METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR REMOTELY PRINTING POSTAGE INDICIA

• US 20030078893A1
• Filed: 07/21/1999
• Published: 04/24/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/1998
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Neopost Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Neopost Incorporated
• Inventors: SHAH, CHANDRAKANT, COOLIDGE, DAVID A., LEON, JP
• Application Number:
  US09/358,511
• Publication Number:
  US 20030078893A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/60
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• 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 17/00314 Communication within apparatus, personal computer [PC] system, or server, e.g. between printhead and central unit in a franking machine
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 17/00733 Cryptography or similar special procedures in a franking system
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00137 In a LAN
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00322 Communication between components/modules/parts, e.g. printer, printhead, keyboard, conveyor or central unit
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/0062 Label
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00637 Special printing techniques, e.g. interlacing
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00653 Special inks, e.g. fluorescent
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00967 PSD [Postal Security Device] as defined by the USPS [US Postal Service]

Abstract

A postage metering system that includes a central processing system and a remote postage printing device (RPPD). The central processing system includes a secure metering device (SMD) operatively coupled to a central computer and configured to store accounting information. The RPPD operatively couples to the SMD via a wireless communications link. The RPPD receives a user request for postage, transmits the user request to the SMD via the wireless communications link, receives a secure postage indicium from the SMD, and directs printing of an indicium. The secure postage indicium can be generated using digital signature, encryption, or encoding, or a combination thereof.

Claims

1. A postage metering system comprising:

a central processing system that includes

a central computer, and

a secure metering device (SMD) operatively coupled to the central computer and configured to store accounting information; and

a remote postage printing device (RPPD) operatively coupled to the SMD via a wireless communications link, the RPPD configured to

receive a user request for postage,

transmit the user request to the SMD via the wireless communications link,

receive a secure postage indicium from the SMD, and

direct printing of an indicium.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a printer coupled to the RPPD and configured to print the indicium when directed.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the central processing system further includes a first wireless communications device coupled to the central computer, and wherein the RPPD includes a second wireless communications device.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the first and second wireless communications devices are operated at an RF frequency.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the SMD includes

revenue registers configured to store the accounting information,

a processor configured to receive the accounting information, direct generation of the secure postage indicium having a value, and account for the indicium value, and

an enclosure that houses the processor and the revenue registers.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the SMD is enclosed within the central computer.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the RPPD includes

a processor,

a print unit coupled to the processor,

a wireless communications device coupled to the processor, and

a housing that encloses the processor, printing unit, and communications device.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the RPPD is housed in a portable housing.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the RPPD is configured as a hand-held unit.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the SMD is further configured to authenticate and process the user request from the RPPD.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the secure postage indicium includes a digital signature.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the secure postage indicium is generated using encryption.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein the secure postage indicium includes an identifier indicative of accounted for payment of the indicium.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the secure postage indicium is represented by a file containing digital data.

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the RPPD is identified by a unique identifier.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the SMD communicates with the central computer via a secure communications link.

17. The system of claim 1, wherein the RPPD transmits the user request along with a digital signature to the SMD.

19. The system of claim 1, wherein each SMD is configured to process user requests from a particular set of RPPDs.

18. A postage metering system comprising:

a central processing system that includes

a central computer;

at least one secure metering device (SMD) operatively coupled to the central computer, each SMD configured to store postal accounting information for a particular set of users; and

a plurality of remote postage printing devices (RPPDs) operatively coupled to the at least one SMD via a wireless communications link, each RPPD configured to

receive a user request for postage,

transmit the user request to a particular SMD via the wireless communications link,

receive a secure postage indicium from the particular SMD, and

direct printing of the requested indicium.

20. A method for remotely printing postage comprising:

receiving a user request for postage at a remote postage printing device (RPPD);

sending the user request from the RPPD to a central secure metering device (CSMD) via a wireless communications link;

receiving a secure postage indicium from the CSMD;

verifying an authenticity of the secure postage indicium; and

directing printing of a postage indicium in accordance with the verified secure postage indicium.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

authenticating the user request from the RPPD.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising

generating the secure postage indicium in response to the authenticated user request.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the secure postage indicium is generated using digital signature.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the secure postage indicium is generated using encryption.