Claims
- 1. A postage metering system comprising:
a central processing system that includes
a central computer, and a secure metering device (SMD) operatively coupled to the central computer and configured to store accounting information; and a remote postage printing device (RPPD) operatively coupled to the SMD via a wireless communications link, the RPPD configured to
receive a user request for postage, transmit the user request to the SMD via the wireless communications link, receive a secure postage indicium from the SMD, and direct printing of an indicium.
- 2. The system of claim 1, further comprising:
a printer coupled to the RPPD and configured to print the indicium when directed.
- 3. The system of claim 1, wherein the central processing system further includes a first wireless communications device coupled to the central computer, and wherein the RPPD includes a second wireless communications device.
- 4. The system of claim 3, wherein the first and second wireless communications devices are operated at an RF frequency.
- 5. The system of claim 1 wherein the SMD includes
revenue registers configured to store the accounting information, a processor configured to receive the accounting information, direct generation of the secure postage indicium having a value, and account for the indicium value, and an enclosure that houses the processor and the revenue registers.
- 6. The system of claim 1 wherein the SMD is enclosed within the central computer.
- 7. The system of claim 1, wherein the RPPD includes
a processor, a print unit coupled to the processor, a wireless communications device coupled to the processor, and a housing that encloses the processor, printing unit, and communications device.
- 8. The system of claim 7, wherein the RPPD is housed in a portable housing.
- 9. The system of claim 1, wherein the RPPD is configured as a hand-held unit.
- 10. The system of claim 1, wherein the SMD is further configured to authenticate and process the user request from the RPPD.
- 11. The system of claim 1, wherein the secure postage indicium includes a digital signature.
- 12. The system of claim 1, wherein the secure postage indicium is generated using encryption.
- 13. The system of claim 1, wherein the secure postage indicium includes an identifier indicative of accounted for payment of the indicium.
- 14. The system of claim 1, wherein the secure postage indicium is represented by a file containing digital data.
- 15. The system of claim 1, wherein the RPPD is identified by a unique identifier.
- 16. The system of claim 1, wherein the SMD communicates with the central computer via a secure communications link.
- 17. The system of claim 1, wherein the RPPD transmits the user request along with a digital signature to the SMD.
- 18. A postage metering system comprising:
a central processing system that includes
a central computer; at least one secure metering device (SMD) operatively coupled to the central computer, each SMD configured to store postal accounting information for a particular set of users; and a plurality of remote postage printing devices (RPPDs) operatively coupled to the at least one SMD via a wireless communications link, each RPPD configured to
receive a user request for postage, transmit the user request to a particular SMD via the wireless communications link, receive a secure postage indicium from the particular SMD, and direct printing of the requested indicium.
- 19. The system of claim 1, wherein each SMD is configured to process user requests from a particular set of RPPDs.
- 20. A method for remotely printing postage comprising:
receiving a user request for postage at a remote postage printing device (RPPD); sending the user request from the RPPD to a central secure metering device (CSMD) via a wireless communications link; receiving a secure postage indicium from the CSMD; verifying an authenticity of the secure postage indicium; and directing printing of a postage indicium in accordance with the verified secure postage indicium.
- 21. The method of claim 20, further comprising:
authenticating the user request from the RPPD.
- 22. The method of claim 21, further comprising
generating the secure postage indicium in response to the authenticated user request.
- 23. The method of claim 22, wherein the secure postage indicium is generated using digital signature.
- 24. The method of claim 22, wherein the secure postage indicium is generated using encryption.
Parent Case Info
[0001] This application claims priority from the following U.S. provisional and non-provisional applications, the disclosures of which, including software appendices and all attached documents, are incorporated by reference in their entirety for all purposes:
[0002] Application Serial No. 60/093,849, entitled “Method and Apparatus for Postage Label Authentication,” filed Jul. 22, 1998, of J P Leon and David A. Coolidge;
[0003] Application Serial No. 60/094,065, entitled “Method and Apparatus for Resetting Postage Meter,” filed Jul. 24, 1998, of J P Leon;
[0004] Application Serial No. 60/094,073, entitled “Method, Apparatus, and Code for Maintaining Secure Postage Information,” filed Jul. 24, 1998, of J P Leon, Albert L. Pion, and Elizabeth A. Simon;
[0005] Application Serial No. 60/094,116, entitled “Method and Apparatus for Dockable Secure Metering Device,” filed Jul. 24, 1998, of J P Leon;
[0006] Application Serial No. 60/094,120, entitled “Method and Apparatus for Remotely Printing Postage Indicia,” filed Jul. 24, 1998, of Chandrakant J. Shah, J P Leon, and David A. Coolidge;
[0007] Application Serial No. 60/094,122, entitled “Postage Metering System Employing Positional Information,” filed Jul. 24, 1998, of J P Leon;
[0008] Application Serial No. 60/094,127, entitled “Method and Apparatus for Operating a Removable Secure Metering Device,” filed Jul. 24, 1998, of J P Leon;
[0009] Application Ser. No. 09/012,037, entitled “Method and Apparatus for a Modular Postage Accounting System,” filed Jan. 22, 1998, of Chandrakant J. Shah and Keith B. Robertson;
[0010] Application Ser. No. 09/122,168, “Method and Apparatus for Placing Automated Service Call for Postage Meter and Base,” filed Jul. 24, 1998, of Chandrakant J. Shah; and
[0011] Application Ser. No. 09/250,990, entitled “Postage Meter System,” filed Feb. 16, 1999, of J P Leon.
[0012] The following related patent applications filed on the same day herewith are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety for all purposes:
[0013] U.S. patent application Ser. No. (Attorney Docket No. 6969-159.1), entitled “Method and Apparatus for Operating a Secure Metering Device,” of J P Leon;
[0014] U.S. patent application Ser. No. (Attorney Docket No. 6969-160.1), entitled “Method and Apparatus for Postage Label Authentication,” of J P Leon;
[0015] U.S. patent application Ser. No. (Attorney Docket No. 6969-161.1), entitled “Method, Apparatus, and Code for Maintaining Secure Postage Data,” of J P Leon, Albert L. Pion, and Elizabeth A. Simon;
[0016] U.S. patent application Ser. No. (Attorney Docket No. 6969-162.1), entitled “Postage Metering System Employing Positional Information,” of J P Leon; and
[0017] U.S. patent application Ser. No. (Attorney Docket No. 6969-163.1), entitled “Method and Apparatus for Resetting Postage Meter,” of J P Leon.
Provisional Applications (7)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
|
60093849 |
Jul 1998 |
US |
|
60094065 |
Jul 1998 |
US |
|
60094073 |
Jul 1998 |
US |
|
60094116 |
Jul 1998 |
US |
|
60094120 |
Jul 1998 |
US |
|
60094122 |
Jul 1998 |
US |
|
60094127 |
Jul 1998 |
US |
Continuations (3)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09012037 |
Jan 1998 |
US |
Child |
09358511 |
Jul 1999 |
US |
Parent |
09122168 |
Jul 1998 |
US |
Child |
09358511 |
Jul 1999 |
US |
Parent |
09250990 |
Feb 1999 |
US |
Child |
09358511 |
Jul 1999 |
US |