NETWORKED FRANKING SYSTEM WITH FACILITATED MAINTENANCE

• US 20070150421A1
• Filed: 08/30/2006
• Published: 06/28/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Neopost Technologies French Limited Company
• Original Assignee: Neopost Technologies S.A. (Quadient SA)
• Inventors: Chatte, Fabien
• Application Number:
  US11/468,436
• Publication Number:
  US 20070150421A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/403
• 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 2017/00137 In a LAN
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00145 via the Internet

Abstract

In a mail franking system including a franking management module (32) and at least one data processing means (34A-34D) associated with means of printing a postmark (36A-36B, 38A-38B) and connected to the franking management module via a local area network (LAN), it is provided that the franking management module includes a Web server and the data processing means includes a Web browser to access a franking management application residing on the Web server. This franking management module is a franking machine (32).

Claims

1. Mail franking system including a franking management module (10-12;

32) and at least one data processing means (14A-14D;

34A-34D) associated with means of printing a postmark (16A-16B, 18A-18B;

36A-36B, 38A-38B) and connected to said franking management module via a local area network (LAN), wherein said franking management module includes a Web server and said data processing means includes a Web browser to access a franking management application residing on the Web server.

2. System according to claim 1, wherein the franking management module additionally includes an FTP server intended to cooperate with an FTP client installed on a remote management server (22).

3. System according to claim 1, wherein said franking management module includes a franking machine (32).

4. System according to claim 1, wherein said franking management module includes a general purpose computer (10) associated with a secure postage metering device (12).

5. System according to claim 1, wherein said printing means include a standard printer (16A-16B;

36A-36B).

6. System according to claim 1, wherein said printing means include a franked label dispenser (18A-18B;

38A-38B).

7. System according to claim 1, wherein said data processing means includes a personal computer (14A-14D;

34A-34C).

8. System according to claim 1, wherein said data processing means includes a portable digital terminal (34D) connected to said local area network via a wireless link.

12. Franking management module according to claim 8, wherein said franking management module includes a general purpose computer (10) associated with a secure postage metering device (12).

9. Franking management module intended to cooperate over a local area network (LAN) with at least one data processing means (14A-14D;

34A-34D) associated with means of printing postmarks (16A, 16B, 18A, 18B;

36A, 36B, 38A, 38B), wherein it includes a Web server accessible from a Web browser installed on said data processing means.

10. Franking management module according to claim 9, wherein it additionally includes an FTP server intended to cooperate with an FTP client installed on a remote management server (22).

11. Franking management module according to claim 9, wherein said franking management module includes a franking machine (32).

13. Franking management module according to claim 10, wherein said franking management module includes a franking machine (32).

14. Franking management module according to claim 9, wherein said franking management module includes a general purpose computer (10) associated with a secure postage metering device (12).