EP2382603A1

EP2382603A1 - System for franking an item of mail

Info

Publication number: EP2382603A1
Application number: EP09777706A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Dirk Hagemann; Peter Muthmann
Original assignee: Deutsche Post AG
Current assignee: Deutsche Post AG
Priority date: 2008-12-29
Filing date: 2009-08-06
Publication date: 2011-11-02
Also published as: EP2382591A1; WO2010075903A1; WO2010075902A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a system (1) for franking an item of mail, comprising a first device (11) as partner system and/or partner software to provide a web portal and/or for executing an application for customers (2) with a payment system (111) for franking stamps suitable for generation and transmission of one or more franking stamp requests (FVA), comprising at least one payment reference (Z), connected to a second device (12) comprising a server device (121) for providing franking stamps, by means of a data connection (3), for transmitting data comprising at least the franking stamp request (FVA), wherein the second device (12), after receiving at least one franking stamp request (FVA) from the first device (11), is designed to provide one or more franking stamps (FV) for franking the item of mail by or for the customer (2) and the payment system (111) is charged with the cost for the one or more franking stamps (FV) provided, by transmitting the payment reference (Z) using the second device.

Description

System for franking a mailpiece

The invention relates to a system for franking a mailpiece and a method for operating this system.

The document EP 1 710 981 discloses a method for providing Internet services on Internet marketplaces, such as web portals, which minimizes the effort of connecting Internet marketplaces to the data processing systems of a service provider provided for the execution of the Internet services. The Internet services are, for example, services that enable the generation of postage indicia for franking mailpieces. Here, the call of the Internet service on the website of the Internet marketplace is initiated by pressing a button located on the website and combined the call with inputs from the marketplace participant for the execution of the Internet service such as user data of the marketplace user.

The disadvantage here is the necessary interaction of the marketplace user with the Internet service (call the Internet service), in particular the user data to be entered by the marketplace user for the execution of the Internet service. A higher system integration would be desirable, in which an Internet service, in particular an Internet service for franking mailpieces, without calling and additional data inputs of the marketplace user is made available to him from the Internet marketplace.

It is therefore the object of this invention to provide a system for franking mailpieces and a method for operating this system, with which a higher system integration, in particular with Internet marketplaces, is made possible and franking marks for franking postal items are provided.

BESTATIGUNGSKOPIE Shipments can be provided without entering user information.

This object is achieved by a system for franking a mailing, comprising a first device as a partner system and / or partner software for providing a web portal and / or executing an application for customers with a payment system for postage indicia suitable for generating and providing one or at least one payment reference, which is connected to a second device, comprising a server device for providing postage indicia, by means of a data connection for transmitting data comprising at least the postage indicium request, the second device configured after transmission of at least one postage indicium request by the first device thereto is to provide the first device one or more postage indicia for franking the mail item by or for the customer and the payment system by means of transmission of the payment reference you to charge the second entity with the cost of the postage indicium (s) provided.

The postage indicium is preferably provided to the customer via the first device, whereby a particularly good process integration is achieved. Likewise, however, provision may also be made for the second device to provide the franking mark directly to the customer, bypassing the first device. However, this may be done so as to give the customer the impression that the postage indicium is provided within the process performed in the first device.

The term partner system or partner software encompasses all facilities (external systems) on which the purchase of postage indicia is offered with the system or method according to the invention, without the partner system or the partner software being operated by the device (second device, for example a postal company) which is the franking marks generated. Here, after the product selection in the partner system / partner software, the desired franking mark is requested, checked and can be downloaded and printed or used during the shipping preparation. In one embodiment, the partner system is the first device, a further server device that is designed to provide a web portal with at least one website. In another embodiment, the first device includes software for executing the application.

