FR2665003A1 - Device for tracking postal consumption - Google Patents

Device for tracking postal consumption Download PDF

Info

Publication number
FR2665003A1
FR2665003A1 FR9009165A FR9009165A FR2665003A1 FR 2665003 A1 FR2665003 A1 FR 2665003A1 FR 9009165 A FR9009165 A FR 9009165A FR 9009165 A FR9009165 A FR 9009165A FR 2665003 A1 FR2665003 A1 FR 2665003A1
Authority
FR
France
Prior art keywords
electronic
authorization center
franking system
electronic franking
information
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.)
Granted
Application number
FR9009165A
Other languages
French (fr)
Other versions
FR2665003B1 (en
Inventor
Mourgues Bernard
Lecarpentier Marc
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.)
Alcatel Satman SA
Original Assignee
Alcatel Satman SA
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Alcatel Satman SA filed Critical Alcatel Satman SA
Priority to FR9009165A priority Critical patent/FR2665003B1/en
Publication of FR2665003A1 publication Critical patent/FR2665003A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of FR2665003B1 publication Critical patent/FR2665003B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Fee Related legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • 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
    • G07B17/00362—Calculation or computing within apparatus, e.g. calculation of postage value
    • 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
    • G07B17/00435—Details specific to central, non-customer apparatus, e.g. servers at post office or vendor
    • 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
    • G07B2017/00153—Communication details outside or between apparatus for sending information
    • G07B2017/00161—Communication details outside or between apparatus for sending information from a central, non-user location, e.g. for updating rates or software, or for refilling funds
    • 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
    • G07B2017/00153—Communication details outside or between apparatus for sending information
    • G07B2017/00169—Communication details outside or between apparatus for sending information from a franking apparatus, e.g. for verifying accounting
    • 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

Landscapes

  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mathematical Physics (AREA)
  • Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
  • Management, Administration, Business Operations System, And Electronic Commerce (AREA)
  • Devices For Checking Fares Or Tickets At Control Points (AREA)

Abstract

Device for tracking postal consumption of an electronic franking system associated with an authorisation centre in which an exchange of information is performed in the form of electronic messages between the said authorisation centre and the said electronic franking system and vice versa, characterised in that the format of the message comprises, on top of the conventional bytes dedicated to the identification information and to that relating to the state of the registers and of the credit, a plurality of supplementary bytes dedicated to information of a statistical nature.

Description

DISPOSITIF DE SUIVI DE CONSOMMA,TION POSTAIT
La présente invention concerne les systèmes électroniques d'affranchissement, et plus particulièrement le suivi statistique de la consommation postale.CONSUMPTION MONITORING DEVICE, POSION POST
The present invention relates to electronic franking systems, and more particularly the statistical monitoring of postal consumption.

L'invention concerne plus particulièrement les systèmes électroniques d'affranchissement qui sont en liaison avec un centre d'autorisation chargé de la surveillance et, dans certains cas, du rechargement en fonds des systèmes électroniques d'affranchissement qui lui sont rattachés. The invention relates more particularly to electronic franking systems which are linked to an authorization center responsible for monitoring and, in certain cases, reloading the electronic franking systems which are attached to it.

Différents dispositifs de rechargement, à partir d'un centre d'autorisation, des systèmes électroniques d'affranchissement ont eté réalisés qui assurent que les rechargements en fonds ne puissent être réalisés frauduleusement ou accidentellement. Various reloading devices, from an authorization center, electronic franking systems have been produced which ensure that reloading of funds cannot be carried out fraudulently or accidentally.

Un tel dispositif est connu par exemple par le brevet français n" 2 580 842, qui décrit un module électronique de sécurite permettant l'échange d'informations entre un système électronique d'affranchissement et un centre d'autorisation, en vue principalement de permettre le rechargement en fonds du système électronique d'affranchissement. Such a device is known, for example, from French patent no. 2,580,842, which describes an electronic security module allowing the exchange of information between an electronic franking system and an authorization center, mainly with a view to enabling reloading of electronic postage system funds.

Dans une variante décrite dans le brevet français n0 85 10081, le module précité est remplacé par une ligne téléphonique qui transmet des informations dans les deux sens, ces informations étant convenablement cryptées pour éviter toute erreur ou fraude. In a variant described in French patent no. 85 10081, the aforementioned module is replaced by a telephone line which transmits information in both directions, this information being suitably encrypted to avoid any error or fraud.

