EP0775987B1 - Verfahren and Vorrichtung zur Authentifizierung von Postgebührenabrechnungsberichten - Google Patents

Verfahren and Vorrichtung zur Authentifizierung von Postgebührenabrechnungsberichten Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0775987B1
EP0775987B1 EP96402487A EP96402487A EP0775987B1 EP 0775987 B1 EP0775987 B1 EP 0775987B1 EP 96402487 A EP96402487 A EP 96402487A EP 96402487 A EP96402487 A EP 96402487A EP 0775987 B1 EP0775987 B1 EP 0775987B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
postage
data
authentication mark
authentication
accounting report
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.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP96402487A
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English (en)
French (fr)
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EP0775987A2 (de
EP0775987A3 (de
Inventor
Chandrakant J. Shah
Dennis T. Gilham
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
Original Assignee
Neopost Technologies SA
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Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Neopost Technologies SA filed Critical Neopost Technologies SA
Publication of EP0775987A2 publication Critical patent/EP0775987A2/de
Publication of EP0775987A3 publication Critical patent/EP0775987A3/de
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0775987B1 publication Critical patent/EP0775987B1/de
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07B—TICKET-ISSUING APPARATUS; FARE-REGISTERING APPARATUS; FRANKING APPARATUS
    • G07B17/00—Franking apparatus
    • G07B17/00733—Cryptography or similar special procedures in a franking system
    • 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
    • G07B17/00185—Details internally of apparatus in a franking system, e.g. franking machine at customer or apparatus at post office
    • G07B17/00193—Constructional details of apparatus in a franking system
    • 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
    • G07B2017/00088—Communication details outside or between apparatus via landlines
    • G07B2017/00096—Communication details outside or between apparatus via landlines via phone lines
    • 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
    • G07B17/00185—Details internally of apparatus in a franking system, e.g. franking machine at customer or apparatus at post office
    • G07B17/00193—Constructional details of apparatus in a franking system
    • G07B2017/00201—Open franking system, i.e. the printer is not dedicated to franking only, e.g. PC (Personal Computer)
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07B—TICKET-ISSUING APPARATUS; FARE-REGISTERING APPARATUS; FRANKING APPARATUS
    • G07B17/00—Franking apparatus
    • G07B17/00185—Details internally of apparatus in a franking system, e.g. franking machine at customer or apparatus at post office
    • G07B17/00193—Constructional details of apparatus in a franking system
    • G07B2017/00217—Portable franking apparatus, i.e. the whole franking apparatus, not parts alone
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07B—TICKET-ISSUING APPARATUS; FARE-REGISTERING APPARATUS; FRANKING APPARATUS
    • G07B17/00—Franking apparatus
    • G07B17/00185—Details internally of apparatus in a franking system, e.g. franking machine at customer or apparatus at post office
    • G07B17/00193—Constructional details of apparatus in a franking system
    • G07B2017/00241—Modular design
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07B—TICKET-ISSUING APPARATUS; FARE-REGISTERING APPARATUS; FRANKING APPARATUS
    • G07B17/00—Franking apparatus
    • G07B17/00185—Details internally of apparatus in a franking system, e.g. franking machine at customer or apparatus at post office
    • G07B17/00362—Calculation or computing within apparatus, e.g. calculation of postage value
    • G07B2017/00395—Memory organization
    • G07B2017/00411—Redundant storage, e.g. back-up of registers
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07B—TICKET-ISSUING APPARATUS; FARE-REGISTERING APPARATUS; FRANKING APPARATUS
    • G07B17/00—Franking apparatus
    • G07B17/00185—Details internally of apparatus in a franking system, e.g. franking machine at customer or apparatus at post office
    • G07B17/00362—Calculation or computing within apparatus, e.g. calculation of postage value
    • G07B2017/00427—Special accounting procedures, e.g. storing special information
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07B—TICKET-ISSUING APPARATUS; FARE-REGISTERING APPARATUS; FRANKING APPARATUS
    • G07B17/00—Franking apparatus
    • G07B17/00733—Cryptography or similar special procedures in a franking system
    • G07B2017/00741—Cryptography or similar special procedures in a franking system using specific cryptographic algorithms or functions
    • G07B2017/0075—Symmetric, secret-key algorithms, e.g. DES, RC2, RC4, IDEA, Skipjack, CAST, AES
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07B—TICKET-ISSUING APPARATUS; FARE-REGISTERING APPARATUS; FRANKING APPARATUS
    • G07B17/00—Franking apparatus
    • G07B17/00733—Cryptography or similar special procedures in a franking system
    • G07B2017/00741—Cryptography or similar special procedures in a franking system using specific cryptographic algorithms or functions
    • G07B2017/00758—Asymmetric, public-key algorithms, e.g. RSA, Elgamal
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
    • G07B—TICKET-ISSUING APPARATUS; FARE-REGISTERING APPARATUS; FRANKING APPARATUS
    • G07B17/00—Franking apparatus
    • G07B17/00733—Cryptography or similar special procedures in a franking system
    • G07B2017/00959—Cryptographic modules, e.g. a PC encryption board
    • G07B2017/00967—PSD [Postal Security Device] as defined by the USPS [US Postal Service]

Definitions

  • the present invention generally relates to a method and apparatus for authenticating postage accounting reports. More specifically, the present invention enables the authentication of reports generated from postage accounting data held in a general purpose computer (GPC).
  • GPS general purpose computer
  • postage meters have been dedicated stand-alone devices that only allow postage stamps to be printed on envelopes or labels (in the case of packages) and reside at the user site. As such, these devices could provide postage only for that particular site and it was necessary for the user to physically transport the device to a post office for credit restoration (increasing the postage value contained in the meter vault). These were security devices that contained (later electronic) mechanical accounting registers that delivered postage in isolation from other systems (computer and others). EP-A-493948 . An advance over these systems has been the ability to re-certify a postage meter via codes communicated to the user. These codes were produced by either the manufacturer or the postal authority once the customer had made a payment.
  • CMRS Computer Postage Maker Credit System
  • Mail accounting data ie a detailed accounting of postage expenses (for example postage reports sent by different departments in a company) can be accumulated and read at the level of more sophisticated electronic mailers, but at best the user must always unload the data in a batch mode or enter it manually into a general accounting system.
  • these systems do not provide any means for the authentication of postage accounting information in consideration of the actual values maintained in the meter postage.
  • Postage accounting report data is authenticated by first assembling authentication mark data from the accounting report data and the security metering device (SMD). The system then encrypts the resulting information to form an authentication mark. A physical representation (apposition) of this authentication mark is then linked to a postage accounting report, which is generated by the postage accounting report system.
  • the postage accounting report can then be authenticated by communicating the authentication mark to a responsible party (eg a postal authority or manufacturer) for the purpose of decrypting authentication and authenticating the accounting report of postage. The validity of the information in the report is therefore verified in association with information such as the party at the origin of the information, the computer system used and other relevant data to identify data sources of the data. posting of fraudulent postage.
  • the present invention supports departmental accounting, centralization of remote postage accounting and identification of fraudulent reports.
  • the presence of a valid credential identifies a report as generated by the accounting program, which in turn confirms that it is based on authenticated data held in the system.
  • Counterfeiting can be detected by decrypting the authentication mark of the causes the authentication details to be incorrect or missing if the report is fraudulent.
  • an authenticated report is generated as part of a postage accounting system, using a general purpose computer in a modular postage accounting system.
  • Report data is validated by comparing report totals with postage metering data stored in a secure postage meter during an automated report preparation process.
  • the present invention also relates to a postage accounting report generation system whose postage accounting reports are authenticated by means of an encrypted authentication mark.
  • the authentication tag identifies the source of the report data and demonstrates that it was produced by the system according to standardized procedures.
  • SMD single basic franking registers
  • all functions other than a global postage accounting can then be performed in a GPC.
  • the security of SMD registry data and the validation of postage printing transactions will depend on standard encryption techniques and physical security.
  • FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a Modular Postage Accounting System (MPAS) 1.
  • MPAS 1 consists of three main components: a Computer Postage Maker Credit Recovery System (CMRS) 105 , a ZIP Code Information System (ZCIS) 191 and an Open System Franking System (OSMD) 5.
  • the first component, CMRS 105 is a modem-based communication system between a modern electronic meter. (not shown) and a credit repair station computer 120.
  • the operation of the well-known CMRS 105 is subject to government standardization. The operation of CMRS 105 is therefore not discussed in detail here.
  • the second component, ZCIS 191 provides computer access to national and international ZIP codes.
  • ZCIS 191 is a commercially available system, and there are approximately 150 United States.
  • the final component, OSMD 5 performs all the functions traditionally associated with conventional postage meters and may include a Safety Postage Device (SMD) 10, a GPC 20, an electronic scale 40 and a digital printer 60.
  • SMD Safety Postage Device
  • the SMD 10 performs the accounting functions generally associated with the traditional franking machine.
  • the SMD 10 generates encrypted postage stamps for transmission by the computer to the digital printer 60 and for subsequent printing on a mail item (for example, the mail item). mail 100).
  • a security communication means 30 connects the security metering device (SMD) 10 to the general purpose computer (GPC) 20.
  • the security communication means 30 may be any information transfer mechanism provided that it is protected from unauthorized interception, such as an RS-232C serial communication line or a direct internal connection to the GPC 20 (ie it may be resident on the GPC data / address 20). These techniques must be combined with the encryption of the postage information.
  • the SMD 10 contains two accumulator-fed memories (unrepresented BAMs) for nonvolatile storage of the postage accounting information. This postage information, as is well known in the art, typically consists of an ascending register, a descending register and a checksum register (none of these registers are shown).
  • an ascending register holds a value equal to the postage value used
  • a descending register maintains a value equal to the postage value which remains unused
  • a checksum register maintains the value. sum of the ascending register and the descending register.
  • the SMD 10 may also contain a real-time clock and a memory (none of these elements are shown).
  • the encryption can be achieved by means of a wired encryptor or by means of a software algorithm (for example the algorithms known per se or RSA).
  • the SMD 10 may contain postage accounting information for one or more departments in an organization of a customer, which departments may be widely dispersed geographically. SMD 10 performs the accounting functions associated generally with the traditional franking machine and generates encrypted printed stamps.
  • the GPC 20 is also connected to a communication interface device 50 which provides access to a CMRS 105 via a communication medium 110.
  • a credit repair station computer 120 communicates with the GPC 20 and the SMD 10 in order to perform credit restorations (to add a postage value to GDS 10), posting / auditing and other functions, as required.
  • a communication between the GPC 20 and the SMD 10 is bidirectional.
  • the GPC 20 sends control commands and information requests to the SMD 10.
  • the SMD 10 can send human-readable data (in response to information requests), printed stamps, etc. postage (in response to postage requests, which printed stamps are encrypted) or both.
  • the postage is requested by a user (not shown) by means of the postage information entered by the user in the GPC 20.
  • the GPC 20 sends this information in association with the class / mail service as well as any other necessary values (eg insurance) as well as the ZIP code (postal code) of destination to the SMD 10.
  • the SMD 10 responds by generating a file of stamps printed security postage (via an encryption) in association with a license number and transmitting this information to the GPC 20.
  • the GPC 20 takes the information produced by the SMD 10 and builds a printed postage stamp printing file comprising a two-dimensional code, a graphic information and human readable data.
  • the postage stamp printing file in combination with optional information (such as address information, ZIP code coding and any user-defined information), is transmitted to the customer. printer 60 for printing.
  • the printer 60 then prints the postage stamps and other information on an envelope (mail item 100), a label (not shown) or any other means on which postage is to be affixed.
  • GPC 20 can also access CMRS 105 to re-create SMD 10, for audit by postal authorities and for other purposes. This allows credit restoration (the entry of postage credit) in a manner similar to that of conventional electronic postage meters.
  • the present invention utilizes the interface described above between SMD 10 and GPC 20 to maintain postage accounting information, which can then be used to create reports. Records of each transaction, moving totals or both are maintained by comparing an accounting information stored on the GPC with the mobile totals residing in the GDS.
  • the postage accounting reports can then be authenticated using an encrypted "authentication credential" which contains (in encrypted form) the serial number, the post office license number and the mobile totals of the post office.
  • SMD in combination with any other identifying data such as the identity of the operator, the date and time etc. which the user may need.
  • Maintaining records in MPAS is shown in Figure 2 and typically occurs as follows. First, files are created in the SMD and the GPC 20, as shown in step 200 of Fig. 2. At step 210, the SMD and the GPC wait for the user to perform a transaction request. When a transaction is requested, a decision is made at step 220 to define whether the user has requested a print transaction or a credit restore transaction. Other transactions can be done at this level but they are not represented for the sake of clarity.
  • the patent application entitled "Method and Apparatus for a Modular Postage Accounting System" by C. Shah and K. Robertson which has been filed concurrently with the present application describes a complete listing of these communications.
  • the funds spent to add credit (or "restore credit”) to the GDS are counted in the BAMs of the GDS and also in the GPC resident file containing the Postage Credit Restoration Payment Record (PRRR).
  • PRRR Postage Credit Restoration Payment Record
  • This transaction is reflected in steps 230 and 240.
  • the postage amount that shifts the credit stored in the SMD ie a rate or use of the franking system
  • MAR mail accounting report data
  • this information forms an authentication tag 340 which is stored in the GPC (as shown in step 350).
  • the report that has already been generated and which now includes the authentication mark is then printed at step 360.
  • An authentication mark 400 is communicated at step 410 to the party responsible for the authentication. authentication of the reports (the authenticating party, typically the postal authority or the manufacturer).
  • the authentication portion enters the authentication mark data into a decryption system.
  • the authentication mark is then decrypted (step 430), resulting in decrypted authentication mark data 440, which data is then compared to human readable data 450 (step 470). If the decrypted authentication cue data 440 and the human readable data 450 differ, some, if not all, of the data in the report has been corrupted (step 460).
  • the counterfeit credentials will be detected by decryption due to either incorrect authentication information or missing authentication information. Otherwise, the report data is verified as authentic (step 480). Converting the authentication mark to plaintext using an appropriate decryption algorithm therefore reveals the components in a readable form and authenticates the valid identity of the report document. The presence of a valid credential identifies a report as actually generated by the accounting program, which in turn confirms that it is based on authentic data maintained in the GDS and GPC.
  • the present invention allows automatic verification of accounting report data against postage metadata with security and provides an encrypted authentication mark for authentication of postage accounting and credit repair payment registration reports. Authentication is therefore an insurance against violation using the MPAS franking system and its unauthorized use.
  • the present invention need not be limited by any method of affixing the authentication mark such as alphanumeric elements, bar codes, data matrices, and other techniques may be used.
  • the information included in the authentication mark may also vary depending on the needs of the user. Therefore, the scope of the invention is to be determined by reference to the appended claims.

