EP2800065A1 - Method for creating a label, computer program product and system for carrying out the method - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for producing a label that can be applied to a mailpiece. This method is characterized in that a network node (Maptos) provides a data service that is executed in a provider server of a service provider, wherein data for insertion into the label are generated. The invention further relates to a computer program product and a system for generating a label which can be applied to a mailpiece.

Description

Technical area

The invention relates to a method for producing a label that can be applied to a mailpiece.

The invention further relates to a computer program product, a network node and a device for carrying out the method.

Background and state of the art

It is known to provide mail with labels. Such labels are generated for example by a suitable data processing unit - for example a personal computer.

Presentation of the invention

It is desirable to incorporate information that is as relevant as possible into the label automatically for mailing the mailing.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to carry out a method for producing a label that can be applied to a mail item or to design a system for generating a label that can be applied to a mail item in such a way that a high level of operating convenience for a user is combined with a high degree of protection against tampering , According to the invention, this object is achieved by a method having the features of patent claim 1, a computer program product according to claim 14, a network node according to claim 15 and by a system according to claim 16.

Thus, a method for generating a label is performed such that a network node provides a data service that is executed in at least one provider server of a service provider, wherein data for insertion into the label is generated.

A development of the method, the computer program product, the network node and the system is characterized in that the data service is an Internet service.

It is particularly expedient to use the method, the computer program product, the network node and / or the system for creating return labels.

Return labels are labels that allow a user of the computer system to return mail received from him to a sender.

A further development of the method, of the computer program product, of the network node and of the system is characterized in that a checking step is carried out to check a voucher and, depending on the result of the checking step, the generation of the label is influenced.

A further development of the method, of the computer program product, of the network node and of the system is distinguished by the fact that it precedes the checking step Process step, the coupon is transmitted to a user.

A further development of the method, of the computer program product, of the network node and of the system is characterized in that a program module is introduced into the intelligent document which is adapted to provide a displayable indication of a result of the checking step or of a further checking step for checking the existence of the prerequisite within the intelligent document.

A development of the method, the computer program product, the network node and the system is characterized in that at least one of the test steps is performed by means of the program module.

A further development of the method, of the computer program product, of the network node and of the system is characterized in that in the checking step it is checked whether the program execution environment is available.

A development of the method, the computer program product, the network node and the system is characterized in that a program controls a one-time printing of the label and that an intelligent document is transmitted from a server to a client via a network.

A further development of the method, of the computer program product, of the network node and of the system is distinguished by the fact that, at the first printing of the label, a message is transmitted from the user client to the server and that the print due to the message is logged in the server becomes.

A further development of the method, of the computer program product, of the network node and of the system is characterized in that the program for controlling the printing of the label can only be executed if there is a network connection between the client and the server and if it is determined on the basis of a query from the server has been that the label has not yet been printed.

A further development of the method, of the computer program product, of the network node and of the system is characterized in that it is checked in at least one of the checking steps whether there is access to the network.

A refinement of the method, of the computer program product, of the network node and of the system is characterized in that in at least one of the checking steps a query of the server is made, in which it is checked whether contents of the intelligent document have already been printed once.

A further development of the invention includes a system that enables customers to request and print labels via an online interface via a PC, which is referred to below as a user client. The interface is provided by a server, hereafter referred to as POP server (POP: Parcel Online Postage).

To generate the label, the customer first generates one or more entries for mailpieces to be sent in a shopping cart on a first page provided by the POP server (referred to below as NOW 1). For this, the website NOW 1 contains a button, via which the user clicks on a another website (hereinafter referred to as NOW2, which displays shipment details), on which data of a shipment can be collected and manipulated.

The data include, for example, the sender address, the recipient address and a selection of the products and services as well as the destination countries, from which in particular the postage value for the shipment results. Furthermore, the user can specify one or more additional services for the shipments. These include, for example, a roll service for round packaging or a specific bulky goods service, whereby these forms are only examples of additional services.

If the shopping cart contains at least one entry, another button is active on the website NOW 1, via which the customer can initiate a payment process. This takes place on the basis of an online payment method, whereby the customer can in particular choose between different online transfer forms, among which, for example, the payment service PayPal or a credit card payment can be subsumed, these payment methods being mentioned only as examples.

After the payment has been made, the customer will be taken to a website (hereinafter referred to as NOW 3) which contains links to PDF documents which enable the printing of the acquired franking label. Furthermore, after the payment has been made, an e-mail will be sent to the customer which contains a link to the website NOW 3, which will allow the website to be called up again at a later date. The e-mail will be sent to an address previously entered by the customer on the NOW 1 website. If the value of the shopping cart exceeds a certain amount, the access to the website NOW 3 is secured by a PIN via the link contained in the e-mail. presented to the user on the NOW 3 page, but not sent by e-mail.

A further development of the invention includes a voucher functionality that allows a customer to purchase vouchers and use them for the payment of postage indicia. The vouchers can be added to the shopping cart on the website NOW 1. Via a corresponding button on this website, the user can access another website (NOW 2 - Voucher Details) where voucher sets for a base product also selected on this page can be added to the shopping cart. After payment of the shopping cart, the user is offered a possibility on the website NOW 3 to display or save the purchased coupon codes. For the later redemption of the voucher the voucher code is entered by the customer when generating the shopping cart on the website NOW 1.

The invention is suitable for creating different labels, in particular for producing labels for controlling logistical functions of the mailpieces, in particular their transport, sorting and / or forwarding. The labels contain, for example, monetary information as proof of payment, so that it is an example of franking labels.

It is also possible, however, for the labels to contain further information for handling the mailpieces-for example a sender address, a recipient address, a mailing identification code or other data describing the mailing (eg weight or dimensions). This makes it possible to use the label to monitor the course of the shipment (tracking) or to prove the course of the shipment (tracing).

In a preferred embodiment, the labels contain, in addition to the address of the recipient and the sender, a routing code assigned to the recipient address, which is used in the production of the mailpieces in a parcel or letter center of a mailing service provider.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the label includes a unique label identification code. On the basis of the label identification code abuse cases can be determined in which a franking label is used several times for the franking of mail. For this purpose, the label identification codes of the issued franking label are stored in a payment assurance system. In the production of a shipment, the label identification code is marked as used in the pay-as-you-go system. Furthermore, it is checked for each produced broadcast whether the label identification code is marked as invalid. If this is the case, a case of abuse will be detected. Guide code and label identification code are inserted into the label both in plain text and in the form of a bar code. The franking labels are provided to the customer on the basis of intelligent PDF documents.

The invention includes various embodiments for generating the label and for its expression. Particularly preferred embodiments are mentioned below:

After the customer has paid for the shopping cart, the POP server receives notification of the payment transaction from the payment provider. Subsequently, a data record for the franking label purchased by the customer is generated in a document database. In particular, the data record contains a unique document identification code for the intelligent PDF document, an indication of whether the label has already been printed with valid codes, and form data. The form data includes the sender and recipient address of the mail to be franked, the routing code. In addition, the form data includes the label identification code that is extracted after payment from a pool of previously generated codes. This code will also be transferred to the pay-as-you-go system. It also generates an intelligent PDF document, which is an empty form with form fields for the form data mentioned above. The designation of the PDF document is the document identification code.

The label is printed as part of the iPDF mechanism by means of a communication between the user client and the POP server or a license server connected to the POP server, which can access the document database. The SOAP interface of the Acrobat Reader is used for communication between the user client. After opening the PDF document, it is first checked successively whether an Internet connection is present, whether the document identification code is valid and whether the label has not already been printed. To perform the last two test steps, a service of the POP server is called via the SOAP interface of the Acrobat Reader, which returns after a corresponding query the database whether a record for the document identification code in the document database is present, and if the postage indicium already as printed has been marked.

After successful completion of the verification steps, the form data stored in the database, with the exception of the valid codes, are loaded via the interface of the Acrobat Reader from the POP server and into the form fields of the PDF document brought in. Instead of the valid codes, the PDF document initially only contains dummy codes to prevent the user from making a copy of a valid label. Furthermore, the content of the document is first clearly marked as a pattern. For printing, the PDF document provides its own functionality, in which test prints and a print of a valid label - referred to as postage printing - can be carried out via corresponding buttons within the document. In a test print, the pattern of the label initially contained in the PDF document is printed with the dummy codes. In the case of postage printing, the valid label is printed, with the valid barcodes being retrieved from the POP server after pressing the appropriate button. Further, by pressing the button for the postage printing in the document database of the POP server is registered that a print of the valid label has been made and the button is hidden or disabled.

When the document is opened again after a postage print, it is determined on the basis of the first check steps that the label has already been printed once. At least one postage will not be allowed in this case.

The label can have different shapes. It is preferably designed so that it allows identification and / or control of mail and possibly also the coordination of a storage space.

Appropriately, the label scratch and impact resistant and temperature resistant.

• Barcode-Label,
• EAS-Etiketten,
• Etiketten für Warenverfolgung,
• intelligente Etiketten,
• Inventuretiketten,
• Palettenetiketten,
• Sicherheitsetiketten,
• Thermoetiketten,
• Thermotransferetiketten,
• Transponderetiketten.

Examples of such labels are:

• Barcode labels,
• EAS tags,
• Labels for goods tracking,
• smart labels,
• Inventory labels
• Pallet labels,
• Security labels,
• Thermal labels,
• Thermal transfer labels,
• Transponder labels.

Coded information is incorporated into the labels as control instruments for the parcel logistics.

In particular, the labels may contain a consecutive numbering - possibly with check digit -, other numbering and address information or other information that classify the shipment or serve for advertising purposes, for example.

Particularly comprehensive amounts of data can be incorporated into smart labels.

RFID identification systems - "smart labels" - make it possible to optimize logistics processes.

They are thus a suitable means of influencing - including controlling flexible distribution systems for the route-optimized provision of the mailpieces.

A transmission of the label to the operating unit preferably takes place in the form of an intelligent document.

In a further development of the invention, an intelligent document is used, which comprises a program which, if a prerequisite is present, can be executed by means of a program execution environment and contains contents which can be displayed by means of a presentation program. The intelligent document is characterized by comprising a program module adapted to generate a displayable indication of a result of the checking step for checking the existence of the prerequisite within the intelligent document.

A further embodiment of the method, the intelligent document and the device includes that the program execution environment is part of the presentation program.

Following the purchase of an item by a buyer - for example, by the end of an auction or purchase at a fixed price at e.g. a mail order company - for the seller, the process of shipment processing, which is optimized by the present invention. Alternatively, a label may be generated independently of a business transaction described above, e.g. is used for private shipping purposes or the destination has a postage indicium with the aim to generate, to use this for the return shipment of one or more articles to a sender.

Preferably, the shipping and / or franking relevant data from the shipping information system or the listing tools are automated - ie without further action by the seller - passed over an interface to a means for creating a label (Labelerstelldienst).

Use of the invention in systems for producing labels or other indicia to provide mail or other goods to be transported is particularly advantageous.

A label is preferably a graphical representation - for example, an expression or a screen display of an intelligent document.

A further development of the invention includes a method for generating an intelligent document comprising a program which, if a prerequisite is present, can be executed by means of a program execution environment and contains contents that can be displayed by means of a presentation program.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the displayable contents consist of static content and dynamic content, wherein an introduction of the dynamic content into the intelligent document takes place separately from an introduction of the static content.

In this case, it is particularly advantageous that address data and / or franking-relevant data are examples of dynamic contents in the sense of preferred developments of the invention.

However, a development of the invention is also suitable for the use of other dynamic information and in other technical contexts, for example for an automation of other logistics operations, production processes as well as the generation and processing of information. Particularly advantageous are applications in which dynamic information is rendered and / or edited in a static frame.

Static information is information that, in particular, allows data to be embedded.

For example, the frames may also be so-called frames.

A frame is a subarea of a graphical representation, in particular a screen page, for example a graphical user interface. A single segment is referred to as a frame (English expression for frame), the definition of all frames as a frameset.

The use of frames enables the parallel display of several individual documents, which can be moved independently of each other if necessary. The frames can be used to combine content from different sources or from different data sources.

In addition, inline frames (iframes) can be used. They allow a particularly simple data integration into a displayed screen page.

Accordingly, a method of the aforementioned type is provided in which the intelligent document comprises a program which, if a prerequisite is present, can be executed by means of a program execution environment and contains contents which can be displayed by means of a presentation program.

According to the invention, the method is carried out so that two different types of content in the intelligent document which may come from one or more sources.

A first type of content is static content. Static content preferably matches multiple documents.

The static contents are preferably those contents that are suitable for generating multiple documents. Generating multiple documents is very beneficial, but not necessary.

The static contents are, for example, frame information for the generation of documents or other information whose update occurs less frequently than in the case of the dynamic contents, preferably only at the end of a predefinable time interval or when an event is reached. Alternatively, it is possible to leave the static data completely unchanged.

Furthermore, an intelligent document is provided which comprises a program which, if a prerequisite is available, can be executed by means of a program execution environment and which contains contents which can be displayed by means of a presentation program. The intelligent document is characterized in that it includes a program module adapted to generate a displayable indication of a result of the checking step for checking the existence of the prerequisite within the intelligent document.

An embodiment of the invention provides that the program module is a component of the static content.

A development of the invention is characterized in that the program module is a component of the dynamic content.

A particularly preferred embodiment of the invention provides that the program module is either part of the dynamic content or the static content.

In addition, a device for generating a smart document is provided which comprises a program which, if a prerequisite is available, can be executed by means of a program execution environment and which contains contents that can be displayed by means of a presentation program. The apparatus is arranged to introduce a program module into the intelligent document that is configured to generate a displayable indication of a result of the checking step for checking the existence of the prerequisite within the intelligent document.

A further development of the method, the intelligent document, the computer program product and the device provides that a program module is contained in the intelligent document itself with which an indication of the result of a checking step can be generated. As a result, the intelligent document itself is capable of indicating the result of a checking step, so that the result of the checking step is displayed regardless of the configuration of the presentation program.

In the context of the invention, an indication that can be displayed within an intelligent document is an indication that can be displayed by means of the presentation program, for example, on a screen. Smart documents In addition to the content that can be displayed, further contents, such as program codes, for example, which at least in a normal presentation mode are not displayed by means of a presentation program, may be included.

The method according to the invention for generating a smart document comprising a program that can be executed in the presence of a prerequisite by means of a program execution environment that contains displayable content by means of a presentation program can be developed in various ways.

A development of the method, the intelligent document and the device provides that the static contents are transmitted from a server to a client via a network.

An embodiment of the method, the intelligent document and the device provides that the dynamic contents are transmitted from a server to the client via a network.

As a result, a particularly rapid document generation is possible.

A transmission of the dynamic contents, independent of a transmission or non-transmission of the static contents, has the advantage that the data transmission expense for the generation of a smart document is reduced.

This advantage is even more pronounced if several intelligent documents are generated.

When creating multiple intelligent documents, it is advantageous to once transfer the static content and combine it with different dynamic content to different intelligent documents.

It is thus possible to generate several different intelligent documents with static content once created.

A further development of the method, the intelligent document, the computer program product and the device provides that the static contents and the dynamic contents are transmitted separately from one another.

A development of the method, the intelligent document, the computer program product and the device provides that the transmission takes place separately in time.

An embodiment of the method, the intelligent document, the computer program product and the device is characterized in that the transmission takes place on different transmission paths.

A further development of the method, the intelligent document, the computer program product and the device provides that the static contents are provided by a different data source than the dynamic contents.

An embodiment of the method, the intelligent document, the computer program product and the device is characterized in that the static contents of a first server and that the dynamic content is being transferred from another server.

A further development of the method, the intelligent document, the computer program product and the device provides that the static data is stored in an area of a client.

This has the advantage that the static data are available in a particularly simple and advantageous manner for generating a plurality of - preferably different - intelligent documents.

The documents are used in particular by a client. The client is advantageously available to a user of the system and is therefore also referred to as a user client in the present application.

The client is preferably equipped to recognize whether the document transmitted is an intelligent document. This is done in a development of the invention in that the presence of a confirmation information is checked. For example, the confirmation information is a signature.

One embodiment of the method, the intelligent document, the computer program product, and the device provides that the client, upon opening a document, checks to see if it has been signed.

In one development of the invention, it is checked-preferably by means of a further checking step-whether the signature with which the document was signed is valid.

The static content is preferably transmitted separately from the dynamic content. The static contents are, for example, layout information for the design of the document.

Further developments of the invention provide for the static contents to be processed partially, predominantly or completely differently than the dynamic contents.

For example, the static contents of the dynamic content differ by the time of each generation.

Furthermore, the static content and the dynamic content can also differ from one another by the event that triggers them each time.

A development of the method, the intelligent document, the computer program product and the device provides that the static contents are transmitted in the presence of a first event.

