JPS60107173A - Data processor - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for updating parameters used within a data processing device. In particular, the present invention provides a method and apparatus for updating postage rate schedules and other postal data in a data processing device that determines postage values applicable to mail items based on the weight of the mail item and other postal information. Regarding.

In general, postal devices are known and representative such postal devices are described in "Apparatus and Method for Calculating Domestic and International Postal Charges" published by Dlugos et al. on August 25, 1981. C
Computing Domestic a,nd In
US Pat. No. 4,286,325 for ``Termntionn, IPostage''. The apparatus disclosed in this reference is specialized to perform all of the postage value calculation functions described above, and although it includes a large number of processors, it is not a general purpose data processing apparatus. US Patent No. 4
Because of the specialized use of the device described in No. 286-325, both the system program that calculates postage values from weight and other postal information about mail items and the fee payment that determines the postage amount depend on this device. R incorporated in
Inclusion within the OM was feasible. Thus, in the device of U.S. Pat. No. 4,286,325,
When the postage schedule needs to be updated, the appropriate ROM is delivered from the equipment supplier. These R.O.
Since M is physically integrated into the device, problems with unauthorized copying and distribution of postage schedules are minimized.

Recently, it has become desirable to incorporate greater computing power into such postal equipment to handle additional functions such as diary publication, deferred charge accounting, and freight bill issuance. As a result, modern devices are capable of
It incorporates a number of powerful general-purpose microprocessors not only for calculating the value of gold, but also for other functions as just described. In general-purpose microprocessor-based postal devices, system programs, 3: 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, 3, etc., are generally provided by such microprocessor/anda equipment. was to use portable storage media. Typically, this portable storage medium is a floppy disk.

However, when floppy disks are used to store system programs and mail data, problems arise in distributing updated information. This is because floppy disks can be easily mastered using a general purpose processor and associated drives within the mailer, reducing the supplier's control over the distribution of such material. Also, in order to avoid inadvertent mistakes by mailroom staff using the wrong mail, users who do not use a particular mail may wish that the tariffs of the unused mail should not be included in the device. Another problem arises. As a result, numerous variations of tariffs are found in the field with all different postal equipment, and suppliers of postal equipment have to keep a booklet of this variation when updating their postage tariffs. This will cost the supplier a significant amount of inventory.

Thus, an object of the present invention is to provide a method and apparatus for updating parameter information, such as a price list, on a portable media of a data processing device.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a method and apparatus in a manner that reduces overall cost and inventory management problems.

Yet another object of the present invention is to coordinate a method and apparatus by which postal equipment suppliers can manage the distribution of such update information.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A data processing apparatus having the following configuration achieves the above-mentioned objects and overcomes the conventional drawbacks. Finally, the data processing device includes a processor having a memory for storing the entire program to be executed, selected parameters to be used in the execution of the program and another data resource identifying the selected parameters. Portable media storage means for storing data on a portable media such as a floppy disk containing data for updating parameters and programs for updating parameters; 1,000 units for transferring data between the means and the memory and for transferring data between the portable media storage means and the memory;
an initial setting means for controlling transfer of the update program from the portable media in response to an initial setting signal;
A processor then executes an update program to access additional data and identify the selected parameters, and then updates the selected parameters based on the updated data.

In another embodiment, a data processing apparatus of the present invention includes a processor, a memory operatively associated with the processor for storing a program to be executed, a first portable media drive for providing access to portable media, and a first portable media drive for providing access to portable media; a second portable media drive that provides access to the first media drive and controls the transfer of program data from a predetermined location on the portable media attached to the first media drive to a predetermined location in memory in response to the initialization signal; an initialization device for transferring control of the processor to a program determined by the program data; a first portable medium for storing data including a boot-up program in a predetermined location; selection parameter data to be used during execution; another data to identify this selection parameter booter; and data to update the selected parameter data; and selection when the first medium is taken over by the second drive. Update parameter data 'ft: Contains data that determines which update program is stored at a predetermined location (or including a boot-up program at a predetermined location, etc.) to control the data. on a second vertical medium for storing, whereby the device operates in a normal mode in which the device executes an operating program according to the parameter data by placing the first medium in the first drive and generating an initialization signal. The device also sets the selected parameter data υI by placing the first medium in the second drive and placing the second medium in the drive 'y, 1λ1 to generate an initialization signal. Operates in new update mode.

The present invention provides a structure of media for use within a data processing device to update data stored in a similar storage medium; It also has a storage medium. The above-mentioned similar storage medium is in a predetermined location for determining the program to be loaded and executed on the data processing device depending on the initial configuration of the data processing device when the portable storage medium is operatively associated with the data processing device. The data is stored separately. This portable storage medium is configured to store a first pattern of indicia representative of a bootara for updating parameter data and a predetermined location within said similar storage medium for determining an update program for updating parameter data based on the update data. a second pattern of indicia stored in corresponding locations, which allows the portable storage medium to be replaced by a similar medium as described above, so that the update program is loaded onto the data processing device in accordance with the initial configuration of the data processing device; and executed, the data processing device updates the parameter information based on the update data when a similar medium is operatively associated with the data processing device.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the data processing device further comprises a scale and operations for calculating a postage value based on the quantity of mailpieces Q determined by the scale and on the basis of parameter information including a postal data chart. It is equipped with a program.

In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the update program destroys the update data on the second portable medium after updating the parameter information to prevent unauthorized distribution of the update information.

Thus, the invention as described above provides a system within a data processing device in which the full capacity of the microprocessor contained in the data processing device is used and further unauthorized distribution of this update data is prevented. It has been found to provide an advantageous method and apparatus for updating parameter information of.

The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS FIG. 1 shows a block circuit diagram of the mailing machine of the present invention. This device includes a scale 10 and a microcomputer device 20.
, and an optional postage meter 50 which also includes a database 52.

Rate meter 50 is preferably a Model 6500 electronic postage meter manufactured by Pitney Bowes, Stamford, CT 06926.

The scale 10 includes a conventional load cell 12 that generates an analog signal proportional to the load on the cell 12, and a conventional load cell 12 that detects, amplifies, and digitizes the analog signal to generate a periodic digital signal representative of the analog signal. and a CPU 16 which receives and processes digital signals to determine the weight of the mail piece.

The construction of such processor-controlled digital scales is well known in the art and will not be further described here for the purpose of understanding the present invention. A typical example of a similar digital processor-controlled scale was published by Loshboug on November 25, 1980.
U.S. Patent No. 4, issued to h et al. No. 236,222.

The microcomputer 20 has a microcomputer 22 operatively connected to a dual floppy disk drive 24, a printer 26, a CRT disk player 30, and a keyboard 4o. Microcomputer system 20 is substantially similar to many commercially available microcomputer systems, such as the Altos microcomputer system manufactured by Altos Cor7ro-ration of San Jose, California.

Preferably, the computer/system 20 has a special 70 system that defines various postage rates, such as classes of service or special rates.
It is equipped with a modified keyboard 40fZ with angled keys. A typical set of such special funky keys is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,286,325 issued to Dlugos et al. on Aug. 25, 1981.

Microcomputer 22 is operatively connected to scale 1o via R8232 boat 18A.

The R3232 Baud) 18A provides a standard serial interconnect protocol that is well known and understood by those skilled in the art. This interconnection process is not necessary to understand the invention. In use, electronic postage meter 50 is operatively connected to scale 10 via rate meter interface 18B. Since the operation of postage 8150 is the same as paying money to buy stamps, interface 18
B is specially designed to be secure and have a low error rate. This interface is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4, issued to S'otierperg et al.
．． No. 301,507. This citation is included here for reference.

The weight of the mail is CPU16 to RS232 port 1-1
．． 8A and is transferred to the microcomputer 22. Microcomputer 22 calculates the appropriate postage value based on the weight and postal information entered via keyboard 40, as described below. Electronic postage i-
When t50 is deposited into the system, the correct postage value is returned to CPUs 1-6. Next, CPU1.6
sends information to the postage meter 50 via the postage meter interface 1.8B as described in the aforementioned Sorlerberg patent. The rate meter 50 normally functions to print an appropriate indicia on the rate meter tape for affixing the mail item and to record and account for postage paid. Separately, the proper postage value is U P ,
It is printed by printer 26 along with article identification information to issue a waybill that can be used by private shipping companies such as S'.

For reasons of science, the description of the operation of the postal system of the present invention given below relates to a transport system for use in a private transport system, such as a UPS.

In the normal mode of operation, a floppy disk as shown in Figure 2a is installed in dual disk drive 2.
It is attached to drive A of No. 4.

In response to an initialization or power-up signal, microcomputer 22 executes a short program stored in ROM. This ROM is an integral part of the microprocessor 22 which is used to load the bootloader program stored in a predetermined location on the disk of FIG. 2a.

The bootloader program then loads the system program stored on the disk of FIG. 2a into the memory of microcomputer 22 and transfers control to the /stem program. The system program is the second a
Scale 1 to calculate the correct postage value based on the postal data chart, which has the name stored on disk in the diagram.
1 flea data of mail received from 0 and keyboard 40
operates according to other postal information such as destination, class etc. received from the operator via. In the preferred embodiment, the system program immediately displays on CRT 30 to retrieve the requested information from the operator. After determining the inappropriate postage value of the mail item, the microcomputer 22
prints out the appropriate value on the waybill in printer 26 along with information identifying the mail item. The invoice will be used as the shipping invoice the next time shipping is selected.
It can be used to determine the total amount to be paid to the PS driver.

Methods for calculating postage values are well known and are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,286,325 to Dlugos et al., which is incorporated herein by reference.

In another preferred embodiment of the invention, a dual drive 24
Drive B is used to carry a second floppy disk which is used to record some longer transaction records on a daily basis.

f, 2 To update the postage table of figure 2a, the /stem of figure 1 moves the disk of figure 2b to drive A.
and put it into update mode by installing the disk in drive B of the EK2a diagram. In response to the initialization signal, the microcomputer then loads an update program, which program is stored in a location corresponding to the boot loader on the disk of FIG. 2a.

(Alternatively, the bootloader at the corresponding location on the disk of FIG. 2b is used to load the update program.) The update program is then made available on that disk from the disk of FIG. Read identification data that identifies a particular postage schedule associated with a particular postal service used by IIS! and update these postage schedules based on the updated data on disk in Figure 2b. After the postage table has been updated, the program then copies the disk of Figure 2σ5 in the updated format and back onto the disk of Figure 2b, thus simultaneously re-creating the bank-up system disk while its 11: Destroy updated data to prevent illegal reuse of data.

Preferably, the update data includes data defining a check sum used by the update program to verify the data on the system disk after the update. This update program is based on several well-known methods/checks ffl'() from updated data on the stem disk.
r is generated and compares this with the stored checksum. Additionally, the generated check sum is displayed on the CRT 3o for visual verification.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a circuit block diagram of a mailing device according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a frossopy disk portable storage medium according to the present invention. 10: Scale 12° load cell 14: Analog circuit 16: CPU18A: R82
32 boat 18B: Toll interface 20: Microcomputer device 22' Microcomputer 24: Dual floppy disk drive 26: Printer 30' CRT display 40 Keyboard 5o: Postage meter 52: Tape base

Claims (1)

Claims: (1,) a) a processor; b) operatively associated with said processor a processor memory for storing a program to be executed; C) operatively associated with said processor a portable computer; d) second portable media drive means operatively associated with said processor for providing access to portable media; e) responsive to an initialization signal; fully controls the transfer of program data from a predetermined location on a portable medium installed in said first drive to a predetermined location in said memory, and transfers said program data to a predetermined location on said first drive; f) initializing means for transferring control of said processor to said predetermined location; a first portable medium for storing a first medium, whereby the apparatus executes the operating program based on the parameter data by installing the first medium in the first drive; g) data for updating the selected parameter data;
and data defining an update program that controls updating of the selected parameter data when the first medium is installed in the second drive, and a second portable medium for storing data. said new program data is stored so as to be loaded by said initialization means, thereby causing said device to install said first medium in said second drive;
a second portable medium operated in an update mode for updating the selected parameter data by installing the second medium in the second drive and generating an initialization signal; A data processing device with all the following characteristics. (2) In claim 1, a) the apparatus further comprises a scale operatively connected to the processor for determining the weight of the mail piece; and/l) the parameter data comprises a mail data table. and C) the rΦ creation program determines a postage value applicable to the mail item based on the weight of the mail item measured by the scale and the rate list. Device. (3) In paragraph 2 of the patent claim, the apparatus further comprises means for inputting additional postal information by an operator, including information determining a desired class of mail; A data processing device characterized in that said operating program selects an appropriate postal data table based on said desired class. (4) In claim 3, the data on the media of said button 1 further includes an addition identifying a postal data table selected such that said device only calculates postal values for the corresponding class of postal mail. A data processing device characterized by containing data of. (5) 'I'4i' Claim 4, wherein the update data includes data for updating all available postal data tables, and the update program is stored on the first medium. A mail order processing device characterized in that only the selected postage table is updated based on the additional identification information. (6) In claim 1, the update program may cause the device 'fr' in the update mode to destroy the update data after updating the parameter data.
A data processing device characterized in that it performs +ii control. (7) The data processing device according to claim 2, wherein the update program controls the device in the update mode so as to destroy the update data after updating the update parameter data. (8)? F'; as defined in claim 6, wherein said update program provides a backup copy of the updated first medium while destroying said updated data; A data processing device characterized in that the update data is destroyed by copying information contained on the first medium. (9) In claim 7, the update program is configured to destroy the updated data while providing a backup copy of the updated first media after the full update on the second media. 19. A data processing device characterized in that copying information contained on the first medium destroys the update data. (10) The data according to claim 1, wherein the update program further controls the processor to check the validity of the update data based on a check sum algorithm. Processing equipment. (U) Portable for storing data as a pattern of indicia in selected locations within the structure of a portable storage medium for use within a data processing device for updating parameter data stored in a similar storage medium; a storage medium, the program being loaded into and activated by the data processing device according to the initial settings of the data processing device when the similar storage medium is 11Φ operatively connected to the data processing device; In a portable storage system in which all the data defining the parameter data are stored separately in a predetermined location, a) a pattern of indicia representing data that updates the parameter data, and b) a data processing device according to 11f according to the initial setting. a second pattern of indicia defining an update program that is stored in a location to be loaded and updates all of the parameter data based on the update data; As a result, the update program is loaded into the data processing device according to the initial settings of the data processing device and is executed by the above program, and the data processing device is replaced with the same medium as the above. A portable storage medium characterized in that the parameter information is updated based on the updated data when 111iB is operatively transmitted to a data processing device. ((2. Claims?g11.3), characterized in that the parameter data includes a postal data table, and the second pattern of the indicia defines data for updating the postal data table. Data processing device. (13) Claim 11, wherein the update program controls the data processing device to destroy one pattern of the first seal after updating the parameter information. A data processing device characterized by: (4) In Claim 12, the update program controls the entire data processing device so that the first pattern of the seal is destroyed after updating the parameter information. A data processing device characterized in that: (15) Claim 1, I'l; l In Clause 3, the update program provides a pull-up copy of the same medium after the update, while the update data controlling the entire data processing device to destroy the updated data by copying the information stored on the similar medium after the update onto the portable storage medium so as to destroy the updated data; 7. A data processing device characterized by: (16) In Section 2.314 of the % Permission Requirement, the update program provides a backup copy of the same medium after the update while destroying the update data. A data processing device for controlling the Ai7 data processing device to destroy the updated data by later copying information stored on the similar medium onto the portable storage medium. (17) Claim 11 VC, characterized in that the update program controls the data processing device to verify the accuracy of the updated parameter data based on a check sum algorithm. data processing equipment.