Patent · US Expired

Method for franking postal matter and device for carrying out the method

US5233657A · kind A · utility

71Cited by
6References
15Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateOct 25, 1991
Grant dateAug 3, 1993
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 25, 2011

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG07B2017/00967
  • WIPO fieldControl
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A method for franking postal matter uses an apparatus of a postage user having franking functions and being coupled through telecommunication devices with a remote data processing center for recording and releasing postage. A terminal device of a telecommunication system installed at a location of a user is coupled with a data processing center associated with a postage service for settling postage through telecommunications connections. Data is transmitted to the data processing center in one direction for requesting a central recordation of postage and for generating franking data. At least essential portions of a franking image corresponding to the requested franking are transmitted in another direction. The franking image is completed in the terminal device with stored image portions. A device for franking postal matter includes a terminal device of a postage user. The terminal device performs franking functions. A two-way telecommunication input device couples the terminal device with a remote data processing center for recording and releasing postage. The terminal device has a printer, a coding device for securing the two-way communication with cryptographic encoding, and a s…

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