Remote meter operation

• US 5,612,884 A
• Filed: 10/04/1994
• Issued: 03/18/1997
• 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.
• Primary Examiner(s): ZIMMERMAN, BRIAN A
• Application Number:
  US08/317,951
• Time in Patent Office: 896 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.35, 340/825.31, 235/375, 235/380, 235/382, 235/382.5, 364/464.01, 364/464.02
• US Class Current: 705/403
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/33 by means of a password
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 7/1016 Devices or methods for securing the PIN and other transaction-data, e.g. by encryption arrangements for secret communication, see H04L9/00

Abstract

A technique for reconfiguring in the field postage meters having a set of features that may be selectively enabled or disabled by software. The technique provides security so that the meter company will always have a correct record of the configuration of the meter in the field. A technique is provided for reconfiguring in the field of 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. A technique for securely adding postage to a remote setting postage meter without the remote setting code is also provided. A technique for detecting the entry of an invalid code for remote setting the meter a predetermined number at times is also provided. Once detected, a security lock flag stored in memory is set which prevents the meter from being reset until the flag is cleared in a separate procedure.

Claims

1. A method of operating a postage meter comprising the steps of:

installing said postage meter, installation of said postage meter being registered in a central office computer, said installing step including generating of first and second meter-generated codes by said postage meter and of first and second computer-generated codes by said central office computer;

waiting a specified time until an inspection date, said waiting step performed by said central office computer;

generating a reminder to inspect said postage meter at said central office computer, said generating step performed by said central office computer;

remotely resetting said postage meter without adding postage, said remote resetting without addition of postage performed by said central office computer and said postage meter upon performance of a postal inspection, wherein said step of remote resetting without addition of postage includes advising said central office computer that said postage meter has been inspected; and

resetting said inspection date, said resetting step achieved by said central office computer in response to said remote resetting without adding postage.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

configuring said meter, said meter including a plurality of features which may be enabled, wherein said configuring step remotely enables at least one of said plurality of features at said meter.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein said configuring step enables installation of said meter.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein said configuring step includes:

generating a configuration request code at said meter;

confirming said configuration request code at said central computer;

generating a configuration enable code at said central computer;

confirming said configuration enable code at said meter; and

enabling at least one of said plurality of features at said meter.

5. The method of claim 2 wherein said installing step includes:

verifying that the first meter-generated code matches the first computer-generated code at said central office computer to enable installation of said postage meter to be registered in said central office computer; and

verifying that the second computer-generated code matches the second meter-generated code at said meter to enable said meter to be remotely reset.

6. A method of tracking a postage meter lifecycle comprising the steps of:

removing a postage meter from stock;

adding postage to said meter;

configuring said meter, said meter including a plurality of features, said configuring step remotely enabling at least one of said plurality of features at said meter, said enabled feature being registered at a central computer;

installing said meter, said installation being registered in said central computer, wherein said installing step includes generating of first and second meter-generated codes by said meter and of first and second computer-generated codes by said central computer;

remotely resetting said meter to provide additional postage;

upon inspection of said meter, communicating to said central computer that said inspection has been performed;

performing a withdrawal procedure in communication with said central computer and removing postage from said meter; and

returning said meter to stock.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein said configuring step includes:

generating a configuration request code at said meter;

confirming said configuration request code at said central computer;

generating a configuration enable code at said central computer;

confirming said configuration enable code at said meter; and

enabling at least one of said plurality of features at said meter.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein said installing step includes:

verifying that the first meter-generated code matches the first computer-generated code at a central computer to enable installation of said meter to be registered in said central computer.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein said installing step further includes:

verifying that the second computer-generated code matches the second meter-generated code at said meter to enable sai meter to be remotely reset.

10. The method of claim 6 wherein said withdrawal procedure performing step includes:

requesting withdrawal to said central computer to enable said withdrawal to be registered in said central computer.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein said withdrawal procedure performing step further includes:

verifying that a third meter-generated code matches a third computer-generated code at said meter to prevent said meter from being remotely set.