Method for improving the security of postage meter machines

A method for improving the security of a postage meter machine which is capable of communication with a remote central data station, said postage meter machine being openable and containing a microprocessor which controls the execution of a start and initialization routine followed by a system routine, said system routine including a franking mode, said method comprising the steps of:

• storing a current code word in said postage meter machine;
• establishing a communication link between said postage meter machine and said central data station;
• reporting an intent to conduct an authorized opening of said postage meter machine by making a request for opening at said central data station after establishment of said communication link;
• communicating a new code word to said postage meter machine from said central data station upon approval of said request for opening and storing said new code word in said postage meter machine at a different memory location from said current code word, said current code word and said new code word exclusively comprising valid code words;
• automatically erasing said current code word upon any opening of said housing of said postage meter machine;
• automatically substituting said new code word, if present in said postage meter machine, for the erased current code word upon opening of said postage meter machine;
• automatically transferring said postage meter machine into a first mode for effectively shutting said postage meter machine off if said current code word is erased and no new code word is present to substitute for the erased current word and thus no valid code word is present in said postage meter machine;
• preventing said postage meter machine from automatically transferring into said first mode if said new code word has been substituted for the erased current code word and thus a valid code word is present in said postage meter machine;
• conducting said start and initialization routine followed by said system routine and conducting a periodic interrogation during said start and initialization routine and during said system routine to confirm the continued presence of new code word in said postage meter machine;
• and
• in said start and initialization routine, before conducting a first periodic interrogation, calling in current data to determine whether said postage meter machine satisfies a specified criterion to conduct a franking and, if said specified criterion is not satisfied, causing said postage meter machine to enter into a second mode which displays a notification of a need to communicate with said central data station and which prevents said postage meter machine from entering into said franking mode.

A method for improving the security of a postage meter machine which is capable of communication with a remote central data station, said postage meter machine containing a microprocessor which controls the execution of a start and initialization routine followed by a system routine, said system routine including a franking mode, said method comprising the steps of:

• establishing a first criterion indicative of whether the security of said postage meter machine has been breached;
• if said first criterion is not satisfied, placing said postage meter machine in a first mode which prevents said postage meter machine from conducting a franking;
• requiring specific measures to be undertaken before said postage meter machine is again capable of franking following entry of said postage meter machine into said first mode;
• if said first criterion is satisfied, calling in current data from said microprocessor to conduct a flanking;
• establishing a second security-related criterion;
• if said second security-related criterion is not satisfied after said current data are called in, causing said postage meter machine to enter into a second mode;
• and
• in said second mode, displaying a warning of impending disablement of said postage meter machine.

A method for improving the security of a postage meter machine which is capable of communication with a remote central data station, said postage meter machine containing a microprocessor which controls the execution of a start and initialization routine followed by a system routine, said system routine including a franking mode, said method comprising the steps of:

• varying a count value during execution of a program routine in said postage meter machine;
• comparing said count value to a predetermined count value after the execution of said program routine;
• and
• initiating steps to ensure the security of said postage meter machine if said count value is not equal to said predetermined count value including placing said postage meter machine in first mode wherein franking is prevented, requiring establishment of a first security criterion to exit said first mode.

A method for improving the security of a postage meter machine which is capable of communication with a remote central data station, said postage meter machine containing a microprocessor, under the supervision of an OTP, for executing a start and initialization routine followed by a system routine, said system routine including a franking mode, said method comprising the steps of:

• forming a checksum in said OTP for a content of an external program memory;
• comparing said checksum to a predetermined value stored in said OTP at a specified point in the operation of said postage meter machine;
• and
• inhibiting said postage meter machine if said predetermined value and said checksum do not coincide including placing said postage meter machine in first mode wherein franking is prevented, requiring establishment of a first security criterion to exit said first mode.

Method for improving the security of a postage meter machine containing a control unit, said method comprising the steps of:

• (a) communicating data from a data central to the postage meter machine corresponding to a requested, authorized operation performed on the postage meter machine and logging said operation as an allowed operation in the control unit;
• (b) distinguishing in said control unit among requested, authorized and unauthorized operations performed on the postage meter machine using the data communicated from the data central, and logging an operation as an error given unauthorized operation performed on the postage meter machine and, after the conclusion of an authorized operation performed on the postage meter machine, restoring said postage meter machine to its original operating condition using said data communicated from the data central;
• (c) switching the postage meter machine into a first mode and thereby disabling said postage meter machine when the correct data are absent because an unauthorized operation was performed on the postage meter machine;
• and
• (d) placing said postage meter machine in a second mode and displaying a warning indicating an imminent automatic communication from said postage meter machine to said data central.

A method for improving security of a postage meter machine containing a control unit, said method comprising the steps of:

• franking postal items in said postage meter machine using a printing head, said items being conveyed beneath said printing head at a conveying speed and said franking taking place at a printing speed;
• executing programs in said postage meter machine for franking items, said programs having an execution time associated therewith and having a count value associated therewith which is varied during execution of a program;
• selecting at least one of said conveying speed, said printing speed, said program execution time or said count value as a first security indicator and comparing said first security indicator to a first security criterion;
• and
• placing said postage meter machine in a first mode if said first security indicator does not satisfy said first security criterion and preventing further franking by said postage meter machine in said first mode and requiring establishment of said first security criterion to exit said first mode.