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US 4,787,045 AGranted
Postage meter recharging system
AssigneePitney Bowes Inc.
InventorsAnthony Storace, Donatas V. Gasiunas, Albert V. Yannella
Life of this patent
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AssigneePitney Bowes Inc.
InventorsAnthony Storace, Donatas V. Gasiunas, Albert V. Yannella
Estimating the term…
An electronic postage meter system in which a postage meter is coupled to a data center by way of a communication path, to enable recharging of the accounting register of the postage meter under the control of the data center. The postage meter includes an arrangement for applying dialing signals to the communication path for initiating a request for recharging of the postage meter register, and for interrupting the communication prior to the receipt of recharging authorization. The data center is responsive to a request for recharging the postage meter register to apply dialing signals corresponding to the expected location of the postage meter to the communication path to re-establish communication for the transmission of recharging authorization signals. The interruption and subsequent re-establishment of communication verifies the continued location of the postage meter at the expected location.
In an electronic postage meter having an external communication port means, an accounting circuit including a descending register, communication control means coupled to said accounting circuit for applying dialing signals and coded identification signals to said communication port means, said dialing signals corresponding to a data center, said control means comprising means responsive to determined coded signals from said port for modifying the contents of said register to correspond to a determined higher postage printing value authorization;
In an electronic postage meter having an external communication port means, an accounting circuit including a funding register, communication control means coupled to said accounting circuit for applying dialing signals and coded identification signals to said communication port means, said dialing signals corresponding to a data center, said control means comprising means responsive to determined coded signals from said port for modifying the contents of said register to correspond to a determined higher postage printing value authorization;
In an electronic postage meter having an external communication port means, an accounting circuit including a descending register, communication control means coupled to said accounting circuit for applying dialing signals and coded identification signals to said communication port means, said dialing signals corresponding to a data center, said control means comprising means responsive to determined coded signals from said port for modifying the contents of said register to correspond to a determined higher postage printing value authorization;
In an electronic postage meter having an external communication port means, an accounting circuit including a descending register for storing funding data corresponding to a postage value which said meter is authorized to print, and communication control means connected to said port and applying thereto dialing signals corresponding to a data center and coded information signals that incorporate meter identification data and data corresponding to said funding data, said control means being responsive to the receipt of determined coded signals at said port means for increasing the value of postage that the meter is authorized to print, said meter having connection means for connecting of the meter to a source of power for operating circuts of the meter;
In a postage meter system including an electronic postage meter, a data center, and a communication path interconnecting said meter and path, said meter comprising an accounting system including a register for storing data corresponding to the amount of postage which said meter is authorized to print, and communication control means for establishing a data interconnection between said meter and center via said path and applying coded signals to said path including signals identify in said meter and signals corresponding to the contents of said register, said communication control means further comprising means responsive to the receipt of determined coded recharging signals via said communication path for modifying the contents of said register to correspond to an increase in the amount of postage which said meter is authorized to print, said data center comprising means for verifying said coded information signals and in response thereto applying said recharging signals to said path, the improvement wherein said control means further comprises means for interrupting the interconnection between said meter and said data center upon the application of said coded information signals to said path and before the receipt of recharging signals from said path, said data center comprising means responsive to the receipt and verification of said coded information signals for reestablishing the interconnection between said meter and data center.
The method of operating an electronic postage meter system having an external communication port means, an accounting circuit including a descending register, and communication control means coupled to said accounting circuit, comprising the steps of applying dialing signals and coded identification signals to said communication port means, said dialing signals corresponding to a data center, interrupting communication via said communication port means following the application of said dialing and identification signals thereto, and responding to determined coded signals from said port for modifying the contents of said register to correspond to a determined higher postage printing value authorization.
The method of operating an electronic postage meter system having an external communication port means, an accounting circuit including a funding register, and communication control means coupled to said accounting circuit, the improvement comprising the steps of applying dialing signals and coded identification signals to said communication port means, said dialing signals corresponding to a data center, interrupting communication via said communication port means following the application of said dialing and identification signals thereto, determining the originating communication control means location, and verifying the presence of said postage meter at said location.
The method of operating an electronic postage meter system having an external communication port means, an accounting circuit including a descending register, and communication control means coupled to said accounting circuit, the improvement comprising the steps of applying dialing signals and coded identification signals to said communication port means, said dialing signals corresponding to a data center, interrupting communication via said communication port means following the application of said dialing and identification signals thereto, and responding only to the receipt of dialing signals corresponding to said communication path means for enabling said modifying of the contents of said register.
The method of operating an electronic postage meter system having an external communication port means, an accounting circuit including a descending register for storing funding data corresponding to a postage value which said meter is authorized to print, and communication control means connected to said port and applying thereto dialing signals corresponding to a data center and coded information signals that incorporate meter identification data and data corresponding to said funding data, said control means being responsive to the receipt of determined coded signals at said port means for increasing the value of postage that the meter is authorized to print, said meter having connection means for connecting of the meter to a source of power for operating circuits of the meter;
The method of operating an electronic postage meter system including an electronic postage meter, a data center, and a communication path interconnecting said meter and path, said meter comprising an accounting system including a register for storing data corresponding to the amount of postage which said meter is authorized to print, and communication control means for establishing a data interconnection between said meter and center via said path and applying coded signals to said path including signals identifying said meter and signals corresponding to the contents of said register, said communication control means further comprising means responsive to the receipt of determined coded recharging signals via said communication path for modifying the contents of said register to correspond to an increase in the amount of postage which said meter is authorized to print, said data center comprising means for verifying said coded information signals and in response thereto applying said recharging signals to said path, the improvement comprising the steps of interrupting the interconnection between said meter and said data center upon the application of said coded information signals to said path and before the receipt of recharging signals from said path, and wherein said data center responds to the receipt and verification of said coded information signals for reestablishing the interconnection between said meter and data center.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.