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EP0154972A2 Expired / Lapsed EP ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Method and apparatus for verifying postage

Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc
•
Filing: 1985-03-12
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2005-03-12
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Abstract

Abstract An indicia (10) having an encrypted mark (20) is stamped upon a mail piece to represent postage so as to provide a code for authentication of such postage.

Inventors

  • 👤 Alton B. Eckert

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction EP
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-26 01:25
CPC Classifications
G; G07; G07D; G07D7/00; G07D7/004; G07D7/0047; G07B; G07B17/00; G07B17/00459; G07B17/00508; G07B17/00733; G07B2017/00572; G07B2017/0058; G07B2017/00822; G07B2017/0083

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim 79 words
A method of verifying postage through an encrypted mark (20) that is part of an indicia (10) applied to a mail piece, characterized by: providing a decoder (22) having a seed number stored in memory; inputting data selected from information of the indicia (10); deriving an encrypted message from the decoder based upon the stored seed number and input data; and comparing an encrypted message generated by the decoder (22) against the encrypted mark (20) on the mail piece.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 79 words
A method of verifying postage through an encrypted mark (20) that is part of an indicia (10) applied to a mail piece, characterized by: providing a decoder (22) having a seed number stored in memory; inputting data selected from information of the indicia (10); deriving an encrypted message from the decoder based upon the stored seed number and input data; and comparing an encrypted message generated by the decoder (22) against the encrypted mark (20) on the mail piece.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 35 words
A method according to claim 1, characterized by the step of providing the postage fee (12), the meter serial number (14), the piece count (18) and the data (16) as part of the input data.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 40 words
Apparatus for verifying postage, characterized by: encryption means (22) for generating an encrypted mark (20); means for supplying information relating to data printed (10) on a mail piece to said encryption means (22); and means for indicating said encrypted mark.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 40 words
Apparatus for verifying postage, characterized by: encryption means (22) for generating an encrypted mark (20); means for supplying information relating to data printed (10) on a mail piece to said encryption means (22); and means for indicating said encrypted mark.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 40 words
Apparatus for verifying postage, characterized by: encryption means for generating an encrypted mark; means for supplying information relating to data printed on a mail piece to said encryption means; ar means for printing said encrypted mark on said mail piece.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 40 words
Apparatus for verifying postage, characterized by: encryption means for generating an encrypted mark; means for supplying information relating to data printed on a mail piece to said encryption means; ar means for printing said encrypted mark on said mail piece.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 21 words
Apparatus according to claim 3 or 4, including means for generating a seed number as part of said encryption means (22).

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