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Description  |
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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention is generally concerned with a postage accounting system and
more particularly with a postage accounting and letter addressing system
including a computer constructed and arranged for transmitting ASCII
encoded variable information for driving an external printer.
This Patent Application is one of the following three, concurrently filed,
related, Patent Applications assigned to the same assignee: U.S patent
application Ser. No. 08/356,747 for a Postage Accounting System Including
Means For Transmitting A Bit-Mapped Image Of Variable Information For
Driving An External Printer, filed by Seestrom (Attorney Docket No.
E-306); U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/359,749 for a Postage
Accounting System Including Means For Transmitting ASCII Encoded Variable
Information For Driving An External Printer, filed by Ramadei (Attorney
Docket No. E-307); and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/356,748 for a
Postage Metering System With Dedicated and Non-Dedicated Postage Printing
Means, filed by Seestrom (Attorney Docket No. E-308).
Various data processing systems have been developed. Examples of such
systems are disclosed in: U.S. Pat. No. 4,917,010 for a Franking Machine
With Variable And Fixed Thermal Printhead, filed by Gilham et. al. and
issued Apr. 17, 1990; U.S. Pat. No. 5,157,761 for a Method And Apparatus
For Interfacing A Thermal Printer, filed by Hawkes and issued Oct. 20,
1992; U.S. Pat. No. 5,206,812 for a Franking Machine, filed by Abumehdi
and issued Apr. 27, 1993; U.S. Pat. No. 5,233,657 for a Method For
Franking Postal Matter And Device For Carrying Out the Method, filed by
Gunther and issued Aug. 3, 1993; and, U.S. Pat. No. 5,293,465 for a
Franking Machine With Digital Printer, filed by Abumehdi, et al, and
issued Mar. 8, 1994.
The most pertinent of the aforesaid references are: U.S. Pat. No.
4,917,010, which discloses a thermal printer for independently printing
fixed and variable information utilizing different printheads at a single
printing station; U.S. Pat. No. 5,157,761, which discloses structure for
selectively strobing different lines of data which are to be printed by a
printhead; U.S. Pat. No. 5,233,657, which discloses structure for
transmitting essential portions of a franking image corresponding to a
requested franking and completing the franking image with stored image
portions; and, U.S. Pat. No. 5,206,812, which discloses a franking machine
including a communications port and including a circuit permitting the
machine to configure the port to match the communication standards
utilized by a given device connected to the franking machine.
However, the references are silent concerning the provision of a postage
accounting system which includes a secure postage accounting module,
including structure for transmitting a code, corresponding to a variable
portion of a postage indicia and an address, to a non-secure printing
system which is separated from the accounting module, thereby permitting
the printer to make a decision, based on the code, defining the content of
the information which is to be printed.
Accordingly:
an object of the invention is to provide a postage accounting system
including means for transmitting a plurality of ASCII encoded strings of
characters, respectively corresponding to variable information, to a
printing system;
another object is to provide postage accounting structure including a
communications interface connected for receiving, from an external source
thereof, plain text versions of respective portions of mailing addresses
of respective items, including labels and letters, means for transmitting
to an external printer fixed postage indicia information once for a
plurality items, to be processed by the printer, and means for
transmitting a separate string of ASCII encoded characters, respectively
corresponding to different variable information, for each of the plurality
of items; and
another object is to provide a postage accounting system which includes
postage accounting computer means having encryption structure and a
communications interface, means connected to the interface for providing
at least a portion of the plain text version of each of a plurality of
mailing addresses for a corresponding plurality of items, including labels
and items, the accounting means including means for transmitting a
bit-mapped image of a fixed portion of a postage indicia for sequentially
printing on each the plurality of items, and the accounting means
including means for sequentially transmitting a separate ASCII encoded
string of characters, respectively corresponding to an encrypted version
of a portion of an address and a variable portion of the postage indicia,
for sequentially printing on the respective items.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A postage accounting system comprising: means for accounting for postage;
printing means externally of the accounting means, the printing means
including a printing module and computer means for controlling the
printing module, the printing module including printing apparatus and
means for sequentially feeding each item of a predetermined plurality
thereof to the printing apparatus for printing thereon, the computer means
including means programmed for sequentially transmitting variable
information for each item to the accounting means, the variable
information including at least a portion of a mailing address for each
item; the postage accounting means including means for connecting the
accounting module in communication with the printing means, the accounting
means including means for sequentially encrypting the variable information
received for each item, the accounting means including a microprocessor,
the microprocessor including means programmed for transmitting to the
printing means a bit-mapped image of fixed information for printing on
each item, and the microprocessor including means programmed for
separately sequentially transmitting to the printing means an the ASCII
encoded string of characters corresponding to the encrypted information
for sequentially printing on the respective items.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
As shown in the drawings, wherein like reference characters designate like
or corresponding parts throughout the several views:
FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a value metering system according to the
invention, including a secure value accounting module adapted to be
connected to a non-secure printing system physically separated from the
accounting module;
FIG. 2 is an elevation of an envelope having printed thereon a verifiable
postage indicia printed by the non-secure printing system in accordance
with encrypted information received from the secure accounting module; and
FIG. 3 is a flow chart of the process implemented by the accounting module
and printing system for causing the printing system to print the
verifiable encrypted information.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
As shown in FIG. 1, a postage accounting system 10 according to the
invention preferably comprises a secure postage accounting computer module
12 which is adapted to be connected in communication with a printing
system 13, including an insecure printing module 14 and a local computer
15 therefor, physically separated from the accounting module 12 (FIG. 1),
for providing verifiable encrypted information 16 (FIG. 2) for printing on
items, including labels and letters such as a card, envelope or other
letter, represented by the envelope 17.
The accounting computer module 12 (FIG. 1) generally includes a
conventional microprocessor 18, and suitable non-volatile memory (NVM),
encryption and interface structures, respectively designated 20, 22 and
24, which are conventionally connected to the microprocessor 18 and
operable under the control thereof.
The microprocessor 18 (FIG. 1) may be any commercially available
microprocessor having a sufficient number of communications ports "A"
which are either already available or are programmable for serial,
parallel or asynchronous communications, as the case may be, to provide a
separate external communications links for respective components, such as
the printing system 13, which are externally connected to the accounting
module 10 for communication therewith. Of course, without departing from
the spirit and scope of the invention, the microprocessor 18 may include a
plurality of microprocessors 18 to provide for additional communication
ports "A" and other added capacities which may be called for in the course
of implementation of the invention. Moreover, the microprocessor 18
generally includes a plurality of control circuits "B", a program memory
"C", a plurality of working and spare registers "D", an arithmetic logic
unit "E", circuits for one or more oscillators and clocks "F", data memory
"G", timers and event counters "H" and program expansion control "I", and
an internal communications bus "J". Further, the microprocessor 18
includes conventional structure for storing a conventional ASCII file "X"
and an application program 300 for controlling the various operations of
the accounting module 12 discussed herein.
The non-volatile memory structure (NVM) 20 (FIG. 1) is suitably
electrically connected to the microprocessor 18 by means of a conventional
communications link 26, extending from the microprocessor bus "J", for
transmitting and receiving data signals, such as the signal 27, and
synchronizing communications between the microprocessor 18 and NVM 20. In
addition, the encryption structure 22 is suitably electrically connected
to the microprocessor 18 by means of a conventional communications link
28, extending from the microprocessor bus "J", for transmitting and
receiving data signals, such as the signal 29, and synchronizing
communications between the microprocessor 18 and encryption structure 22.
Moreover, the interface structure 24 is suitably electrically connected to
the microprocessor 18 by means of a serial, parallel or asynchronous
communications link, represented by the serial communications link 30,
which includes a data input lead 32, for receiving data signals, such the
signal 34, from the printing system 13 for the microprocessor 18, a data
output lead 36, for providing data signals, such as the signal 38, from
the microprocessor 18 to the printing system 13, and a clock lead 40, for
providing clock signals, such as the signal 42, from the microprocessor 18
to the printing system 13 for synchronizing communications therebetween.
Of course, assuming the provision of an asynchronous communications link
30, the lead 40 would be connected to the sink 44 of the accounting module
12.
The NVM 20 (FIG. 1) may be any commercially available non-volatile memory
of the type which is suitable for use in a conventional postage meter for
storing data which is critical to the operation of the meter and to guard
against data access by the User and data losses due to power failures.
Accordingly, the non-volatile memory (NVM) 20 preferably has sufficient
capacity for storing data corresponding to a current total credit value
60, which is a total value of postage currently available for printing, a
current total debit value 62, which is the total of all increments of
postage which have been decremented from total credit values 60, a control
sum 64, which is the sum of the aforesaid values 60 and 62, and a serial
number 66 of the accounting module 12. Moreover, the NVM 20 preferably
includes sufficient capacity for storing one or more first encryption keys
68A, which may be utilized in an algorithm 70 for changing the total
credit and debit values, 60 and 62, under the control of the
microprocessor 18. Preferably, the algorithm 70 is also stored in the NVM
20 and is normally implemented under the control of the microprocessor 18
for changing the total credit and debit values, 60 and 62, by decrementing
the credit value 60 and incrementing the debit value 62 by an amount which
is equal to a current increment of postage 72 (FIG. 2) which is to be
printed by the printing module 14 (FIG. 1). Still further, the NVM 20
preferably has sufficient capacity for storing data corresponding to the
fixed image portion 74 of a postage indicia 76 (FIG. 2), including, for
example, a graphic image 74 of an eagle 78, town circle 80, value box 82
and the current date 84. And, the NVM 20 preferably has the capacity for
additionally storing data corresponding to one or more serial numbers,
66A, of a corresponding number of external computers respectively having a
postal controller program 200 stored therein and authorized to be
connected to and operable in communication with the accounting module 12.
The encryption structure 22 (FIG. 1) is preferably conventionally operable
under the control of the microprocessor 18 for encrypting at least
alphanumeric data, and, optionally, both alphanumeric and graphic data, to
provide verifiable encrypted information 16 (FIG. 2) for printing by the
printing module 14. Thus the encryption structure 22 is operable under the
control of the microprocessor 18 for encrypting data corresponding to, for
example, at least one or more of the numerical values stored in the NVM
20, including the current date, successive current increments of postage
values 72 (FIG. 2) and at least a portion of the data corresponding to
respective mailing addresses 86, such as the zip code of the respective
addressees, and, optionally, in addition thereto, data corresponding to
the graphic image 74, aside from the current date, stored in the NVM 20
(FIG. 1). To that end, the NVM 20 additionally has stored therein one or
more second encryption keys 68B for use by the encryption structure 22.
Without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, the
encryption structure 22 may be a suitable electrical circuit which is
located externally of the microprocessor 18, or a conventional program "K"
which is stored in the microprocessor 18, and operable under the control
thereof. As noted above the encrypted information 16 printed on the
envelope 17 is characterized as being "verifiable". In this connection it
is noted that assuming the Postal Service has a computer having stored
therein the program "K" and encryption keys 68, then, the plain text
alphanumeric and graphic information on the face of the envelope 17 which
is encrypted by the microprocessor 18 may be read from the envelope 17 and
encrypted by the Postal Service computer to produce encrypted information
which may be compared to the encrypted information 16 printed on the
envelope 17, in order to verify that they are the same, whereby the
relationship between the selected plain text and encrypted versions
thereof which are printed on the envelope 17 may be authenticated.
The interface structure 24 (FIG. 1) is preferably a conventional electrical
receptacle, which is constructed and arranged for receiving an electrical
plug 86 of a communications link 88 from the control structure 15 of the
printing system 13. The communications link 88 includes a data output lead
92, for providing data signals, such the signal 34, to the microprocessor
18, a data input lead 94, for receiving data signals, such as the signal
36, from the microprocessor 18 and a clock lead 96, for receiving clock
signals, such as the signal 42, from the microprocessor 18 for
synchronizing communications between the microprocessor 18 and printing
system 13. Of course, assuming the provision of an asynchronous
communications link 30 at the accounting module 12, the lead 96 would be
connected to the sink 98 of the printing system 13.
The printing module 14 (FIG. 1) is preferably a conventional, standalone,
device, which includes suitable structure 100, such as a microprocessor,
for controlling the various structures and functions of the printing
module 14. The printing module 14 may include a conventional operator
interface 102, such as a suitable keyboard, which is conventionally
coupled to the control structure 100 for operation thereof in response to
input signals from the keyboard. Whether or not the printing module 14
includes an operator interface 102, the control structure 100 is
preferably conventionally adapted to include a two-way serial or parallel
communications link, represented by the serial communications link 103,
for conventionally coupling the control structure 100 to an external
source, such as the local computer 15. The communications link 103
includes a data output lead 104, for providing data signals, such the
signal 105, to the local computer 15, a data input lead 106, for receiving
data signals, such as the signal 107, from the local computer 15 and a
clock lead 108, for receiving clock signals, such as the signal 109, from
the local computer 15 for synchronizing communications between the local
computer 15 and printing module 14. Thus the printing module 14 is
preferably adapted to permit control of the structures and functions
thereof from the local computer 15 rather than from the operator interface
102.
The printing module 14 (FIG. 1) additionally includes conventional sheet
stacking structure 110, such as a suitable hopper 112 into which a stack
114 of items, including labels and letters, 17 may be loaded. The printing
module 14 also includes conventional printing apparatus 115, such as any
conventional thermal, ink jet, laser or like commercially available
printing apparatus to which letters 17 are fed from the hopper 112 for
printing at least alphanumeric information, and, preferably, both
alphanumeric and graphic information. In addition, the printing module 14
includes conventional sheet feeding structure 116 which is suitably
electrically connected to and operable under the control of the control
structure 100 for sequentially feeding items 17 from the stack 114. The
feeding structure 116 may be any conventional vacuum or roller type
structure for engaging the top or bottom item 17 in the stack 114 and
sequentially feeding respective items 17 from the hopper 112 to the
printing apparatus 115 and, after printing, sequentially feeding the items
17 from the printing module 14. Further, the printing module 14 includes a
suitable motor 118, which is connected to and operable under the control
of the control structure 100, and includes one or more drive units 120,
which are respectively connected between the motor 118 and feeding
structure 116. Moreover, the printing module 14 may include a plurality of
conventional sensors 122 for sensing various positions of respective items
17 and of selected elements of the feeding structure 116, motor 118 and
drive units 120, including their respective home positions, at selected
time intervals. The sensors 122 are conventionally electrically connected
to the control structure 100 for providing analog signals thereto. And the
control structure 100 is conventionally constructed arranged, for example
as by programming in the case of the control structure 100 being a
microprocessor, for providing digital signals, such as the signal 105, to
the local computer 15 which correspond to the various positions of
respective items 17, and to the respective positions of the selected
elements of the feeding structure 116, motor 118 and drive units 120, at
selected time intervals.
The local computer 15 (FIG. 1) is preferably any conventional, commercially
available, computer, such as a conventional controller or personal
computer. The local computer 15 preferably comprises a microprocessor 130,
which includes a plurality of circuits, stored data and programs, A1-J1
inclusive, which respectively correspond in all respects to the circuits,
stored data and programs, A-J inclusive, of the microprocessor 18. In
addition, the local computer 15 preferably has stored therein a mailing
address database "M" and a postal controller program 200 including a
conventional routine "L" for calling up and accessing respective mailing
addresses 86 (FIG. 2). Further, without departing from the spirit and
scope of the invention, rather than, or in addition to, the printing
module 14 including control structure 100, the local computer 15 may
include a keyboard 132 for manually entering information concerning
respective mailruns into the printing system 13 under the control of the
microprocessor 130. Moreover, without departing from the spirit and scope
of the invention, the local computer 15 may be a first computer 15, and
the printing system 13 may include a second computer 15A which is
conventionally connected in communication with the first computer 15, but
wherein the second computer 15A, rather than the first computer 15,
includes the mailing address database "M" and keyboard 132 and does not
include the postal controller program 200, whereby the first computer 15
is a module including the microprocessor 130 having stored therein the
postal controller program 200.
Assuming energization of the accounting module 12 (FIG. 1) and printing
system 13, and initialization of the microprocessor 18, computer 15 and
various components of the printing module 14, the printing system program
200 (FIG. 3) initially implements the step 202 of inquiring whether a
manually input request, 204, has been received, step 202, to establish a
semi-permanent, i.e., "on-line", communication connection with the
accounting module 12. And, assuming an on-line request has not been
received, step 202, then, the program 200 continuously loops through step
202 until the on-line request 204 is received, step 202. Whereupon, the
program 200 implements the step 206 of transmitting to the accounting
module 12 the serial number "N" of the computer 15 together with a request
that the accounting module 12 establish an on line communication
connection with the printing system 13, followed by the step 208 of
inquiring whether an acknowledgment of establishment of the on-line
connection has been received from the accounting module 12, failing which,
the program 200 continuously loops through step 208 until the
acknowledgment is received. On the other hand, the accounting module
program 300 initially implements the step 302 of inquiring whether an
on-line request, 206, has been received, step 302, from the printing
system 13, and, assuming that it has not, step 302, then, the program 300
continuously loops through step 302, until the request 206 is received,
step 302. Whereupon, the program 300 causes the microprocessor 18 to
implement the step 303 of inquiring whether the on-line request has been
received from an authorized computer 15. In this connection it is noted
that step 303 includes the step of comparing the serial number, if any,
transmitted by computer 15 to the serial number(s) 66A stored in the NVM
20. And, assuming a comparison, the inquiry of step 303 is affirmatively
answered, whereas assuming a lack of comparison, the inquiry of step 303
is negatively answered. Assuming, that the inquiry of step 303 is
affirmatively answered, then, the program 300 causes the microprocessor 18
to implement the step 304 of establishing the on-line connection and
transmitting the acknowledgment thereof to the printing system 13. On the
other hand, assuming that the inquiry of step 303 is negatively answered,
then, the program 300 causes the microprocessor 18 to implement the step
305 of storing an error code 75 in the NVM 20 and returning processing to
step 302. Preferably, the error code corresponds to the date of occurrence
of the unauthorized attempt to establish an on line connection with the
accounting module 12. However, it is within the scope of the invention
that the error code correspond to the serial number "N", if any, of the
computer 15 having stored therein a postal controller program 200 and
which attempted to establish the on-line connection with the accounting
module, or any other predetermined alphanumeric value or code, or graphic
image.
Thereafter, the printing system program 200 (FIG. 3) implements the step
210 of inquiring whether information pertaining to a mailrun, including
the total number of items, including labels or letters, 17 which are to be
processed, together with a request for the fixed image portion of the
postage indicia, has been manually entered into the printing system
computer 15 or 15A, as the case may be. And, assuming such mailrun
information and the fixed image request, 212, has not been received, step
210, then, the program 200 continuously loops through step 210 until the
mailrun information and fixed image request 212 is received, step 210.
Whereupon, the program 200 implements the step 214 of transmitting the
mailrun information and request for the fixed image portion of the indicia
to the accounting module 12, followed by the step 216 of inquiring whether
the fixed image portion has been received from the accounting module 12,
failing which, the program 200 continuously loops through step 216 until
the fixed image portion is received. On the other hand, following step
304, the accounting module program 300 implements the step 306 of
inquiring whether the mailrun information and request for the fixed image
portion of the indicia 214 has been received from the printing system 13,
and, assuming that it has not, step 306, then, the program 300
continuously loops through step 306, until the mailrun information and
fixed indicia request 214 is received, step 306. Whereupon, the program
300 causes the microprocessor 18 to implement the step 308 of transmitting
a bit-mapped image of the fixed portion of the indicia to the printing
system 13, for sequential use thereby in the course of sequentially
processing each of the items 17 of the mailrun. Without departing from the
spirit and scope of the invention, step 308 may include the successive
steps of fetching the predetermined error code 75 from the NVM 20,
followed by the step of accessing the ASCII file "X" and generating an
ASCII encoded string of characters corresponding to the error code,
represented by the code 75 shown in FIG. 2, and then followed by the step
of including the ASCII characters with the bit mapped image of the fixed
portion of the postage indicia for transmission to the postage printing
system 13.
Following implementation of step 216, the printing system program 200 (FIG.
3) implements the step 218 of transmitting to the accounting module 12 a
request for the variable portion the postage indicia, including the
postage value 72 which is to be printed together with at least a selected
portion of the mailing address, such as, and preferably, the nine digit
zip code 87 of the mailing address 86 which is to be printed, on the first
item 17 of the mailrun, followed by the step 220 of inquiring whether the
requested postage indicia for the particular mailing address has been
received. And, assuming the postage indicia as requested in step 218 is
not received, step 220, then, the program 200 continuously loops through
step 220 until it is received for the particular item 17. On the other
hand, following step 308, the accounting module program 300 causes the
microprocessor 18 to implement the step 310 of inquiring whether the
printing system 13 has transmitted the request, step 218, for the postage
indicia accompanied by the selected portion or all of the mailing address,
for the first item 17 of the mailrun, and, assuming that it has not, then,
the program 300 continuously loops through step 310 until the request for
the particular addressee has been received. However, upon receiving the
request for postage indicia accompanied by the selected portion or all of
the mailing address, step 310, then, the accounting module program 300
causes the microprocessor 18 to implement the step 312 of generating the
encrypted information 16 (FIG. 2) for printing on the first item 17 of the
mailrun, by encrypting the plain text version of the variable portion of
the postage indicia which is to be printed, including at least the postage
value 72, and encrypting information included in the mailing address 86,
including, preferably, the nine digit zip code thereof, and merging such
encrypted indicia and address information to form the encrypted
information 16. Without departing from the spirit and scope of the
invention, the encrypted information may also include an encryption of the
error code 75 which is merged therewith. Thereafter, the accounting module
program 300 causes the microprocessor 18 to implement the step 313 of
accounting for the current increment of postage value 72 which is to be
printed, followed by the step 314 of generating and transmitting to the
printing module 13 for printing thereby, an ASCII encoded string of data
corresponding to the characters of the encrypted information 16 and plain
text postage value 72, and, assuming the error code 75 is embedded in the
encrypted information, the ASCII encoded string of data preferably
includes data corresponding to the plain text version of the error code.
Accordingly, the printing system 13 (FIG. 1) does not receive, and thus
cannot print, respective increments of postage values 72 without the
accounting module 12 not having previously decremented the total credit
value 60 and incremented the total debit value 62, stored in the NVM 20,
by respective amounts corresponding to the respective increments of
postage values 72 which are to be printed. Moreover, the item 17 will have
printed thereon encrypted information 16 in which there is embedded an
encrypted version of the variable postage value 72 and an encrypted
version of information included in the mailing address of the item 17, and
optionally an encrypted version of the error code 75. And, since the plain
text versions of such variable information, i.e., the postage value, zip
code 87 of the mailing address 86 and error code 75, if any, are also
printed on the letter 17, the relationship between the plain text and
encrypted information is verifiable.
When the requested variable portion of the postage indicia is received,
step 220 (FIG. 3), the printing system program 200 causes the computer 15
to implement the step 222 of transmitting a request to the accounting
module 12 to print, followed by implementing the step 224 of inquiring
whether permission to print has been received from the accounting module
12. And, until permission to print is received from the accounting module
12, the program 200 causes the computer 15 to continuously loop through
step 224. On the other hand, following step 314, the accounting module
program 300 causes the microprocessor 18 to implement the step 316 of
inquiring whether a request to print, step 222, has been received from the
accounting module 12, failing which, the program 300 causes the
microprocessor 18 to continuously loop through step 316 until the request
to print is received, step 316. And, when the request to print is
received, step 316, the accounting module program 300 causes the
microprocessor 18 to implement the step 320 of transmitting a
permission-to-print message to the printing module 13.
Upon receiving the permission-to-print message, step 224 (FIG. 3), the
printing system program 200 | | |
