Classifications

• • G—PHYSICS
  • G09—EDUCATION; CRYPTOGRAPHY; DISPLAY; ADVERTISING; SEALS
  • G09F—DISPLAYING; ADVERTISING; SIGNS; LABELS OR NAME-PLATES; SEALS
  • G09F3/00—Labels, tag tickets, or similar identification or indication means; Seals; Postage or like stamps
  • G09F3/02—Forms or constructions
  • G09F3/0297—Forms or constructions including a machine-readable marking, e.g. a bar code
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
  • G07B—TICKET-ISSUING APPARATUS; FARE-REGISTERING APPARATUS; FRANKING APPARATUS
  • G07B17/00—Franking apparatus
  • G07B17/00185—Details internally of apparatus in a franking system, e.g. franking machine at customer or apparatus at post office
  • G07B17/00193—Constructional details of apparatus in a franking system
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
  • G07B—TICKET-ISSUING APPARATUS; FARE-REGISTERING APPARATUS; FRANKING APPARATUS
  • G07B17/00—Franking apparatus
  • G07B17/00016—Relations between apparatus, e.g. franking machine at customer or apparatus at post office, in a franking system
  • G07B17/0008—Communication details outside or between apparatus
  • G07B2017/00153—Communication details outside or between apparatus for sending information
  • G07B2017/00161—Communication details outside or between apparatus for sending information from a central, non-user location, e.g. for updating rates or software, or for refilling funds
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
  • G07B—TICKET-ISSUING APPARATUS; FARE-REGISTERING APPARATUS; FRANKING APPARATUS
  • G07B17/00—Franking apparatus
  • G07B17/00016—Relations between apparatus, e.g. franking machine at customer or apparatus at post office, in a franking system
  • G07B17/0008—Communication details outside or between apparatus
  • G07B2017/00153—Communication details outside or between apparatus for sending information
  • G07B2017/00169—Communication details outside or between apparatus for sending information from a franking apparatus, e.g. for verifying accounting
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
  • G07B—TICKET-ISSUING APPARATUS; FARE-REGISTERING APPARATUS; FRANKING APPARATUS
  • G07B17/00—Franking apparatus
  • G07B17/00016—Relations between apparatus, e.g. franking machine at customer or apparatus at post office, in a franking system
  • G07B17/0008—Communication details outside or between apparatus
  • G07B2017/00153—Communication details outside or between apparatus for sending information
  • G07B2017/00177—Communication details outside or between apparatus for sending information from a portable device, e.g. a card or a PCMCIA
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
  • G07B—TICKET-ISSUING APPARATUS; FARE-REGISTERING APPARATUS; FRANKING APPARATUS
  • G07B17/00—Franking apparatus
  • G07B17/00185—Details internally of apparatus in a franking system, e.g. franking machine at customer or apparatus at post office
  • G07B17/00193—Constructional details of apparatus in a franking system
  • G07B2017/00201—Open franking system, i.e. the printer is not dedicated to franking only, e.g. PC (Personal Computer)
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
  • G07B—TICKET-ISSUING APPARATUS; FARE-REGISTERING APPARATUS; FRANKING APPARATUS
  • G07B17/00—Franking apparatus
  • G07B17/00459—Details relating to mailpieces in a franking system
  • G07B17/00508—Printing or attaching on mailpieces
  • G07B2017/00572—Details of printed item
  • G07B2017/0058—Printing of code
  • G07B2017/00588—Barcode

Definitions

• the invention relates to an electronic postage seal or stamp, such as a postage, and a corresponding electronic seal or stamp issue system.
• securing and authenticating electronic messages on the network requires the implementation of encryption / decryption techniques accompanied by signature processes, signature verification and non-repudiation.
• seals or electronic postage stamps is of major interest in ensuring authentication and non-repudiation of the sending of documents or missives, regardless of the confidential or non-confidential nature of the content thereof.
• the subject of the present invention is the implementation of an electronic seal or stamp making it possible to ensure a high degree of inviolability by third parties of the electronic seal or stamp obtained, and, consequently, authentication of the seal or electronic stamp affixed to any object.
• Another object of the present invention is also the implementation of an electronic seal or stamp making it possible to ensure a high degree of inviolability by third parties of the electronic seal or stamp obtained, and, moreover, authentication and a non-repudiation of both the electronic seal or stamp and the content and origin of any document or missive bearing such an electronic seal or stamp.
• Another object of the present invention is also the implementation of an electronic postage stamp with a high degree of inviolability and a system for issuing such electronic stamps, this electronic postage stamp being likely to be produced and affixed directly by any authorized end user, from a specific domestic installation incorporating such an emission system.
• Another object of the present invention is also the implementation of an electronic postage stamp of high degree of inviolability making it possible to incorporate, in this stamp, any additional information relating to specific services such as routing and tracking the freed item.
• Another object of the present invention is finally the implementation of a system for issuing seals or electronic stamps that can be easily integrated into any specific domestic installation, such as a microcomputer and a color printer for example.
• the electronic stamp, object of the present invention is remarkable in that it comprises, at least, a two-dimensional image, and an information structure coded and inserted in this image.
• This electronic stamp issuing system is remarkable in that the card includes at least one unique number characteristic of the issuing system and stored in the secure memory area, and, installed in the non-volatile memory area, a program for issuing and management of electronic stamps, this program allowing at least the counting of electronic stamps issued and distributed by this computer.
• the electronic stamp and the system for issuing electronic stamps which are the subject of the present invention find application in the production of electronic stamps for postage, of envelopes or packaging ready to post or of electronic seals making it possible to authenticate both the origin of the shipment as, if applicable, the authenticity and origin of the content of the object on which the seal is affixed.
• FIGS. 2a to 2c represent, by way of illustration, the various data fields entering into the information constituting the information structure coded and inserted in the image constituting the electronic stamp object of the invention when, in a nonlimiting manner, this electronic stamp is more particularly intended to constitute an electronic postage stamp;
• FIGS. 2a to 2c represent, by way of illustration, the various data fields entering into the information constituting the information structure coded and inserted in the image constituting the electronic stamp object of the invention when, in a nonlimiting manner, this electronic stamp is more particularly intended to constitute an electronic postage stamp;
• FIG. 2d to 2e represent, by way of illustration, the different data fields entering into the information constituting the coded information structure and inserted in the constitutive image of the electronic stamp, object of the invention, when, in a manner nonlimiting, this electronic stamp is more particularly intended for constitute an electronic seal for sealing a document or a missive;
• - Figure 3 shows, purely by way of illustration, an embodiment of the process for generating an electronic stamp according to the subject of the present invention, as shown in Figure 1;
• FIG. 4a represents a system for issuing electronic stamps in accordance with the object of the present invention in a hardware architecture using a home computer installation of a user;
• FIG. 4b represents, by way of illustration, a card of the microprocessor card type comprising at least one program for issuing and managing electronic stamps in accordance with the object of the present invention
• FIGS. 5a to 5c respectively represent specific processes for personalizing the microprocessor card, loading prepaid stamps and consuming stamps in prepaid mode respectively
• FIGS. 6a to 6c represent, by way of illustration, different steps necessary for the implementation of the specific processes for personalizing the card, purchasing electronic stamp booklets and then consuming these electronic stamps, this server system being managed by an authorized body, such as an administration or a courier operator for example.
• the electronic stamp object of the present invention advantageously comprises a two-dimensional image, bearing the reference 1 in the above-mentioned figure, and an information structure 2 coded and inserted in this image.
• the aforementioned two-dimensional image can be constituted by any image of the BITMAP type or coded in bit mode and representative of a specific view for example.
• the image taken into account represents a view of Mont Saint-Michel, a site particularly known and classified as World Heritage of Humanity.
• the information structure coded and inserted in the aforementioned image can advantageously be constituted by a bar code for example.
• the bar code used is a code to two-dimensional bar.
• the most common bar codes are for example the PDF417 code, the Asteck code or the DataMatrix code.
• the aforementioned two-dimensional bar code when this bar code used is the PDF417 code, can be reduced to a succession of coded lines and, ultimately, a one-dimensional bar code consisting of a succession of lines placed end to end.
• FIG. 1 various fields represented in the aforementioned information structure, which will be explained later in the description.
• the electronic stamp object of the present invention can be configured so as to constitute an electronic postage stamp for example.
• the electronic stamp object of the present invention can also be configured so as to constitute an electronic seal making it possible to seal any document, such as a contractual document or a missive for example.
• the elements of information making it possible to constitute the information structure coded and inserted in the aforementioned image will firstly be described in connection with the following figures 2a to 2c, in the case where the electronic stamp object of the invention is intended to constitute an electronic postage stamp.
• the aforementioned information includes, to constitute the coded and inserted information structure, secure franking information AS, franked object tracking information SU and finally, routing information for ROUT prepaid object.
• the information previously mentioned is represented by the data fields, carriers of this information.
• the secure franking information and the field AS comprise at least, advantageously, a unique identification number, denoted IDN, of the system for issuing the electronic stamp considered, a number sequence of stamp issuance by this issuing system, introduced in the SEQ field, and finally, the face value of the postage corresponding to the VF data field for example.
• this number may correspond to a number of machine for producing electronic stamps in accordance with the object of the present invention, this number of production being established and delivered by the organization or entity empowered to market and distribute the aforementioned electronic stamps or to grant such marketing to authorized third parties.
• this face value in accordance with an advantageous aspect of the electronic stamp object of the present invention, can be expressed in number of postal units of account, for example.
• the expression of the face value of the postage considered in postal units of account makes it possible to rationalize the distribution of electronic postage stamps, objects of the present invention, independently of the actual value of each postal unit of account expressed in currency national.
• the secure postage information includes at least one reference to the requested routing service, supported by the ACH field, the routing service being able to be coded according to the required routing service. by the user of the electronic stamp object of the invention considered, according to a normal, slow routing, requiring monitoring of the conveyed object coated with the electronic stamp object of the invention, by registered mail, with insurance or other.
• the secure postage information can advantageously include an electronic signature value of all or part of the secure postage information.
• the global field relating to secure franking information AS has been represented as consisting of the concatenation of the previously mentioned fields.
• the electronic signature value S is obtained by a signature operation S of all of the fields making up the field relating to the secure franking information AS from which the signature value itself is removed.
• AS * corresponds to the field AS relating to the postage information secure, of course without taking into account the signature value S.
• this signature can be calculated from the fields of unique identification number IDN, of emission sequence SEQ, of face value of postage VF, of service of ACH routing, plus other fields likely to in fact constitute secure postage information, the signature value S after calculation then being concatenated with all of the aforementioned fields to finally constitute the field AS relating to secure postage information previously cited.
• the field relating to the electronic signature value S can then be inserted between the field relating to the reference to the requested routing service ACH and any additional field entering into the constitution of the field relating to secure postage information.
• the concatenation position of the field of the electronic signature value S can be any one of the aforementioned fields.
• the above-mentioned secure franking information may advantageously include a field supporting the date of issue of the electronic stamp, this date being expressed in the form year, month, day, if applicable hour, minute and second, this information being noted YY: MM: DD: HH: mm: ss.
• the secure postage information may include auxiliary information, linked to the service requested, this auxiliary information being supported by the AUX field in FIG. 2a.
• the secure franking information AS may also include information making it possible to characterize the identity of the sender, such as the name of the sender, if applicable. where applicable, its geographic or other address.
• the corresponding field is marked CEX in FIG. 2a.
• the signature key is a key whose value is linked to the IDN identification number.
• this information may, without limitation, correspond to information on the date and / or the delivery schedule of the object conveyed, this date and this schedule of delivery may be indicated by the sender for example, taking into account the latter's knowledge of the recipient's habits.
• Other auxiliary information can of course be used.
• routing information of the franked object information supported by the ROUT field of FIG. 2a, it is indicated that, as represented in FIG.
• this information can advantageously include either a standard address corresponding to the regulations in force decreed by the International Postal Union, an address linked to the value-added service, this type of address being commonly designated by universal address.
• S_ADD the standard address
• U_ADD the universal address
• the unique identification number IDN of the issuing system and the number of sequence for issuing the stamp by this issuing system SEQ in fact constitute a unique identification number for each stamp issued.
• This unique identification number is noted UNT in Figure 2a.
• the postage-paid item tracking information SU includes at least the unique identification number of each stamp issued, which of course makes it possible to ensure the follow-up of the aforesaid prepaid object, regardless of where it is in the waiting or control position.
• the content of the SU field relating to the tracking information of the franked object is represented in FIG. 2c.
• the location of the aforementioned data fields can be strictly identical to that of the corresponding data fields for the implementation of an electronic postage stamp.
• the electronic stamp object of the The present invention may more particularly be intended to constitute an electronic seal allowing the sealing of any document, as will be described below.
• the secure postage information is, ultimately, replaced by secure electronic seal authentication information.
• the field AS represents the support of the information for authentication of electronic seal secure, the tracking fields SU of sealed object and routing ROUT of this sealed object being able to however, be kept and for this reason bear the same references SU and ROUT.
• the secure electronic seal authentication information constituting the AS field can then include the unique identification number of the system for issuing the electronic stamp constituting an IDN electronic seal, the issue sequence number of this stamp by the issue system, field SEQ, to of course also constitute the unique identification number of the UNT electronic seal.
• this can then be advantageously replaced by the market value of the document sealing service, this market value being noted W and may correspond to the price paid by the customer to use the service of document sealing by affixing the electronic seal, object of the present invention, to any document considered.
• the field relating to the reference to the routing service can be kept in the form of an ACH field to ensure the routing of the sealed object.
• the fields relating to the date and the AUX auxiliary data can be kept in the same way as in the case of an electronic postage stamp.
• the CEX field making it possible to identify the the sender in the case of the electronic postage stamp can then advantageously be replaced by any certain value identifying the sender such as a specific code introduced by the latter and known only to the recipient, or where appropriate an electronic signature to authenticate the origin of the entity or person sending the sealed object.
• the corresponding field is denoted SEX, this field being deemed to correspond to an electronic signature of the sender.
• any sealed object that is to say on which the electronic seal, object of the present invention, is affixed, thus makes it possible to authenticate the origin of the affixing of the electronic seal considered with a very high degree of certainty.
• the electronic signature value S can then be calculated on all of the fields AS *, which then necessarily include the field relating to the identification code of the user authorized to affix this electronic seal and in particular to the electronic signature of the latter. It is understood in particular that the recipient of the sealed object coated with the electronic seal, object of the present invention, can then successively verify the signature value S upon authorization from the organization providing the sealing service for the sealed object, and of course, under the usual conditions of signature verification, verification of the user's identification code or of the latter's electronic signature.
• the operation of calculating the electronic signature of the sender and verifying the signature of this electronic signature by the recipient will not be described in detail, because this operation corresponds to an operation known from the state of the art in terms of calculation. , respectively signature verification.
• the secure electronic seal authentication information may also include an encrypted value representative of the content of the document. sealed.
• the numerical value, representative of the content of the sealed document can be calculated from a hash function making it possible to reduce any content of a document, such as a contractual document or a missive, to a condensed value of predetermined substantially fixed format.
• Such hashing functions are usually implemented within the framework of signature calculation operations, respectively of signature verification within the framework of the RSA algorithm previously cited in the description.
• HCONT condensed value
• the condensed information relating to the content of the document, HCONT can then advantageously be concatenated for example with the market value of the sealing service W, to constitute a composite field W-HCONT for example.
• the electronic signature value S of the set of fields AS * is then calculated taking into account, not only the electronic signature of the sender or the identification code of the user authorized to affix the electronic seal, represented by the SEX field, but also from the W-HCONT composite field.
• the electronic signature value S is not only representative of the sender, or user authorized to affix the electronic seal, but also of the content of the document sealed by means of the abovementioned electronic seal.
• the electronic stamp constituting an electronic seal in accordance with the object of the present invention makes it possible not only to authenticate the origin of the affixing of the electronic seal, but also to guarantee non-repudiation by the editor of the document, that is to say the sender, of the content of this sealed document on which the electronic seal, object of the invention, has been affixed.
• the sealed document consists of an electronic file transmitted over a network.
• the writer of the contract can, for example, indicate in the routing information field the successive addresses of the parties who must accept the conditions and obligations indicated in the contract and of course give their consent to them. This consent can then be implemented by the affixing of an electronic seal by each of the parties, the routing information being updated by each party concerned successively.
• the information structure inserted in the initial image can be formed from all or part of the image information of the aforementioned two-dimensional image.
• the coded information constituting the aforementioned coded information structure can be encrypted from all or part of the image information, in order to make it possible to establish a link between the coded and encrypted information structure and the two-dimensional image. constituted as a reference image.
• an electronic stamp in accordance with the object of the present invention, one starts with an electronic vignette or starting BITMAP image bearing the reference 1 in which one cleans an FI insertion window of determined dimensions.
• the insertion window FI can be produced by uniform colorization of an area of the starting image constituting the insertion window FI.
• a part of image PZ is defined whose dimension is substantially greater than that of the insertion window FI.
• specific image information is then calculated to be inserted in the two-dimensional area occupied by the structure of coded information, c 'is to say through the FI insertion window. This calculation is carried out and represented in point b) of FIG. 3 by application of a two-dimensional hash function to the image part file PZ. This calculation checks the relationship:
• the value H represents a two-dimensional digest of dimensions substantially equal to those of the insertion window FI for example.
• AS * designates the specific information data associated with the electronic stamp or seal.
• the data structure to be inserted in the window FI is then calculated from a two-dimensional coding function (2, applied not only to the electronic signature value S but also to the digest value of image H, the values S and H being combined.
• the coding calculation function Q naturally corresponds to the two-dimensional bar code previously mentioned in the description.
• the PDF417 code it is possible to reduce to a one-dimensional coding of successive lines, constituting the value H calculated in step b), the values S and H can then be concatenated.
• the two-dimensional code value is then inserted into the insertion window FI in step e) and the electronic stamp or seal is obtained, object of the present invention as shown in step f) and corresponding substantially to the electronic stamp or seal shown in Figure 1.
• the information of the information structure inserted in the FI insertion window can then be structured as follows:
• the structure version information can be coded on one byte, the left corner coordinates on two bytes, the size of the image part on also two bytes, the hash function calculation results on eleven bytes, and l all of this information occupies a total of sixteen bytes.
• the information structure thus obtained thus comprises three lines of information relating to postage, service, routing and routing. '' Regarding the franking line, this can be structured as follows:
• the service line includes information depending on the services offered by the messaging provider.
• the service line may include the date of issue of the stamp as well as a list of services retained by the sender and coded by means of a service number as well as additional information.
• This additional information may correspond to the AUX auxiliary data field previously mentioned in the description.
• This auxiliary or additional information may include: the sending of acknowledgment of receipt to the address of the sender authorized, by contract, to produce electronic stamps in accordance with the subject of the present invention;
• routing information contained in the ROUT field this can be formatted according to conventional formats, which will not be described in the present description.
• the system which is the subject of the present invention is implemented from a so-called domestic installation, advantageously comprising a host computer 0 provided with a member interfacing, denoted 01, and a card fitted with a microprocessor.
• the card bears the reference C.
• the domestic installation comprises a printer I connected to the computer 0.
• the interfacing member can be constituted either by a microprocessor card reader, a chip card of the bank card type , or by a PCMCIA type interface.
• the interfacing member is constituted by a bank card reader
• the card C is a bank card, also called a smart card.
• the interfacing member is a PCMCIA type interface
• the card C is itself constituted by a PCMCIA card.
• the card C is provided with a microprocessor, a secure memory accessible in read and a non-volatile memory accessible in read / write.
• the card C is capable of exchanging information with the computer O via an interfacing member 01. It is understood in particular, as described in a nonlimiting manner in FIG. 4b, that in the case where the card C is a card of the smart card type used with a card reader of the bank card reader type, the card C can advantageously include a non-volatile memory bearing the reference 10, such a memory usually comprising a ROM type memory 10a, a secure memory 10c and a programmable memory 10b.
• the card C is then provided with a signature calculation system SI bearing the reference 11, a RAM type working memory bearing the reference 12 and a microprocessor 13, the microprocessor 13 being directly connected to an I / O input / output member bearing the reference 14.
• a signature calculation system SI bearing the reference 11
• a RAM type working memory bearing the reference 12
• a microprocessor 13 being directly connected to an I / O input / output member bearing the reference 14.
• the card C comprises a unique number characteristic of the emission system, the IDN number previously mentioned in the description, this number being stored in the secure memory area 10c shown in FIG. 4b.
• the card C includes a program for issuing and managing electronic stamps, this program being denoted PEG and which can be stored either in ROM memory 10a or in non-volatile programmable memory 10b.
• PEG allows at least to count the electronic stamps issued and distributed by computer 0.
• this card can be constituted either by a disposable card after use, or by a rechargeable card, or by a card itself producing its own electronic stamps or electronic seals.
• a disposable card it is indicated that the structure of the card C as shown in FIG. 4b can be simplified, insofar as the signature calculation system SI bearing the reference can be eliminated.
• the end user purchases an electronic stamp book in a kiosk, these electronic stamps being, of course, stored in non-volatile programmable memory 10b.
• the end user uses the postal units included in the card and corresponding to the face value of the electronic stamps stored in the latter.
• Each electronic stamp stored in the card refers to the unique stamp identification number U-N-T previously mentioned in the description.
• the user inserts card C into the card reader and proceeds to the franking operation via computer 0.
• the franking operation amounts to requesting, from computer 0, a pre-signed stamp available and stored in the programmable memory 10b.
• this stamp is marked as consumed in the card and the PEG program for issuing and managing updates the number of stamps available in the card.
• the PEG issuing and management program simply ensures the count of the number of stamps remaining stored in the card following use.
• a verification 11 can be done through the server SV to which the host computer O is connected.
• the user first connects to the SV server in order to personalize the C card.
• the SV server assigns a unique number to the franking machine, i.e. an IDN number stored in secure memory 10c. This number can advantageously be associated with a consumption account. In the event of fraud, this account becomes invalid for the production of electronic stamps.
• Card C is then considered to be a container for programmable stamp booklets. All electronic stamp booklets loaded into card C then refer to this container.
• the end user can then reload this card from other notebooks using the PEG issuance and management program previously mentioned.
• the PEG transmission and management program consults the card to determine how many stamps there are per value stored in the non-volatile programmable memory 10b. Depending on the choice of the user, an available stamp whose amount corresponds to the service chosen by the user is returned, transmitted to the host computer O and, of course, erased from the card; the count of the remaining stamps is updated.
• the card C can consist of a multi-application card.
• the card C can advantageously consist of a card of the PCMCIA type, which is then inserted into the PCMCIA interface of the host computer O.
• this type of card and the PCMCIA interface allowing the connection of the latter to the host computer are endowed with greater computation and data transmission capacities than chip cards and smart card readers of the banking type. Consequently, and for the calculation of electronic seals and the issuance thereof, more powerful calculation means may be preferred.
• card C producing its own electronic stamps can be assimilated to an electronic wallet whose particularity is to manage in fact the postal account unit.
• card C has a unique franking machine number which is assigned once and for all to the aforementioned card C by the service or courier service provider and, of course, empowered to issue such a unique number. postage meter, IDN number.
• the PEG transmission and management program proceeds to increment the consumption counter, the credit granted to the user holding the card C. This counter stores the number of postal units available on this card following reloading.
• the card C in this situation is then provided with the signature calculation system SI bearing the reference 11. It is the same when the card C is a PCMCIA card.
• the PEG program indicates the amount chosen and the date of franking, information given by the user, respectively by the host computer O.
• the card C then performs the calculation of the electronic signature value S, this calculation having the purpose of signing the electronic postage stamp from all the information of the stamp, that is to say, as mentioned previously in description, data field A *.
• the signature operation is carried out using a signature key stored in secure non-volatile memory, that is to say the memory 10c represented in FIG. 4b, this signature key being noted K s .
• Electronic stamps are dated and may have a limited duration of use. Consequently, it is possible to keep numbers previously used in databases for a period limited to the range of use.
• electronic stamps can advantageously be issued in ascending order of the UNT number assigned to them. Management optimization then consists in memorizing the last number used by a given transmission system. If an already consumed number or an expired date is observed on an electronic stamp, then fraud may be suspected. The messaging service provider can then use any means to stop such fraud.
• - Case of a single address Some providers have local distribution points, such as post office, town hall, health insurance funds, tax collection center, for example.
• An end user of electronic stamps conforming to the object of the present invention can then send a letter, without however knowing the exact geographical address of all its distribution points.
• a customer can send a letter to the electric power distribution service as a recipient.
• Arrival at the depot the missive is analyzed from the electronic stamp according to the place of deposit and the address, read in the bar code, that is to say in the information structure inserted in the electronic stamp is interpreted using routing tables for single addresses.
• the address of the electricity distributor is then transformed into a distribution point corresponding to the antenna closest to the subscription requester.
• Mr. MARTIN lives in city A and spends a month traveling in city B. He indicates his temporary change of address to his courier service provider. The latter updates temporary address transfers.
• Mr. DUPONT living in a city C addresses a letter to Mr. MARTIN during this period to his address in city A. At the point of deposit of this letter, the latter is analyzed, the address of Mr. MARTIN being recognized and an interrogation of the tables of transfer from the region of city A verifies that the routing can be carried out. If so, the aforementioned mail is routed to city B, thus avoiding transit through city A. The case of an address transferred definitively is substantially similar. - Case of postage paid or sealed object tracking:
• the end user chooses an amount of sealing service corresponding to the market value W previously mentioned in the description and allowing the execution of this service.
• the affixing of stamp or electronic seal is then carried out and, at each connection to the SV server, the PEG transmission and management program updates a local database concerning the tracking of franked or sealed objects.
• the consumption data sent by the end user affixing the electronic stamp in the case of a rechargeable prepaid card can advantageously be structured as follows: information on the nature of the stamp book; stamp signature list; - information concerning the graphics used and of course authorized by the messaging service provider.
• the stamp book information line includes: - the number of the issuing system, also designated by contract number, coded on 4 bytes, this number being allocated to the end user for its issuing system on a contractual basis ; the number of the first stamp of the reloaded notebook, coded on 4 bytes; the number of stamps in the book, coded on 2 bytes; the date of creation of the electronic stamp book, coded on 2 bytes.
• the signature line is subsequently made up of the signatures of each numbered stamp.
• the information line on the graphic design of the stamp in question includes: the coordinates for placing the bar code in the graphic design, that is to say the insertion window FI, coded on 2 bytes; the information of the characteristic area chosen for recognition, that is to say the PZ image part coded on 16 bytes, as mentioned previously; - specific URL coordinates where the graphic design of the chosen stamp can be downloaded for example; the name of the graphic design of the electronic stamp in question.
• FIGS. 5a to 5c and 6a to 6c Different indications will now be given in connection with FIGS. 5a to 5c and 6a to 6c relative to the process implemented in order to ensure the personalization of the card C according to the end user, the loading of prepaid stamps, respectively the process consumption in prepaid mode.
• the process for personalizing the card C represented in FIG. 5a consists in downloading the card and then initializing the data on board, as mentioned previously in the description, and finally assigning a contract number , that is to say an IDN identification number giving the card C, and finally the installation constituting the issuing system, its identification number for issuing electronic stamps.
• a contract number that is to say an IDN identification number giving the card C
• FIG. 6a the abovementioned operations of FIG.
• the server SV in relation to the server SV, can be carried out by the transmission 1 of a proof of purchase from the host computer O to the server SV, this proof of purchase may consist of an acknowledgment message of an amount corresponding to the purchase of electronic stamps.
• the SV server transmits a message for the supply of an applet and a unique machine number, that is to say the IDN number identifying the system of transmission to the host computer O.
• the process of personalizing the card 3 is carried out, as shown in FIG. 5a. Following these operations, the assembly constituted by the host computer O, the printer I and the card C, can then proceed to the issue of electronic stamps.
• the process for loading prepaid stamps is shown in Figure 5b.
• FIG. 6b These operations, in relation to the server, are represented in FIG. 6b, the operation of loading prepaid stamps which can consist in the sending of a message, by the host computer O to the server SV, of indications of the quantity , value and graphics stamps, the response from the server SV to the host computer O by the sale of the stamp book, the transfer by the host computer O and the card C of the process for loading prepaid stamps, as represented in FIG. 5b, and finally, on request, when stamps are issued by the printer I.
• FIG. 6b the operation of loading prepaid stamps which can consist in the sending of a message, by the host computer O to the server SV, of indications of the quantity , value and graphics stamps, the response from the server SV to the host computer O by the sale of the stamp book, the transfer by the host computer O and the card C of the process for loading prepaid stamps, as represented in FIG. 5b, and finally, on request, when stamps are issued by the printer I.
• the consumption process in prepaid mode is shown in Figure 5c. It consists in proceeding with card C in a step of requesting the different possible values, followed by a step of requesting the available graphics by values, then of a consumption step by choosing a value and a graphic , and a step of updating the card data.
• the electronic stamp or electronic seal chosen is then returned to the host computer O by the card C.
• the end user from the host computer O, for example transmits an authorization request RA to the server SV, which responds with an authorization agreement message AA to the latter when the conditions of use and authorization of stamp issuance are satisfied by the aforementioned end user.
• the host computer O then performs, in conjunction with the card C, the consumption process in prepaid mode represented in FIG. 5c and the host computer O then orders the issue of the stamp or of an envelope pre-stamped by the printer I.
• the electronic stamp or the electronic seal, object of the present invention includes a unique identifier allowing of course the identification of each stamp issued.
• a unique identifier is used for marking franked, respectively sealed objects, and naturally offers a significant element for tracking objects in transmission networks, postal or messaging networks, respectively Internet or other networks.
• the identification number of each stamp or electronic seal also makes it possible to detect the replay, that is to say the fraud corresponding to the successive printing of the same stamp on several supports of objects or envelopes.
• the physical form of the electronic stamp or seal which is the subject of the present invention, is in no way linked or fixed in the examples described.

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• Management, Administration, Business Operations System, And Electronic Commerce (AREA)
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• 2000
  • 2000-11-30 FR FR0015508A patent/FR2817382B1/fr not_active Expired - Lifetime
• 2001
  • 2001-11-22 EP EP01998940A patent/EP1344191A2/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2001-11-22 WO PCT/FR2001/003687 patent/WO2002045027A2/fr not_active Ceased

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