On-line value-bearing indicium printing using DSA

• US 20010044783A1
• Filed: 02/16/2001
• Published: 11/22/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stamps.com, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Stamps.com, Inc.
• Inventors: Ogg, Craig Leonard, Weisberg, Seth
• Granted Patent: US 7,299,210 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/62
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/0855 involving a third party
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/382 insuring higher security of transaction
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0609 Buyer or seller confidence or verification
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 17/00024 Physical or organizational aspects of franking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 17/0008 Communication details outside or between apparatus coin-freed apparatus for franking per se G07F17/26
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 17/00435 Details specific to central, non-customer apparatus, e.g. servers at post office or vendor
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00145 via the Internet
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00161 from a central, non-user location, e.g. for updating rates or software, or for refilling funds
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00201 Open franking system, i.e. the printer is not dedicated to franking only, e.g. PC (Personal Computer)
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00443 Verification of mailpieces, e.g. by checking databases
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00588 Barcode
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00709 Scanning mailpieces
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00766 Digital signature, e.g. DSA, DSS, ECDSA, ESIGN
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00782 Hash function, e.g. MD5, MD2, SHA
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00967 PSD [Postal Security Device] as defined by the USPS [US Postal Service]

Abstract

A method and apparatus for generating a Value Bearing Indicium (VBI) for on-line applications. A VBI is generated by hashing user information to create a message digest that is used to create a digital signature. The digital signature is combined with the user information to create a VBI that can be validated by a variety of stand-alone or on-line methods. An on-line postage metering application using the VBI is described.

Claims

1. A method of printing a value bearing indicium (VBI), the method comprising the steps of:

generating a message digest by hashing relevant information;

generating a digital signature from the message digest;

generating a textual representation of the digital signature; and

generating a 2-D bar code comprising the relevant information.

2. The method of

claim 1

, wherein the VBI is a ticket.

3. The method of

claim 1

, wherein the VBI is a coupon.

4. The method of

claim 1

, wherein the VBI is a traveler'"'"'s check.

5. The method of

claim 1

, wherein the VBI is currency.

6. The method of

claim 1

, wherein:

the representation of the digital signature further includes a right side;

the 2-D bar code further includes a left side; and

the representation of the digital signature right side is adjacent to the 2-D bar code left side.

7. The method of

claim 1

, wherein:

the representation of the digital signature further includes a top side;

the bar code further includes a bottom side; and

the representation of the digital signature top side is adjacent to the 2-D bar code bottom side.

8. The method of

claim 1

, wherein:

the representation of the digital signature further includes a bottom side;

the bar code further includes a top side; and

the representation of the digital signature bottom side is adjacent to the 2-D bar code top side.

9. The method of

claim 1

, wherein:

the representation of the digital signature further includes a right side;

the bar code further includes a left side; and

the representation of the digital signature right side is adjacent to the 2-D bar code left side.

10. The method of

claim 1

, wherein the VBI is postage for a mail piece.

11. The method of

claim 10

, the relevant information including one or more of an indicium version number, an algorithm identifier, a certificate serial number, a postage security device manufacturer identifier, a postage security device model identifier, a postage security device serial number, an ascending register value, a postage amount, a date of mailing, a licensing postal code, a software identifier, a descending register value, and a rate category.

12. A data processing system adapted to print a VBI, the data processing system comprising:

one or more processors; and

one or more memories operably coupled to the processors and having program instructions stored therein, the processors being operable to execute the program instructions, the program instructions including;

generating a message digest by hashing relevant information;

generating a digital signature from the message digest;

generating a text representation of the digital signature; and

generating a 2-D bar code comprising the relevant information.

13. The data processing system of

claim 12

, wherein:

the representation of the digital signature further includes a right side;

the 2-D bar code further includes a left side; and

the representation of the digital signature right side is adjacent to the 2-D bar code left side.

14. The data processing system of

claim 12

, wherein:

the representation of the digital signature further includes a top side;

the bar code further includes a bottom side; and

the representation of the digital signature top side is adjacent to the 2-D bar code bottom side.