An embodiment of the method, the intelligent document, the computer program product and the device is characterized in that the static information is transmitted in the presence of an event of a first type of event.

A development of the method, the intelligent document, the computer program product and the device provides that the dynamic contents are transmitted in the presence of a second event.

An embodiment of the method, the intelligent document, the computer program product and the device is characterized in that the dynamic information is transmitted in the event of an event of a second type of event.

A development of the method, the intelligent document, the computer program product and the device provides that a presence of the second event is determined taking into account a checking step.

An embodiment of the method, the intelligent document, the computer program product and the device is characterized in that the first event differs from the second event.

A further development of the method, the intelligent document, the computer program product and the device provides that the first type of event differs from the second type of event.

Furthermore, an intelligent document is provided which comprises a program which, if a prerequisite is available, can be executed by means of a program execution environment and which contains contents which can be displayed by means of a presentation program. The intelligent document is characterized in that it includes a program module adapted to generate a displayable indication of a result of the checking step for checking the existence of the prerequisite within the intelligent document.

In addition, a device for generating a smart document is provided which comprises a program which, if a prerequisite is available, can be executed by means of a program execution environment and which contains contents that can be displayed by means of a presentation program. The apparatus is arranged to introduce a program module into the intelligent document that is configured to generate a displayable indication of a result of the checking step for checking the existence of the prerequisite within the intelligent document.

A further development of the invention of the invention is that in the intelligent document itself a program module is included, with which an indication of the result of a test step can be generated. As a result, the intelligent document itself is capable of indicating the result of a checking step, so that the result of the checking step is displayed regardless of the configuration of the presentation program.

In the context of the invention, an indication that can be displayed within an intelligent document is an indication that can be displayed by means of the presentation program, for example, on a screen. In addition to the content that can be displayed, intelligent documents may contain other contents, such as program code, which are not displayed by means of a presentation program, at least in a normal presentation mode.

Within the test steps, it will be advantageously checked whether certain conditions exist for the use of the functionality of the intelligent document. If these conditions are fulfilled, a positive result will be achieved of the test step. If the prerequisites are not fulfilled, a negative result will be displayed, so that the user will know which condition is not met. He can use this knowledge to create the corresponding prerequisite.

In one embodiment of the method, the intelligent document and the device, it is provided that the checking step is carried out by means of the program module.

Advantageously, the program module in this embodiment is also designed to carry out the checking step, so that the intelligent document can check itself independently of the specific configuration of the presentation program.

A refinement of the method, the intelligent document and the device is characterized in that it is checked in the checking step whether the program execution environment is available.

This development has the advantage that it is checked whether the program execution environment is available, so that the user can be informed if necessary that the program execution environment is not present and therefore certain functions of the intelligent document are not available.

However, if the program execution environment is not available, the verification step can not be performed directly by executing a program. Similarly, the indication of a negative result of the test step not be introduced into the intelligent document by means of the program module.

An embodiment of the method therefore comprises inserting into the intelligent document a displayable indication of a negative result of the checking step, and in that the program module is adapted to convert the indication of the negative result of the checking step into a representable indication of a positive result of the checking step.

Furthermore, an embodiment of the intelligent document provides that the intelligent document contains a displayable indication of a negative result of the checking step, which can be converted by means of the program module into a displayable indication of a positive result of the checking step.

In addition, an embodiment of the device is characterized in that the device is designed to introduce a displayable indication of a negative result of the checking step in the intelligent document, and that the program module is adapted to the representable indication of the negative result of the checking step in an indication of a positive result of the test step.

In these embodiments, the test of whether the program execution environment is present can advantageously be made implicitly by means of the program module generating the indication of the result of the verification step within the intelligent document. This is achieved by virtue of the execution of the program module, which can only occur if the program execution environment is available a positive result of the checking step is generated by a conversion of an already existing in the intelligent document indicating a negative result of the checking step. If the program execution environment is not available, the program module can not be executed and the indication of the negative result of the verification step is retained.

In a development of the method, the intelligent document and the device, it is provided that the program controls the one-time printing of a postage indicium and that the intelligent document is transmitted from a server to a client via a network.

An embodiment of the method, the intelligent document and the device is further characterized in that at a first print of the postage indicium, a message is transmitted from the client to the server and that the pressure due to the message is logged in the server.

Further, it is provided in one embodiment of the method, the intelligent document and the device that the program for controlling the printing of the postage indicium is executable only if there is a network connection between the client and the server and if it is determined by means of a query of the server in that the franking mark has not yet been printed.

This prevents a once-paid postage indicium from being printed several times.

An embodiment of the method, the intelligent document and the device is characterized in that it is checked in the checking step, whether an access to the network exists.

In addition, a further development of the method, of the intelligent document and of the device includes that in the checking step a query is made of the server, in which it is checked whether contents of the intelligent document have already been printed once.

A further embodiment of the method, the intelligent document and the device includes that the program execution environment is part of the presentation program.

In addition, a computer program product is provided which includes a computer program for carrying out a method of the kind described above.

The invention further relates to a network node that provides a data service that is executed in at least one provider server of a service provider, wherein data for insertion into a label is generated.

The invention further relates to a system for generating a label that can be applied to a mailpiece, wherein a network node (Maptos) is connected to a provider server and wherein a data service is provided and executed in the provider server, wherein data for insertion into the label is generated.

These and other advantages, features and expedient developments of the invention are also based on the embodiments clear, which are described below with reference to the figures.

Brief description of the figures

Fig. 1

eine schematische Darstellung eines Nutzerclients, der mit einem Server verbunden ist, von dem intelligente Dokumente an den Nutzerclient übermittelbar sind;

Fig. 2

eine Übersicht über erfindungsgemäß eingesetzte Schnittstellen;

Fig. 3

eine schematische Darstellung einer Integration einer Dokumentenerzeugung in ein erfindungsgemäßes System;

Fig. 4

einen Ablaufplan einer bevorzugten Integration von Zahlungsvorgängen und

Fig. 5

ein erfindungsgemäß erzeugtes Label.

From the figures shows:

Fig. 1

a schematic representation of a user client, which is connected to a server from which intelligent documents can be transmitted to the user client;

Fig. 2

an overview of interfaces used in the invention;

Fig. 3

a schematic representation of an integration of a document generation in a system according to the invention;

Fig. 4

a flowchart of a preferred integration of payment transactions and

Fig. 5

a label produced according to the invention.

Presentation of the invention with reference to the figures

The invention includes various possibilities for generating a label that can be applied to a mailpiece. By applying the label to a mail item, the method for generating a label that can be applied to a mailpiece is developed further into a method for producing a mailpiece.

If data contained in the label contains information relevant to the shipment, for example for payment assurance, shipment tracking or forwarding, the invention is also a method and a system for transporting mailpieces.

Hereinafter, particularly preferred embodiments of the invention are shown, in which a simple and secure introduction of content in the label is associated with a particularly high benefit for the transport of the mail.

When creating the labels, it is particularly advantageous to include both dynamic content and static content in the labels.

The static contents relate, for example, to frame information. This frame information preferably forms a graphically displayable frame.

Dynamic content can be included in this framework.

It is advantageous for the dynamic contents to be transmitted when an event occurs, for example when a checking step has been carried out.

According to the invention, various solutions for the adoption of dynamic content are provided.

For example, it is possible to transmit dynamic content immediately before a screen display and / or before a printing process.

• per Textdatei (csv),
• durch Direktübertragung aus einer Datenbank oder
• über SOAP-Calls.

This can be done, for example, in one of the following ways:

• via text file (csv),
• by direct transfer from a database or
• about SOAP calls.

In FIG. 1 schematically a server is shown.

The server is connected to a user client (user system) via a network. The network is, for example, the Internet or an intranet.

Smart documents are sent from the server to a user client over the network. For this purpose, the server has a device designed for example as a software program for generating intelligent documents.

In one embodiment, the server is a server that provides smart documents for label printing. In this embodiment, the server comprises a database with one entry for each label generated and sent to a user client.

The illustrated server is connected to a client via a network. The network is, for example, the Internet or an intranet. For example, the client is a PC (personal computer).

The use of a personal computer is only to be understood as an example. By this is meant any computing device that can perform processing operations. In particular, this includes systems that can work with different operating systems. For example It is possible to use Windows, Mac or Linux operating systems.

In particular, the client (user client) is a computer that is connected via the Internet. The connection to the server is made to increase data security in particular via https "hyper text transfer protocol" with encrypted transmission. This complicates "man in the middle" attacks.

It is advantageous to additionally provide SOAP calls with their own signature and to process information only if the respectively attached signature has been recognized as valid.

For example, the information is data that is created using the XML "Extended Markup Language".

It is advantageous to perform a data exchange in accordance with SOAP "Simple Object Access Protocol".

In a preferred embodiment, the data is transferred to the client via download.

For example, the client installs an Adobe Reader version 6.0.2, a later version of this program, or Adobe Professional Software. Content is opened via PDFs, via Adobe Reader, and then the dynamic contents (especially user-specific data) are loaded by soap call into the main memory of the Adobe Reader application and then sent to a printer together with the static data by a print job.

Conveniently, the client is equipped so that it has a display device and at least one input device and a memory and a processor. Specifically, stored in the memory is a presentation program that is executable within the client and capable of opening conventional documents of a particular format, such as PDF documents, and displaying their contents on the display device. Further, the presentation program allows the processing of intelligent documents, that is, it is adapted to display displayable contents of intelligent documents on the display device and to execute programs contained in the intelligent document. To do this, the presentation program provides a program execution environment that can be used to interpret and execute program instructions contained in programs. In addition, the client is interfaced to a printing device and has a network interface for connection to the network.

Smart documents are sent from the server to the client over the network. For this purpose, the server has a device designed for example as a software program for generating intelligent documents. In one embodiment, the server is configured as a server providing intelligent documents for the printing of postage indicia. In this embodiment, the server comprises a database with one entry for each generated and sent to a client franking mark.

The intelligent documents include content which can be displayed by the presentation program on the display device and consist of text and / or graphic elements. Furthermore, programs are in the intelligent documents embedded, which are executable by the program execution environment of the presentation program. The programs are scripts that contain the program code that can be interpreted by the program execution environment. On the basis of the programs, displayable contents of the intelligent documents can be changed. In addition, the programs allow the execution of further processes, such as the control of the printing device for the printing of contents of the intelligent document or accesses to the network interface. The program code is not displayed on the display device in the normal presentation mode of the presentation program. In principle, however, the presentation program can have a special presentation mode in which the program code can also be displayed.

In the context of the present invention, an intelligent document provided by the server also contains status information for indicating the result of one or more checking steps. Representable information of the test results are generated by means of one or more program modules, which are also included in the intelligent document. The program modules may be self-contained programs or part of a program intended to carry out the main functionality of the intelligent document. Within the verification steps it will be determined if certain conditions exist for the use of the main functionalities of the intelligent document. In this way, in the case of unusable functionality, the user acquires, in particular, knowledge of a possibly unfulfilled condition. He can use this knowledge to create the prerequisite for using the functionalities of the intelligent document.

A prerequisite for using the functionality of a smart document is the availability of the program execution environment. Typically, however, not all presentation programs for presenting documents in the smart document format contain an appropriate program execution environment. For example, the program execution environment may not be present in older versions of the presentation program. In one embodiment, therefore, in a checking step, it is checked, in particular, whether the client's presentation program has a program execution environment suitable for executing the program contained in the intelligent document. In order to be able to display the result of this checking step correctly even if the program execution environment does not exist, a representable indication of a negative result of the checking step is already introduced in the document when the intelligent document is created. Furthermore, a program module is incorporated in the smart document that converts the indication of the negative result of the verification step into the indication of a successful execution of the verification step when it is executed. The intelligent document is preferably configured in such a way that the program module is automatically started when the intelligent document is opened in the presentation program while the program execution environment is present.

The test of whether the program execution environment is available is preferably performed implicitly and gives a positive or negative result, depending on whether the program module can be executed or not.

In addition to this checking step, where a decision is made about the existence of the program execution environment, other checking steps may also be performed by means of a executed in the intelligent document program. The results of these test steps can then be presented in the same way by using a program module to convert the indication of a negative result into the statement of a positive result.

The conversion of the indication of the negative result of the checking step into the presentation of a positive result of the checking step can be done by changing the indication. For example, one or more characters may be added to the negative indication to produce an indication of a positive result of the verification step. Furthermore, the status indication may be colored, for example. The conversion of the indication of the negative result of the checking step into an indication of a positive result can be effected here by a color change which is carried out by means of the program. In addition, it may also be provided that characters or symbols indicating the negative result of the test result are at least partially replaced by characters or symbols by means of which a positive result of the test step is displayed. The presentation of the test results can be made visible or invisible to the user.

The intelligent documents comprise content which can be displayed on a display device by means of the presentation program and consists of text and / or graphic elements. Further, embedded in the intelligent documents are programs executable by the program execution environment of the presentation program.

For example, the programs are scripts that include the program code that is used by the program execution environment can be interpreted. On the basis of the programs, displayable contents of the intelligent documents can be changed. Furthermore, the programs allow the execution of further processes, such as the control of a printing device for the printing of contents of the intelligent document or accesses to the network interface. The program code is not displayed on the display device in the normal presentation mode of the presentation program. In principle, however, the presentation program can present a special presentation mode in which the program code can also be displayed.

In the context of the present invention, an intelligent document provided by the server also contains status information for indicating the result of one or more checking steps. Representable information of the test results are generated by means of one or more program modules, which are also included in the intelligent document. The program modules may be self-contained programs or part of a program intended to carry out the main functionality of the intelligent document. Within the verification steps it will be determined if certain conditions exist for the use of the main functionalities of the intelligent document. In this way, in the case of unusable functionality, the user acquires, in particular, knowledge of a possibly unfulfilled condition. He can use this knowledge to create the prerequisite for using the functionalities of the intelligent document.

A prerequisite for using the functionality of a smart document is the availability of the program execution environment. Usually, however, do not contain all presentation programs for presenting documents in the format of the intelligent document an appropriate program execution environment. For example, the program execution environment may not be present in older versions of the presentation program. In one embodiment, therefore, in a checking step, it is checked, in particular, whether the presentation program of the user's client has a program execution environment that is suitable for executing the program contained in the intelligent document. In order to be able to display the result of this checking step correctly even if the program execution environment does not exist, a representable indication of a negative result of the checking step is already introduced in the document when the intelligent document is created. Furthermore, a program module is incorporated in the smart document that converts the indication of the negative result of the verification step into the indication of a successful execution of the verification step when it is executed. The intelligent document is preferably configured in such a way that the program module is automatically started when the intelligent document is opened in the presentation program while the program execution environment is present.

The test of whether the program execution environment is available is preferably performed implicitly and gives a positive or negative result, depending on whether the program module can be executed or not.

In addition to this checking step, in which a decision is made about the existence of the program execution environment, other checking steps can also be performed by means of a program contained in the intelligent document. The results of these testing steps can then be presented in the same way by using a program module is a conversion of the indication of a negative result in the indication of a positive result is made.

The conversion of the indication of the negative result of the checking step into the presentation of a positive result of the checking step can be done by changing the indication. For example, one or more characters may be added to the negative indication to produce an indication of a positive result of the verification step. Furthermore, the status indication may be colored or remain invisible to the user, for example, except in the event that the test result is negative in order to inform the user about the negative test result. The conversion of the indication of the negative result of the checking step into an indication of a positive result can be effected here by a color change which is carried out by means of the program. In addition, it may also be provided that characters or symbols indicating the negative result of the test result are at least partially replaced by characters or symbols by means of which a positive result of the test step is displayed.

The illustrated steps are preferably carried out using the in Fig. 1 illustrated system.

This system includes a provider server and a network node (hereafter called Maptos).

In the overview, Maptos stands for an external entry point into the application POP. Further accesses to the individual web pages of the POP application may be transparently channeled through Maptos.

Maptos refers to a network node for providing at least one Internet service that is executed in at least one provider server of a service provider.

A further development of the network node Maptos comprises at least one external connector for receiving a service request whose generation can be initiated in a user computer of an internet marketplace user, and for transmitting a processing result determined in the provider server to the user computer, wherein the external connector is capable of sending a service request to the user Internet marketplace adapted format change the service request and the processing result.

Furthermore, it is expedient to design the network node in such a way that it has a transformation unit connected to the outer connector for determining at least one provider server for executing the service based on information contained in the service request and for addressing the service request to the determined provider server.

A development of the network node comprises at least one inner connector connected to the transformation unit for transmitting the service request to the provider server and for receiving the processing result determined in the provider server from the provider server.

The term Internet marketplace is to be understood in the context of the invention in its broadest sense and includes in particular web portals, such as auction portals sharing exchanges or discussion forums on the Internet and websites that are provided for example by online stores.

The network node makes it possible to provide Internet services provided by a service provider on an Internet marketplace without requiring adjustments of the provider servers that perform the Internet services to the Internet marketplace. The interpretation of the service request, i. in particular, the required format changes, the determination of the provider server necessary for the execution of the service and the addressing of the service request to the provider server takes place in the network node, so that the information required to execute the internet service can be recorded in a marketplace-specific manner and incorporated into the service request, without the internet marketplace having to adapt to the requirements of the provider server.

In addition, the interface between the network node and the Internet marketplace is decoupled from the interface between the network node and the provider server, thereby achieving a particularly high degree of flexibility in the adaptation of the transformation node.

It is advantageously achieved by the outer connectors that the network node itself can be easily and flexibly adapted to an Internet marketplace and, in particular, to a data format used in communicating with an Internet marketplace, without changes in the internal functionality of the network node during adaptation. In particular, adjustments to the transformation unit are required.

The POP server runs on several instances, eg within a BEA 9.x cluster.

An upstream web server is not required in a preferred embodiment of the invention if the application dynamically generates all data (HTML, PDF).

Sticky sessions are used to distribute HTTP requests to each instance within the BEA cluster. Sticky sessions ensure that a single session of a user is always handled by the same cluster node.

For persistent storage of data, the POP application uses a common database for all instances, such as Oracle 9.x or 10.x.

For aggregating logging data for statistics, CronJob is a Java process that accesses the database of the POP server. This process can optionally also periodically delete old logging data.

Another batch job uses the data previously written by the POP server into the database for the reporting of specific data (hereinafter called PAN data) to third party systems (hereinafter called ECICC).

Storage of POP server data outside of the database in a file system is possible but not required. It is advantageous that the EDICC module creates temporary files (/ tmp) for the sFTP protocol.

Comment:

Batch jobs are protected from parallel, ie multiple, booting to prevent unwanted side effects.

In Fig. 2 an overview of particularly advantageous interfaces is shown.

The interfaces serve for a connection between a provider server according to the invention with a provider server (called a provider). The invention advantageously takes place via the Internet.

The provider server can be connected to a client (user system). For example, the client is a user system that is equipped to receive data from the server and / or to communicate data to the server. For example, the client is a personal computer, a corporate network, or a mobile user terminal, such as a mobile phone.

Preferably, the client is designed to include browser functionality.

• Internet Explorer Version 6.0,
• Mozilla Firefox 1.5,
• Netscape 7.1,
• Safari 2.0.4 (Mac OS).

This is, for example, a web browser (with activated Javascript, HTML 4.0), wherein it is advantageous that the application is designed so that it can be started and used with a variety of different browser types. This includes, for example, the following browser types:

• Internet Explorer version 6.0,
• Mozilla Firefox 1.5,
• Netscape 7.1,
• Safari 2.0.4 (Mac OS).

The list of mentioned browsers can be extended at any time to take account of developments.

It is convenient to implement security mechanisms to secure communication between the client and the provider server from unauthorized interception by third parties.

Similarly, a backup of the communication between the provider server and other external systems - especially payment systems - appropriate.

• HTTPS (POST, GET, XML),
• sFTP (EDICC).

It is therefore advantageous to use secure protocols in communication. These are for example:

• HTTPS (POST, GET, XML),
• sFTP (EDICC).

Both protocols are protected by manipulation or interception by third parties.

If communication with an in-house system occurs over an internal network and the transmitted data does not contain sensitive data, HTTP can be used instead of HTTPS.

In the sent emails no codes, passwords or the like are sent directly, but only a link with an ID (preferably different from the transaction ID) embedded, which branches to an HTML page (NOW3).

abuse assurance

The numbers generated by the application - vouchers, documents, shopping cart, PIN - are generated in such a way that they can not be guessed by the user. In addition, these numbers are stored in the database and so their "consumption" controlled.

System access

Access data required for the use of the external interfaces are stored in the database via a symmetric encryption method (contained in the web application). H. These can also not be viewed by a database administrator.

Backup protocols of the payment platforms

The standard mechanisms for securing the communication between application and payment platform are used.

The actual payment transactions are carried out on the websites of the payment platform, so that this transaction is encapsulated for the application.

User-related data

• Inhalt des Warenkorbes, solange es notwendig ist, dem Nutzer die entsprechenden Funktionen zur Verfügung zu stellen (PDF-Dokumente beispielsweise 32 Tage; für Gutscheincodes auch länger, wobei diese Werte aus technischer Hinsicht beliebig konfigurierbar sind, so dass die vorgegebene Setzung lediglich exemplarischen Charakter hat).
• Die gekauften Label inkl. der notwendigen Daten (32 Tage - siehe vorherigen Punkt).
• E-Mail-Adresse des Nutzers aus der Kurzregistrierung mit Teilnahme an Mailing-Aktionen (unbegrenzt).
• Enthält der Warenkorb Gutscheine, die noch nicht aufgebraucht sind, so ist der Warenkorb mit diesen Gutscheinen entsprechend länger gültig (Gültigkeit der Gutscheine).

Preferably, the provider server contains only the data that is useful for carrying out the method. These are for example:

• Content of the basket of goods, as long as it is necessary to provide the user with the corresponding functions (PDF documents, for example 32 days, for coupon codes even longer, whereby these values are arbitrarily configurable from a technical point of view, so that the predetermined setting has only exemplary character ).
• The purchased label incl. The necessary data (32 days - see previous point).
• E-mail address of the user from the short registration with participation in mailing campaigns (unlimited).
• If the shopping cart contains vouchers that have not yet been used up, the shopping cart with these vouchers will be valid for longer (validity of the vouchers).

Data is not deleted in the database, but only in accordance with z. For example, an attribute is highlighted.

The subsequent access of a user to his shopping cart is made from a certain price volume via the additional input of a PIN or PIN2.

Traceability through logging

All important actions of the application as well as the calls from external interfaces are logged in the database. If logging in the database is not possible, eg. In case of database errors, the logging mechanisms of the application server are used.

configuration management

The configuration management with the time-dependent data (eg prices, vouchers) and the static resources is designed in such a way that once created and already productively switched configurations can no longer be removed from the database. Furthermore, the configuration data valid at that time can be reconstructed for each point in time in the past.

surface

• NOW1: Anzeige des kompletten Warenkorbes,
• NOW2-Sendung: Detaildarstellung einer Sendung,
• NOW2-Gutschein: Detaildarstellung eines Gutschein-Sets,
• Now2-Abholung: Detaildarstellung einer Abholungsbeauftragung
• NOW3: Angaben zum im vorherigen Schritt bezahlten Warenkorb.

The user-visible interface of the application is essentially divided into the following websites:

• NOW1: display of the complete shopping basket,
• NOW2 broadcast: detailed presentation of a program,
• NOW2 voucher: detailed presentation of a voucher set,
• Now2-pickup: detailed presentation of a pick-up order
• NOW3: Details of the shopping cart paid in the previous step.

field definitions

To prevent the page layout from being affected by displaying overly long field contents (for example, very long street names), these are either displayed in non-editable fixed-length text boxes or truncated after a specified number of characters (of course, only for display).

Input fields are specially marked (Edit, Input); otherwise the fields described are pure display fields without any further function. Possibly. the following information in parentheses such as AN (64) means "maximum 64 digits alphanumeric"; analogous to N (6) "maximum 6 digits numerically". If not specified more precisely, these are single-line input fields with free input (no drop-down list or similar). For validation errors (wrong format, missing input), the corresponding field or area is highlighted in color.

NOW1: Cart

This page shows the shopping cart and included items in an overview. The user can add items in the shopping cart create or manipulate and ultimately trigger payment.

• NOW0: Link auf Eingangsseite
• NOW1: Reload (beispielsweise Fehlermeldungen anzeigen; Gutschein einlösen)
• NOW2: Rücksprung nach Bearbeitung einer einzelnen Listenposition

Accessible from

• NOW0: Link on the input side
• NOW1: Reload (for example, displaying error messages, redeeming coupons)
• NOW2: Return after processing a single list item

• Icon "Ausrufezeichen" bei fehlerhaften Sendungsdaten; in diesem Fall ist die Position auch mit einer anderen Farbe hinterlegt,
• Absender-Adresse, bestehend aus den Zeilen Name1, Name2, Straße, Hausnummer, Postleitzahl, Ort und Land (Land nur, falls nicht Deutschland),
• Empfänger-Adresse, bestehend aus den Zeilen Name1, Name2, Straße, Hausnummer, Postleitzahl, Ort und Land (Land nur, falls nicht Deutschland).
• Produkt-Zelle
  • ∘ Gewähltes Produkt und Liste aller möglichen wählbaren Services zum Produkt. Die vom Benutzer bereits gewählten Optionen sind markiert. Falls noch kein Produkt ausgewählt wurde, wird ein statischer Text "Kein Produkt gewählt" angezeigt.
  • ∘ Aktion "Service (de-)selektieren".
• Preis-Zelle
  • ∘ Ein Gesamtpreis inklusive Währung für die komplette Sendung. Falls kein Preis bestimmbar ist, wird auch kein Preis angezeigt.
  • ∘ Ist für diese Sendung bereits ein Gutschein eingelöst, erscheint der statische Text "Gutschein eingelöst".
  • ∘ Alternativ: Aktion: "Gutschein einlösen" (Button "Ok") mit Eingabefeld für die Gutschein-Nummer.
• Aktion "Entfernen",
• Aktion: (Position) "Ändern...". Aufruf von NOW2,
• Optionale Meldungen zur Sendung, die die volle Breite einer Sendung einnehmen.

The display of a single consignment of the basket consists of the following elements:

• Icon "exclamation point" for incorrect shipment data; in this case, the position is also deposited with a different color,
• Sender address, consisting of the lines Name1, Name2, Street, Number, Postcode, City and Country (Country only, if not Germany),
• Recipient address, consisting of the lines Name1, Name2, Street, House number, Postcode, City and Country (Country only, if not Germany).
• Product cell
  • ∘ Selected product and list of all possible selectable services for the product. The options already selected by the user are highlighted. If no product has been selected yet, a static text "No product selected" is displayed.
  • ∘ Action "Service (de-) select".
• Price-cell
  • ∘ A total price including currency for the complete shipment. If no price can be determined, no price will be displayed.
  • ∘ If a voucher has already been redeemed for this item, the static text "Voucher redeemed" appears.
  • ∘ Alternatively: Action: "Redeem voucher" (button "Ok") with input field for the voucher number.
• Remove action,
• Action: (Position) "Change ...". Call of NOW2,
• Optional messages for the program, which take up the full width of a program.

Position - pickup

This entry appears after all consignment and voucher items and only if a pickup for the shopping cart is booked. The displayed price will be recalculated every time the basket is changed.

• Die Zellen "Absender" und "Empfänger" bleiben leer,
• Zelle "Produkt": Statischer Text "Abholung aller Sendungen"
• Zelle "Preis": Der Gesamt-Aufpreis für die Abholung; hier werden die Beträge pro Sendung summiert,
• Aktion "Position entfernen" storniert eine gebuchte Abholung,
• Aktion "Position ändern": Aufruf des Popup-Fensters.

The ad consists of the following elements:

• The cells "sender" and "recipient" remain empty,
• "Product" cell: Static text "Collection of all shipments"
• Cell "Price": The total surcharge for the pickup; here the sums per shipment are summed,
• Action "Remove item" cancels a booked pickup,
• Action "Change position": Call of the popup window.

Position - discount information

In this position, the user will be shown information about any discount granted.

• In den Zellen "Absender" und "Empfänger" kann ein in der Rabattregel hinterlegter Text eingeblendet werden.
• In der Zelle "Produkt" wird der statische Text "Rabatt" und der Name der entsprechenden Rabattdefinition angezeigt.
• In der Zelle "Preis" wird die Rabattsumme inklusive Währung als negativer Posten angezeigt.
• Aktion "Position entfernen" und Aktion "Position ändern" entfallen.

The ad consists of the following elements:

• In the cells "sender" and "recipient", a text stored in the discount rule can be displayed.
• The "Product" cell shows the static text "Discount" and the name of the corresponding discount definition.
• In the cell "Price" the discount amount including currency is displayed as a negative item.
• The action "Remove position" and action "Change position" are omitted.

Action "Service (de-) select"

The user can post individual services to a shipment item. The change becomes active immediately after the selection, i. h., the website will be reloaded after each action. If no corresponding product exists for the selected combination, an error message is displayed. In a particularly preferred embodiment, it can also be achieved by technical methods that no complete reload of a page is required to reconfigure a price.

Action "Add more program ..."

Direct display of page NOW2 broadcast. The default address for the sender address is the address of the first program, if available.

Action "VAT breakdown"

Display of the popup.

Action "Why is a valid email address required?"

Display of the popup.

Action: "Call Terms and Conditions"

Display of the popup.

Action: (Position) "Change"

Call of NOW2 broadcast.

Action "Redeem Voucher"

The entry is a coupon number. The voucher is assigned to the consignment in whose line the number was entered. If the code is incorrect, an error text such as " Invalid coupon code ", " Coupon code expired " or " Coupon does not match the shipment " will be displayed at the defined location. If no product has been selected for the shipment, it will be set using the coupon code.

If a TAS collection is included in the voucher, it will be automatically booked for the whole shopping cart.

Action "Continue to pay"

• der Warenkorb leer ist,
• eine Sendung mit fehlerhaften Daten existiert,
• die Abhol-Adresse nicht TAS-leitcodierbar ist.

This action is disabled when

• the cart is empty,
• a shipment with incorrect data exists,
• The fetch address is not TAS-leitcodierbar.

If errors occur during the payment process, NOW1 is displayed again and a textual error message is displayed at the defined position. If successful, the application jumps to NOW3.

Action "Remove position"

First, the user must confirm the action ("Do you really want to ..."). If agreed, the item will be removed from the cart. A voucher redeemed in this position will be released again.

Action (pickup) "Booking"

Via the pop-up window that appears, the user enters the collection date and the collection address. The costs for collecting the TAS will then be displayed in a separate shopping cart position.

Action "Select coupons"

Go to the NOW2 Coupon page.

Optional messages for a shipment

The message " No pickup is possible for this shipment " is displayed when a pickup is booked for the shopping cart, but the product underlying the shipment can not be combined with this service.

Message "The recipient address could not be verified" if the recipient address is not codable. Error message "The shipment data is not complete, please correct your details" if the shipment data is incorrect.

Building block NOW1

On the left, the dynamic building block NOW1 is shown on the bottom left.

• Liegt die aktuelle Systemzeit noch vor dieser Uhrzeit, wird der nächste Tag angeboten; ansonsten frühestens der übernächste. Die Gesamtzahl der Einträge in der Liste lässt sich ebenfalls konfigurieren. Als initiale Vorgabe für die Abholadresse wird die Absenderadresse der ersten Sendung benutzt.
• Das Fenster kann erst mit "Bestätigen" verlassen werden, wenn die Abholadresse leitcodierbar ist. Im Fehlerfall wird eine Meldung wie im Screenshot ersichtlich angezeigt.

In an input mask (pop-up window), the user can use a drop-down list to enter a pickup date and a pickup address. The date list contains n consecutive days in chronological, ascending order. The first day is preselected. Sundays are not offered in the list. Whether the next day is still displayed in the list is decided with the help of a configurable time:

• If the current system time is still before this time, the next day is offered; Otherwise at the earliest the next but one. The total number of entries in the list can also be configured. The sender address of the first shipment is used as the initial default for the pickup address.
• The window can only be exited with "Confirm" if the fetch address is coded. In the event of an error, a message appears as shown in the screenshot.

In a continuation of the invention, it is also possible to book pickup for the same day or for specific time windows.

Popup email confirmation

If the user wants to pay for the shopping cart, he will be prompted with the help of this pop-up window, which has been entered in the shopping cart E-mail address to confirm. (Exception: the address is the e-mail address transmitted via Maptos). If necessary, the information in this window can be overwritten.

Consent to terms and conditions

For each shopping cart, the user must again accept the terms and conditions by marking the corresponding select box, i. the default value is "not set".

Incorrect shipment data

Each erroneous shipment will be replaced by a leading "!" and must be corrected or removed by the user before the cart can be paid.

• Name,
• Straße,
• Postleitzahl,
• Ort

gefüllt sind. Ist beispielsweise der Name einer Empfängeradresse für eine Sendung leer, so gilt die ganze Adresse und damit die Sendung als fehlerhaft.In a first step, the sender and recipient addresses are checked for mandatory fields

• Surname,
• Street,
• Post Code,
• place

are filled. For example, if the name of a recipient address for a shipment is empty, the whole address and thus the shipment is considered defective.

• kein oder ein ungültiger Produktschlüssel hinterlegt oder
• bei einer gebuchten Abholung die Abholadresse nicht leitcodierbar ist.

The procedure is analogous, though

• no or an invalid product key deposited or
• in the case of a booked pickup the pickup address is not codable.

Certain functions described in the following paragraph are additionally dependent on the Leitcodierbarkeit of sender or recipient address.

Check control codes

When (re) entering NOW1, the routing codes of the receiver addresses are determined. This process is synchronized to immediately display the results. The particular routing code or status address is not conductively coded is stored within the user session at each address to minimize the number of Leitcodieraufrufe for performance reasons.

NOW2: Broadcast Details

On this page, the data of a shipment such as addresses and product can be captured and manipulated. If the product is not set, the product matching the recipient country (highest sort key value) is preselected.

• NOW1: Aktion "Weitere Sendung hinzufügen" (Anzeige von NOW2 mit Vorgabewerten)
  - NOW1: Aktion "Ändern..."
  (Anzeige mit den Daten der entsprechenden Sendung)

Reachable from:

• NOW1: Action "Add additional program" (Display of NOW2 with default values)
  - NOW1: action "Change ..."
  (Display with the data of the corresponding consignment)

The sender and recipient address are recorded in the upper part of the page. A drop-down list is offered for the sender and receiver country from which the user can select the country. A free input is not possible, but generally conceivable. If there is no explicit indication for the country, "Germany" will be used as default.

The country list is stored in the system.

In the second part, depending on the recipient country, the possible basic products are displayed (usually "packet", "packet 10kg", "packet 20kg", which are only examples of basic products), from which the user must select exactly one. If no product has been stored for the shipment, the first entry is automatically selected. When selecting a product, the page is updated and the product price valid for the selected product and the current combination of services is displayed.

In the third part of the page, the services available for the combination of recipient country and basic product are offered for selection. With (de) selection, the page is updated and the current price for the selected services is displayed.

Through a suitable presentation medium - in particular a web page - a selection of individual, several or all of the following actions is possible.

Remove coupon code action

If a coupon code is recorded for this shipment, it will be removed after a security prompt ("Do you really want to ...?").

Action "Cancel"

The changes on the page are discarded and jumped back to NOW1.

Action "Remove coupon"

This action is only activated if a voucher has already been redeemed for this shipment. The code will come after a security prompt ("Do you really want to ...") removed from the program and displayed the same page again.

Action "Ok" (confirm shipment)

Based on the selected combination of recipient country, product, services and the pickup status of the basket, a check is made as to whether a suitable product exists in the product list. If not, the user will be redisplayed the same page with an error message.

If a suitable product could be determined, the consignment will be updated and the shopping cart page NOW1 will be displayed again.

NOW2: coupon details

With the help of this page new coupon sets can be added to the cart. The user first selects a base product, which updates the drop-down list with the coupon definitions available for that base product. If he chooses a new coupon definition, then the dropdown list with the different denominations is updated analogously (taking into account a default denomination).

In addition, a list with a maximum of 3 entries is displayed at the top of the page. These entries describe the first three of the coupon definitions also offered in the drop-down list together with the standard denomination and the associated price stored in the coupon definition. For each entry an action "Buy now!" offered.

• NOW1: Aktion "Gutschein hinzufügen"

Reachable from:

• NOW1: Action "Add coupon"

Action "Ok"

Put the selected coupon set into the cart and jump back to NOW1.

NOW3

This page contains user-acquired trademarks in the form of links to the PDF documents and, if applicable, a list of purchased coupon codes. It will be displayed after successful payment of the basket. Alternatively, the user can return to this page via a link in his confirmation e-mail.

Under certain conditions, access to the page data is secured by entering a PIN or PIN2.

• NOW1: Aktion "Weiter zur Bezahlung"
• NOW3-Login

Reachable from:

• NOW1: Action "Continue to pay"
• NOW3-Login

• Text "Label",
• Empfänger-Name1,
• Empfänger-Name2,
• Tagesdatum in der Form "31.12.2006",
• Laufende Nummer,
• Text "PDF".

The textual representation of the PDF links on the page is arranged in the following way:

• Text "Label",
• Receiver name1,
• Receiver name2,
• Current date in the form "31.12.2006",
• Current number,
• Text "PDF".

• Header für Liste mit den Spaltenköpfen "Gedruckt", "Gutscheincode" und "Gutscheintyp":
  • ∘ Ein "Häkchen", falls verbraucht
  • ∘ Gutscheincode
  • ∘ Gutscheintyp (Kurzbezeichnung aus der Gutscheindefinition)
• Box "Per E-Mail erhalten und bequem zu Hause bearbeiten":
  • ∘ Dynamisch eingeblendete E-Mail-Adresse mit einem Hinweis, dass die Unterlagen an diese Adresse gesendet wurden.
  • ∘ Eine Warenkorb-ID mit dem Hinweis, diese bei Rückfragen an den Support griffbereit zu haben.
  • ∘ Die PIN für den Warenkorb mit einem weiteren Hinweis, falls benötigt.
• Einblendung des dynamischen Bausteins NOW3 (0) links unten
• Box "Abholung" (falls im Warenkorb gebucht)
  • ∘ Text "Sie haben eine Abholung Ihres Warenkorbes zum 30.12.2006 gebucht" (dynamisches Datum), gefolgt von der Abholadresse.
• Alternativ zu Box "Abholung": Box "Befindet sich eine Packstation in Ihrer Nähe?"
  • ∘ Falls nein, wird in der Box ein Text "Es kann leider keine Packstation in Ihrer Nähe gefunden werden" angezeigt.
  • ∘ Falls ja, wird in der Box ein Text "Nutzen Sie die Vorteile der Packstation. Sie können Ihre Sendungen rund um die Uhr in Ihre Packstation einliefern", dahinter ein Link auf den Packstationfinder (externe Webseite). Dahinter wird die Adresse der gefundenen Packstation angezeigt.
• Aktion: "Fenster schließen"

These fields are truncated to a single length of 15 characters each and connected with "-". Special characters and umlauts are replaced.

• Header for list with column headers "Printed", "Coupon Code" and "Coupon Type":
  • ∘ A checkmark if used
  • ∘ Coupon Code
  • ∘ coupon type (short name from the coupon definition)
• Box "Receive by e-mail and edit at home":
  • ∘ Dynamically displayed e-mail address with a note that the documents have been sent to this address.
  • ∘ A shopping cart ID with the note to have it at hand for queries to the support.
  • ∘ The PIN for the shopping cart with another note if needed.
• Display of the dynamic building block NOW3 (0) bottom left
• Box "pick-up" (if booked in your shopping cart)
  • ∘ Text "You have booked a pickup of your shopping cart as of 30.12.2006" (dynamic date), followed by the pickup address.
• Alternative to box "pick-up": Box "Is there a packing station in your area?"
  • ∘ If not, a text "Unfortunately, no packing station can be found in your area" appears in the box.
  • ∘ If yes, the box will say "Take advantage of the Packstation put the clock in your packing station ", with a link to the Packstation finder (external website), followed by the address of the found packing station.
• Action: "Close window"

NOW3-Login

The user can also later access the NOW3 page via a link contained in the e-mail. If the shopping cart exceeds a certain minimum value, this access is secured by entering a PIN or PIN2 in the NOW3 Login screen

After entering a valid PIN or PIN2, the user is forwarded to page NOW3. In case of error, a message appears within the same page and the user can enter his login data again.

Note: This additional safeguarding of the shopping basket may only be implemented in phase II.

building blocks

Depending on the time and marketplace, different blocks can be displayed in a web page. A block describes a rectangular area of a website. The content of the building block is static.

In a further development of the presentation method, the building blocks can also be described in their nature only by data conventions, so that the design of the building blocks themselves can take place completely through a marketplace.

Possible embodiments of the blocks may be:

Portal building block

On the websites of a marketplace operator, a building block can be dynamically loaded by the POP application and embedded in its own pages. For example, this module may contain a simple link to the shopping cart page (NOW1), via which a marketplace customer can access the POP application.

Now1 module

This block is displayed on the NOW1 page on the bottom left. Here, e.g. preconfigured a FAQ block. Clicking on a question in the module opens a popup window with the FAQ text.

NOW3 module

On the NOW3 page, another block is shown at the bottom left. This can be configured separately from the previous block, but will initially be filled with identical content.

E-mail confirmation

• statischer Text,
• ein einziger - mit einem eindeutigen Schlüssel versehener
  • Link auf die Seite NOW3; über diesen Link erfolgt die nachträgliche Zuordnung zum Warenkorb,
• Warenkorb-Id für Support-Anfragen,
• Zahlungsbestätigung über den Warenkorb analog Mehrwertsteuer-Popup,
• falls vorhanden, ein Hinweis inklusive Adresse einer Packstation in der Nähe der ersten Sendungs-Absender-Adresse.

If the shopping cart of a user is satisfied, a notification will be sent to him by e-mail. This e-mail consists of the following components:

• static text,
• a single - provided with a unique key
  • Link to the page NOW3; via this link, the subsequent assignment to the shopping cart,
• Shopping cart id for support requests,
• Payment confirmation via the shopping cart analogue VAT popup,
• if available, a note including the address of a packing station near the first consignment sender address.

booking text

• "Ihre Warenkorb-Id: ABCDEFGHKL," (31 Zeichen)
• Optional: "Ihre PIN2: 9999," (17 Zeichen),
• "Vielen Dank für die Nutzung von DHL Express" (43 Zeichen).

The following information appears on the account statement of the user (by way of example):

• "Your Shopping Cart Id: ABCDEFGHKL," (31 characters)
• Optional: "Your PIN2: 9999," (17 characters),
• "Thank you for using DHL Express" (43 characters).

The result is a sum of 101 characters (upper limit PayPal: 127 characters).

Entry points into the application

The POP application can be addressed via Maptos, initially displaying the NOW1 page. Alternatively, direct access to the NOW3 page - possibly with additional login via PIN or PIN2 - is possible via the link in the confirmation e-mail.

Services

• Abholung TAS,
• Rollenservice,
• "Grün".

The following services are integrated in the application (exemplary):

• Pick up TAS,
• Role Service,
• "Green".

The service "pickup TAS" can only be selected completely for the entire shopping cart. Here an indication of a collection date is mandatory. In a further development, a time window for picking up a mail item can also be selected during pickup.

For the remaining services, no further data is requested by the user, in particular no weights and measures.

Services are stored in the database. Simple services (without special logic) can be added later via database changes without programming. However, it should be noted that dependent data such as prices must be maintained.

Service Attributes

A single service is preferably defined using the following attributes.

countries

Products (combinations of basic products and services) can be administered country-specific. In order not to have to define identical products for each EU country, a special identifier "EU" is introduced. By means of a country list stored in the system, products can then be assigned to several countries at the same time. However, the assignment "EU" is used only as long as no product is assigned to a "real" country.

Example:

In a fictitious country price list, several products with country code "EU" and a single product with country code "AT" are defined for Austria. When searching for all products for the recipient country Austria, the algorithm used returns only one product. If the "AT" product is removed from the productive list, the algorithm delivers all products with country code "EU".

addresses

• Name1,
• Name2,
• Straße,
• Hausnummer,
• Postleitzahl,
• Ort,
• Land.

Addresses are stored in the application POP in the following fields:

• name1,
• name2,
• Street,
• House number,
• Post Code,
• Place,
• Country.

Addresses that are passed through Maptos do not contain a separate field for the house number. This becomes analogous to Guideline library of online label printing split off from the combined street number field.

marketplaces

In the application, new marketplaces can be defined via the admin web. The marketplaces are, for example, the provider shown.

• Bausteine,
• Preise und
• Gutscheine

können marktplatzabhängig definiert werden. In der Session des Anwenders ist immer auch ein Marktplatz gesetzt.

Elements like

• Building blocks,
• Prices and
• Vouchers

can be defined depending on the marketplace. In the session of the user always a marketplace is set.

Marketplace attributes positive list

The positive list contains all products available in the system. Each line describes a single product. The "left" side (product number, product name, basic product specification, country) can occur several times. The right-hand sides of the table lines then specify all valid combinations of services that can be assigned to this "left-hand side". Each line always includes the base product itself.

It is useful to design the list so that it applies to all marketplaces. Preferably, the list and the system are matched to each other such that combinations not contained are invalid.

The following table describes the columns from which the positive list is constructed.

Column description of the positive list

A shortened example of a positive list:

Exemplary positive list

In each line one or more countries can be referenced via a list of iso-codes (3-digit analog Maptos). The special abbreviation "EU" stands for all EU countries (these are in a list).

Product Attributes

• Produktschlüssel (zur Verbesserung der Entgeltsicherung).
• Produktschlüssel ESI,
• Produktcode (Bestandteil des Leitcodes, 2-stellig),
• Verfahrensnummer (ESI und Labeldruck),
• Teilnahme (ESI und Labeldruck),
• ProductcodeLabel (für Labeldruck erforderlich),
• ServicecodeLabel (für Labeldruck erforderlich),
• Featurestringlabel (für Labeldruck erforderlich),
• Sortierschlüssel; bestimmt die Reihenfolge der Anzeige bzw. welches Produkt als Default benutzt wird.

In addition to the price information, each row of the positive list is assigned further attributes:

• Product key (to improve the payment assurance).
• Product key ESI,
• Product code (part of the guide code, 2 digits),
• Procedure number (ESI and label printing),
• Participation (ESI and label printing),
• ProductcodeLabel (required for label printing),
• Service Code Label (required for label printing),
• Featurestringlabel (required for label printing),
• Sort key; determines the order of the display or which product is used as default.

Product selection by country

On the NOW2 page, the products can be selected depending on the recipient country: only the products that are assigned to this country are offered.

Hierarchical data

• Preise,
• Bausteine,
• Gutscheindefinitionen und
• Rabatte

können auf der Ebene von

• Marktplatz-Aktionen (gültig für genau einen Marktplatz und einen konfigurierbaren Zeitraum),
• eines Marktplatzes (gültig ohne Zeitfenster für genau einen Marktplatz) oder
• vollkommen Marktplatz-unspezifisch (gültig für jeden Marktplatz ohne Zeitfenster)

definiert werden, wobei die "höhere" Definition maßgeblich ist, auch wenn weitere Preise oder Bausteine existieren. Die Elemente der Marktplatz-unspezifischen Ebene sind Pflichtelemente, die der beiden anderen Ebenen sind optional.Elements like

• Prices,
• Building blocks,
• Coupon definitions and
• Discounts

can be at the level of

• Marketplace actions (valid for exactly one marketplace and one configurable period),
• a market place (valid without time window for exactly one marketplace) or
• completely marketplace unspecific (valid for every marketplace without time window)

defining the "higher" definition, even if other prices or building blocks exist. The elements of the marketplace-nonspecific level are mandatory, while the other two levels are optional.

Objects which support this procedure are provided with an MZF header ( M arktplatz- Z eit F enster), which comprises the following attributes:

MZF header

If, for example, no marketplace action price for "parcel D" is defined for the current time, we are looking for a marketplace price for "parcel D". If this is not defined, the price will be used in the marketplace independent price list.

Information stored in this way will not be internationalized. If in doubt, this can be mapped using a marketplace-dependent configuration.

Prices

• Basisprodukt und Land ("Päckchen D"),
• Service und Land ("Rollenservice D").

For the products in the positive list, partial prices can be defined for combinations of

• Basic product and country ("D packet"),
• Service and Land ("Role Service D").

The total price of a product line then results first from the sum of the individual prices.

The default price list (marketplace-independent) can look like this:

Default Price List (Table I) - exemplary presentation

In this list, each base product and service, with the exception of the TAS Pickup, must be priced as a "landless" entry. All other entries are optional. For example, if no price were defined for (package, DEU), the price of (package, *) would be used as default.

This list can be defined several times for different levels. For the other two levels are all prices optional, ie prices can be defined here, but they do not have to be. This procedure ensures that a price can be determined for any combination of (basic product, country) or (service, country).

A suitable search order can be used to calculate a clear price for each line in the positive list (and, if applicable, depending on the marketplace and a point in time). This is simply the sum of the price for the base product + land and the associated services + land.

In a further development, a more detailed pricing model can be implemented in which individual cells of the positive list can also be priced (" product / service combination prices ") .

example

In addition to the default price list above, two additional price lists are defined. First specialized prices for the marketplace provider:

Marketplace Provider Default (Table II)

For a marketing campaign in the marketplace provider in the calendar week 50 a special price for a packet DEU is defined (start and end of the period can be specified to the minute):

Marketplace Provider Weekly Action KW 50 (Table III) Example Results I

• Der aktuelle Zeitpunkt (die Serverzeit ist hier maßgeblich) befindet sich in der KW 49, d.h. dass außerhalb des Zeitraumes, für den Tabelle III gültig ist.
• Das Zielland der exemplarischen Sendung ist Deutschland (DEU).
• Der Marktplatz des Anwenders ist Provider

Search criteria:

• The current time (the server time is relevant here) is in the KW 49, ie that outside the period for which Table III is valid.
• The destination country of the exemplary broadcast is Germany ( DEU ).
• The user's marketplace is Provider

The following table shows the partial prices for the product package + roll service and package 10kg :

Example Results I (the Roman numerals behind the prices indicate the price table used).

