1. A computer-implemented method of adjusting an amount of prepaid postage on a mailpiece, wherein the mailpiece comprises a postage indicia including an indication of an initial postage amount, comprising:
receiving a payment for the initial postage amount;
receiving the mailpiece, wherein the postage indicia includes the initial postage amount, billing information of a sender, a unique postage number in a machine readable format for uniquely identifying the postage indicia, and a unique delivery confirmation number for identifying the mailpiece;
verifying, by a computer, that the initial postage amount is the proper amount;
updating, by the computer, a database to associate the billing information with the unique postage number;
determining, by the computer, the billing information according to the association between the billing information and the unique postage number stored in the database;
using, by the computer, the billing information to bill a party for an adjusted postage amount upon determining that the initial postage amount is not verified; and
altering the postage indicia to reflect the adjusted postage amount, once the party has been billed for the adjusted amount,
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the payment for initial postage amount is received via the Internet.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the postage indicia is coded on a mailing label, and the initial postage amount is represented in a bar code presented on the mailing label.
4. The method of claim 3, wherein the mailing label further includes at least one of a FIM code, a POSTNET code, and another representation of the unique delivery confirmation number.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein the postage indicia further includes a notation that the initial postage amount has been paid.
6. The method of claim 1, further comprising updating the database with a new purchase of postage.
7. The method of claim 1, further comprising encrypting the billing information in the postage indicia.
8. The method of claim 3, further comprising comparing the unique postage number with other postage numbers within the database to detect unauthorized, duplication of the mailing label.
9. A non-transitory computer readable medium including program instructions stored thereon, which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform a method for adjusting an amount of prepaid postage on a mailpiece, the method comprising:
receiving a payment for an initial postage amount;
receiving a mailpiece including a postage indicia, wherein the postage indicia includes the initial postage amount, billing information of a sender, and a unique postage number in a machine readable format for uniquely identifying the postage indicia, and a unique delivery confirmation number for identifying the mailpiece;
verifying that the initial postage amount is the proper amount;
updating a database to associate the billing information with the unique postage number;
determining, by the computer, the billing information according to the association between the billing information and the unique postage number stored in the database;
billing a party for an adjusted postage amount, if the initial postage amount is determined to be improper; and
altering the postage indicia to reflect the adjusted postage amount, once the party has been billed for the adjusted amount.
10. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 9, wherein the payment for initial postage amount is received via the Internet.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A method for retransmitting a formatted block (Binit) of information units (1-10) that have been transmitted in radio links (26) using a first number of data bits per coded bits, comprising the steps of:
selecting all erroneous units (1, 4, 5, 8) of said block of information units (1-10) that have been transmitted;
dividing said selected set of erroneous units (1, 4, 5, 8) into n disjunct subsets, wherein n is greater than or equal to 2;
selecting a set of n distinct numbers of data bits per coded bits (R1, R4, R5, R8);
encoding all erroneous units of each of said subsets with a different one of said numbers of data bits per coded bits (R1, R4, R5, R8), wherein the number of data bits per coded bits of the first erroneous units is the lowest of said numbers of data bits per coded bits (R1, R4, R5, R8);
formatting a block (Bretrans) composed of said encoded erroneous units (1, 4, 5, 8); and
transmitting said formatted block (Bretrans).
2. A method according to claim 1, wherein formatting a block (Bretrans) of said encoded erroneous units (1, 4, 5, 8) comprises the step of interleaving at least two of said encoded erroneous units.
3. A method according to claim 1, wherein said first number of data bits per coded bits is greater than each number of data bits per coded bits out of said set of numbers of data bits per coded bits (R1, R4, R5, R8).
4. A method according to claim 1, with n equal to 2, wherein one subset consists of a first erroneous unit (1) and the other subset consists of all other erroneous units (4, 5, 8).
5. A method according to claim 4, wherein said first subset consisting of a first transmitted erroneous unit (1) is encoded using a number of data bits per coded bits (R1) which is smaller than the number of data bits per coded bits (R4, R5, R8) used to encode said second subset (4, 5, 8).
6. A method according to claim 3, wherein each of said subsets contains one single erroneous unit (1, 4, 5, 8).
7. A method according to claim 1, wherein said subsets are ordered according to a timely sequence of their transmission.
8. A method according to claim 1, wherein the set of said numbers of data bits per coded bits (R1, R4, R5, R8) is ordered according to the numbers of data bits per coded bits.
9. A computer program product comprising program code means stored on a computer readable medium for carrying out the method of claim 1 when said program product is run on a computer or network device.
10. A computer program product comprising program code, downloadable from a server for carrying out the method of claim 1 when said program product is run on a computer or network device.
11. A transceiving device, comprising:
a component for transceiving information units (1-10);
a component for selecting erroneous units (1, 4, 5, 8) that have been corrupted during transmission;
a component for requesting a retransmission of said erroneous unit (1, 4, 5, 8);
a component for receiving a retransmission request;
a component for dividing said selected set of erroneous units (1, 4, 5, 8) into n disjunct subsets, wherein n is greater than or equal to 2;
a component for selecting a set of n distinct numbers of data bits per coded bits (R1, R4, R5, R8);
a component for selectively modulating all erroneous units of each of said subsets with a different one of said numbers of data bits per coded bits (R1, R4, R5, R8), wherein the number of data bits per coded bits of the first erroneous unit is the lowest of said numbers of data bits per coded bits (R1, R4, R5, R8); and
an encoding component for formatting a block (Bretrans) composed of said encoded erroneous units (1, 4, 5, 8).
12. A transceiving device according to claim 11, wherein said transceiving device is a terminal device.
13. A transceiving device according to claim 12, wherein said transceiving device is a mobile terminal device (20).
14. A transceiving device according to claim 13, wherein said transceiving device is an access point (22) in mobile communication.
15. A communication network comprising:
at least one transceiving device (20, 22) according to claim 11; and
at least one access point (22) in communication for said transceiving device and forming part of a network (24).
16. A communication network according to claim 15, further comprising a server, characterised in that said server is coupled to another network.
17. A communication network according to claim 16, wherein at least one network (24) is a network in mobile communication.
18. A communication network according to claim 16, wherein said network is the Internet.