Les informations qui transitent par le module ou la ligne précités, du système électronique d'affranchissement vers le centre d'autorisation, qui peut être l'administration postale, sont relatives aux montants enregistrés cumulativement dans les compteurs ascendant et descendant du système électronique d'affranchissement, et ne fournissent pas d'informations détaillées quant aux affranchissements réalisés par le système électronique d'affranchissement. Or l'administration souhaite savoir de manière détaillée l'usage qui est fait des différents dispositifs d'affranchissement. The information which passes through the aforementioned module or line, from the electronic franking system to the authorization center, which may be the postal administration, relates to the amounts recorded cumulatively in the ascending and descending counters of the electronic franking system. postage, and do not provide detailed information regarding postage made by the electronic postage system. However, the administration wishes to know in detail the use made of the various franking devices.

Un but de la présente invention est de réaliser un dispositif permettant un suivi de consommation postale fournissant une ventilation détaillée en fonction de critères fournis par le centre d'autorisation. An object of the present invention is to provide a device for monitoring postal consumption providing detailed ventilation according to criteria provided by the authorization center.

L'invention a pour objet un dispositif de suivi de consommation postale d'un système électronique d'affranchissement associé à un centre d'autorisation dans lequel un échange d'informations est effectué sous forme de messages électroniques entre ledit centre d'autorisation et ledit système électronique d'affranchissement et vice-versa, caractérisé en ce que le format du message comprend, en sus des octets classiques dédiés aux informations d'identification et à celles concernant l'état des registres et du crédit, une pluralité d'octets supplémentaires dédiés à des informations d'ordre statistique. The subject of the invention is a device for monitoring postal consumption of an electronic franking system associated with an authorization center in which an exchange of information is carried out in the form of electronic messages between said authorization center and said electronic franking system and vice versa, characterized in that the format of the message comprises, in addition to the conventional bytes dedicated to the identification information and to those concerning the status of the registers and of the credit, a plurality of additional bytes dedicated to statistical information.

Tout ou partie des consignes relatives aux opérations d'ordre statistiques peut être modifié à chaque échange entre ledit centre d'autorisation et ledit système électronique d'affranchissement. All or part of the instructions relating to statistical operations can be modified with each exchange between said authorization center and said electronic franking system.

Par exemple, les informations d'ordre statistique concernent la ventilation des affranchissements selon un barème de valeurs d'affranchissement. For example, statistical information relates to the breakdown of postage according to a scale of postage values.

Les informations d'ordre statistique peuvent aussi concerner la ventilation des envois selon un barème de poids, selon les destinations, etc... Statistical information may also relate to the breakdown of shipments according to a weight scale, according to destinations, etc.

Selon les types de systèmes de rechargement, le message est véhiculé par un module électronique transporté entre l'emplacement du système électronique d'affranchissement et le centre d'autorisation, ou par une ligne téléphonique reliant le système électronique d'affranchissement et le centre d'autorisation. According to the types of recharging systems, the message is conveyed by an electronic module transported between the location of the electronic franking system and the authorization center, or by a telephone line connecting the electronic franking system and the delivery center. 'authorization.

Une des principales utilisations du dispositif de l'invention est de connaitre la répartition des affranchissements en fonction de n valeurs choisies par le centre d'autorisation, n étant par exemple égal à 10. Lors de l'échange entre le centre d'autorisation et le système électronique d'affranchissement, 10 couples, nombre et valeur d'affranchissement, sont transportés, d'une part pour renseigner le centre d'autorisation sur la répartition des affranchissements depuis le dernier échange et d'autre part pour charger éventuellement 10 nouvelles valeurs d'affranchissement à surveiller dans le système d'affranchissement. One of the main uses of the device of the invention is to know the distribution of postage as a function of n values chosen by the authorization center, n being for example equal to 10. During the exchange between the authorization center and the electronic postage system, 10 pairs, number and value of postage, are transported, on the one hand to inform the authorization center on the distribution of postage since the last exchange and on the other hand to possibly load 10 new postage values to be monitored in the postage system.

En sus de ces 10 couples, le système électronique d'affranchissement transmettra le nombre des affranchissements réalisés en dehors des valeurs sélectionnées par le centre d'autorisation. In addition to these 10 pairs, the electronic franking system will transmit the number of frankings made outside the values selected by the authorization center.

Ces informations représentent un message de 53 octets comme le montre le tableau ci-dessous:
Valeur n"l 4 chiffres 2 octets
Nombre de valeurs n l 6 chiffres 3 octets
Valeur n"2 4 chiffres 2 octets
Nombre de valeur n"2 6 chiffres 3 octets
Valeur n010 4 chiffres 2 octets
Nombre de valeurs n"10 6 chiffres 3 octets
Nombre de valeurs diverses 6 chiffres 3 octets
53 octets
A chaque échange entre le centre d'autorisation et le système électronique d'affranchissement, les nombres d'affranchissements par valeur d'affranchissement seront remis à zéro.This information represents a 53-byte message as shown in the table below:
Value n "l 4 digits 2 bytes
Number of values nl 6 digits 3 bytes
Value n "2 4 digits 2 bytes
Number of values n "2 6 digits 3 bytes
Value n010 4 digits 2 bytes
Number of values n "10 6 digits 3 bytes
Number of miscellaneous values 6 digits 3 bytes
53 bytes
With each exchange between the authorization center and the electronic franking system, the franking numbers by franking value will be reset to zero.

En l'absence d'initialisation par le centre d'autorisation, le système électronique d'affranchissement surveillera les 10 premières valeurs d'affranchissement qu'il aura réalisées.  In the absence of initialization by the authorization center, the electronic franking system will monitor the first 10 franking values it has achieved.

Le centre d'autorisation peut charger des groupes de valeurs différentes dans chacun des systèmes électroniques d'affranchissement qui lui sont rattachés. The authorization center can load groups of different values into each of the electronic franking systems attached to it.

Comme on l'a dit plus haut, le dispositif de l'invention peut s'appliquer de la même façon à une analyse par tranches de valeurs postales dans le cas de systèmes électroniques d'affranchissement couplés à une balance calculateur de taxes, à l'analyse des types d'envoi, par catégories de poids, par départements, etc..As mentioned above, the device of the invention can be applied in the same way to an analysis by increments of postal values in the case of electronic franking systems coupled to a scale calculating charges, to the analysis of the types of shipment, by weight categories, by departments, etc.

Tout ou partie des consignes relatives aux informations d'ordre statistique peut être modifié à chaque échange entre ledit centre d'autorisation et ledit système électronique d'affranchissement. All or part of the instructions relating to statistical information can be modified with each exchange between said authorization center and said electronic franking system.

L'invention est de mise en oeuvre très simple et économique et peut s'appliquer aux systèmes électroniques d'affranchissement déjà en service moyennant une modification peu onéreuse.  The invention is very simple and economical to apply and can be applied to electronic franking systems already in service subject to an inexpensive modification.

Claims (7)

REVENDICATIONS 1/ Dispositif de suivi de consommation postale d'un système électronique d'affranchissement associé à un centre d'autorisation dans lequel un échange d'informations est effectué sous forme de messages électroniques entre ledit centre d'autorisation et ledit système électronique d'affranchissement et vice-versa, caractérisé en ce que le format du message comprend, en sus des octets classiques dédiés aux informations d'identification et à celles concernant l'état des registres et du crédit, une pluralité d'octets supplémentaires dédiés à des informations d'ordre statistique.1 / Device for monitoring postal consumption of an electronic franking system associated with an authorization center in which an exchange of information is carried out in the form of electronic messages between said authorization center and said electronic franking system and vice versa, characterized in that the format of the message comprises, in addition to the conventional bytes dedicated to identification information and to those concerning the status of the registers and of the credit, a plurality of additional bytes dedicated to information of 'statistical order. 2/ Dispositif selon la revendication 1, caractérisé en ce que tout ou partie des consignes relatives aux opérations d'ordre statistiques peut être modifié à chaque échange entre ledit centre d'autorisation et ledit système électronique d'affranchissement.2 / Device according to claim 1, characterized in that all or part of the instructions relating to statistical operations can be changed with each exchange between said authorization center and said electronic franking system. 3/ Dispositif selon l'une des revendications 1 et 2, caractérisé en ce que les informations d'ordre statistique concernent la ventilation des affranchissements selon un barème de valeurs d'affranchissement.3 / Device according to one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the statistical information relates to the breakdown of postage according to a scale of postage values. 4/ Dispositif selon l'une des revendications 1 et 2, caractérisé en ce que, le système électronique d'affranchissement étant couplé à une balance calculateur de taxes, les informations d'ordre statistiques concernent la ventilation des envois selon un barème de poids.4 / Device according to one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that, the electronic franking system being coupled to a scale calculating charges, the statistical information relates to the breakdown of items according to a weight scale. 5/ Dispositif selon l'une des revendications 1 et 2, caractérisé en ce que les informations d'ordre statistique concernent la ventilation des envois selon une liste donnée de lieux de destination.5 / Device according to one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the statistical information relates to the breakdown of items according to a given list of places of destination. 6/ Dispositif selon l'une des revendications 1 à 5, caractérisé en ce que le message est véhiculé par un module électronique transporté entre l'emplacement du système électronique d'affranchissement et le centre d'autorisation. 6 / Device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the message is conveyed by an electronic module transported between the location of the electronic franking system and the authorization center. 7/ Dispositif selon l'une des revendications 1 à 5, caractérisé en ce que le message est véhiculé par une ligne téléphonique reliant le système électronique d'affranchissement et le centre d'autorisation. 7 / Device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the message is conveyed by a telephone line connecting the electronic franking system and the authorization center.
FR9009165A 1990-07-18 1990-07-18 POSTAL CONSUMPTION MONITORING DEVICE. Expired - Fee Related FR2665003B1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR9009165A FR2665003B1 (en) 1990-07-18 1990-07-18 POSTAL CONSUMPTION MONITORING DEVICE.

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR9009165A FR2665003B1 (en) 1990-07-18 1990-07-18 POSTAL CONSUMPTION MONITORING DEVICE.

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
FR2665003A1 true FR2665003A1 (en) 1992-01-24
FR2665003B1 FR2665003B1 (en) 1995-06-30

Family

ID=9398854

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
FR9009165A Expired - Fee Related FR2665003B1 (en) 1990-07-18 1990-07-18 POSTAL CONSUMPTION MONITORING DEVICE.

Country Status (1)

Country Link
FR (1) FR2665003B1 (en)

Cited By (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2700043A1 (en) * 1992-12-30 1994-07-01 Neopost Ind Franking machine allowing to memorize a history.
EP0612038A1 (en) * 1993-02-17 1994-08-24 Neopost Industrie Method for controlling the daily postage consumption of a franking machine und franking machine for carrying out this method
US5717596A (en) * 1995-02-15 1998-02-10 Pitney Bowes Inc. Method and system for franking, accounting, and billing of mail services
EP0986028A3 (en) * 1998-09-11 2000-12-13 Francotyp-Postalia Aktiengesellschaft & Co. Method for data entry into a service device and arrangement for carrying out the same
EP1067483A3 (en) * 1999-07-09 2001-05-16 Neopost Limited Method and system for providing information to machine users
EP1146484A1 (en) * 2000-04-10 2001-10-17 Francotyp-Postalia Aktiengesellschaft & Co. Arrangement and method for the preparation of a message at the loading of service data to a terminal
EP0895172A3 (en) * 1997-07-29 2002-04-17 Francotyp-Postalia Aktiengesellschaft & Co. Method for billing dispatch services
WO2003034181A2 (en) * 2001-10-16 2003-04-24 Pitney Bowes Inc. Method and system for payment of permit mail
US6820066B1 (en) 1998-10-09 2004-11-16 Francotyp-Postalia Ag & Co. Kg Arrangement and method for storing data relating to the usage of a terminal device
EP1615176A3 (en) * 2004-07-07 2007-02-21 Francotyp-Postalia GmbH Method and system for storage and processing of data
US8190525B2 (en) 2003-12-22 2012-05-29 Pitney Bowes Inc. System and method for payment for business reply mail

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE19847951A1 (en) 1998-10-09 2000-04-20 Francotyp Postalia Gmbh Arrangement and method for storing data on the use of a terminal

