System and method for wireless user interface for business machines

• US 6,920,557 B2
• Filed: 06/28/2002
• Issued: 07/19/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Pitney Bowes Incorporated (Böwe Systec AG)
• Original Assignee: Pitney Bowes Incorporated (Böwe Systec AG)
• Inventors: Coffy, Jean-Hiram, Salazar, Edilberto I.
• Primary Examiner(s): Morse, Gregory
• Assistant Examiner(s): Callahan, Paul E.
• Application Number:
  US10/064,294
• Publication Number:
  US 20040003256A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,117 Days
• Field of Search: 705/60, 705/67, 705/72, 713/159, 713/168, 713/171, 713/184, 713/185, 713/186, 380/261, 380/262, 380/270
• US Class Current: 713/159
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/3674 involving authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/4012 Verifying personal identification numbers [PIN]
• 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 17/00733 Cryptography or similar special procedures in a franking system
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00112 Wireless
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/0012 in a mobile phone system
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00741 using specific cryptographic algorithms or functions
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00822 including unique details

Abstract

A method and system for providing external user interfaces is described. In one configuration a co-located external processor and a business machine negotiate a communications connection. The co-located external processor then utilizes a server to determine a shared secret in order to pair a wireless connection with the business machine in order to act as the user interface for the business machine. In another configuration, the co-located external processor is connected to a remote data center that authenticates the user and provides the user interface code and secret pairing information to the co-located external processor. In another configuration, the co-located external processor performs data processing for providing a cryptographically processed print stream to a postage meter.

Claims

1. A method for enabling an external processor to be used as a user interface for a machine by using an authentication server comprising:

establishing a data connection between the external processor and the authentication server;

providing user account data to the authentication server;

providing authentication data to the authentication server;

receiving appropriate secret information and logic enabling data from the authentication server relating to the user account data and the authentication data;

using the appropriate secret information and logic enabling data to establish a wireless data and user interface control connection between the external processor and the machine wherein the external processor and the machine are co-located in the same proximate location.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

obtaining machine identification data, wherein the machine identification data identifies one machine among a plurality of machines; and

using the machine identification data, the appropriate secret information and logic enabling data to establish a wireless data and user interface control connection between the external processor and the one machine wherein the external processor and the one machine are co-located.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the authentication data comprises authentication data associated with the external processor.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the authentication data comprises user biometric authentication data.

5. An external processing system for use as a user interface to a mailing machine comprising:

a processor;

memory connected to the processor, the memory storing a program for controlling the processor and storing user data;

a wireless communication system connected to the processor; and

the processor operative with the program operative for;

establishing a connection with an authentication server;

sending user data and authentication data to the authentication server and a request for machine access data;

receiving machine access data from the authentication server in response to the user data and the authentication; and

establishing a wireless communication user interface link to the mailing machine using the machine access data.

6. The system of claim 5, further comprising:

a secure postage vault connected to the processor; and

wherein;

the processor is further operative for;

cryptographically signing the user data using the secure postage vault.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein:

the machine access data includes a device authentication secret and a private data key.

8. The system of claim 5, wherein:

the wireless communication system comprises a BLUETOOTH transceiver.

9. The system of claim 5, further comprising:

a biometric data interface; and

wherein;

the processor is further operative for;

obtaining biometric data; and

wherein,

the authentication data comprises the biometric data.

10. The system of claim 5, wherein the authentication data comprises an identifier associated with the external processing system.

11. The system of claim 5, further comprising:

establishing a wireless communication user interface link to a plurality of mailing machines using the machine access data; and

providing selection data to the user for the plurality of mailing machines.

12. The system of claim 5 further comprising:

a system for obtaining a machine identifier; and

wherein;

the processor is further operative for;

obtaining a machine identifier; and

wherein,

the authentication data comprises the machine identifier.

13. A method for using a co-located external user interface having a wireless interface for printing indicia for evidencing postage using a mailing machine having a wireless interface in the same proximate location as the external user interface comprising:

obtaining mailing machine access data;

establishing a secure wireless communications connection with the mailing machine using the machine access data;

obtaining a desired postage value;

facilitating the accounting of the desired postage value;

encrypting postage value data; and

sending the encrypted postage value data to the mailing machine.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising:

receiving verification data confirming that the indicia was printed.