Patent EP0230658A2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0230658A2
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EP
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System for accounting for postage expended by a postage meter having data security during printing
Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc
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Filing: 1986-12-24
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2006-12-24
Abstract
Abstract A system (10) for accounting for postage expended by a postage meter. The system includes a keyboard and display (16) for entry of commands and postal information, a printer (18), a memory (14) for storing account records and program data, the memory further including a non-volatile memory (14b) for storing account records and other data, an interface (22) to an electronic postage meter (30), and a processor including a CPU (12). The processor (12) controls an electronic postage meter (30) through the interface (22) in accordance with the program data and entered postal information to set the meter and then responds to signals from the meter (30) to update account records. The processor may also edit selected account records in accordance with entered information. In one disclosed embodiment the system (10) responds to an operator request to print the account data base by repetitively scanning the account data base and sequentially printing accounts. In another disclosed embodiment the system (10) stores images of accounts to be edited in selected regions of non-volatile memory (14b) before beginning to edit the account. These embodiments increase the security of the data in the accounts by avoiding exposure to data loss due to power failures or transients while accounts are being processed. In another disclosed embodiment a record of edited accounts is maintained by the system (10) to allow a service technician to detect unauthorized editing of accounts. In still another disclosed embodiment the system (10) tracks the contents of the postage meter off-line meter usage.
Inventors
- 👤 Joseph D. Mallozzi
- 👤 Neale C. Hutcheson
- 👤 Michelle S. Breault
- 👤 Edward P. Daniels
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 14:29
CPC Classifications
G; G07; G07B; G07B17/00; G07B17/00185; G07B17/00362; G06; G06Q; G06Q40/00; G06Q40/12; G07B2017/00395; G07B2017/00411
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
229 words
A system for accounting for the costs of postage expended by a postage meter, comprising: a) data entry means for entry by an operator of commands and information, said information including postal information, said postal information including account numbers; b) a printer; c) a memory for storing program data and account records, said account records each corresponding to one of said account numbers, said memory further comprising a non-volatile memory for storing said account records; d) interface means for interfacing to said postage meter e) processing means further comprising a CPU connected to said data entry means, said memory, said printer, and said interface, and responsive to said program data for: el) responding to entry of an item of said postal information corresponding to a particular batch of mail to transmit signals through said interface to set said postage meter, and responding to signals received through said interface specifying postage expended to update one of said account records corresponding to one of said account numbers specified by said item; e2) responding to entry of a report command to print said account records in account number order on said printer by scanning all said account records, determining the next account record, in account number sequence, which has not been printed, and printing said determined account record; and, e3) repeating the procedure of e2 until all said account records are printed.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
229 words
A system for accounting for the costs of postage expended by a postage meter, comprising: a) data entry means for entry by an operator of commands and information, said information including postal information, said postal information including account numbers; b) a printer; c) a memory for storing program data and account records, said account records each corresponding to one of said account numbers, said memory further comprising a non-volatile memory for storing said account records; d) interface means for interfacing to said postage meter e) processing means further comprising a CPU connected to said data entry means, said memory, said printer, and said interface, and responsive to said program data for: el) responding to entry of an item of said postal information corresponding to a particular batch of mail to transmit signals through said interface to set said postage meter, and responding to signals received through said interface specifying postage expended to update one of said account records corresponding to one of said account numbers specified by said item; e2) responding to entry of a report command to print said account records in account number order on said printer by scanning all said account records, determining the next account record, in account number sequence, which has not been printed, and printing said determined account record; and, e3) repeating the procedure of e2 until all said account records are printed.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
96 words
A system as described in claim 1 wherein said processing means is further responsive to a create command for: a) receiving information defining an account record, said defining information including corresponding account number; and, b) creating an initial account record corresponding to said included corresponding account number in said non-volatile memory; c) said included corresponding account number being arbitrary, whereby an arbitrary sequence of account records may be printed in account number order without need for sorting and the concomittant exposure to power failures or transients while said account records are being rewritten into said memory.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
109 words
A system as described in claim 1 further comprising a display means responsive to said processing means for display of prompts and other information to an operator, and wherein said processing means is further responsive to said report command for: a) initially displaying a first prompt; b) in response to a first selection command printing all said account records in account number order; c) alternatively, in response to a second selection command displaying a second prompt requesting input of a selected one of said account numbers; and d) in response to input of said selected account number imprinting one of said account records corresponding to said selected account number.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
109 words
A system as described in claim 2 further comprising a display means responsive to said processing means for display of prompts and other information to an operator, and wherein said processing means is further responsive to said report command for: a) initially displaying a first prompt; b) in response to a first selection command printing all said account records in account number order; c) alternatively, in response to a second selection command displaying a second prompt requesting input of a selected one of said account numbers; and d) in response to input of said selected account number imprinting one of said account records corresponding to said selected account number.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
