Method and apparatus for providing refunds in a postage metering system

• US 6,941,286 B1
• Filed: 12/29/1999
• Issued: 09/06/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Pitney Bowes Incorporated (Böwe Systec AG)
• Original Assignee: Pitney Bowes Incorporated (Böwe Systec AG)
• Inventors: Foth, Thomas J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Weiss, John G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): WOO, RICHARD SUKYOON
• Application Number:
  US09/474,642
• Time in Patent Office: 2,078 Days
• Field of Search: 705/30, 705/60, 705/61, 705/401, 705/403, 705/404
• US Class Current: 705/403
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 17/00435 Details specific to central, non-customer apparatus, e.g. servers at post office or vendor
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00338 Error detection or handling
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00427 Special accounting procedures, e.g. storing special information
• CPC Class Codes: G07B 2017/00556 Ensuring quality of print

Abstract

A method for facilitating refunds in a postage metering system includes the steps of receiving at a computer a request for a refund of a postage amount; using the computer for accessing a dispute account data base for identifying a dispute account associated with the request; determining, via the computer, if a value in the dispute account is acceptable for permitting a refund of the postage amount; and at times when the value is determined to be acceptable for permitting the refund of the postage amount, refunding the postage amount to a user of the postage meter. A system incorporates the method steps.

Claims

1. A method for facilitating refunds in a postage metering system, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving at a computer a request for a refund of a postage amount, the request being associated with a postage meter;

using the computer for accessing a dispute account database for identifying a dispute account having a value therein that is indicative of a level of refund activity attributable to the postage meter, the dispute account being associated with the request;

determining, via the computer, if the value in the dispute account is acceptable for permitting a refund of the postage amount; and

at times when the value is determined to be acceptable for permitting the refund of the postage amount, refunding the postage amount to a user of the postage meter by sending enabling data from the computer to the postage meter, the enabling data useable by the postage meter to add the postage amount to a vault of the postage meter.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising adjusting the value in the dispute account to account for the postage amount refunded.

3. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein at times when the value is determined to be not acceptable, sending a message for one of printing and display at the postage meter, the message advising that the request for a refund has been denied.

4. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising sending the request from the postage meter to the computer.

5. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the postage meter is remotely located from the computer.

6. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising maintaining a transaction record of the refunding at the computer.

7. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the postage amount correlates to a postage value previously dispensed by the postage meter.

8. A postage metering system comprising:

a postage meter having a vault that accounts for postage dispensed by the postage meter and a processor for controlling operation of the postage meter;

a data center in communication with the postage meter, the data center having a central processing unit and a dispute account database, the dispute account database having a dispute account having a value therein that is indicative of a level of refund activity attributable to the postage meter, the dispute account being associated with the postage meter;

means for permitting communication between the postage meter and the data center;

wherein at times when the data center receives a request for a refund of a postage amount for the postage meter the central processing unit determines if the value in the dispute account is acceptable for permitting a refund of the postage amount and if it is the central processing unit refunds the postage amount to a user of the postage meter by sending enabling data useable by the processor for adding the postage amount to the postage meter vault.

9. A postage metering system as recited in claim 8, wherein the postage meter further includes a printing device that prints a receipt of the postage amount refunded.

10. A postage metering system as recited in claim 8, wherein the postage meter sends the request to the data center and the postage amount correlates to a postage value previously dispensed by the postage meter.

11. A postage metering system as recited in claim 8, wherein the postage meter is remotely located from the data center.

12. A method for facilitating refunds in a postage meter, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving at the postage meter a request for a refund of a postage amount;

accessing a dispute account in the postage meter to determine if a value in the dispute account is acceptable for permitting a refund of the postage amount, the value indicative of a level of refund activity attributable to the postage meter; and

at times when the value is determined to be acceptable for permitting the refund of the postage amount, refunding the postage amount to a user of the postage meter by adding the postage amount to a vault of the postage meter.

13. A method as recited in claim 12, wherein at times when the postage meter communicates with a remote data center sending a message from the postage meter to the data center to initiate the refunding of the postage amount to the user.

14. A postage meter comprising:

a processor that controls operation of the postage meter;

a vault that accounts for postage dispensed by the postage meter;

a dispute account having a value therein, the value indicative of a level of refund activity attributable to the meter;

wherein at times when the postage meter receives a request for a refund of a postage amount the processor determines if the value in the dispute account is acceptable for permitting a refund of the postage amount and if it is the processor refunds the postage amount to a user of the postage meter by adding the postage amount to the vault.