Secure data capture apparatus and method
AssigneeAscom Hasler Mailing Systems, Inc.
InventorsGeorge Brookner, Roman Kresina, Lorenz Frey
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In a postage meter system (FIG. 2), a user enters information,indicative of a batch of mail pieces to be franked (30). The mail pieces are franked(31), and when the batch is completed, data relating to the batch are made the subject of a cryptographic engine(33). The data digitally signed, or a message authentication code (MAC) is derived, all in a postal security device (PSD)(32). The data are communicated(34), preferably by means of public-key cryptography(35). These data are then made available to the postal authority in a secure way.(36)
Claims24
A method for use with a postage meter system under the jurisdiction of a postal authority, the postage meter system comprising a host and a server, the host comprising a postal security device and postal indicia printing means, the server comprising cryptographic device disposed for cryptographically secure communication with the postal security device, the method comprising the steps of:
- entering information into the host indicative of a batch of mail pieces to be franked;
- franking the mail pieces whilst storing information about the franking of the batch of mail pieces to a memory within the host;
- within the postal security device, performing a cryptographic authenticating procedure upon the information about the franking of the batch and the information indicative of the batch, said information defining statistical information;
- communicating the statistical information from the postal security device to the cryptographic device;
- authenticating the statistical information at the cryptographic device;
- and
- passing the statistical information to a postal authority.
A method for use with a postage meter system under the jurisdiction of a postal authority, the postage meter system comprising a host and a server, the host comprising a postal security device and postal indicia printing means, the server comprising cryptographic device disposed for cryptographically secure communication with the postal security device, the host operated by a service provider providing service to a plurality of users, the method comprising the steps of:
- entering information into the host indicative of a batch of mail pieces to be franked and indicative of an identity of a user associated with the batch;
- franking the mail pieces whilst storing information about the franking of the batch of mail pieces to a memory within the host;
- within the postal security device, performing a cryptographic authenticating procedure upon the information about the franking of the batch and the information indicative of the batch, said information defining statistical information;
- communicating the statistical information from the postal security device to the cryptographic device;
- authenticating the statistical information at the cryptographic device;
- and
- passing the statistical information to a postal authority.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.