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
First Claim
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.
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Accused Products
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.
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Citations
63 Claims
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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;
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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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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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 xi.
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9. A system as defined in claim 8 in which the indicium generator is configured to utilize a predetermined number of low-order bits.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
Specification