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Patent 2316786 Summary

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Claims and Abstract availability

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(12) Patent Application: (11) CA 2316786
(54) English Title: PRINTING POSTAGE STAMPS WITH EMBEDDED INFORMATION
(54) French Title: IMPRESSION DE TIMBRES POSTES AVEC INFORMATION INTEGREE
Status: Dead
Bibliographic Data
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC):
  • G07B 17/00 (2006.01)
(72) Inventors :
  • WEN, XIN (United States of America)
  • HONSINGER, CHRIS W. (United States of America)
(73) Owners :
  • EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY (United States of America)
(71) Applicants :
  • EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY (United States of America)
(74) Agent: GOWLING LAFLEUR HENDERSON LLP
(74) Associate agent:
(45) Issued:
(22) Filed Date: 2000-08-28
(41) Open to Public Inspection: 2001-04-25
Availability of licence: N/A
(25) Language of filing: English

Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT): No

(30) Application Priority Data:
Application No. Country/Territory Date
09/426,253 United States of America 1999-10-25

Abstracts

English Abstract



A digital printing apparatus is disclosed for printing on a receiver a
postal image having invisible embedded information in response to a digital
image
having a plurality of pixels each having at least one pixel value and input
information to embedded. The digital printing apparatus receives the digital
image and the input information. The receiver includes a plurality of
perforated
peelable portions or a mailing envelope. The apparatus responds to the input
information and the digital image for modifying a predetermined number of
pixel
values of pixels in the digital image with the input information so that the
input
information is embedded in the digital image and prints a postal stamp image
on
the receiver in accordance with the modified digital image having the embedded
information wherein the embedded information is invisible to unaided human
eyes
that can subsequently be extracted.


Claims

Note: Claims are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.



-11-
WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:
A digital printing apparatus for printing on a receiver a
postal image having invisible embedded information in response to a digital
image
having a plurality of pixels each having at least one pixel value and input
information to embedded, comprising
a) means for receiving the digital image and the input
information;
b) the receiver including a plurality of perforated peelable
portions;
c) means responsive to the input information and the digital
image for modifying a predetermined number of pixel values of pixels in the
digital image with the input information so that the input information is
embedded
in the digital image; and
d) means for printing a postal stamp image on the receiver in
accordance with the modified digital image having the embedded information
wherein the embedded information is invisible to unaided human eyes that can
subsequently be extracted.
2. The apparatus of the claim 1 wherein the printing means is
a thermal resistive printer.
3. The apparatus of the claim 1 wherein the printing means is
an ink jet printer.
4. The apparatus of the claim 1 further including an extraction
system for digitizing the postal image printed on the receiver, and extracting
the
embedded information from the digitized image, and for displaying human
readable information corresponding to the extracted embedded information.
5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the extracting system
includes a scanner for digitizing the postal image on the receiver, a
processor for
extracting the embedded information from the digitized image, and a display
device, the processor selectively applying the extracted information, or the
digitized image, or a combination thereof, to the display device for viewing.
6. A digital printing apparatus for printing on a receiver a
postal image having invisible embedded information in response to a digital
image


-12-
having a plurality of pixels each having at least one pixel value and input
information to embedded, comprising
a) means for receiving the digital image and the input
information;
b) the receiver is a mailing envelope;
c) means responsive to the input information and the digital
image for modifying a predetermined number of pixel values of pixels in the
digital image with the input information so that the input information is
embedded
in the digital image; and
d) means for printing a postal stamp image on the receiver in
accordance with the modified digital image having the embedded information
wherein the embedded information is invisible to unaided human eyes that can
subsequently be extracted.
7. The apparatus of the claim 5 wherein the printing means is
a thermal resistive printer.
8. The apparatus of the claim 5 wherein the printing means is
an ink jet printer.
9. The apparatus of the claim 1 further including an extraction
system for digitizing the postal image printed on the receiver, and extracting
the
embedded information from the digitized image, and for displaying human
readable information corresponding to the extracted embedded information.
10. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the extracting system
includes a scanner for digitizing the postal image on the receiver, a
processor for
extracting the embedded information from the digitized image, and a display
device, the processor selectively applying the extracted information, or the
digitized image, or a combination thereof, to the display device for viewing.

Description

Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.



