Systems and methods for providing an express mail label

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for generating a mailing label. In one embodiment, a method includes requesting, through a communication channel, a tracking number for the mailing label, wherein the tracking number identifies that the mailing label is printable by a user on a single-sheet medium; receiving, through the communication channel, a response to said request, such that the response includes the tracking number provided by a source of one or more tracking numbers; and enabling the user to print the mailing label with the received tracking number.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for generating a mailing label, the method comprising: 
 requesting, through a communication channel, a tracking number for the mailing label, wherein the tracking number identifies that the mailing label is printable by a user on a single-sheet medium;    receiving, through the communication channel, a response to the request, the response including the tracking number provided by a tracking number source; and    enabling the user to print the mailing label with the received tracking number on a single-sheet medium.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein requesting further comprises: 
 requesting the tracking number through an interface which solicits a request for the tracking number from the tracking number source.    
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein requesting further comprises: 
 requesting the tracking number through an interface, the interface adapted to identify that the tracking number is for the mailing label that is printable by the user.    
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 printing the mailing label on the single-sheet medium, wherein the single-sheet medium is useable as an Express Mail label.    
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein printing the mailing label further comprises: 
 printing the mailing label with an indication that postage is required.    
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein enabling comprises: 
 enabling the user to print through an interface at a processor.    
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein receiving comprises: 
 receiving the tracking number with an indication that a credit card was charged.    
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said enabling further comprises: 
 enabling the user to print when an image file is received.    
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said enabling further comprises: 
 enabling the user to print the mailing label when the tracking number is received.    
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 providing payment information, such that the payment information includes a credit card number.    
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 requesting an acknowledgement of delivery based on the tracking number.    
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising: 
 receiving the requested acknowledgement.    
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising: 
 receiving a date with the delivery acknowledgement, such that the date corresponds to when the letter was delivered.    
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 mailing a label as the single-sheet medium.    
     
     
         15 . A method for enabling a computer generated mailing label to be printed on a single-sheet medium, the method comprising: 
 receiving, through a communication channel, a request for a tracking number;    determining whether the request is for a mailing label that is printable on the single-sheet medium;    determining the tracking number, such that the tracking number includes a unique prefix when the request is for a mailing label that is printable on the single-sheet medium;    storing the determined tracking number; and    providing, through the communication channel, the determined tracking number.    
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein receiving further comprises: 
 receiving the request through an interface, the interface adapted to receive the request from a user.    
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein receiving the request through the interface further comprises: 
 receiving payment information corresponding to the user.    
     
     
         18 . The method of  17 , wherein receiving payment information further comprises: 
 receiving a credit card number for the user.    
     
     
         19 . The method of  16 , wherein receiving the request through the interface further comprises: 
 receiving a ZIP code for a destination of a letter associated with the request.    
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein determining whether the request is for the mailing label further comprises: 
 determining whether the request originated from an interface, the interface adapted to enable a user to print the mailing label on the single-sheet medium.    
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein determining the tracking number further comprises: 
 providing a source database of at least one tracking number, with information identifying a user.    
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising: 
 receiving a response from the source database, such that the response includes the tracking number corresponding to the user.    
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein determining the tracking number further comprises: 
 determining the unique prefix as a two-character prefix.    
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein providing further comprises: 
 providing through an interface, the determined tracking number, wherein the interface is adapted to print the mailing label on the single-sheet medium.    
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising: 
 printing the determined tracking number on the single-sheet medium.    
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising: 
 printing an Express Mail label on a single-sheet medium, the Express Mail label including the determined tracking number.    
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising: 
 storing information in a financial database; and    generating a bill to the user, the bill derived from the stored information.    
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising: 
 generating a mailing receipt.    
     
     
         29 . A method of distributing a letter, comprising: 
 delivering a letter with a mailing label;    determining that the mailing label includes a tracking number with a two-character prefix, such that the two-character prefix identifies the mailing label as being printed by a user; and    sending a delivery indication including the determined tracking number to the user.    
     
     
         30 . A system for generating a mailing label, comprising: 
 at least one memory comprising: 
 first code generates a request, through a communication channel, for a tracking number for the mailing label, wherein the tracking number identifies the mailing label as printable by a user on a single-sheet medium;  
 second code that receives, through the communication channel, a response to said request, the response including the tracking number provided by a tracking number source; and  
 third code that enables the user to print the mailing label with the received tracking number; and  
   at least one data processor that executes the first, second, and third codes.    
     
     
         31 . The system of  claim 30 , wherein the first code further comprises: 
 code that generates a request for a tracking number through an interface which solicits a request from the tracking number source.    
     
     
         32 . The system of  claim 30 , wherein the first code further comprises: 
 code that requests the tracking number through an interface, the interface adapted to identify that the tracking number is for the mailing label that is printable by the user.    
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 30 , further comprising: 
 code that prints the mailing label on the single-sheet medium, wherein the single-sheet medium is useable as an Express Mail label.    
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 33 , wherein the code that prints further comprises: 
 code that prints the mailing label with an indication that postage is required.    
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 30 , wherein the third code further comprises: 
 code that enables the user to print through an interface at the at least one data processor.    
     
