US5625694A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of inhibiting token generation in an open metering system
Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc
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Filing: 1995-12-19
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Granted: 1997-04-29
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Expires: 2015-12-19
Abstract
Abstract A method is provided for inhibiting the generation of digital tokens in an open metering system that includes a host processor and a vault. The method includes the steps of generating in the host processor a first digital token request that corresponds to a first destination identifier and a first postage amount; determining in the host processor if one of the first destination identifier and the first postage amount is different than a prior destination identifier and a prior postage mount, respectively, that correspond to an immediately preceding digital token request; sending the first digital token request to the vault when the first destination identifier and the first postage amount are different than the prior destination identifier and the prior postage amount, respectively; and rejecting the first digital token request when the first destination identifier and the first postage amount are the same as the prior destination identifier and the prior postage amount, respectively. The method includes the further steps of notifying a user when the first destination identifier and the first postage amount are the same as the prior destination identifier and the prior postage amount; providing the user with a capability to confirm that the first digital token request is valid; and sending the first digital token request to the vault when the user confirms that the first digital token request is valid.
Inventors
- 👤 David K. Lee
- 👤 David W. Riley
- 👤 Frederick W. Ryan, Jr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 21:55
CPC Classifications
G; G07; G07B; G07B17/00; G07B17/00185; G07B17/00193; G06; G06Q; G06Q20/00; G06Q20/38; G06Q20/40; G06Q20/401; G07B17/00733; G07B17/00016; G07B17/0008; G07B2017/00153; G07B2017/00177; G07B2017/00201; G07B17/00314; G07B2017/0033; G07B17/00362; G07B2017/00419; G07B2017/00427; G07B17/00459; G07B17/00467; G07B2017/00483; G07B2017/00822; G07B2017/0083
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
210 words
A method of inhibiting issuance of digital tokens in an open metering system comprising a host processor and a vault, the method comprising the steps of: requesting indicia through user interface means operatively coupled to the host processor, said request for indicia including a first destination identifier and a first postage amount; generating in the host processor a first digital token request, said first digital token request corresponding to the first destination identifier and the first postage amount; determining in the host processor if one of the first destination identifier and the first postage amount is different than a prior destination identifier and a prior postage amount, respectively, that correspond to an immediately preceding digital token request; sending the first digital token request to the vault when the first destination identifier and the first postage amount are different than the prior destination identifier and the prior postage amount, respectively; and rejecting in the host processor the first digital token request when the first destination identifier and the first postage amount are the same as the prior destination identifier and the prior postage amount, respectively, whereby the transmission of the first digital token request from the host processor to the vault and the generation of the first digital token are inhibited.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
210 words
A method of inhibiting issuance of digital tokens in an open metering system comprising a host processor and a vault, the method comprising the steps of: requesting indicia through user interface means operatively coupled to the host processor, said request for indicia including a first destination identifier and a first postage amount; generating in the host processor a first digital token request, said first digital token request corresponding to the first destination identifier and the first postage amount; determining in the host processor if one of the first destination identifier and the first postage amount is different than a prior destination identifier and a prior postage amount, respectively, that correspond to an immediately preceding digital token request; sending the first digital token request to the vault when the first destination identifier and the first postage amount are different than the prior destination identifier and the prior postage amount, respectively; and rejecting in the host processor the first digital token request when the first destination identifier and the first postage amount are the same as the prior destination identifier and the prior postage amount, respectively, whereby the transmission of the first digital token request from the host processor to the vault and the generation of the first digital token are inhibited.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
112 words
The method of claim 1 including the further steps of: providing a notification message that the first destination identifier and the first postage amount are the same as the prior destination identifier and the prior postage amount; displaying said notification message through said user interface means when the first destination identifier and the first postage amount are the same as the prior destination identifier and the prior postage amount; providing the user with a capability to confirm through said user interface means that the first digital token request is valid; and sending the first digital token request to the vault when the user confirms that the first digital token request is valid.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 1 including the further step of: inhibiting in the host processor the generation of the first digital token request if the first destination identifier and the first postal amount are not valid.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 3 including the further step of: sending an error message to the user that the destination identifier or the postal amount are not valid; displaying said error message through said user interface means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
66 words
The method of claim 1 comprising the further steps of: rejecting the first digital token request if the postage amount or the destination postal code is not valid; comparing the postage amount with a postage limit amount and available postage funds stored in the vault; and rejecting the first digital token request if the postage amount exceeds the postage limit amount or the available postage funds.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
182 words
A method of inhibiting issuance of digital tokens in an open metering system comprising a host processor and a vault, the method comprising the steps of: generating in the host processor a first digital token request, said first digital token request corresponding to a first destination identifier and a first postage amount; sending the first digital token request to the vault; determining in the vault if one of the first destination identifier and the first postage amount is different than a prior destination identifier and a prior postage amount, respectively, that correspond to an immediately preceding digital token request; generating a first digital token in response to the first digital token request to the vault when the first destination identifier and the first postage amount are different than the prior destination identifier and the prior postage amount, respectively; and rejecting in the vault the first digital token request when the first destination identifier and the first postage amount are the same as the prior destination identifier and the prior postage amount, respectively, whereby the generation of the first digital token is inhibited.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
182 words
A method of inhibiting issuance of digital tokens in an open metering system comprising a host processor and a vault, the method comprising the steps of: generating in the host processor a first digital token request, said first digital token request corresponding to a first destination identifier and a first postage amount; sending the first digital token request to the vault; determining in the vault if one of the first destination identifier and the first postage amount is different than a prior destination identifier and a prior postage amount, respectively, that correspond to an immediately preceding digital token request; generating a first digital token in response to the first digital token request to the vault when the first destination identifier and the first postage amount are different than the prior destination identifier and the prior postage amount, respectively; and rejecting in the vault the first digital token request when the first destination identifier and the first postage amount are the same as the prior destination identifier and the prior postage amount, respectively, whereby the generation of the first digital token is inhibited.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
110 words
The method of claim 6 including the further steps of: sending a reject signal from the vault to the PC; displaying a message on a display of the PC, the message notifying a user when the first destination identifier and the first postage amount are the same as the prior destination identifier and the prior postage amount; providing the user with a capability to respond to the message to confirm that the first digital token request is valid; sending the confirmation to the vault when the user confirms that the first digital token request is valid; and calculating in the vault a first digital token when the confirmation is received.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 6 including the further step of: inhibiting in the vault the generation of the first digital token request if the first destination identifier and the first postal amount are not valid.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 8 including the further step of: sending an error message to the user that the destination identifier or the postal amount are not valid.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
64 words
The method of claim 6 comprising the further steps of: rejecting the digital token request if the postage amount or the destination postal code is not valid; comparing the postage amount with a postage limit amount and available postage funds stored in the vault; and rejecting the digital token request if the postage amount exceeds the postage limit amount or the available postage funds.
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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) | 2000-04-28 | 2000-10-28 | 2001-04-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-04-28 | 2004-10-28 | 2005-04-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-04-28 | 2008-10-28 | 2009-04-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |