GB2032224A

GB2032224A - Improvements in or Relating to Franking Machines

Info

Publication number: GB2032224A
Application number: GB7925619A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Post Office
Current assignee: Post Office
Priority date: 1978-07-21
Filing date: 1979-07-23
Publication date: 1980-04-30

Abstract

A traffic and revenue accounting system comprises a plurality of electronic franking machines E which are linked to a central station C by existing telephone lines L. Each franking machine E can be connected directly to the central station C by actuation of a switch S which is operable from the central station. Each franking machine has a memory with a number of registers which store information conventionally held in a franking machine. The central station can periodically access the memory means so that the information in the memory is transmitted via the telephone line L to the central station. The central station can also supply credit to each machine via the telephone line link. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in or Relating to Franking Machines This invention relates to an automatic traffic and revenue accounting system incorporating franking machines. The invention also relates to an electronic franking system for use in the system.

Franking machines are used primarily to print postal items with an impression indicating the amount of postage selected for the item and the date the impression was applied together with particulars of the franking machine and the Setting Office controlling the use of the machine.

Sometimes the impression is formed on a label particularly when bulky items are involved. The Setting Office is usually the nearest local Post Office to which the machine is taken when recrediting is required. Credit is usually purchased in fixed amounts. During use the amount of credit held in a machine decreases as items are franked.

There is a minimum credit below which the machine cannot be used without purchasing further credit.

Franking machines as used at present include the following features: a) A mechanically operated descending register which is resettable and which indicates the amount of credit held in the machine at any given time and which decrements towards zero each time an item is franked by the value of postage selected.

b) A mechanically operated ascending register which is not resettable in the ordinary way and which indicates the total amount of postage franked by the machine up to a set limit. This register increments by the appropriate amount each time an item is franked.

c) An items counter which is normally resettable and which counts the number of items including labels franked by the machine.

The machine also has value selection means in the form of thumbwheels, levers or push buttons for selecting the value of postage to be printed.

The printing means usually includes a drum and associated print wheels and inking rollers.

Associated with existing franking machines are record cards and control cards Control cards are completed daily by a subscriber who is required to enter on the card the values of the ascending and descending register readings At the end of each week a control card is forwarded to the appropriate Setting Office. Record cards are completed periodically by the Setting Office.

These cards are used to record the readings of the ascending and descending registers before and after each recrediting and resetting of a machine.

Also recorded is a total settings figure which is the total amount of credit put into a machine and which under correct operating conditions is equal to the sum of the ascending and descending register readings.

An object of the present invention is to provide an automatic traffic and revenue accounting system incorporating electronic franking machines in which crediting reading and vetting of the machines can be carried out remotely from a central station.

According to the present invention there is provided a traffic and revenue accounting system incorporating franking machines comprising a plurality of electronically operated franking machines each of which is located at a subscriber's premises and is linked to a central station by a telephone line, each franking machine having memory means operable under the control of a central processing unit, said memory means being arranged to store data indicative of information conventionally held in a franking machine and the central station having means for accessing the memory means of each franking machine via said telephone line.

Each franking machine is permanently coupled to the telephone system and is switched to its telephone line when it is to be accessed by the central station. Each machine has a modem or like apparatus linking it to the telephone line.

The memory means of each machine is accessible by the central station only after receipt of a predetermined code from the central station by the central processing unit of the machine. A means is provided to check for corruption of data after the machine has been accessed. The establishment of the telephone line between the central station and a machine may be carried out by conventional calling techniques from the central station.

Preferably the memory means includes a nonvolatile section which can store data indicative of the total settings register, the descending register, ascending register and items counter. This information can be passed to the central station over the telephone line.

The present system allows remote reading and vetting of franking machines by a central station or meter duty. Furthermore the machines can be supplied with credit or debited directly from the central station over the telephone line link, can be 'locked off' remotely, automatically recredited to a set value and signal to the central station a need for servicing. Thus the machines do not have to be taken to a Setting Office for reading and recrediting.

According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided an electronically operated franking machine for use in the system of said one aspect, said machine comprising printing means for printing postage information, means for selecting the value of postage to be printed by said printing means, memory means for storing data indicative of information conventionally held in a franking machine, a central processing unit for controlling the memory means so that the information is updated as items are franked by the machine and means for coupling the memory means and central processing unit to a telephone line.

Preferably the memory includes an ascending register, a descending register, a total settings register and an items counter.

The machine may include display means which is operable under the control of the central processing unit to display the value of postage selected or the amounts stored in the memory means.

