Method for data input into a postage meter machine, arrangement for franking postal matter and for producing an advert mark respectively allocated to a cost allocation account
First Claim
1. A method for operating a postage meter machine comprising the steps of:
- storing data relating to the operation of a postage meter machine in a data source separate from said postage meter machine;
storing programs, which use operating data for operating said postage meter machine including performing franking, in a program memory in said postage meter machine;
storing said operating data in a data memory in said postage meter machine;
turning on said postage meter machine for operation thereof;
providing a single means in said postage meter machine for reading data from said data source; and
loading data into said postage meter machine, within a time window following turn-on of said postage meter machine and before performing franking, by establishing communication between said data source and said means for reading data, transferring predetermined, selected data from said data source into said data memory, and modifying said operating data with said predetermined, selected data from said data source and thereby generating new operating data stored in said data memory.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method for data entry into a postage meter machine before the initiation of a selected printer function, an arrangement for franking postal matter and for producing a franking image respectively allocated to a cost allocation account include automatic modification of the most recent status of stored data contents in a postage meter machine for the setting thereof within a time window following the switch-on on the basis of a first data carrier and/or automatic entry of an accounting number for the cost allocation account of the user and/or of a printer function or the number of a printer function into a memory area of a memory of the postage meter machine on the basis of a further data carrier. The data carriers may be chip cards. Data for the chip card number, for the cost allocation account number and for the advert number are read out an the unprotected memory area or, after automatic password rendering, from the protected memory area of the chip card by the postage meter machine and are used in the postage meter machine for setting the cost allocation account and the associated advertising design.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A method for operating a postage meter machine comprising the steps of:
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storing data relating to the operation of a postage meter machine in a data source separate from said postage meter machine; storing programs, which use operating data for operating said postage meter machine including performing franking, in a program memory in said postage meter machine; storing said operating data in a data memory in said postage meter machine; turning on said postage meter machine for operation thereof; providing a single means in said postage meter machine for reading data from said data source; and loading data into said postage meter machine, within a time window following turn-on of said postage meter machine and before performing franking, by establishing communication between said data source and said means for reading data, transferring predetermined, selected data from said data source into said data memory, and modifying said operating data with said predetermined, selected data from said data source and thereby generating new operating data stored in said data memory. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. An apparatus for franking items comprising:
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a postage meter machine; chip card means, separate from said postage meter machine, for storing data relating to the operation of said postage meter machine; program memory means, contained in said postage meter machine, for storing operating programs which use operating data for operating said postage meter machine including performing franking; data memory means, contained in said postage meter machine, for storing said operating data; means for turning on said postage meter machine for the operation thereof; single chip card means reader means, contained in said postage meter machine, for reading said data relating to the operation of said postage meter machine from said chip card means; means for setting a time window following turn-on of said postage meter machine; and control means for controlling loading of data into said postage meter machine, within said time window and before performing franking, by establishing communication between said chip card means and said chip card means reader means, for transferring predetermined, selected data from said chip card means, and for modifying said operating data with said predetermined, selected data from said chip card means and for thereby generating new operating data and for storing said new operating data in said data memory means. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for entering data into a postage meter machine having a plurality of selectable printer functions, before initiation of a selected printer function, comprising the steps of:
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inserting a first integrated chip card into a chip card reader in said postage meter machine for automatically transferring data from said first integrated chip card into a memory of said postage meter machine within a time window following turn-on of said postage meter machine for modifying a most recently stored setting of said postage meter machine; displaying data identifying the loading of data from said first integrated chip card; removing said first integrated chip card from said chip card reader and inserting a second integrated chip card into said chip card reader containing data relating to a user of said postage meter machine and the selected printer function; and initiating said selected printer function contained on said second integrated chip card. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification