JPH01309194A - Postage counting system - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To obtain a convenient postage account system by including an integrated circuit card reading/writing unit means for reading postage meter using information from a card connected to a control unit means and writing postage meter using information into this. CONSTITUTION: In order to use the meter, a smart card 18 is inserted into a card reading/writing unit 16 and a permission code is inputted to the keyboard 28 of a control unit 14. When the permission code is not given, the control unit 14 prohibits the usage of the meter 12 so as to confirm whether the card inserted into the card reading/writing unit is proper for usage with the meter 12 and to confirm whether the permission code inputted to the keyboard 28 by a user is proper or not. When a proper user's card is inserted, the control unit 14 starts the meter 12 for usage. Thereby the convenient postage account system is formed.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention relates to an electronic postage meter system.
Concerning electronic postage meters and multi-smart card accounting systems used.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Postage meters typically include a printer for imprinting postage stamps on mail items, and a so-called vault for safely holding postage meter funds. include. Within this bold, ascending and descending registers are provided to record the meter's total usage and remaining funds, respectively. This bold indicates that when the meter is used to stamp postage, this use is added to the ascending register and the record of total life cycle meter usage is incremented;
This is charged to a descending register and securely connected to the printer so that the amount of funds remaining is reduced. This bold is recharged in a known manner, such as by going to an authorized post office and having the descending register reset to reflect the corresponding payment.

To this day, postal funds in bold (posta
A great deal of effort has been made to ensure the safety of various Bold Recharging funds.
system is proposed. Also, many efforts are made to prevent postage from being fraudulently or accidentally stamped without each postage being added to or being charged to the corresponding ascending or descending register in bold.

In this regard, for example, U.S. Patent Box 4,218°01
No. 1 [Coupon control registration device (Coup
on Controlled Meterling De
vlce )], U.S. Pat. No. 4,629,871 [Electronic Postage Meter System Settable by a Remotely Generated Input Device
Postage Meter System 5ett
able By Means of a Remote
lyGenerated Input Device)
Co., UK Patent Section 2', 173,738 [Secure Transport of Information Between Electronic Stations]
sport of 1nfor-IatlOn Bet
ween Elcctonic 5tations)
], Japanese Patent Publication No. 1986- [1986]
-240゜36, No. and 1986- [Showa 611-2
No. 40゜369 [Postage processing machine (PostageP
rocessing Machine)], the same name, and Japanese Patent Publication No. 172493/1987
No. [Mail Charg processing device (Mail Charg)]
e Processing Apparaius)]. However, to date, the accounting for the use of postage meters has been limited to ascending and descending meters.
Total life cycle recorded in register
There was no interest other than to provide cumulative information on meter usage and funds remaining. Therefore, when a single postage meter is used by multiple individuals or departments, there has been no convenient way to accurately account for the use of the meter for internal or external accounting purposes.

One system for controlling the postage meter network is SM
[Process and System for Controlling Postage Meters (P
rocess and 5ystea+ f'or C
(postage meters)
] is disclosed. This patent was filed in 1987.
Publication No. dated 7th of May.

Published under No. 0.207,492. The system disclosed herein uses an operator card with a microprocessor and associated memory, apparently with postal funds stored therein. That is, the bold is placed within this operator card. This operator card is a “connecting center”.
center)” and inserted into the corresponding postage meter. After verifying the access key security code, the meter charges against the funds bold placed in a fixed logical array on the postage card; Stamp the corresponding postage charges.However, at most the SMH Alkatil system only provides an indication of the total usage and funds left in the bold of any card; this system does not provide a more detailed analysis of meter usage. Furthermore, the SMH alkatyl system apparently does not appear to be able to provide
Postage Meter Involves moving from bold postage meter to card.

At this point, it is questionable whether this system will receive legal approval from the UK or US Post Offices. In addition to this, this SMH Alcatyl system required a redesign of the meter, i.e. moving the bold from the meter to the card and also including an integrated read/write and customer logic unit to interact with the operator card. be done. As a result, this SMH Alkatil system cannot be easily connected to existing postage meters, and obtaining legal approval for a redesigned SMH Alkatil postage meter, if at all possible, would be costly and time consuming. It costs a lot. In short, the SMH Alkatil system is not a satisfactory postage meter accounting system. Similar systems are disclosed in the UK and Japanese patent documents mentioned above. A similar system that does not use integrated circuit cards is published in Publication No. 14, 1987.