Example Results II

The search criteria will be as above, but the current server time will be chosen as an adjustable time slot, for example a day, a week or a month.

The following table shows the partial prices for the product package + roll service and package 10kg:

Example Results II (the Roman numerals behind the prices indicate the price table used).

Price attributes

The following table describes the attributes of a single price:

Attributes of a price Pick up and pickup price

A pick-up takes place for parts of the basket or, what is particularly preferred, for the entire cart.

The collection of the pickup is done explicitly on the NOW1 side or implicitly by entering a coupon code that includes a TAS pickup.

By adding the coupon code to a mail piece or by transmitting the coupon code to a first recipient of a mail piece, it is possible to generate return labels. Through the generation of return labels, the invention is developed into a method for handling returns.

The prices for the collection are staggered (maximum 5 entries), for example as in the following table:

Example of a price scale

The number of all collectable shipments (based on positive list) in the shopping cart is used to find the price in the table. For more than 5 shipments, the last price of the table is used (according to the example table, a pickup from 5 shipments is always free of charge - which is an exemplary representation).

Definition of graduation

The price scale for the pickup can be specified hierarchically in the same way as the other prices.

Definition of a price scale building blocks

Building blocks represent a rectangular area on a web page and can be configured hierarchically. They contain an HTML fragment, which in turn can reference individual images, css files, etc. Blocks are addressed by a logical name.

Attributes of a building block Vouchers

The sale of vouchers on the web platform in packages should be able to give the customer price advantages. Furthermore, special marketing campaigns should be possible in which vouchers or their codes, for example, be distributed via print media.

Attributes of a coupon definition coupon definition

Before coupons can be purchased by the user or distributed as part of marketing campaigns, vouchers must be defined at the administrative level.

coupon name

Voucher definitions are addressed by their name ( screen name), which can be freely assigned but which is as unambiguous as possible in the attachment.

coupon type

When the coupon definition is created, it is determined whether it is a promotional coupon or a coupon (code) to be purchased by the user.

reference

• Stimmen die Basisprodukte überein und sind alle Services des referenzierten Produktes im Sendungsprodukt enthalten, so ist ein Anwenden möglich. Eine gewählte Sendung kann damit mehr Services enthalten als im referenzierten Produkt definiert, jedoch nie weniger.

When defining a type, exactly one product of the positive list is referenced. This information determines whether a coupon can be applied to a shipment:

• If the base products match and all the services of the referenced product are contained in the shipment product, then an application is possible. A selected shipment can thus contain more services than defined in the referenced product, but never less.

Value of a coupon

A voucher can either represent an absolute amount of money ("value 10 euros") or be redeemable exactly for the product for which it is deposited ( 100% voucher ).

The billing then takes place only for these components, i. Any negative prices resulting from the voucher clearing will be reflected in the price of 0 euros.

• Der 100%-Gutschein deckt das Produkt "Paket inklusive TAS-Abholung" ab, für die Sendung im Warenkorb ist das Produkt "Paket mit TAS-Abholung und Rolle" vom Anwender ausgewählt.
• Als Folge muss der Anwender nur noch den Service "Rolle" bezahlen.

Example:

• The 100% voucher covers the product "package including TAS collection", for the consignment in the shopping cart the product "package with TAS pick-up and roll" is selected by the user.
• As a result, the user only has to pay for the "role" service.

The "value" of a voucher can be exhausted incompletely, for example, if a voucher price is above the current price for "covered" products; the residual value of the voucher expires in this case.

Denomination (only for purchase voucher)

The user can buy coupons in packages. For this, a denomination of up to 5 different denominations can be defined (e.g., "5s, 10s, 20s, 50s, 100s"). For each denomination, a separate absolute price including sales tax is defined. One of the denominations is defined as the default value.

Validity for sale

A time window defines the period during which the coupon is offered for sale to the user. The end of the time window can be limited or unlimited.

Information about redemption

Purchasable coupons can only be redeemed after purchase, that is, only after they have been paid and are available to the user in the form of coupon codes.

A time window is used to set the period in which a single coupon code can be redeemed. Either this is a relative indication in days ("maximum 30 days after purchase redeem") or an absolute date ("until 31.12.2007").

Purchase vouchers can only ever be used once. For promotional vouchers, you can alternatively specify whether the codes can be used any number of times. These are then redeemable for one or more shipments within a single basket of goods.

For example, vouchers can be generated for print actions that can be used as often as desired. Alternatively, promotion vouchers can also be generated for e-mail promotions, which can only be used once, just like purchase vouchers.

Regardless of the voucher type, however, it is always the case that only one code can be redeemed per consignment.

marketplace

Optionally, a coupon type can be assigned to a single marketplace. The vouchers will then be offered for sale only on this marketplace. The purchased coupon codes are redeemable exclusively on this one marketplace.

Display order

Each voucher is assigned a numerical sorting number, which can be used to determine the display order.

coupon codes

Coupon codes are generated either when purchasing a coupon set or when generating promotion codes via the admin web.

A single coupon is defined by this unique alphanumeric identifier ( coupon code ), which should not be easily guessed. The code is stored with associated data in the system.

• Ziffern "2" bis "9" und die
• Buchstaben "A"-"H", "K"-"N", "P"-Z"

As part of the 8-digit coupon code the following 31 characters are valid:

• Numbers "2" to "9" and the
• Letters "A" - "H", "K" - "N", "P" - Z "

This results in a theoretical amount of 852,891,037,441 (approximately 850 billion) coupon codes. Collisions, d. H. multiple use of the same code and the guessability of a foreign code, should thus be prevented.

Cart id

Each newly created shopping cart is associated with the generation of a unique numeric shopping cart ID. This will be displayed to the customer on page NOW3. It also appears on the account statement of the user on successful booking. With this ID, users can refer to their shopping cart, for example, during telephone support inquiries.

Validations before viewing NOW1

• Jede Sendung wird überprüft, ob sie fehlerfrei ist; dies wird ggf. über Status-Informationen in der Sendungsposition optimiert. Die pro Sendung angezeigten Informationen und Fehlermeldungen werden aktualisiert.
• Bei gebuchter TAS-Abholung wird überprüft, ob der Abholzeitpunkt noch gültig ist und die Abhol-Adresse TASleitcodierbar ist, falls dies noch nicht geprüft wurde. Im Fehlerfall wird dem Anwender eine warenkorb-bezogene Fehlermeldung auf NOW1 angezeigt.

These checks are performed each time before the shopping cart page NOW1 is displayed. Status and error messages are delivery-based or displayed for the entire shopping cart.

• Each shipment is checked to see if it is free of errors; this is possibly optimized via status information in the shipment position. The information and error messages displayed per shipment are updated.
• If the TAS pickup is booked, it is checked whether the pickup time is still valid and the pickup address is TASleitcodierbar, if this has not yet been checked. In the event of an error, the user receives a shopping cart-related error message on NOW1.

redeem voucher

• Ist der Code überhaupt ein gültiger Code, d. h. in der Datenbank vorhanden?
• Passt der hinterlegte Gutscheintyp zum Produkt der Sendung, d.h. ist das Sendungsprodukt in der Positivliste des Gutscheintyps enthalten?
• Ist der Gutschein nicht bereits abgelaufen ("Haltbarkeit")?
• Bei Einmal-Gutscheinen:
  • Ist der Gutschein nicht bereits eingelöst worden (sowohl im aktuellen Warenkorb als auch in der Datenbank)?

If a coupon code for a consignment is redeemed, the data stored in the database is used to check whether it is valid:

• Is the code even a valid code, ie exists in the database?
• Does the deposited voucher type match the product of the consignment, ie is the consignment product included in the positive list of the voucher type?
• Has the voucher not already expired ("shelf life")?
• For one-time vouchers:
  • Has the voucher not already been redeemed (both in the current shopping cart and in the database)?

Pay for shopping cart

This paragraph describes the operations that are performed when the user performs the "Continue to Pay" action on the NOW1 page.

Basic validations

• Ist der Warenkorb leer?
• E-Mail-Adresse erfasst und plausibel (Regular-Expression-Validierung)?
• ABGs akzeptiert?
• Falls der Preis des Warenkorbes nicht "0" ist (beispielsweise alle Sendungen über Gutschein abgegolten):
  • ∘ Payment-Art ausgewählt? Ggf. auch BLZ erfasst?
  • ∘ Liegt der Wert des Warenkorbes innerhalb des für den Marktplatz und Payment-Art konfigurierten Bereichs?
• Falls eine TAS-Abholung gebucht ist:
  • Validierung der Empfänger-Adressen (Anforderung der TAS-Schnittstelle; kann in einem Aufruf für n Adressen erfolgen).
• Sind eingelöste Gutscheincodes immer noch gültig? (Diese Validierung wird zwar bereits bei der Eingabe der Codes durchgeführt, hier aber sicherheitshalber wiederholt, da der Code in einer anderen Session ebenfalls verwendet werden konnte.)
• Hat sich der Warenkorb-Preis im Vergleich zur letzten Preisberechnung und dem aktuell neu berechneten Preis verändert? Falls ja, werden dem Anwender die aktualisierten Preise in NOW1 mit einem Hinweistext angezeigt, worauf er erneut die Bezahlaktion anstoßen kann.

First, the tests are performed as described in paragraph 0. If this or one of the following conditions is not met, the user will see this in the form of an error text on page NOW1.

• Is the shopping cart empty?
• E-mail address recorded and plausible (regular expression validation)?
• ABGs accepted?
• If the price of the basket is not "0" (for example, all shipments paid by voucher):
  • ∘ Payment type selected? Possibly. also registered BLZ?
  • ∘ Is the value of the basket within the range configured for the marketplace and payment type?
• If a TAS pickup is booked:
  • Validation of the recipient addresses (request of the TAS interface, can be done in a call for n addresses).
• Are redeemed coupon codes still valid? (This validation is already performed when entering the codes, but here for safety's sake repeated because the code could also be used in another session.)
• Has the shopping cart price changed in comparison to the last price calculation and the newly calculated price? If so, the user will see the updated prices in NOW1 with a note text, whereupon he can re-trigger the payment action.

Preparation of the payment

The preliminary tests have shown that the data of the shopping basket are valid and the payment process can be prepared.

This is followed by a persistence of the shopping cart data in the database as a further step.

If this step went without errors and the price of the basket is not "0", the user is redirected to the pages of the payment provider (redirect statement to the user's web browser).

If he aborts the payment process there, he will be redirected to page NOW1, where he will receive a message and can continue to process the shopping cart.

If the payment process has been carried out successfully, proceed to the next step.

Actions immediately after payment

• Warenkorb-Daten als bezahlt markieren,
• Gutscheincodes verbrauchen,
• Daten für PDF-Generierung ablegen; Document-IDs generieren; Nummern aus Nummernkreisen entnehmen,
• ggf. TAS-Abholungen beauftragen,
• Umschlagdaten für EDICC in DB ablegen,
• E-Mail an den Anwender versenden.

After successful payment POP receives a response from the payment system. Then the following actions are carried out:

• Mark shopping cart data as paid,
• Consume coupon codes,
• Store data for PDF generation; Generate Document IDs; Take numbers from number ranges,
• if necessary, commission TAS collections,
• Post envelope data for EDICC in DB,
• Send e-mail to the user.

If errors occur during these steps, the application nevertheless tries to carry out all possible further steps. A rollback is not carried out because the interfaces sometimes do not provide any cancellation options. Of course, warnings and error messages that occur during these processes are stored persistently in the database.

PIN / PIN2

In the confirmation e-mail of the user, a link is embedded with an attached key, which also allows him to subsequently open the NOW3 page. If the shopping cart exceeds a certain value, this access is additionally secured by entering a PIN or PIN2 (four-digit numerical values each). The PIN is displayed by the user immediately after purchasing the shopping basket on page NOW3 - provided with a corresponding note text. Alternatively, he can also enter the PIN2 that he can find on his bank statement.

PDF Label

The "PDF Label" application generates PDFs with labels that can be printed by the user and pasted onto the package (parcel, parcel, etc.).

• Das eigentliche Postage-Label: Label
  • ∘ als Musterdruck und
  • ∘ als Portodruck.
• Einlieferbeleg.
• Ein elektronischer bzw. PDF-Umschlag um das Postage-Label, der den Einmaldruck steuert.

In a preferred embodiment, the PDF has the following components:

• The actual postage label: Label
  • ∘ as a sample print and
  • ∘ as postage printing.
• Einlieferbeleg.
• An electronic or PDF envelope around the Postage label, which controls the one-time printing.

Product dependent label

• in der Anwendung eine entsprechende PDF-Vorlage für die Erzeugung des Labels hinterlegt werden.

To any product service combination can - but does not have to

• in the application a corresponding PDF template for the generation of the label are deposited.

Fields of the label

The following breakdown of components corresponds to the technical specification Common Label.

Product / logo block

The product / logo block contains a logo of a company and the product name of the basic product. The product name is determined from the product configuration.

sender block

The sender block complies with the Common Label specification in the following table: field name Type description Name (addition String (35) 2 lines First and last name Company name Street, house number String (35) Postcode & City String (35) The country is not imprinted by the application. country String (35) Country in capital letters

If a data field is too long for the number of characters provided by the common label specification, the impression on the right is truncated.

receiver block

The recipient block complies with the Common Label specification in the following table: field name Type description Name (addition String (35) 2 lines First and last name Company name Street, house number String (35) Postcode & City String (35) country String (35) Country in capital letters

The same restrictions apply as for the sender block.

Product feature block

In the product property block, product-specific characters can be printed. The content of the impression is configured per product.

Shipment information block

The following information is printed in the shipment information block: field name Type description Billing No string Contains EKP number + participation + procedure EKP number is configured for the combination of payment platform and marketplace in the application. Participation is always "00" Procedure is configured per product in the application. Shipment No. string Contains identity code of the shipment Dimension / Weight string Dimension: If data corresponding to the shipment is supplied by Maptos, these will be filled. Weight: If data corresponding to the shipment is supplied by Maptos, these will be filled. Otherwise, a default weight configured per base product will be printed

Customer Information Block / 2D Barcode Block

The customer information block is not used by the application.

It is advantageous to create a posting document.

This delivery document has a standard paper format (for example DIN A 6 to DIN A 4). Preferred dates of the delivery receipt are: field name description identcode Identcode (IDC) Numeric receiver Recipient address (name, street, number, zip code, city, country) product Name of the product, see product / logo block. Weight Weight of the shipment in kg. See Shipment Information Block Services Services from the handling information block cash on delivery Amount and currency, project phase I empty date Current date (print date) name of the client Sender (name) EKP number EKP number. Shipment information block. Cart number Application number for a shopping cart / payment campaign.

Generally

In one embodiment of the invention, the label to be printed is provided with a PDF envelope. Within this envelope, in communication with a license service, the printing of the document contained in the PDF envelope is controlled. To take this into account, these documents are referred to in the present application as iPDF.

• Während der Generierung (oder eventuell auch im Vorfeld) des PDF wird jedes PDF mit einer eindeutigen, durch den Nutzer nicht durch Ausprobieren zu erratende Dokument-ID verknüpft.

The following process steps are carried out here: POP application:

• During the generation (or possibly in advance) of the PDF, each PDF is linked to a unique, not to be guessed by the user by trying out the document ID.

On the one hand this document ID is 'embedded' in the iPDF, on the other hand it is also inserted in a database table of the POP application.

Fig. 3 shows a schematic representation of an integration of a document generation in a system according to the invention.

The illustrated system includes a server that allows transfer of displayable content.

The content that can be displayed consists of static content and dynamic content.

In the illustrated embodiment, the static contents are incorporated as PDF templates in a document to be generated.

Dynamic content is introduced from a suitable server, preferably a POP web server 302, into a document record 303. These dynamic contents may be supplemented by further contents. Other content may be static content or dynamic content, depending on the intended use. Addition of dynamic content is preferred as it allows to create identifiable documents in a particularly simple and convenient manner.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, this is done by linking the dynamic contents to licensing information 304.

The invention will be explained below using the example of the generation of labels. The labels are, for example, address labels and / or franking labels. Such labels are particularly suitable for controlling logistical processes, for example tracking and tracing, and for controlling logistical processes, for example for the sorting of mailpieces.

For this purpose, the labels are preferably made machine-readable.

The label to be printed is provided with a PDF envelope. Within this envelope, communication of the licensing information 304 is enabled in communication with the server.

By including the licensing information 304, a license service for printing the PDF envelope is thus provided. The license service controls the printing of the document contained in the PDF envelope.

Because they provide intelligent documents this way, they are referred to as iPDF.

• Während der Generierung (oder eventuell auch im Vorfeld) des PDF wird jedes PDF mit einer eindeutigen, durch den Nutzer nicht durch Ausprobieren zu erratende Dokument-ID verknüpft.

The following process steps are carried out here: POP application:

• During the generation (or possibly in advance) of the PDF, each PDF is linked to a unique, not to be guessed by the user by trying out the document ID.

On the one hand this document ID is 'embedded' in the iPDF, on the other hand it is also inserted in a database table of the POP application.

For the implementation of the prevention of multiple printing, mechanisms are installed within the PDF delivered to the user, which check before every print whether the document has already been printed once.

For this verification, Acrobat Reader must connect to a service provided by the POP application that will perform this check.

After the user has purchased a product via the payment functionality of the application, all the data for generating the PDFs are also available.

At this point, the server application generates a record for each PDF to be generated from the shopping cart all information required for the generation has already been completely dissolved.

A record which is advantageous for the control of the one-time printing is shown below.

Document record

field name Type description Document ID ID (PK) ID of the document. This ID is also embedded in the delivered iPDF envelope. CreateDate timestamp Timestamp of the generation of the PDF ValidUntil timestamp Date of Expiry Printed timestamp Was the PDF already printed? Downloaded First timestamp When was the PDF loaded for the first time? Downloaded load timestamp When was the PDF last loaded. download Counter integer How often has the PDF been loaded. form Data Blob The form data of the PDF. These include: sender and recipient addresses. Codes for barcodes. Product templates (eg package green) Information on selected additional services, insofar as they affect the impression. FormularData keeps in a structured form (XML) all already resolved data regarding the data to be printed. So z. B. the already generated packet identifiers, routing codes and possibly further information (even prices, even if this is currently not provided) already held up as numbers or strings. A subsequent calculation of such data is not provided, as this could possibly lead to different results.

Furthermore, references to the PDF template as well as the coordinates for the impression must be kept in this FormData field become. Resource IDs from the configuration repository are used for this. Since the resource behind a resource ID does not change during the lifetime of the application (ie even if the version is changed by changing the application configuration), generating the PDF will always produce the same results.

In the manner shown it is possible to generate PDFs or other intelligent documents within the meaning of the invention on the basis of a document data record. The document record has, for example, the previously described field contents.

After calling a suitable request, the user can be made available via URL a document ID for later download in the form of a URL.

Example:

http://pop.dhl.de/getPDF?documentId=abxkd12fszo8afwg30y

Based on the document ID, a PDF can be generated directly.

Since the document downloaded by the user is merely an empty form, a general PDF - possibly individual for each product (product key) - can be made available.

The servlet that delivers the PDF now just needs to rename the filename for the PDF so that the document ID is included in the filename.

Sign the document via ARES 306

The templates are signed offline during the development or preparation phase for a new product by the Acrobat Reader Extension Server.

The document signed by ARES 306 is then imported into the configuration repository in the application.

iPDF envelope, sample and postage document

After the user has downloaded the generated PDF, the envelope of the PDF is displayed on the first page.

• Kompatibilität des Leseprogramms
• Bestehen einer Internetverbindung
• Gültigkeit der Dokumenten-ID
• Überprüfung, ob bereits ein Ausdruck erfolgte.

It is advantageous when loading the PDF in a suitable reading program, in particular an Acrobat Reader single, several or all of the following test steps:

• Compatibility of the reading program
• Existence of an internet connection
• Validity of the document ID
• Check if an expression already occurred.

For the last two checks, a service provided by the application is called via the SOAP interface of the Acrobat Reader, which returns whether the submitted document ID exists and / or has already been marked as printed in the database.

The document ID then uses the SOAP interface to load the form fields from the POP server and fill them in the form fields.

If the document ID could not be determined - e.g. since the user renamed the PDF document, he is prompted to enter the document ID via an Acrobat form field. The document IDs are also communicated to the user in the e-mail sent to him.

For pattern printing, dummy codes are used for the barcodes. The correct barcodes are set only briefly for the postage print by JavaScript.

Used PDF reader functionality (technology)

• app.viewerVersion: Für das Überprüfen der Reader-Version.
• SOAP.*: Für das Prüfen auf Internetverbindung.
• document.getField("feldname").display = display.hidden / display.visible: Für das Ein- und Ausblenden von "Muster" Überdrucken.
• document.print({bUI: true, nStart: 1, nEnd: 1, bSilent:
  • true, bAnnotation: true}) bzw. document.print({bUI: false, nStart: 1, nEnd: 1, bSilent: true, bAnnotation: true}): Für das direkte Drucken des Dokumentes ohne Nutzerinteraktion.
• Die eigentlich zu druckenden PDFs werden als Annotation-Formfelder hinterlegt (ursprünglich für ein visuelles Feedback - z.B. beim Drücken eines Buttons - gedacht, um zwischen gedrücktem und nicht gedrücktem Zustand zu unterscheiden) und nur unmittelbar vor dem Druck auf "visible" geschaltet.
• Barcode-Felder. Der Acrobat Reader unterstützt Formfelder, die zu einem Wert (i.d.R. Zahlenwert) einen entsprechenden Barcode anzeigen.
• Alternativ können für Barcode-Felder spezielle Fonts verwendet werden, die im dem Dokument eingebettet werden.
• Für Barcodetypen, die der Acrobat Reader weder intern, noch durch zusätzliche Schriftarten unterstützt, kann der Barcode als Bitmap-Image über eine externe URL geladen werden. Hierzu müsste in der Anwendung ein Servlet-Service implementiert werden, der das entsprechende Bitmap generiert und zur Verfügung stellt.

For the dynamic query of the license server from Acrobat Reader, the application uses the following JavaScript functions:

• app.viewerVersion: For checking the reader version.
• SOAP. *: For checking for internet connection.
• document.getField ("fieldname"). display = display.hidden / display.visible: For showing / hiding "Patterns" overprinting.
• document.print ({bUI: true, nStart: 1, nEnd: 1, bSilent:
  • true, bAnnotation: true}) or document.print ({bUI: false, nStart: 1, nEnd: 1, bSilent: true, bAnnotation: true}): For direct printing of the document without user interaction.
• The actual PDFs to be printed are stored as annotation form fields (originally intended for visual feedback - eg when pressing a button - intended to distinguish between pressed and not pressed state) and only switched to "visible" immediately before printing.
• Barcode fields. Acrobat Reader supports form fields that display a corresponding barcode for a value (usually numeric value).
• Alternatively, special fonts embedded in the document can be used for barcode fields.
• For barcode types that Acrobat Reader does not support internally or through additional fonts, the barcode can be loaded as a bitmap image via an external URL. For this, a servlet service would have to be implemented in the application, which generates and makes available the corresponding bitmap.

• Da der Nutzer keine individualisierten PDF downloaded, müssen die PDFs nur pro Template/Produkt über den ARES-Server signiert werden.
• Das hat zur Konsequenz, dass ein ARES 306 während des Normalbetriebes von der Anwendung nicht benötigt wird.

The functionalities shown have several advantages:

• Since the user does not download individualized PDF, the PDFs only have to be signed per template / product via the ARES server.
• The consequence of this is that an ARES 306 is not needed by the application during normal operation.

It is useful to use the ARES 306 to introduce new types of documents, especially when launching new service provider products, in order to sign the PDF once. Within the application, the signed document is then introduced as a resource. This installation of the ARES 306 can be done on any computer. The interface for signing a document template can be simple.

Downloading PDFs is a simple - quasi-static - delivery of a file through the Pop application. Eventually performance-relevant processes for the impression are eliminated.

The PDFs can be created using standard tools provided by, for example, the Adobe company (Acrobat-Professional allows you to define the position of the form fields). Filling the PDF form fields within the Acrobat Reader is a standard feature.

Furthermore, by eliminating the need to sign each individual PDF, any sources of errors or performance bottlenecks that may occur at this point are eliminated.

The previously selected presentation refers to PDF documents. However, it is also possible to use documents and programs with similar features. Documents in the sense of the present invention are preferably graphically representable. Depending on the application, they can be detected manually or by machine. Depending on the field of use, it is also expedient to provide encryption.

The invention also includes documents that are not graphically representable. Documents within the meaning of the invention are in particular smart labels. Smart labels are RFID identification means (transponders). These are suitable for use of control processes in the processing or transport of physical objects, in particular postal items or other goods to be transported.

• Es ist möglich, das Layout der Label auf einfache Weise zu ändern und in begrenztem Umfang sogar die Funktionalität des "intelligenten PDFs" anzupassen, ohne die Anwendung neu ausrollen zu müssen, d.h. es wird nur die PDF-Vorlage ausgetauscht.

The illustrated embodiments of the invention are associated with a variety of advantages:

• It is possible to easily change the layout of the labels and even to a limited extent even adjust the functionality of the "intelligent PDF" without having to re-roll the application, ie only the PDF template is exchanged.

• Es wird eine Performance-Steigerung erzielt, so dass weniger Serverkapazität benötigt wird.
• Datenschutz und Sicherheit werden erhöht, denn im PDF - in der PDF-Vorlage - sind keine anwendungsspezifischen Daten, Adressen, Produktinformationen,...) enthalten, auch nicht, wenn das PDF abgespeichert wird, nachdem die Daten via SOAP-Call zum Drucken übertragen wurden und/oder der Druck angestoßen wurde.
• In besonders bevorzugten Ausgestaltungen der Erfindung ist es möglich, die Konfiguration von Benutzersystemen - insbesondere von eingesetzten Computern der Benutzer - ggf. einschließlich eingesetzter Programmversionen - zu ermitteln und ggf. auch zu protokollieren.

Alternatively, it is possible to provide a new style via configuration update / admin tool on the production systems.

• A performance increase is achieved so that less server capacity is needed.
• Data protection and security are increased because the PDF - in the PDF template - does not contain any application-specific data, addresses, product information, etc.), even if the PDF is saved after the data has been transferred to print via SOAP call were and / or the pressure was triggered.
• In particularly preferred embodiments of the invention, it is possible to determine the configuration of user systems - in particular of the user's computers used - possibly including inserted program versions - and if necessary also to log.

The servlet that delivers the PDF now just needs to rename the filename for the PDF so that the document ID is included in the filename.

Sign the document via ARES

The templates are signed offline during the development or preparation phase for a new product by the Acrobat Reader Extension Server.

ARES itself does not have to be installed in the product environment but must be installed externally on a simple PC with Linux. For this purpose, a command line tool is used, with which one can provide any PDF documents with the necessary rights via the ARES.

The document signed by ARES is then imported into the configuration repository in the application.

iPDF envelope, sample and postage document

After the user has downloaded the generated PDF, the envelope of the PDF is displayed on the first page.

• Acrobat Reader kompatibel (Version>= 6.02)?
• Besteht eine Internetverbindung?
• Ist die Dokument-ID gültig?
• Wurde das Produkt bereits gedruckt?

Here are the following checks when loading the PDF in Acrobat Reader.

• Acrobat Reader compatible (version> = 6.02)?
• Is there an internet connection?
• Is the document ID valid?
• Was the product already printed?

For the last two checks, a service provided by the application is called via the SOAP interface of the Acrobat Reader, which returns whether the submitted document ID exists and / or has already been marked as printed in the database.

The document ID then uses the SOAP interface to load the form fields from the POP server and fill them in the form fields.

If the document ID could not be determined - e.g. since the user renamed the PDF document, he is prompted to enter the document ID via an Acrobat form field. The document IDs are also communicated to the user in the e-mail sent to him.

For pattern printing, dummy codes are used for the barcodes. The correct barcodes are set only briefly for the postage print by JavaScript.

The codes can be used for example as Leitcodierung.

Leitcodierung

• Für die Überprüfung auf Leitcodierbarkeit der Abhol- und Empfängeradressen wird die Schnittstelle "Webbooking - Leitcodeprüfung (eShop, FBE)-Schnittstelle" verwendet.
• Für die Generierung von Leitcodes für Empfängeradressen - die auch auf dem PDF Label als Leitcode oder Routing Code als Barcode eingedruckt werden - wird die bestehende Implementation der Anwendung Online Label Druck in der aktuellen Version verwendet.

For the Leitcodierung two different interfaces are used:

• The "Webbooking - Leitcodeprüfung (eShop, FBE) interface" interface is used to check the codecability of the pickup and recipient addresses.
• For the generation of control codes for recipient addresses - which are also printed on the PDF label as a routing code or routing code as a barcode - the existing implementation of the Online Label Printing application is used in the current version.

Online label printing guide coding

The leading code module of the Online Label Printing application is used for the lead coding of the recipient addresses.

It is assumed that the POP application can transparently access the corresponding tables via a Datasource configured in the application server.

The implementation that accesses this Leitcodetabellen is the application online label printing transferred 1: 1st The maintenance and updates of these tables or data are not part of this SRS.

Webbooking - Leitcodeprüfung (eShop, FBE) interface Basis

Basis of the interface description is the document "FBE-Schnittstelleuebersicht_eFiliale_2_0.doc", hereinafter referred to as reference document.

description

With the help of the interface, the pickup address and the recipient addresses are checked for Leitcodierbarkeit. The interface does not return a routing code.

The verification of the Leitcodierfähigkeit via a function of the TAS. Thus, the interface used implicitly in the interface "Webbooking - Master Code Check (FBE, TAS)" is used.

Non-Leitcodierfähige addresses are marked as such in the GUI.

Semantics of the interface

Input (LeitcodeRequest.xsd) Table 1 - Input Parameters Conductivity Code (LeitcodeRequest.xsd) element purpose description Request Type: The request for the guidance code check. father element Expression: element Father element: - <Request> ... </ Request> address list Type: TypeAddresslist List of addresses to check. Father element via addresses Expression: element Father element: Request <AddressList> ... </ Address list> MaxGroesse List Response Type: TypeMaxGroesseListe-Response Description: Maximum number of alternative address list (per address to check) in the response. No alternative address is evaluated, therefore always "0". Expression: element Father element: Request MinTreffer probability Type: Globals: TypeHitPricability Minimum hit probability for alternative addresses in percent: Always "100", since the address must be codable. No alternative addresses are evaluated. Expression: element Father element: Request trailer Type: Trailer: TypeTrailer System and time of inquiry. z. POP, 24.12.2006T09: 00: 00 Expression: element Father element: Request address Type: Check Address: TypeAddressRequest Description: address to be checked Expression: element Father element: address list

Address Request (TypeAddressRequest from CheckAddress.xsd) Table 2 - Address Request (TypeAddressRequest from CheckAddress.xsd) element purpose description Street Type: xsd: string Street of the address. Expression: element Father element: - House number Type: xsd: string House number of the pickup address. Expression: element Father element: - Street, house number Type: xsd: string Not used. Expression: element Father element: - Postcode Type: xsd: string Postcode of the address Expression: element Father element: - place Type: xsd: string Location of the address Expression: element Father element: - Country code Type: TypePreefStatus Three-digit country code according to ISO 3166-1, z. Eg "DEU". Characteristic: Raw dataset: LandType Father element: - ID Type: Globals: TypeId Unique ID of the address to be checked. This must be specified again in the response as a reference for the address. Characteristic: Attributes Father element: - Sequential number in the request.

Output (LeitcodeResponse.xsd) Table 3 - Output Parameters Conductivity Code (LeitcodeResponse.xsd) element purpose description response Type: The response to the guidance code check Expression: element Father element: - status Type: Status: TypeStatus processing status Expression: element Father element: Response GepruefteAdressen Type: Type Check Addresses List of verified addresses. Does not have to occur if an error has occurred during processing Expression: element Father element: Response trailer Type: Trailer: TypeTrailer System and time of inquiry. z. POP, 24.12.2006T09: 00: 00 Expression: element Father element: Response GepruefteAdresse Type: Type Check Address The tested address with additional information Expression: element Father element: Checked addresses test status Type: TypePreefStatus Check status: OK, if code-codable Expression: element Father element: Checked address TASFehler Type: TypePreefStatus Set if PruefStatus is "Non-Condable". Contains a TAS code and an error description Expression: element Father element: Checked address Alternatively addresses Type: TypeAlternativeAddresses List of Alternative Addresses at PruefStatus 'Alternatives' Not used Expression: element Father element: Checked address address Type: CheckAddress: TypeAddressResponse Alternative address. Is not evaluated. Expression: element Father element: Checked address

Address Response (TypeAddressResponse from CheckAddress.xsd) Table 4 - Address Response (TypeAddressResponse from CheckAddress.xsd) element purpose description Street Type: xsd: string Indication of the street Expression: element Father element: - House number Type: xsd: string Indication of the house number. Expression: element Father element: - Street, house number Type: xsd: string Is not used. Expression: element Father element: - Postcode Type: xsd: string Post Code Expression: element Father element: - place Type: xsd: string place Expression: element Father element: - Country code Type: TypePreefStatus Three-digit country code according to ISO 3166-1; Characteristic: Raw dataset: LandType Father element: - id Type: Globals: TypeId Unique ID of the address to be checked. Characteristic: Attributes Father element: - hit probability Type: Globals: TypeHitLikelihood The hit probability of this address in percent Expression: element Father element: -

In the search query an ID for the search address is defined. In the response, the address with the same ID must be selected in the XML node <CheckedAddresses>. If the check status of this address is "OK", the address is code-coded. If one of the addresses can not be coded, the service is not available.

error handling

If the interface is not available or the status code has a value <> 0, the service is not available. The failed searches are logged.

description

If POP issues orders for TAS pickup (s), the order is placed using the "Webbooking - Mail Order Transfer (eShop, FBE)" interface. For each cart position, an order is generated, i. the collection address and the recipient address must be code-codable. The Leitcodierbarkeit the collection address and all recipient addresses is previously ensured via the interface "Webbooking - Leitcodeprüf (eShop, FBE) interface".

A cancellation is not carried out.

Giropay interface

With the help of the interface, the billing of the products and services commissioned by the user takes place.

Use of the interface Integration Giropay Button

On page NOW1 there is a button Giropay and an input field for the bank code. This button does not branch directly to the Giropay page, but opens a popup asking the user to recheck his e-mail. If the user confirms the correctness of his e-mail address, the NOW1 page will be reloaded. In In this request cycle, the application checks the shopping cart again for possible price changes or other inconsistencies (missing information).

• Erzeugen der Dokumentdefinitionen in der DB (Dokument-ID).
• Erzeugen des Warenkorbes in der DB (WarenkorbID. Anmerkung: der in der DB persistierte Warenkorb enthält nur diejenigen Daten, die für die Überprüfung der Transaktion und weitere Schritte nach der Bezahlung (NOW3 anzeigen, Erstellung der E-Mail etc.) notwendig sind.
• Prüfen der Bankleitzahl.
• Senden der Transaktionsdaten an den PaySolution-Server.

If the shopping cart price remains unchanged, the following actions are carried out:

• Create the document definitions in the DB (document ID).
• Creating the shopping cart in the DB (Shopping cartID Note: the shopping cart persisted in the DB contains only the data necessary for checking the transaction and further steps after payment (displaying NOW3, creating the e-mail, etc.).
• Check the bank code.
• Send the transaction data to the PaySolution server.

Bank code inspection

The following mandatory parameters are transmitted in a point-to-point connection using HTTPS with authentication. parameter Type description command string Constant "diagnosis" payment_options String (50) Constant "banktransfer;bankcode" bankcode Number (8) Bank code from Now1

In the same cycle, the Giropay server responds with suitable parameters.

For the evaluation of the bank sort code check, only the answer parameter rc is relevant.

For a response parameter rc = 0, a BLZ was transferred, which participates in the giropay procedure. A payment process is initialized.

For a response parameter rc = 1, a BLZ was transferred, which does not participate in the giropay procedure. The user receives on the page NOW1 the message "The bank does not participate in the giropay procedure".

For an answer parameter rc = 2, an invalid BLZ was transferred. The user receives the message "The bank code is invalid, please check the bank code" on page NOW1.

Initialization of the payment process

The following parameters are transmitted in a point-to-point connection using HTTPS with authentication: parameter Type description command string Constant "open" payment_options String (50) Constant "bank transfer" orderid String (17) Unique order number across all marketplaces amount Fix-point number The amount to be paid. currency String (3) Currency code according to ISO 4217. Here, the currency configured for the marketplace is used (in Euro I only Euro) bankcode Number (8) Bank code of the bank details, no check is performed by POP. sessionid String (255) Session ID basketid String (50) order number label0 String (30) Constant "Your order number" text0 String (80) Markplatzkürzel (2) + order number (9) + "many thanks for the use of DHL Express" eg for provider eb123456789, many thanks for the use of DHL Express.

Feedback on payment process

After the user has paid at Giropay, the PaySolution server sends a confirmation of the payment to the url stored in the Controlcenter (application of the payment provider). This could be defined as follows:

http://pop.dhl.de/Giropay/confirm.do

It is assumed that a response of the interface takes place in a defined time window.

The following parameters are passed in the response. parameter Type description example orderid String (17) clear transaction number across all marketplaces 060626132225 265 amount Fix-point number The amount to be paid. 0.01 currency String (3) Currency code according to ISO 4217. Here, the currency configured for the marketplace is used (Phase 1 only Euro) EUR basketid String (50) WarenkorbID 060626132225 281 rc Number (4) Return code of the Giropay server 4000 directPosErrorCode Number (3) Primary return code of the system, contains information about the outcome of the payment. 0 Possible values are '0' for successful and z. Eg '100' for failed or canceled payments directPosErrorMessage String (50) Return code as text Transaction authorized Mac String (50) Message Authentication Code, serves to protect against manipulation of the shop notification 7732a717b57f0a62a06c6ef4 5c0162b76096 c266 retrefnum String (32) giropay transaction id SEOWQTYZKT trefnum String (20) Transaction number PaySolution service 060626132225 265_01

By means of the parameter basketid, the application can now load the shopping cart (possibly HTTP session) from the database.

The application then checks to see if the amounts and currency specified match those in the shopping cart. Furthermore, a check is carried out via the Message Authentication Code (MAC), which is supplied in response. The MAC is formed using the values of all parameters passed in alphabetical order.

If these do not match, NOW3 displays an error message and of course a corresponding message is logged.

After successful check of the basket of goods, the actions for the delivery of the product are carried out (ESI / GLOBUSS, e-mail to user, TAS / express pick-up order, etc. pp.).

The user can now download the PDF documents on NOW3.

Return of GiroPay for use

In response to the confirmation of the payment process, POP sends the PaySolution server the url for the return. This is done in the form of a URL-encoded document containing only the parameter "rurls". The response to the notification will be as timely as possible.

• rurls=http%3A%2F%2Fpop.dhl.de%2FGiropay%2Fresponse.do;jsessio nid=1234123

The PaySolution server performs a redirect in the user's browser to the sent url. The return address then looks like this, for example:

• rurls = http% 3A% 2F% 2Fpop.dhl.de% 2FGiropay% 2Fresponse.do; jsessio nid = 1234123

Another preferred payment system is the PayPal payment system.

Preferred interfaces for incorporating the PayPal payment system are shown below:

PayPal interface

With the help of the interface, the billing of the products and services commissioned by the user takes place. The communication between the application and PayPal takes place via an encrypted (128-bit key length) HTTP request (GET or POST).

Use of the interface

The billing of a transaction is done with the PayPal option: "Buy Now and Donations". The total amount incl. Tax is communicated to the PayPal system and billed.

Methods used to check the payment transaction

The PayPal interface provides two methods for checking the status and correctness of the payment transaction.

IPN (Instant Payment Notification)

In the case of the IPN, PayPal addresses a fixed URL of the application defined in the merchant account configuration at PayPal. Parameters are used to transmit the status and data of the payment transaction to the application.

IPN is asynchronous to the payment process. The time when an IPN is generated can not be guaranteed by PayPal. The IPN is also processed by the application after the end of the user session.

Typically, an IPN will be triggered immediately after confirming payment on the PayPal pages.

PDT (Payment Data Transfer)

In the PDT procedure, the application retrieves the status of the payment transaction by means of a request to the URL https://www.PayPal.com/cgi-bin/webscr . See procedure PayPal in the positive case, step 5. For this purpose, a parameter set is transmitted via HTTPS in a point-to-point connection with the following parameters: field name Type description cmd string Constant: "notify-synch" tx string TransactionID is passed to the application during the redirect from PayPal back to the application in the parameter tx. at string Dealer identification. Will be assigned by PayPal during the configuration of the merchant account and saved in the configuration of the application.

The return parameters in the PDT procedure are provided by PayPal as key-value pairs in the body of the response. Deviating from the IPN, a string is additionally transmitted in the PDT in the first line, which indicates with the value "SUCCESS" that the PDT request was technically successful.

The data transmitted by PayPal in response to the IPN and PDT methods to the application is identical in the parameters relevant to the application: field name Type description payment_status string For payment status see: PP_OrderManagement_IntegrationGuide.pdf TABLE A.3 mc_gross fixed point total amount mc_curency String (3) Currency in ISO3. (In phase I only EUR). custom String (255) Contains the cartID assigned by the application to the payment process. This CartID is used by the application for mapping in the database.

procedure

It is advantageous to carry out the procedure in such a way that with PayPal (via PayPal's own shop configuration) only those payment options are activated which at the latest upon re-entry into the application provide a clear statement from PayPal "Paid" or "Canceled / Not paid". enable. A "pending" status is ignored by the application or interpreted as "unpaid".

In Fig. 5 A schedule is shown for performing a PayPal payment transaction.

Expiration PayPal in the positive case

1. 1. On NOW1 a PayPal Button (POST form) is offered.
2. 2. The user is forwarded to PayPal through a POP post form.
3. 3. PayPal optionally sends an IPN (Instant Payment Notification) to the application after the payment has been made, even before the user has been redirected back to the POP application. If the transaction is reported as Paid within the IPN, the actions for the delivery of the PDFs are made (EDICC, shipping e-mail, etc). This ensures that the user receives an e-mail even if he closes the browser immediately after paying at PayPal and the application no longer receives the redirect from PayPal to a POP site.
4. 4. PayPal directs the user via a post or redirect the user back to a page of the POP application.
5. 5. After the redirect from PayPal back to the POP application, it will be checked if an IPN has already been received. If no positive IPN has been received, the POP application will request the status of the transmission via the PDT procedure. If this is reported by PayPal as Paid, the actions for the delivery of the PDFs are made (EDICC, shipping e-mail, etc).
6. 6. The user will see the page for the PDF download (NOW3).
7. 7. Subsequent IPN messages sent by PayPal to the POP application will be ignored by the application.

Basically, all IPN and PDT messages - including those that are ignored by the application regarding the workflow - are logged in the database so that they can still be traced later via the Adminweb.

The asynchronous incoming IPN and PDT must be synchronized via the database.

Integration PayPal Button

On the page NOW1 there is a Button PayPal. This button does not branch directly to PayPal page, but opens a popup in which the user is asked to check his e-mail again.

Annotation:

If the e-mail has already been set by the Maptos request, the popup is not displayed, but the page is called directly again.

If the user confirms the correctness of his e-mail address, the NOW1 page will be reloaded. In this request cycle, the application again refers to the shopping cart any price changes or other inconsistencies (missing information) checked.

• Erzeugen der Dokumentdefinitionen in der DB (DokumentID).
• Erzeugen des Warenkorbes in der DB (WarenkorbID. Anmerkung:
  • Der in der DB persistente Warenkorb enthält nur diejenigen Daten, die für die Überprüfung der Transaktion und weitere Schritte nach der Bezahlung (NOW3 anzeigen, Erstellung der E-Mail) notwendig sind.
• Anzeige der NOW1-Seite.

Anstelle des PayPal-Buttons mit dem Verweis auf das E-Mail-Bestätigung-Popup wird nun ein PayPal-Buy-Now HTML-Formular hinterlegt. Die Ziel-URL dieses Formulars verweist nun auf die PayPal-Plattform. Dieses Formular wird sofort über Javascript gesteuert ausgeführt, so dass der Browser sofort zu PayPal springt.If the shopping cart price remains unchanged, the following actions are carried out:

• Create the document definitions in the DB (DocumentID).
• Creating the basket of goods in the DB (CartID.
  • The persistent basket in the DB contains only the data that is necessary for the verification of the transaction and further steps after the payment (NOW3 display, creation of the e-mail).
• Display of the NOW1 page.

Instead of the PayPal button with the reference to the e-mail confirmation popup, a PayPal Buy Now HTML form is now deposited. The destination URL of this form now points to the PayPal platform. This form is executed immediately via Javascript, so that the browser jumps immediately to PayPal.

• Ziel des Formulars beispielsweise:
  • https://www.sandbox.PayPal.com/cgi-bin/webscr

Feldname Typ Beschreibung cmd String Konstante " xclick" business E-Mail DHL Account E-Mail. Diese muss bei PayPal entsprechend konfiguriert sein. z.B: popPayPal@dhl.com item_name String (128) Einzeilige Beschreibung des zu kaufenden Produktes. Dieses wird dem Benutzer bei PayPal angezeigt. item number String (128) Text mit WarenkorbID. Sichtbar für den Benutzer custom String (255) WarenkorbID. Wird dem Benutzer nicht angezeigt amount Fix-Komma-Zahl Der zu zahlende Brutto-Betrag. no_shipping Boolean Wird immer auf 1 gesetzt. return URL Rücksprung-URL für den Erfolgsfall. Siehe Anmerkung Rücksprungs-URL unten im Text. cancel_return URL Rücksprung-URL für den Fehler- bzw. Abbruchsfall. Siehe Anmerkung Rücksprungs-URL unten im Text. no_note Boolean immer "1" currency_code String (3) Währung in ISO3. Hier wird die für den Marktplatz konfigurierte Währung verwendet. (In Phase I nur Euro). lc String (2) Land des Käufers als ISO2. Hier wird das für den Marktplatz konfigurierte Land verwendet. bn String Bezahlverfahren. Immer "PP-BuyNowBF". The following fields are filled in the PayPal Buy Now HTML form:

• Destination of the form, for example:
  • https://www.sandbox.PayPal.com/cgi-bin/webscr

field name Type description cmd string Constant "xclick" business e-mail DHL account email. This must be configured accordingly with PayPal. eg: popPayPal@dhl.com item_name String (128) Single-line description of the product to be purchased. This will be displayed to the user at PayPal. item number String (128) Text with cartID. Visible to the user custom String (255) WarenkorbID. Not displayed to the user amount Fix-point number The gross amount to be paid. no_shipping Boolean Always set to 1. return URL Return URL for success. See note Return URL at bottom of text. cancel_return URL Return URL for the error or cancellation case. See note Return URL at bottom of text. no_note Boolean always "1" currency_code String (3) Currency in ISO3. Here, the currency configured for the marketplace is used. (In Euro I only Euro). lc String (2) Country of the buyer as ISO2. Here the country configured for the marketplace is used. bn string Payment methods. Always "PP BuyNowBF".

These fields (except cmd) are not encoded as individual HTML form fields within the form, but are encrypted (encrypted) in the HTML form field using the Public-Key RSA 1024bit method so that manipulation by the user can be ruled out. The public key is assigned by PayPal and configured within the application.

Return Address:

• Return addresses are structured as follows:
  • http://pop.dhl.de/PayPal/success;jsessionid=123456

The session of the application is appended to the URL.

Return of PayPal to the application

After the user has paid the amount at PayPal, PayPal will jump back to the return URL. Upon return, the following parameters are transmitted: field name Type description tx string Transaction number of PayPal. This parameter is absolutely necessary in order to be able to establish the assignment of the transaction to the shopping cart in the next step using the PDT procedure (see below). st string Payment status: ignored by the application. The status check is only based on the data from the PDT or IPN procedures. amt, cc, cm, sig, * string Additional parameters are ignored by the application

Verification of payment

If the user has not canceled the payment process and made the payment, he returns to the application. If at this time the status of the shopping cart is not "paid", the payment process is checked using the return parameter tx by means of the PDT procedure at PayPal.

If the first line is not SUCCESS or the payment_status parameter is not "Completed", the application assumes the payment is unsuccessful could be completed. In this case, the user will get an error message on NOW3. In all other cases, the application checks the payment transaction data. For this, the relation to the corresponding shopping cart in the database of the application is created via the parameter custom, which contains the Shopping BasketID.

The value of the mc_gross parameter is compared to the amount in the database.

The value of the parameter mc_currency is compared with the currency in the database.

If the values match, the user's shopping cart is marked as "Paid". If these do not match, NOW3 displays an error message.

After successful examination of the basket of goods, the actions for the delivery of the product are carried out (ESI / GLOBUSS, e-mail to user, TAS / express pick-up order, etc. pp.).

The user can now download the PDF documents on NOW3.

Since an IPN occurs asynchronously, the application sets a status associated with the cart to In Progress in the event of a successfully completed payment transaction in the database.

Cancel

If the user has aborted the payment process and the HTTP session is still valid, it will go back to NOW1 forwarded to his shopping cart. If the user has aborted the payment process, but the session could not be continued due to a timeout within the application, NOW3 is displayed to the user with a corresponding error message.

In order to protect the system from misuse and to achieve a quick, reliable and secure implementation of changes, it is expedient to provide a protected administration system.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the administration system is an administration web.

Preferably, the administration web is part of the POP web application.

It is useful to log the actions of the administration web.

If a user modifies configuration data of the application, these actions are logged in the reporting tables with user name and time stamp.

user management

The user administration of the administration web is controlled by a simple configuration file, which is managed versioned via the configuration repository.

Each user is assigned a list of roles. These roles correspond to the rights to use the individual components (ie masks) of the administration web.

The illustrated system makes it possible to carry out a method for producing a label that can be applied to a mail item in various convenient ways.

In particular, the method is performed such that a network node (Maptos) provides a data service that is executed in at least one provider server of a service provider, generating data for insertion into the label.

For example, the data service is an Internet service.

The generation of the label is controlled in such a way that printing of the label is only enabled when a test step has been carried out. The test step serves, for example, to check the validity of a voucher or to check whether a requested franking label has been paid.

Furthermore, it is useful to check whether a requested franking label has already been printed out once. In this case, a reprint of the franking label is prevented.

It is particularly advantageous to provide the label or print templates for generating the label as intelligent documents.

In this case, it is advantageous that a program module is introduced into the intelligent document, which is designed to provide a representable indication of a result of the checking step or of a further checking step for checking the existence of the prerequisite within the intelligent document.

A further development of this provides that at least one of the test steps is carried out by means of the program module.

One or more further testing steps may be performed in the provider server, the network node, or another server-based computing unit.

Furthermore, it is advantageous that in the checking step it is checked whether the program execution environment is available.

To prevent abusive multiple printouts, it is advantageous for a program to control one-time printing of the label and for a smart document to be transmitted from a server to a client over a network.

To further increase data security, the method is performed so that at a first pressure of the label, a message from the user client is transmitted to the server and that the pressure is logged due to the message in the server.

To ensure that server-based security mechanisms can be used, the program used to control the printing of the labels is designed to be executable only if there is a network connection between the client and the server and if a query has been made from the server, that the label has not been printed yet.

This is done in a particularly secure embodiment in that it is checked in at least one of the test steps, whether an access to the network exists.

A refinement provides that in at least one of the checking steps, a query of the server is made, in which it is checked whether contents of the intelligent document have already been printed once.

In the manner illustrated, it is possible to allow authorized users to print labels in a simple and reliable manner. At the same time, improper label generation is prevented.

In particular, it is also possible by the invention to use coupons (codes) for the production of labels.

The vouchers may be, for example, pre-paid postage amounts or credits for making order or delivery transactions.

The vouchers preferably contain valid information. In developments of the invention, they can also be used for payment transactions.

It is also possible to convey the vouchers to recipients of consignments. The recipients of the consignments can create labels as users of the system. It is thus possible, in the manner according to the invention, to create a label as a return label for the return of mailpieces to an original sender, in particular a mail-order company.

To generate a label serving as a return label, a coupon is transmitted to a user on a first transmission path. Later, in particular if the user desires a return of a mail item or of a product contained in it, the coupon (code) is transmitted to a server by a control unit located in an area of influence of the user.

This development of the invention provides for a multi-step generation of a label. This multi-step generation is distinguished by the fact that a coupon is transmitted to a user on a first transmission path, that the coupon is transmitted to a server by a control unit located in an area of influence of the user and that the server carries out a verification step for verifying the coupon and depending on the result of the test step affects the generation of the label.

The transmission of the voucher to the user can be done in various ways.

A development of the invention provides that the coupon or a part of the coupon is transmitted to different transmission paths to the user.

A transmission to the user takes place even if the coupon or a component is transmitted to an operating unit located in an area of influence of the user.

This is the case, for example, in the case of a transmission to a computer or a mobile user terminal, such as a mobile telephone.

A development of the method, the computer program product and the device is characterized in that the coupon is attached to a mail addressed to the user.

An embodiment of the method, the computer program product and the device provides that the coupon is transmitted electronically to the user.

A further development of the method, the computer program product and the device is characterized in that the coupon is transmitted to the user when an event occurs.

An embodiment of the method, the computer program product and the device provides that the coupon is transmitted upon the occurrence of a shipping event.

A development of the method, the computer program product and the device is characterized in that the coupon is transmitted to a request.

An embodiment of the method, the computer program product and the device provides that the operating unit is a computer.

A development of the method, the computer program product and the device is characterized in that the checking step includes a validity check of the voucher.

An embodiment of the method, the computer program product and the device provides that the checking step includes a validity check of the voucher.

A development of the method, the computer program product and the device is characterized in that, taking into account the voucher, a recipient address for the mail item is determined.

An embodiment of the method, the computer program product and the device provides that, taking into account the voucher, a sender address for the mail item is determined.

The invention also includes documents that are not graphically representable. Documents within the meaning of the invention are in particular also smart labels. Smart labels are RFID identification means (transponders). These are suitable for use of control processes in the processing or transport of physical objects, in particular postal items or other goods to be transported.

Use of identification data further increases data security. The identification data are preferably recognized by the fact that a signature is created for the respective dynamic content and that this signature is transmitted with the respective dynamic content.

The signature is expediently recreated in the destination of a respectively occurring communication (target system) and the resulting value-in particular hash value-is compared with the value resulting from the transmitted signature. By comparing the values, it is possible to prevent manipulation of the contents, since the respective application logic only becomes active if the checks have been carried out correctly.

The invention also includes using other programs than those shown.

In particular, it is possible, using the illustrated embodiment of the system and the device to use other than the computer programs previously shown.

It is also possible to use other file formats.

1. 1. Ein Download der Datei sollte möglich sein.
2. 2. Eine Darstellung und ein Druck des Labels in gleicher Form (Rahmen, Logos, variabler Texte) sollte möglich sein.
3. 3. Ein Druck von Barcode-Labels sollte möglich sein, idealerweise durch Einbindung von FONTs.
4. 4. Eine Applikationslogik (via Java-Script, Visual Basic, .net, ....) sollte in der Datei verwendbar/aktivierbar sein.
   Diese Eigenschaft erfüllen beispielsweise auch Adobe-Flash und eine Vielzahl von Microsoft/Windows Produkten aus dem Office-Umfeld.
   • 4.1 Soap-Requests (HTTPs-Requests) sollten möglich sein.
   • 4.2 Ein Druckdialog sollte über die Anwendungslogik ansteuerbar sein.
5. 5. Die Datei sollte schreibgeschützt übertragbar sein.
6. 6. Die Datei sollte gegen die Änderung der Applikationslogik/vor beziehungsweise während der Ausführung (insbesondere beim Drucken) geschützt sein.

A selection of the software should be made so that a file can be generated with it, which has the following properties:

1. 1. A download of the file should be possible.
2. 2. A representation and a print of the label in the same form (frames, logos, variable texts) should be possible.
3. 3. Printing of barcode labels should be possible, ideally by incorporating FONTs.
4. 4. An application logic (via Java Script, Visual Basic, .NET, ....) should be usable / activatable in the file.
   For example, Adobe Flash and a variety of Microsoft / Windows products from the office environment also fulfill this feature.
   • 4.1 Soap requests (HTTPs requests) should be possible.
   • 4.2 A print dialog should be controllable via the application logic.
5. 5. The file should be transferable as read-only.
6. 6. The file should be protected against modification of the application logic / before or during execution (especially during printing).

For example, these requirements are also met by Microsoft Excel. To increase data security, we recommend a corresponding additional encryption of the embedded script code, which should then be additionally secured.

It is useful to design the intelligent documents in such a way that they allow a review of program versions.

In particular, it is expedient that the documents are able to check which version or which implementation of a computer program and / or which operating system are installed on a client.

The invention is not limited to the illustrated applications.

When mailing labels are generated, it is desirable that they contain information for identification, routes, advance instructions, and extras associated with the shipping order.

Furthermore, it is expedient for the labels to contain customer and / or billing information.

The illustrated labels serve as information carriers and allow, for example, an acceptance, payroll, sorting, loading, special treatment, delivery, issue, billing, research, post-processing, operating data processing, tracking and tracing and archiving a shipment.

The intelligent documents - in particular the labels for application to the mailpieces - have information blocks in further developments of the invention. It is expedient to specify data types and / or data sizes for the information blocks. This determination is expediently made according to the respective logistical requirements.

Examples of dynamic content introduced into the static framework are the recipient address and indications that allow for shipment identification, for example, a shipment identification number.

The transmitted frame information serves for a clear, structured and formatted presentation of the dynamic contents.

FIG. 5 shows a graphical representation of inventively generated intelligent documents. For example, the graphical representations may be displayed on a client's screen or printed out and optionally printed out for use as a shipping label for a mailing.

To generate the documents, static content is transmitted separately from the dynamic content.

The static contents are, for example, the frames shown in the illustrations and company information such as "DHL".

Dynamic contents that are introduced into the mailings are, for example, sender information, recipient information, invoice number, size information, shipment identification number and / or possibly also a product name.

Fig. 5 shows the label content by way of example in a DIN A 4 landscape format, lying side by side.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art to select the particular graphic design of the labels, including the reproduced information - plain text portions and typeface portions and optionally encrypted information - according to the requirements of mail carriers that transport or process the mailpieces.

The dynamic contents are transmitted in a continuation of the invention of a client of a shipping process (sender) in electronic form. The electronic transmission of the shipment data may take place before, during and after a physical transfer of the shipments to a shipping company.

Simultaneous electronic and physical transmission is, however, preferred for simplification of the logistical processes. To transfer the data, a suitable number range is preferably specified.

Furthermore, the label handling information - for example, for employees of the shipping company, in particular a deliverer - included. It is possible and expedient to choose a format deviating from other label contents for the graphic reproduction of individual handling functions.

The previous description of exemplary embodiments of the invention with reference to the figures is to be understood as illustrative and exemplary. The invention is not limited to the illustrated embodiments.

In particular, in the context of the printing of labels by means of an intelligent document, the invention is not limited to the illustrated types of transmission, formats or test steps. On the contrary, the person skilled in the art recognizes that within the scope of the invention, other types of transmission can be selected and / or other formats used and / or other test steps can be carried out, the results of which are optionally displayed in the document.

The skilled person further recognizes that the invention can also be used in fields other than those shown.

For example, it is possible to check the existence of the program execution environment on any intelligent document and present the result of the test.

The intelligent documents can, for example, be intelligent documents with animated graphics or forms. In particular, the invention is in forms used in public relations and executed as intelligent documents. On the basis of the test steps, the results of which are presented in the invention, it can be checked in particular whether certain mandatory fields of a form have been completed.

In addition, the invention can also be used in intelligent documents that are protected by the "intelligence" from unauthorized access. In this context, for example, texts should be mentioned that can only be displayed and / or printed if the user is authorized to do so, whereby the authorization of the user is checked by the intelligent document, for example by means of a server query taking place via a network.

The different handling of dynamic and static content allows far-reaching design options for individually or at intervals to create and / or updated documents.

For the further development of returns logistics processes, online franking solutions are advantageous, whereby both the saving of process costs and the optimization of the information transparency is possible.

Returns logistics processes are logistic processes for the handling of returns.

The invention includes both the development of a logistics system as returns logistics system and the design of a logistics system with handling operations for handling returns.

The invention includes a logistics system for conveying a mail item on a transport path within a postal distribution network, wherein the transport path contains a plurality of nodes of the postal distribution network, in particular a node that corresponds to a delivery point.

Optionally, the transport path additionally contains one or more nodes, each corresponding to a sorting point.

The term logistics system is to be understood in the context of the invention in a broad meaning. In particular, it comprises systems which contain the means and facilities for carrying out the transport of mailpieces from a point of departure to a delivery point on a transport path within a postal distribution network.

The point of departure is, for example, a storage location or place of delivery of the object to be transported. The delivery point is preferably selected by the client of the transport. For a return, this is for example a warehouse of a dealer or manufacturer.

In the manner shown, it is possible to transmit the label quickly, reliably and on demand. In particular, it is possible to take into account the requirements of a shipping service provider who initially transmits a product with a first mail item to the user and wishes a targeted return of the item by a second item of mail.

This happens according to the invention expediently in that on a first transmission path a coupon is transmitted to a user that the coupon by a in an operating area of the user is transmitted to a server and that the server performs a verification step for checking the voucher and depending on the result of the test step affects the generation of the label.

The transmission of the voucher is expediently carried out upon the occurrence of a mailing event, for example when the mail item addressed to the user is delivered, during a transport or processing step of the mail item or when the item of mail is delivered to the user.

The invention includes various ways of transmitting the voucher and allows for integration of different transmission paths.

To ensure a particularly high level of data security, the verification step is carried out so that it includes a validity check of the voucher.

To speed up the processing, it is expedient that, taking into account the voucher, a recipient address for the mail item is determined.

Furthermore, it is expedient that, taking into account the voucher, a sender address for the mail item is determined.

glossary Pick up TAS

Appointment Abholungs system

user

End user who uses the POP application to buy brands or coupons.

application

The web application ParcelOnlinePostage.

base product

"Parcel", "parcel 10 kg", "parcel 20 kg";
Used, for example, for grouping within the product selection.

building block

Rectangular static surface in a web page, which can be displayed in time and marketplace.

BLNN

Documentary cash on delivery

BHNN

Covered cash on delivery

Document ID

Unique number by which a user can reference a brand he has purchased.

EKP number

A kind of customer number for the marketplace.

IT I

Remuneration insurance (means for determining abusive label.

Voucher

An instance of a coupon type; can be identified by a unique coupon code.

coupon type

A class of a coupon.

customer

Term is not used because ambiguous.

LP

License plate.

marketplace

Each user session is assigned to a marketplace that specifies some framework conditions such as the currency.

PALS

Photo addresses reading system

PAN

Pre Advice Notification

POC

Proove of Collection

POD

Proove of Delivery

POM

Proove of Money

POT

Proove of Transport

product

A combination of base product and services; is identified by a product key.

Product Code

Numeric, two-digit code for basic product

product key

Unique key for a base product / service combination.

service

Priced property of a product.

Cart id

With this unique number, a user can refer to his shopping cart for support requests.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

301

PDF Template

302

POP web server

303

Documents record

304

licensing information

305

Smart document (for example, iPDF)

306

ARES

Claims (10)

A method for generating a label that can be applied to a mail item, in which a network node (Maptos) provides a data service that is executed in a provider server of a service provider, wherein data is generated for introduction into the label, wherein a program controls a one-time printing of the label and an intelligent document is transmitted from the provider server to a user client via a network; - wherein a program module is introduced into the intelligent document, and the program module is adapted to generate a displayable indication of a result of a checking step or a further checking step for checking the existence of a prerequisite within the intelligent document; - wherein the intelligent document is an intelligent PDF document (iPDF) and contains displayable content, wherein a unique document ID is embedded in the iPDF document, the displayable content consists of static content and dynamic content, wherein an introduction of the dynamic content into the intelligent document separately from an introduction of static content and separated in time; - wherein in at least one of the checking steps a query of the server is made, in which it is checked whether contents of the intelligent document have already been printed once; - wherein the program for controlling the printing of the label is executable only if there is a network connection between the client and the server and if it has been determined from a query by the server that the label has not yet been printed; - In a first print of the label, a message from the user client is transmitted to the server and that the pressure is logged due to the message in the server. Method according to claim 1,
characterized,
that the data service is an internet service. Method according to one of claims 1 or 2,
characterized,
in that a checking step is carried out to check a voucher and, depending on the result of the checking step, the generation of the label is influenced. Method according to claim 3,
characterized,
in that, in a method step preceding the checking step, the coupon is transmitted to a user. Method according to one of claims 3 or 4,
characterized,
that in the checking step it is checked whether the program execution environment is available. Method according to one of the preceding claims,
characterized,
that at least one of the test steps is performed by means of the program module. Method according to one of Claims 3 to 6,
characterized,
that it is checked in at least one of the test steps, whether an access to the network exists. Method according to one of Claims 3 to 7,
characterized,
that in at least one of the checking steps, a check of the version of the program execution environment takes place. A computer program product,
characterized,
that it contains a computer program for carrying out the method according to one of claims 1 to 9. A system for generating and printing a label applicable to a mailpiece, comprising
a network node for providing a data service that is executed in at least one provider server of a service provider, wherein data for introduction into a label is generated,
a program for controlling a one-time printing of the label, wherein a smart document comprising a program module is transmitted from the provider server via a network to a user client, and the intelligent document is a smart PDF document (iPDF) and contains displayable content, wherein - a unique document ID is embedded in the iPDF document, - the displayable content consists of static content and dynamic content, whereby an introduction of the dynamic content into the intelligent document takes place separately from an introduction of the static content and temporally separated, wherein the program is executable only if there is a network connection between the client and the server and if it has been determined from a query by the server that the label has not yet been printed, - In a first print of the label, a message is transmitted from the user client to the server, and - the pressure due to the message is logged in the server.

Images