Patent US3792446A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3792446A
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Remote postage meter resetting method
Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc
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Filing: 1972-12-04
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Granted: 1974-02-12
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Expires: 1992-12-04
Abstract
Abstract A data center equipped with a programmed digital computer and a voice answer-back unit processes telephone calls from users of postage meters equipped with combination locks, wherein each lock inhibits recharging of its associated meter with an additional postage increment while locked and its combination changes in random sequence with each actuation to enable meter recharging. The computer operates via the answer-back unit to voice communicate with the caller in requesting the input of data uniquely identifying the caller and the postage meter to be recharged pursuant to issuing the next combination.
Inventors
- 👤 Figgins R Mc
- 👤 A Eckert
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 23:56
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/16; G07; G07B; G07B17/00; G07B17/00016; G07B17/0008; G07B17/00185; G07B17/00193; G07B2017/00088; G07B2017/00096; G07B2017/00153; G07B2017/00161; G07B2017/00233
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
197 words
For use at a data center to process telephonic calls from remotely located users of postage meters equipped with combination locks wherein the locks inhibit recharging of their associated meters with increments of postage while locked and their respective combinations change in random sequence with each actuation thereof to permit meter recharging, and wherein the data center is equipped with a programmed digital computer and a voice answer-back unit, the method comprising the steps: A. answering an incoming telephonic call from a postage meter user to establish two-way communication; B. formulating via the answer-back unit, a voice response for transmission to the user requesting the input of data uniquely identifying the postage meter to be recharged; C. processing said identification data, upon receipt, to check the authenticity of the call; D. determining the next combination capable of actuating the combination lock adapted to the postage meter to be recharged; E. updating the user''s file held in computer memory to reflect the fact that the identified postage meter is to be recharged; and F. transmitting, via the answer-back unit, said next combination to the user, thereby affording to the user the capability of rechargiNg the identified postage meter.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
197 words
For use at a data center to process telephonic calls from remotely located users of postage meters equipped with combination locks wherein the locks inhibit recharging of their associated meters with increments of postage while locked and their respective combinations change in random sequence with each actuation thereof to permit meter recharging, and wherein the data center is equipped with a programmed digital computer and a voice answer-back unit, the method comprising the steps: A. answering an incoming telephonic call from a postage meter user to establish two-way communication; B. formulating via the answer-back unit, a voice response for transmission to the user requesting the input of data uniquely identifying the postage meter to be recharged; C. processing said identification data, upon receipt, to check the authenticity of the call; D. determining the next combination capable of actuating the combination lock adapted to the postage meter to be recharged; E. updating the user''s file held in computer memory to reflect the fact that the identified postage meter is to be recharged; and F. transmitting, via the answer-back unit, said next combination to the user, thereby affording to the user the capability of rechargiNg the identified postage meter.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
137 words
The method defined in claim 1, wherein the postage meters are each equipped with ascending and descending registers, which further includes the steps of: A. formulating, via the answer-back unit, a voice transmission to the user requesting the input of the numerical contents of the ascending and descending registers of the identified postage meter; B. summing the contents of the ascending and descending registers, as entered by the user, and comparing this total with the total of these register contents held in computer memory as the result of the previous recharging of the identified postage meter; C. upon the detection of the equality therebetween, preceeding with the determination of the next combination; and D. said updating step including storing in the computer memory the new contents of the ascending and descending registers as entered by the user.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
89 words
The method defined in claim 2, wherein the computer memory also stores the current credit balance of each user''s account and the dollar amount of the increment of postage to which each postage meter may be recharged upon a single actuation of the combination lock adapted thereto, which further includes the step of, prior to proceeding to the determination of the next combination, checking the credit balance of the user''s account to determine if sufficient funds are on deposit to cover the increment of postage requested by the user.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
54 words
The method defined in claim 2, further comprising the steps of developing a random sequence of combinations for each combination lock using a random number generator, and performing new combination determination steps using a random number generation algorithm the same as was used in developing the random sequence of combinations accommodated in each lock.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method defined in claim 4, which further includes the step of checking to see that the entire random sequence of combinations accommodated in the identified combination lock has not been issued to the user.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
83 words
The method defined in claim 2, which further includes, in the event inequality is detected between the sum of registers entered by the user and the sum of registers stored in computer memory, checking to determine if the ascending register of the identified postage meter overflowed since its previous recharging by comparing the entered sum of registers total with the sum of the stored register readings minus ascending register size and, if equality is then detected, proceeding to the new combination determining step.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
120 words
The method defined in claim 2, wherein the combination issued on the previous occasion when the identified postage meter was sought to be recharged is stored in computer memory, which further includes in the event inequality is detected between the sum of registers entered by the user and the sum of registers stored in computer memory the steps of: A. checking to determine if the identified postage meter was actually recharged on that previous occasion on the basis of the entered and stored register readings and the postage increment by which the identified postage meter may be recharged, and, if not; B. retrieving the stored combination from memory for transmission to the user without executing said next combination determining step.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
102 words
The method defined in claim 2, which further includes the steps of: A. responding to an input request from the user for a second postage increment for recharging into the identified postage meter by requesting the input of the numerical contents of the ascending register and the descending register with the first postage increment included therein; B. again summing the register readings entered by the user and comparing this total with the total of the previously entered register readings held in memory; C. upon the detection of equality therebetween, repeating said next combination determination, updating, and next combination transmitting steps, in sequEnce.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method defined in claim 8, which further includes the step of determining that the requested postage increment will not overflow the descending register of the identified postage meter before preceeding to said next combination determining step.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
55 words
The method defined in claim 8, further comprising the steps of developing a random sequence of combinations for each combination lock using a random number generator, and performing a new combination determination step using a random number generation algorithm the same as was used in developing the random sequence of combinations accommodated in each lock.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-02-11 | 1977-08-13 | 1978-02-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-02-11 | 1981-08-13 | 1982-02-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-02-11 | 1985-08-13 | 1986-02-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |