MXPA97006447A - Electronic release system that has an internal counting system and a removable external counting system - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a measurement system characterized in that it comprises: means for valuing the costs of mail for printing, first means coupled to the printing means for counting the value printed by the printing medium, and second means coupled to the printing medium for counting the printed value by the printing medium, and means for determining which of the first and second counting means count for the printed value by the printing medium.

Description

ELECTRONIC FRA QUEADORA SYSTEM THAT HAS A SYSTEM OF INTERNAL COUNTING AND A REMOVABLE EXTERNAL COUNTING SYSTEM DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to electronic franking systems, and, more particularly, to counting systems for electronic franking systems. In the preparation of correspondence, a person who mailed prepares a piece of mail or a series of pieces for correspondence to deliver to a recipient for a carrier service such as the United States Postal Service or other postal service or a service. of private carrier delivery. The bearer services, on the acceptance or reception of a piece of correspondence or a series of pieces of correspondence from a person who sends by mail, process the piece of correspondence to prepare it for physical delivery to the recipient. The payment for the postal service or the private carrier delivery service can be made by means of value measurement devices such as franking machines. In systems of this type, the user prints a clue, which may be a digital mark or other evidence of payment on the mailpiece or on a ribbon that is affixed to the mailpiece. Postage systems print and count for mail expenses and other unit value printing such as package delivery service charges and tax stamps. .These postage systems involve the prepayment of postal charges by which the corresponding mail is sent (before the printing of the mail expense value) and the post payment of the postal charges by the person sending the mail (subsequent to printing). of the value of mail expenses). Prepaid meters use drop recorders to properly store the value within the meter before printing while post-pay meters (current account) use ascending recorders to count for the printed value. Postal charges or other terms that refer to the postal or franking or the measurement system as used herein must be understood to mean charges for any postal charges, z az c for posting, private carrier charges, tax service or private bearer service, as the case may be, and other value measurement systems, such as: - certified meter systems as described in the United States Patent Copending Cordery, Lee, Pintsov, Ryari and Eiant, Serial No. 08 / 518,404, filed on 21st of: 1995, by CERTIFI SECURE USER CERTIFIED BY ELECTRONIC COMMERCE EMPLOYING SECURITIES MEASUREMENT SYSTEM assigned to Pitney Bowes, Ir.c Since the meters store and print the monetary value, the check and control over the functionality of the value measurement systems is very desirable and is required as part of several measurement systems of bearer services. very expensive and expensive, which involves significant administrative costs and may involve physical inspection of the meters. Some of the various types of postage systems are shown, for example, in U.S. Patent No. 3,978,457 for MICROCOMPUTING ELECTRONIC POSTAGE SYSTEM, issued August 31, 1976; U.S. Patent No. 4 301,507 for ELECTRONIC POST SYSTEMS THAT HAVE PLURAL COMPUTER SYSTEMS, issued November 17, 1981, and U.S. Patent No. 4,579,054 for AUTONOMOUS ELECTRONIC CORRESPONDENCE MACHINE, issued on 1 April 1986. Furthermore, other types of measurement systems have been developed, which involve different systems of going. Resin such as those that employ thermal printers, mechanical inkjet printers and other types of printing technologies. Examples of some of these other types of electronic franq ers are described in U.S. Pat. d6S, 533 for F? _-_ SMALL MICROCOMPUTER TONER, issued September 18, 1979, and United States Patent No. 4,493,252 for MAILING PRINTING DEVICE HAVING A MOBILE PRINT HEAD AND PRINTING DEPOSIT , issued on January 15, 1985. These systems allow the franchisor to print variable information, which may be alphanumeric and graphic information. The franking systems have been developed, which use information encrypted in a piece of correspondence. The value of the shipping costs for a piece of correspondence can be encrypted along with other data to generate a digital brand. A digital mark is an encrypted information that authenticates the information printed on a piece of correspondence such as the value of postage. Examples of franking systems which generate and employ digital marks are described in U.S. Patent No. 4,757,537 for SIS? JCA FOR DETECTING UNBALANCE FOR PRINTING IN A VALUE PRINTING SYSTEM, issued July 12, 1988; U.S. Patent No. 4,831,555 for SYSTEM APPLYING SECURE MAIL EXPENSES, issued May 15, 19B9: U.S. Patent No. 4,775,246 for SYSTEM TO DETECT DISBALANCE FOR PRINTING IN A SYSTEM OF VALUE IKFRESION , issued on October 4, 1988, the P t = t = of the United States S. 4,725,718 for SYSTEM THAT APPLIES CORRESPONDENCE INFORMATION AND MAIL EXPENSES, erti ± ± = February 16, IS86- These systems, which can use a device called a Postal Expense Evidence Device (PED) or Postal Security Device (PSD), they use an encryption algorithm which is used to encrypt selected information to generate the digital mark. The encryption of the information provides security to avoid alteration of the printed information in such a way that any change in the postal revenue block is detected by adequate verification procedures. The encryption systems have also been proposed where the counting for the payment of mail expenses occurs once subsequent to the printing of the mail expenses. Systems of this type are described in U.S. Patent No. 4,796,193 for MAIL EXPENDITURE PAYMENT SYSTEM TO COUNT FOR PAYMENT OF MAIL EXPENSES ONCE SUBSEQUENT TO PRINTING OF SHIPPING CHARGES AND EMPLOYING A BRAND VISUAL STAMPED IN THE CORRESPONDENCE PIECE TO SHOW THAT THE COUNT HAS OCCURRED, issued on January 3, 1989; U.S. Patent No. 5, 293, 319 for POSTAGE SYSTEM, issued March 8, 1994, and U.S. Patent No. 5,375,172 for MAIL EXPENSES PAYMENT SYSTEM USING ENCRYPTION TECHNIQUES AND DE CC TEO FOR PAYMENT OF MAIL EXPENSES ONCE SUBSEQUENT TO THE PRINTING OF MAIL EXPENSES, issued on December 20, 1994.

Other postal payment payment systems have been developed without using encryption. Such a system is described in U.S. Patent No. 5,391,562 for SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ACQUISITION AND APPLICATION OF MAIL EXPENSES USING PERSONAL COMPUTER, issued on February 21, 1995. This patent describes a system where the terminal user's computers they each include a modem for communication with a computer and a postal authority. The system is operated under the control of a franking program which causes communications with the postal authority for the acquisition of the shipment and updates the contents of the secured non-volatile memory. The mail data printing program allocates a unique serial number for each of the printed envelopes and labels, where the unique serial number includes a unique measurement identifier for the terminal user. The user's mail expense printing program directly controls the printer to prevent end users from printing more than one copy of any envelope or label with the same serial number. The patent suggests that by capturing and storing the serial numbers on all mail pieces and then periodically processing the information, the postal service can detect fraudulent duplication of envelopes or labels. In this system, the funds are counted for, by and on the site of the person sending the correspondence. The person sending the correspondence creates and edits the unique serial number which is not submitted to the postal service before the correspondence enters the stream that processes the postal service's correspondence. Moreover, assistance is not provided to elevate the delivery of correspondence beyond existing existing systems. As can be seen from the references noted in the foregoing, various franking designs may include electronic counting systems, which may be secured within a meter housing or smart cards or other types of portable counting systems. Recently, the United States Postal Service has published proposed specifications sketches for future mail payment systems, which include the Information Base Indicator (IBIP) Specification Indice dated June 13, 1996. and the Postal Security Device Specification of the Information Based Indication Program issued on June 13, 1996. There are specifications that describe various mail expense payment techniques that include various types of secure counting systems that can be employed. , such as, for example, an individual chip module, a multiple chip module, and an autonomous multiple chip module (see for example, Table 4.6-1 of the PSD Physical Security Requirements, Page 4-4 of the Device Specification. Postal Security Program of Indicio in Base to the Information). It has been found that several measurement systems, including those of the type described above, can be implemented flexibly with either or both an internal counting system and an external counting system. The internal counting system can be mounted inside a housing of the measuring system, where the housing may or may not be a secure housing. The external counting system can, for example, be a smart card containing metering counting memories of mail expenses and associated with the microprocessing capacity. Alternatively, the external counting device can be a cartridge type device or any other portable counting device or remote counting device connectable to the measuring system. It is an object of the present invention to allow a user to select and / or operate the measurement system using either or both of the external counting or counting devices. It is a further object of the present invention to allow automatic selection of the internal or external counting mode.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a measurement system that allows a user to have a portable counting device that can be used in any of a plurality of measurement systems. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a measuring system with a multifunctional coupling for portable counting and other devices. These other portable devices which are connected to the measuring system can be provided multifunctional coupling means, in addition to counting, with capacity to load ratio tables and / or slogans ad, authorization codes and / or some other information in the system measurement. It is still a further object of the present invention to have the internal counting device or vault which is detachable contact to facilitate the analysis of faults and removal of funds from those measurement systems where the system is inoperable, therefore preincluyendo the removal of backgrounds from the internal vault in normal mode such as a remote path or keyboard data entry code. With these and other objects in view, a measurement system exemplifying the present invention includes: Attach a first medium to the printing means to - count the value printed by the printing means. A second means is coupled to the printing means for counting the value printed by the printing means. The means are provided to determine which of the first and second counting means account for the printed value by the printing means. According to a feature of the present invention, when no smart or portable card or remote type device or counter is connected to the measuring system, the counting can be implemented by the internal counting system and when an external device is coupled To the measurement system, the counting can be carried out automatically in the external device and not in the internal counting device. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Reference is now made to the following figures in which like reference numbers designate similar elements in various views and in which: FIGURE 1 is a schematic diagram of a franking system embodying the present invention; FIGURE 2 is a flow diagram of the measurement seven shown in FIGURE 1 in a multi-count system environment; FIGURE 3 is a flow chart of the operation of the postage system shown in FIGURE L which determines the type of an external portable means (shown as a smart card) connected to the system; FIGURE 4 is a flow diagram of the operation of the measurement system shown in FIGURE 1 used to determine whether the portable means (shown as a smart card) contains the appropriate location data or other data used in the generation of digital marks; FIGURE 5A is a representation of a digital index which can be printed by the electronic measurement system shown in FIGURE 1; and FIGS. 5B and 5C are digital indicia also suitable for being printed with measurement systems of the type shown in FIGURE 1 and are indicated in the Indication Specification (IBIP) of the Indication Program based on the Service Information Postcard of the United States issued on June 13, 1996 in Appendix Al; General Summary The electronic franking system shown in FIGURE 1 includes an internal counting system and a removable external counting system. The external counting system can be any suitable type of portable coupled devices releasable to the measurement system. These include, for example, smart cards, ASICs, dongles and other types of removable coupling devices which provide counting functionality for a measurement system. These they can also include remote devices and systems which can be detachably connected to the measurement system. The measurement system involves secure multi-counting systems such as smart cards to provide high counting capacity and functionality for the measurement system. The term vault here is used interchangeably with the term counting system. The measuring system is capable of using any of the internal segure counting system only, the external safe counting system, or the multiple insurance counting systems. The multiple safe counting system has a secure internal counting system, which can also accommodate an external secure counting system. This allows a group of measurement products to be developed and implemented to provide increased functionality and capacity. Since portable devices are subject to losses and other security attacks such as theft or environmental problems such as distortion, rubbing, exposure to dusts, liquids, sharp objects, etc., the maximum amount of funds that are stored within such Portable device can be limited. The limit can be a maximum consistent with the value measurement system, for example, 100 dollars ($ 100.00) or any other amount selected. The internal secure counting system can be a deposit for large amounts of funds. Additionally, the portable device can be used in any of a large number of different measurement systems, including the Kiosk measurement systems, thereby providing increased functionality and utility to the users of the measurement system. The measurement seven shown in FIGURE 1 includes an internal safe counting system that can be physically mounted in the measurement system at the time of manufacture. The internal secure counting system can be a smart card mounted permanently in the measurement system or the smart card chip without the larger housing of the card by itself. Such counting can be housed by itself within its own secure housing such as is the case with a smart card chip or by means of a separate secure housing system. The chip of the smart card can consist of the smart card very tight for essentially a very small version of the smart card. This can be fabricated using a plastic smart card substrate that can be punched out of its carrier _ after the chip of the smart card is attached and therefore the smart card chip punched out is mounted on the smart card system. measurer. The smart card chip punched out is similar to a normal smart card with most of the plastic substrate removed. The larger plastic substrate does not normally provide functionality except to meet the requirements of the normal credit card size and place the chip on the plastic credit card. Since the smart card chip is dedicated to be permanently mounted internally within the measurement system, small size is a benefit. That is, the smart card chip punched out is never removed from the meter to be used in any other application outside the measurement system except as explained herein. This smart card chip is a remote integrated circuit in a plastic holder which is then connected to the printed circuit board. It can be recognized that the integrated circuit itself can be mounted directly to the circuit board if desired or packaged er. other integrated circuit formats. The smart card chip can be permanently mounted within the appropriate printed circuit connector (deemontable by contact) or designed to be mounted directly on a printed circuit board of the measuring system. Additionally, the measurement system accommodates a secure external portable counting system (e.g., the smart card) as well as the internal secure counting system (e.g., the smart card) thereby providing additional benefits. In this way, economic scale production is carried out since similar or identical smart card chips or other devices are used for the external and internal counting system. The external secure counting system when it is a vault size smart card can be placed in a suitable card opening or removable connector of the measuring system. For a smart card, the card makes contact with a special smart card connector designed for this purpose. That is, the measurement system shown in FIGURE i has a sensitive means such as a switch or other device to detect the presence of the smart card before applying the voltage and readjusting the tips on the card and also to detect the removal. The card or the portable external counting system. The system of the i-count system provides several advantages that include high funds retention (storage) for the secure counting system, high reliability for the internal counting system, portability of the external secure counting system, and flexibility for connection of multi-functionality to the measurement system such as slogans, "group circle graphs", authorization codes, data transfer, and speed table or logical system loads that are recorded via the external secure counting system connector. The retention of high funds (storage) is allowed for the internal secure counting system, since postal funds and other values can be inserted into the internal counting system since it is permanently installed and is less subject to be stolen or lost as in the case of a small external portable counting system. The greater reliability for the internal safe counting system occurs since it is mounted on the measuring unit and is not subject to hazardous external means (temperature / number? ESD), adverse handling, multiple insertion that wear and / or contaminate the contacts with respect to the small external portable device. The portability of the external secure counting system allows external devices to be used in a multi-user mode such as the mini counting system (which is a different card with an external counting system for each account) and allows the use of other counting devices. features and functionalities. Additionally, aggregates and other functionality may be included in the external counting system in such a way that, for example, where the seventh counting of external insurance is a smart card, the system may be a cash card or a credit card, which additionally has capabilities for counting mail expenses. Finally, as described in the foregoing, it is possible to use the external vault as a vehicle for loading eelogans ad, speed table, and authorization code and other information on or out of the measurement system. These transfers can be loaded under cipher control and / or stored within the measurement system such as in a printing module or in the internal counting system of the measuring system where the data storage can reside. Since the measurement system employs multi-safe counting systems, an internal counting system and an external counting system, the measurement system includes a priority arrangement to determine which counting can be used for debit and credit activity. . In any of the counting systems that are present, a user who wants to print a digital index or mark may enter the mail and debit value, the asset to the account system. The measurement system provides the capacity for a system where many external systems can be used by an individual measurement system. The measurement system includes a connector of the portable device which allows to load the funds, release the brand, audit the funds and the system credit of multiple accounts. Depending on the configuration of the measurement system, number and type of secure account system, internal to the measurement system or external to the measurement system, a selection criterion is used to choose the active count number. The possible configurations in the measurement system shown in FIGURE 1 include a unique internal secure counting system, a unique external insurance counting system and internal and external insurance counting systems (optional). In the case of • If an internal and external counting system is available, a choice must be made as to which counting system should be used when the counting system is present in the measurement system. A measurement system shown in FIGURE 1 accommodates digitized dialing generation by both internal and external secure counting systems. Since the indicia include the digital mark and / or other information (such as the information indicated in the proposed United States Poetry Service Specification), this is necessary to ensure a valid correspondence piece to be prepared that the information of the Appropriate counting system is used in the generation of digital mark and that such digital mark is used in the printing of the piece of correspondence. This is necessary so that the correspondence piece is properly placed in the mail stream by the person sending the correspondence and in such a way that the bearer service can authenticate the correspondence piece appropriately. The digital marks to be printed by the measurement system 2 may include information which is in part based on the Postal Code of the License Office or other location information in relation to the meter user. Hereinafter referred to as the postal zip code of origin. Currently, the secure franchise counting semes which generates digital brands are mounted within a base housing of the meter. This prevents the counting system from being moved between the gauge banks. When you print a clue, the digits are generated using forms of the source zip code that are then printed as part of the clue. These digital marks are then used to verify the correctness and validity of the portions of the digital cue. Since historically, there is only an individual vault (counting system) and an individual printing machine and the system is not easily portable (like a smart card), the movement of the location of the meter has not been so serious in the shipment. With portable external counting system meters, however, it is very easy to move and use a portable laptop account between the printing machines of different postal regions that generate "bases" (post-release codes of origin). The present system helps to ensure that the seventh counting code uses the correct postal code associated with the data when generating secure digital marks or indicia. Furthermore, - in a measurement system such as the one shown in FIGURE 1 that provides the ability to support more than one individual safe counting system, such as plural portable external counting systems which may be of different postal codes of origin, the measurement system operates to update the zip code (original zip code with any additional data desired) and the digit of the poetry check that can be used by the vault to generate the digital marcas segurae. The system shown in FIGURE 1 stores postal codes of target origin and operates to detect and transfer the post-release codes of origin to the secure counting system to ensure the correct generation of digital marks. The digital index or digital mark contains a secure information area that is used to verify the correctness and authenticity of the digital index. For example, these digital brands may include the vendor ID, the digital brand of the vendor, the digital postal mark, and a check digit. In the type system of this type, in order to correctly generate the check digit, the digital mark of the seller and the digital postal mark, the postal code can be used and the check digit for the postal code can be used. originally. The originating zip code is usually the code associated with the place from which the piece of correspondence will be sent. It also usually indicates where the meter is located. NeverthelessIn the product which separates the vault from the printing machine or "base", the vault can be easily moved from one originating zip code location to another. The postal code is derived from the postal code of origin and is used to represent the postal code of origin in the calculation of the digitalee marks mentioned in the above. The check-check digit represents the contribution of the originating zip code for the check-digit digit. Since the printing module of the measurement system can physically contain content within the base portion, it is not easy to transport (such as a portable external counting system, for example, smart card) and less likely to be moved between code locations Postal. If this unit is moved, it is expected that the user can contact the manufacturer of the measurement system in such a way that the postal code location stored within these systems can be registered. Otherwise, the external secure counting system is easily transportable within a zip code region or between zip code regions. Additionally, since in the present system there is no need to make a correlation between the outer counting and the counting machine and the counting machine, any external counting system can use any base with its associated detachable printing module. To ensure the straightness of the generation of marks, a maeetro set of the originating zip code is stored together with its associated packaged postal code and postal check digit within the base printing module. The initiation of this information occurs the first time that the user of the measurement system contacts the manufacturer for the initial filling of the seventh safe count with mail expense funds. In this first filling, the measuring system recognizes that all the data related to the poetry code is needed and electronically requests that the data be loaded down to the memory. At this time, the system will register the safe counting system of the current asset in the measurement system. The safe counting system of the asset can be either embedded within the measuring system (internal counting system) or inserted into the connector of the measuring system. At any time, that a counting system is inserted into the measurement system, the seventh meter operates to determine whether the safe counting system has the postal digit digit that is stored as the check digit of the meter stored in the memory of the meter. printing module (or where this information can still be stored additionally in the database). If the postal check digits are the same, no update is made. This is done to minimize the number of writings to the non-volatile memory of the secure counting system. The non-volatile memory in the meter system may have a maximum number of write cycles before the memory begins to degrade. This number correlates to the maximum number of debits made against the meter and consequently the maximum number of times that you mark them will be generated. For systems configured with an internal secure counting system, updating the pointer check digit of the internal counting system starts once the data is received for the initiation of the base print module. The zip code can be updated in the secure count at this time as well; however, in the preferred implementation, the packaged postal code is transmitted once the mail expense funds and the submieion data are transferred to the secure counting system. The vault then uses the information received prior to the charge as well as the information received during the start once the vault is inserted into the housing of the base unit. Organization and Operation of the System The reference is now made to FIGURE 1. A seven mail gauging meter generally shown in FIGURE 2, includes a removable print head module 4 within a housing 5, a base module 6 and a module 8 of the internal secure counting system and a module 10 of the external safe counting system which will be explained later in greater detail. The counting systems include a seventh internal counting 8 and an external counting system 10. These counting systems count for the operation of the measurement system and for the printing of the value of mail expense. The impreement module 4 includes an impregnation head 12 which may be an ink jet printhead or other variable impregnation means. An actuator 14 of the impregnation head provides the necessary signals and voltages to the print head. A temperature sensing means 16 is used to detect the ambient temperature. Since the ambient temperature changes the viscosity of the print head ink, this information allows the change of signal and voltage to the head of the image to maintain a size of. constant drop. A smart card chip 18 which contains internal non-volatile storage that receives encrypted commands and control signals from the base unit and provides information to the ASIC 20 to operate the print head driver 14. The ASIC may be of the type described in U.S. Patent No. 5,651,103 entitled "CORRESPONDENCE HANDLING APPARATUS AND PROCESS FOR PRINTING A COLUMN IMAGE BY COLUMN IN A REAL TIME" and assigned to Pitney Bowee, Inc., the description of which is incorporated herein by reference. The ASIC is connected to a crystal clock 22, it obtains the information of the operating program needed from a ROM or an immediate memory 24, to appropriately control the sequence of information to the ink print head actuator in such a way that The print head produces a valid and appropriate printed sign (which here means to include a digital mark in any format to be printed). The base module includes a microcontroller 26 which is connected to operate the motors of the e-mail and monitor expense measuring system and is coupled to the various counting systems. The microcontroller 26 is connected to a modem 28 which includes a chip 30 of the modem connected to a crystal clock 32 and a data access array 34 to allow modem communications between the measurement system 2 and the external systems. A door 27 of the RS 232 is provided. The door 27 of the RS 232 is connected to the microcontroller 26 by means of a switch 29 which is operated under the control of the microcontroller 26 in such a way that any door 27 of the RS 232 is allowed or the modem 28 is allowed. The door 27 may be allowed. of RS 232, the gate can be used for communication with the measurement system by the shape of the modem, direct connection or other communication technique in series suitable for RS 232 communications. The microcontroller 26 additionally provides several control signals to operate the Meter system that includes signals for the print head cartridge motor, the bypass head motor, and the print head maintenance motor, which are used to move, position, and maintain the print head 12. The microcontroller 26 is operated under the control of two separate crystal clocks 36 and 38. The high frequency of 9.8 megahertz is used for the crystal clock when the electronic meter system is in active operation and the low speed of 32 kilohertz is used for the crystal clock when the meter is in a "sleep mode" and the monitor it dims and the system is in the idle state. Various electric energies are provided to the microcomputer and to the email data meter system including a regulated power supply of 5 volts, a power supply 42 adjustable to 30 volts and a power supply 44 regulated to 24 volte. Additionally, a battery 46 is connected via a battery backup circuit 48 to the microcontroller 26 to provide operating electrical power for an internal clock in the microcontroller 26 when the external source of the AC operation power 50 is disconnected. Various e-mail expense meter sensing means are connected to the microcontroller 26 which include the sensing means 52 of the envelope which detects the presence of an envelope in the envelope opening of the measuring system, the bypass housing means 54, which detects the pitch of the housing of the bypass motor (motor Y), a sensitive means 56 of the cam housing which detects the position of the cam which controls the movement of the envelope plate, the sensitive means 60 of the housing of the cartridge which detects when the print head 12 is in a housing position and a sealing means 57 of opening the cover. The microcontroller 26 is further connected to the pad 62 of the key and to a Module 64 of the LCD Monitor. This allows a user to enter the data in the measurement system and observe the information displayed on the monitor 64. The measurement system 2 employs two counting systems. The first counting system involves the internal smart card (or smart card chip) 8 and the second counting system involves an external smart card 10. These smart cards are microprocessor-based devices which each provide the safe measurement functionality . These smart card account systems or smart card vault systems securely maintain several recorders associated with the measurement system and provide the meter counting functionality. Additionally, the counting systems provided for the capacity of communicating the information of the registrant and the filling of the mail expense and elimination of the information add or eliminate values from the various counting recorders. Each of the secure counting jacks generates the indicia and / or digital marks necessary to be printed on the matching piece by the print head 12.

Additionally, the modules provided for encryption communications in and out of the counting system as they may be associated with the function of fund refilling or debit of funds. For the particular mode shown, the counting system is provided for the authentication of the smart card 18 of the print head module and the counting seven. When there is a request by a user through the keyboard 62 or in some other way, to print mail expenses, or when it is desired, mutual authentication occurs. The count counting authenticates that this is a communication with a chip 18 of the smart card of the print head module, each authenticating the other being an authentic and valid measurement system. After that the encryption communications are allowed between the safe counting system of the asset and the chip 18 of the smart card which is part of the printing system to securely provide that the messages are authorized non-contaminated beats. This form can be by the form of an encryption certificate. The measurement system 2 provides functionality and capacity added to the system by the use of two separate account systems 8 and 10. The internal smart card counting system 8 is connected to the microcontroller 26 by means of a contact connector 66.

This facilitates the removal of the internal smart card 8, external inspection may be required where the device is inoperative. A 3.57 megahertz crystal clock 68 is connected to the smart card 8 and the microcontroller 26. Additionally, the clock 68 is connected to the external smart card 10, via the contact connector 70 of the external smart card. The microcontroller provides a switch 72 in the middle of the smart card that detects the presence or absence of the external smart card 10. When the external smart card is detected as being present, is the switch connected to the microcontroller? 26 via the smart card power control circuit assembly 74 causing the microcontroller 26 to allow the power control circuit assembly 74. of the external smart card apply electrical energy to the external smart card and with the spread of the. clock 68 for providing clock data to the external smart card 10, both via connector 70 of the smart card. It can be expressly noted that the system is configured in such a way that it can be a system operated with both internal counting and external counting systems 8, with only the seventh internal counting 8 and only the external counting system 10. Moreover, the external smart card 10 is arranged so that it can be connected to other electronic measurement systems and provides a portable means for a user to have postalee funds available to print on a piece of mail or tapes in an expense measurement system. of specific mail different. However, even when connecting to a different e-mail expense metering system, the same authentication occurs between the external smart card 10 and the chip of the smart card 18 of the print head. The system is designed with a priority arrangement. If no secure account system such as a smart card 10 is connected to the e-mail expense meter system 2, the meter counting functionality is provided by the smart card 8 of the internal secure counting system. This internal countdown arrives at the counting system of the asset for the seventh measurement. However, if an external counting system is connected to the system via the connector 70, the system will make the external counting system, the smart card 10, the asset counting system for the measuring system 2. The connector 70 is a flexible multi-purpose connector. The connector 70 allows the connection of other types of smart cards such as the card 76 which contains a slogan information ad (alphanumeric and / or graphic information) the card 78 which contains the information of proportion tables, and the card smart 80 which contains the authentication code information. It can be recognized that when each of these cards 76, 77 or 80 is connected to the system via the multi-function connector 70, an auto-authentication process is carried out between the smart card and the chip of the smart card 18 of the printing module for Ensure that valid cards and data are being used. They can use the same cryptography and / or encryption certification techniques to ensure the communication of valid and non-contaminated authentic messages. This system can be used to move information and data in and out of the meter system 2. The type information stored in the cards 76, 78 and 80 are communicated from the card via the connector and the microcontroller 26 to the chip 18 of the smart card, the ASIC 20 and stored in the immediate memory 24 or the internal memory 18 of the chip of the smart card. For those modalities which use a ROM more than an immediate memory, the information is write on the chip of the smart card 18 of the printing module. A filling operation for the measuring system 2 can be implemented remotely via the modem 28 or the connector 27 of the RS 232. A remote connection is established via the modem 28 or the connector 27 of the RS 232 to a remote data center. This allows bi-directiocommunication between the data center via the modem 28 or the connector 27 via the microcontroller 26 for either the interaccount system 8 and / or the exteraccount system 10 and the chip of the smart card 18 of the printing module. The system is configured in such a way that if an extersmart card 10 is connected to the seventh via the connector 70, the communications will be with the external smart card and not with the smart card chip 8 internal. It can be expressly recognized that other protocols can be implemented by use of the board to designate either of the two counting systems, it can be the active system for the purpose of surcharge or another operation of the meter's seven. If the communication is with the chip 8 of the internal smart card or the external smart card 10, the communications imply that the remote data center interrogates the external or internal counting system to obtain the necessary information such as the status of the registrars. of funds (ascending recorder and descending recorder), other inspection information such as evidence of counterfeit, serial number of the meter system, status and readjustments of the internal resettable time regulator, and other information that depends on the nature of the particular system. To recharge, the user can enter via the keyboard 62 an amount of fill of funds of mail charges and upon successful and successful interrogation of the seventh count of the asset, the remote data center provides an encrypted surcharge message which is communicated in the seventh count that allows the re-fund of the regietrador of the counting system with the value of gaetoe of additional charge added. You may also note that communications in this area allow remote inspection of the integrity of the measurement system and upload or download other information regarding the operation of the meter system such as monitoring operability and maintenance from the printing module 4. Additionally, if any information on the use of the meter is maintained in the system, this information can be uploaded to the remote data center. Furthermore, the remote data center provides a vehicle to load new key code and key and add it to the system if it therefore configures and provides the capacity for other functionality and services as a meter usage profile. Moreover, at the time of resetting the remote meter, a receipt may be triggered to be printed by the printing module as a receipt for the filling of funds from the mail expense counting system. The receipt provides tangible evidence to the user of the data, time, amount and other pertinent data of the transaction of the filling of the mail expense count system. The receipt may include tracing number date and encryption talee as encryption certificate. In the generation of digital or indiciae brands, in certain cases and for certain poetic authorities, the digital mark is required to contain information concerning the physical location of the e-mail expense measurement system. This may be due to authorization requirements where a meter is particularly authorized to be operated in a particular location, such as within a particular zip code area, the postal zip code of the person sending the mail. The measurement system 2 accommodates this requirement and allows the use of the external smart card. from the post-release locations of origin more than the authorization location for the measurement system 2. The location information of the meter may also be important where it is required to use when the measured correspondence must be deposited within the poetic code or location of origin of the person sending the correspondence. At the start of the measurement, this is when the meter is put into service and operable in the direction, the location of the measurement 2m 2 is stored in the memory 24 of the impreement module or the chip 18 of the internal memory. Eeta information may be the source poetry code for the person sending the correspondence or other location or other required information. The information in the immediate memory 24 or the counting module 8 is employed in printing a digital mark or mark on the matching piece by the print head 12. It is necessary that the digital mark generated by either the smart card 18 or the module 8 internal counting, in such a way that the digital mark, which contains the data of the source poetry code, is accurate and consistent with the data stored in the immediate memory 24 or the internal memory of the smart card chip 18. At the time of initiation , the data of location of origin can be stored also in the seventh 8 of internal count. When an external counting system or a smart card 10 is connected to the system, and a request for mail expenses is initiated, as part of the authentication process, communication is established between the external counting system 10 and the chip of the card intelligent 18 of the head of impreeión. At this time a comparison is made between the source location information stored in the immediate memory 24 or the internal memory of the chip of the smart card 18 and the location information of origin stored in the external smart card 10. If there is a correspondence between these two. stored location information, the printing of mail expenses and the generation of digital mark or indicia can be processed in the normal way with any other authentication and processing that can be used. However, in the location information stored in the immediate memory 24 or the internal memory of the chip 18 of the smart card is inconsistent with the location information stored in the external smart card 10, the system will not operate. At this time, the location information on the external smart card is written over or can alternatively be placed in a separate memory location (travel memory location). The correspondence now exists between the location information stored in the immediate memory 24 or the internal memory of the chip of the smart card 18 and the information stored in the external smart card 10. In this way, when the mail is printed it is printed. generate digital marks, there is an agreement between the data generated in the corundpondence piece from the location information in the immediate memory 24 or the internal memory of the smart card chip 18 and from the location information stored in the external smart card 10 If so, and as part of a checking routine, the location information stored on the external smart card can be periodically checked against the location information stored in the immediate memory 24 or the chip of the smart card 18. Furthermore, the location information stored in both the immediate memory 24 and the internal counting system or external counting system can be checked, if desired, when communications are established at any time with the remote counting center via the modem 28 or the connector 27 of the RS232. Additionally, it may be desired, that an external intelligent card of special purpose, can be connected in the system to interrogate and verify some information stored in the immediate memory 24 as in the chip of the internal smart card 18 or the internal counting system 8 The reference is now made to FIGURE 2. In step 82 the eietema of the e-mail expense meter 2 is connected to the electric power. A determination is made in step 84 if the system is a multi-safe counting system (vault). Thus, a determination as to the system includes seven counting systems. If the system is not a multi-vault counting system, an additional determination is made in step 86 if the system is an internal vault system. If the system is not an internal vault system, the seventh must be an external vault only system. Accordingly, in step 88, the system waits for a vault to be inserted. When the outer vault is opened at 90 (or determined to be present at present), the system uses the external vault for the entire account and for Otrae it works secure at 92. The outer vault can be removed as shown at 94, a determination is made. it does then if an internal vault sevenma is set to 86. If no internal vault is present, the valid counting system remains on the seventh of meter 2 and a fatal error is displayed on monitor 64. The meter's sevenma is made inoperable to print mail expense and other operations that require a secure counting system. If a determination is made that the seventh is a multi-vault system in 84, an additional determination is made to 100 if the two vaults are present in the system. If two vaults are present, the vault will use the outer vault as shown in 92. In this way, where the vault is present, the system will always fail to use the vault. If a determination is made in which the two vaults are not present in the seventh in 100, the operation continues for decieion of the table 96 as it is denoted in the previous. If a determination is made that an internal vault is present in 96, the system uses the internal vault as ee mueetra in 102. This can also be the case in the decision table 86 where a determination is made and the system is a internal vault system. As seen from the above, when the system is connected to the electrical energy, the seventh 2 of the meter always makes the fault for the operation using the external counting system or vault. If, however, the external vault is removed at any time during the operation, the system changes to use the internal vault when the external vault is removed. If, on the other hand, the system has only one external counting system or vault and the vault is not present, the system waits until an external vault is inserted into the system to begin the operation. In addition, if the seventh is only one seventh of an internal vault and the vault is not detected as being present, the system will display a fatal error and will not operate. Reference is now made to FIGURE 3. A card is inserted in the seventh in 104. A determination is made in 106 the card of a counting vault (external vault). If you determine that the card is a smart vault counting card, the smart card is used to count as ee mueetra at 108. If it is determined that the card is not a counting card, a determination is made at 110 if the card is a slogan card ad. That is, a card containing registration information, graphic information or both to be printed by the measuring system 2. If a determination is made that the seventh is an e-mail card, the item is placed in the ad mode at 112. A determination is then made at 114 and the e-mail card is authentic. This is determined by means of an encrypted message such as by the use of cryptography certificate between the slogan card ad and the chip of the smart card 18 of the printing module and the card is valid and the information of slogans Ad on the card is valid too and they are authentic. If it is determined that the card and / or the data are valid, the loading of the ad log is completed at 116. If the card and / or data is not authentic, an error message is displayed on the monitor 64 at 118 and is made a request for the user to remove the ad slogan card at 120. Returning to step 110, if the answer to the question is "NO", an error wiggle is displayed in step 111 requiring the card to be removed. You can recognize that if another card type is used, such as those shown in FIGURE 1, which contain authenticity code information, proportion table information, etc., the flow chart, shown in FIGURE 3, can have additional operational stages to determine the nature of such a card and authenticate the card and information on such a card and proceed or not proceed to upload the information as necessary. This can be in a similar way as is the case with the ad slogan card. Moreover, the seventh also allows information to be transferred from the meter to the card and written on the card for the purpose of inspection, transmission of information and any other desired functionality such as transferring funds from an internal vault to an external vault by withdrawal of funds from the measurement system. The reference is now made to FIGURE 4. A vault is inserted in the seven meter of the meter at 122. This can be an internal counting system inserted at the time of manufacture or an external vault inserted at any time during use. Additionally, a different vault may be inserted in the seventh as a substitute for the internal vault, this procedure will also be continued. In addition, the process continues during the ignition of the measurement system. The zip code and the check digit or other information is read from the vault at 124. At 126 it is determined whether the postal code and the check digit or other information matches the zip code and the poem check digit and other information stored in the meter system. The information is stored in the print module of the meter seven in the immediate memory 24 or the internal memory of the chip of the smart card 18 of the printing module. If the information is equalized, the system continues the start and operation at 128. If the information is not the same, the vault (count counting) and the impreement impreement module try to authenticate each other at 130. If it is determined at 132 that the counting system module and the printing module are each valid and authenticated with each other, the postal code and the postal check digit or other data stored in the immediate memory 24 of the printer module or internal memory of the chip the smart card 18 is written in the vault in 136. The seventh of the meter continues in its beginning and its operation in 141. If it is determined in 132 that the counting system and the printing module are not valid, that is, they have no authenticity each other, a fatal error message is displayed on monitor 64 and the system does not operate on 134. The reference is now made to FIGURE 5A. FIGURE 5A shows a suitable digital clue to be printed by the mail expense meter system shown in FIGURE 1. This indicia contains alphanumeric information, which can also be printed in the barcode format that includes the barcode PDF 417 or other barcode formats. The digital clue includes a postal code 142 which is the authorized post office for the user of the meter, the submission data of the mail piece 144, the clue or meter or security number of the postal security device 146. This identifies the dietary which has printed the indication. The amount of expenses by printed mail? in the correspondence piece or tape they are moved to 148. A vendor identification is printed at 150 as are a digital mark of the vendor 152 and a digital mark 154 of the postal service or carrier. These fingerprints provide means to authenticate a piece of correspondence by printed information in the indicia to ensure that the clue is valid and has been printed by a gauging measure of mail authorization and has not been altered. The indicia may also include a piece counter 156, which shows the number of pieces that the measuring system has printed; a check digit 152, which is a single decimal digit, generated from the variable information in the indicia, this is intended to help detect errors in eetae cantidadee and a check digit of the meter 140, which is a pair of idfiers of decimal digits generated from the decimal values that idfy the meter and the manufacturer of the meter, this is intended to help detect errors in this amount.

You may notice that the organization of the content of information and the arrangement of the digital clue are a matter of choice, such as the way in which the digital clue is printed. The digital clue may be impree entirely in alphanumerics, in any form of bar code or other code arrangement or in a combination of alphanumerics and bar code or other form of code. The reference is now to FIGURES 5B and 5C. EATS FIGURES represent several forms of digital signs printed entirely in bar code, PDF 417, format. FIGURE 5B shows a sign 160 indicated using DSS while FIGURE 5C is a sign 162 indicated using RSA. Both examples of such indicia of correspondence pieces of the Indication Program Indication Specification based on the Poetry Service Representation Information of the United States (IBIP) issued on June 13, 1996, Appendix A-1. While the present invention is described with reference to the specific modalities indicated herein, it will be apparent, as noted in the foregoing and from the foregoing by itself, that variations and modifications may be made thereto. This is, in this way, intended in the following claims to cover each variation and verification that falls within the true spirit and scope of the present invention.

Claims (16)

1. CLAIMS 1. A characterized measurement system - because it includes: means to value mail expenses for printing; first medium coupled to the printing medium for counting the value printed by the printing medium; and second means coupled to the printing medium for counting the impree value by the printing medium; and means to determine which of the first and second counting means count for the value printed by the printing medium.
2. 2. The measuring number, according to claim 1, characterized in that the first and second counting means each generate digital marks adapted to be printed by the printing means.
3. 3. The measurement system, according to claim 2, characterized in that the first counting means generates digital marks that contain identification data of the first counting means and the second counting means generates digital marks that contain identification data of the second counting means. counting means
4. 4. The measuring system, according to claim 1, characterized in that the second counting means is removably coupled to the measuring coil.
5. 5. The measurement system, according to claim 4, characterized in that the second counting means detachably coupled to the measuring system is a smart card.
6. 6. The measuring number, according to claim 4, characterized in that the second counting means dismountably coupled to the measuring system is one of a plurality of portable vaulting means and wherein the means for determining and adapting to process the plurality of the second means of counting.
7. The measuring system, according to claim 4, characterized in that the second counting means has a downstream recorder for storing the postal funds adapted to be printed by the measuring system, the descending recorder having a predetermined surcharge limit. .
8. 8. The seventh, according to claim 4, characterized in that it comprises: the first counting means having a descending register with a first predetermined storage limit of funds, the second counting means having a descending register with a second limit for predetermined storage of funds, the first fund storage limit of the counting medium that is greater than the second storage limit of the counting medium.
9. 9. The measurement seventh, according to claim 4, characterized in that it includes means to allow the deemountable coupling of the second counting means and to allow the detachable coupling of the portable data load for load data.
10. The measuring system, according to claim 1, characterized in that the first counting means is housed within a secure housing within the measurement system.
11. The measuring system, according to claim 10, characterized in that the first counting means is detachably mounted inside the secure housing by a contact connector.
12. The system, according to claim 1, characterized in that it includes a monitor, the monitor is adapted to indicate to a user which of the first and second counting means is the counting means of the asset to count for the value printed by the print medium.
13. 13. The measurement seventh, according to claim 12, characterized in that the portable data loading means contains data of slogans ad.
14. The measuring system, according to claim 12, characterized in that the portable data loading means contains pore-ratio data.
15. 15. The portable system, according to claim 12, characterized in that the portable data loading means contains authorization code data.
16. 16. A measurement system characterized in that it comprises: means for mail gaetoe values for printing; a first means coupled to the printing means for counting for the value printed by the printing medium; and a second means coupled to the printing means for counting for the impree value by the printing medium; means for determining which of the first and second counting means is the asset account means for the measurement system; Y; a monitor means coupled to the first and second counting means, the monitor means adapted to display which of the first and second counting means is the counting means of the asset for the measurement counting.