US 4,377,214 A · Method and apparatus for interfacing an electronic scale system with a storage medium

Abstract

An interface apparatus and method are described with which an electronic scale system is connected to a storage medium such as a disk or memory of a data processor and whereby scale transaction data related to the mailing of an article with an electronic scale can be automatically preserved as a unified record along with subsequently appended test information such as an invoice number or customer number. The interface has a programmable memory with which a normal operating mode is provided to enable an operator to conveniently and rapidly store scale transaction data and in response to displayed prompts enter data such as the number of an invoice accompanying the article being mailed. The test data is appended to the scale transaction data so that all of this data can be transmitted as a unified record to a storage medium. The interface is further provided with a supervisory mode with which special examination and service operations can be performed as these are needed for monitoring or corrective steps in case of errors. The interface displays plain language prompts to guide an operator through a normal RUN mode as well as facilitate supervisory and service technician monitoring and control. With an interface of the invention the unified record enables a rapid update of a customer account and shipping information.

Claims17

Dependent claims

An interfacing device for an article weighing and postage generating system having an electronic postage weighing scale operative to produce transaction data signals on an output comprising:

a manually actuatable alphanumeric keyboard, means for communicating with a storage medium so that scale transaction data signals and keyboard entered data signals can be preserved and processed, a programmable memory, a data memory, an electronically actuated display, and means for carrying out instructions stored in the programmable memory, said interface further having a scale port connected to receive scale transaction data signals, a display output to drive said display, a keyboard input to receive manually inserted response signals from said keyboard and a storage medium port connected to transmit scale transaction signals and keyboard originating text signals to the storage medium;
said manually actuatable keyboard being connected to the keyboard input, with said electronically actuated display being connected to the display output and being of sufficient length to visually indicate readable inquiry signals and response signals from the actuation of the keyboard;
means for storing scale transaction data signals in the data memory;
means responsive to the storing of said scale transaction data signals for producing a prompt on the display representative of a request for additional text data signals pertinent to the stored scale transaction data signals;
means for storing in said data memory keyboard text data signals responsive to said display request;
and
means for transmitting the scale transaction data and the keyboard text data signals from the storage medium port to said storage medium.

4 more elements

In a method for processing article postage information generated by an electronic scale which produces scale transaction data signals and with an interface apparatus which interconnects the electronic scale with a storage medium of a data processor or a diskette or the like, the improvement comprising the steps of:

storing data of a predetermined number of scale transactions from the scale in a memory located in the interface;
inhibiting, following the storing step, subsequent storing of scale transaction data in the interface;
displaying on a display associated with the interface a visually readable indication representative of a request for text data from the actuation of a keyboard associated with the interface and related to stored scale transaction data;
storing text data representative of said keyboard actuation with said stored scale transaction data;
and
transmitting the stored scale transaction data and stored text data representative of said keyboard actuation to said storage medium;
verifying the correct transmittal of said data;
and
enabling the receipt by said interface of subsequent scale transaction data following verification of said correct transmittal.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method and apparatus for interfacing an electronic scale system with a storage medium

Life of this patent

Method and apparatus for interfacing an electronic scale system with a storage medium

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims17