Method for operating a postage meter and addressing machine

• US 6,438,529 B1
• Filed: 03/12/1999
• Issued: 08/20/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/18/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Francotyp-Postalia GmbH
• Original Assignee: Francotyp-Postalia GmbH
• Inventors: Thiel, Wolfgang
• Primary Examiner(s): Trammell, James P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dixon, Thomas A.
• Application Number:
  US09/266,824
• Time in Patent Office: 1,257 Days
• Field of Search: 705/62, 705/404, 705/408, 705/410, 705/60, 380/51, 101/91, 235/468, 235/375, 235/382, 235/495
• US Class Current: 705/62
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 17/00467 Transporting mailpieces postal sorting B07C
• 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 2017/00532 Inkjet
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00596 Printing of address
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00637 Special printing techniques, e.g. interlacing
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00766 Digital signature, e.g. DSA, DSS, ECDSA, ESIGN

Abstract

A method for operating a postage meter and addressing machine includes request steps for entering at least a shipping destination address, a step for generating the print image for the address field and a step for starting the printout of the address. By nesting information processes and motion processes in intervening steps before the printing of the franking image, a time-optimized executive sequence is achieved overall when printing the address and the franking image.

Claims

1. A method for operating a postage meter and addressing machine comprising the steps of:

entering a shipping destination into a processor;

entering data into said processor to make available to said processor a postage value for shipping an item to said shipping destination, said item having an address field and a franking field thereon;

compiling, using said processor, a print image containing said shipping destination;

providing a printhead which is movable relative to said item;

positioning said printhead in said address field and starting printing of said print image only in said address field on said item and executing a motion sequence by said printhead relative to said item to successively position said printhead from said address field and into said franking field;

compiling a security imprint parallel in time with execution of said motion sequence; and

printing said security imprint in said franking field, together with a representation of said postage value, on said item with said printhead.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the step of generating said security imprint comprises generating said security imprint during said printing in said address field.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the step of generating said security imprint comprises generating said security imprint while successively positioning said printhead in said address field and said franking field.

4. A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the step of generating a security imprint includes generating a digital signature.

5. A method as claimed in claim 4 wherein the step of generating said digital signature comprises generating said digital signature parallel in time with said printing in said address field and with successively positioning said printhead in said address field and said franking field.

6. A method as claimed in claim 5 wherein the step of generating said digital signature comprises generating said digital signature using an asymmetrical encryption method and a private key, and comprising the additional step of verifying said digital signature with an associated public key.

7. A method for operating a postage meter and addressing machine comprising the steps of:

entering input data including a postage value and at least one shipping destination into a processor; and

processing said input data in said processor to initially compile a first dataset incorporating said shipping destination and printing said first dataset in an address field on an item to be shipped and, continuing processing said input data to compile a second dataset incorporating said postage value and printing said second dataset as a franking image in a franking field on said item, with compilation of said second dataset being conducted at least partially time-nested with printing of said first dataset.