Claims
- 1. A method for customizing a computerized system having a plurality of operating features, including the steps of:
selecting at least one independent parameter from a predefined list of independent parameters for selecting at least one of the operating features of the customized computerized system, and storing the selected independent parameter in a parameter set; selecting at least one secondary parameter from a predefined list of secondary parameters for enabling the at least one of the selected operating features, wherein the secondary parameters are associated with the at least one independent parameter, and storing the at least one selected secondary parameter in the parameter set; determining at least one dependent parameter for configuring the computerized system, wherein the dependent parameter is generated from a predefined list of dependent parameters in accordance with the parameter set, and adding the dependent parameter to the parameter set; installing a compilation of parameters in the customized computerized system, the compilation of parameters generated from the parameter set, wherein the compilation of parameters enable the selected operating features of the customized computerized system.
- 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of installing the compilation of parameters in the customized computerized system includes the step of storing the compilation of parameters in a chip card for installing in the customized computerized system.
- 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of installing the compilation of parameters in the customized computerized system includes the steps of:
transmitting the parameter set to a third party; receiving the compilation of parameters from the third party, wherein the compilation of parameters is an authorization code; and entering the authorization code in the computerized system to enable the selected operating features.
- 4. The method of claim 3, wherein the step of transmitting the parameter set to the third party includes
the step of transmitting the parameter set via the internet, and wherein the step of receiving an authorization code from the third party includes receiving the authorization code via the internet.
- 5. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of selecting at least one secondary parameter, further includes the steps of:
selecting carrier parameters for defining at least one carrier operating feature; and selecting default parameters for defining the independent parameters which are required for enabling operating features of the customized computerized system and have not been selected.
- 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of selecting at least one dependent parameter includes the steps of:
determining a unique serial number for the at least one of the selected operating features of the customized computerized system, and adding the unique serial number to the parameter set.
- 7. The method of claim 1, wherein the customized computerized system is a franking system.
- 8. A method for customizing a franking system, comprising the steps of:
providing a franking system having a plurality of disabled operating features; selecting at least one of the plurality of disabled operating features from the plurality of disabled operating features for enabling for use in the franking system; storing the at least one of the selected disabled operating features in a parameter set; generating an authorization code based on the parameter set for enabling the selected disabled operating features of the franking system; and entering the authorization code into the franking system wherein each of the selected disabled operating features are enabled.
- 9. The method of claim 8, wherein in the step of providing the franking system having at least one of a plurality of disabled operating features, operating features can include a dynamic scale or a static scale.
- 10. The method of claim 8, wherein in the step of providing the franking system having a plurality of disabled operating features, one of the operating features is a type of accounting system.
- 11. The method of claim 8, wherein the step of generating an authorization code based on the parameter set for enabling the selected operating features of the franking system includes the steps of:
transmitting the parameter set to a third party; and receiving the authorization code from the third party.
- 12. The method of claim 11, wherein in the step of transmitting the parameter set to a third party, the third party is a franking system manufacturer.
- 13. The method of claim 8, wherein the step of generating the authorization code includes the steps of:
providing the parameter set to a third party via an internet system; and receiving the authorization code from the third party via the internet system.
- 14. The method of claim 8, wherein for each of the selected disabled operating features in the parameter set, determining if an additional operating feature is necessary for operation of the selected operating features, and if so, including the additional operating feature in the parameter set.
- 15. The method of claim 14, wherein the step of determining if an additional operating feature is necessary for operation of the selected operating features includes determining a postal carrier for which the franking system will be used.
- 16. The method of claim 8, further including the step of determining a unique serial number for the at least one of the selected disabled operating features and the additional operating feature for each of the selected disabled operating features, and adding the unique serial number to the parameter set.
- 17. The method of claim 8, wherein in the step of entering the authorization code into the franking system, the entry of the authorization code determines the enabling and disabling of a unique group of operating features, which are not the same as the operating features which are enabled and disabled by the entry of another authorization code.
- 18. The method of claim 8, wherein in the step of entering the authorization code into the franking system, the authorization code is received from a data carrier into the franking system.
- 19. The method of claim 8, wherein in the step of entering the authorization code into the franking system, the authorization code is entered into the franking system from a franking system input device.
- 20. The method of claim 8, wherein in the step of providing the franking system having a plurality of disabled operating features, one of the operating features is a letter flow speed.
- 21. The method of claim 8, wherein in the step of providing the franking system having a plurality of disabled operating features, one of the operating features is a rate package.
- 22. The method of claim 8, wherein in the step of providing the franking system having a plurality of disabled operating features, one of the operating features static weighing for a dynamic scale.
- 23. The method of claim 8, wherein the step of entering an authorization code into the franking system disables the operation of unauthorized operating features and unauthorized devices connected to the franking system.
- 24. A production system for generating a customized computerized system having a plurality of flexible operating features, comprising:
a customer sheet system for recording the selection of an operating feature from a list of predefined operating features, and for generating at least one independent parameter; a parameter set for storing the at least one independent parameter; a manufacturer parameter system for providing at least one secondary parameter associated with the at least one independent parameter for implementing the selected operating feature, and for storing the at least one secondary parameter in the parameter set; a configuration parameter system for generating at least one dependent parameter based on the independent parameter and the secondary parameter for configuring the customized computerized system, and for adding the at least one dependent parameter to the parameter set; and an input device for entering a compilation of parameters in the customized computerized system for configuring the customized computerized system, the compilation of parameters generated from the parameter set by the configuration parameter system.
- 25. The production system of claim 24, wherein the secondary parameters include carrier parameters for defining at least one carrier operating feature, current component parameters for defining a group of components for assembling the customized computerized system, and default parameters for defining independent parameters which are required and have not been selected.
- 26. The production system of claim 25, wherein the input device is at least one of a keyboard, an audio input device, a video input device, a CD-ROM reader, a chip card reader, or a computer network.
- 27. The production system of claim 24, wherein the compilation of parameters is an authorization code.
- 28. The production system of claim 24, wherein the customized computerized system is a franking system.
- 29. A method of exchanging a primary computerized system having enabled and disabled operating features for a secondary computerized system having identical enabled and disabled operating features, comprising the steps of:
accessing customization parameters of the primary computerized system which define the enabled and the disabled operating features of the primary computerized system; storing the customization parameters for preserving the enabled and disabled operating features of the primary computerized system; and installing the customization parameters in a secondary computerized system for duplicating the enabled and disabled operating features of the primary computerized system in the secondary computerized system by loading the stored customization parameters into the secondary computerized system.
- 30. The method of claim 29, wherein the primary computerized system is a franking system and the secondary computerized system is another franking system.
- 31. A method for enabling an additional operating feature of a franking system, comprising the steps of:
providing a franking system having at least one disabled operating feature, and at least one operating feature which is enabled and available for use; selecting the new operating feature for adding to the franking system from the at least one disabled operating feature; generating an authorization code associated with the enabled operating features and the selected disabled operating feature for enabling the selected disabled operating feature and the enabled operating features; and entering the authorization code into the franking system for enabling the selected disabled operating feature and the enabled operating features.
- 32. The method of claim 31, wherein the step of generating an authorization code includes the step of generating a revenue request for the selected disabled operating feature.
- 33. The method of claim 31, wherein the step of generating an authorization code includes the steps of:
transmitting the enabled operating features and the selected disabled operating feature to a third party; and receiving the authorization code from the third party.
- 34. The method of claim 33, wherein in the step of transmitting the enabled operating features and the selected disabled operating feature to the third party, the third party is a franking system manufacturer.
- 35. The method of claim 33, wherein the step of transmitting the enabled operating features and the selected disabled operating feature to the third party includes the step of transmitting via the internet to the third party.
- 36. The method of claim 33, wherein the step of receiving the authorization code from the third party includes the step of receiving the authorization code via an internet.
- 37. The method of claim 31, wherein the step of entering the authorization code in to the franking system further includes the steps of:
creating an update chip card including the authorization code for enabling the disabled operating feature for use; and inserting the update chip card into the franking system and loading the authorization code from the chip card into the franking system.
- 38. The method of claim 31, wherein the step of entering the authorization code into the franking system disables the operation of unauthorized operating features and devices connected to the franking system.
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priority of the following U.S. provisional patent applications:
[0002] Ser. No. 60/270,796 filed on Feb. 23, 2001,
[0003] Ser. No. 60/277,806 filed on Mar. 22, 2001,
[0004] Ser. No. 60/277,841 filed on Mar. 22, 2001,
[0005] Ser. No. 60/277,873 filed on Mar. 22, 2001,
[0006] Ser. No. 60/277,931 filed on Mar. 22, 2001,
[0007] Ser. No. 60/277,946 filed on Mar. 22, 2001, and
[0008] Ser. No. 60/338,892 filed on Nov. 5, 2001.
Provisional Applications (7)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
|
60270796 |
Feb 2001 |
US |
|
60277806 |
Mar 2001 |
US |
|
60277841 |
Mar 2001 |
US |
|
60277873 |
Mar 2001 |
US |
|
60277931 |
Mar 2001 |
US |
|
60277946 |
Mar 2001 |
US |
|
60338892 |
Nov 2001 |
US |