     
         36 . The system of  claim 30 , wherein the second code further comprises: 
 code that receives the tracking number with an indication that a credit card was charged.    
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 30 , wherein the third code further comprises: 
 codes that enables the user to print when an image file is received.    
     
     
         38 . The system of  claim 30 , wherein the third code further comprises: 
 code that enables the user to print the mailing label when the tracking number is received.    
     
     
         39 . The system of  claim 30 , further comprising: 
 code that provides payment information, such that the payment information includes a credit card number.    
     
     
         40 . The system of  claim 30 , further comprising: 
 code that requests an acknowledgement of delivery based on the tracking number.    
     
     
         41 . The system of  claim 40 , further comprising: 
 code that receives the requested acknowledgement.    
     
     
         42 . The system of  claim 41 , further comprising: 
 code that receives a date with the delivery acknowledgement, such that the date corresponds to when the letter was delivered.    
     
     
         43 . The system of  claim 30 , further comprising: 
 code that enables the user to print the mailing label for use with Express Mail.    
     
     
         44 . A system for enabling a computer generated mailing label, the system comprising: 
 at least one memory comprising: 
 first code that receives, through a communication channel, a request for a tracking number;  
 second code that determines whether the request is for a mailing label that is printable on a single-sheet medium;  
 third code that determines the tracking number, such that the tracking number includes a unique prefix when the request is for a mailing label that is printable on the single-sheet medium;  
 fourth code that stores the determined tracking number; and  
 fifth code that provides, through the communication channel, the determined tracking number; and  
   at least one data processor that executes the first, second, third, fourth, and fifth codes.    
     
     
         45 . The system of  claim 44 , wherein the first code further comprises: 
 code that receives the request through an interface, the interface adapted to receive the request from a user.    
     
     
         46 . The system of  claim 45 , further comprising: 
 code that receives payment information corresponding to the user.    
     
     
         47 . The system of  46 , further comprising: 
 code that receives a credit card number from the user.    
     
     
         48 . The system of  45 , further comprising: 
 code that receives a ZIP code for a destination of a letter associated with the request.    
     
     
         49 . The system of  claim 44 , wherein the second code further comprises: 
 code that determines whether the request originated from an interface, the interface adapted to enable a user to print the mailing label on the single-sheet medium.    
     
     
         50 . The system of  claim 44 , wherein the third code further comprises: 
 code that provides a source database of one or more tracking numbers with information identifying a user.    
     
     
         51 . The system of  claim 50 , further comprising: code that receives a response from the source database, such that the response includes the tracking number corresponding to the user.  
     
     
         52 . The system of  claim 44 , wherein the third code further comprises: 
 code that determines the unique prefix as a two-character prefix.    
     
     
         53 . The system of  claim 44 , wherein the fifth code further comprises: 
 code that provides the determined tracking number, wherein the interface is adapted to print the mailing label on the single-sheet medium.    
     
     
         54 . The system of  claim 44 , further comprising: 
 code that prints the determined tracking number on the single-sheet medium.    
     
     
         55 . The system of  claim 44 , further comprising: 
 code that prints an Express Mail label on a single-sheet medium, the Express Mail label including the determined tracking number.    
     
     
         56 . The system of  claim 44 , further comprising: 
 code that stores information in a financial database; and code that generates a bill to the user, the bill derived from the stored information.    
     
     
         57 . The system of  claim 44 , further comprising: 
 code that generates a mailing receipt.    
     
     
         58 . A system of distributing a letter, the system comprising: 
 at least one memory comprising: 
 first code that determines that the mailing label includes a tracking number with a two-character prefix, such that the two-character prefix identifies the mailing label as being printed by a user; and  
 second code that sends a delivery indication including the determined tracking number to the user; and  
   at least one data processor that executes the first and second codes.    
     
     
         59 . A computer program product for generating a mailing label, the computer program product comprising code, the code comprising 
 first code that requests, through a communication channel, a tracking number for the mailing label, wherein the tracking number identifies that the mailing label is printable by a user on a single-sheet medium; 
 second code that receives, through the communication channel, a response to the request, the response including the tracking number provided by a tracking number source; and  
 third code that enables the user to print the mailing label with the received tracking number.  
   
     
     
         60 . The computer program product of  claim 59 , wherein the first code further comprises: 
 code that requests the tracking number through an interface which solicits a request for the tracking number from the tracking number source.    
     
     
         61 . The computer program product of  claim 59 , wherein the first code further comprises: 
 code that requests the tracking number through an interface, the interface adapted to identify that the tracking number is for the mailing label that is printable by the user.    
     
     
         62 . The computer program product of  claim 59 , further comprising: 
 code that prints the mailing label on the single-sheet medium, wherein the single-sheet medium is useable as an Express Mail label.    
     
     
         63 . The computer program product of  claim 62 , further comprising: 
 code that prints the mailing label with an indication that postage is required.    
     