The invention will be described now by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings: Figure 1 is a block schematic diagram of a system in accordance with the present invention, and Figure 2 is a block schematic diagram of an electronic. franking machine as used in a system according to the present invention The present description relates to an automatic traffic and revenue accounting system in which a number of electronic franking machines located at a number of premises within a given area can be accessed and controlled from a central station (e.g. a meter duty) via existing telephone lines. In this system each subscriber within a given meter duty area has an electronic franking machine at his premises, the machine being permanently linked to the central station via existing telephone lines.The central station can access each electronic franking machine via the telephone line so that information contained in stores in the franking machine can pass to the central station.

Additionally, credit or debit can be applied to a credit register in each franking machine from the central station.

The system is illustrated schematically in Figure 1 which shows a number of electronic franking machines E linked to a central station C via existing telephone lines L. The central station C can be a telephone exchange. A switch S is located at the premises of each subscriber and is operable from the central station C so that the telephone instrument T of a subscriber can be disconnected from the line L and the machine E connected to the central station C. The central station can then access the stores of the franking machine to obtain postal information which is normally obtained by a customer completing control cards and forwarding them to a Setting Office. Resetting and crediting of each machine can also be carried out from the central station via the telephone line link so that the machine does not have to be taken periodically to a setting office.

A schematic illustration of an electronic franking machine E for use in the present system is shown in Figure 2. The franking machine has a central control unit indicated generally at 10. The central control unit consists of a microprocessor 12 with an associated clock generator 14, readonly memory 15, random-access memory 1 6 and a system control block 1 7. One output from the microprocessor 12 is connected to an address bus amplifier 1 8 which feeds an input/output device selector 20.The selector 20 has seven outputs, the first of which is connected to an input/output port 21 , the second of which is connected to an input/output port 22, the third of which is connected to an input/output port 23, the fourth of which is connected to an input/output port 24, the fifth of which is connected to an input/output port 25 and the sixth of which is connected to an input/output port 26. The seventh output of the selector is connected to a dual quad amplifier 27.

The random access memory 16 is coupled to a non-volatile memory 28 by the input/output port 25 and the input/output port 26. The connection via the input/output port 25 constitutes a row address for the memory 28 and the connection via the input/output port 26 constitutes a column address for the memory. Write signals can also be applied to the memory 28 via the port 26 and a bi-directional driver 30. The bi-directional driver 30 also has a connection to the input/output port 24. Information in the non-volatile memory 28 is stored indefinitely within its registers even though power supplies may be turned off. Whenever power is switched on after having been switched off for some reason information in the non-volatile memory is transferred to the corresponding registers in the random access memory 1 6.

During any transaction involving the electronic franking machine, e.g. franking an item, the corresponding registers in the random access memory are altered under the control of the central processing unit 12.

The random access memory 16 and the nonvolatile memory 28 have the following registers for storing information: a) an ascending register which indicates the total amount of postage franked by the machine and which increments each time an item is franked.

b) a descending register which indicates the amount of credit in the machine and which decrements towards zero each time an item is franked by the machine.

c) an items counter which is normally resettable to zero and which indicates the number of items including labels handled by the machine.

d) a batch counter.

e) a batch value register, and f) a label counter.

The machine has a number of buttons indicated at 33, 34, 35, 36, 37 and 38 for addressing these registers. The buttons are connected via encoders 40 and 41 to the amplifier 27 and also via a line 43 to the central processor unit 12. Also connected to the encoder 40 are a photo-cell 45 and photo-cell 46. A load credit switch 48 and a high value switch 49 are connected to the encoder 41.

The machine also has a batch of switches indicated generally at 50. These switches include credit select switches 51 to 53, postage value select switches 55 to 59 and print wheel monitor switches 60 to 64. Each switch indicated generally at 50, is connected by a discrete 4 bit data latch, to a common 4 bit data bus 93, which is connected to the input/output port 23.

The machine also has a display section indicated generally at 70. This display has a seven segment LED display indicated generally at 72 and is operated by signals fed via a 4 bit to 1 6 line encoder 74 and BCD to 7 segment driver/4 bit data latches 75. The input/output port 22 is connected via a common 4 bit data bus 78 to the inputs of the data latches 75 and to a die drum clutch amplifier 77. The input/output port 23 is connected via a common 4 bit data bus 79 to the inputs of the data latches 66.

The light emitting diodes of the display 72 are individually drivable by the latch and driver 75 as required. A total of eight digits can be displayed thereby giving a maximum reading of 99,999,99qF eence, i.e. approximately 100,000 or 99,999,999 pence, i.e. approximately 1 million.

The inputs to the 4 bit data latches 75 are commoned to the 4 bit data bus 78 and each of the latches can be addressed from the central processor via the decoder 74. The output of the decoder 74 provides one of sixteen discrete outputs at any one time to enable the required latch to be addressed. The information on the data bus 78 is then strobed into that latch. Thus information to be displayed is selected one digit at a time sequentially.

