METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PERFORMING AUTOMATED FRAUD REPORTING
First Claim
1. A postage metering system for placing automated fraud reporting to a service center comprising:
- a meter having a microprocessor; and
a modem coupled to the meter;
wherein the microprocessor runs diagnostic software configured to perform periodic checks to detect security breaches, and wherein the meter sends an alarm message via the modem upon detection of particular ones of the detected security breaches.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A meter and/or base (or computer), coupled to one or more modems, perform automated fraud reporting to a service center upon detection of particular ones of detectable faults. Diagnostic software and/or tamper detection devices test the meter to ensure that the meter operates in an expected manner. A detected fault can be classified into one or more categories or levels. For faults within certain levels, an alarm message is sent to the service center. Corrective action can be performed in accordance with a response from the service center. For major faults, the meter can be disabled until service is performed and the alarm message can be sent to the postal inspectors.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. A postage metering system for placing automated fraud reporting to a service center comprising:
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a meter having a microprocessor; and
a modem coupled to the meter;
wherein the microprocessor runs diagnostic software configured to perform periodic checks to detect security breaches, and wherein the meter sends an alarm message via the modem upon detection of particular ones of the detected security breaches. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A postage metering system for placing automated fraud reporting to a service center comprising:
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a meter having a microprocessor; and
a modem coupled to the meter;
wherein the microprocessor runs diagnostic software configured to perform periodic checks of the meter to detect security breaches, the security breaches being categorized into three levels, wherein the meter sends an alarm message via the modem upon detection of security breaches within predetermined levels, and wherein the meter performs corrective action based on a response from the service center responsive to the alarm message.
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12. A postage metering system for placing automated fraud reporting to a service center comprising:
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a meter module;
a base coupled to the meter module, the base including a microprocessor; and
a modem coupled to the base;
wherein the microprocessor runs test software configured to perform periodic checks of the meter to detect security breaches, and wherein the base sends an alarm message via the modem upon detection of particular ones of the detected security breaches. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A postage metering system for placing automated fraud reporting to a service center comprising:
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a meter module;
a computer coupled to the meter module, the computer including a microprocessor; and
a modem coupled to the computer;
wherein the microprocessor runs test software configured to perform periodic checks of the meter to detect security breaches, and wherein the computer sends an alarm message via the modem upon detection of particular ones of the detected security breaches. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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20. A postage metering system for placing automated fraud reporting to a service center comprising:
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a meter module including a first microprocessor;
a first modem coupled to the meter;
a base coupled to the meter module, the base including a second microprocessor; and
a second modem coupled to the base;
wherein the first microprocessor runs diagnostic software configured to perform periodic checks of the meter module to detect security and meter failures, the meter module sending an alarm message via the first modem upon detection of particular ones of the detected meter failures;
wherein the second microprocessor runs test software configured to perform periodic checks of the meter module to detect security and meter failures, the base also sending the alarm message via the second modem upon detection of particular ones of the detected meter failures. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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22. The system of claim 22 wherein the automatic fraud reporting is performed upon detection of hard faults.
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23. A method for placing automated fraud reporting in a postage metering system including a meter and a modem comprising:
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performing a check of the meter using diagnostic software;
detecting a fault within the meter; and
sending an alarm message via the modem coupled to the meter upon detection of particular ones of the detected faults. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A method for placing automated fraud reporting in a postage metering system including a meter and a modem comprising:
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performing a check of the meter using diagnostic software;
detecting a fault within the meter;
determining whether the detected fault is a hard fault;
disabling operation of the meter upon detection of the hard fault; and
sending an alarm message via the modem connected to the meter upon detection of the hard fault.
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Specification