Postage metering system and method for a stand-alone meter having virtual meter functionality

• US 6,175,826 B1
• Filed: 12/18/1997
• Issued: 01/16/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Pitney Bowes Incorporated (Böwe Systec AG)
• Original Assignee: Pitney Bowes Incorporated (Böwe Systec AG)
• Inventors: Malandra, Charles R. Jr., Pierce, Perry A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Voeltz, Emanuel Todd
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dixon, Thomas A
• Application Number:
  US08/993,355
• Time in Patent Office: 1,125 Days
• Field of Search: 705/400, 705/401, 705/403, 705/410, 395/200.3, 395/200.33, 395/200.47, 395/200.48, 395/200.49, 709/200, 709/203, 709/217, 709/219
• US Class Current: 705/410
• 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 17/00733 Cryptography or similar special procedures in a franking system
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00096 via phone lines
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00137 In a LAN
• 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 2017/00322 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 2017/00766 Digital signature, e.g. DSA, DSS, ECDSA, ESIGN
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00967 PSD [Postal Security Device] as defined by the USPS [US Postal Service]

Abstract

A postage metering system includes a host processor having a printer coupled thereto. A postal security device (PSD) is coupled to the host processor. The PSD includes first unique identification, first postal value storage and first digital signature generator. The host processor can request and obtain from the PSD first evidence of postage payment to be printed by the printer. The host processor can also request and obtain from a remote data center second evidence of postage payment to be printed by the printer. For each metering transaction to be printed by the printer, the host processor initiates the request for one of the first and second evidences of postage payment. In one embodiment the host processor is a general purpose computer.

Claims

1. A postage metering system comprising:

a host processor including printing means coupled thereto;

a postal security device coupled to the host processor, the postal security device including first unique identification, first postal value storage means and first digital signature means;

means in the host processor for requesting and obtaining first evidence of postage payment from the postal security device, said first evidence of postage to be printed by the printing means;

means in the host processor for requesting and obtaining second evidence of postage payment from a remote data center, said second evidence of postage to be printed by the printing means;

wherein for each metering transaction to be printed by the printing means the host processor initiates the request for one of the first and second evidences of postage payment.

2. The postage metering system of claim 1 wherein the host processor comprises:

means for storing transactional information for each of the first and second evidences of postage payment received from the postal security device and data center respectively.

3. The postage metering system of claim 1 wherein the host processor further comprises a general purpose computer and the printing means comprises an unsecure, non-dedicated printer.

4. The postage metering system of claim 1 wherein the printing means comprises a printer dedicated to printing postage evidencing.

5. The postage metering system of claim 1 wherein the data center determines whether the host processor is authorized to request the second evidence of postage payment.

6. The postage metering system of claim 1 wherein the host processor is coupled to a network comprising other host processors coupled to other postal secure devices, the host processor further comprising:

means for requesting and obtaining third evidence of postage payment from one of the other host processors, said third evidence of postage payment to be printed at the local client printing means.

7. The postage metering system of claim 1 wherein the postal security device generates the first evidence of postage payment including a first digital signature representing each transaction requested by the host processor to the postal security device.

8. The postage metering system of claim 7 wherein the data center includes second unique identification, second postal value storage means and second digital signature means.

9. The postage metering system of claim 8 wherein the data center generates the second evidence of postage payment including a second digital signature representing each transaction requested by the host processor to the data center.

10. A transaction evidencing system comprising:

a host processor including printing means coupled thereto;

a transaction evidencing device coupled to the host processor, the transaction evidencing device including first unique identification, first value storage means and first digital signature means;

means in the host processor for requesting and obtaining first transaction evidencing from the transaction evidencing device, said first transaction evidencing to be printed by the printing means;

means in the host processor for requesting and obtaining second transaction evidencing from a remote data center, said second transaction evidencing to be printed by the printing means;

wherein for each metering transaction to be printed by the printing means the host processor initiates the request for one of the first and second transaction evidencing.

11. The transaction evidencing system of claim 10 wherein the host processor comprises:

means for storing transactional information for each of the first and second transaction evidencing received from the transaction evidencing device and data center respectively.

12. The transaction evidencing system of claim 11 wherein the host processor further comprises a general purpose computer and the printing means comprises an unsecure, non-dedicated printer.

13. The transaction evidencing system of claim 10 wherein the printing means comprises a printer dedicated to printing transaction evidencing.

14. The transaction evidencing system of claim 10 wherein the data center determines whether the host processor is authorized to request the second transaction evidencing.

15. The transaction evidencing system of claim 10 wherein the host processor is coupled to a network comprising other host processors coupled to other transaction evidencing devices, the host processor further comprising:

means for requesting and obtaining third transaction evidencing from one of the other host processors, said third transaction evidencing to be printed at the local client printing means.

16. The transaction evidencing system of claim 10 wherein the transaction evidencing device generates the first transaction evidencing including a first digital signature representing each transaction requested by the host system to the transaction evidencing device.

17. The transaction evidencing system of claim 16 wherein the data center includes second unique identification, second value storage means and second digital signature means.

18. The transaction evidencing system of claim 17 wherein the data center generates the second transaction evidencing including a second digital signature representing each transaction requested by the host system to the data center.

19. A postage metering system comprising:

a general purpose processor including means for communicating with a remote data center;

a postal security device coupled to the general purpose processor, the postal security device including first unique identification, first postal value storage means and first digital signature means, the remote data center including second unique identification, second postal value storage means and second digital signature means;

means in the general purpose processor for selectively requesting one of a first evidence of postage payment from the postal security device and a second evidence of postage payment from the remote data center;

means for printing the selected one of the first and second evidences of postage payment on a mailpiece.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the postal security device generates the first evidence of postage payment including a first digital signature representing each transaction requested by the general purpose processor from the postal security device, and wherein the remote data center generates the second evidence of postage payment including a second digital signature representing each transaction requested by the general purpose processor from the data center;

and

means in the general purpose processor for storing transactional information for each of the first and second evidences of postage payment received from the postal security device and data center respectively.

21. The postage metering system of claim 19 wherein the data center determines whether the general purpose processor is authorized to request the second evidence of postage payment.

22. The postage metering system of claim 19 wherein the general purpose processor is coupled to a network comprising other general purpose processors coupled to other postal security devices, the general purpose processor further comprising:

means for requesting and obtaining third evidence of postage payment from one of the other general purpose processors, said third evidence of postage payment to be printed at the local client printer.

23. A method for postage metering wherein a postage meter has dual modes of operation as a stand-alone meter and as a virtual meter, the method comprising the steps of:

coupling a postage security device to a general purpose processor, the postal security device including first unique identification, first postal value storage means and first digital signature means;

providing means for the general purpose processor to communicate with a remote data center, the remote data center including second unique identification, second postal value storage means and second digital signature means;

selectively requesting at the general purpose processor one of a first evidence of postage payment from the postal security device and a second evidence of postage payment from the remote data center; and

printing the selected one of the first and second evidences of postage payment on a mailpiece.

24. The method of claim 23 further including the steps of:

connecting the general purpose processor to a network;

selectively requesting at the general purpose processor third postage evidencing from a remote postal security device coupled to another general purpose processor on the network;

printing the selected third evidence of postage payment on a mailpiece.