FR2673305A1 - POSTAL POSTAGE COUNTER SYSTEM. - Google Patents

Abstract

a) System of postage meters, b) system characterized in that the counters (27) each comprise means (10, 23) serving to prohibit, at predetermined intervals, the use of the counter to carry out operations of 'postage; means (10) for producing a series of pseudo-random numbers corresponding only to that counter; means located at a remote center (26) for generating a number of sets of pseudorandom numbers corresponding to the sets generated by the counters; a portable memory device (25) loaded with a current pseudo-random number corresponding to the pseudo-random number of a counter (27) the use of which has been prohibited for carrying out postage operations; means (21) for coupling the portable memory device to the forbidden counter (27) and for comparing the pseudo-random number carried by the portable memory device (25) to the pseudo-random number generated by the forbidden counter (27) and, if the comparison is successful, removing the prohibition against using the counter for postage operations, and loading into the portable memory device (25) the data stored in the registers (14, 15) counter (27).

Description

"Postage Metering System" The present invention

  postal metering counters for franking

mail items.

  While some postal services require a pre-payment corresponding to the postage value to be used for franking mail items to be delivered by the postal service, other postal services use a post-payment procedure in which payment is made. performed in accordance with the prior use of a postage meter for franking mail items Security procedures are necessary to ensure that a correct payment is made by the user in view of the postage value having been used in the postage of mail items, and to control the use of the postage meter in the case of a defect20 appearing for any payment In general, users send each month to the postal service a statement showing the use of the postage meter, and payment is made in accordance with this The statement is prepared manually by operating the postage meter to display the account data stored in account data registers, and the user transcribes the displayed values onto a sheet or a survey map. Transcription inaccuracies may occur. periodically, a representative of the postal service visits the postage meter and verifies that the readings represent a

  exact recording of meter usage.

  According to one characteristic of the invention, the counters each comprise means for prohibiting, at predetermined intervals, the use of the counter to perform franking operations; means for producing a series of pseudorandom numbers corresponding only to that counter; means placed in a remote center for generating a number of pseudorandom number series corresponding to the series generated by the counters; a portable memory device loaded by a current pseudo-random number corresponding to the pseudo-random number of a counter which has been forbidden to use for franking operations; means for coupling the portable memory device to the prohibited counter and comparing the pseudorandom number carried by the

  portable memory device to pseudo-number

  random generated by the prohibited counter and, if the comparison is successful, to remove the prohibition of use of the meter for franking operations, and to load in the portable memory device the data stored in the counter registers According to another characteristic of the invention, when the operating prohibition of the counter is completed, the means used in the counter for generating the series of pseudo-random numbers are used to advance the number by one step. pseudo-random generated in the counter to the next pseudo-random number of the series. According to yet another feature of the invention, the postage meter system further comprises a central computer for receiving the portable memory device from the counter and comparing the pseudorandom number carried by the memory device. portable to a pseudo-random number generated by the computer so that, if the comparison is successful, the host computer can extract the register data from the portable memory device and load the portable memory device by the number

  next pseudo-random of the series.

  According to yet another characteristic of the invention, the means for prohibiting the operation of the meter for franking operations comprise a calendar serving, in each counter, to provide a signal

  prohibition at predetermined intervals.

  According to yet another characteristic of the invention, each counter comprises at least one register intended to store the accounting data relating to the use of the counter, the means serving to prohibit the operation of the counter for the franking operations, comprising means responding to the fact that the accounting data includes any one of a number of values, to prohibit the operation of the counter.

  According to another aspect of the invention,

  it relates to a method characterized in that it comprises the different steps of generating a pseudo-random number in each counter; generating, in a central computer, pseudorandom numbers that correspond to those generated in each counter; the pseudo-random numbers being respectively unique for each counter; providing each counter with means for disabling operation of the counter for performing postage operations when a variable is equal to any one of a number of predetermined values; to transmit to the counter forbidden the pseudo-random number corresponding to this

  counter prohibited; to compare the pseudo number

  randomly transmitted to the pseudo-random number generated in the counter and, if the comparison is successful, outputting the accounting data values stored in the counter registers, transmitting these accounting data values to the computer central office, to cancel the meter ban and to take a step forward

  the pseudo-random number generated in the counter.