The information fed to the data bus 78 is fed via the 8 bit input/output port 22 which is in turn fed via a main 8 bit data bus 76.

The address of the switch data to be read or the display to be updated is governed by the information fed to the 8 bit input/output port 21 which controls operation of the decoder 74 and also the decoder 68. In the case where digits are to be displayed the decoder 74 is fed with information. In the case of both decoders the line "O" is unused and the decoder returned to its reset condition with the discrete signal on the line "0".

The input/output ports 21 to 26 are selected via the selector 20 under the control of the system control block 1 7.

The machine is linked to a telephone line by a modem 80 which has an associated baud rate generator 81. The modem includes a contact 82 which is operable by a time switch. The modem is connected by a plug and jack arrangement 84 to the telephone line 85 leading to the central station or exchange. A conventional telephone instrument is indicated generally at 86 and is connected to the telephone line 85 by a plug and jack arrangement 88.

In operating an electronic franking machine as shown in the drawing the value of postage to be imprinted on an envelope or label is initially selected by operation of the switches 55 to 59, these switches being thumbwheel or similar switches. The switches are linked to print wheels in the die drum of the machine which transfers the impression onto a letter. Signals are fed back from the print wheel monitor switches 60 to 64, via the input/output port 23, to the central processing unit, such that correlation can be confirmed between the valve selected on the postal value selection switches and the setting on the print wheel monitor switches. The values selected on the thumbwheel switches are sensed sequentially by enabling the 4 bit data latch via the input/output selector 21 and the line decoder 68.When the least significant digit is to be sensed, lined 8 is enabled and data is fed from the associated 4 bit data latch to the data bus. The information sitting on this data bus is accepted by the input/output port 23 which has been enabled via the selector 20 under the control of the central control unit 12. The information from the input/output port 23 is fed to the 8 bit data bus 76 and stored for use later in the operating cycle to increment and decrement register values. If a value selected is over 1.00 the high value button 49 must be pressed to initiate the print cycle. A print cycle is normally initiated by inserting a letter into the franking machine. The letter is sensed by one of the photo-cells 45, 46 which feeds a signal via the encoder 40 to the central processing unit 12.The processing unit 12 initiates operation of the die drum clutch amplifier 77 so that the die drum is caused to execute one revolution. The position of the die drum is monitored at all times. During rotation of the die drum the envelope is franked in the usual manner.

For security reasons it is not possible to alter the value of the print wheels during a print cycle either electrically or mechanically. The drive to the die drum is transmitted via a single rev clutch which is energised via the die drum clutch amplifier under the control of the microprocessor 12. The associated 4 bit data latch 75 is enabled via line 9 from the 4 bit to 16 line decoder 74 which is in turn fed from the input/output port 21 under control from the input/output device selector 20.

When a letter is detected by the photo-cells, information from the 4 bit latches 90 is transferred sequentially to the 8 bit data bus via the input/output port 23, the enabling signal in turn being provided sequentially by the decoder 68 and the port 21. The programme in the central processing unit 10 carries out a number of checks to confirm that all is in order before initiating a print cycle. These checks are as follows: 1. That there is sufficient credit in the descending register.

2. That the sum of the ascending and descending register readings equals the reading on the total settings register.

3. That the sum of the ascending register reading and the value selected does not exceed the value at which the ascending register locks off.

4. That the value selected on the thumbwheel switches is equivalent to the setting on the printwheels.

If the above conditions are met the die drum clutch is energised immediately after the 1. descending register has been decremented by the postage value selected.

2. ascending register has been incremented by the postage value selected.

3. it is established that the sum of the new ascending and descending register readings still equal the reading of the total settings register.

4. the items counter has been incremented by 1 and the franked impression printed on the letter.

5. the batch counter has been incremented by 1 which can be displayed on demand.

6. the batch value register has been incremented, by the value selected and which can be displayed on demand.

7. if the value selected is for a first class letter, the first class items counter is incremented by 1.

There is no facility for displaying this figure but this could be incorporated. There are facilities for resetting the value of a first class item remotely to cater for tariff changes.

8. if the value selected is for a second class letter, the second class items counter is incremented by 1. There is no facility for displaying this figure but this could be incorporated. There are facilities for resetting the value of a second class item remotely to cater for tariff changes.

9. if the postage value chosen is zero, the zero value items counter is incremented by 1. There is no facility for displaying this figure.

10. if a label is printed, the label items counter is incremented by 1. This is detected when the letter entry/label photo-cell 45 only is obscured.

The reading on this register ean be displayed on demand.

The information above is recorded in the random access memory and then transferred to the non-volatile memory section. The information is held here for transfer to a meter duty whenever the meter duty addresses the machine.

Information in various of the registers can be displayed by operation of the switches 33 to 38.

Operation of one of these buttons causes the appropriate address in the store 28 to be addressed and the relevant information to be fed onto the 8 bit data bus connected to the input of the port 22.

The meter duty can access the franking machine over the existing telephone line 85 to the instrument 86. Initially the line is established by calling up in a conventional manner for example using an automatic tape calling or other automatic device. The meter duty then gains access to the electronic franking machine by supplying a sequence of coded signals to the machine. Only if the correct sequence of coded signals is provided can access be gained to the memory 28.

The meter is connected permanently to the telephone system and is switched to the common telephone line during a predetermined period, which probably will be overnight, under the control of the time switch of the modem 80. The modem 80 is required to provide the following facilities.

It incorporates the time switch arrangement to switch the franking machine to line. This can be manually overriden by a time switch button. It is envisaged that the length of time for which a meter duty will require to access the non-volatile memories will be of the order of three minutes.

The period of time that a meter will be switched to line will be approximately one hour and the actual time of switching would be staggered for other machines to keep the period of switching to a minimum. During this time telephone calls cannot be received. When contacted by the meter duty the modem 80, provides a sequence of identifying signals before any attempt is made by the meter duty to either carry out a remote reading, vetting or recrediting of the system and checks for corruption while data is being transmitted. The series of coded signals sent by the meter duty provide access to the registers.

When a link has been established the meter duty can obtain information from the machine or transmit credit to the machine. Only information held in the non-volatile section 28 of the memory on this type of franking machine can be transmitted to the meter duty where it will be recorded on for example a teleprinter. The modem is also intended to interface with other types of franking machine. The information held in the non-volatile memory section is as follows: 1. Machine serial number and model of machine 2. Total Settings Register 3. Descending Register 4. Ascending Register 5. Items Counter 6. Label Counter 7. First Class Items Counter 8. Second Class Items Counter 9. First Class Tariff Rate 10. Second Class Tariff Rate Thus it will be seen that in the present system each franking machine can be controlled remotely from a central station. The system provides for automatic revenue accounting and can be used to obtain traffic information on the number of items handled.

A facility can also be provided by depressing a manual button on a telephone for manually connecting the franking machine to line for example to obtain emergency recrediting.

Normally recrediting will be done automatically from the meter duty once the appropriate remittance has been received through the post from a subscriber.

It is envisaged that a complete system will operate eventually under the control of a computer which will be able to continuously accumulate and vet revenue information and traffic information.

The present arrangement also allows monitoring to ensure that the system is being operated correctly.

Claims

1. A traffic and revenue accounting system incorporating franking machines comprising a plurality of electronically operable franking machines each of which is located at a subscribers premises and is linked to a central station by a telephone line, each franking machine having memory means operable under the control of a central processing unit, said memory means being arranged to store data indicative of information conventionally held by a franking machine and the central station having means for accessing the memory means of each franking machine via said telephone line.

2. A system as claimed in claim 1 wherein each franking machine is permanently coupled to the public telephone system and is connected to its associated telephone line when it is to be accessed by the central station.

3. A system as claimed in claim 2 wherein each machine has a modem linking it to the telephone line.

4. A system as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the memory means of each machine is accessible by the central station only after receipt of a predetermined code from the central station by the central processing unit of the machine.

5. A system as claimed in claim 4 including means for checking for corruption of data after the machine has been accessed.

6. A system as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the establishment of the telephone line between the central station and a machine is carried out by conventional call techniques from the central station.

7. A system as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the memory means includes a nonvolatile section which can store data indicative of the total settings register, the descending register, ascending register and items counter.

8. A system as claimed in any preceding claim in which crediting and debiting of each machine is carried out over a telephone line link from the central station.

9. A system as claimed in any preceding claim wherein each franking machine includes printing means for printing postage information, means for selecting the value of postage to be printed by said printing means, a central processing unit for controlling said memory means so that the information stored therein is updated as items are franked by the machine, and means for coupling the memory means and central processing unit to a telephone line.

10. An electronically operated franking machine for use in the system claimed in any preceding claim said machine comprising printing means for printing postage information, means for selecting the value of postage to be printed by said printing means, memory means for storing data indicative of information conventionally held in a franking machine, a central processing unit for controlling the memory means so that the information is updated as items are franked by the machine and means for coupling the memory means and central processing unit to a telephone line.

11. An electronically operated franking machine as claimed in claim 10 wherein the memory means includes an ascending register, a descending register, a total settings register and an items counter.

12. An electronically operated franking machine as claimed in claim 10 or claim 11 including display means operable under the control of the central processing unit to display the value of postage selected or the amounts stored in the memory means.

13. An automatic traffic and revenue accounting system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.

14. An electronically operated franking machine substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.