US4569022A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Meter selection for drop shipment mailing system
Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc
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Filing: 1983-03-07
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Granted: 1986-02-04
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Expires: 2003-03-07
Abstract
Abstract An automated mailing system includes a scale having a weighing device, a keyboard for entering postage value determining data and an electronic postage meter selection code, a postage value determining processor and a programmable read only memory containing postal rate and zip to zone conversion data. A peripheral controller interface provides communication capability between the scale processor and a plurality of peripheral mailing devices including a series of electronic postage meters each of which is adapted to provide postage value denominations for mail originating from different postal zone distribution points. A data steering interface, which may be included within the peripheral controller interface, provides interconnection between the communications lines received from the scale system processor and the communication lines of the respective electronic postage meters. A code, entered through the keyboard, is transmitted serially to the peripheral controller interface and, in turn, to a selector latch decoder which provides selection signals to the data steering interface for directing the interface to establish communication links between the scale processor through the peripheral interface controller and a desired one of the electronic postage meters.
Inventors
- 👤 Vincent G. Coppola
- 👤 John L. Lorenzo
- 👤 Edwin G. Grisgraber
- 👤 Flavio M. Manduley
- 👤 Edward P. Daniels
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 17:38
CPC Classifications
G; G07; G07B; G07B17/00; G07B17/00185; G07B17/00314; G01; G01G; G01G19/00; G01G19/002; G01G19/005; G01G19/40; G01G19/413; G01G19/414; G01G19/4148; G07B17/00193; G07B2017/00258; G07B2017/00322; G07B17/00459; G07B17/00661; G07B2017/00701
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
164 words
A mailing system comprising, in combination, a scale including weighing means for determining weights, data entry means for entering postage value determining data, and processor means responsive to the weights and the postage value determining data for determining postage values; a plurality of electronic postage meters for dispensing postage denominations for mail service, each postage meter including indicia suitable to dispense postage denominations for mailing from a selected different postal zone distribution point; a data steering interface for establishing an interconnection between the postage value determining processor and a selected one of said postage meters; and selector means for operator input of a postage meter selection signal for selecting one of the plurality of postage meters, the selector means being interconnected with the data steering interface for directing the data steering interface to establish an interconnection with the selected postage meter, the selector means being in communication with the keyboard for receiving a coded signal indicating the selected one of said electronic postage meters.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
164 words
A mailing system comprising, in combination, a scale including weighing means for determining weights, data entry means for entering postage value determining data, and processor means responsive to the weights and the postage value determining data for determining postage values; a plurality of electronic postage meters for dispensing postage denominations for mail service, each postage meter including indicia suitable to dispense postage denominations for mailing from a selected different postal zone distribution point; a data steering interface for establishing an interconnection between the postage value determining processor and a selected one of said postage meters; and selector means for operator input of a postage meter selection signal for selecting one of the plurality of postage meters, the selector means being interconnected with the data steering interface for directing the data steering interface to establish an interconnection with the selected postage meter, the selector means being in communication with the keyboard for receiving a coded signal indicating the selected one of said electronic postage meters.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
A mailing system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the selector means includes a latch decoder circuit and the postage meter selection signal provided by the switch is a digital signal in binary coded decimal form.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
66 words
A mailing system as set forth in claim 2 wherein the data steering interface includes a decoder for receiving the postage meter selection signal provided by the selector means, the decoder being connected to the electronic postage meters through relays whereby receipt of the meter selection signal activates one of the relays to connect the desired one of said electronic postage meters to a voltage source.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
54 words
A mailing machine as set forth in claim 1 wherein the scale includes a PROM containing postage rate and zip to zone conversion data and the selector means is in communication with the PROM for selection of the postage rate and zip to zone conversion data desired based on the desired zone distribution point.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
A mailing system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the postage meters include a postage denomination printer bearing indicia indicating the selected postal zone distribution point.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
42 words
A mailing system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the data steering interface includes multiplexer means connected to the selector means for establishing a data communications link between the postage value determining processor and the postage meter selected by the selector.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
51 words
A mailing system as set forth in claim 6 wherein the data steering interface includes an interconnection with data transmit and data receive lines from the processor and the multiplexer means connects the data transmit and data receive lines from the processor to the postage meter selected by the selector means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
A mailing system as set forth in claim 6 wherein a peripheral controller interface provides the data communications link between the postage value determining processor and the data steering interface.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
68 words
A mailing system as set forth in claim 8 wherein the data communications link includes data transmit, data receive and command lines, and the multiplexer means includes a first multiplexer for interconnecting the data transmit line with the selected postage meter, a second multiplexer for connecting the data receive line with the selected postage meter and a third multiplexer for connecting the command line with the selected meter.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
160 words
In a mailing system having a scale including weighing means for determining weights, data entry means for entering postage value determining and meter selection data, and processor means responsive to the weights and the entered data for determining postage values, a plurality of peripheral electronic postage meters for dispensing postage denominations for mail service, each postage meter including indicia suitable to dispense postage denominations for mailing from a different postal zone distribution point; a data steering interface, and a peripheral controller interface interconnected between the processor means and the data steering interface for establishing an interconnection between the postage value determining processor and a selected one of said postage meters; the method comprising entering a meter selection code through the data entry means for selecting one of the plurality of postage meters, transmitting the code to the data steering interface, and directing the data steering interface to establish a communications link between the processor means and the selected postage meter.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
160 words
In a mailing system having a scale including weighing means for determining weights, data entry means for entering postage value determining and meter selection data, and processor means responsive to the weights and the entered data for determining postage values, a plurality of peripheral electronic postage meters for dispensing postage denominations for mail service, each postage meter including indicia suitable to dispense postage denominations for mailing from a different postal zone distribution point; a data steering interface, and a peripheral controller interface interconnected between the processor means and the data steering interface for establishing an interconnection between the postage value determining processor and a selected one of said postage meters; the method comprising entering a meter selection code through the data entry means for selecting one of the plurality of postage meters, transmitting the code to the data steering interface, and directing the data steering interface to establish a communications link between the processor means and the selected postage meter.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method as set forth in claim 10 including directing the meter selection code to a PROM containing postage rate and zip to zone conversion data for selection of the rate and conversion data desired based on the desired zone distribution point.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method as set forth in claim 10 wherein the step of directing the data steering interface includes decoding a signal generated in response to the meter selection code to selectively activate one of the electronic postage meters.
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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) | 1989-02-03 | 1989-08-05 | 1990-02-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-02-03 | 1993-08-05 | 1994-02-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-02-03 | 1997-08-05 | 1998-02-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |