Method and apparatus for controlling a machine

• US 5,051,564 A
• Filed: 01/03/1989
• Issued: 09/24/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 01/03/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Pitney Bowes Incorporated (Böwe Systec AG)
• Original Assignee: Pitney Bowes Incorporated (Böwe Systec AG)
• Inventors: Schmidt, Alfred C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Levy, Stuart S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): duBois, Steven M.
• Application Number:
  US07/292,847
• Time in Patent Office: 994 Days
• Field of Search: 235/375, 235/380, 235/381, 235/382, 235/382.5, 364/464.02, 364/466, 340/825.31-825.34, 355/201, 355/202
• US Class Current: 235/381
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 17/00193 Constructional details of apparatus in a franking system
• 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 2017/00241 Modular design
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00322 Communication between components/modules/parts, e.g. printer, printhead, keyboard, conveyor or central unit
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 9/02 Devices for alarm or indication, e.g. when empty; Advertising arrangements in coin-freed apparatus alarms or warning devices indicating the interruption of flow to be metered G07F15/10

Abstract

A machine control and accounting arrangement for controlling operation of a machine includes a secure housing, an electronic control system within the housing, and first and second interfaces coupled to the control system to permit communication between the control system and devices external of said housing. The first interface comprising an arrangement for applying a count signal to the control system. The second interface comprising an arrangement for applying encrypted control signals to the control system. The control system includes a first register for storing a current count corresponding to the count signal, a second register for storing an authorization count, an arrangement for applying an enable signal to the first interface when the count of the first register does not exceed the count of the second register, a decoding arrangement for decrypting control signals applied thereto to produce a decrypted signal, and an arrangement responsive to a valid decrypted signal for modifying the count in the second register.

Claims

1. A machine control and accounting arrangement for controlling the usage of a machine external to said arrangement, comprising:

a) a secure housing;

b) a control system within said housing;

c) first and second interfaces coupled to said control system to permit communication between said control system and devices external of said housing;

d) said first interface comprising means for transmitting data representative of operational characteristics of said machine, said data including a count signal, from said machine to said control system in a secure manner, and means for transmitting an enable signal from said control system to said machine in a secure manner;

e) said second interface comprising means for transmitting control signals from a device external to said housing to said control system; and

,

f) said control system further comprising;

f1) means responsive to said count signal for comparing a cumulative function of the count signal with a stored authorization count, and only if said comparison is satisfied transmitting said enable signal to said machine to enable operation of said machine;

f2) means responsive to said control signals for decrypting said control signals to produce a decrypted signal and for modifying said authorization count in response to a valid decryption signal; and

f3) means responsive to said data for modifying future operational characteristics of said machine as a function of said data.

2. A machine control and accounting arrangement as described in claim 1 wherein said cumulative function of said count signal equals the cumulative total of cycles of operation for said machine.

3. A machine control and accounting arrangement as described in claim 1 wherein said secure manner of transmission of said count signal and said enable signal comprises a preliminary exchange in accordance with a predetermined logical interface such that said machine and said arrangement establish that interconnection to compatible equipment has been made.

4. An arrangement as described in claim 1 wherein said means for modifying future operational characteristics further comprises means for modifying said comparison.

5. An arrangement as described in claim 1 wherein said means for modifying future operational characteristics further comprises means for entering programming steps or data into said machine.

6. A method of controlling the usage of a machine comprising the steps of:

a) providing an authorization count;

b) receiving data, including a count signal, representative of operational characteristics of said machine;

c) computing a cumulative function of said count signal;

d) modifying future operational characteristics of said machine as a function of said data; and

e) comparing said cumulative function to said authorization count and providing an enable signal to said machine if and only if said comparison is satisfied.

7. A method as described in claim 6 comprising the further steps of:

a) receiving encrypted control signals;

b) decrypting said control signals to provide a decrypted signal, and modifying said authorization count in response to said valid decrypted signal.

8. A method as described in claim 6 wherein said predetermined cumulative function equals the cumulative total of cycles of operation of said machine.

9. A method as described in claim 6 wherein step d) further comprises the step of modifying said comparison.

10. A method as described in claim 6 wherein step d) further comprises the step of entering programming steps or data into said machine.