Method for shipping chip cards

US5362947A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Francotvp-Postalia GmbH · DE

Inventors

• Klaus Dietrich · Munich, DE
• Stephan Gunther · Berlin, DE
• Norbert Knoth · Berlin, DE
• Friedrich-Viktor Miehe · Berlin, DE
• Wolfgang Thiel · Köngen, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Jan 17, 1992
• Grant date: Nov 8, 1994
• Expiry date: Jan 17, 2012

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G07B2017/00629
• WIPO field: Control
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A method for sending electrically stored data on flat information carriers requiring postal franking includes transmitting communication data from a personal computer into a memory of an information carrier with a read-write module. Associated shipping data are transmitted from the personal computer to a postage meter device synchronously with the transmission of the communication data. Postal charges for sending the information carrier are accounted for with the postage meter device on the basis of the shipping data. Control data are transmitted from the postage meter device to a printer for printing a postage imprint on each item intended for sending the information carrier. In an apparatus for performing the method, the read-write module may be integrated into the personal computer; the postage meter device may be integrated into the personal computer; the read-write module and the postage meter device may form a structural unit; and the read-write module, the postage meter device and an enveloping station may form a structural unit.