System and method for preventing duplicate printing in a web browser
View Patent ↗A method and system for processing shipping labels having postage is described. In one configuration a hidden frame in a secure browser window is used to control printing of an actual shipping label while allowing unlimited sample printing of a sample shipping label having sample postage indicia.
1. A method for deterring duplicate printing of a first image comprising:
receiving a request relating to the first image from a client system;
providing data to the client system for forming at least a portion of a sample image to a portion of a program display window in the client system that is visible to the user, wherein the sample image is of a similar type as the first image;
providing data to the client system for forming at least a portion of the first image to a portion of the client system program display window that is not visible to the user;
receiving an indication of a print request relating to the first image;
determining whether a threshold of print failures has been reached; and
providing an indication that the print request is invalid after the threshold of print failures has been reached.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein:
the first image comprises a shipping label having a postage indicia comprising a postage indicia code;
the sample image comprises a sample shipping label having a sample postage indicia;
the client system comprises a web browser application;
the web browser application provides a visible portion of a page for displaying a first frame including the sample image;
the web browser application provides a non visible portion of the page for receiving a second frame including the first image; and
the data provided to the client system program is provided by a first web server.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the sample shipping label includes a sample indicator and wherein the web browser application automatically closes the display window within a first period of time after the display window is launched.
4. The method of claim 2 , further comprising:
providing formatting instructions to the client system, wherein
the formatting instructions prevent user access to the second frame.
5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
providing formatting instructions to the client system, wherein
the formatting instructions prevent user access to a non-visible portion of the client system program window.
6. The method of claim 3 wherein:
the sample image is an image file using an image file format selected from the group: GIF, BMP, TIFF, JPEG, PIX, PNG and PCX; and
the sample indicator comprises an indication to the user that the label is not valid for postage.
7. The method of claim 3 wherein:
the sample indicator comprises an overlay for obscuring the postage indicia of the sample label.
8. The method of claim 2 wherein:
the sample image has the same dimensions as the first image.
9. The method of claim 1 wherein:
the sample image comprises the first image and a superimposed sample indicator.
10. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
providing a first logic indicator in the visible portion of the client system program window for receiving an indication of a sample print request associated with the sample image; and
providing a second logic indicator in the visible portion of the client system program window for receiving an indication of a non-sample print request associated with the first image.
11. The method of claim 10 further comprising:
receiving at least one print success indicator from a user indicating whether the non-sample print request was successful.
12. The method of claim 11 further comprising:
determining whether the received at least one print success indicator indicates that a threshold of print failures has been reached; and
if the threshold of print failures has been reached, providing an indication that the print request is invalid.
13. The method of claim 12 wherein:
the first logic indicator and second logic indicator are presented in a second visible frame.
14. The method of claim 2 wherein:
the first image includes image portions obtained from a second web server; and
the sample image comprises image portions obtained from a second web server.
15. The method of claim 4 wherein
the formatting instructions prevent scrolling and resizing of the client system program window, thereby preventing user access to the second frame.
16. The method of claim 1 wherein:
the first image comprises a document of value;
the sample image comprises a sample document of value;
the client system program comprises a web browser application;
the web browser application provides a visible portion of a page for displaying a first frame including the sample image;
the web browser application provides a non visible portion of the page for receiving a second frame including the first image; and
the data provided to the client system is provided by a first web server.
17. The method of claim 16 wherein
the document of value comprises a document selected from the group: ticket, receipt, article, report, financial instrument and contract.
18. The method of claim 16 wherein the sample image includes a sample indicator.
19. The method of claim 1 wherein:
the first image comprises a document of value;
the sample image comprises an image related to the document of value;
the client system comprises a web browser application;
the web browser application provides a visible portion of a page for displaying a first frame including the sample image;
the web browser application provides a non visible portion of the page for receiving a second frame including the first image; and
the data provided to the client system is provided by a first web server.
20. The method of claim 19 wherein
the sample image is a portion of the document of value.
21. The method of claim 19 wherein
the sample image is an article abstract.
22. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
providing a mechanism to control printing of at least a portion of the client system program display window that is not visible to the user.
23. The method of claim 2 further comprising:
providing a mechanism to control printing of at least a portion of the client system program window that is not visible to the user.
24. The method of claim 16 further comprising:
providing a mechanism to control printing of at least a portion of the client system program window that is not visible to the user.
25. The method of claim 19 further comprising:
providing a mechanism to control printing of at least a portion of the client system program window that is not visible to the user.