Multi-currency postage meter
AssigneePitney Bowes Inc.
InventorsStephen Kelly, Timothy J Nicholls, Robert W Allport
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention provides an apparatus and method for converting a postage amount expressed in a first currency denomination into at least a second currency denomination and printing the postage amount expressed in a second denomination in postal indicia.
Claims3
A postage meter system that generates postal indicia for items to be mailed, comprising:
- input means for entering a postage amount in a first currency denomination;
- conversion means for converting the postage amount in the first currency denomination into a second currency denomination;
- an image generator configured to generate the postal indicia in a bit map;
- a printing device for printing the bit map on a mail piece;
- and
- control means for causing the image generator to generate the postal indicia in a bit map having both the first and second currency denominations and for causing the printing device to print the bit map on the items to be mailed.
A method for generating postal indicia in a postage apparatus having currency conversion means, the method comprising the steps of:
- inputting a postage amount expressed in a first currency denomination;
- converting the postage amount in the conversion means into a postage amount expressed in at least a second currency denomination;
- and
- printing the postal indicia in both the first and second currency denominations.
A method for generating postal indicia in a postage apparatus having currency conversion means, the method comprising the steps of:
- inputting a postage amount expressed in a first currency denomination;
- choosing at least one currency denomination from a plurality of predefined currency denominations to be included in the postal indicia that is to be printed on a mail piece;
- converting the postage amount expressed in the first currency denomination to each of the chosen currency denominations;
- and
- printing the postal indicia in each one of the chosen currency denominations on a mail piece.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.