Claims
- 1. A method for printing an indicium with a printer coupled to a personal computer (PC), the method comprising the steps of:generating indicium data in a postal security device coupled to the PC; sending the indicium data from the postal security device to the PC; generating an indicium bar code relating to the indicium data; creating in the PC memory a printable image of a valid indicium including the indicium bar code; printing the printable image; and destroying the printable image in the PC memory as soon as the printable image has been printed.
- 2. The method of claim 1 comprising the further steps of:monitoring messages of the PC operating system for printing activity; modifying the printable image after a first copy of the printable image has been printed.
- 3. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of creating a printable image comprises the steps of:determining if more than one copy of the indicium is to be printed; and changing the number of copies to be printed to one when more than one copy is determined.
- 4. The method of claim of claim 1 wherein the step of creating a printable image comprises the step of rendering an indicium image to a memory device context.
- 5. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of destroying comprises the step of overwriting the printable image with other information.
- 6. The method of claim 4 wherein the step of destroying comprises the step of overwriting the memory device context.
- 7. The method of claim 1 comprising the further step of debiting postal funds and signing indicium data and storing the signed indicium data in a transaction record before generating the barcode.
RELATED APPLICATIONS
The present application is related to the following U.S. patent applications Ser. Nos. 08/575,106 (which issued as U.S. Pat. No. 5,625,694), Ser. No. 08/575,107 (which issued as U.S. Pat. No. 5,781,438); (which issued as U.S. Pat. No. 5,835,604); (which issued as U.S. Pat. No. 5,742,683); (which issued as U.S. Pat. No. 5,793 867), 08/574,746, 08/574,745, 08/575,110, 08/574,743, 08/575,112, 08/575,109, which issued as U.S. Pat. No. 5,835,689) 08/575,104, and 08/574,749 (which issued as U.S. Pat. No. 5,590,198), all filed Dec. 18, 1995, and assigned to the assignee of the present invention., and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/922,875, filed concurrently herewith.
US Referenced Citations (1)
Number |
Name |
Date |
Kind |
6055520 |
Heiden et al. |
Apr 2000 |
A |