Voice responsive automated mailing system

Claim 1

An automated parcel mailing system comprising: (a) A postage value determining scale, said scale including a processor, means for providing parcel weight information, memory means for storing postage value rate information, means for introducing postage value related information, and display means for visually indicating postage information, said processor receiving the parcel weight information and said postage value related information and in response thereto retrieving appropriate postage rate information from the memory means and generating a postage value for a parcel; (b) said means for introducing postage value related information further comprising a voice recognition subsystem including a voice recognition unit and microphone means for communications between an operator and said voice recognition subsystem, said microphone means receiving an audible word from said operator and in response thereto providing a word signal, said voice recognition unit receiving said word signal and comparing said word signal with previously stored word signals, said voice recognition unit transmitting a predetermined signal associated with each previously stored word signal upon matching a received signal with a stored word signal; and, (c) control means for said operator to selectively enable and disable said voice recognition subsystem, whereby said operator may enable said voice recognition subsystem only during those times when said operator wishes to verbally introduce postage value related information to said mailing system, thereby substantially reducing the chance that said mailing system will respond to spurious noise.