Dual metering method for enhanced mail security

• US 7,835,996 B2
• Filed: 12/18/2002
• Issued: 11/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Pitney Bowes Incorporated (Böwe Systec AG)
• Original Assignee: Pitney Bowes Incorporated (Böwe Systec AG)
• Inventors: Sansone, Ronald P.
• Primary Examiner(s): WU, RUTAO
• Application Number:
  US10/323,346
• Publication Number:
  US 20040122777A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,890 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 705/330
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07758 arrangements for adhering the record carrier to further objects or living beings, functioning as an identification tag
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/083 Shipping
• 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 2017/00443 Verification of mailpieces, e.g. by checking databases
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00629 Circuit, e.g. transponder
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00653 Special inks, e.g. fluorescent
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/0083 Postal data, e.g. postage, address, sender, machine ID, vendor

Abstract

The security feature of a postal indicia is enhanced by recording a number in a memory of a radio frequency identification tag that is linked to a dual meter user before the tag is delivered to the user of the dual meter; processing by the dual meter the number recorded in the radio frequency identification tag memory when the dual postal indicia is being composed; storing the processed number in the radio frequency tag memory; affixing a postal indicia portion of a dual postal indicia and a radio frequency identification tag portion of a dual postal indicia to a mail piece; and uploading the number recoded in the radio frequency identification tag memory and the processed number stored in the radio frequency tag memory to a data center.

Claims

1. A method for creating a dual postal indicia, said method comprises the steps of:

A. recording a number in a memory of an electronic device that is linked to a dual meter user before the electronic device is delivered to the user of the dual meter;

B. processing by the dual meter the number recorded in the electronic device memory to produce a processed number that is different from the number recorded in the electronic device memory when the dual postal indicia is being composed;

C. storing the processed number in the electronic device memory;

D. affixing a postal indicia portion of a dual postal indicia and a electronic device portion of a dual postal indicia to a mail piece; and

E. uploading the processed number stored in the electronic device memory to a data center.

2. The method claimed in claim 1, wherein the electronic device is a radio frequency identification tag.

3. The method claimed in claim 1, further including the step of:

uploading the number recorded in the electronic device memory.

4. The method claimed in claim 1, wherein the postal indicia portion of the dual postal indicia is printed on the mail piece.

5. The method claimed in claim 1, wherein the postal indicia portion of the dual postal indicia is printed on a label and the tag portion of the dual postal indicia is affixed to a label that is affixed to a mail piece.

6. The method claimed in claim 1, wherein the postal indicia portion of the dual postal indicia is printed on the mail piece with an invisible ink.

7. The method claimed in claim 1, wherein the processing step further includes the step of:

performing one or more mathematical functions on the processed number to produce a unique sequenced identification number.

8. The method claimed in claim 7, further including the steps of:

matching the uploaded numbers; and

storing the uploaded numbers in a data base.

9. The method claimed in claim 7, further including the steps of:

mailing the mail piece;

reading the stored processed number;

searching the data base for the number that is being read; and

checking the data base to determine whether or not the number was previously used, whereby if the number was previously used, the indicia is invalid;

and, if the number was not previously used, the indicia is valid.

10. The method claimed in claim 9, further including the steps of:

marking the data base to indicate that number being read is used.

11. The method claimed in claim 1, wherein the processing step further includes the step of:

adding an increasing value to the number recorded in the electronic device memory.

12. The method claimed in claim 1, wherein the processing step further includes the step of:

adding a decreasing value to the number recorded in electronic device memory.

13. The method claimed in claim 1, wherein the processing step further includes the step of:

dividing a value to the number recorded in the electronic device memory.

14. The method claimed in claim 1, wherein the processing step further includes the step of:

multiplying a value to the number recorded in the electronic device memory.

15. The method claimed in claim 1, wherein the processing step further includes the step of:

subtracting a value to the number recorded in the electronic device memory after the number recorded in a radio frequency identification tag memory is processed.

16. The method claimed in claim 1, wherein the processing step further includes the step of:

encrypting the number recorded in the electronic device memory with a downloaded up datable key.

17. The method claimed in claim 1, wherein the processing step further includes the step of:

erasing the number recorded in the electronic device memory after the number recorded in a radio frequency identification tag memory is processed.

18. A method for tagging a mailpiece, said method comprises the steps of:

providing an electronic device having a memory storing identification data, wherein said device is affixed to a mail piece;

processing the identification data recorded in said memory to generate further data;

that is different from the stored identification data, storing the further data in said memory; and

affixing the electronic device to a mail piece.

19. The method claimed in claim 18, wherein the electronic device is a radio frequency identification tag.

20. The method claimed in claim 18, further including the step of:

uploading the identification data recorded in the electronic device to a data center.

21. The method claimed in claim 18, wherein said identification data is a unique sequenced identification number.

22. The method claimed in claim 18, wherein said electronic device is linked to a meter user.

23. The method claimed in claim 18, wherein the postal indicia is printed on a label which is affixed to a mail piece.

24. The method claimed in claim 18, wherein the processing step further includes the step of:

performing one or more mathematical functions on the identification data.

25. The method claimed in claim 18, wherein the processing step further includes the step of:

encrypting the data recorded in the memory with a downloaded updatable key.

26. The method claimed in claim 18, wherein the processing step further includes the step of:

erasing the identification data from said memory after the further data has been generated.

27. The method claimed in claim 18, further including the steps of:

reading the stored further data;

searching a data base for the data that is being read; and

checking the data base to determine whether or not the data was previously used, whereby if the data was previously used, it is invalid and, if the data was not previously used, it is valid.

29. A system according to claim 27, wherein the electronic device is a radio frequency identification tag.

30. The system claimed in claim 27, further comprising:

means for uploading the identification data to a data center.

28. A system for tagging a mailpiece comprising:

an electronic device having a memory for storing identification data, wherein said device is affixed to a mail piece;

means for processing the identification data recorded in said memory to generate further data;

means for storing said further data in said memory; and

means for affixing the electronic device to a mailpiece.