Patent US4226360A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4226360A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Metering system
Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc
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Filing: 1978-12-19
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Granted: 1980-10-07
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Expires: 1998-12-19
Abstract
Abstract A metering device, such as a postage meter, can be updated by a code bearing means which is provided with a first discernible code and a second obscured code, for instance, magnetic code. A computer stores a third code in association with the first code, however, the third code is correlated with the second code. Upon inserting the code bearing means in the metering device and obtaining the third code from the computer, the metering device is conditioned for updating responsive to said second code from the code bearing means and the third code from the computer being in predetermined correlation.
Inventors
- 👤 Luther G. Simjian
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 11:00
CPC Classifications
G; G07; G07F; G07F7/00; G07F7/08; G07B; G07B17/00; G07B17/00016; G07B17/0008; G07F7/12; G07B2017/00088; G07B2017/00096; G07B2017/00153; G07B2017/00161; G07B2017/00177; G07B17/00733; G07B2017/00935
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
126 words
The method of updating a metering device of the postage meter type or similar type comprising: providing a code bearing means having a first and a second code; placing said code bearing means into cooperative relation with the metering device for causing said second code to be entered into the metering device; transmitting the first code from said code bearing means to a computing means and said computing means being programmed for providing in response to the receipt of said first code a third code which has a predetermined correlation with said second code, and entering said third code into said metering device for causing said metering device to be conditioned for updating responsive to said second code and said third code being in predetermined correlation.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
126 words
The method of updating a metering device of the postage meter type or similar type comprising: providing a code bearing means having a first and a second code; placing said code bearing means into cooperative relation with the metering device for causing said second code to be entered into the metering device; transmitting the first code from said code bearing means to a computing means and said computing means being programmed for providing in response to the receipt of said first code a third code which has a predetermined correlation with said second code, and entering said third code into said metering device for causing said metering device to be conditioned for updating responsive to said second code and said third code being in predetermined correlation.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method as set forth in claim 1, said first code being a visible code.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method as set forth in claim 1, said second code being obscured.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method as set forth in claim 1, said first code being transmitted and said computing means providing said third code by signal transmitting means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method as set forth in claim 1, and causing the code bearing means to be rendered entirely or partially unusable for reuse responsive to said metering device having been updated.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
146 words
The method of updating a metering device of the postage meter type or similar type comprising: providing a code bearing means having a first code and a second code; placing said code bearing means into cooperative relation with the metering device and causing said second code to be entered into the metering device; transmitting the first code from said code bearing means via signal transmitting means to a remote computing means and said computing means being programmed to provide responsive to the receipt of said first code via said signal transmitting means a third code which is correlated with said second code; entering said third code into said metering device for causing said metering device to be conditioned for updating responsive to said second code and said third code being in predetermined correlation, and updating said metering device responsive to the existence of said predetermined correlation.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
146 words
The method of updating a metering device of the postage meter type or similar type comprising: providing a code bearing means having a first code and a second code; placing said code bearing means into cooperative relation with the metering device and causing said second code to be entered into the metering device; transmitting the first code from said code bearing means via signal transmitting means to a remote computing means and said computing means being programmed to provide responsive to the receipt of said first code via said signal transmitting means a third code which is correlated with said second code; entering said third code into said metering device for causing said metering device to be conditioned for updating responsive to said second code and said third code being in predetermined correlation, and updating said metering device responsive to the existence of said predetermined correlation.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method as set forth in claim 6, and causing said code bearing means to be rendered entirely or partially unusable for reuse responsive to said metering device having been updated.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method as set forth in claim 6, said signal transmitting means including telephone communication means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method as set forth in claim 6, said third code being entered manually.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method as set forth in claim 6, said second code comprising a plurality of magnetic characters.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1983-10-07 | 1984-04-07 | 1984-10-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1987-10-07 | 1988-04-07 | 1988-10-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1991-10-07 | 1992-04-07 | 1992-10-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |