EP1764748A1 - Franking system with a web server in a local network - Google Patents

Franking system with a web server in a local network Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1764748A1
EP1764748A1 EP06119629A EP06119629A EP1764748A1 EP 1764748 A1 EP1764748 A1 EP 1764748A1 EP 06119629 A EP06119629 A EP 06119629A EP 06119629 A EP06119629 A EP 06119629A EP 1764748 A1 EP1764748 A1 EP 1764748A1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
franking
management module
server
computer
computer processing
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP06119629A
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German (de)
French (fr)
Inventor
Fabien Chatte
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Quadient Technologies France SA
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Neopost Technologies SA
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Publication date
Application filed by Neopost Technologies SA filed Critical Neopost Technologies SA
Publication of EP1764748A1 publication Critical patent/EP1764748A1/en
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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07B—TICKET-ISSUING APPARATUS; FARE-REGISTERING APPARATUS; FRANKING APPARATUS
    • G07B17/00—Franking apparatus
    • G07B17/00016—Relations between apparatus, e.g. franking machine at customer or apparatus at post office, in a franking system
    • G07B17/0008—Communication details outside or between apparatus
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07B—TICKET-ISSUING APPARATUS; FARE-REGISTERING APPARATUS; FRANKING APPARATUS
    • G07B17/00—Franking apparatus
    • G07B17/00016—Relations between apparatus, e.g. franking machine at customer or apparatus at post office, in a franking system
    • G07B17/0008—Communication details outside or between apparatus
    • G07B2017/00137—In a LAN
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07B—TICKET-ISSUING APPARATUS; FARE-REGISTERING APPARATUS; FRANKING APPARATUS
    • G07B17/00—Franking apparatus
    • G07B17/00016—Relations between apparatus, e.g. franking machine at customer or apparatus at post office, in a franking system
    • G07B17/0008—Communication details outside or between apparatus
    • G07B2017/00145—Communication details outside or between apparatus via the Internet

Definitions

  • the present invention relates exclusively to the field of mail processing and more particularly relates to a postage system whose implementation and maintenance are facilitated.
  • this application must be compatible with the operating system of the terminal on which it is installed.
  • different operating systems Windows®, linux®, Mac OS®
  • Windows®, linux®, Mac OS® can coexist, hence the requirement to develop applications specially adapted for each of them. 'between them.
  • Windows for the same operating system (Windows for example)
  • different versions may be incompatible between them, thus also requiring specific development.
  • the present invention therefore aims to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks by proposing a new mail franking system comprising a franking management module and at least one computer processing means associated with printing means of a postal imprint and connected to said franking management module through a local area network, characterized in that said franking management module comprises a web server and said computer processing means comprises a web browser for accessing a management application franking arranged at the web server.
  • the franking management module further comprises an FTP server intended to cooperate with an FTP client installed in a remote management server.
  • the franking management module may comprise a franking machine or a general-purpose computer associated with a security postal accounting device.
  • the printing means comprise a standard printer or a stamped label dispenser.
  • the computer processing means comprises a personal computer or a digital terminal portable to said network by a wireless link.
  • the invention also relates to a franking management module for cooperating on a local area network with at least one computer processing means associated with impression printing means.
  • postal services characterized in that it comprises a web server accessible from a web browser installed on said computer processing means.
  • it furthermore comprises an FTP server intended to cooperate with an FTP client installed in a remote management server.
  • the franking management module comprises a postage meter or a general-purpose computer associated with a security postal accounting device.
  • Figures 1 and 2 show two franking system architectures for implementing the invention.
  • the first architecture illustrated in Figure 1 relates to a modular franking system such as that described in the US patent cited in the preamble. It is organized around the local area network (LAN) of a user to which are connected on the one hand, preferably via a management computer 10, security postal accounting means 12 (PSD "postal security device” or SMD “ secure metering device ”) and on the other hand various computer processing devices, for example personal computers 14A to 14D.
  • PSD postal security device
  • SMD secure metering device
  • Each of these general purpose computers is itself connected to either a standard printer 16A, 16B to a dispenser of stamped labels 18A, 18B of the type described in the application FR 2 829 269 filed in the name of the plaintiff so as to allow secure printing of postal impressions.
  • the administration computer 10 is connected through an external telecommunications network 20 to a remote management server 22 of the franchisee of the franking system or the postal administration. This connection is made via a dedicated link 24 and specific interfaces (modem 26, 28).
  • the management server can also be connected to the telecommunication network directly or through its own local network 30.
  • FIG. 2 illustrates a second franking system architecture in which the security postal accounting means are no longer independent but integrated with a standard franking machine 32 connected to the user's local area network (LAN).
  • LAN local area network
  • FIG. 2 illustrates a second franking system architecture in which the security postal accounting means are no longer independent but integrated with a standard franking machine 32 connected to the user's local area network (LAN).
  • LAN local area network
  • FIG. 2 illustrates a second franking system architecture in which the security postal accounting means are no longer independent but integrated with a standard franking machine 32 connected to the user's local area network (LAN).
  • LAN local area network
  • the network is connected, via a first modem / router 42, to the external telecommunications network 20 to which is via a second modem / router 44, the remote management server 22 of the franking machine. or postal administration.
  • your link with the remote management server 22 can be performed by means of a dedicated link (not shown) connected directly to the franking machine 32 without passing through the local network of the user.
  • FIG. 3 The software architecture necessary for the implementation of this embedded Web server is illustrated in Figure 3 which shows the implementation of the different applications and their interaction at the level of the franking system.
  • This software architecture is described with reference to the layered model known as the Open System Interconnection (OSI) model.
  • OSI Open System Interconnection
  • the franking machine or the computer administration. This includes, at the level of the first and second layers (physical and link layers) of the OSI model, a standard network access application allowing an exchange of Ethernet or WiFi frames on the LAN and with the management server. At the level of the third to fifth layers (network layers, transport and session), it includes the operating system which can be of any origin, for example Windows Ce®, embedded Linux®, etc ... Finally, at the level of last two layers (presentation and application layers), it includes the web server, for example a mini apache®, and an FTP server to allow the update of the web server from the remote management server 22.
  • the web server for example a mini apache®, and an FTP server to allow the update of the web server from the remote management server 22.
  • the personal computer or the portable computer terminal at the first and second layers a standard network access application allowing one of Ethernet or WiFi frames on the LAN network.
  • the third to fifth layers network, transport and session layers
  • it includes its operating system which can again be of any origin and depends on the type of device, for example Windows®, MAC OS®, Linux® , etc ... for a personal computer or for example Windows Ce® for a portable terminal.
  • the Web browser for example Internet Explorer®, Firefox®, Opera®, etc ... to access the Web server via a transfer of HTML pages.
  • the remote management server 22 there is a similar architecture with, at the level of the first and second layers, a standard network access application for an exchange of Ethernet or WiFi frames with the franking machine (or computer). administration according to the envisaged configuration).
  • the server has its own operating system that can of course be of any origin, for example Unix®, Linux®, Windows®, etc ...
  • an FTP Client allows the update or the addition of web pages on the Web server by transfer of binary or ASCII files with the FTP server installed in the franking machine (or the computer administration).

Abstract

The system has a franking machine (32) comprising a web server, and personal computers (34A-34C) and a portable digital terminal (34D) each including a web navigator for accessing a franking management application disposed at the server. The franking machine has a file transfer protocol server intended to cooperate with a file transfer protocol client installed in a remote management server (22). Each computer or terminal is connected to standard printers (36A, 36B) or to franked label distributors (38A, 38B). An independent claim is also included for a franking management module.

Description

Domaine techniqueTechnical area

La présente invention se rapporte exclusivement au domaine du traitement de courrier et elle concerne plus particulièrement un système d'affranchissement dont la mise en oeuvre et la maintenance sont facilités.The present invention relates exclusively to the field of mail processing and more particularly relates to a postage system whose implementation and maintenance are facilitated.

Etat de la techniqueState of the art

Aujourd'hui, dans les systèmes d'affranchissement ouverts dans lesquels l'impression des empreintes postales peut être effectuée à distance de moyens de comptabilisation sécurisés, comme dans le système d'affranchissement modulaire illustré dans le brevet US 5,822,738 de la demanderesse, il est nécessaire de disposer dans chacun des terminaux d'ordinateur à partir desquels cet affranchissement peut être réalisé une application spécifique chargée d'assurer d'une part la connexion entre ce terminal et les moyens de comptabilisation et d'autre part la récupération depuis ces moyens de comptabilisation sécurisés des données postales nécessaires à l'impression sécurisée de l'empreinte postale.Today, in open franking systems in which the printing of postal impressions can be carried out remotely secure means of accounting, as in the modular franking system illustrated in the patent US 5,822,738 of the applicant, it is necessary to have in each of the computer terminals from which this postage can be made a specific application responsible for ensuring on the one hand the connection between the terminal and the accounting means and on the other hand recovering from these secure means of accounting the postal data necessary for the secure printing of the postal impression.

Or, la présence de cette application dans les différents terminaux pose un sérieux problème de mise en oeuvre et de mise à jour du système d'affranchissement. Tout d'abord, cette application doit être compatible avec le système d'exploitation du terminal sur lequel elle est installée. Et, dans un système d'affranchissement ouvert comportant un nombre important de terminaux, différents systèmes d'exploitation (Windows®, linux®, Mac OS®) peuvent cohabiter, d'où l'obligation de développer des applications spécialement adaptées pour chacun d'entre eux. Sans compter que pour un même système d'exploitation (Windows par exemple), différentes versions peuvent s'avérer incompatibles entre elles nécessitant donc là aussi un développement spécifique. Ensuite, la règlementation postale évoluant constamment (nouveaux services, nouveaux tat-ifs, etc.), il est nécessaire de mettre régulièrement à jour l'application au niveau de chaque terminal, ce qui représente une contrainte importante pour l'utilisateur, notamment dans le cas d'un système d'affranchissement dont le nombre de terminaux est conséquent.However, the presence of this application in the different terminals poses a serious problem of implementation and update of the franking system. First, this application must be compatible with the operating system of the terminal on which it is installed. And, in an open franking system with a large number of terminals, different operating systems (Windows®, linux®, Mac OS®) can coexist, hence the requirement to develop applications specially adapted for each of them. 'between them. Besides, for the same operating system (Windows for example), different versions may be incompatible between them, thus also requiring specific development. Then, the postal regulations evolving constantly (new services, new tat-ifs, etc ..), It is necessary to regularly update the application at each terminal, which represents a important constraint for the user, especially in the case of a franking system whose number of terminals is consistent.

Divulgation de l'inventionDisclosure of the invention

La présente invention a donc pour objet de pallier les inconvénients précités en proposant un nouveau système d'affranchissement de courrier comportant un module de gestion d'affranchissement et au moins un moyen de traitement informatique associé à des moyens d'impression d'une empreinte postale et relié au dit module de gestion d'affranchissement au travers d'un réseau local, caractérisé en ce que ledit module de gestion d'affranchissement comporte un serveur Web et ledit moyen de traitement informatique comporte un navigateur Web pour accéder à une application de gestion d'affranchissement disposée au niveau du serveur Web.The present invention therefore aims to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks by proposing a new mail franking system comprising a franking management module and at least one computer processing means associated with printing means of a postal imprint and connected to said franking management module through a local area network, characterized in that said franking management module comprises a web server and said computer processing means comprises a web browser for accessing a management application franking arranged at the web server.

Ainsi, en installant un serveur Web dans le module de gestion d'affranchissement, la mise en place comme la maintenance du système d'affranchissement est facilité.Thus, by installing a web server in the franking management module, the establishment as the maintenance of the franking system is facilitated.

Avantageusement, le module de gestion d'affranchissement comporte en outre un serveur FTP destiné à coopérer avec un client FTP installé dans un serveur de gestion distant.Advantageously, the franking management module further comprises an FTP server intended to cooperate with an FTP client installed in a remote management server.

Selon le mode de réalisation envisagé, le module de gestion d'affranchissement peut comporter une machine à affranchir ou un ordinateur à usage général associé à un dispositif de comptabilisation postale de sécurité.According to the embodiment envisaged, the franking management module may comprise a franking machine or a general-purpose computer associated with a security postal accounting device.

Selon le mode de réalisation envisagé, les moyens d'impression comportent une imprimante standard ou un distributeur d'étiquettes affranchies.According to the embodiment envisaged, the printing means comprise a standard printer or a stamped label dispenser.

Selon le de réalisation envisagé, le moyen de traitement informatique comporte un ordinateur personnel ou un terminal numérique portable au dit réseau par une liaison sans fil.According to the envisaged embodiment, the computer processing means comprises a personal computer or a digital terminal portable to said network by a wireless link.

L'invention concerne aussi un module de gestion d'affranchissement destiné à coopérer sur un réseau local avec au moins un moyen de traitement informatique associé des moyens d'impression d'empreintes postales, caractérisé en ce qu'il comporte un serveur Web accessible depuis un navigateur Web installé sur ledit moyen de traitement informatique. Avantageusement, il comporte en outre un serveur FTP destiné à coopérer avec un client FTP installé dans un serveur de gestion distant.The invention also relates to a franking management module for cooperating on a local area network with at least one computer processing means associated with impression printing means. postal services, characterized in that it comprises a web server accessible from a web browser installed on said computer processing means. Advantageously, it furthermore comprises an FTP server intended to cooperate with an FTP client installed in a remote management server.

Selon le mode de réalisation envisagé, le module de gestion d'affranchissement comporte une machine à affranchir ou un ordinateur à usage général associé à un dispositif de comptabilisation postale de sécurité.According to the embodiment envisaged, the franking management module comprises a postage meter or a general-purpose computer associated with a security postal accounting device.

Brève description des dessinsBrief description of the drawings

D'autres caractéristiques et avantages de la présente invention ressortiront mieux de la description suivante, faite à titre indicatif et non limitatif, en regard des dessins annexés, sur lesquels:

  • la figure 1 montre un premier exemple de système d'affranchissement selon l'invention,
  • la figure 2 montre un second exemple de système d'affranchissement selon l'invention, et
  • la figure 3 illustre les différentes applications nécessaires à la mise en oeuvre du système de la figure 1.
Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will emerge more clearly from the following description, given by way of non-limiting indication, with reference to the appended drawings, in which:
  • FIG. 1 shows a first example of a franking system according to the invention,
  • FIG. 2 shows a second example of a franking system according to the invention, and
  • FIG. 3 illustrates the various applications necessary for implementing the system of FIG. 1.

Mode(s) de réalisation de l'inventionMode (s) of realization of the invention

Les figures 1 et 2 montrent deux architectures de systèmes d'affranchissement permettant une mise en oeuvre de l'invention.Figures 1 and 2 show two franking system architectures for implementing the invention.

La première architecture illustrée à la figure 1 se rapporte à un système d'affranchissement modulaire tel que celui décrit dans le brevet américain cité en préambule. Il est organisé autour du réseau local (LAN) d'un utilisateur auquel sont connectés d'une part, de préférence via un ordinateur d'administration 10, des moyens de comptabilisation postale de sécurité 12 (PSD « postal security device » ou SMD « secure metering device » en anglais) et d'autre part différents dispositifs de traitements informatiques, par exemple des ordinateurs personnels 14A à 14D. Chacun de ces ordinateurs à usage général est lui-même relié soit à une imprimante standard 16A, 16B soit à un distributeur d'étiquettes affranchies 18A, 18B du type de celui décrit dans la demande FR 2 829 269 déposée au nom de la demanderesse de façon à permettre une impression sécurisée d'empreintes postales.The first architecture illustrated in Figure 1 relates to a modular franking system such as that described in the US patent cited in the preamble. It is organized around the local area network (LAN) of a user to which are connected on the one hand, preferably via a management computer 10, security postal accounting means 12 (PSD "postal security device" or SMD " secure metering device ") and on the other hand various computer processing devices, for example personal computers 14A to 14D. Each of these general purpose computers is itself connected to either a standard printer 16A, 16B to a dispenser of stamped labels 18A, 18B of the type described in the application FR 2 829 269 filed in the name of the plaintiff so as to allow secure printing of postal impressions.

Pour assurer un rechargement des moyens de comptabilisation et un suivi statistique des affranchissements effectués par les différents moyens d'impression du système (imprimante ou distributeur), l'ordinateur d'administration 10 est relié au travers d'un réseau externe de télécommunications 20 à un serveur de gestion distant 22 du concessionnaire du système d'affranchissement ou de l'administration postale. Cette connexion s'effectue via une liaison spécialisée 24 et des interfaces spécifiques (modem 26, 28). Le serveur de gestion peut en outre être relié au réseau de télécommunication directement ou au travers de son propre réseau local 30.To ensure reloading of the accounting means and a statistical follow-up of postage effected by the various printing means of the system (printer or distributor), the administration computer 10 is connected through an external telecommunications network 20 to a remote management server 22 of the franchisee of the franking system or the postal administration. This connection is made via a dedicated link 24 and specific interfaces (modem 26, 28). The management server can also be connected to the telecommunication network directly or through its own local network 30.

La figure 2 illustre une seconde architecture de système d'affranchissement dans laquelle les moyens de comptabilisation postale de sécurité ne sont plus indépendants mais intégrés à une machine à affranchir standard 32 reliée au réseau local (LAN) de l'utilisateur. A ce réseau local sont en outre connectés différents dispositifs de traitements informatiques, par exemple des ordinateurs personnels 34A à 34C et un terminal numérique portable 34D. Chacun de ces ordinateurs ou terminal à usage général est lui-même relié soit à une imprimante standard 36A, 36B soit à un distributeur d'étiquettes affranchies 38A, 38B. Dans l'exemple illustré, l'ordinateur 34B et le terminal portable 34D sont reliés au réseau local 10 par un modem/routeur sans fil 40, le terminal portable 34D assurant la commande du distributeur d'étiquettes affranchies 38B également au moyen d'une liaison sans fil.FIG. 2 illustrates a second franking system architecture in which the security postal accounting means are no longer independent but integrated with a standard franking machine 32 connected to the user's local area network (LAN). To this local network are further connected various computer processing devices, for example personal computers 34A to 34C and a portable digital terminal 34D. Each of these computers or general purpose terminal is itself connected either to a standard printer 36A, 36B or to a postage stamped dispenser 38A, 38B. In the illustrated example, the computer 34B and the portable terminal 34D are connected to the local network 10 by a wireless modem / router 40, the portable terminal 34D providing the control of the stamped label dispenser 38B also by means of a wireless link.

Dans l'exemple illustré, le réseau de est en liaison, via un premier modem/routeur 42, avec le réseau externe de télécommunications 20 auquel est via un second modem/routeur 44, le serveur de gestion distant 22 du de la machine à affranchir ou de l'administration postale. Dans une configuration ta liaison avec le serveur de gestion distant 22 peut être effectuée au moyen d'une liaison spécialisée (non représentée) connectée directement à la machine à affranchir 32 sans passage par le réseau local de l'utilisateur.In the illustrated example, the network is connected, via a first modem / router 42, to the external telecommunications network 20 to which is via a second modem / router 44, the remote management server 22 of the franking machine. or postal administration. In a configuration your link with the remote management server 22 can be performed by means of a dedicated link (not shown) connected directly to the franking machine 32 without passing through the local network of the user.

Selon l'invention, afin d'éviter les problèmes de compatibilité et de maintenance de l'art antérieur liés à la présence dans chaque dispositif de traitement informatique, ordinateur ou terminal, d'une application spécifique assurant la commande de l'impression des empreintes postales, il est prévu d'implanter dans la machine à affranchir 32 ou dans l'ordinateur d'administration 10 un serveur Web auquel chaque dispositif de traitement informatique pourra alors avoir accès au travers d'un simple navigateur Web implanté dans chaque dispositif.According to the invention, in order to avoid the problems of compatibility and maintenance of the prior art related to the presence in each computer processing device, computer or terminal, of a specific application ensuring the control of the imprint impression postal, it is planned to implant in the franking machine 32 or in the administration computer 10 a web server to which each computer processing device can then access through a simple Web browser implanted in each device.

L'architecture logicielle nécessaire à la mise en oeuvre de ce serveur Web embarqué est illustrée à la figure 3 qui montre l'implantation des différentes applications et leur interaction au niveau du système d'affranchissement. Cette architecture logicielle est décrite en référence au modèle en couches connu sous l'appellation de modèle OSI (Open System Interconnection).The software architecture necessary for the implementation of this embedded Web server is illustrated in Figure 3 which shows the implementation of the different applications and their interaction at the level of the franking system. This software architecture is described with reference to the layered model known as the Open System Interconnection (OSI) model.

On s'intéressera tout d'abord à la machine à affranchir (ou à l'ordinateur d'administration). Celle-ci comporte au niveau des première et deuxième couches (couches physique et lien) du modèle OSI une application standard d'accès réseau permettant un échange de trames Ethernet ou WiFi sur le réseau LAN et avec le serveur de gestion. Au niveau des troisième à cinquième couches (couches réseau, transport et session), elle comporte le système d'exploitation qui peut être d'origine quelconque, par exemple Windows Ce®, embedded Linux®, etc... Enfin, au niveau des deux dernières couches (couches présentation et application), elle comporte le serveur Web, par exemple un mini apache®, et un serveur FTP pour permettre la mise à jour du serveur Web depuis le serveur de gestion distant 22.We will focus first on the franking machine (or the computer administration). This includes, at the level of the first and second layers (physical and link layers) of the OSI model, a standard network access application allowing an exchange of Ethernet or WiFi frames on the LAN and with the management server. At the level of the third to fifth layers (network layers, transport and session), it includes the operating system which can be of any origin, for example Windows Ce®, embedded Linux®, etc ... Finally, at the level of last two layers (presentation and application layers), it includes the web server, for example a mini apache®, and an FTP server to allow the update of the web server from the remote management server 22.

De même, l'ordinateur personnel ou le terminal informatique portable au des première et deuxième couches (couches physique et lien du modèle OSI) une application standard d'accès réseau permettant un de trames Ethernet ou WiFi sur le réseau LAN. Au niveau des troisième à cinquième couches (couches réseau, transport et session), il comporte son système d'exploitation qui peut là encore être d'origine quelconque et dépend du type de dispositif, par exemple Windows®, MAC OS®, Linux®, etc... pour un ordinateur personnel ou par exemple Windows Ce® pour un terminal portable. Enfin, au niveau des deux dernières couches (couches présentation et application), il comporte le navigateur Web, par exemple Internet explorer®, Firefox®, Opera®, etc... pour accéder au serveur Web via un transfert de pages HTML.Likewise, the personal computer or the portable computer terminal at the first and second layers (physical layers and link of the OSI model) a standard network access application allowing one of Ethernet or WiFi frames on the LAN network. At the level of the third to fifth layers (network, transport and session layers), it includes its operating system which can again be of any origin and depends on the type of device, for example Windows®, MAC OS®, Linux® , etc ... for a personal computer or for example Windows Ce® for a portable terminal. Finally, at the level of the last two layers (presentation and application layers), it includes the Web browser, for example Internet Explorer®, Firefox®, Opera®, etc ... to access the Web server via a transfer of HTML pages.

Au niveau du serveur de gestion distant 22 on retrouve une architecture semblable avec, au niveau des première et deuxième couches, une application standard d'accès réseau permettant un échange de trames Ethernet ou WiFi avec la machine à affranchir (ou l'ordinateur d'administration selon la configuration envisagée). Au niveau des troisième à cinquième couches, le serveur comporte son propre système d'exploitation qui peut bien entendu être d'origine quelconque, par exemple Unix®, Linux®, Windows ®, etc... Enfin, au niveau des deux dernières couches, un Client FTP permet la mise à jour ou l'adjonction de pages Web sur le serveur Web par transfert de fichiers binaires ou ASCII avec le serveur FTP implanté dans la machine à affranchir (ou l'ordinateur d'administration).At the level of the remote management server 22 there is a similar architecture with, at the level of the first and second layers, a standard network access application for an exchange of Ethernet or WiFi frames with the franking machine (or computer). administration according to the envisaged configuration). At the level of the third to fifth layers, the server has its own operating system that can of course be of any origin, for example Unix®, Linux®, Windows®, etc ... Finally, at the level of the last two layers , an FTP Client allows the update or the addition of web pages on the Web server by transfer of binary or ASCII files with the FTP server installed in the franking machine (or the computer administration).

Le fonctionnement du système d'affranchissement est le suivant. Lorsque l'utilisateur souhaite procéder à l'impression d'une empreinte postale sur une imprimante ou un distributeur d'étiquettes affranchies à sa disposition, il va tout d'abord faire apparaître sur l'écran de l'ordinateur ou du terminal associé à ces moyens d'impression, son navigateur Web et inscrire dans la barre d'adresse de ce navigateur, l'adresse IP de la machine à affranchir ou de l'ordinateur d'administration sur lequel est implanté le serveur Web de gestion de l'impression. Cette opération qui peut bien entendu être automatisée et réalisée par un simple click sur une icône spécifique présente à l'écran de l'ordinateur ou du terminal, va effectuer une connexion sécurisée (liaison SSL) entre ce terminal et la machine à affranchir. En réponse, la machine à affranchir ou l'ordinateur d'administration va afficher sur l'ordinateur ou le terminal requérant de l'utilisateur sa page d'accueil donnant ainsi accès à l'utilisateur, éventuellement après son authentification par identifiant et mot de passe, aux différentes fonctions lui permettant l'impression d'une ou plusieurs empreintes postales, comme la détermination de la destination, le choix de la classe de courrier ou du type d'envoi (courrier suivi, recommandé), etc... Cette page d'accueil peut également fournir à l'utilisateur un ensemble de services liés à l'affranchissement, comme le choix d'un logo, la délivrance de statistiques d'envoi, etc... Ainsi, avec le système d'affranchissement de l'invention :

  • les communications avec les dispositifs de traitement informatiques sont standardisées selon le protocole connu http et cela quel que soit le système d'exploitation utilisé par chacun des dispositifs,
  • la maintenance n'a plus à être effectuée au niveau de chaque dispositif de traitement informatique mais simplement au niveau de la machine à affranchir ou de l'ordinateur accueillant le serveur Web,
  • le développement de nouveaux services ne nécessite plus la mise en place de nouvelles applications au niveau de chacun des dispositifs de traitement informatiques mais une simple adjonction de nouvelles pages applicatives sur le serveur Web, cette adjonction pouvant être effectuée à distance via le serveur FTP.
The operation of the franking system is as follows. When the user wishes to print a postal imprint on a printer or label dispenser stamped at his disposal, it will first appear on the screen of the computer or terminal associated with these means of printing, its web browser and enter in the address bar of this browser, the IP address of the franking machine or the administration computer on which is implanted the Web server management of the impression. This operation which can of course be automated and performed by a simple click on a specific icon on the screen of the computer or terminal, will make a secure connection (SSL connection) between the terminal and the franking machine. In response, the postage meter or the computer administration will display on the computer or terminal requesting the user's homepage thus giving access to the user, possibly after authentication by username and password, the various functions allowing him to print one or more postprints, such as determining the destination, choosing the mail class or the type of mailing (mail tracking, recommended), etc ... This homepage can also provide the user a set of services related to postage, such as the choice of a logo, the delivery of sending statistics, etc. Thus, with the franking system of the invention:
  • the communications with the computer processing devices are standardized according to the known protocol http and this whatever the operating system used by each of the devices,
  • maintenance no longer has to be performed at each computer processing device but simply at the postage meter or the computer hosting the web server,
  • the development of new services no longer requires the implementation of new applications at each of the computer processing devices but a simple addition of new application pages on the Web server, this addition can be performed remotely via the FTP server.