102 words
A system as described in claim 1 wherein said account records include the total amount of postage and number pieces charged to that account, and wherein said totals are subtotaled for a plurality of classes preselected for each of said account records, and wherein further said processing means is further responsive to said report command for: a) displaying a detail by class prompt before printing any of said account records; b) in response to a first selection command printing said account records including said subtotals; and, c) alternatively, in response to a second-selection command printing said account records without including said subtotals.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
104 words
A system as described in claim 2 wherein said account records include the total amount of postage and number of pieces charged to that account, and wherein said totals are subtotaled for a plurality of classes preselected for each of said account records, and wherein further said processing means is further responsive to said report command for: a) displaying a detail by class prompt before printing any of said account records; b) in response to a first selection command printing said account records including said subtotals; and, c) alternatively, in response to a second selection command printing said account records without including said subtotals.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
103 words
A system as described in claim 3 wherein said account records include the total amount of postage and number pieces charged to that account, and wherein said totals are subtotaled for a plurality of classes preselected for each of said account records, and wherein further said processing means is further responsive to said report command for: a) displaying a detail by class prompt before printing any of said account records; b) in response to a first selection command printing said account records including said subtotals; and, c) alternatively, in response to a second selection command printing said account records without including said subtotals.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
A system as described in claim 1 wherein said postage meter is an electronic postage meter.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
A system as described in claim 2 wherein said postage meter is an electronic postage meter.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
A system as described in claim 1 wherein said data entry means comprises a postal scale.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
A system as described in claim 2 wherein said data entry means comprises a postal scale.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
238 words
A system for accounting for the costs of postage expended by a postage meter, comprising: a) data entry means for entry by an operator of commands and information, said information including postal information, said postal information including account numbers; b) a printer; c) a memory for storing program data and account records, said account records each corresponding to one of said account numbers, said memory further comprising a non-volatile memory for storing said account records; d) interface means for interfacing to said postage meter, said postage meter being connected to said interface means. e) processing means further comprising a CPU connected to said data entry means, said memory, said printer, and said interface, and responsive to said program data for el) responding to entry of an item of said postal information corresponding to a particular batch of mail to transmit signals through said interface to set said postage meter, and responding to signals received through said interface specifying postage expended to update one of said account records corresponding to one of said account numbers specified by said item; e2) responding to entry of a report command to print said account records in account number order on said printer by scanning all said account records, determining the next account record, in account number sequence, which has not been printed, and printing said determined account record; and, e3) repeating the procedure of e2 until all said account records are printed.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
238 words
A system for accounting for the costs of postage expended by a postage meter, comprising: a) data entry means for entry by an operator of commands and information, said information including postal information, said postal information including account numbers; b) a printer; c) a memory for storing program data and account records, said account records each corresponding to one of said account numbers, said memory further comprising a non-volatile memory for storing said account records; d) interface means for interfacing to said postage meter, said postage meter being connected to said interface means. e) processing means further comprising a CPU connected to said data entry means, said memory, said printer, and said interface, and responsive to said program data for el) responding to entry of an item of said postal information corresponding to a particular batch of mail to transmit signals through said interface to set said postage meter, and responding to signals received through said interface specifying postage expended to update one of said account records corresponding to one of said account numbers specified by said item; e2) responding to entry of a report command to print said account records in account number order on said printer by scanning all said account records, determining the next account record, in account number sequence, which has not been printed, and printing said determined account record; and, e3) repeating the procedure of e2 until all said account records are printed.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
96 words
A system as described in claim 12 wherein said processing means is further responsive to a create command for: a) receiving information defining an account record, said defining information including corresponding account number; and, b) creating an initial account record corresponding to said included corresponding account number in said non-volatile memory; c) said included corresponding account number being arbitrary, whereby an arbitrary sequence of account records may be printed in account number order without need for sorting and the concomittant exposure to power failures or transients while said account records are being rewritten into said memory.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
17 words
A system as described in claim 12 wherein said data entry means further comprises a postal scale.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
17 words
A system as described in claim 13 wherein said data entry means further comprises a postal scale.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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