Digital postage meter system having a replaceable printing unit with system software upgrade

• US 6,502,240 B1
• Filed: 11/21/1995
• Issued: 12/31/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Pitney Bowes Incorporated (Böwe Systec AG)
• Original Assignee: Pitney Bowes Incorporated (Böwe Systec AG)
• Inventors: Naclerio, Edward J.
• Primary Examiner(s): LAO, SUE X
• Application Number:
  US08/560,252
• Time in Patent Office: 2,597 Days
• Field of Search: 395/712, 395/651
• US Class Current: 717/170
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/65 Updates security arrangements therefor G06F21/57
• 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 17/00314 Communication within apparatus, personal computer [PC] system, or server, e.g. between printhead and central unit in a franking machine
• 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 2017/00177 from a portable device, e.g. a card or a PCMCIA
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00241 Modular design
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00258 Electronic hardware aspects, e.g. type of circuits used
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00322 Communication between components/modules/parts, e.g. printer, printhead, keyboard, conveyor or central unit
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00532 Inkjet
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00588 Barcode
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00596 Printing of address
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00604 Printing of advert or logo
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/0062 Label
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00701 Measuring the weight of mailpieces
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/0075 Symmetric, secret-key algorithms, e.g. DES, RC2, RC4, IDEA, Skipjack, CAST, AES
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00919 Random number generator
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00967 PSD [Postal Security Device] as defined by the USPS [US Postal Service]

Abstract

An improved postage meter mailing system utilizes a meter vault operated under the control of a microcontroller mounted in a secure housing. The microcontroller of the meter vault has a communication device for receiving and transmitting data messages and non-volatile memory for storing program data and other data. A printer is utilized for printing a postage indicia. The printer operates under the control of a microcontroller mounted in a secure housing. The microcontroller of the printer has a communication device for receiving and transmitting data messages and non-volatile memory for storing program data and other data. An interface provides a communication path between the meter vault and the printer. The non-volatile memory of the meter vault has stored therein a program version number for identifying the control program version. The non-volatile memory of the printer has store therein a software update number for identifying associated meter vault programs which utilize the update software. Upon system start-up, the print head microcontroller requests the meter vault microcontroller to transmit the control program version and number and determines whether the control program require the update software and if so transmits the update software.

Claims

1. An improved postage metering system of the type having a meter vault including a memory for storing a meter vault software program having a version number, wherein the improvement comprises:

means for determining the version number of the meter vault software program;

means for comparing the detected version number with a desired version number;

means for transmitting a new meter vault software program to the meter vault to replace the meter vault software if the detected version number is earlier in sequence than a desired version number;

a printer including a microcontroller and a memory; and

interface means for providing communication between the meter vault and the printer;

wherein the meter vault includes a microcontroller for decrypting the new meter vault software program prior to the new meter vault software program being stored in the memory of the meter vault;

wherein the new meter vault software program is necessary to establish proper communications between the meter vault and the printer for operation of the postage meter system and the new meter vault software program is located in the memory of the printer during manufacture of the printer and prior to installation of the printer into the postage meter system;

wherein the determining means determines the version number of the meter vault software program during each start-up routine for the postage meter system; and

wherein the microcontroller of the printer encrypts the new meter vault software program prior to transmitting the new meter vault software program to the meter vault.

2. An improved postage meter mailing system, having

a meter vault including a microcontroller, said microcontroller of said meter vault having a communication means for receiving and transmitting data messages and a memory for storing program data,

a printer including a microcontroller, said microcontroller of said printer having a communication means for receiving and transmitting data messages and a memory storage means for storing program data,

interface means for providing a communication path between said meter vault and said printer,

wherein said improvement comprises:

said memory of said meter vault having stored therein data representing a numeric version of said program data;

said memory of said printer having stored therein program update data and a data representing an associated numeric version for identifying associated program data;

said print head microcontroller having means for requesting said meter vault microcontroller to transmit said data representing said numeric version of said program data and comparing said data representing said numeric version with said data representing said associated numeric version, wherein, only if, said numeric version is less than said associated numeric version said print head microcontroller transmits said update data to said meter vault to replace said program data;

wherein said print head microcontroller requests said meter vault microcontroller to transmit said data representing said numeric version of said program data, compares said data representing said numeric version with said data representing said associated numeric version, and, only if, said numeric version is less than said associated numeric version transmits said update data to said meter vault during each start-up routine for the postage meter mailing system;

said microcontroller of said printer encrypts said update data prior to transmitting said update data to said meter vault;

said microcontroller of said meter vault decrypts said update data prior to said update data being stored in said memory of said meter vault; and

said update data is loaded into said memory of said printer during manufacture of said printer and prior to installation of said printer into said postage meter mailing system.

3. The improved postage meter system of claim 2, wherein:

said update data is necessary to establish proper communications between said printer and said meter vault for operation of the postage meter mailing system.

4. A method of updating program software of a postage meter system having a meter vault including a microcontroller, said microcontroller of said meter vault having a communication means for receiving and transmitting data messages and a memory for storing program data,

a printer including a microcontroller, said microcontroller of said printer having a communication means for receiving and transmitting data messages and a memory for storing program data,

interface means for providing a communication path between said meter vault and said printer,

said method comprising the steps of:

storing numeric data in said memory of said meter vault representative of said program data version,

storing program update data in said memory of said printer,

storing associated numeric data in said memory of said printer representative said program data version associated with said program update data,

comparing said associated numeric data in said printer memory to said numeric data in said meter vault memory transmitting said update data to said meter vault, only if, said associated numeric data is greater than said numeric data;

performing each of the steps previously recited during each start-up routine for the postage meter mailing system;

encrypting said update data prior to transmitting said update data to said meter vault;

decrypting said update data prior to said update data being stored in said memory of said meter vault; and

storing said update data into said memory of said printer during manufacture of said printer and prior to installation of said printer into said postage meter mailing system.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising the steps of:

using said update data to establish proper communications between said printer and said meter vault for operation of the postage meter mailing system.