Remote meter I/O configuration
US5107455A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 23, 1989 |
| Grant date | Apr 21, 1992 |
| 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 external devices in communication with postage meters, the external devices having an external device feature set that may be selectively enabled or disabled by software. The technique provides security so that any changes to the feature set is authorized. The meter is capable of being put into an I/O 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 I/O configuration number (IOCN), and can receive a desired new IOCN via keyboard entry. The meter calculates an encrypted I/O configuration request code that depends on the new IOCN. The I/O configuration request code, when communicated to a data center computer along with other validating identification information, is checked by the data center computer which computes the I/O configuration request code using the same algorithm. If the two values agree, the data center computer calculates an encrypted I/O configuration enable code that depends on the meter serial number. This is communicated to the meter, which receives the I/O configuration enable code and also calculates a I/O …
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.