EP0421491A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System for the printing and reading of encrypted messages
Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc
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Filing: 1984-07-18
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2004-07-18
Abstract
Abstract A system includes a device (32 and 34) for printing and for reading of encrypted postage indicia. The printing is accomplished with a dot matrix printer (36) driven by signals obtained by altering character generation signals with encryption signals. The interleaving is accomplished on a row-by-row basis by inserting delays from an encryption circuit into signals from a character generator circuit. The reading is accomplished by correlating received characters against a stored array of symbols to determine the presence of a symbol,the extraction and identified character, and the comparison of the separated coded data with a reference code to determine the accuracy of the printed material. The coding may be accomplished by intermixing alphanumeric character data with code characters developed from stored alphanumeric characters.
Inventors
- 👤 John I. Clark
- 👤 Alton B. Eckert
- 👤 David M. Warren
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 02:18
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06K; G06K1/00; G06K1/12; G06K1/121; G06K17/00; G07; G07B; G07B17/00; G07B17/00459; G07B17/00508; G07B17/00185; G07B17/00435; G07B2017/00443; G07B2017/00516; G07B2017/00524; G07B2017/00548; G07B2017/00572; G07B2017/0058; G07B2017/00588; G07B17/00661; G07B2017/00709; G07B2017/00717; G07B2017/00725
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 40
Claim 1
Independent Claim
171 words
A device for the metering of encrypted postage and similar indicia characterized by: (a) an entry means for the entry of data corresponding to alphanumeric characters; (b) means coupled to said entry means for the storage of said data; (c) an encryption circuit for developing a code word of a plurality of code characters from data in said storage means corresponding to a plurality of said alphanumeric characters; (d) means for imprinting an alphanumeric representation of data applied thereto; and (e) selection means having an output coupled to said imprinting means and coupled to receive data from said storage means and said encryption circuit for alternately feeding data of said storage means and a code word of said encryption circuit to said imprinting means to control the imprinting means to imprint alphanumeric indicia having intermixed portions corresponding to alphanumeric characters entered in said entry means and said code characters of said code word respectively, the imprinted alphanumeric characters corresponding to said code words providing verification of the validity of the indicia.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
21 words
The device of claim 1 characterized in that said imprinting means includes a printhead for imprinting marks on a printing medium.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
The device of claim 2 characterized in that said entry means comprises a keyboard and wherein said device includes means for moving the printing medium past said printhead.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
37 words
The device of any preceding claim characterized in that said printing medium is a package, said device further comprising means coupled to said moving means for synchronizing said data reading means with the position of said package.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
26 words
The device of any preceding claim characterized by timing means coupled to said moving means for synchronizing said imprinting selecting means with said data reading means.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
159 words
A system for the printing and reading of encrypted messages wherein the message is printed in visibly readable format on a printing medium, such system characterized by: (a) a data entry means and a coder; (b) a printer of alphanumeric characters; (c) means coupled to said data entry means and said coder for driving said printer, said driving means comprising means for sequencing signals of said data entry means with signals of said coder for printing alphanumeric characters corresponding to signals from said entry means intermixed with alphanumeric characters corresponding to signals from said coder; (d) means for reading the intermixed printing data material printed by said printer; (e) means coupled to said reading means for generating a reference code in accordance with the alphanumeric characters corresponding to signals of said coder printer by said printer; and (f) means responsive to said reference code generating means for verifying printed alphanumeric characters corresponding to signals from said data entry means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
A system according to claim 6 characterized in that said printer includes a printhead and means for moving said printing medium past said printhead.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
A system according to claim 7 characterized in that said moving means includes means responsive to positions of said medium for synchronizing said printer driving means with the movement of said medium.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
101 words
A device for the metering of postage and similar indicia on a material to be imprinted, characterized by: means for receiving signals corresponding to data to be imprinted; means responsive to said received signals for imprinting said indicia in the form of first alphanumeric characters representing said data at different locations on the material; means for deriving encryption signals from said received signals and corresponding to at least one encrypted alphanumeric character; and means applying said encryption signals to said imprinting means, said imprinting means comprising means for intermixing alphanumeric characters corresponding to the encryption signals with said first alphanumeric characters.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
82 words
A device for verifying alphanumeric indicia including postal data and encrypted material derived from said postal data, said indicia being printed on a printing medium, characterized by means for reading alphanumeric indicia on said printing medium, said indicia having alternately appearing intermixed portions corresponding to postal data and encrypted material respectively; means responsive to alphanumeric indicia read by said reading means for generating signals corresponding to the data and the encrypted material; and means for comparing said signals to verify the indicia.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
