Patent US5778066A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5778066A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method and apparatus for authentication of postage accounting reports
Assignee: Neopost Inc
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Filing: 1995-11-22
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Granted: 1998-07-07
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Expires: 2015-11-22
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus and method for authentication of postage accounting reports. Postage accounting report data is authenticated by first assembling authentication mark data from the postage accounting report data and encrypting the resultant information to form an authentication mark. A physical representation of that authentication mark is then affixed to a postage accounting report generated by a postage accounting report system. The postage accounting report may subsequently be authenticated by communicating the authentication mark to a responsible party (for example, a postal authority or manufacturer) for purposes of decrypting the authentication mark and authenticating the postage accounting report data using the decrypted information.
Inventors
- 👤 Chandrakant J. Shah
- 👤 Dennis T. Gilham
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 23:16
CPC Classifications
G; G07; G07B; G07B17/00; G07B17/00733; G07B17/00016; G07B17/0008; G07B17/00185; G07B17/00193; G07B2017/00088; G07B2017/00096; G07B2017/00137; G07B2017/00201; G07B2017/00217; G07B2017/00241; G07B17/00362; G07B2017/00395; G07B2017/00411; G07B2017/00427; G07B2017/00741; G07B2017/0075; G07B2017/00758; G07B2017/00959; G07B2017/00967
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
121 words
A method of authenticating postage accounting report data, comprising the steps of: maintaining a first set of postage accounting data within a secure metering device and a second set of postage accounting data within a general purpose computer, said secure metering device coupled to said general purpose computer; comparing said second set of said postage accounting data with said first set of said postage accounting data, and, if said second set of said postage accounting report data agrees with said first set of said postage accounting report data, generating authentication mark data from said second set of postage accounting report data; encrypting said authentication mark data to produce an authentication mark; and affixing said authentication mark to a postage accounting report.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
121 words
A method of authenticating postage accounting report data, comprising the steps of: maintaining a first set of postage accounting data within a secure metering device and a second set of postage accounting data within a general purpose computer, said secure metering device coupled to said general purpose computer; comparing said second set of said postage accounting data with said first set of said postage accounting data, and, if said second set of said postage accounting report data agrees with said first set of said postage accounting report data, generating authentication mark data from said second set of postage accounting report data; encrypting said authentication mark data to produce an authentication mark; and affixing said authentication mark to a postage accounting report.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
51 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of: communicating said authentication mark to an authority for purposes of decrypting said authentication mark and recovering said authentication mark data; and comparing said authentication mark data to the postage accounting report data for purposes of authenticating the postage accounting report data.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 2 whereby an authenticated report is generated as part of a postage revenue accounting system, using said general purpose computer, wherein said general purpose computer is an element of a modular postage accounting system.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 3 wherein said first set of postage accounting data represents report totals maintained in said general purpose computer and said second set of postage accounting data represents postage revenue register data stored in said secure metering device.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
A postage accounting report generation system wherein postage accounting reports are authenticated by means of an encrypted authentication mark.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
A postage accounting report generation system wherein postage accounting reports are authenticated by means of an encrypted authentication mark.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said authentication mark indicates said first set of postage accounting data agreed with said second set of postage accounting data at a time when said postage accounting report was printed.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
40 words
The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said postage accounting reports are generated as a part of a postage revenue accounting system, using said general purpose computer, wherein said general purpose computer is an element of a modular postage accounting system.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
68 words
The apparatus of claim 7, wherein postage accounting report data is automatically validated by comparing postage accounting report totals stored in said secure metering device to postage revenue register data within said modular postage accounting system, wherein said postage register revenue data is represented by said first set of postage accounting data and said postage accounting report totals are represented by said second set of postage accounting data.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
104 words
A method of authenticating postage accounting report data, comprising the steps of: maintaining a first set of postage accounting data within a secure metering device and a second set of postage accounting data within a general purpose computer, said secure metering device coupled to said general purpose computer; comparing said second set of said postage accounting data with said first set of said postage accounting data, and, if said second set of said postage accounting report data agrees with said first set of said postage accounting report data, generating an authentication mark, and printing a postage accounting report having said authentication mark affixed thereto.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
104 words
A method of authenticating postage accounting report data, comprising the steps of: maintaining a first set of postage accounting data within a secure metering device and a second set of postage accounting data within a general purpose computer, said secure metering device coupled to said general purpose computer; comparing said second set of said postage accounting data with said first set of said postage accounting data, and, if said second set of said postage accounting report data agrees with said first set of said postage accounting report data, generating an authentication mark, and printing a postage accounting report having said authentication mark affixed thereto.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
92 words
The method of claim 9, wherein said comparing step comprises the steps of: downloading at least a portion of said second set of postage accounting data from said general purpose computer to said secure metering device; performing a comparison of said at least said portion of said second set of postage accounting data with at least a portion of said first set of postage accounting data, said comparison being performed within said secure metering device; and sending a result of said comparison from said secure metering device to said general purpose computer.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 9, wherein said step of generating an authentication mark comprises the steps of: deriving authentication mark data from said second set of said postage accounting report data; and generating said authentication mark by encrypting said authentication mark data.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 9, wherein said step of generating an authentication mark comprises the steps of: printing said second set of said postage accounting report data as said postage accounting report, and affixing said authentication mark to said postage accounting report.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
124 words
The method of claim 9, wherein said maintaining step comprises the steps of: initializing a first postage accounting report data register within said secure metering device; creating a second postage accounting report datafile in said general purpose computer; and upon said secure metering device receiving a transaction request from said general purpose computer, determining a type of said transaction request, and, if said type is an imprint transaction, debiting postage value in said postage accounting report data register, and recording said debiting in said first and said second postage accounting report datafiles, and if said type is a reset transaction, crediting postage value in said postage accounting report data register, and recording said crediting in said first and said second postage accounting report datafiles.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 13, wherein said maintaining step further comprises the step of maintaining departmentalized accounting data in said general purpose computer by maintaining a separate file in said general purpose computer for each one of a plurality of departments.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
84 words
The method of claim 9, further comprising the steps of: communicating an authentication mark to an authenticating party; entering said authentication mark data into a verification system; generating decoded authentication mark data by decoding said authentication mark; and comparing said decoded authentication mark to postage accounting report data on said postage accounting report, and, if said decoded authentication mark data agrees with said postage accounting report data, indicating said postage accounting report is authentic, and, otherwise, indicating said postage accounting report is not authentic.
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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) | 2001-07-06 | 2002-01-05 | 2002-07-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-07-06 | 2006-01-05 | 2006-07-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-07-06 | 2010-01-05 | 2010-07-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |