System and method for wireless user interface for business machines

• US 20040003256A1
• Filed: 06/28/2002
• Published: 01/01/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pitney Bowes Incorporated (Böwe Systec AG)
• Original Assignee: Pitney Bowes Incorporated (Böwe Systec AG)
• Inventors: Coffy, Jean-Hiram, Salazar, Edilberto I.
• Granted Patent: US 6,920,557 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/179
• 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 selecting an external processor as a user interface to a machine comprising:

accessing user account data;

authenticating a user; and

using the user account data and authentication in deciding the secret information and logic enabling data to send to the user interface.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein:

accessing user account data is performed by docking to a server in a cradle.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein:

authentication includes authentication of the user.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

obtaining authentication information for an external processor.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein:

the determination of whether an external processor is authenticated is used to make a control transfer decision.

6. The method of claim 3 wherein:

the authentication information is obtained from a user of the external processor and includes biometric information.

7. A system for selecting an external processor as a user interface to a machine comprising:

means for accessing user account data;

means for authenticating a user; and

processing means for using the user account data and authentication in deciding the secret information and logic enabling data to send to the user interface.

8. A system for selecting an external processor as a user interface to a machine comprising:

a processor;

memory connected to the processor for storing user data;

wherein the processor includes program logic for authenticating a user and providing secret information by referring to user data.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein:

the secret information includes a device authentication secret and a private data key.

10. A method for printing indicia for evidencing postage using a mailing machine:

establishing a communications connection with the mailing machine;

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.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising:

receiving verification data relating to the postage indicia printed.