SMH Alkatyl European Patent Application No. 8610930°8 published under 0.208.231;
Control System) is disclosed in Go.

Accordingly, one object of the present invention is to provide a convenient postage accounting system.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a convenient postage accounting system that can be used with the existing safety features of electronic postage meters.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a postage accounting system that can be attached to existing electronic postage meters currently in use.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a postage accounting system that can provide detailed departmental accounting.

These and other desirable objectives and advantages are accomplished by a convenient yet secure postage accounting system.

(Means for Solving Problems and Actions/Effects) The objects and advantages of the present invention are partly shown herein, partly become obvious from now on, or can be understood as the invention is put into practice, and are also within the scope of the claims. This can be realized and achieved by the instruments shown in and the combination thereof.

In accordance with the present invention, a postage meter charge accounting system is provided in which one control unit controls one electronic postage meter and the memory and microprocessor on one or more integrated circuit cards (so-called " connected to a card read/write unit for receiving a smart card (")". An example of a "smart card" is disclosed in EP 198,642.

In a preferred embodiment, this control unit controls the operation of the postage meter unless a valid smart card carrying appropriate identification information is inserted into the card read/write unit to enable use with the corresponding meter. Deter. The smart card receives a signal from the meter indicating the postage price set and a signal confirming that the postage price has been stamped. The smart card sorts, collates, and stores information regarding the quantity of a particular item of monetary value and stamped postage received from the meter, all in a predetermined manner for later display and/or printing. It will be done. Preferably 1
Access to a smart card or meter may be provided to an individual account, eg, an individual division of a company, to monitor the usage of that division's postage meter.

Alternatively, a single postage meter may be shared between multiple individuals or separate businesses, with each individual or business being given his/her own smart card. Small businesses and individuals for whom it would be too expensive to purchase or maintain a single postage meter can share one meter, yet still have personal control over their personal finances, ensuring accuracy and accuracy in mailing and shipping operations. Secure accounting is guaranteed.

Additionally, a personal computer may be communicatively connected to the control unit and/or the card read/write unit to obtain detailed periodic summary accounting information.

Using the same general concept, postal authorities, private carriers, or delivery service companies can offer customers the use of postage meters on a 24-hour basis. In this preferred embodiment of the invention, the delivery service company or post office issues a postage meter of the type described herein to the customer on a 24-hour basis and enters through a door opened by inserting an appropriate encoded token. Provided in the room where possible. The smart card shown here additionally has some access to individual customer cards.
It also functions as an identification token that provides the appropriate identification code to open the door.

In operation, a smart card dedicated to a particular postage meter is assigned to an individual user of the postage meter service, such as a department within a company. To activate the postage meter, the user inserts the card into the read/write unit and, if necessary, enters the identification code into the keyboard of the control unit in a known manner.

After verifying that the card is valid for use with the postage meter, the control unit activates the postage meter.

The card then queries the postage meter via the controller and appropriate interface for postage pricing information and confirmation that the postage has been stamped. The card sorts and contrasts this postage meter usage information received from the meters and stores it in a preset format that meets the user's requirements. The card is placed in the card read/write unit to collect information until the end of any mail processing section, at which point it is removed. When a card is removed, the control unit disables the meter until another valid smart card is inserted into the read/write unit.

Through the control unit's keyboard, the user can request display of postage meter usage information stored on the card. This information can also simply be displayed on the meter display. In preferred embodiments involving a personal computer, information stored within the card can also be read from the card and written into the memory of the personal computer. In implementation,
All of the individual cards distributed to each department may be read by this method, for example at the end of any accounting period, and the records of all postage meters for that accounting period will be transmitted from the card to the personal computer. moreover,
It is also contemplated that the computer program on the personal computer may display and print this postage meter usage information in a variety of formats. - As an example, this personal computer has its accounting period 11i1
Details or summaries of postage meter usage by individual cardholders can be displayed and/or printed as desired. This includes daily meter usage details, specific stamped postage price quantities per day or period, or total meter usage per day or period.

Addition to check if the card system has accounted for all postage meter usage in any accounting period (
As a check (optional), one additional card can be used to examine the overall “Item Count” and “Total Settings” meter values at the beginning and end of each accounting period, and these values can be compared to the cumulative values collected from the cards. You can also cross-check information.

Since the bold is always retained within the postage meter, the control unit and associated card read/write unit forming part of the present invention are simply connected to existing electronic postage meters through a communication link in a well-known manner. be able to. Of course, it is also conceivable that future electronic meters will be designed and manufactured to house the control unit and the card read/write unit in one integrated structure.

However, because the traditional authorized bold/seal configuration remains within the meter, both the stand-alone and integrated postage meter accounting systems of the present invention comply with existing regulations.

In summary, the present invention discloses a postage accounting system that performs accounting for postage meter usage by any number of individual users. In addition to this, the system according to the invention can be easily connected to existing electronic postage meters and
It can also include a personal computer to generate comprehensive accounting reports.

The above general description and the following detailed description are illustrative of the invention and are not intended to limit the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Turning now to the description of the drawings, - an electronic postage meter connected to a control unit 14 according to the invention by way of example;
postage meter) 12S card read/write unit 16 and at least one integrated circuit card 18;
stal charge accounting 5y
stea+ ) 10 is shown. Postage meter usage information is stored on the card 18 and displayed when needed. In a preferred embodiment, the system according to the invention further obtains postage meter usage information and generates accounting reports such as those shown in FIGS. 3-5.
eports) and an associated readout unit 22 (see FIG. 2).

As shown in FIG. 1, electronic postage meter 12 includes a display 24. Examples of electronic postage meters suitable for use in connection with the present invention include: Included is an electronic postage meter sold by Pitney Boves Inc. under model designation 6500 or 6900, which is connected to control unit 14 via communication link 26 in a well-known manner.
No modification is required other than connecting to. control unit 1
4 is provided with a keyboard 28, which is connected to meter 1.
It is used in place of the control panel keyboard provided on the 2. The meter display 24, on the other hand, remains active. The control unit 14 is connected by a communication link 30 to an integrated circuit card read/write unit 16 and is provided with at least one integrated circuit, ie a so-called "smart" card 18 . The preferred smart card is a non-contact integrated circuit card containing memory space and is available from General Electric Co., Chelmsford, Essex.
tricCoIIpany). This General Electric Co. smart card includes an accounting-enabled entity designated for the use of a postage meter according to the present invention;
For example, restrictions on specific individuals, specific companies or corporations;
and/or effective security features can be provided to limit the use of any card to a particular postage meter. In addition to this, General Electric's smart cards can derive their power from the card read/write unit. Suitable smart card read/write units are available from smart card manufacturers.

In an implementation, a set of smart cards 18 dedicated for use with any meter 12 is installed in the postage meter 12.
be placed in an accountable entity that is authorized to use it. To use the meter, insert the smart card 18 into the card read/write unit 16 and enter the authorization code into the keyboard 28 of the control unit 14 if the system is equipped with this. The control unit prohibits the use of the meter 12 when an authorization code is not provided, which determines whether the card inserted into the card read/write unit is valid for use with the postage meter 12. It is also checked whether the authorization code entered by the user on the keyboard 28 is valid.

Once a valid user card is inserted, control unit 1
4 activates meter 12 for use.

Postage meters are marked with a postage stamp (postage stamp) by the usual method.
age Indlcla) is used to stamp
Appropriate data items are created in ascending and descending registers within the meter vault in a conventional manner. In addition, during each individual postage stamp transaction, postage meter usage information, such as the price and quantity of the stamped postage item, is sent to communication links 26 and 30, control unit 14, and card read/write unit 16. via the card 18 located on the card read/write unit.

The card is left in the card read/write unit to record the price and quantity of all items of postage processed through the postage processing session. When the card is removed from the read/write unit 16, the control unit 14 disables the meter 12.

The card stores the price and quantity of the postage item printed in a format designed to meet the unit's requirements. For example, the card may be programmed to store the quantity of particular item prices stamped, eg, the most common postage prices, along with the total number of those items stamped. The card can also be programmed to record the quantity and total number of all other items stamped, ie, item prices that are not routinely stamped, and the total number of all items stamped by the user. Since smart cards can easily be provided with a clock, all this information can be monitored over any period of time: daily, weekly, monthly, etc. Data stored on the smart card can be accessed by entering display commands on the keyboard 28 to display postage meter usage information on the postage meter display 24 for the accountable entity owning the smart card.

In another preferred embodiment of the invention, shown in FIG. 2, a computer 20, e.g.
A computer is connected to the second card read/write unit 22 by a communication link 32 in a known manner. Of course, the card continuous output/writing units 16 and 2
2 can be considered one and the same unit. The computer is provided with suitable programming known in the art for interacting with the card read/write unit 22 and for receiving postage meter usage information from the card 18 inserted into the card read/write unit 22. Ru. By this method, if necessary, all cards are periodically collected from the accountable entity and read into the card reader 22 to transfer postage meter usage information from the cards into computer memory.

The card is simultaneously erased during this information transfer process;
Prepared for the next accounting period.

The information thus transferred from the card to computer 20 constitutes an accounting of all usage of meter 12 during any accounting period. Preferably, the computer is programmed to store, display and/or print postage meter accounting information in a variety of formats. To this end, each computer 20 has a communication link 3.
7 and 39 to the display 33 and/or printer 35, and also to the keyboard 41. - For example, 3 for displaying and/or printing postage meter usage information for any accountable entity.
Two accounting forms are shown in Figures 3-5. In each of these examples, the accountable entity is a hypothetical “department 123”.
- Credit management”.

As shown in FIG. 3, computer 20 is programmed to generate an accounting report indicating the type and value of postage transactions conducted by an accountable entity during the accounting period. For example, as shown at 34, the identification of a virtual accountable entity is provided. Accounting period 36, here "October 1986," is given, and columns 38, 40, and 42 each identify the price, quantity, and total cumulative value of each type of stamped postage item. “Print Value”
Listed in column 30 are the prices for each type of postage item being monitored. Column 40 provides the quantity of the item corresponding to the item type listed in column 38, and column 42 provides the total price for each type of item. As shown, the sums 44 are given below the individual columns.

An example of the second accounting report is shown in FIG. In this example, a daily summary of activities is provided.

Columns 46, 48.50 are for this accounting period, here 19
The dates, quantities, and total values of postage items stamped by hypothetical department 123 during October 1986 are shown. This configuration utilizes a clock provided within the card 18 to store information on a daily basis. For any date listed in column 48, the total amount of items stamped and their monetary value are shown in columns 48 and 50, respectively. Of course, the total for this period can be given on line 52 as shown.

Turning to FIG. 5, a third example of an accounting report according to the present invention is shown. This more complex reporting format represents 1-! of postage meter usage for the period! provides a summary for each period, including the amount of value of a particular postage item stamped on any day of the period. In addition to this, cumulative usage information up to a yearly level is provided. FIG. 5 again shows the use of virtual department 123 during the period 1986-10. Column 54 displays the individual days on which postage meter usage occurred. Columns 56 and 58 contain
The quantity of the particular postage value item stamped on the corresponding date in column 54 is shown. Column 60 shows the amount of other types of postage items that make up the remaining value of postage stamped that day. Column 62 lists the total monetary value of all postage stamped on each individual date listed in column 54. The total amount and monetary value figures for this period are shown on line 52. As shown on line 64, the computer can be programmed to provide an aggregate amount and monetary value of stamped bosses on a yearly to daily basis. Programs for creating tables ranging from annual to daily levels based on previous periodic reports are well known in the art.

Of course, it is conceivable that item prices and others other than those shown above may be requested. It is also contemplated that other reporting formats may be required and valid, such as month-end or annual non-reporting of meter usage by all departments.

Preferably, an additional smart card is provided from meter 12 to be kept within the meter to collect and store the "item count" and total setting value. Thus, this data is collected at the beginning and end of each accounting period and this information is cross-checked to ensure that all meter usage has been accounted for. In addition to cross-checking total meter usage, this information can also be used to calculate usage information if a card is lost.

One aspect of the present invention that can be employed when multiple divisions of a company have their own smart cards and these divisions supply the card read/write facilities described above and another postage meter. In a preferred embodiment, credit limits are established within each individual card. In other words, if a user inserts a card into the meter and attempts a free delivery, the postage meter becomes disabled if this, if accomplished, would result in the total funds spent by the user exceeding the credit limit. be done. This facility is also useful when multiple companies share a single shipping meter.

In another preferred embodiment of the invention, each card has a budget number preset therein. This is not a credit limit and can be exceeded. The card, when inserted into the card read/write unit, is programmed to display (or print) a report containing the difference from the budget figure.

An example of such a report is shown in FIG. The different users identified in FIG. 6 by 1, D, 0011 to 0016 may be different departments of a single company sharing the same postage meter device, or they may be different individuals or companies.

FIG. 7 shows a relatively complex postage meter accounting system according to the present invention. The illustrated system includes a postage meter 100 connected to a user terminal 102 via a conventional communications link.

Electronic weight scale 104 and optional printer 1
06 is connected to the terminal 102. Instead of the printer 106, an atomic storage unit 108 including a tabletop microcomputer 110, its VDU 112, and a printer 114 can also be connected to the user terminal 102. User terminal 102 includes a keyboard 120, a display 122, and one card read/write unit 124. Also here is smart card S01
, SC2 and SCN are shown. This system can accommodate multiple users, each with their own smart card.

In another embodiment of the invention, not shown, one or more particular users' smart cards are programmed to operate in a particular manner requested by that user.

For example, a smart card may carry therein a program that calculates and maintains a separate subsidy total for postage spent on all items whose postage costs exceed a predetermined limit. As another example, if a particular user wishes to display or print his or her report in a particular format, the card may be inserted into the card read/write unit within that user's smart card. A program may also be included that is loaded into the terminal unit 102 and instructs its display portion to use the required format when the terminal unit 102 is activated.

Thus, the present invention provides a versatile multi-user postage meter accounting system. The system according to the invention can be integrated into existing electronic postage meters. moreover,
Because the bold always remains within the meter and only one external electrical connection is provided to the auxiliary accounting system, the system according to the invention does not conflict with existing postage meter regulations.

Of course, in the future it may be necessary to provide the meter, control unit and card read/write unit as one integrated meter. however,
The bold and postage stamp functions remain within the sensing values in a conventional manner, thus complying with existing postal regulations even when the control unit and card read/write unit are integrated within the meter housing.

In addition to this, this preferred embodiment including a computer connected to the card read/write unit allows for more sophisticated accounting than can be achieved by a stand alone card accounting system, and provides greater diversity in the types of accounting reports that can be generated. give.

The invention is not limited to the particular embodiments shown herein, and various modifications may be made within the scope of the claims without departing from the principles (or detracting from the principal benefits) of the invention. Of course, it can be done.

The principles of the invention are applicable to payments for a variety of delivery services, and the terms "postage" and "bostal" as used herein are to be interpreted in the broadest sense and are limited to post office activities. It's not a thing.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a postage meter accounting system according to one embodiment of the invention; FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a postage meter accounting system according to the invention; FIG. 3 is a first example of a postage meter accounting report; FIG. 4 is a second example of a postage meter accounting report; FIG. 6 is a third example of a shipping meter accounting report; FIG. 6 is a fourth example of a shipping meter accounting report; and FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a third embodiment of a system according to the present invention. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10... Postage accounting system, 12... Postage meter, 14... Control unit, 16.22... Card read/write unit, 18... Smart card,
20...Computer, 24.33...Display, 28.41...Keyboard, 35...Printer. Applicant's representative Mr. Sato Ft0.3 10731/86 12 +
, also 4/period (tolri 137
25.54Fta, 4 To/3+/86 2 7
0 1.43 1st edition fEl 7600.00
7340.24 259.76 Maro Koto T

32309 June 12, 1999-
Japan Patent Office Commissioner Yoshi 1) Tsuyoshi Moon 1 Display of the case 1999 Patent Application No. 29577 2 Name of the invention Postal F1 Gold Accounting System 3 Person making the amendment Relationship to the case Patent applicant Bitney, Bowes, Inko Holley ted shipping port
May 30, 1999 6 Description and drawings subject to amendment 7 Contents of amendment

Claims (1)

Claims: 1. An electronic postage meter; control unit means connected to the postage meter; at least one integrated circuit card; and receiving postage meter usage information from the card connected to the control unit means. A postage accounting system including integrated circuit card read/write unit means for reading and writing postage meter usage information thereto. 2. The control unit means activates the meter when an authorized card is inserted into the card read/write unit means, and disables the meter in the absence of an authorized card. The system according to claim 1, characterized in that: 3. The card read/write unit means receives the postage meter usage information from the postage meter, transmits the postage meter usage information to the card, and the card transmits the postage meter usage information to the card. 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the system stores the information in memory within the system. 4. The postage meter usage information stored in the card is read by the card write/read unit means and transmitted to the control unit means for display. system. 5. The control unit means transmits the postage meter usage information from the card to the electronic postage meter for display on a display panel of the meter.
The system described. 6. inserted into the card read/write unit means;
4. The system of claim 3, further comprising computer means connected to said card read/write unit means for receiving said stored postage meter usage information from said card when in communication therewith. . 7. The system of claim 6, wherein said computer means is configured to receive stored postage meter usage information from a plurality of integrated circuit cards. 8. The system of claim 7, wherein said computer means generates a postage meter usage accounting report from said postage meter usage information. 9. The system of claim 8, wherein the postage meter usage information includes a monetary value of stamped postage for each postage meter transaction. 10. that at least some of the cards include preset budget numbers therein, and that the computer means are designed to generate an accounting report that includes the difference between the postage meter usage information and the budget; 8. The system of claim 7, characterized in that: 11. The system of claim 3, wherein at least one of the cards is pre-programmed with format information, and wherein the control unit means performs the display according to the format information. 12. The system of claim 7, wherein at least one of the cards is preprogrammed with format information, and wherein the control unit means performs the display according to the format information. 13. an electronic postage meter; control unit means connected to and in communication with the postage meter; at least one integrated circuit card; receiving postage meter usage information from the card; first card read/write unit means for reading and writing postage meter usage information to the card; computer means for generating accounting reports; and postage meter usage from the card connected to the computer means. second card read/write unit means for reading information and providing said information to said computer means, said computer means generating said accounting report based on said postage meter usage information; Postage accounting system. 14. The system of claim 13 further comprising a plurality of integrated circuit cards. 15. The system of claim 14, wherein each of the plurality of cards is distributed to an accountable entity. 16. The second card read/write unit means reads postage meter usage information from the plurality of individual cards and transmits the postage meter usage information to the computer means. system. 17. The system of claim 16, wherein the postage meter usage information includes, for each postage meter transaction, the price of stamped postage at the time of the transaction. 18. A claim characterized in that the postage meter usage information further includes, for each date or period of postage meter usage, the quantity of one or more items of a particular postage price stamped on that date. The system according to item 17. 19. An electronic postage meter; control unit means connected to the postage meter for controlling the postage meter; a set of integrated circuit cards used exclusively with the meter; and the control unit means. card read/write unit means for reading postage meter usage information from or writing postage meter usage information to any one card inserted into the card read/write unit means connected to the card read/write unit means; said control unit means is designed to activate said meter for use when said one card is inserted into said card read/write unit means, and postage meter usage information is transmitted to said meter, said control unit means; and transmitted to said one card by read/write unit means;
A postage accounting system, wherein said one card stores said postage meter usage information; and further includes means for displaying said postage meter usage information read from said one card. 20. The means for displaying postage meter usage information further comprises computer means for reading the postage meter usage information from the card connected to the card read/write unit means. Claim 1
9. The system described in 9. 21. The system of claim 20, wherein said computer means generates a financial report based on said postage meter usage information read from said card. 22. means for disabling the meter when the integrated circuit card has a credit limit set therein and the user attempts a transaction which, if executed, would result in a violation of the credit limit; 2. The system of claim 1, further comprising: 23. Claim characterized in that said integrated card has a portion of memory containing a code, and that access to at least said postage meter and the location where said card read/write unit means is provided is obtained through a safety door. The system according to item 1.