System for printing encrypted messages with bar-code representation
US4660221A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 18, 1983 |
| Grant date | Apr 21, 1987 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 18, 2003 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG07B2017/00725
- WIPO fieldControl
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A system for the metering of encrypted postage and similar indicia includes a device for printing such indicia and a device for reading such indicia. The printing is accomplished with a bar-code printer driven by signals obtained from a keyboard and from an encryption circuit. The reading is accomplished with a bar-code reader to retreive the characters, and permit the comparison of the separated coded data with a reference code to determine the accuracy of the printed material. Thereby, forgery and alteration is inhibited. Both the data and the code are imprinted by a bar-code indicia, a portion of the code being set aside for the data and a portion of the bar-code being set aside for encryption purposes. Thereby, the two portions can readily be separated to allow for automatic reading of the bar code for extraction of the message, while also allowing for automatic verification by use of the encrypted material.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.