Remote meter configuration
US5077660A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 23, 1989 |
| Grant date | Dec 31, 1991 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 23, 2009 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG07B2017/00935
- WIPO fieldControl
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A technique for reconfiguring in the field postage meters having a set of features that may be selectively enabled or disabled by software. The technique provides security so that the meter company will always have a correct record of the configuration of the meter in the field. The meter is capable of being put into a configuration mode by suitable entries from the keyboard, in which mode it is inhibited from printing postage. The meter has a storage register for a current or old meter type, and can receive a desired new meter type via keyboard entry. The meter generates an encrypted configuration request code that is partially based on the values of the old and new meter types. The configuration request code, when communicated to the data center computer along with other validating identification information, is checked by the data center computer which generates the configuration request code using the same algorithm. If the two values agree, the data center computer generates an encrypted configuration enable code. This is communicated to the meter, which receives the computer generated configuration enable code and also generates an internal configuration enable code using the…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.