Unitary form for mailing a mailpiece via a special service and method of using same

Abstract

A form for mailing a mailpiece using a special service has a sheet and a label removably attached to the sheet. The label has information related to the delivery of the article by the special service on the front side. The back side of the label attaches to the article. An electronic return receipt information section and a special services designation section including information indicative of the special service are located on the label. The mailpiece is prepared for delivery by the special service by printing information on the form necessary to comply with the special service delivery requirements. The information has data concerning electronic return receipt of the mailpiece. Information related to delivery of the mailpiece and information that is necessary to comply with requirements for electronic return receipt of the mailpiece are also printed on the form. The information has a machine-readable code section with machine-readable information associated with the mailpiece. The form is removed from the sheet and attached to the mailpiece.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A method for preparing a mailpiece for delivery by a special service using a form attached to a sheet, the method comprising the steps of:
 printing information on the form wherein the information is necessary to comply with requirements for the delivery of the mailpiece by the special service wherein the information has data concerning electronic return receipt of the mailpiece;   printing information on the form wherein the information is related to delivery of the mailpiece;   printing information on the form wherein the information is necessary to comply with requirements for electronic return receipt of the mailpiece wherein the information has a machine-readable code section having machine-readable information associated with the mailpiece;   removing the form from the sheet; and   attaching the form to the mailpiece.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 printing a receipt on the form wherein the receipt has information related to the delivery of the mailpiece; and 
 removing the receipt from the form before mailing the mailpiece. 
 
     
     
         3 . A method for preparing a mailpiece for delivery by a special service using a mailing application on a computer system, the method comprising the steps of:
 accessing the mailing application on the computer system;   creating a mail file using the mailing application wherein the mail file has information associated with delivery and the special service for the mailpiece;   processing the mail file information using the mailing application to produce an image containing information required by an entity to deliver the mailpiece by the special service; and   printing the image onto a form and affixing the form to the mailpiece.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3  further comprising the step of:
 connecting to a service provider for performing address standardization of the information in the mail file. 
 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 3  further comprising the step of:
 printing a mail file report as a receipt of mailing of the mailpiece. 
 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 3  further comprising the steps of:
 transferring the mail file to the entity using the mailing application; and 
 receiving tracking information from the entity. 
 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 3  further comprising the step of:
 receiving electronic return receipt information from the entity. 
 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 3  further comprising the step of:
 storing electronic return receipt information from the entity in a database using the mailing application.