POSTAGE METERING SYSTEM EMPLOYING POSITIONAL INFORMATION

• US 20030120617A1
• Filed: 07/21/1999
• Published: 06/26/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/22/1998
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Neopost Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Rodney C. Leroy
• Inventors: LEON, JP
• Application Number:
  US09/359,163
• Publication Number:
  US 20030120617A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/410
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 17/00 Franking apparatus printing aspects B41
• 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 device that includes a processor coupled to a memory and a receiver. The memory holds data indicative of a designated geographic area. The receiver receives and processes signals from a number of transmitting sources to provide an estimate of a position of the metering device. The processor receives data from the memory and the estimated position from the receiver and determines whether the metering device is located within the designated geographic area. The processor can initiate a responsive action based on the estimated position of the metering device. The responsive action can include disabling the entire metering device, disabling a set of operations of the metering device, making a call to the service center, and other actions. The positional estimation can be initiated by the metering device, the service center, or other entities. The transmitting sources can be Global Position System (GPS) satellites, cellular base stations, or other systems.

Claims

1. A metering device comprising:

a memory configured to hold data indicative of a designated geographic area;

a receiver configured to receive and process signals from a plurality of transmitting sources to provide an estimate of a position of the metering device; and

a processor operatively coupled to the memory and metering device, the processor configured to receive data from the memory and the estimated position from the receiver and to determine whether the metering device is located within the designated geographic area.

2. The metering device of claim 1, wherein the processor initiates a responsive action based on the estimated position of the metering device.

3. The metering device of claim 2, wherein the responsive action includes disabling a set of operations of the metering device.

4. The metering device of claim 2, wherein the responsive action is initiated by a service center that operatively couples to the metering device.

5. The metering device of claim 2, wherein the responsive action is self initiated by the metering device.

6. The metering device of claim 1, wherein the transmitting sources comprise Global Position System (GPS) satellites.

7. The metering device of claim 1, wherein the transmitting sources comprise cellular base stations.

8. The metering device of claim 1, wherein the signals are received from at least three transmitting sources.

9. A metering device comprising:

a receiver configured to receive and process signals from a plurality of Global Position System (GPS) satellites to provide positional information indicative of an estimated position of the metering device; and

a processor operatively coupled to the receiver, the processor configured to receive the positional information and initiate a responsive action based on the received positional information.

10. The metering device of claim 9, wherein the metering device disables a set of operations based on the positional information.

11. The metering device of claim 9, wherein the signals are received from at least three GPS satellites.

12. A method for providing security in a postage metering system using positional information, wherein the postage metering system includes a metering device, the method comprising:

determining a designated geographic area for a metering device;

receiving signals, at the metering device, from a plurality of transmitting sources;

processing the received signals to provide an estimate of a position of the metering device;

determining whether the estimated position of the metering device is within the designated geographic area; and

initiating a responsive action based on the estimated position of the metering device.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the transmitting sources include Global Position System (GPS) satellites.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the transmitting sources include cellular base stations.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein the signals are received from at least three transmitting sources.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein the initiating includes

disabling a set of operations of the metering device based on the estimated position.

17. In a postage metering system, a method for providing functions based on positional information comprising:

receiving signals, at a metering device, from a plurality of Global Position System (GPS) satellites;

processing the received signals to provide positional information indicative of an estimated position of the metering device; and

initiating an action responsive to the positional information.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

disabling a set of operations of the metering device based on the positional information.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the signals are received from at least three GPS satellites.