The term payment system refers to a system for paying for the transactions carried out in the partner system or with the partner software and / or the mailing actions to be carried out as a result of the transactions. For example, the customers of the first facility may have accounts with the payment system, which will later be charged for paying the postage due at the payment system. Alternatively, the payment system may collect the cost of the postage indicium from an account of the customer at a separate financial institution or issue an invoice to the customer for the costs to be reimbursed. The payment system can be an integral part of the first device or a system that the first device accesses directly. The partner system and / or the partner software send a billing order to the payment system, which transmits a payment reference to the partner system and / or partner software for processing the billing order or for the partner system and / or the partner software. This payment reference is then sent to the second device as part of the postage indicium request.

The term postage indicium request may include, in addition to the payment reference, further data that is necessary and / or useful for the creation of a postage indicium.

The term "payment reference" refers to a data record which makes it possible to reimburse the costs for the provided postage due from the payment system. In one embodiment, the payment reference corresponds to a direct debit for a postage indicium, which is at least the amount of money of the includes a postage indicium to be provided. In order to be able to charge the costs for the franking mark via the transmission of the payment reference to the payment system, expedient embodiments of the payment reference in a suitable form relate to a monetary amount which corresponds to the costs of the franking mark (s) provided. The payment reference may include other data, such as appropriate security features to verify its authenticity. An example of a suitable security feature is a digital signature of the payment system. The present invention also includes other suitable trusted information for proving the authenticity of the payment reference. The proof of authenticity of the payment reference can also be used as proof of the authenticity of the postage indicium request. This ensures that the request is actually from the partner system and not from a third party and was not changed during the transfer. However, the postage indicium request may also include further data or data records which contain additional information for the creation and / or dispatch of the postage indicium. For example, the postage indicium request and / or the payment reference may contain data for the payment system, which among other things determine the time of loading of the payment system with the costs for the postage indicium (s). For example, customers may want a daily, weekly, monthly or yearly charge on the cost of the postage indicium. These requests may be part of the postage indicium request and / or payment reference and executed by the second device as desired. Optionally, in another embodiment, the payment reference may have a limited validity, ie, a period may be specified in which the amount of money can be withdrawn by the payment system.

The term web portal encompasses all forms of internet marketplaces, such as auction portals, file sharing websites or websites that are provided, for example, by online shops. The server device for providing the franking mark comprises, for example, the franking system STAMPIT of Deutsche Post. Amongst other things, the STAMPIT server provides an interface for generating postage indicia. In one embodiment, the STAMPIT server may also cause the burden on the payment system. Alternative embodiments of the server device according to the invention known to the person skilled in the art are likewise encompassed by the present invention.

The term franking mark (or franking mark) is in no way to be understood as limiting. It includes in addition to the pure franking (e-stamp) all known franking, u.a. Parcel stamps, as well as other on a further transport of the mailing enabling or a charge for the shipment of the mailing nachweisende notices. In particular, the term franking mark also includes delivery notes for mailing. Also included are combinations of franking and address information, for example, recipient address and / or sender address. The latter combination makes it possible, for example, to perform the franking and the addressing of the mailpiece in one step. The adoption of at least parts of the address in the franking mark increases, for example, the franking security and increases the system integration.

The transmission of the postage indicium request to the second device, the provision of the postage indicium and the transmission of the payment reference for the first device and optionally to the payment system and all others between the first and second device and, if applicable, between the first device, the second device and the payment system Data transmissions can be made, for example, via one or more server connections, one or more telephone lines or power lines with a modem or by means of one or more radio links (WLAN, mobile radio network). The transmission can be triggered by transmitters and / or receivers, for example by an action of the customer in the first device or a successfully or unsuccessfully performed data match. This transmission can be done without Notice of the customer of a transmission in the background expire. As an interface for data transmission, for example, the MapTos interface of Deutsche Post can be used. The data transmission takes place via a secure path which ensures the identity and authenticity of the customer and / or the first device and / or the payment system as well as the confidentiality, the integrity and the binding nature of the payment reference.

