Electronic postage scale system and method

• US 6,462,286 B1
• Filed: 06/07/1995
• Issued: 10/08/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hasler Incorporated (Quadient SA)
• Original Assignee: Hasler Incorporated (Quadient SA)
• 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:
  US08/479,022
• Time in Patent Office: 2,680 Days
• Field of Search: 177/25.11, 177/25.12, 177/25.13, 177/25.15, 177/50, 177/126, 177/127, 177/238, 177/244, 177/45, 177/46, 177/47, 177/48, 361/681, 361/807, 361/809, 361/682, 248/917, 248/918, 248/919, 248/920, 248/921, 248/922, 248/923, 364/708.1, 364/466, 364/709.14, 364/709.15, 705/407, 705/414
• 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. In an electronic scale system having a microprocessor for controlling operation of a scale, for computing shipping charges for packages weighted by said scale, and for controlling the operation of a postage meter connected to said scale, the improvement comprising, a multitask control program for concurrently controlling the operation of said postage meter to print postage and for allowing concurrent independent operation of said scale and said microprocessor for computing shipping charges.

2. A method for operating an electronic scale system connected to a postage meter, comprising performing multitask programs in a microprocessor, said multitask programs providing concurrent tasks of controlling operation of said postage meter to print postage and controlling operation of said electronic scale to compute shipping charges for packages weighed by said scale.