System and method for distributing postage over a public network, enabling efficient printing of postal indicia on items to be mailed and authenticating the printed indicia

• US 6,349,292 B1
• Filed: 10/06/1998
• Issued: 02/19/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: The Escher Group, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: The Escher Group, Ltd.
• Inventors: Klugerman, Michael R., Sutherland, Andrew V., DʼIppolito, Frank M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cosimano, Edward R.
• Application Number:
  US09/167,393
• Time in Patent Office: 1,232 Days
• Field of Search: 705/50, 705/60, 705/61, 705/62, 705/400, 705/401, 705/403, 705/408, 705/410
• US Class Current: 705/62
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 17/00362 Calculation or computing within apparatus, e.g. calculation of postage value
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 17/00435 Details specific to central, non-customer apparatus, e.g. servers at post office or vendor
• 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 17/00733 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 2017/0037 Calculation of postage value
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00443 Verification of mailpieces, e.g. by checking databases
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/0058 Printing of code
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00588 Barcode
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/0083 Postal data, e.g. postage, address, sender, machine ID, vendor
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00919 Random number generator
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00935 Passwords

Abstract

A system is disclosed for distributing postage over a public network in a manner that is secure in the case of third party interception, indicia for which can be efficiently printed by a postal customer on items to be mailed, and that facilitates authentication of the printed indicia. When the postal customer purchases postage from the postal service, the postal service provides information which the postal customer uses to generate pseudo-random numbers associated with the respective units of postage. When the postal customer prints an indicium for a respective unit, it appends the associated pseudo-random number, which the postal service uses to authenticate the indicium. The pseudo-random numbers are generated using a methodology by which the postal customer can generate pseudo-random numbers for units which have been purchased, but not for units which have not yet been purchased. Each indicium represents an amount of information which can be printed using a one-dimensional barcode, instead of two-dimensional barcodes required in other systems.

Claims

1. A system for generating and authenticating an indicium value comprising an element in an indicium value sequence defined by a selected maximum indicium value, the system comprising an indicium generator and an indicium authenticator;

A. the indicium generator being configured to generate the indicium, the indicium having an indicium value field for receiving the indicium value and a random number field for receiving a random number, the indicium generator being configured to generate the random number according to a predetermined methodology using random number generating information, the random number generating information including a seed value and another value, the seed value being a function of the selected maximum value and the other value, the predetermined methodology having the characteristics that

(i) a random number sequence is generated, each random number in the random number sequence being associable with element of the indicium value sequence,

(ii) values of the random numbers in the random number sequence have values which are a function of the selected maximum value,

(iii) the indicium generator can readily generate values of the random numbers in the random number sequence associable with values in the indicium value sequence which are less than the maximum indicium value, and

(iv) the indicium generator cannot readily generate values of the random numbers in the random number sequence associable, with values in the indicium value sequence which are more than the maximum indicium value,

the indicium generator using the random number value from the random number sequence associated with the indicium value in the indicium value sequence as the random number for the random number field,

B. the indicium authenticator being configured to authenticate the indicium by determining whether the random number value in the random number field corresponds to the correct random number for the indicium value in the indicium value field as determined by the predetermined methodology.

2. A system as defined in claim 1 in which the indicium generator is configured to generate a plurality of indicia, each indicium in the plurality having a unique indicium value.

3. A system as defined in claim 1 in which the indicium authenticator is configured to provide the random number generating information to the indicium generator.

4. A system as defined in claim 3 in which the indicium generator is configured to request an updated maximum indicium value from the indicium authenticator, the indicium authenticator being configured to provide in response the updated maximum indicium value and a new seed value, the predetermined methodology further having the characteristic that the indicium authenticator can readily generate values of the random numbers in the random number sequence which are greater than the predetermined maximum value.

5. A system as defined in claim 1 in which the indicium generator is configured to generate each indicium in the plurality as having an indicium subrange value field for receiving a subrange value within the range, the indicium value associated with the respective indicium being a predetermined function of the subrange.

6. A system as defined in claim 5 in which the indicium generator is configured to generate indicia such that subranges associated therewith do not overlap.

7. A system as defined in claim 1 in which, in accordance with the predetermined methodology, the random numbers in the random number sequence are generated according to

8. A system as defined in claim 7 in which the indicium generator is configured to utilize as the random number in the random number field a predetermined set of digits in the representation of x_i.

9. A system as defined in claim 8 in which the indicium generator is configured to utilize a predetermined number of low-order bits.

