Remote meter I/O configuration

• US 5,107,455 A
• Filed: 03/23/1989
• Issued: 04/21/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Neopost Incorporated
• Original Assignee: FMR Corporation (FMR LLC)
• Inventors: Haines, John G., Slaughter, Tracy F., Barker, Charles P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lall, Parshotam S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cosimano, Edward R.
• Application Number:
  US07/327,779
• Time in Patent Office: 1,125 Days
• Field of Search: 364/900
• US Class Current: 710/8
• 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 17/00193 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 17/00733 Cryptography or similar special procedures in a franking system
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00161 from a central, non-user location, e.g. for updating rates or software, or for refilling funds
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00169 from a franking apparatus, e.g. for verifying accounting
• 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: G07B 2017/00419 Software organization, e.g. separation into objects
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00427 Special accounting procedures, e.g. storing special information
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/0083 Postal data, e.g. postage, address, sender, machine ID, vendor
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00935 Passwords

Abstract

A technique for reconfiguring in the field external devices in communication with postage meters, the external devices having an external device feature set that may be selectively enabled or disabled by software. The technique provides security so that any changes to the feature set is authorized. The meter is capable of being put into an I/O configuration mode by suitable entries from the keyboard, in which mode it is inhibited from printing postage. The meter has a storage register for a current or old I/O configuration number (IOCN), and can receive a desired new IOCN via keyboard entry. The meter calculates an encrypted I/O configuration request code that depends on the new IOCN. The I/O configuration request code, when communicated to a data center computer along with other validating identification information, is checked by the data center computer which computes the I/O configuration request code using the same algorithm. If the two values agree, the data center computer calculates an encrypted I/O configuration enable code that depends on the meter serial number. This is communicated to the meter, which receives the I/O configuration enable code and also calculates a I/O configuration enable code using the same algorithm as the data center computer. If the I/O configuration enable codes agree, the meter overwrites the old IOCN with the new IOCN, thereby reconfiguring the meter and the external devices.

Claims

1. A method of selectively enabling software controllable features of an external device, the external device determining which features are to be enabled by inquiring an electrically coupled reconfigurable meter, the meter having identifying data stored therein, being remote from a data center computer, and having a first mode of operation wherein the meter can print postage and be used with the enabling features and a second mode of operation for altering the selected controllable features, the method comprising the steps of:

a) placing the meter in the second mode;

b) entering into the meter a new I/O configuration number representing a desired external device feature set to be enabled;

c) calculating at the meter a meter generated I/O configuration enable code that depends on the identifying data and the new I/O configuration number;

d) establishing communication with the data center computer;

e) entering into the data center computer the identifying data and the new I/O configuration number;

f) calculating at the data center computer a computer generated I/O configuration enable code;

g) entering the computer generated I/O configuration enable code into the meter;

h) comparing at the meter, the meter generated I/O configuration enable code and the computer generated I/O configuration enable code;

i) if the meter generated and computer generated I/O configuration enable codes correlate, placing the meter in the first mode; and

j) in response to said placing the meter in the first mode, causing the meter to alter the feature set of the external device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of entering a new I/O configuration number is provided by the steps of:

k) calculating at the meter a meter generated I/O configuration request code;

l) entering the meter generated I/O configuration request code into the data center computer;

m) calculating at the data center computer a computer generated I/O configuration request code; and

n) comparing at the date center computer the meter generated and computer generated I/O configuration request codes.

3. A postage meter, said postage meter capable of interfacing to an external device having software features that may be selectively enabled, the external device inquiring said postage meter to determine which software features are enabled, said postage meter comprising:

a) first register means for storing a first number representative of a current external device feature set;

b) means for communicating the current feature set represented by the content of the first register means to the external device;

c) second register means for storing an entered second number representative of a desired new external device feature set;

d) means for generating an external I/O configuration enable code that depends on at least one of the first and second numbers;

e) means for entering an externally generated I/O configuration enable code, said externally generated I/O configuration enable code being generated at a remote data center;

f) means for comparing the internally generated I/O configuration enable code with the entered externally generated I/O configuration enable code; and

g) means for placing the second number in the first register means when the internally generated and entered externally generated I/O configuration enable codes are the same.

4. The meter of claim 3, and further comprising means for generating and displaying an I/O configuration request code that depends on at least one of the first and second numbers.