     
         64 . The computer program product of  claim 59 , wherein the third code further comprises: 
 code that enables the user to print through an interface at a processor.    
     
     
         65 . The computer program product of  claim 59 , wherein the second code further comprises: 
 code that receives the tracking number with an indication that a credit card was charged.    
     
     
         66 . The computer program product of  claim 59 , wherein the third code further comprises: 
 code that enable the user to print when an image file is received.    
     
     
         67 . The computer program product of  claim 59 , wherein the third code further comprises: 
 code that enables the user to print the mailing label when the tracking number is received.    
     
     
         68 . The computer program product of  claim 59 , further comprising: 
 code that provides payment information, such that the payment information includes a credit card number.    
     
     
         69 . The computer program product of  claim 59 , further comprising: 
 code that requests an acknowledgement of delivery based on the tracking number.    
     
     
         70 . The computer program product of  claim 69 , further comprising: 
 code that receives the requested acknowledgement.    
     
     
         71 . The computer program product of  claim 70 , further comprising: 
 code that receives a date with the delivery acknowledgement, such that the date corresponds to when the letter was delivered.    
     
     
         72 . The computer program product of  claim 59 , further comprising: 
 code that enables the user to print the mailing label for use with Express Mail.    
     
     
         73 . A computer program product for enabling a computer generated mailing label to be printed on a single-sheet medium, the computer program product comprising code, the code comprising: 
 first code that receives, through a communication channel, a request for a tracking number;    second code that determines whether the request is for a mailing label that is printable on the single-sheet medium;    third code that determines the tracking number, such that the tracking number includes a unique prefix when the request is for a mailing label that is printable on the single-sheet medium;    fourth code that stores the determined tracking number; and    fifth code that provides, through the communication channel, the determined tracking number.    
     
     
         74 . The computer program product of  claim 73 , wherein said the first further comprises: 
 code that receives the request through an interface, the interface adapted to receive the request from a user.    
     
     
         75 . The computer program product of  claim 74 , further comprising: 
 code that receives payment information corresponding to the user.    
     
     
         76 . The computer program product of  75 , further comprising: 
 code that receives a credit card number from the user.    
     
     
         77 . The computer program product of  74 , further comprising: 
 code that receives a ZIP code for a destination of a letter associated with the request.    
     
     
         78 . The computer program product of  claim 73 , wherein the second code further comprises: 
 code that determines whether the request originated from an interface, the interface adapted to enable a user to print the mailing label on the single-sheet medium.    
     
     
         79 . The computer program product of  claim 73 , wherein third code further comprises: 
 code that provides a source database of one or more tracking numbers with information identifying a user.    
     
     
         80 . The computer program product of  claim 79 , further comprising: 
 code that receives a response from the source database, such that the response includes the tracking number corresponding to the user.    
     
     
         81 . The computer program product of  claim 73 , wherein code that determines the tracking number further comprises: 
 code that determines the unique prefix as a two-character prefix.    
     
     
         82 . The computer program product of  claim 73 , wherein fifth code further comprises: 
 code that provides the determined tracking number through an interface, wherein the interface is adapted to print the mailing label on the single-sheet medium.    
     
     
         83 . The computer program product of  claim 73 , further comprising: 
 code that prints the determined on the single-sheet medium.    
     
     
         84 . The computer program product of  claim 73 , wherein said code that prints further comprises: 
 code that prints an Express Mail label on a single-sheet medium, the Express Mail label including the determined tracking number.    
     
     
         85 . The computer program product of  claim 73 , further comprising: 
 code that stores information to a financial database; and    code that generates a bill to the user, the bill derived from the stored information.    
     
     
         86 . The computer program product of  claim 73 , further comprising: 
 code that generates a mailing receipt.    
     
     
         87 . A computer program product for mail distribution, the computer program product comprising code, the code comprising: 
 first code that determines that a mailing label includes a tracking number with a two-character prefix, such that the two-character prefix identifies the mailing label as being printed by a user; and    second code that sends a delivery indication including the determined tracking number to the user.    
     
     
         88 . A system for generating a mailing label, the system comprising 
 means for requesting, through a communication channel, a tracking number for the mailing label, wherein the tracking number identifies that the mailing label is printable by a user on a single-sheet medium;    means for receiving, through the communication channel, a response to the request, the response including the tracking number provided by a tracking number source; and    means for enabling the user to print the mailing label with the received tracking number on a single-sheet medium.    
     
     
         89 . A system for enabling a computer generated mailing label to be printed on a single-sheet medium, the system comprising: 
 means for receiving, through a communication channel, a request for a tracking number;    means for determining whether the request is for a mailing label that is printable on the single-sheet medium;    means for determining the tracking number, such that the tracking number includes a unique prefix when the request is for a mailing label that is printable on the single-sheet medium;    means for storing the determined tracking number; and    means for providing, through the communication channel, the determined tracking number.    
     
     
         90 . A mail distribution network, the network comprising: 
 means for determining that a mailing label includes a tracking number with a two-character prefix, such that the two-character prefix identifies the mailing label as being printed by a user; and    means for sending a delivery indication including the determined tracking number to the user.