93 words
A package having a postage indicia imprint supported thereon including means for validating the integrity of the indicia, the indicia characterized by: a first uncoded alphanumeric portion representing the value of the imprint, said value corresponding to a postal amount for the mailing of said package; a second alphanumeric portion for indicating other information, portions of the first and second indicia portions being imprinted in intermixed segments on said package; the second indicia portion being an encrypted function of said value, the encrypted message providing information validating the integrity of the postage indicia.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
79 words
A package having an imprint supported thereon and characterized by: an alphanumeric indicia having a first portion representing the value of the imprint, and a second portion representing an encryption of the value and other information of the package, with portions of said first and second portions being intermixed and imprinted on the package, the encryption being an indication that the imprint is valid, the value of the imprint representing a postal value for the mailing of the package.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
106 words
A system for providing validation information to an alphanumeric postage imprint produced by a postage meter, the validation system characterized by: alphanumeric printing means; means coupled to the printing means for controlling the operation of the printing means; and means coupled to the controlling means for alternately applying alphanumeric data corresponding to postage information and encryption data dependent upon the postage information to said controlling means, said controlling means comprising means for controlling said printing means to print an alphanumeric imprint having a sequence of intermixed portions representative of the postal information and encryption data respectively, to provide an indication that the postage imprint is valid.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
79 words
A method for printing postal indicia that includes postal information on a mail piece, comprising employing a device including an alphanumeric printing means and a means for controlling the printing means, and validating the postal indicia by the steps of: generating encryption data dependent upon said postal information; and controlling the operation of the printing means to print an alphanumeric indicia with a multiple sequence of separate adjacent portions that alternately represent the encryption data and said postal information.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 14 in which the postal information comprises a value, further including the step of printing the value in alphanumeric characters along with the encryption data on the mail piece.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
92 words
A system for reading encrypted messages on a printing medium, the encrypted message being provided on an alphanumeric indicia having adjacent alphanumeric portions that represent a plurality of alternating data and encrypted material, said system characterized by: means for reading said alphanumeric indicia on said medium; coding mediums coupled to said reading means for generating code signals and for generating a second signal representing said alphanumeric indicia; and means for comparing a code read by said reading means with said second signal at a determined time for verification of said alphanumeric indicia.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
71 words
The method of metering postage and similar indicia, characterized by: inputting data signals corresponding to postal information; and encoding said data signals to produce coded signals, and alternately applying said data signals and said coded signal to an alphanumeric printer for printing indicia on a piece of mail having a sequence of alphanumeric portions with multiple adjacent portions thereof alternately representing a plurality of said data signals and said coded signals.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
154 words
A device for the metering of encrypted messages such a postage and similar indicia characterized by: (a) an entry means (48) for the entry of data; (b) means (86) coupled to said entry means for the storage of said data; (c) character generator means (76,84,90,208) coupled to said storing means (86), said character generating means comprising a memory (90) for storage of character dots (58) in a dot matrix display of characters, and means (76) for reading out data from said memory in a row-by-row format of said matrix; (d) an encryption circuit (88) for developing a code word; (e) means (36) for imprinting a dot matrix display of characters (210) of the data stored in said storing means; and (f) means (94) coupled to said character generation means and to said encryption circuit for displacing dots in said matrix display of characters in accordance with a code word of said encryption circuit (88).
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
46 words
A device according to claim 18, characterized in that said imprinting means (36) includes a printhead (96) for imprinting marks on a printing medium (22); and in that said encryption circuit (88,92,201) includes means (201A,201B) for converting data of storage means (86,90) into said code word.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
36 words
A device according to claim 18 or 19, characterized in that said entry means (48) comprises a keyboard and in that said imprinting means includes means (40,64) for moving the printing medium (22) past said printhead.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
48 words
A device according to any one of claims 18 to 20 characterized in that said printing medium is a package, and in that said device further comprising timing means (106) coupled to said moving means (64) for synchronizing said data reading means with the position of said package.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
37 words
A device according to any one of claims 18 to 21 characterized by further comprising timing means (208) coupled to said moving means (64) for synchronizing said dot displacing means (92,201) with said data reading means (422).
Claim 23
Independent Claim
152 words
A system for the printing and reading of encrypted messages wherein the message is printed in visibly readable format on a printing medium, characterized by: (a) a character generator (84,76,90,208) and a coder (88); (b) a printer (36) of characters, said printer printing characters row-by-row; (c) means (64,66) coupled between said character generator (84,76,90,208) and said coder (88) for driving said printer, said driving means including means (94) for delaying signals of said character generator under command of signal of said coder; (d) means (46,422) for reading material printed by said printer; (e) means (117,118) coupled to said reading means (46) for separating data of said character generator from data of said coder; (f) means (124,126) coupled to said separator means (117,118) for comparing code signals of said printed material with code signals provided by a coder (88,92); and (g) means (54) coupled to said comparing means for verifying said printed material.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
24 words
A system according to claim 23, characterized in that said printer (36) includes a printhead and means for moving said medium past said printhead.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
37 words
A system according to claim 23 or 24, characterized in that said moving means (64) includes means (42) responsive to positions of said medium for synchronizing said printer driving means (64) with the movement of said medium.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
54 words
A system according to any one of claims 23 to 25 characterized in that said reading means (46,422) includes a reading head for sensing printing on said medium, means (64) for translating said medium past said reading head and means (106) responsive to the position of said medium for timing said data separating means.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
89 words
A device for verifying the presence of encrypted material interleaved with printed characters in printed material having encoded data, characterized by: (a) means (46) for reading the printed material; (b) means (117,118) coupled to said reading means (46) for separating coded data from character data, said characters being printed in a visually readable format; (c) means (124,126) coupled to said separating means (117,118) for comparing the coded data with a reference code; and (d) means (54,52A) responsive to said comparing means (124,126) for indicating the accuracy of printed material.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
45 words
A device according to claim 27 characterized in that encrypted material is combined within an individual character to provide the coded data, and wherein said separating means includes means for recognition of a character to permit separation of the coded data from the character data.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
35 words
A device according to claim 27 or 28 characterized in that said separating means includes means for subtracting, pixel by pixel, a reference character from a character of the printed material having the encrypted material.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
35 words
A device according to any one of claims 27 to 29, characterized by further comprising means (64) synchronized with said reading means for moving the printed material past a reading head of said reading means.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
33 words
A device according to any one of the preceding claims 27 to 30 characterized in that said reading means includes an array of sensors which sense predetermined positions of each of the characters.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
34 words
A device according to any one of claims 27 to 31 characterized in that said characters are formed of a dot matrix array (56) and said sensors of said reading means are photoelectric sensors.
Claim 33
Independent Claim
162 words
A device for the metering of encrypted postage and similar indicia characterized by: (a) an entry means (48) for the entry of data; (b) means coupled (86) to said entry means for the storage of said data; (c) character generator means (90,76,208) coupled to said storing means (86), said character generating means comprising a memory (90) for storage of character pixels in a matrix display of characters, and means (76) for reading out data from said memory column-by-column; (d) an encryption circuit (88) for developing a code word; (e) means (36) for printing a dot matrix display of characters of the message stored in said storage means; and (f) means (94) coupled between said imprinting means (36), said character generation means (90,76,208) and said encryption circuit (88,201) for alternately feeding data from said memory (90) of said character generating means and said encryption circuit (88) to said printing means to produce a presentation of printed symbols (210) having coded regions interleaved therewith.
Claim 34
Independent Claim
155 words
A system for the printing and reading of encrypted messages wherein the message is printed in visibly readable format on a printing medium, characterized by: (a) a character generator (76,90) and a code generator (88,92); (b) a printer (36) of characters, said printer printing characters pixel-by-pixel; (c) means (64) coupled between said character generator and said code generator for driving said printer (36), said driving means including means for interleaving signals of said character generator with signals of said code generator; (d) means (46) for reading material printed by said printer; (e) means (117,118) coupled to said reading means (46) for separating data of said character generator from data of said code generator; (f) means (124) coupled to said separating means (117,118) for comparing code signals of said printed material with code signals provided by a second code generator; and (g) means (54,52,52A) coupled to said comparing means for indicating accuracy in said printed material.
Claim 35
Independent Claim
84 words
A device for verifying the presence of encrypted material interleaved with printed characters, characterized by: (a) means (46) for reading the printed materials; (b) means (117,118) coupled to said reading means for separating coded data from character data, said characters being printed in a visually readable format; (c) means (124) coupled to said separating means (117,118) for comparing the coded data with a reference code; and (d) means (54,52,52A) responsive to a comparison of said comparing means for indicating the accuracy of printed material.
Claim 36
Independent Claim
105 words
A method of metering encrypted postage and similar indicia, characterized by the following steps: (a) entering postage related data into a data storage unit; (b) coupling to the data storage unit a character generator having a memory with a storage of characters in a dot matrix form; (c) encrypting a code word; (d) displacing dots in the matrix dot storage of characters in accordance with the encrypted code word; (e) reading out data from said memory in a row-by-row format of the matrix dot storage; and (f) imprinting a dot matrix representation of characters in response to the data stored in the data storage unit.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 36, characterized by the step of converting data of the storage means into the code word.
Claim 38
Independent Claim
138 words
A method of printing an encrypted message in visibly readable format on a printing medium and reading the printed message, characterized by the following steps: (a) entering the message into a data storage unit; (b) coupling the data storage unit with a character generator and a coder; (c) operating the coder to encrypt the message stored in the data storage unit; (d) coupling the character generator and the coder with a matrix printer; (e) sending signals from the character generator to the printer; (f) delaying the signals from the character generator under command of signals from the coder; (g) reading material printed by the printer; (h) separating data of the character generator from data of said coder; and (i) verifying the printed material by comparing code signals of the printed material with code signals provided by the coder.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method according to claim 38 characterized by the further steps of conveying a medium past the printer and printing the encrypted message on the medium.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method according to claim 39 characterized by the step of synchronizing the printing of the printer with the movement of the medium.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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