Cited By (18)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0605313A1 (en) * 1992-12-30 1994-07-06 Neopost Industrie Franking machine with history recording
US5444631A (en) * 1992-12-30 1995-08-22 Neopost Franking machine with record storage facility
FR2700043A1 (en) * 1992-12-30 1994-07-01 Neopost Ind Franking machine allowing to memorize a history.
EP0612038A1 (en) * 1993-02-17 1994-08-24 Neopost Industrie Method for controlling the daily postage consumption of a franking machine und franking machine for carrying out this method
FR2701781A1 (en) * 1993-02-17 1994-08-26 Neopost Ind Franking machine allowing a control of the daily consumption.
US5535126A (en) * 1993-02-17 1996-07-09 Neopost Industrie Method of checking daily consumption of postal charges by a postage meter and a postage meter enabling such monitoring to be performed
US5717596A (en) * 1995-02-15 1998-02-10 Pitney Bowes Inc. Method and system for franking, accounting, and billing of mail services
EP0895172A3 (en) * 1997-07-29 2002-04-17 Francotyp-Postalia Aktiengesellschaft & Co. Method for billing dispatch services
EP0986028A3 (en) * 1998-09-11 2000-12-13 Francotyp-Postalia Aktiengesellschaft & Co. Method for data entry into a service device and arrangement for carrying out the same
US6820066B1 (en) 1998-10-09 2004-11-16 Francotyp-Postalia Ag & Co. Kg Arrangement and method for storing data relating to the usage of a terminal device
EP1067483A3 (en) * 1999-07-09 2001-05-16 Neopost Limited Method and system for providing information to machine users
EP1146484A1 (en) * 2000-04-10 2001-10-17 Francotyp-Postalia Aktiengesellschaft & Co. Arrangement and method for the preparation of a message at the loading of service data to a terminal
US6829633B2 (en) 2000-04-10 2004-12-07 Francotyp-Postalia Ag & Co. Kg Arrangement and method for offering a message when loading service data for a terminal device
WO2003034181A2 (en) * 2001-10-16 2003-04-24 Pitney Bowes Inc. Method and system for payment of permit mail
WO2003034181A3 (en) * 2001-10-16 2003-10-16 Pitney Bowes Inc Method and system for payment of permit mail
US6925450B2 (en) 2001-10-16 2005-08-02 Pitney Bowes Inc. Method and system for payment of permit mail
US8190525B2 (en) 2003-12-22 2012-05-29 Pitney Bowes Inc. System and method for payment for business reply mail
EP1615176A3 (en) * 2004-07-07 2007-02-21 Francotyp-Postalia GmbH Method and system for storage and processing of data

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
FR2665003B1 (en) 1995-06-30

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
FR2665003A1 (en) Device for tracking postal consumption
US6549892B1 (en) System for delivering mail
EP0775988B1 (en) Method and apparatus for a modular postage accounting system
US6725127B2 (en) Package delivery system
RU2309012C2 (en) Method and device for processing mail items
US7301115B2 (en) System and method of identifying and sorting response services mail pieces in accordance with plural levels of refinement in order to enhance postal service revenue protection
US7367058B2 (en) Encoding method
US5943658A (en) Method for automatic determination of origination ZIP code using caller I.D.
JPS62196787A (en) Postal matter processing method and apparatus
JPS6315386A (en) Postage paying apparatus and accounting of postage
US20040064326A1 (en) System and method for processing mail including pre-sorted mail, and a smart mail box adaptable for use with the system and method
US6839695B2 (en) Postage meter location system
EP0895172A2 (en) Method for billing dispatch services
GB2188870A (en) Value resetting systems and methods of changing funding data
US11361274B2 (en) Trackable postage
US7451119B2 (en) System and method of identifying and sorting international mail pieces based on applied-postage adequacy in order to enhance postal service revenue protection
US8126822B1 (en) Virtual post office box
AU2003298069B2 (en) Method and device for processing graphical information located on surfaces of postal articles
US20090248470A1 (en) System and method for measuring performance of a carrier network
US6089612A (en) Method of distribution of correspondence and related things in the interior of a country and abroad, by using post number (P.N.)
US5701249A (en) Service and usage data collection using a special mail piece
US20050132071A1 (en) System and method for using associated knowledge databases for providing additional information in the mailing process
US7765168B1 (en) Method and apparatus for the control and distribution of value bearing items in a PC postage system
US20090106139A1 (en) Cost recovery billing system
US7171449B2 (en) Friend-to-friend mail systems and methods

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
ST Notification of lapse

Effective date: 20070330