Secure postage dispensing system
First Claim
1. A secure postage dispensing system, said system comprises:
- means for receiving mailing information;
said mailing information including a list of addresses, said list of addresses being associated with a number of mail pieces to be sent, and information indicative of the postage due for said mail pieces;
means for calculating the total postage required for said mail pieces;
means for establishing communication with a funds control center, said funds control center being adapted to receive said total postage and the total number of mail pieces to be mailed, said funds control center including means for effecting a funds transfer in the amount of said total postage to a carrier service and, upon completion of said funds transfer, returning a cryptographic key and a batch identifier;
means, using said cryptographic key, for providing a unique encrypted number for each address in said list of addresses; and
means for outputting said list of addresses, each said address having said unique encrypted number appended thereto.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A secure postage dispensing system is provided, which comprises: apparatus for receiving mailing information including a list of addresses, wherein the list is associated with a number of mail pieces to be sent and information indicative of the postage due for the mail pieces; structure for calculating the total postage required for the mail pieces; and structure for establishing communication with a funds control center, which is adapted to receive the total postage and the total number of mail pieces to be mailed and includes instrumentalities for effecting a funds transfer in the amount of the total postage to a carrier service and, upon completion of such funds transfer, returning a cryptographic key and a batch identifier. In addition, the dispensing system includes apparatus for using said cryptographic key to provide a unique encrypted number for each address in the list of addresses, and apparatus for outputting the list of addresses with each address having the unique encrypted number appended thereto.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A secure postage dispensing system, said system comprises:
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means for receiving mailing information;
said mailing information including a list of addresses, said list of addresses being associated with a number of mail pieces to be sent, and information indicative of the postage due for said mail pieces;means for calculating the total postage required for said mail pieces; means for establishing communication with a funds control center, said funds control center being adapted to receive said total postage and the total number of mail pieces to be mailed, said funds control center including means for effecting a funds transfer in the amount of said total postage to a carrier service and, upon completion of said funds transfer, returning a cryptographic key and a batch identifier; means, using said cryptographic key, for providing a unique encrypted number for each address in said list of addresses; and means for outputting said list of addresses, each said address having said unique encrypted number appended thereto. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method for securely dispensing postage, said method comprising the steps of:
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receiving mailing information;
said mailing information including a list of addresses, said list of addresses being associated with a number of mail pieces to be sent, and information indicative of the postage due for said mail pieces;calculating the total postage required for said mail pieces; establishing communication with a funds control center, said funds control center being adapted to receive said total postage and the total number of mail pieces to be mailed, said funds control center including means for effecting a funds transfer in the amount of said total postage to a carrier service and, upon completion of said funds transfer, returning a cryptographic key and a batch identifier; providing a unique encrypted number for each address in said list of addresses; and outputting said list of addresses, each said address having said unique encrypted number appended thereto. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification