

to remotely provide mailing/shipping features to customers, thereby removing the need for a technician/salesman to make an on-site visit ....

all human intervention is removed - automatically downloading rate information to rate-table subscribers, newsletters, newly developed features all based on data base scan .... It is one object of the present invention to provide an automated mailing/shipping system and method which is more efficient, more economical, and easier to use than conventional automated mailing/shipping systems and methods.

It is another object of the invention to achieve the aforementioned object by customizing the software embodying the mailing/shipping system in order to meet the specific needs of each customer, so that the customer only pays for those features which he expects to use.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a method for automatically updating mailing/shipping software installed at a customer terminal, to thereby eliminate the need for an on-site visit from service provider technician.

The foregoing and other objectives of the invention are achieved by providing a method for automatically modifying mailing/shipping software running on a customer terminal, which software has a predetermined number of a plurality of mailing/shipping features which have been activated, either at the time of installation of the software or at some later time after one or more modifications have already taken place.

A first embodiment of the method includes selecting at least one software feature for modification, communicating information including the at least one software feature to a mailing/shipping service provider terminal, communicating activation information from the mailing/shipping service provider terminal to the customer terminal, and modifying the at least one software feature in accordance with the activation information. For convenience purposes, the service provider terminal may transmit the activation information to the customer terminal over a computer network (e.g., Internet, public-switched telephone network) to have the software feature automatically activated when a user at the customer terminal connects to the network. Alternatively, the activation information may be embodied within a floppy disk or other computer-readable media sent to the customer terminal through the mail.

The software feature to be modified may be, for example, a rate table, one of a plurality of system software functions, an accounting feature, and a hardware upgrade. Further, the present method may be implemented to modify mailing/shipping software features as initially installed or to peform a series of successive software modifications as a way of continually meeting the needs of its customers. The method is particularly advantageous in that it may be used to periodically install new postal rate information in the customer terminal software.

According to other aspects, the activation information may include an encryption key for protecting information exchanges between the customer terminal and the service provider terminal . Upon receipt, the key can be validated by the customer terminal through one of a variety of conventional decryption techniques before an electronic funds transfer takes place in payment for the modification.

A second embodiment of the method of the present invention automatically modifies mailing/shipping software, by maintaining a data base of customer information at a mailing/shipping service provider terminal, searching the data base for customers who might have interest in a new feature of the mailing/shipping software, creating an electronic mail message containing information which includes the new feature, communicating the electronic mail message to at least one of the customers at a customer terminal and installing the new feature at the at least one customer terminal. The new feature is installed in such a manner that the new feature is in a not-activated state until the customer at the customer terminal communicates with the mailing/shipping service provider terminal to have the new feature activated.

A third embodiment of the method of the present invention automatically modifies mailing/shipping software, by maintaining a data base of customer information at a mailing/shipping service provider terminal, searching the data base for customers who have ordered a rate table service, creating an electronic mail message containing information which includes a new rate table, sending the electronic mail message to terminals of the customers who have ordered the rate table service, and installing the new rate table at the terminals .

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Fig. 1 is a block diagram of a mailing/shipping customer terminal operating in accordance with software to be modified in accordance with the method of the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a flow diagram of steps included in the method of the present invention. Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view of a computer screen listing software features which can be modified in accordance with the method of the present invention.

Fig. 4 is a flow diagram of additional steps included in the method of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention is a system and method for providing mailing/shipping services to customers remotely located from, for example, an office of a mailing/shipping service provider.

Referring to Figure 1, an embodiment of the system of the present invention includes a mailing/shipping systems service provider computer (MSSSPC) 1, a customer mailing/shipping terminal 2, and a communications path 3 connecting MSSSPC 1 and the customer terminal 2. For purposes of convenience, the system of the present invention will hereinafter be described as having only one MSSSPC and one customer. Those skilled in the art can appreciate, however, that if desired, or by necessity, the service provider may have more than one business site (shown illustratively in Figure 1 as sites A, B, and C) for serving customers located, for example, at different regions of the country. If so, each business site may have its own MSSSPC 1 for serving customers in a respective region, and further, if desired, the MSSSPCs at each site may be interconnected or connected to a central management location.

The MSSSPC contains or has access to a data base 17 of information about each of the service provider's customers. This information may include basic information such as customer name, address, phone number, e-mail address, points of contact, description of the version of software installed at a customer's terminal, and specialized information such as data indicating whether a rate table service has been subscribed to.

The MSSSPC also is equipped with management software for supporting the function of maintaining the customer data base and communicating with the customer terminals. Thus software may include any all of a server operating system (e.g., UNIX or Microsoft Windows NT server) , a relational data base management system (e.g., Oracle, Sybase, Informix, or Microsoft SQL server), and Internet-technology communications software. The server operating systems software manages all programs on the MSSSPC, the relational data base management software manages the customer data base, and the Internet technology communications software may include Web Server software (such as Microsoft Internet Information Server, Netscape Commerce Server, or the Apache shareware Web Server) and security software such as that available from RSA Data Security, Inc. The Web server software manages communications with the customer terminal through Internet-technology protocols such as Hyper-Text Transfer Protocol (HTTP) and TCP/IP. The security software performs key management encyrption/decryption tasks, and digital signature, all of which will be described in greater detail below.

Referring to Figure 2, customer terminal 2 includes a computer 11 equipped with software for implementing mailing/shipping features provided by the MSSSPC, to be discussed in greater detail below. Preferably, computer 11 is a personal computer of standard architecture, but those skilled in the art can appreciate that other types of computers or computing devices may be used, as long as they can be adapted to run the mailing/shipping software. Mounted within, or peripheral to, computer 11 is a unit 12 for reading floppy disks, compact disks, digital tape, or other computer-readable media. A number of conventional mailing/shipping devices, such as a postage scale 13, a postage meter/mailing machine 14, a report printer 15, and a shipping label printer 16, may also be connected to this computer.

The MSSSPC communicates with the customer terminal through communications path 3, which may be a computer network such as the Internet 4 established through modems 5 and 6. Alternatively, communications path 3 may be a public switched telephone network 7 established through modems 8 and 9. In lieu of or in addition to path 3, communications between MSSSPC 1 and terminal 2 may take place through the exchange of computer-readable magnetic or optical media 10 conveyed through the mail. The method of the present invention advantageously may be carried out in accordance with the system shown in Figures 1 and 2. Referring to Figure 3 , a first embodiment of the method of the present invention provides mailing/shipping services to a customer by remotely modifying one or more features of a mailing/shipping program installed in that customer's terminal.

An initial step of this method includes loading the mailing/shipping program into personal computer 11. (Block 15) . The mailing/shipping program may be an existing program provided by a well-known mailing/shipping service provider, and in such a case the program may be adapted to allow the method of the present invention may be practiced by the well-known provider.

IDENTIFY AT LEAST ONE WELL-KNOWN PROVIDER THAT OFFERS ITS CUSTOMERS SOFTWARE WHICH ALLOWS ITS CUSTOMERS TO USE MAILING/SHIPPING PROGRAM DEVELOPED BY THAT PROVIDER.

Alternatively, the program may be specially deigned software developed to specifically implement one or more customized mailing/shipping features. Under these circumstances, then, development of this specially designed software may be a necessary predicate to implementing the method of the present invention. (It is understood that the MSSSPC may be equipped with management software adapted to interact with the computer program in the customer terminal, to thereby enable the steps of the present invention to be implemented in the manner to be described below. ) Further, the computer program may be of a type which is adaptable so that only a desired number of features are activated for use, leaving the unactivated features in a dormant state but capable of being activated in accordance with the present invention. During the initial step, therefore, the customer may request that only a predetermined number (e.g., a subset) of the mailing/shipping features of the computer program be activated. If desired, the purchase price of the computer program may correspond to the number and/or type of features activated, thereby advantageously allowing the customer to achieve cost savings in the purchase price of a computer program customized to meet his needs.

The mailing/shipping features of the computer program may include those offered in known mailing/shipping programs, as well as customized features. These mailing/shipping features may include postage/shipping rate tables for one or more mailing and shipping carriers (including the U.S. Postal Service), rate calculation and accounting features, as well as other features for performing various mailing/shipping functions. An illustrative list of these features are provided below:

Rates

United States Postal Service (Domestic)

United States Postal Service (International)

Federal Express

Emery

UPS

Airborne

Roadway

D.H.L.

Programmable Carrier #1

Programmable Carrier #2

Programmable Carrier #3 Features

Accounting (100 accounts)

Accounting (1000 accounts)

Accounting (10,000 accounts)

Accounting (50,000 accounts)

Best Way/Rate Shop

Differential Weighing

Duplicate Label

Swog

Piece Count

Screen Saver

Password Security

Print Address Label

International Main Manual - IMM

Domestic Mail Manual - DMM

Import Utility

Export Utility

Networking (Multi User - Single site)

Networking (Multi User - Multi site)

Newsletter - Single Subscription

Newsletter - Annual Subscription

Help Screen

Handling charge

Cross-Reference Reports

Manual Weight Entry

Inquiry Function

Void Function

Package Inquiry/edit/void

Repeat Transaction

COD Printing

Self Insurance

Reports

Phone Support - 30 day

Phone Support - 6 months

Phone Support - 12 months

Custom Software - Inquiry

Custom Software - $80/Hour

Data Merge

An additional list of these features is shown in Fig. 4, which will be discussed in greater detail below.

During use of the computer program, the customer may discover that it would be beneficial to activate or de-activate one or more of the mailing/shipping features of the computer program. Through the present invention, modifications may be made to activate or de-activate one or more of these features so that the customer may, at all times, have access to mailing/shipping program customized to meet his needs.

A second step of the method, therefore, includes selecting one or more features of the mailing/shipping program to be modified. To assist a customer in making this selection, the computer program may be activated (e.g., via a mouse selection of an item in a drop-down menu) to display information indicating the presently active and inactive features of the mailing/shipping software.

Fig. 4 shows an exemplary type of computer screen. In this screen, all the features of the mailing/shipping software at terminal 2 are displayed, along with a brief description of each feature. An indication is also provided as to the activation status of each feature. Specifically, in the "ACTIVATED?" column, a "YES" is provided for features which are activated and a "No" is provided for those which are not. If desired, the computer screen may depict only the features which have or have not been activated.

The computer screen of the present invention may also include other information. For example, as shown, the computer screen includes a column entitled "PRICE" to indicate the activation fee corresponding to each feature of the mailing/shipping software. Selectable options are also provided to allow a customer to order the feature (i.e., the ξ^ORDER NOW§ option), to learn more about the feature (i.e., the §TELL ME MORE^ option) , and to order activation of the feature for an evaluation period prior to purchase (i . e . , the ^10 DAY TRIAL^ option) . Preferably, a plurality of windows displaying these features may be simultaneously displayed, and additional features within each window may be accesssed by a scrolling function, e.g., see the gSHOW MORE ?g option.

The computer screen of the present invention may be accessed at the customer terminal in a variety of ways. For example, a customer at the terminal may retrieve the computer screen from a memory of computer 11, or the customer may connect to the MSSSPC and then download the form, for example, by accessing an appropriate MSSSPC Internet web page. One skilled in the art can appreciate that information corresponding to the software features available for use at the customer terminal may be provided in ways other than through a computer screen.

Presentation of features may, for example, be context- sensitive. When the customer is using a particular function of the program, information indicative of a related feature not currently activated could be displayed for the customer's consideration. In this regard, the computer of the customer terminal may monitor the business activities of the customer (e.g., the software features that he uses) and then display information concerning alternative or optional features which the customer might be interested in. If, for example, the customer used the mailing/shipping program to indicate that he would like to send a parcel of mail by FedEx, the program may notify the subscriber that UPS has cheaper rates, thus giving the customer the opportunity to change his mind. Returning to Fig. 3, where the left portion corresponds to activity that occurs in the computer at the customer terminal and the right portion corresponds to activity that occurs at the MSSSPC, the method continues by having a customer select one or more features of the mailing/shipping software to be modified. (Block 20) . This selection may be performed, for example, by clicking on "ORDER NOW" icons adjacent appropriate ones of the software feature descriptions shown in Fig. 4. (While selection of features may advantageously be performed by this clicking function, those skilled in art can appreciate that other techniques may be used.)

After the features to be modified are selected, computer 11 connects to the MSSSPC through one of the communications paths previously discussed, i.e., through the Internet or public- switched telephone network. (Block 30) . This connection may be performed, for example, by the customer clicking on an icon on the computer screen of Fig. 4 after all the features to be modified have been selected. Alternatively, the customer may call a customer representative at the MSSSPC to personally order these features via CD ROM.

Once connection is established, the customer may communicate information, including a request for the one or more software features to be modified, to the MSSSPC terminal. (Block 30) . If_. the customer does not have access to a phone/modem connection, the mailing/shipping software may include a feature that will allow a customer to print out an order form containing these features. This form can then be conveyed to the MSSSPC by conventional methods, e.g., by sending it through the mail. When the MSSSPC receives the information from the customer terminal, a data base is scanned to determine whether the customer is an existing customer or a new customer. (Blocks 40 and 50) . If it is determined that the customer is an existing customer, the MSSSPC transmits to the customer terminal through the communications path a greeting and a session encryption key to allow secure transactions to take place between the customer terminal and the MSSSPC for the remainder of the connection. (Block 70) . The session encryption key may be established in accordance with a security protocol such as the Diffie-Hellman protocol or Secure Socket Layer (SSL) . Those skilled in the art can appreciate, however, that other types of encryption keys, or methods of encryption, may be used.

If the customer's name does not appear in the data base, the MSSSPC creates a new record for the customer in the data base and fills it with the information conveyed to the MSSSPC. (Block 60) . A similar greeting and encryption key may then be transmitted to the customer terminal for protection/security purposes. (Block 70) .

The session encryption key may be included to secure information exchanges between the customer terminal and the MSSSPC, for example, for purposes of securing payment of the software features selected for modification, which may be made, for example, by conveying electronic funds (e.g., CyberCash) or credit card information to the MSSSPC. (Alternatively, an invoice may be sent to the customer for payment . ) Other payment information may be conveyed with these funds, including name, address, phone number, and e-mail address. Preferably, the payment information is encrypted for security purposes, and then transmitted to the MSSSPC to purchase modification of the selected features. (Block 80).

Upon receiving the payment information, the MSSSPC validates the information, and updates the customer account in the data base. The MSSSPC then formats and transmits activation information, including, for example, an activation key, to the customer terminal through the communications path, if the one or more features selected for modification correspond to rate tables for mailing/shipping carriers (including the U.S. Postal Service), accounting features, or mailing/shipping software features. (Block 90) . When the customer terminal receives the activation information, the software features selected in Block 20 are modified (e.g., activated and/or de-activated) .

(Modification of features may be accomplished in accordance with any one of a variety of conventional software tools installed on computer 11. Software piracy prevention packages, as they are commercially known, is one example of a tool that can be used to serve this purpose. The modifications performed by these tools are then stored in the software of the customer terminal, and if the computer screen of Fig. 4 is also stored at the computer terminal, as opposed to being downloaded from a web site, the activation status in that screen is updated in accordance with the modifications performed.)

Preferably, the activation information is an electronic receipt for the feature modifications purchased. The receipt is digitally signed (using, for example, assymmetric encryption) by the MSSSPC. Since the receipt includes the customer name (or other unique identifier) , the activation information is formatted by the MSSSPC to be unique to the customer terminal, and further, it can be made so that it cannot be improperly copied from customer to customer.

To protect the activation information from improper copying, it is noted that the customer's name may be included in computer program of the customer's terminal. The customer's name, for example, may be entered upon installation of the program and acceptance of software license terms. The activation key (digitally signed receipt) contains the customer's name, encrypted with the service provider's private key. As such, the customer cannot change the name in the activation key without knowledge of the service provider's activation key. If the activation key is copied to another customer's machine, it will not be valid because the other customer's software will be installed with a name that does not match the activation key.

Once received, the activation information is validated by software at the customer terminal. (Block 100) . Validation is performed, for example, using asymmetric encryption to validate the digitally signed receipt . More specifically, software at the customer terminal decrypts the digital signature associated with the receipt by using a public key of the MSSSPC. If the digital signature decrypts properly and matches a hash of the receipt (or_. otherwise validates that the receipt was issued by the MSSSPC) , the activation key is considered valid.

The public key of the MSSSPC relates to public key encryption, also known as asymmetric encryption. This technology is based on two related keys: one public and one private. A message encrypted with a private key can only be decrypted with the public key (and vice versa) . The private key is known only to its owner. The public key is known to everyone. A message can be digitally signed by a key owner when the owner uses his/her private key to encrypt it. To validate the signature, anyone can apply the signator's public key to the digital signature. If the digital signature decrypts properly, it must be valid. Digital signature tools and algorithms implementing this technology have been developed, for example, by RSA Data Security, Inc. and Entrust Technologies, Ltd.

After the software features have been modified, the computer at the customer terminal may re-validate the activation information or perform other checks to ensure that the customer holds a valid digital receipt. According to another apsect of the invention, the software may be written so that the customer will not be able to execute the modified software features unless a valid receipt is available on the computer at the customer terminal .

Other aspects of the first embodiment of the method of the present invention may be appreciated. For example, if desired, or if the customer does not have access to a modem connection, the MSSSPC may comminicate with the customer by sending the customer a CD, disk, or other computer-readable medium embodying the activation and other information needed to perform the validation and modification steps previously described. Similar updates to the customer terminal software may then be performed.

The method of the present invention also may be used by a customer to order hardware or supplies for the customer terminal. In accordance with this aspect of the method, a customer selects from a computer screen (see, e.g., Fig. 4) one or more hardware features (e.g., scales, bar-code wands, mailing machines, postage meters, etc.) or supplies. Information indicative of this selection is then communicated to the MSSSPC, and the MSSSPC, in response, orders these features and may, in addition, schedule a hardware product shipment date. An order confirmation may then be communicated to the customer terminal, either electronically, by mail, or both. (Block 90) . An exemplary list of these hardware features and supplies are as follows:

Hardware

Meter Interface - Postalia Meter Interface - Neopost Meter Interface - Ascom Meter Interface - Pitney Bowes Remote Scale - 10 lb. Remote Scale - 30 lb. Remote Scale - 70 lb. Remote Scale - 100 lb. Remote Scale - 150 lb. Remote Scale - 200 lb. High Speed Report Printer Medium Speed Report Printer Laser Report Printer Thermal Label Printer 3" Thermal Label Printer 5" Mailing Machine Document Printer COD Printer Laser Wand Laser Gun

Supplies

Manifest Labels 3"

Manifest Labels 5"

Sealing Water

80 Column Printer Paper

Printer Cover

Second and third embodiments of the method of the present invention also automatically modify mailing/shipping software installed at a customer terminal. The modifications to be performed in these embodiments are either the addition of a new rate table to the customer terminal software (second embodiment) or the addition of a software feature which has been newly developed and which is now being offered for sale to customers (third embodiment) .

