Electronic postage scale system and method

• US 5,905,232 A
• Filed: 10/14/1993
• Issued: 05/18/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ascom Mailing Systems, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Ascom Hasler Mailing Systems Incorporated
• Inventors: Schwartz, Robert G., Eskandari, Fetneh, Weirsman, William A., Swanbery, Robert, Rahgo, George P., Japenga, Robert J., Crowe, Allen A., Palange, Martin F., Emmett, James S., Simcik, Mark E., Lehman, Joseph L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gibson, Randy W.
• Application Number:
  US08/139,898
• Time in Patent Office: 2,042 Days
• Field of Search: 177/25.11, 177/25.12, 177/25.13, 177/25.14, 177/25.15, 177/25.16, 177/25.17, 177/45, 364/709.15, 364/364, 705/409, 705/411
• US Class Current: 177/25.15
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/005 with electric or electronic computing means
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/4148 for controlling postal rate in articles to be mailed franking apparatus with means for computing G07B17/02
• 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 17/00362 Calculation or computing within apparatus, e.g. calculation of postage value
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 17/00508 Printing or attaching on mailpieces printing mechanisms B41J; security printing B41M3/14; marking methods B41M5/00; inks C09D11/00; record carriers with at least a part designed to carry digital markings G06K19/00
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 17/00661 Sensing or measuring mailpieces weighing G01G19/00
• 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 2017/00177 from a portable device, e.g. a card or a PCMCIA
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00201 Open franking system, i.e. the printer is not dedicated to franking only, e.g. PC (Personal Computer)
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00258 Electronic hardware aspects, e.g. type of circuits used
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00282 Touch screen
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/0029 Soft buttons; buttons that can change function
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00306 Acoustic, e.g. voice control or speech prompting
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00322 Communication between components/modules/parts, e.g. printer, printhead, keyboard, conveyor or central unit
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/0033 Communication with software component, e.g. dll or object
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00379 Calculation of different sending options for a mail piece
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00395 Memory organization
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00419 Software organization, e.g. separation into objects
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00588 : Barcode
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00701 : Measuring the weight of mailpieces
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00717 : Reading barcodes
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00766 : Digital signature, e.g. DSA, DSS, ECDSA, ESIGN
• 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: G07B 2017/00951 : Error handling, e.g. EDC (Error Detection Codes)
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00967 : PSD [Postal Security Device] as defined by the USPS [US Postal Service]

Abstract

In an improved postage scale system, soft-selection keys are used for selecting options including shipping service options provided by the system. The display on such a system is adjustable for comfortable viewing thereof. The system is capable of interfacing and communicating with other devices such as a printer, a remote computer, an optical scanner, an integrated circuit (IC) card, etc. Certain data and code for use in the system can be updated by downloading new data and code from IC cards to the system. A security measure is instituted such that, after an update of the data or code, a system user is required to enter a valid authorization number in order to enable the system. Such a measure is, in part, necessary for deterring unauthorized copying of software of the system onto another similar system.

Claims

1. An electronic shipping scale system, comprising:

a display having a screen;

a weight evaluator for providing a data signal representing the weight of an item;

a plurality of functions keys adjoining said screen and data entry keys;

a memory for storing data including data relating to shipping rates;

a processor operating under a program and responsive to said weight data signal, said data entry keys, said function keys and said shipping rate data for computing shipping cost, and for providing display data; and

a display controller for processing said display data for display on said screen;

said processor and said display controller being programmed to simultaneously display said display data in at least a first display window prompting an operator entry, a second display window displaying shipping data and a third display window, adjoining said function keys and designating shipping service options to be designated by activation of said function keys for use by said processor to compute said shipping cost.

2. An electronic scale according to claim 1, wherein said third display window provides different display images designating function keys corresponding to valid options.

3. An electronic scale according to claim 2, wherein said valid options and invalid options are displayed in accordance with a prior option selection.

4. An electronic scale according to claim 1 wherein said processor and said display controller further arrange said display to have a fourth window, said fourth window providing information for facilitating entry of data or selection of an option.

5. An electronic scale according to claim 1 wherein said processor and said display controller further arrange said display to have a fourth window, said fourth window providing information concerning an invalid function key activation or invalid data entry.

6. In an electronic shipping scale having a programmed processor, a display and a plurality of function keys, the improvement wherein said processor causes said display to have simultaneously a first display window prompting an operator entry, a second display window displaying shipping data to the operator and a third display window adjoining said function keys and designating shipping options selectable by operation of said function keys.

7. In an electronic shipping scale having a programmed processor responsive to shipping data stored in a scale memory for computing shipping charges, the improvement comprising apparatus for changing said shipping data, comprising:

an IC card having an IC memory containing new shipping data and data header information; and

an IC card connector coupled to said programmed processor;

wherein one of said scale memory or said IC memory contains data transfer code for operating said processor to read said new shipping data from said IC card and to store said new shipping data in said scale memory according to said header information.

8. The improvement specified in claim 7 wherein said IC card memory includes two memory portions and wherein said data transfer code is contained in one of said memory portions.

9. A method for operating an electronic shipping scale having an programmed processor, a display and a plurality of function keys adjoining said display comprising the steps of:

simultaneously displaying a prompt message in a first window on said display,

shipping information in a second window on said display

and shipping options in a third window on said display adjacent to and identifying said function keys; and

operating said processor to compute shipping charges in response to activation of said function keys and displaying said shipping charges in said second window.

10. A method as specified in claim 9 further comprising displaying a succession of prompts in said first window and a succession of shipping options in said third window in response to activation of said function keys.

11. A method for updating shipping data stored in an electronic scale having shipping data stored in a scale memory and a programmed processor comprising the steps of:

providing an IC card having a memory with new shipping data and header information stored therein;

connecting said IC card to an IC card connector of said electronic scale; and

operating said processor under programming code to read said new shipping data from said IC card and to store said new shipping data in said scale memory in accordance with said header information.