15. The data processing system of

claim 12

, wherein:

the representation of the digital signature further includes a bottom side;

the bar code further includes a top side; and

the representation of the digital signature bottom side is adjacent to the 2-D bar code top side.

16. The data processing system of

claim 12

, wherein:

the representation of the digital signature further includes a left side;

the 2-D bar code further includes a left right; and

the representation of the digital signature left side is adjacent to the 2-D bar code right side.

17. The data processing system of

claim 12

wherein the data processing system is a closed metering system.

18. The data processing system of

claim 12

wherein the data processing system is an open metering system.

19. A data processing system adapted to print a VBI, the data processing system comprising:

a processor; and

a memory operably coupled to the processor and having program instructions stored therein, the processor being operable to execute the program instructions, the program instructions including;

generating a message digest by hashing relevant information;

generating a digital signature from the message digest;

generating a text representation of the digital signature; and

generating a 2-D bar code comprising the relevant information.

20. The data processing system of

claim 19

, wherein:

the representation of the digital signature further includes a right side;

the 2-D bar code further includes a left side; and

the representation of the digital signature right side is adjacent to the 2-D bar code left side.

21. The data processing system of

claim 19

, wherein:

the representation of the digital signature further includes a top side;

the 2-D bar code further includes a bottom side; and

the representation of the digital signature top side is adjacent to the 2-D bar code bottom side.

22. The data processing system of

claim 19

, wherein:

the representation of the digital signature further includes a left side;

the 2-D bar code further includes a right side; and

the representation of the digital signature left side is adjacent to the 2-D bar code right side.

23. The data processing system of

claim 19

, wherein:

the representation of the digital signature further includes a bottom side;

the 2-D bar code further includes a top side; and

the representation of the digital signature bottom side is adjacent to the 2-D bar code top side.

24. The data processing system of

claim 19

, wherein the VBI is postage for a mail piece.

25. The data processing system of

claim 19

, wherein the VBI is a ticket.

26. The data processing system of

claim 19

, wherein the VBI is a coupon.

27. The data processing system of

claim 19

, wherein the VBI is a traveler'"'"'s check.

28. The data processing system of

claim 19

, wherein the VBI is currency.

29. The data processing system of

claim 19

, wherein the VBI is postage for a mail piece.

30. A computer-readable storage medium embodying computer program instructions for execution by a computer, the computer program instructions adapting a computer to provide a value bearing indicium to a user via a computer network, the computer program instructions comprising:

generating a message digest by hashing relevant information;

generating a digital signature from the message digest;

generating a text representation of the digital signature; and

generating a 2-D bar code comprising the relevant information.

31. The computer-readable storage medium of

claim 30

, wherein:

the representation of the digital signature further includes a right side;

the 2-D bar code further includes a left side; and

the digital signature right side is adjacent to the 2D bar code left side.

32. The computer-readable storage medium of

claim 30

, wherein:

the representation of the digital signature further includes a top side;

the 2-D bar code further includes a bottom side; and

the representation of the digital signature top side is adjacent to the 2-D bar code bottom side.

33. The computer-readable storage medium of

claim 30

, wherein:

the representation of the digital signature further includes a left side;

the 2-D bar code further includes a right side; and

the representation of the digital signature left side is adjacent to the 2-D bar code right side.

34. The computer-readable storage medium of

claim 30

, wherein:

the representation of the digital signature further includes a bottom side;

the 2-D bar code further includes a top side; and

the representation of the digital signature bottom side is adjacent to the 2-D bar code top side.

35. A VBI comprising:

a 2-D barcode including relevant information; and

a text representation of a digital signature generated from a message digest, the message digest generated using a secure hash algorithm to hash the relevant information.

36. The VBI of

claim 35

, wherein:

the VBI is postage for a mail piece; and

the relevant information is mailing information.

37. The VBI of

claim 36

, the mailing information including one or more of an indicium version number, an algorithm identifier, a certificate serial number, a postage security device manufacturer identifier, a postage security device model identifier, a postage security device serial number, an ascending register value, a postage amount, a date of mailing, a licensing postal code, a software identifier, a descending register value, and a rate category.