US5963928A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Secure metering vault having LED output for recovery of postal funds
Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc
•
Filing: 1997-07-17
•
Granted: 1999-10-05
•
Expires: 2017-07-17
Abstract
Abstract A secure metering vault for use with a host printing module via a secure communication link includes a secure output device such as a light emitting diode (LED) configured for outputting the available postal funds stored in the secure metering module in response to a detected malfunction in the secure communication link. The vault includes a processor that monitors the condition of the secure communication link, and that controls the storage and updating of the stored available postal funds in a nonvolatile memory. If a failure is detected in the communication link, the processor outputs to the LED the stored value of the available postal funds based upon a prescribed format, such as Morse code or some other blinking pattern that is equivalent to the postal funds remaining in the vault. Use of the secure output device to output the stored available postal funds enables a user to recover the funds without tampering with the secure metering module, which may otherwise cause self-destruction of the vault or deletion of the available postal funds from memory.
Inventors
- 👤 David K. Lee
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 21:58
CPC Classifications
G; G07; G07B; G07B17/00; G07B17/00016; G07B17/0008; G07B17/00185; G07B17/00314; G07B2017/00112; G07B2017/00153; G07B2017/00177; G07B2017/00322; G07B2017/00338
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
109 words
A secure metering module of a modular postal mailing system comprising: a nonvolatile memory configured for storing available postal funds; a communication port configured to establish a secure communication link between the secure metering module and an external host processor the external host processor controlling printing of indicia having a corresponding postal value; a processor configured for updating the stored available postal funds based on the corresponding postal value of a printed indicia, the processor configured for detecting a malfunction in the secure communication link; and a secure output device configured for outputting the stored available postal funds from the secure metering module in response to the detected malfunction.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
109 words
A secure metering module of a modular postal mailing system comprising: a nonvolatile memory configured for storing available postal funds; a communication port configured to establish a secure communication link between the secure metering module and an external host processor the external host processor controlling printing of indicia having a corresponding postal value; a processor configured for updating the stored available postal funds based on the corresponding postal value of a printed indicia, the processor configured for detecting a malfunction in the secure communication link; and a secure output device configured for outputting the stored available postal funds from the secure metering module in response to the detected malfunction.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
34 words
The module of claim 1, wherein the processor generates status information signals specifying a status of the secure metering module, the secure output device outputting status indicia in response to the status information signals.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
48 words
The module of claim 2, wherein the status indicia include at least one of a successful power connection, a system check, a successful message transmission to the external host processor via the communication port, and a successful message reception from the external host processor via the communication port.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
31 words
The module of claim 2, wherein the processor is configured to identify the detected malfunction on at least one of a transmit line and a receive line of the communication link.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
The module of claim 1, wherein the processor detects the malfunction based on failure to receive a prescribed message from the external host processor over a prescribed interval.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
The module of claim 5, wherein the prescribed interval corresponds to a prescribed number of time intervals following respective power-up conditions.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
The module of claim 5, wherein the secure output device is configured to output status indicia in response to successful transmission/reception of a message to/from the host processor.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
The module of claim 1, wherein the secure output device outputs the postal funds information as a wireless signal having a prescribed format.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
41 words
The module of claim 8, wherein the secure output device is a light emitting diode (LED) outputting the wireless signal as an optical signal, the processor outputting LED driver signals specifying the stored available postal funds according to the prescribed format.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
12 words
The module of claim 9, wherein the prescribed format is Morse code.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
44 words
The module of claim 9, further comprising a tamper detection unit configured to detect a tampering attempt on the secure metering module, the tamper detection unit causing deletion of the available postal funds from the nonvolatile memory in response to the detected tampering attempt.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
120 words
A secure metering module of a modular postal mailing system comprising: a nonvolatile memory configured for storing available postal funds; a communication port configured to establish a secure communication link between the secure metering module and an external host processor, the external host processor controlling printing of indicia having a corresponding postal value; a processor configured for deleting the nonvolatile memory in response to a detected tampering attempt and for detecting a malfunction in the secure commnunication link, the processor generating error signals representing the available postal funds in response to the detected malfunction; and a secure output device for outputting visually-perceptible signals representing the stored available postal funds from the secure metering module in response to the error signals.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
120 words
A secure metering module of a modular postal mailing system comprising: a nonvolatile memory configured for storing available postal funds; a communication port configured to establish a secure communication link between the secure metering module and an external host processor, the external host processor controlling printing of indicia having a corresponding postal value; a processor configured for deleting the nonvolatile memory in response to a detected tampering attempt and for detecting a malfunction in the secure commnunication link, the processor generating error signals representing the available postal funds in response to the detected malfunction; and a secure output device for outputting visually-perceptible signals representing the stored available postal funds from the secure metering module in response to the error signals.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
34 words
The module of claim 12, wherein the processor generates status information signals specifying a status of the secure metering module, the secure output device outputting status indicia in response to the status information signals.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
48 words
The module of claim 13, wherein the status indicia include at least one of a successful power connection, a system check, a successful message transmission to the external host processor via the communication port, and a successful message reception from the external host processor via the communication port.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
77 words
The module of claim 13, wherein the processor is configured to identify the detected malfunction on at least one of a transmit line and a receive line of the communication link, the processor simultaneously outputting a funds availability message specifying the stored available postal funds on the transmit line and an output signal specifying the stored available postal funds to the secure output device in response to the identification of the detected malfunction in the receive line.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
28 words
The module of claim 12, wherein the processor detects the malfunction based on failure to receive a prescribed message from the external host processor over a prescribed interval.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
21 words
The module of claim 16, wherein the prescribed interval corresponds to a prescribed number of time intervals following respective power-up conditions.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
28 words
The module of claim 16, wherein the secure output device is configured to output status indicia in response to successful transmission/reception of a message to/from the host processor.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
23 words
The module of claim 12, wherein the secure output device outputs the postal funds information as a wireless signal having a prescribed format.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
41 words
The module of claim 19, wherein the secure output device is a light emitting diode (LED) outputting the wireless signal as an optical signal, the processor outputting LED driver signals specifying the stored available postal funds according to the prescribed format.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
12 words
The module of claim 20, wherein the prescribed format is Morse code.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
44 words
The module of claim 20, further comprising a tamper detection unit configured to detect a tampering attempt on the secure metering module, the tamper detection unit causing deletion of the available postal funds from the nonvolatile memory in response to the detected tampering attempt.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
107 words
In a secure metering module of a modular postal mailing system, the secure metering module storing available postal funds and having a communication port configured for establishing a secure communication link with an external host processor, a method in the secure metering module comprising: determining an operating condition of the secure metering module; detecting a failure in the communication link; and selectively outputting via a secure output device in the secure metering module at least one of a status indication of the determined operating condition and a funds indication of the stored available postal funds based on the determined operating condition and the detection of the failure.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
107 words
In a secure metering module of a modular postal mailing system, the secure metering module storing available postal funds and having a communication port configured for establishing a secure communication link with an external host processor, a method in the secure metering module comprising: determining an operating condition of the secure metering module; detecting a failure in the communication link; and selectively outputting via a secure output device in the secure metering module at least one of a status indication of the determined operating condition and a funds indication of the stored available postal funds based on the determined operating condition and the detection of the failure.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 23, wherein the selectively outputting step comprises outputting as a wireless signal in a prescribed format the stored available postal funds in response to the detected failure in the communication link.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
81 words
The method of claim 24, wherein: the secure metering module includes a processor and the secure output device is a light emitting diode (LED); the detecting step comprising detecting by the processor a failure to receive a prescribed message from the host processor within a prescribed interval; and the selectively outputting step comprises outputting from the processor a driver signal corresponding to the stored available postal funds, and generating by the LED the wireless signal in response to the driver signal.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4459582A
Cited
US4686912A
Cited
US4918601A
Cited
US5410590A
Cited
US5579234A
Cited
US5573233A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-10-04 | 2003-04-05 | 2003-10-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-10-04 | 2007-04-05 | 2007-10-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-10-04 | 2011-04-05 | 2011-10-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |