Patent · US Expired

Electronic postage meter with weak memory indication

US4442501A · kind A · utility

15Cited by
8References
14Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateFeb 26, 1981
Grant dateApr 10, 1984
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 26, 2001

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG07B2017/00395
  • WIPO fieldControl
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

An electronic postage meter having an accounting section including a nonvolatile memory (NVM), computer means for reading the condition of the nonvolatile memory during a power-up cycle of the meter, and means in the meter for storing any signal which results from the reading of the nonvolatile memory by the computer means. In accordance with further aspects of the present invention, a method is provided for determining that an electronic postage meter has a weak nonvolatile memory, a data center and service department are adapted to receive signals from the meter indicating a weak nonvolatile memory, and an intercommunication system is established between the data center to receive signals from the meter indicating a weak nonvolatile memory.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.