Referring to Fig. 5, after the MSSSPC develops a new rate table, the MSSSPC scans its customer data base (Block 200) to identify customers who have paid for a rate table update service (Block 21) . Similarly, after developing a new software feature, the MSSSPC may scan its customer data base to determine a list of those customers who might be interested in purchasing the new software feature (Block 220) .

Data base scanning may be performed in accordance with management software at the MSSSPC which examines the customer records in data base 17, preferably on a periodic basis, to determine, on a customer-by-customer basis, which mailing/shipping features have been activated. It is then determined whether the new rate table or new feature developed is applicable to that customer (e.g., new bar-code features would be of interest to customers who have bar-code wands) . Another approach of data base scanning may be to use expert system algorithms to consider various factors about the customers, e.g., previous ordering patterns, geographic location, shipping volume, etc. New rate tables and features may then be linked to customers on this basis. Those skilled in the art can appreciate that other techniques may be used. In a next step, the MSSSPC builds a list of these customers and formats information corresponding to the new rate tables or new software features into an e-mail message. (Block 230). The MSSSPC then digitally signs this message so that the computer at each customer terminal can validate that the rate table or software feature came from the MSSSPC, has not been tampered with, and is virus free. (Block 240) . Upon receiving the e-mail message, the computer at each the customer terminal validates the digital signature in the e-mail and installs the rate table and/or new software feature. These validation and installation steps may be performed automatically by the computer. In the latter case, however, the computer will not activate the new software feature until the customer orders and pays for it and then receives the activation information in the manner previously indicated. (Blocks 250 and 260) .

Any or all of the aforementioned embodiments of the method of the present invention may include the additional step of downloading a newsletter to customers, either on a periodic basic or when customers order new or modified mailing/shipping features (including hardware and supplies), or both. The newsletter may report on new industry products, projected postal rate increases, impending changes in U.S. Postal Service and/or private carrier rates, competition in the industry, as well as other information such as an editorial column.

According to another aspect of the method of the present invention, the service provider may mail out CDs containing, for example, domestic postal rates to persons who are not customers. The CDs may also contain information on how to contact the MSSSPC, for example, through the Internet in order to become a customer or on ordering other features, e.g., international or private carrier rates. Advantageously, the CD sent to the new customer may also include this other rate information in deactivated or inaccessible form. In this case, when the new customer contacts the MSSSPC, the MSSSPC may download to the new customer's terminal activation of the aforementioned type which activates or otherwise makes the other rate information accessible. Those skilled in the art can appreciate that this same process can be used to activate information embodied on the CD other than rate information, e.g., such as ordering supplies, hardware, or to the extent possible any of the mailing/shipping software features listed above. The information on the CD may also include the complete mailing/shipping software as developed by the service provider of the MSSSPC.

Other modifications and variations to the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the foregoing disclosure. Thus, while only certain embodiments of the invention have been specifically described herein, it will be apparent that numerous modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

For example, in the method of Fig. 4, the MSSSPC may scan its customer data base to determine customers who might be interested in software features which are already in existence but who have not yet activated those features. An e-mail message may then be formatted and sent to these customers as a way of encouraging them to purchase these already existing features. Further, the first embodiment of the present method may be used to modify features which have previously been modified, and thus in this vein the method of the present invention may be repeatedly and periodically used to effect modifications of software features over the life of the mailing/shipping software.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A method for automatically modifying mailing/shipping software, comprising steps of: providing a mailing/shipping program at a customer terminal, said program having a predetermined number of a plurality of mailing/shipping features activated; selecting at least one feature from said plurality of features for modification; communicating information including a request for modification of said at least one feature to a mailing/shipping service provider terminal; communicating, in response to said request, activation information from the mailing/shipping service provider terminal to the customer terminal; and modifying said at least one selected feature in accordance with said activation information.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said at least one feature is at least one of a mailing/shipping function of said program, a rate table, an accounting feature, and a mailing/shipping system hardware component.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said at least one feature is at least one which was not activated before selection of said at least one feature, and wherein said activation information causes said at least one feature to be activated.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said at least one feature is at least one which was activated before selection of said at least one feature, and wherein said activation information causes said at least one feature to be de-activated.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said selecting step includes : displaying a screen at the customer terminal which lists features of said plurality of features which have not been activated; and selecting said at least one feature by making a designation within said list .

6. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of said communicating steps is performed over a communication path selected from one of the group consisting of the Internet and a public switched telephone network.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising: securing communications between the customer terminal and the mailing/shipping service provider terminal

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said securing step includes : communicating, at said mailing/shipping service provider terminal, upon receipt of said request, an encryption key for securing exchanges of information between said customer terminal and said mailing/shipping service provider terminal.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said encryption key is based on assymmetric encryption.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising: conveying payment for modification of said at least one feature to said mailing/shipping service provider terminal.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising: verying said payment at said mailing/shipping service provider terminal before said step of communicating said activation information.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein said activation information is digitally signed at the mailing/shipping service provider terminal using a form of encryption compatible with said encryption key.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising: determining, at said customer terminal, whether said activation information is valid; and performing said modifying step only if said activation information is determined to be valid.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein said modifying step includes : modifying said at least one feature for a predetermined period of time; continuing modification of said at least one feature after expiration of said predetermined period of time if payment for said modification is made within said predetermined period of time; and removing said modification if payment is not made within said predetermined time period.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of communicating said activation information includes causing said customer terminal to read said activation information from a computer-readable medium sent from said mailing/shipping service provider terminal .

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising: formatting said activation information so as to be unique to said customer terminal .

17. A method for automatically modifying mailing/shipping software installed at one or more customer terminals, said software at each terminal performing a predetermined number of mailing/shipping functions, said method comprising steps of: maintaining a data base of customer information at a mailing/shipping service provider terminal; se╬╡trching said data base for customers who might have interest in a new feature of said mailing/shipping program; creating an electronic mail message containing information including said new feature; communicating the electronic mail message to at least one of said customers at a customer terminal; and installing said new feature at said at least one customer terminal, said new feature being installed in such a manner that said new feature is in a not-activated state until said customer at said at least one customer terminal communicates with said mailing/shipping service provider terminal to have said new feature activated.

18. A method for automatically modifying mailing/shipping software installed at customer terminals, said software at each of said customer terminals performing a predetermined number of mailing/shipping functions, said method comprising steps of: maintaining a data base of customer information at a mailing/shipping service provider terminal; searching said data base for customers who have ordered a rate table service; creating an electronic mail message containing information which includes a new rate table; sending the electronic mail message to terminals of said customers who have ordered said rate table service; and installing said new rate table at said terminals.

19. A system for automatically modifying mailing/shipping software, comprising: a customer terminal which includes :

(a) a memory for storing a mailing/shipping program having a predetermined number of a plurality of mailing/shipping features activated, and

(b) an input device for selecting at least one feature from said plurality of features for modification;

(c) a processor for forming a request for modification of said at least one feature, and

(d) a communications unit for communicating said request; a mailing/shipping service provider terminal which generates activation information in response to receipt of said request from said customer terminal, wherein said customer terminal further includes a first unit which receives said activation information from said mailing/shipping service provider terminal, and a second unit which modifies said at least one selected feature in accordance with said activation information.

20. The system of claim 19, further comprising: a communications path for conveying said request from said customer terminal to said mailing/shipping service provider terminal, and for conveying said activation information from said mailing/shipping service provider terminal to said customer terminal .

21. The system of claim 20, wherein said communications path is one of the Internet and a public switched telephone network .

22. The system of claim 20, wherein said customer terminal and said mailing/shipping service provider terminal each include: a unit for encrypting information to be transmitted along said communications path; and a unit for validating information received from said communications path.