Method and apparatus for transferring post meter data

• US 7,769,700 B1
• Filed: 08/15/2003
• Issued: 08/03/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pitney Bowes Incorporated (Böwe Systec AG)
• Original Assignee: Pitney Bowes Incorporated (Böwe Systec AG)
• Inventors: Rozendaal, Vincent, DaGenarro, Derak, Ratzenberger, Roger J. Jr., Kirschner, Wesley A., D'Amico, Lynn W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hayes; John W
• Assistant Examiner(s): Erb; Nathan
• Application Number:
  US10/604,783
• Time in Patent Office: 2,545 Days
• Field of Search: 705/401
• US Class Current: 705/401
• 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 2017/00169 from a franking apparatus, e.g. for verifying accounting
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00395 Memory organization

Abstract

A method and a system for collecting, segregating, and transmitting data relating to the use of a value metering system are described. A system and a method for dynamically updating collection, segregation, and/or transmission rules are also described.

Claims

1. A method for collecting a first set of usage data and a second set of usage data for a postage meter including a controller, a memory, and an interface, comprising:

storing, by the controller of the postage meter, the first set of usage data in the memory in accordance with a first set of data collection segregation rules;

receiving, by the controller of the postage meter, an update of the first set of data collection segregation rules;

processing, by the controller of the postage meter, the update of the first set of data collection segregation rules before collecting the second set of usage data, wherein processing the update includes obtaining a second set of data collection segregation rules; and

reformatting, by the controller of the postage meter, the first set of usage data in accordance with the second set of data collection segregation rules;

wherein the first set of data collection segregation rules and the second set of data collection segregation rules each describe categories to which metered mail pieces are to be logged as belonging.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the first set of data collection segregation rules and the second set of data collection segregation rules each comprise a text string used for printing data capture information in a meter indicium.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the memory is a nonvolatile memory.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first set of usage data and the second set of usage data have fields to which XML tags are assigned.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the first set of data collection segregation rules and the second set of data collection segregation rules provide for collection of data to differentiate transactions processed using automated rating and transactions processed using manual rating.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein:

manual rating comprises keypad data entry; and

automated rating comprises automatically weighing mail pieces.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

aggregating transaction records into a data report.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

determining a unique identifier for the data report.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

transmitting the data report and the unique identifier to a central server.

10. A postage meter for collecting a first set of usage data and a second set of usage data, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory, communicatively coupled to the processor;

wherein the processor is configured to perform a method comprising;

storing the first set of usage data of the postage meter in the memory in accordance with a first set of data collection segregation rules;

receiving an update of the first set of data collection segregation rules;

processing the update of the first set of data collection segregation rules before collecting the second set of usage data of the postage meter, wherein processing the update includes obtaining a second set of data collection segregation rules; and

reformatting the first set of usage data of the postage meter in accordance with the second set of data collection segregation rules;

wherein the first set of data collection segregation rules and the second set of data collection segregation rules each describe categories to which metered mail pieces are to be logged as belonging.