Mail processing system including data center verification for mailpieces

• US 5,390,251 A
• Filed: 10/08/1993
• Issued: 02/14/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 10/08/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Pitney Bowes Incorporated (Böwe Systec AG)
• Original Assignee: Pitney Bowes Incorporated (Böwe Systec AG)
• Inventors: Kim, Hyung-Kun P., Cordery, Robert A., Brookner, George M., Pastor, Jose
• Primary Examiner(s): Swann, Tod R.
• Application Number:
  US08/133,427
• Time in Patent Office: 494 Days
• Field of Search: 380/21, 380/28, 380/29, 380/43, 380/51, 364/464.02
• US Class Current: 705/62
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 17/00024 Physical or organizational aspects of franking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 17/00733 Cryptography or similar special procedures in a franking system
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00096 via phone lines
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00443 Verification of mailpieces, e.g. by checking databases
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/0075 Symmetric, secret-key algorithms, e.g. DES, RC2, RC4, IDEA, Skipjack, CAST, AES
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00798 using timestamps, i.e. recording time in message
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00846 Key management
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00854 Key generation
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00967 PSD [Postal Security Device] as defined by the USPS [US Postal Service]

Abstract

A system for controlling the validity of printing of indicias on mailpieces from a potentially large number of users of postage meters includes apparatus disposed in each said postage meter for generating a code and for printing the code on each mailpiece. The code is an encrypted code representative of the postage meter apparatus printing the indicia and other information uniquely determinative of the legitimacy of postage on the mailpieces. The keys for the code generating apparatus are changed to change its code generation at predetermined time intervals in each of the meters. A security center includes apparatus for maintaining a security code database and for keeping track of the keys for generating security codes in correspondence with the changes in each generating apparatus and the information printed on the mailpiece by the postage meter apparatus for comparison with the code printed on the mailpiece. There may be two codes printed, one used by the Postal Service for its security checks and one by the manufacturer. The encryption key may be changed at predetermined intervals or on a daily basis or for printing each mailpiece.

Claims

1. A system for controlling the validity of printing of indicias on mailpieces from a plurality of users of respective postage meters of the type having computer means and a printer for printing an indicia on a mailpiece for indicating an amount of dispensed postage on the mailpiece, the system comprising apparatus disposed in each said postage meter for generating a code and for printing the code on each mailpiece using said printer, said code being an encrypted code representative of the postage meter apparatus printing the indicia and other information uniquely determinative of the legitimacy of the amount of postage printed on the mailpieces, each said code generating apparatus changing its code generation within predetermined intervals in each of said plurality of postage meters and a security center including apparatus for maintaining a security code database and for generating security codes in correspondence with the changes in each said code generating apparatus and the information printed on the mailpiece by the postage meter apparatus for comparison with the code printed on the mailpiece, an additional code is printed on the mailpiece and there is another security center for generating codes in correspondence with said additional code.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising a meter fund resetting center for maintaining further information relating to the meter from which meter user information may be obtained.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the apparatus for generation of secret keys at the security center is maintained in a secure manner separate from the security code database.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the additional code is encrypted from data including the security code.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the code generating apparatus changes its code generation at predetermined time intervals.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein the time interval is a daily time interval.

9. The system of claims 1, 7 or 8 wherein the code generating apparatus code generation is changed for each successive mailpiece.

10. The system of claims 1, 7 or 8 wherein the code generating apparatus changes it code generation at the time of each inspection.

7. A system for controlling the validity of printing of indicias on mailpieces from a plurality of users of respective postage meters of the type having computer means and a printer for printing an indicia on a mailpiece for indicating an amount of dispensed postage on the mailpiece, the system comprising apparatus disposed in each Said postage meter for generating a code and for printing the code on each mailpiece using said printer, said code being an encrypted code representative of the postage meter apparatus printing the indicia and other information uniquely determinative of the legitimacy of the amount of postage printed on the mailpieces, each said code generating apparatus changing its code generation within predetermined intervals in each of said plurality of postage meters and a security center including apparatus for maintaining a security code database and for generating security codes in correspondence with the changes in each said code generating apparatus and the information printed on the mailpiece by the postage meter apparatus for comparison with the code printed on the mailpiece, the apparatus for generation of security codes comprises means for generating first and second codes using a respectively different key and wherein there are two separate security centers, each center being operative for comparison of only one of the respective first and second codes.

8. A system for controlling the validity of printing of indicias on mailpieces from a plurality of users of respective postage meters of the type having computer means and a printer for printing an indicia on a mailpiece for indicating an amount of dispensed postage on the mailpiece, the system comprising apparatus disposed in each said postage meter for generating a code and for printing the code on each mailpiece using said printer, said code being an encrypted code representative of the postage meter apparatus printing the indicia and other information uniquely determinative of the legitimacy of the amount of postage printed on the mailpieces, each said code generating apparatus changing its code generation within predetermined intervals in each of said plurality of postage meters and a security center including apparatus for maintaining a security code database and for generating security codes in correspondence with the changes in each said code generating apparatus and the information printed on the mailpiece by the postage meter apparatus for comparison with the code printed on the mailpiece, said other information on the mailpiece comprises data as to which information items are included in the encrypted code printed on the mailpiece.

11. A system for controlling the validity of printing of indicias on mailpieces from a plurality of users of respective postage meters of the type having computer means and a printer for printing an indicia on a mailpiece for indicating an amount of dispensed postage on the mailpiece, the system comprising apparatus disposed in each said postage meter for generating a first and a second code and for printing the codes on each mailpiece using said printer, said codes being an encrypted code representative of the postage meter apparatus printing the indicia and other information uniquely determinative of the legitimacy of the amount of postage printed on the mailpieces, and a first security center and a second security center including apparatus for maintaining a security code database and for generating security codes in correspondence with each said code generating apparatus and the information printed on the mailpiece by the postage meter apparatus for comparison with the code printed on the mailpiece, each said center being operative for comparison of only one of the respective first and second codes.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein one of said first or said second codes is an encryption of information including the other code.