CA 02316786 2000-08-28
PRINTING POSTAGE STAMPS WITH EMBEDDED INFORMATION
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to printing postage stamps with
embedded information.
S BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Postal stamps can be printed by gravure, intaglio, offset, and flexo
techniques. The official postage stamps are.commonly printed using a Gravure
process. The Gravure process is capable of creating images of very high
resolution, beyond the capabilities of most common printers. The Gravure
process is an intaglio process. It uses a depressed or sunken surface etched
into a
copper cylinder to create the image and the unetched surface of the cylinder
represent non-printing areas. The cylinder rotates in a bath of ink and the
etched
area picks up the ink and transfers it to the media creating the image.
Gravure
printing is considered excellent for printing highly detailed marks or
pictures.
The high set-up cost (including making the cylinders etc.) of the
Gravure printing process makes it not economic for printing small quantities
of
stamps, for example, batches from about of 10 to 1000. This prohibits a
consumer
from choosing an image and having a postage stamp created using that image. It
also does not permit a consumer to choose an image from a gallery of images
that
have been previously approved and having a postage stamp created using that
previously approved image.
Several companies including Pitney Bowes Corporation,
Stamps.com, Neopost, and E-stamp Corporation have started offering postage
printing by printers at offices or homes. This has been previously conducted
with
a mechanical postage meter. In 1999, the United States Postal Service CUSPS)
has
mandating replacement of these mechanical postage meters with more secure
digital electronic meters, wherein credit and payment can be better monitored
through the Internet.
One issue with the postal stamps is the authentication of the
stamps. The security, mailing or postage information can be printed in a bar
code.
The bar code can be in one dimensional or two dimensional forms. U.S. Patent
No. 4,835,713 discloses security information encoded in binary code in printed


CA 02316786 2000-08-28
-2_
indicia. The security information is printed in an array of dots and can be
retrieved by a special reader. U.S. Patent No. 5,413,037 discloses an
apparatus
and method for enhancing the security of mechanical postage meters through use
of an encapsulated fluorescence quenching substance. An encapsulated quenching
substance is blended with red fluorescent inks that are used to print postage
indicia.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of this invention is to provide postage stamps having
embedded information in a postal image.
A further object of the present invention is to provide invisible
embedded information that can be used to carry security, payment or credit,
and
address information in the images on the postal stamps.
These objects are achieved by a digital printing apparatus for
printing on a receiver a postal image having invisible embedded information in
response to a digital image having a plurality of pixels each having at least
one
pixel value and input information to embedded, comprising
a) means for receiving the digital image and the input
information;
b) the receiver including a plurality of perforated peelable
portions or is a mailing envelope;
c) means responsive to the input information and the digital
image for modifying a predetermined number of pixel values of pixels in the
digital image with the input information so that the input information is
embedded
in the digital image; and
d) means for printing a postal stamp image on the receiver in
accordance with the modified digital image having the embedded information
wherein the embedded information is invisible to unaided human eyes that can
subsequently be extracted.
An advantage of the present invention is that the information such
as security information can be embedded on the postal images of postal stamps.
The embedded information does not alter the image content of the postal image
and is invisible to eyes. The security is therefore enhanced. The embedded


CA 02316786 2000-08-28
-3-
information can be extracted by a scanner and a software.
A further advantage of the present invention is that the postal
information such as the security, mailing or postage information can be
printed as
embedded information inside the area of the postal image which eliminates the
need for additional area on a postal stamp or a mail piece for printing bar
code or
any other dedicated postal security marks, as in the prior art.
A further advantage of the present invention is that the embedded
information is printed with the same printer as the postal image thus saving
the
need for using fluorescent or IR dyes as in the prior art.
Yet another advantage of the present invention is that it is
compatible with many different types of digital printers such as thermal
resistive
printers, ink jet printers, or laser printers.
Again another advantage of the present invention is that the
embedded information can readily be extract by a system which can selectively
I 5 display the embedded information or the postal image. or a combination of
both.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a partial schematic showing a thermal resistive printer in
accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 2 shows the layout of a donor web of FIG. 1, including
different colored dye and lamination patches;
FIG. 3 shows a receiver sheet carrying peelable postal images
printed by the thermal resistive printer in FIG. 1 and such postal images
having
embedded information;
FIG. 4 shows the layout of a mail envelope including a mailing
address and a postal stamp that is peeled off from the receiver sheet in FIG.
3 and
such postal stamp having embedded information;
FIG. 5 is a system block diagram illustrating the information
embedding and the printing of the postal image having the embedded information
in accordance with the present invention; and
FIG. 6 illustrates the extract system for extracting embedded
information from a image printed on a receiver having the embedded
information.