5. The meter of claim 3 wherein the I/O configuration enable codes are encrypted.

6. A postage meter, said postage meter capable of interfacing to an external device having software features that may be selectively enabled, the external device inquiring said postage meter to determine which software features are enabled, said postage meter comprising:

a) first register means for storing a first number representative of a current external device feature set;

b) means for communicating the current feature set represented by the content of the first register means to the external device;

c) second register means for storing an entered second number representative of a desired new external device feature set;

d) means for generating an internal I/O configuration enable code that depends on at least one of the first and second numbers;

e) means for entering an externally generated I/O configuration enable code, said externally generated I/O configuration enable code being generated at a remote data center;

f) means for comparing the internally generated I/O configuration enable code with the entered externally generated I/O configuration enable code; and

g) means for placing the second number in the first register means when the internally generated and entered externally generated I/O configuration enable codes are the same, and wherein the I/O configuration enable codes depend on a current high security length value and a status code.

7. A postage meter, said postage meter capable of interfacing to an external device having software features that may be selectively enabled, the external device inquiring said postage meter to determine which software features are enabled comprising:

a) first register means for storing a first number representative of a current external device feature set;

b) second register means for storing an entered second number representative of a desired new external device feature set;

c) first means for entering an externally generated I/O configuration enable code that depends on at least one of the first and second numbers, said externally generated code from a remote data center;

d) second means at the meter for;

i) generating an internal I/O configuration enable code;

ii) comparing the internally generated I/O configuration enable code with the entered I/O configuration enable code;

iii) placing the second number in the first register means when the internally generated and entered I/O configuration enable codes are the same; and

iv) communicating the feature set represented by the content of said first register means to the external device.

8. The meter of claim 7 wherein the second means is further for generating and displaying an I/O configuration request code that depends on at least one of the first and second numbers.

9. The meter of claim 7 wherein the I/O configuration enable code is encrypted.

10. The meter of claim 7 wherein the second means is a programmed digital microprocessor.

11. A postage meter, said postage meter capable of interfacing to an external device having software features that may be selectively enabled, the external device inquiring said postage meter to determine which software features are enabled comprising:

a) first register means for storing a first number representative of a current external device feature set;

b) second register means for storing an entered second number representative of a desired new external device feature set;

c) first means for entering an externally generated I/O configuration enable code that depends on at least one of the first and second numbers and wherein said I/O configuration enable code depends on a current high security length value and a status code, said externally generated code from a remote data center;

d) second means at the meter for;

i) generating an internal I/O configuration enable code;

ii) comparing the internally generally I/O configuration enable code with the entered I/O configuration enable code;

iii) placing the second number in the first register means when the internally generated and entered I/O configuration enable codes are the same; and

iv) communicating the feature set represented by the content of said first register means to the external device.

12. A postage meter system, said postage meter capable of interfacing to an external device having software features that may be selectively enabled, the external device inquiring said postage meter to determine which software features are enabled, said postage meter comprising:

a) a mode register having at least a first state and a second state;

b) means, responsive to the state of the mode register, for controlling normal meter operations;

c) a first register for storing an old I/O configuration number representative of a current external device feature set of the meter;

d) means for communicating the feature set represented by the content of the first register to the external device;

e) means, responsive to a particular first data entry, for setting the mode register to the second state;

f) a second register for storing a new I/O configuration number representative of a desired new external device feature set;

g) means, responsive to a second data entry representing the desired new feature set, for placing said new I/O configuration number in the second register;

h) means for generating a meter generated configuration request code;

i) means at a remote data center for calculating an encrypted internally generated configuration request code whose value depends on the new I/O configuration number and a second number;

j) means for comparing said encrypted internally generated configuration request code and said meter generated configuration request code, and if they correlate, means for generating an externally generated I/O configuration enable code;

k) means for calculating an encrypted internally generated I/O configuration enable code whose value depends in a different way on the I/O configuration number and the second number;

l) means, responsive to a third data entry representing the externally generated I/O configuration enable code, for comparing the internally generated and externally generated I/O configuration enable codes; and

m) validation means, responsive to a predetermined relationship between the internally generated and externally generated I/O configuration codes for storing the new I/O configuration number in the first register, the validation means acting further to set the mode register to the first state.

13. The meter of claim 12, and further comprising:

n) means for incrementing a CTID each time the validation means determines the existence of the predetermined relationship.

14. The meter of claim 13 wherein the encrypted configuration enable code is partially dependent upon the CTID.

15. The meter of claim 13 wherein the encrypted configuration request code is partially dependent upon the CTID.

16. The meter of claim 13 wherein the encrypted configuration request code is not dependent upon the CTID.