Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
98 words
A computer system for purchasing postage and applying postage to mail pieces, comprising: a central processing unit; a printer coupled to said central processing unit; a modem connecting said central processing unit to a telephone line; said modem including a secure non-volatile memory; and a postage control program executed by said central processing unit for purchasing postage via said modem from a remotely located postal authority computer, for storing purchased postage information in said secure non-volatile memory, for controlling said printer to print postage on mail pieces, and for storing postage usage information in said secure non-volatile memory.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
98 words
A computer system for purchasing postage and applying postage to mail pieces, comprising: a central processing unit; a printer coupled to said central processing unit; a modem connecting said central processing unit to a telephone line; said modem including a secure non-volatile memory; and a postage control program executed by said central processing unit for purchasing postage via said modem from a remotely located postal authority computer, for storing purchased postage information in said secure non-volatile memory, for controlling said printer to print postage on mail pieces, and for storing postage usage information in said secure non-volatile memory.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
54 words
The computer system of claim 1, said postal usage information stored in said non-volatile memory including information indicating portage applied to each of said mail pieces; said postage control program further including call answering means for enabling said remotely located postal authority computer to retireve said postal usage information stored in said non-volatile memory.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
64 words
The computer system of claim 1, said postage control program including means for printing a unique serial number, including a unique assigned meter identifier, on each mail piece and means for directly controlling said printer to print postage and said unique serial number on each mail piece so as to prevent said printer from printing said postage and serial number on multiple mail pieces.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
93 words
A method of purchasing postage and applying postage to mail pieces using a computer that includes a printer and a modem that connects the computer to a telephone line;; the method comprising the steps of: providing said modem with a secure non-volatile memory; purchasing postage via said modem from a remotely located postal authority computer, and storing corresponding purchased postage information in said secure non-volatile memory; controlling said printer to print postage on mail pieces; and storing in said secure non-volatile memory postage usage information corresponding to said postage printed on mail pieces.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
93 words
A method of purchasing postage and applying postage to mail pieces using a computer that includes a printer and a modem that connects the computer to a telephone line;; the method comprising the steps of: providing said modem with a secure non-volatile memory; purchasing postage via said modem from a remotely located postal authority computer, and storing corresponding purchased postage information in said secure non-volatile memory; controlling said printer to print postage on mail pieces; and storing in said secure non-volatile memory postage usage information corresponding to said postage printed on mail pieces.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of claim 4, said postal usage information stored in said non-volatile memory including inforamtion indicating postage applied to each of said mail pieces; said method further including enabling said remotely located postal authority computer to retrieve said postal usage information stored in said non-volatile memory.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
63 words
The method of claim 4, said controlling step including controlling said printer to print a unique serial number, including a unique assigned meter identifier, on each mail piece and directly controlling said printer to print said postage and said unique serial number on each mail piece so as to prevent said printer from printing said postage and serial number on multiple mail pieces.