CA 02316786 2000-08-28
-4-
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is described in relation to a digital printing
apparatus for printing postal stamps carrying postal image, wherein the postal
image is printed with embedded information. In the present invention, the
terminology "stamp" refers to a receiver sheet to be attached to a mailing
envelope, or the postal mark printed on the mail envelope. The stamp carries
authenticated postal image including images and postage amount. The term
mailing envelope will be understood to include any article which can be
delivered
by the post office, which includes other articles such as letters or gifts,
for
example.
Referring to FIG. 1, a digital printer 10 is exemplified as a thermal
resistive printer in accordance with the present invention includes a print
head
assembly 12, a supply spool 14 and take-up spool 16 for supply and
transporting a
donor web 17. The print head assembly 12 includes a plurality of resistive
heating
elements, each of which can print image pixels on a receiver sheet 28. The
donor
web 17 is coated with colorant materials that can be transferred by the print
head
assembly 12 to the receiver sheet 28. For the best image quality and best
appeal
to the users, the colorant materials are preferably dye molecules in the
present
invention. It is understood that many other forms of digital printers are also
compatible with the present invention and can be used in the place of the
digital
printer 10. For example, the digital printer 10 can also be an ink jet
printer, an
electrophotographic printer (or laser printer), a laser thermal printer, or a
digital
silver halide printer.
The digital printer 10 also includes a roller platen 18 for providing
the pressure and compliance to the receiver sheet 28 and donor web 17 during
printing, a pair of pinch rollers 20 and 22 for driving the receiver sheet 28,
a
receiver tray 24 for storing and supplying the receiver sheets 28, and a
receiver
guide 30 for guiding the receiver sheet 28 during transport. The receiver
sheet 28
includes a colorant (dye) receiving layer that can receive colorant from the
donor
web 17 under heat and pressure. The receiver sheet 28 also preferably includes
a
substrate and peelable receiver portions 300 comprising the colorant receiving
layer (FIG. 3). The peelable receiver portions 300 can be peeled off from the


CA 02316786 2000-08-28
-5-
substrate after stamp images are formed on them. Preferably, the digital
printer 10
is a dye-diffusion (also referred to as dye-sublimation;) printer that is
cable of
continuous tone printing of photo quality images. It is well known in the art
that
thermal resistive dye-diffusion printer can provide photographic quality
images
that the other common thermal transfer printers cannot provide.
In the printing process, the receiver sheet 28 is loaded from the
receiver tray 24. The receiver sheet 28 is transported by the pinch rollers 20
and
22 through the receiver guide 30 while the print head assembly 12 is in a "up
position" leaving a gap for the receiver sheet 28 to be transported
underneath.
After the receiver sheet 28 is transported to the correct position, the print
head
assembly 12 is lowered to a "down position" which forms a pressure interface
(nip) between the print head assembly 12, the donor web 17, the receiver sheet
28,
and the roller platen 18. The print head assembly 12 subsequently prints a dye
postal image on the receiver sheet 28 by thermally activating the diffusion of
dye
molecules from the donor web 17 to the receiver sheet 28. The dye postal image
320 (FIG. 3) is transferred from each color patch (see FIG. 2) in an image-
wise
pattern corresponding to the image content in the specific color plane. The
lamination material is then uniformly transferred from the lamination patch
210
(FIG. 2) over the dye postal image 320 (FIG. 3) printed on-the receiver sheet
28.
The lamination layer on the receiver sheet 28 protects the printed dye postal
image
320 from physical abrasion, finger print and light fade. The receiver sheet 28
carrying the dye postal images 320 is finally ejected from the print head
assembly
12.
Details of the thermal resistive printing are also disclosed in the
commonly assigned U.S. Patent Nos. 5,176,458 and 5,841,459, the disclosures of
which are incorporated herein by reference.
The image printed on the peelable receiver portion 300 (FIG. 3) in
the receiver sheet 28 can include visible information such as the country of
issue,
denomination (postage), other postal indicia such as images stored in the
database
of the postal authority. The image printed on the peelable receiver portion
300
can also include user-selected or user-produced images and annotations that
are
approved by the postal authority. The personally selected or personally
created


CA 02316786 2000-08-28
-6-
images are appealing to many users.
Referring to FIG. 2, the donor web 17 includes a sequence of
yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) color dye patches 200. A
lamination patch 210 (L) is often included for provide a protection sheet over
the
printed dye postal image 310 (FIG. 3) on the receiver sheet 28. Each group of
the
Y, M, C, K and L patches (200,210) are used for producing one set of color dye
postal images 320 on the receiver sheet 28.
The receiver sheet 28 of FIG. l and 2 is shown in more detail in
FIG. 3. The receiver sheet 28 includes one or a multiple of perforated
peelable
receiver portions 300. In the process as described above, a dye postal image
310
is printed on each peelable receiver portion 300 to form a peelable stamp 320
by
the digital printer 10.
In accordance to the present invention, the postal image 310 also
includes invisible embedded information such as security information, postage
~ information, the credit information of the user, the printer serial number
that can
be stored in the computer memory or the printer memory, the mailing date, and
the mailing address information. One advantage of the present invention is
that
these information can be printed with the same digital printer on the same
location
as the postal image. No additional information channels or materials such as
IR
dyes, UV dyes, magnetic materials, or extra colorants (inks or dye donor) are
needed to print such embedded information. The embedded information also does
not take additional space to the postal image as the postal barcode in the
prior art.
After the dye postal images 310 are formed, a peelable stamp 320
can be peeled off from the receiver sheet 28 and be adhered to a mail envelope
400 as shown in FIG. 4. The mail envelope 400 includes a mailing address 410
and the attached peelable stamp 320. Preferably, the peelable stamp 320
contains
self adhesive on the back surface so that no adhesive is required to attach it
to the
mail envelope 400.
In the present invention, the postal image having the embedded
information can be directly printed on a mail piece. A mail piece can be an
envelope or container in which the mail is contained.
The process of printing postal image 310 having embedded


CA 02316786 2000-08-28
_7_
information is now described. In FIG. 5, the computer 500 will be understood
to
include a Central Processing Unit (CPU), memory storage device. The computer
500 performs at least two operations the image processing 510 and embedding
information 520. At least one CPU and at least one memory although more than
one can be used are necessary to provide the image processing in block 510 and
embedding information in block 520. After an image is processed in block 510,
the processed image is stored in a memory. .The digital image includes the
basic
image content to be printed in the postal image 310. The input information can
include one or more of the following: security information, postage
information,
the credit information of the user, the printer serial number that can be
stored in
the computer memory or the printer memory, the mailing date, and the mailing
address information.
The image is processed in block 510 to provide a processed digital
image I(x,y). Image processing block 510 includes the scaling of the digital
image to the proper image sizes for forming the postal image 310 and also
includes tone scale calibration, color mapping, halftoning, and other image
processing for printing a digital image well known in the printing art.
In block 520, the input information is embedded into the processed
digital images I(x,y) by modifying a predetermined number of pixel values in
the
processed digital image I(x,y), thus producing a modified digital image
I'(x,y).
The input information is first used to produce a message image
M(x,y). The message image M(x,y), for example, can include alphanumeric or
graphic information associated with the digital image. A carrier image C(x,y)
is
also generated with a uniform or flat Fourier amplitude spectrum and a phase
spectrum generated using a random number generator for each phase component.
The random phase is required to distribute the message image to make the
message invisible and unreadable to human eyes.
The message image M(x,y) and the carrier image C(x,y) are then
convolved to form a scrambled signal S(x,y).
S(x, y) = M(x, y) * C(x, y) (:1 y
In eqn. ( 1 ), the symbol " * "" denotes the mathematical operation of
convolution.
In particular, a circular convolution can be efficiently performed in either
space


CA 02316786 2000-08-28
_g_
domain (image domain) or Fourier frequency domain representations for the
present invention (see "Digital Signal Processing" by Alan V. Oppenheim and
Ronald W. Schafer, Prentice-Hall, Inc., 1975, pp-101-115). The scrambled
signal
S(x,y) is next added to the digital image I(x,y) to produce a modified digital
image
I'(x,y) carrying the embedded information:
I ~(x~Y) = I (x~y) +a-f(x~y) (2)
The scrambled signal S(x,y) is scaled by a scale factor a to maximize the
signal of
the embedded information while ensuring the invisibility of the scrambled
message in the modified digital image I'(x,y). That is, the value of a is
chosen in
such a way that the maximum amplitude of the embedded signal does not exceed a
pre-specified visibility threshold. Specifically, the value of a is determined
by
the printing parameters such as the bit-depth and the grain noise in the
printed
postal image 310 without the embedded information. To improve the reliability
of
the extraction of the embedded information, a plurality of blocks of scrambled
signals S(x,y) can be superimposed to each processed digital image I(x,y) in
one
color plane.
The computer 500 sends electric signals to the digital printer 10 in
accordance to the modified digital image I'(x,y) having the embedded
information. A postal image 310 is subsequently printed in block 310 wherein
the
postal image 310 has the embedded information. The embedded information on
the postal image 310 is invisible to unaided eyes and can subsequently be
extracted, as described below.
As shown in FIG. 6, the information embedded in the postal image
310 can be extracted from the postal image 310 printed on a receiver by a
extraction system 600. The extraction system 600 includes a scanner 610, a
processor 620, and a display device 630. The optical density values of the
printed
postal image 310 is digitized by the scanner 610 that scans the printed postal
image 310 at discrete pixel locations to produce a scanned postal image
I"(x,y).
The embedded information can be extracted from I"(x;y) in a
processor 620. The scanned postal image I"(x, y) is cross correlated with a
replica of the carrier image C(x, y) to produce an extracted message image
M'(x,y)


CA 02316786 2000-08-28
-9-
that includes the embedded information, as described by the following:
M~~X~Y) = I~Ox~Y) ~ C~x~Y) ~ M~x~Y) ~3)
where ~ denotes the operation of a circular cross correlation.
The display device 630 can selectively display human readable
information corresponding to the extracted embedded information and the
scanned
postal image I"(x,y) so that the user can determine the authenticity and all
the
security information associated with the postal image 310. The extracted
information as described above can be displayed or printed for verifying the
authenticity, the postage, the user credit, the printer identity, the mailing
date and
the mailing address associated with the printed postal image 310.


CA 02316786 2000-08-28
-10-
PARTS LIST
10 digital printer


12 print head assembly


14 supply spool


16 take-up spool


17 donor web


18 roller platen


20 pinch roller


22 pinch roller


24 receiver tray


28 receiver sheet


30 receiver guide


200 dye patch


210 lamination patch


300 peelable receiver portion


310 postal image


320 peelable stamp


400 mail envelope


410 mailing address


500 computer


S 10 image processing


520 embedding information


600 extraction system


610 scanner


620 processor


630 display device



Representative Drawing
A single figure which represents the drawing illustrating the invention.
Administrative Status

For a clearer understanding of the status of the application/patent presented on this page, the site Disclaimer , as well as the definitions for Patent , Administrative Status , Maintenance Fee  and Payment History  should be consulted.

Administrative Status

Title Date
Forecasted Issue Date Unavailable
(22) Filed 2000-08-28
(41) Open to Public Inspection 2001-04-25
Dead Application 2003-08-28

Abandonment History

Abandonment Date Reason Reinstatement Date
2002-08-28 FAILURE TO PAY APPLICATION MAINTENANCE FEE

Payment History

Fee Type Anniversary Year Due Date Amount Paid Paid Date
Application Fee $300.00 2000-08-28
Registration of a document - section 124 $100.00 2000-08-28
Owners on Record

Note: Records showing the ownership history in alphabetical order.

Current Owners on Record
EASTMAN KODAK COMPANY
Past Owners on Record
HONSINGER, CHRIS W.
WEN, XIN
Past Owners that do not appear in the "Owners on Record" listing will appear in other documentation within the application.
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Document
Description 
Date
(yyyy-mm-dd) 
Number of pages   Size of Image (KB) 
Claims 2000-08-28 2 83
Abstract 2000-08-28 1 24
Description 2000-08-28 10 452
Drawings 2000-08-28 4 67
Representative Drawing 2001-04-11 1 7
Cover Page 2001-04-11 1 38
Assignment 2000-08-28 4 179