Claims (12)

Système d'affranchissement de courrier comportant un module de gestion d'affranchissement (10-12 ; 32) et au moins un moyen de traitement informatique (14A-14D; 34A-34D) associé à des moyens d'impression d'une empreinte postale (16A-16B, 18A-18B ; 36A-36B, 38A-38B) et relié au dit module de gestion d'affranchissement au travers d'un réseau local (LAN), caractérisé en ce que ledit module de gestion d'affranchissement comporte un serveur Web et ledit moyen de traitement informatique comporte un navigateur Web pour accéder à une application de gestion d'affranchissement disposée au niveau du serveur Web.Mail franking system comprising a franking management module (10-12; 32) and at least one computer processing means (14A-14D; 34A-34D) associated with means for printing a postal stamp (16A-16B, 18A-18B, 36A-36B, 38A-38B) and connected to said franking management module through a local area network (LAN), characterized in that said franking management module comprises a web server and said computer processing means includes a web browser for accessing a postage management application arranged at the web server. Système selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que ledit module de gestion d'affranchissement comporte en outre un serveur FTP destiné à coopérer avec un client FTP installé dans un serveur de gestion distant (22).The system of claim 1, characterized in that said franking management module further comprises an FTP server for cooperating with an FTP client installed in a remote management server (22). Système selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que ledit module de gestion d'affranchissement comporte une machine à affranchir (32).System according to claim 1, characterized in that said franking management module comprises a franking machine (32). Système selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que ledit module de gestion d'affranchissement comporte un ordinateur à usage général (10) associé à un dispositif de comptabilisation postale de sécurité (12).System according to claim 1, characterized in that said franking management module comprises a general-purpose computer (10) associated with a security postal accounting device (12). Système selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que lesdits moyens d'impression comportent une imprimante standard (16A-16B ; 36A-36B).System according to claim 1, characterized in that said printing means comprise a standard printer (16A-16B; 36A-36B). Système selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que lesdits moyens d'impression comportent un distributeur d'étiquettes affranchies (18A-18B ; 38A-38B).System according to claim 1, characterized in that said printing means comprise a stamped label dispenser (18A-18B; 38A-38B). Système selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que ledit moyen de traitement informatique comporte un ordinateur personnel (14A-14D ; 34A-34C).System according to claim 1, characterized in that said computer processing means comprises a personal computer (14A-14D; 34A-34C). Système selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que ledit moyen de traitement informatique comporte un terminal numérique portable (34D) relié au dit réseau local par une liaison sans fil.System according to claim 1, characterized in that said computer processing means comprises a portable digital terminal (34D) connected to said local network by a wireless link. Module de gestion d'affranchissement destiné à coopérer sur un réseau local (LAN) avec au moins un moyen de traitement informatique (14A-14D ; 34A-34D) associé à des moyens d'impression d'empreintes postales (16A, 16B, 18A, 18B; 36A, 36B, 38A, 38B), caractérisé en ce qu'il comporte un serveur Web accessible depuis un navigateur Web installé sur ledit moyen de traitement informatique.Postage management module for cooperating on a local area network (LAN) with at least one computer processing means (14A-14D; 34A-34D) associated with postal impression printing means (16A, 16B, 18A) , 18B, 36A, 36B, 38A, 38B), characterized in that it comprises a Web server accessible from a Web browser installed on said computer processing means. Module de gestion d'affranchissement selon la revendication 9, caractérisé en ce qu'il comporte en outre un serveur FTP destiné à coopérer avec un client FTP installé dans un serveur de gestion distant (22).The franking management module according to claim 9, characterized in that it further comprises an FTP server for cooperating with an FTP client installed in a remote management server (22). Module de gestion d'affranchissement selon la revendication 9 ou la revendication 10, caractérisé en ce que ledit module de gestion d'affranchissement comporte une machine à affranchir (32).A franking management module according to claim 9 or claim 10, characterized in that said franking management module includes a franking machine (32). Module de gestion d'affranchissement selon la revendication 8 ou la revendication 9, caractérisé en ce que ledit module de gestion d'affranchissement comporte un ordinateur à usage général (10) associé à un dispositif de comptabilisation postale de sécurité (12).A franking management module according to claim 8 or claim 9, characterized in that said franking management module comprises a general purpose computer (10) associated with a security postal accounting device (12).
EP06119629A 2005-08-31 2006-08-28 Franking system with a web server in a local network Withdrawn EP1764748A1 (en)

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FR0508911A FR2890217B1 (en) 2005-08-31 2005-08-31 EASY MAINTENANCE NETWORK POSTAGE SYSTEM

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