10. An indicium generator for generating an indicium representative of an indicium value comprising an element in an indicium value sequence defined by a selected maximum indicium value, the indicium generator being configured to generate the indicium, the indicium having an indicium value field for receiving the indicium value and a random number field for receiving a random number, the indicium generator being configured to generate the random number according to a predetermined methodology using random number generating information, the random number generating information including a seed value and another value, the seed value being a function of the selected maximum value and the other value, the predetermined methodology having the characteristics that

(i) random number sequence is generated, each random number in the random number sequence being associable with element of the indicium value sequence,

(ii) values of the random numbers in the random number sequence have values which are a function of the selected maximum value,

(iii) the indicium generator can readily generate values of the random numbers in the random number sequence associable with values in the indicium value sequence which are less than the maximum indicium value, and

(iv) the indicium generator cannot readily generate values of the random numbers in the random number sequence as sociable with values in the indicium value sequence which are more than the maximum indicium value,

the indicium generator using the random number value from the random number sequence associated with the indicium value in the indicium value sequence as the random number for the random number field.

11. An indicium generator as defined in claim 10 in which the indicium generator is configured to generate a plurality of indicia, each indicium in the plurality having a unique indicium value.

12. An indicium generator as defined in claim 10 in which the indicium generator is configured to generate each indicium in the plurality as having an indicium subrange value field for receiving a subrange value within the range, the indicium value associated with the respective indicium being a predetermined function of the subrange.

13. An indicium generator as defined in claim 12 in which the indicium generator is configured to generate indicia such that subranges associated therewith do not overlap.

14. An indicium generator as defined in claim 10 in which, in accordance with the predetermined methodology, the random numbers in the random number sequence are generated according to

15. An indicium generator as defined in claim 14 in which the indicium generator is configured to utilize as the random number in the random number field a predetermined set of digits in the representation of x_i.

16. An indicium generator as defined in claim 15 in which the indicium generator is configured to utilize a predetermined number of low-order bits.

17. An indicium authenticator for authenticating an indicium representative of an indicium value comprising an element in an indicium value sequence defined by a selected maximum indicium value, the indicium having been generated by an indicium generator to have an indicium value field for receiving the indicium value and a random number field for receiving a random number, the random number being generated according to a predetermined methodology using random number generating information, the random number generating information including a seed value and another value, the seed value being a function of the selected maximum value and the other value, the predetermined methodology having the characteristics that

(i) a random number sequence is generated, each random number in the random number sequence being associable with element of the indicium value sequence,

(ii) values of the random numbers in the random number sequence have values which are a function of the selected maximum value,

(iii) the indicium generator can readily generate values of the random numbers in the random number sequence associable with values in the indicium value sequence which are less than the maximum indicium value, and

(iv) the indicium generator cannot readily generate values of the random numbers in the random number sequence associable with values in the indicium value sequence which are less than the maximum indicium value,

the indicium generator using the random number value from the random number sequence associated with the indicium value in the indicium value sequence as the random number for the random number field,

the indicium authenticator being configured to authenticate the indicium by determining whether the random number value in the random number field corresponds to the correct random number for the indicium value in the indicium value field as determined by the predetermined methodology.

18. An indicium authenticator as defined in claim 17 in which, in accordance with the predetermined methodology, the random numbers in the random number sequence are generated according to

19. An indicium authenticator as defined in claim 17, the indicium generator being configured to generate a plurality of indicia, each indicium in the plurality having a unique indicium value, each indicium in the plurality further having an indicium subrange value field for receiving a subrange value within the range, the indicium authenticator further being configured to determine whether an indicium has a subrange value which overlaps with the subrange value associated with at least one previous indicium.

20. An indicium authenticator as defined in claim 17, the indicium authenticator being configured to provide the random number generating information to the indicium generator.

21. An indicium authenticator as defined in claim 20 in which the indicium generator is configured to request an updated maximum indicium value from the indicium authenticator, the indicium authenticator being configured to provide in response the updated maximum indicium value and a new seed value, the predetermined methodology further having the characteristic that the indicium authenticator can readily generate values of the random numbers in the random number sequence which are greater than the predetermined maximum value.

22. A method of generating and authenticating an indicium representative of an indicium value comprising an element in an indicium value sequence defined by a selected maximum indicium value, the method comprising the steps of

A. enabling an indicium generator to generate the indicium, the indicium having an indicium value field for receiving the indicium value and a random number field for receiving a random number, the indicium generator being enabled to generate the random number according to a predetermined methodology using random number generating information, the random number generating information including a seed value and another value, the seed value being a function of the selected maximum value and the other value, the predetermined methodology having the characteristics that

(i) a random number sequence is generated, each random number in the random number sequence being associable with element of the indicium value sequence,

(ii) values of the random numbers in the random number sequence have values which are a function of the selected maximum value,

(iii) the indicium generator can readily generate values of the random numbers in the random number sequence associable with values in the indicium value sequence which are less than the maximum indicium value, and

(iv) the indicium generator cannot readily generate values of the random numbers in the random number sequence associable with values in the indicium value sequence which are less than the maximum indicium value,

the indicium generator using the random number value from the random number sequence associated with the indicium value in the indicium value sequence as the random number for the random number field,

B. enabling an indicium authenticator to authenticate the indicium by determining whether the random number value in the random number field corresponds to the correct random number for the indicium value in the indicium value field as determined by the predetermined methodology.

23. A method as defined in claim 22 further comprising the step of enabling the indicium generator to generate a plurality of indicia, each indicium in the plurality having a unique indicium value.

24. A method as defined in claim 22 further comprising the step of enabling the indicium authenticator to provide the random number generating information to the indicium generator.

25. A method as defined in claim 24 further comprising the step of enabling the indicium generator to request an updated maximum indicium value from the indicium authenticator, the indicium authenticator being enabled to provide in response the updated maximum indicium value and a new seed value, the predetermined methodology further having the characteristic that the indicium authenticator can readily generate values of the random numbers in the random number sequence which are greater than the predetermined maximum value.

26. A method as defined in claim 22 further comprising the step of enabling the indicium generator to generate each indicium in the plurality as having an indicium subrange value field for receiving a subrange value within the range, the indicium value associated with the respective indicium being a predetermined function of the subrange.

27. A method as defined in claim 26 in which the indicium generator is configured to generate indicia such that subranges associated therewith do not overlap.

28. A method as defined in claim 22 in which, in accordance with the predetermined methodology, the random numbers in the random number sequence are generated according to

29. A method as defined in claim 28 in the indicium generator is configured to utilize as the random number in the random number field a predetermined set of digits in the representation of x_i.

30. A method as defined in claim 29 further comprising the step of enabling the indicium generator to utilize a predetermined number of low-order bits.

31. A method of enabling an indicium generator to generate an indicium representative of an indicium value comprising an element in an indicium value sequence defined by a selected maximum indicium value, the indicium generator being configured to generate the indicium, the indicium having an indicium value field for receiving the indicium value and a random number field for receiving a random number, the indicium generator being configured to generate the random number according to a predetermined methodology using random number generating information, the random number generating information including a seed value and another value, the seed value being a function of the selected maximum value and the other value, the predetermined methodology having the characteristics that

(i) a random number sequence is generated, each random number in the random number sequence being associable with element of the indicium value sequence,

(ii) values of the random numbers in the random number sequence have values which are a function of the selected maximum value,

(iii) the indicium generator can readily generate values of the random numbers in the random number sequence associable with values in the indicium value sequence which are less than the maximum indicium value, and

(iv) the indicium generator cannot readily generate values of the random numbers in the random number sequence associable with values in the indicium value sequence which are less than the maximum indicium value,

the indicium generator using the random number value from the random number sequence associated with the indicium value in the indicium value sequence as the random number for the random number field.

32. A method as defined in claim 31 further comprising the step of enabling the indicium generator to generate a plurality of indicia, each indicium in the plurality having a unique indicium value.

33. A method as defined in claim 31 further comprising the step of enabling the indicium generator to generate each indicium in the plurality as having an indicium subrange value field for receiving a subrange value within the range, the indicium value associated with the respective indicium being a predetermined function of the subrange.

34. A method as defined in claim 33 further comprising the step of enabling the indicium generator to generate indicia such that subranges associated therewith do not overlap.

35. A method as defined in claim 31 in which, in accordance with the predetermined methodology, the random numbers in the random number sequence are generated according to

36. A method as defined in claim 35 further comprising the step of enabling the indicium generator to utilize as the random number in the random number field a predetermined set of digits in the representation of x_i.

37. A method as defined in claim 36 further comprising the step of enabling the indicium generator to utilize a predetermined number of low-order bits.

38. A method of enabling an indicium authenticator to authenticate an indicium representative of an indicium value comprising an element in an indicium value sequence defined by a selected maximum indicium value, the indicium having been generated by an indicium generator to have an indicium value field for receiving the indicium value and a random number field for receiving a random number, the random number being generated according to a predetermined methodology using random number generating information, the random number generating information including a seed value and another value, the seed value being a function of the selected maximum value and the other value, the predetermined methodology having the characteristics that

(i) random number sequence is generated, each random number in the random number sequence being associable with element of the indicium value sequence,

(ii) values of the random numbers in the random number sequence have values which are a function of the selected maximum value,

(iii) the indicium generator can readily generate values of the random numbers in the random number sequence associable with values in the indicium value sequence which are less than the maximum indicium value, and

(iv) the indicium generator cannot readily generate values of the random numbers in the random number sequence associable with values in the indicium value sequence which are more than the maximum indicium value,

the indicium generator using the random number value from the random number sequence associated with the indicium value in the indicium value sequence as the random number for the random number field,

the indicium authenticator authenticating the indicium by determining whether the random number value in the random number field corresponds to the correct random number for the indicium value in the indicium value field as determined by the predetermined methodology.

39. A method as defined in claim 38 in which, in accordance with the predetermined methodology, the random numbers in the random number sequence are generated according to

40. A method as defined in claim 38, the indicium generator being configured to generate a plurality of indicia, each indicium in the plurality having a unique indicium value, each indicium in the plurality further having an indicium subrange value field for receiving a subrange value within the range, the indicium authenticator further being enabled to determine whether an indicium has a subrange value which overlaps with the subrange value associated with at least one previous indicium.

41. A method as defined in claim 38, further comprising the step of enabling the indicium authenticator to provide the random number generating information to the indicium generator.

42. A method as defined in claim 41 further comprising the steps of enabling the indicium generator to request an updated maximum indicium value from the indicium authenticator, and the indicium authenticator to provide in response the updated maximum indicium value and a new seed value, the predetermined methodology further having the characteristic that the indicium authenticator can readily generate values of the random numbers in the random number sequence which are greater than the predetermined maximum value.

43. A computer program product for use in connection with a computer to provide a system for generating and authenticating an indicium representative of an indicium value comprising an element in an indicium value sequence defined by a selected maximum indicium value, the computer program product comprising computer-readable medium having encoded thereon an indicium generator module and an indicium authenticator module,

A. the indicium generator being configured to enable the computer to generate the indicium, the indicium having an indicium value field for receiving the indicium value and a random number field for receiving a random number, the indicium generator module being configured to enable the computer to generate the random number according to a predetermined methodology using random number generating information, the random number generating information including a seed value and another value, the seed value being a function of the selected maximum value and the other value, the predetermined methodology having the characteristics that

(i) a random number sequence is generated, each random number in the random number sequence being associable with element of the indicium value sequence,

(ii) values of the random numbers in the random number sequence have values which are a function of the selected maximum value,

(iii) the indicium generator module-can readily generate values of the random numbers in the random number sequence associable with values in the indicium value sequence which are less than the maximum indicium value, and

(iv) the indicium generator module cannot readily generate values of the random numbers in the random number sequence associable with values in the indicium value sequence which are more than the maximum indicium value,

the indicium generator module using the random number value from the random number sequence associated with the indicium value in the indicium value sequence as the random number for the random number field,

B. the indicium authenticator module being configured to enable the computer to authenticate the indicium by determining whether the random number value in the random number field corresponds to the correct random number for the indicium value in the indicium value field as determined by the predetermined methodology.

44. A computer program product as defined in claim 43 in which the indicium generator module is configured to enable the computer to generate a plurality of indicia, each indicium in the plurality having a unique indicium value.

45. A computer program product as defined in claim 43 in which the indicium authenticator module is configured to enable the computer provide the random number generating information to the indicium generator module.

46. A computer program product as defined in claim 45 in which the indicium generator module is configured to enable the computer to request an updated maximum indicium value from the indicium authenticator module, the indicium authenticator module being configured to enable the computer to provide in response the updated maximum indicium value and a new seed value, the predetermined methodology further having the characteristic that the indicium authenticator module can readily generate values of the random numbers in the random number sequence which are greater than the predetermined maximum value.

47. A computer program product as defined in claim 43 in which the indicium generator module is configured to enable the computer to generate each indicium in the plurality as having an indicium subrange value field for receiving a subrange value within the range, the indicium value associated with the respective indicium being a predetermined function of the subrange.

48. A computer program product as defined in claim 47 in which the indicium generator module is configured to enable the computer to generate indicia such that subranges associated therewith do not overlap.

49. A computer program product as defined in claim 43 in which, in accordance with the predetermined methodology, the random numbers in the random number sequence are generated according to

50. A computer program product as defined in claim 49 in which the indicium generator module is configured to enable the computer to utilize as the random number in the random number field a predetermined set of digits in the representation of x_i.

51. A computer program product as defined in claim 50 in which the indicium generator module is configured to enable the computer to utilize a predetermined number of low-order bits.

