Postage meter locking system
AssigneePitney Bowes Inc.
InventorsMichael P. Taylor, Wojciech M. Chronsny
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A postage metering lock-out security system is disclosed for use with electronic postage meters and for use with a postage metering system that operates in conjunction with a users computer and printer that prints postal value. With the lock out security system, in order for postage to be printed, the postage-metering control unit must receive a valid signal or password. The password may also be used to identify a particular user for accounting purposes. The metering system can also be provided with an internal clock so that metering may take place only within circumscribed times. An additional security feature is provided by an automatic call-back for postage recharging in order to assure that the meter is physically located at the appropriate location.
Claims22
In a postage metering system including printing means, accounting means including means for controlling the printing means, the accounting means including means for storing a postage value which may be dispensed, and the accounting means including means for decreasing the stored value by respective amounts corresponding to postage dispensed, an improvement for securing the accounting means against unauthorized use, the improvement comprising:
- a. means for communicating with said accounting means, said communicating means including means for inputting at least one user identity password to the accounting means;
- and
- b. said accounting means including a secure memory, said memory having stored therein at least one user identity code, said accounting means including means for comparing said at least one code and said at least one password, said accounting means including means for permitting use thereof if the comparison indicates that said at least one code and said at least one password match, and said accounting means including means for preventing use thereof if the comparison indicates that said at least one code and said at least one password do not match.
In a postage metering system including printing means, accounting means including means for controlling the printing means, the accounting means including means for storing a postage value which may be dispensed, and the accounting means including means for decreasing the stored value by respective amounts corresponding to postage dispensed, a method for securing the accounting means against unauthorized use, the method comprising the steps of:
- a providing a secure memory:
- b. storing in said memory at least one user identify code;
- c. inputting to said accounting means at least one user password;
- d. comparing said at least one code and said at least one password;
- e. permitting use of said accounting means if said comparison indicates that said at least one code and said at least one password match;
- and
- f. preventing use of said accounting means if said comparison indicates that said at least one code and said at least one password do not match.
In a postage metering system including printing means, accounting means including means for controlling the printing means, the accounting means adapted to communicate with a remotely located data center for receiving therefrom a postage value which may be dispensed, the accounting means including means for storing the postage value, and the accounting means including means for decreasing the stored value by respective amounts corresponding to postage dispensed, an improvement for securing the accounting means against unauthorized use, the improvement comprising:
- a. means for communicating with said accounting means, said communicating means including means for inputting at least one user identify password to the accounting means;
- and
- b. said accounting means including a memory, said memory having stored therein at least one user identity code, said accounting means including means for comparing said at least one code and said at least one password, said accounting means including means for permitting use thereof if the comparison indicates that said at least one code and said at least one password match, and said accounting means including means for preventing use thereof if the comparison indicates that said at least one code and said at least one password do not match.
In a postage metering system including printing means, accounting means including means for controlling the printing means, the accounting means adapted to communcate with a remotely located data center for receiving therefrom a postage value which may be dispensed, the accounting means including means for storing the postage value, and the accounting means including means for decreasing the stored value by respective amounts corresponding to postage dispensed, a method for securing the acccounting means against use by authorized users, the method comprising the steps of:
- a. storing in said accounting means at least one user identity code;
- b. inputting to said accounting means at least one user password;
- c. comparing said at least one code and said at least one password;
- d. permitting use of said accounting means if said comparison indicates that said at least one code and said at least one password match;
- and
- e. preventing use of said accounting means if said comparison indicates that said at least one code and said at least one password do not match.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.