An advantage of the invention is that franking can be integrated particularly easily into other processes of web-based systems or web portals as well as locally installed applications (software solutions) as first devices. In particular, this integration variant achieves an "inline full integration." This is characterized by the fact that the user process flow, which is predetermined by the first device, is not interrupted by the franking, whereby the inline full integration means in particular that the At any point in time, the customer does not interrupt the user process specified by the first device in order to carry out any processes within a franking system, and this integration leads to payment of the postage indicium for the customer in or via the first device without being associated with the second device must be in direct contact.

In one embodiment, in addition to the payment reference, the postage indicium request comprises one or more elements from the group comprising customer data, shipment data, desired franking product and data for the payment system. In this case, the customer data includes one or more elements from the group comprising first name, surname, address, verified e-mail address, current identifier of the customers the first device or global identifier of the customer. In a further embodiment, the shipment data comprise data suitable for determining a postage value, in particular recipient data, sender data or product-related information. sand data. Product-related shipping data include size, weight, texture, fragility, or similar information about a product. Other useful customer, shipment and shipping data to be considered by one skilled in the art are also encompassed by the present invention.

Within the shipping environment, information required to create a postage indicium is requested by the customer or, if available, confirmed. This information includes, in particular, information about the consignment product, additional services and recipient and sender addresses. In addition, it can already be determined at this point in which form the later postage indicium is desired. As a rule, provision of a postage indicium as an address label with integrated franking is desired. To indicate / select the above mailing data, the first device has information about the available mail products and the amounts of money for the associated postage indicia. This information is provided by the second device, such as the STAMPIT server device, prior to interaction with a customer and updated as needed or periodically. If all the information required for the production of a postage indicium or, as in the present example, for the creation of an address label with integrated franking, this data with the franking data specified by the user in the previous step, in particular by user data, possibly payment information and Additional information such as decorative franking motifs and other well-known customer data to be enriched. In a further embodiment, this additional information may also be transmitted to a second device as part of the postage indicium request. However, the invention is not limited thereto. All necessary, customer-selected and / or desired shipment data are transmitted to the second device as part of the franking mark request. In a preferred embodiment, the shipment data can be detected via a website provided by the first device and / or by means of the application. In a further embodiment, the second device comprises a test unit, preferably as part of the server device for checking the postage indicium request, in particular for checking the payment reference, and for reporting the result to the first device. The test unit can be designed, for example, as test software. The test unit can be designed as a component of the second device or as a component of the server device in the second device. On the one hand, the check of the payment reference relates to the check of the security feature of the payment reference to determine the authenticity of the payment reference.

On the other hand, the payment reference corresponds to a monetary amount that corresponds to a specific postage indicium. The postage indicium request comprises shipment data, which include, among other things, information about the sender and recipient as well as the desired franking product. The check unit therefore also checks whether the payment reference corresponds to a monetary amount that corresponds to the shipment data. In this comparison, information on the product to be shipped (size, weight, fragility) can be included, which influence or specify the shipping method, for example, as a letter or package, and thus influence the type of postage indicium. The test unit supplies the test result as a release of the desired postage indicium for the specified shipment data in combination with the corresponding payment reference.

In a further embodiment, the first device comprises input means which allow the customers to correct the postage indicium request, in particular the franking product and / or the shipment data. This correction may become necessary if, for example, the test unit determines as test result that the postage indicium for the transmitted shipment data does not correspond to the monetary amount in the payment reference. For example, a window may be opened as input means in the first device, in which the customer is asked to enter or to receive incorrect, inaccurate or incomplete customer data, shipment data or other suitable franking products. to choose. The information about the data to be corrected has been previously transmitted from the test unit of the second device to the first device for opening such input means. The correction may be to match the shipment data of the present payment reference or to have the first device receive from the payment system a new payment reference for transmission in a corrected postage indicium request to the second device. In a preferred embodiment, the test unit is provided for enabling the provision of the postage indicium by the server device to the first device. This release takes place after a successful check of the payment reference and / or the customer data and / or the shipment data and / or the desired franking products.

In one embodiment, the transmission of the postage indicium request may be made in response to a user or customer operator action in the first device. The process flow described above could be as follows for the user or customer on the screen: After selecting the article to be sent, for example within the auction portal (first device) after completion of the auction, the shipment is prepared. For example, the user or the customer clicks on a prepared button, for example for requesting a postage indicium. Then it will be forwarded to the shipping environment of this auction portal. Within the shipping environment, the shipment product and the print media are confirmed. Furthermore, the payment process for the franking mark can be carried out via the payment system via the partner system, in particular in its shipping environment. Upon confirmation of the click on the corresponding button, a franking mark is provided immediately after the franking mark request has been transmitted to the second device, for example a postal company. In this case, for example, the customer can be either the recipient or sender of the mailing and the user of the first device corresponding to the sender or recipient. On the basis of the franking mark request, which was transmitted without user interaction on the part of the postal company, the franking system (server device) of the postal company (second device), for example STAMPIT of Deutsche Post, generates one or more valid postage indicia. Depending on the desired provision, these postage indicia are transmitted as graphics or print files (eg PDF) to the partner system (web portal) or the partner software. Alternatively, hyperlinks to appropriate graphics or print files can be provided. The hyperlinks may refer to the franking system and be used to download the graphics or print files. As previously mentioned, the graphics or print files or hyperlinks may be sent from the second to the first device and made accessible to the customer or user by the first device. Likewise, the graphics or print files or hyperlinks can the

Customers or users through the second facility.

Within the process flow of the partner system (first device), the franking markings thus generated can be used, displayed or printed out immediately. For the user, the result is a picture of full integration, because from his point of view, he never left the main process at the partner system (first device).

For safety reasons, the postal company (second institution) optionally sends the customer a confirmation e-mail, which can be used to reprint the franking mark if required. For this purpose, the e-mail may contain, for example, the graphic or print data of the postage indicium or a hyperlink to the postage indicium.

The invention further relates to a method for franking a mail item for a system according to the invention, comprising the steps: Transmitting a postage indicium request comprising at least one payment reference from a first device with a payment system to a second device,

Providing a postage indicium by a server device of the second device for franking the mail item by or for the customer of the first device, and

Charging the payment system of the first device with the cost of the or the provided postage indicia in favor of the second device by transferring the payment reference to the payment system.

The term "payment system of the first facility" is intended to clarify the direct interaction between the first facility and the payment system, in which the payment system does not necessarily have to be part of the first facility as a subunit.The payment system may well interact directly with the first facility as an external service of the payment system is made directly to the payment system by the second device, without first transferring the charge to the first device with subsequent forwarding to the payment system This may also apply if the payment system is part of the first device and interfaces directly with the second device. Alternatively, the debit can be forwarded via the first device to the payment system as an external system or internal part of the first device orgenommen. The advantage of such a "direct debit procedure" is that the debiting of the payment system and thus the debiting of the customer's account at the payment system or at a separate financial institution only takes place after the postage indicium has been provided, thereby ensuring, for example, that the costs for the postage indicium In the case of failure to deliver or fail to provide the postage indicium, the payment system will not be debited, and it is advantageous for this embodiment if the server device performs the transfer of the payment reference to the payment system. controls or after the postage indicium has been provided for the first institution.

In one embodiment of the method according to the invention, this method comprises the steps:

Checking the postage indicium request, in particular the payment reference, by means of a test unit arranged in the second device, preferably by means of a test unit arranged in the server device of the second device, and - releasing the provision of the postage indicium by the test unit.

In this case, the test unit can be any suitable type of test unit, for example a comparison software which, after having transmitted the postage meter request, compares the records of the postage indicium request with the amount of money for the postage indicium in the payment reference. In a preferred embodiment, therefore, the method comprises the steps

Transmitting the check result of the check unit to the first device, and

Providing an input means for correcting the postage indicium requirement, in particular for correcting the franking product and / or the shipment data

Transmission of the corrections by the first device to the second device.

The input means in this case comprises any suitable form for inputting corrections, for example an opening input window for correcting the data. The transmission of the corrections may indicate the transmission of changed shipment data which now correspond to the already existing payment reference or which designate the transmission of an amended payment reference or a new postage payment request with changed payment reference. In a further embodiment, the method comprises, before the postage indicium request is transmitted, the steps:

Sending a billing order by the first device to the payment system, sending a payment reference from the payment system to the first device, and

Creating a postage indicium request comprising the payment reference.

This embodiment may be applied to payment systems as an external system or as an internal part of the first device. Usually, the data transmission for a payment system would be made as an external system via the above-mentioned data lines with the above-mentioned data security provisions. External payment systems could be all payment systems that are suitable for the data exchange described above.

Further advantages, special features and expedient refinements of the inventions will become apparent from the following illustrations of preferred embodiments and with reference to the drawings.

From the pictures shows:

1 shows an inventive system for franking a mail piece with a payment system as an internal part of the first device,

2 shows an inventive system for franking a mail piece with a payment system as an external system, FIG. 3 shows an illustration of a triggering of the transmission of the first

4 shows a flowchart of the method according to the invention for franking a mailpiece 1 shows an embodiment of the inventive system 1 for franking a mailpiece with a first device 11, for example a partner system as an Internet marketplace with a number of web pages with which a customer 2 interacts, for example for the purchase and / or sale of articles. The device 11 comprises a payment system 111, which in this embodiment is a component (or part) of the first device 11, therefore shown here by dashed lines. After the purchase or sale of an article, in the shipping preparation, if necessary after exchange of transmission data between the customer 2 and the first device 11, a postage indicium request FVA is sent by means of a data line in a format readable by the second device 12 via a corresponding interface, for example MapTos German Post, transferred.

To generate the franking mark request FVA, the customer 2 in a dialog with the first device 11 indicates a franking product or a postage value for the franking. The available franking products and associated postage values are provided to the first device 11 by the postal company so that the device 11 can enable the customer 2 to choose from the existing franking products. After the postage value to be paid has been determined on the basis of the selection of a franking product, a payment transaction is carried out via the payment system 111, in which the customer 2 generates a debit order and agrees to the collection of a monetary amount corresponding to the postage value. A collection from a customer account may be provided at the payment system 111, or a collection from another account, for example at a financial institution via the payment system 111. On the basis of the debit order, a payment reference Z is generated which comprises at least an indication of the amount of money. Furthermore, the payment reference Z preferably contains a security feature that allows verification of the authenticity of the payment reference Z. This may be, for example, a digital signature of the payment system 111, which has generated the payment reference Z. The franking mark request FVA comprises at least the payment reference Z generated by the payment system. The franking mark request FVA may also contain additional data such as customer data, shipment data, the desired franking product and / or data for the payment system. An optional check unit 122 present in the second device 12 checks the franking mark request FVA for the authenticity of the payment reference and the correspondence of the amount of money specified in the payment reference with the shipment data. The check may include the completeness of the required data for the creation of a postage indicium as well as the franking product suitable for the shipment data. The person skilled in the art can add further test criteria within the scope of this invention. If the check delivers a positive result, the check unit 122 issues the release F for the provision of the franking mark FV to the server device 121. In alternative embodiments, such a check unit may be dispensed with or the server unit 121 takes over a check for the creation of the postage indicium FV necessary information. The test unit 122 is shown in Figure 1 as a separate unit to the server device. The test unit 122 may alternatively be part of the server device 121. The server device 121, for example STAMPIT of Deutsche Post, provides one or more postage indicia FV and debits the payment system 111 at the first device 11 by means of the transmission of the payment reference Z with the costs for the postage indicium FV.

Depending on the desired provision, these postage indicia are transmitted as graphics or print files (eg PDF). In this case, a print program, in particular a PDF print program, can be opened automatically at the customer, with which the postage indicium can be printed out. Alternatively, a hyperlink to a corresponding graphics or print file can be provided. This can be used by the customer to download the graphics or print files. The downloaded file or the included postage indicium can in turn be printed by means of a print program. Preferably, the file or hyperlink is from the server device DP transmitted to the partner system. This then sends the file or hyperlink to the customer K. Alternatively, it can also be provided that the file or the hyperlink is transmitted directly from the server device DP to the customer K.

The process of loading the payment system 111 can be completely independent of the provision of the franking mark FV by the server device 121. In a preferred embodiment, the loading of the payment system takes place only after successfully carried out provision of the franking mark. In this case, for example, the first device can acknowledge the correct receipt of the franking mark of the second unit. In a further embodiment, the franking mark request FVA may include, for example, information on the desired debit date or load interval. Here, for example, the payment references Z could not be transmitted directly to the payment system 111 for each postage indicium FV provided but instead be transmitted to the second institution weekly, monthly or annually according to a customer request or according to any agreements between the first and second institutions. The payment references Z could thereby be collected for a customer and transmitted to the payment system 111 as a group of payment references. It can also be provided that the payment reference Z has a limited validity period that can be specified in the payment reference. In this case, the transmission to the payment system 111 takes place within the validity period.

Figure 2 shows an alternative embodiment of the system according to the invention for franking a mail item. The difference to Figure 1 is that the payment system 111 is implemented here as an external system to the first device 11. In the shipping preparation here, the first device 11 sends the billing order AA to the external payment system 111, for example a company for processing payment methods, and then receives a payment reference Z for transmission to the second device 12. The first device 11 created from the received payment and further data as described above, a postage indicium request FVA for transmission to the second device 12. The further steps are as described in FIG. Only the loading of the payment system 111 takes place here by transmitting the payment reference Z directly to the external payment system 111 in this embodiment, without switching on the first device 11 for the transmission.

In one embodiment, the transmission of the postage indicium request FVA comprising at least one payment reference Z may be caused by an action A at the first device 11, as shown in FIG. Depending on the partner company or partner software, this action can be triggered as the first device 11 by the customer 2 itself or by a user N who interacts with the customer 2 via the first device 11. The execution of action A or the call of action A triggers the transfer of the postage indicium question FVA to the second facility 12. Actions A can be, for example, the conclusion of a purchase negotiation or purchase auction.

An embodiment of the method according to the invention for franking a mail item is shown in FIG. The customer 2 triggers by an action A the transmission of a postage indicium request FVA to the second device 12. A test unit 122 checks the postage indicium request FVA. If necessary, the customer 2 has the option of correcting the franking mark request FVA via an input means 112 in the first device. The corrected data is again transmitted to the second device 12. In the case of correct data, the test unit 122 releases the creation and provision of a postage indicium (arrow with reference character F) and the server device 121 is caused to provide a postage indicium FV in the manner previously described. The loading of the payment system 111 with the costs for the provision of the postage indicium by transmission of the payment reference Z (arrow with reference numeral Z) can in this case be carried out, for example, by the check unit 122 or by the server device 121. The burden on the payment system 111 itself can depend on or depending on the provision of the franking mark FV. The loading of the payment system preferably takes place after provision of the franking mark. Here, the first device can, for example, communicate the successful provision of the postage indicium to the second device, whereby this message triggers the charge on the payment system.

The illustrated embodiments of the invention are to be understood as exemplary only and show the various possible uses of inventively used systems and methods for franking a Postsen- fertil. Alternative embodiments, which the person skilled in the art derives from the exemplary embodiments, are also covered by the scope of protection of this invention.

List of reference numbers

1 system for franking a mailpiece

11 first device 111 payment system

112 input means

12 Second setup

121 Server device for creating and sending a postage indicium 122 Test unit

2 customer

A Action in first facility by customer or user

AA billing order

FVA franking mark request FV franking mark

F Release of provision of the franking mark

K Correction of the franking mark question by the customer

N users

Z payment reference

Claims

claims

A system (1) for franking a mailpiece, comprising a first device (11) as a partner system and / or partner software for providing a web portal and / or for executing an application for customers (2) with a payment system (111) suitable for postage indicia Generation and transmission of one or more postage due claims (FVA) comprising at least one payment reference (12) comprising server means (121) for providing postage indicia by means of a data connection for communicating data comprising at least the postage indicium request (FVA) is connected, wherein the second device (12) after transmission of at least one postage indicium request (FVA) by the first device (11) is adapted to one or more postage indicia (FV) for franking the mail item by or for the customer (2 ) and the payment system (111) by transmitting the Zah by the second facility with the cost of the franking mark (s) provided.

2. System (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the first device (11) is a further server device, which is designed to provide a web portal with at least one website.

3. System (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the first means (11) comprises software for executing the application.

4. System (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the Frankiervermerkanforderung (FVA) in addition to the payment reference (Z) one or more elements from the group comprising customer data, shipment data, desired franking product and data for the payment system (111) ,

5. System (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that the shipment data comprise data for determining a postage value, in particular recipient data, sender data and product-related shipping data.

6. System (1) according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the customer data one or more elements from the group comprising first name, surname, address, verified e-mail address, current identifier of the customer (2) at the first device (11 ) or a global identifier of the customer (2).

7. System (1) according to any one of claims 4 to 6, characterized in that the transmission data via a provided by the first device (11) website and / or by means of the application can be detected.

8. System (1) according to any one of claims 4 to 7, characterized in that the second means (12) a test unit (122), preferably as part of the server device, for checking the Frankiervermerkanforderung, in particular for checking the payment reference, and for reporting of the result to the first device (11).

9. System (1) according to claim 8, characterized in that the first device (11) comprises input means (112) which allow the customer (2) to correct the franking mark request, in particular the franking product and / or the shipment data.

10. System (1) according to any one of claims 8 or 9, characterized in that the test unit (122) for releasing (F) of the provision of the franking mark (FV) by the server device (121) to the first device (11) is provided

11. System (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the transmission of the franking mark request (FVA) in Ab- Dependent on a successful operation (A) of a user (N) or the customer (2) in the first device (11) is made.

A method of franking a mailing for a system according to claim 1, comprising the steps

Transmitting a postage indicium request (FVA) comprising at least one payment reference (Z) from a first device (11) with a payment system (111) to a second device (12),

- Providing a postage indicium (FV) by a server device (121) of the second device (12) for franking the mail item by or for the customer (2) of the first device (11), and

- loading (B) of the payment system (111) of the first device (11) with the

Costs for the one or more postage indicia (FV) provided in favor of the second device (12) by transferring the payment reference to the payment system.

13. The method according to claim 12, characterized in that before providing the postage indicium (FV), the method comprises the step:

Checking the franking mark request (FVA), in particular the payment reference (Z), by means of a test unit (122) arranged in the second device (12), preferably by means of a test unit (122) arranged in the server device (121), and

- enabling the provision of the postage indicium (FV) by the test unit (122).

14. The method of claim 13, comprising the steps

Transmitting the check result of the test unit (122) to the first device (11),

- Providing an input means (112) at least for correcting (K) the Frankiervermerkanforderung (FVA), in particular for correcting the franking product and / or the shipment data, and

- Transmission of the corrections by the first device (11) to the second device (12).

15. The method according to any one of claims 12-14, characterized in that the method comprises the steps before the transmission of the postage indicium request (FVA):

Sending a billing order (AA) by the first device (11) to the payment system (111),

Sending a payment reference (Z) from the payment system (111) to the first device (11)

- Create a postage due (FVA) claim comprising the payment reference (Z).