52. A computer program product for use in connection with a computer to provide an indicium generator for generating an indicium representative of an indicium value comprising an element in an indicium value sequence defined by a selected maximum indicium value, the indicium generator module being configured to generate the indicium, the indicium having an indicium value field for receiving the indicium value and a random number field for receiving a random number, the computer program product comprising a computer-readable medium having encoded thereon an indicium generator module configured to enable the computer to generate the random number according to a predetermined methodology using random number generating information, the random number generating information including a seed value and another value, the seed value being a function of the selected maximum value and the other value, the predetermined methodology having the characteristics that

(i) a random number sequence is generated, each random number in the random number sequence being associable with element of the indicium value sequence,

(ii) values of the random numbers in the random number sequence have values which are a function of the selected maximum value,

(iii) the indicium generator module can readily generate values of the random numbers in the random number sequence associable with values in the indicium value sequence which are less than the maximum indicium value, and

(iv) the indicium generator module cannot readily generate values of the random numbers in the random number sequence associable with values in the indicium value sequence which are more than the maximum indicium value,

the indicium generator module using the random number value from the random number sequence associated with the indicium value in the indicium value sequence as the random number for the random number field.

53. A computer program product as defined in claim 52 in which the indicium generator module is configured to enable the computer to generate a plurality of indicia, each indicium in the plurality having a unique indicium value.

54. A computer program product as defined in claim 52 in which the indicium generator module is configured to enable the computer to generate each indicium in the plurality as having an indicium subrange value field for receiving a subrange value within the range, the indicium value associated with the respective indicium being a predetermined function of the subrange.

55. A computer program product as defined in claim 54 in which the indicium generator module is configured to enable the computer to generate indicia such that subranges associated therewith do not overlap.

56. A computer program product as defined in claim 52 in which, in accordance with the predetermined methodology, the random numbers in the random number sequence are generated according to

57. A computer program product as defined in claim 56 in which the indicium generator module is configured to enable the computer to utilize as the random number in the random number field a predetermined set of digits in the representation of x_i.

58. A computer program product as defined in claim 57 in which the indicium generator module is configured to enable the computer to utilize a predetermined number of low-order bits.

59. A computer program product for use in connection with a computer to provide an indicium authenticator for authenticating an indicium representative of an indicium value comprising an element in an indicium value sequence defined by a selected maximum indicium value, the indicium having been generated by an indicium generator to have an indicium value field for receiving the indicium value and a random number field for receiving a random number, the random number being generated according to a predetermined methodology using random number generating information, the random number generating information including a seed value and another value, the seed value being a function of the selected maximum value and the other value, the predetermined methodology having the characteristics that

(i) a random number sequence is generated, each random number in the random number sequence being associable with element of the indicium value sequence,

(ii) values of the random numbers in the random number sequence have values which are a function of the selected maximum value,

(iii) the indicium generator can readily generate values of the random numbers in the random number sequence associable with values in the indicium value sequence which are less than the maximum indicium value, and

(iv) the indicium generator cannot readily generate values of the random numbers in the random number sequence associable with values in the indicium value sequence which are more than the maximum indicium value,

the indicium generator module using the random number value from the random number sequence associated with the indicium value in the indicium value sequence as the random number for the random number field,

the computer program product comprising a computer-readable medium having encoded thereon an indicium authenticator module configured to enable the computer to authenticate the indicium by determining whether the random number value in the random number field corresponds to the correct random number for the indicium value in the indicium value field as determined by the predetermined methodology.

60. A computer program product as defined in claim 59 in which, in accordance with the predetermined methodology, the random numbers in the random number sequence are generated according to

61. A computer program product as defined in claim 59, the indicium generator module being configured to enable the computer to generate a plurality of indicia, each indicium in the plurality having a unique indicium value, each indicium in the plurality further having an indicium subrange value field for receiving a subrange value within the range, the indicium authenticator module further being configured to enable the computer to determine whether an indicium has a subrange value which overlaps with the subrange value associated with at least one previous indicium.

62. A computer program product as defined in claim 59, the indicium authenticator module being configured to enable the computer to provide the random number generating information to the indicium generator module.

63. A computer program product as defined in claim 62 in which the indicium generator module is configured to enable the computer to request an updated maximum indicium value from the indicium authenticator module, the indicium authenticator module being configured to enable the computer to provide in response the updated maximum indicium value and a new seed value, the predetermined methodology further having the characteristic that the indicium authenticator module can readily generate values of the random numbers in the random number sequence which are greater than the predetermined maximum value.