Claims (6)

  1. Verfahren zur Authentifizierung von Daten eines Postgebührenabrechnungsberichts in einer Frankiervorrichtung mit offenem System (5) mit einem Rechner für den allgemeinen Gebrauch (20), der über eine Sicherheitsübertragungsverbindung (30) mit einer Sicherheitsfrankiervorrichtung (10) verbunden ist, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß es die folgenden Schritte umfaßt:
    Zusammenstellen von Authentifizierungskennungsdaten aus den in dem Rechner für den allgemeinen Gebrauch und in der Sicherheitsfrankiervorrichtung gespeicherten Daten eines Postgebührenabrechnungsberichts;
    Verschlüsselung der genannten Authentifizierungskennungsdaten in der Sicherheitsfrankiervorrichtung, um eine Authentifizierungskennung zu erzeugen; und
    Eintragen der Authentifizierungskennung in einem Postgebührenabrechnungsbericht.
  2. Verfahren nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß es ferner die nachfolgenden Schritte umfaßt:
    Übermittlung der Authentifizierungskennung an eine Behörde zum Zwecke der Entschlüsselung der Authentifizierungskennung und der Wiederherstellung der Authentifizierungskennungsdaten; und
    Vergleichen der Authentifizierungskennungsdaten mit den Postgebührenabrechnungsberichtdaten, mit dem Ziel der Authentifizierung der Postgebührenabrechnungsberichtdaten.
  3. Verfahren nach Anspruch 1, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß die Postgebührenabrechnungsberichtdaten mittels eines Vergleichs von in dem Rechner für den allgemeinen Gebrauch gespeicherten Summen eines Postgebührenabrechnungsberichts mit in der Sicherheitsfrankiervorrichtung gespeicherten Daten der steuerlichen Postgebührenerfassung während eines automatisierten Prozesses zur Berichterzeugung validiert werden.
  4. System zur Authentifizierung von Daten eines Postgebührenabrechnungsberichts in einer Frankiervorrichtung mit offenem System (5) mit einem Rechner für den allgemeinen Gebrauch (20), der über eine Sicherheitsübertragungsverbindung (30) mit einer Sicherheitsfrankiervorrichtung (10) verbunden ist, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß es folgendes umfaßt:
    Mittel zum Zusammenstellen von Authentifizierungskennungsdaten aus den in dem Rechner für den allgemeinen Gebrauch und in der Sicherheitsfrankiervorrichtung gespeicherten Daten eines Postgebührenabrechnungsberichts;
    Mittel zum Verschlüsseln der genannten Authentifizierungskennungsdaten in der Sicherheitsfrankiervorrichtung, um eine Authentifizierungskennung zu erzeugen; und
    Mittel zum Eintragen der Authentifizierungskennung in einem Postgebührenabrechnungsbericht.
  5. System nach Anspruch 4, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß es ferner folgendes umfaßt:
    Mittel für die Übermittlung der Authentifizierungskennung an eine Behörde zum Zwecke der Entschlüsselung der Authentifizierungskennung und der Wiederherstellung der Authentifizierungskennungsdaten; und
    Mittel zum Vergleichen der Authentifizierungskennungsdaten mit den Postgebührenabrechnungsberichtdaten, mit dem Ziel der Authentifizierung der Postgebührenabrechnungsberichtdaten.
  6. System nach Anspruch 4, dadurch gekennzeichnet, daß es ferner, zur Validierung der genannten Postgebührenabrechnungsberichtdaten, Vergleichsmittel umfaßt, um in dem Rechner für den allgemeinen Gebrauch gespeicherte Summen eines Postgebührenabrechnungsberichts mit in der Sicherheitsfrankiervorrichtung gespeicherten Daten der steuerlichen Postgebührenerfassung während eines automatisierten Prozesses zur Berichterzeugung zu vergleichen.
EP96402487A 1995-11-22 1996-11-20 Verfahren and Vorrichtung zur Authentifizierung von Postgebührenabrechnungsberichten Expired - Lifetime EP0775987B1 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US08/561,662 US5778066A (en) 1995-11-22 1995-11-22 Method and apparatus for authentication of postage accounting reports
US561662 1995-11-22

Publications (3)

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EP0775987A2 EP0775987A2 (de) 1997-05-28
EP0775987A3 EP0775987A3 (de) 1999-11-17
EP0775987B1 true EP0775987B1 (de) 2007-09-12

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US (2) US5778066A (de)
EP (1) EP0775987B1 (de)
DE (1) DE69637237T2 (de)

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Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE69637237T2 (de) 2008-06-19
DE69637237D1 (de) 2007-10-25
US6230149B1 (en) 2001-05-08
EP0775987A2 (de) 1997-05-28
US5778066A (en) 1998-07-07
EP0775987A3 (de) 1999-11-17

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