  According to yet another aspect of the invention, this relates to a method of controlling the use of a postage meter operating in a post-payment mode, characterized in that it comprises the various steps of prohibiting the meter from performing postage operations at each of a series of predetermined times by the meter; to use, upon the appearance of a meter ban, an electronic security key for transferring to an accounting center, data relating to the use of the meter before the appearance of the prohibition from the counter, and to cancel this ban until the appearance

  prohibition at the next predetermined time.

  An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the drawing of the accompanying single figure which shows a block circuit diagram of a control system.

postage meter.

  In the drawings, a postage meter 27 includes an electronic microprocessor 10 operable according to programs stored in a read-only memory (ROM) 11 for performing the postage meter franking and ordering operations. to introduce into the microprocessor 10 control signals and data signals such as a required postage value. A display device 13 repeats the data entered by the keyboard and also displays other information intended to assist a user to obtain information. Postage meter Accounting data relating to the use of the postage meter for performing postage operations are stored in memories 14, 15 The memories may be constituted by non-erasable devices or devices powered by batteries 16, 17, so that the data of accounts stored in memory when you stop feeding the postage meter A RAM 18 is used

  as working memory of the microprocessor 10.

  A printing device 19 is controlled by the microprocessor to perform franking impressions on mail items. The printing device may be a mechanical printer such as a drum printer in which the fixed parts of the printer franking prints are printed by die plates mounted on the drum, while variable parts including date and postage value are printed by adjustable print wheels carried by the drum Print wheels can be printed regulated by electric motors acting via mechanical links, and the power supply of the motors is controlled by signals from the microprocessor 10 as a function of the required postage value

typed on the keyboard.

  Alternatively, the printing device may be a digital printer such as a thermal ink transfer printer having a line of thermal printing elements selectively powered by print data signals provided by the microprocessor. The thermal printing elements are selectively fed with a number of printing cycles to form the line-by-line postage printing when the mail item is passed in front of the printing elements. The memories 14, 15 have storage positions arranged to form a number of accounting data storage registers. A summation register stores a cumulative value of the postage used for franking the mail items. An article register stores the account. the number of postage-paid items, and a register of valuable items stores the count of the number of

  value exceeds a predetermined value.

  When a user operates the keyboard to control the postage meter to postage a mail item by a desired postage value, the microprocessor receives an input signal from the keyboard and initiates a postage program. program, the accumulated value in the upward register is increased by an amount corresponding to the desired postage value, and the item count in the item register is increased by one unit If the value postage value exceeds the predetermined value, the * valuable items account in the Valuation Register is

increased by one.

  The operation of the meter to postage mail items is prohibited periodically in a predetermined manner to ensure that the user transmits to an accounting center the data relating to the use of the counter, so that accounting center can issue the invoices corresponding to the postage value used by the meter It is only when this operation was performed by the user, that the counter is unlocked so that we can resume operations

postage.

  The meter can not be operated by means of an electronic calendar 23 powered by a long-life battery 24 such as, for example, a lithium battery having an operating life of the order of 10 years, this battery being placed in the meter The calendar is set at the time of manufacture or delivery of the meter and therefore provides a time reference during the use of the counter The calendar 23 is intended to provide the microprocessor 10, at predetermined times such as, for example, a predetermined day of each month, a signal prohibiting the operation of the microprocessor according to the postage program. Therefore, when the microprocessor is blocked, the postage meter can not be used to carry out postage. until it has been handed over

the initial state.

  Instead of prohibiting the operation of the microprocessor according to the franking program in response to the indication, by the calendar, the occurrence of a predetermined time, it can prohibit the operation of the microprocessor in response to the fact that the value amount accumulated in the summation register is equal to any one of a number of predetermined values, or the count of items in the item register is equal to any one of a number of predetermined values The predetermined values of the cumulative totalization or the article count may be preset at the time of delivery of the postage meter, so as to produce the operating prohibition of the microprocessor according to the franking program, after equal periods of use appearing at approximately the desired time intervals, in accordance with an evaluation of the planned

the postage meter.

  To trigger the microprocessor operating prohibition, the postage program includes program steps in which the microprocessor accesses the calendar, the totalizer register, or the item register. If the calendar is used and the microprocessor detects an signal having a first value, the program introduces a branch closure program, while if the detected signal has a second value, the microprocessor is entitled to continue the franking program If the operating prohibition of the microprocessor depends on the fact that the totalized value or the item count is equal to one of a number of predetermined values, the franking program includes program steps in which the microprocessor reads the totalizing value or the count of stored items, and determines whether the current value is equal to one of the predetermined values If this is the case, the program enters a branch of setting off

program service.

  An input / output interface 20 is connected to the microprocessor 10 to allow input and output of the signals arriving and departing from the microprocessor, via a connector 21 mounted in the wall of a safety case 22 of the Postage counter The interface 20 comprises protection circuits intended to avoid the application of excessive voltages to the circuits used to perform the counting functions and

meter control.

  In order to resume the use of the postage meter in order to carry out postage operations, the postage meter must be reset. This operation is suitably carried out using a portable memory device which can be connected to the postage meter. connector 21 The postage meter and a remote accounting or reset center 26, each comprise means

  to generate a series of pseudo-numbers

  random, the pseudo-random number generated by the counter corresponding to that generated by the remote center The two generators work in the same way so that when we advance the

  generators one step to pass the pseudo number

  random at the next of the series, pseudo-numbers

  random, although different from the previous ones, continue to correspond to each other The pseudo-random number generated by any one of the counters is unique for this counter The device

  portable memory is loaded by the pseudo-number

  random current that corresponds to the pseudo number

  random of both the postage meter and

from the distant center.

  When the memory is connected to the counter, the microprocessor is operated according to a reset program in which the microprocessor reads the pseudo-random number from the memory device and verifies that it corresponds to the pseudo-random number. If the comparison is successful, the microprocessor continues the reset program by reading the values stored in the registers and writing these values into the portable memory device. counter is written to the portable memory device The reset program further includes the steps that enable the microprocessor to unblock the postage meter prohibition, thereby allowing the meter counter to be used again. franking to carry out the franking operations The generator of the pseudo-a numbers is moved forward random steps to generate the pseudo-random number to be used when the

  counter is blocked the next time.

  The portable memory device is sent by mail to the repository where it is connected to a computer to retrieve the stored value data stored therein. The computer reads the identification of the stored data. counter and checks the pseudo-random number carried by the device by comparing it with the pseudo-random number corresponding to this specific counter generated by the computer. If the verification comparison is successful, the data of the register is extracted from the portable device and The pseudo-random number generated in the computer is incremented by one step and written into the storage device.

  storage then contains the same pseudo-number

  random after the postage meter, so that when it is returned to the user of the counter, it is available for resetting the counter the next time o this

is necessary.

  The clearing center uses the register data entered in the counter's records to issue an invoice corresponding to the postage value used.

  since the issuance of a previous invoice.

  The use of the portable memory device eliminates the need for manual transcription of the data of the registers, and therefore makes it possible to ensure that the data of the registers introduced in the recording of the computer located in the remote center, are accurate. The convenience for both the user and the clearing center of using a portable memory device to read and transport register data between the counter and the remote center allows for the selection of intervals time between which the counter must be reset, so that the reset procedure is not a disadvantage for the user while remaining short enough so that any defaults are not not too big for the postal service It will be noticed that if the user commits a default of payment, the counter will be blocked and can not be used of no uveau until the remote center returns a portable memory device carrying the pseudo-random number

  corresponding to the one generated by the counter.

  To ensure the security of the register data transported by the portable memory device, the register data and the pseudo-random number can be encrypted before being written in the device, and then decrypted

  when read in the device.

  Instead of using a portable memory device to carry the pseudo-random number and the register data, this information can be transmitted over a connected telephone network by a user.

  modem to connector -21 of the postage meter.

  A single postage meter 27 has simply been described above, but it is evident that a postage meter system arranged and operating in accordance with the invention will include a number of postage meters cooperating with a center computer. single accounting 26 Each of the counters in the system presents the

  same construction and functions as described

above.

Claims (2)

R E V E N D I C A T IO N S   1) Postage metering meter system comprising a number of postage meters that can operate in a postpay mode, characterized in that the counters (27) each comprise means (10, 23) for prohibiting at predetermined intervals, the use of the meter to perform postage operations; means (10)   intended to produce a series of pseudo-numbers   random corresponding only to this counter; means placed in a remote center (26) for generating   a number of series of pseudo numbers   random corresponding to the series generated by the meters; a portable memory device (25) loaded by a current pseudo-random number corresponding to the pseudo-random number of a counter (27) which has been forbidden to use for franking operations; means (21) for coupling the portable memory device to the forbidden counter (27) and comparing the pseudo-random number carried by the portable memory device (25) to the pseudo-random number generated by the forbidden counter (27) and, if the comparison is successful, to remove the prohibition from using the meter for franking operations, and to load into the portable memory device (25) the data stored in the   registers (14, 15) of the counter (27).   The meter metering system according to claim 1, further characterized in that when the operating prohibition of the counter (27) is completed, the means (10) serving in the counter (27) are operated, generating the series of pseudo-random numbers, to step forward the pseudo-random number generated in the counter to the pseudo-random number next in the series.   Metering meter system according to claim 2, characterized in that it further comprises a central computer (26) for receiving the portable memory device (25) from the counter (27) and comparing the pseudo number a random number generated by the computer (26) so that, if the comparison is successful, the host computer can extract portable memory device (25) and charging the portable memory device (25) by the pseudo-random number next in the series.   ) Postage meter system   according to any one of the preceding claims,   further characterized in that the means (10, 23) for prohibiting the operation of the meter (27) for franking operations comprises a calendar (23) serving, in each counter (27), prohibition at predetermined intervals. 50) Postage meter system   according to any one of claims 1 to 3,   further characterized in that each counter (27) comprises at least one register (14, 15) for storing the accounting data relating to the use of the counter (27), the means (10) for disabling the operation of the counter (27) for franking operations, comprising means (10) responsive to the accounting data having any of a number of values for disabling the operation of the counter. 6) A method of controlling the use of postage meters operating in a postpay mode, characterized in that it comprises the different steps of generating a pseudo-random number in each counter (27); generating, in a central computer (26), pseudorandom numbers corresponding to those   generated in each counter (27); the pseudo numbers   randomly being respectively unique for each counter (27); providing each counter (27) with means (10) for disabling operation of the counter for performing postage operations when a variable is equal to any one of a number of predetermined values; transmitting to the forbidden counter (27) the pseudo-random number corresponding to this forbidden counter (27); comparing the pseudorandom number transmitted with the pseudorandom number generated in the counter (27) and, if the comparison is successful, outputting the values of accounting data stored in the registers (14, 15) of the counter (27); transmitting these accounting data values to the central computer (26); to cancel the counter prohibition (27) and to step forward the pseudo-random number generated in the counter (27).   7) A method of controlling the use of a postage meter, operating in a post-payment mode, characterized in that it comprises the various steps of prohibiting the counter (27) from performing operations franking at each of a series of predetermined times by the counter (27); to use, at the occurrence of a counter interdiction (27), an electronic security key for transferring, to an accounting center (26), data relating to the use of the counter before the occurrence of the ban from the meter (27), and to cancel this prohibition until the appearance of the ban at the next predetermined time.