Method and apparatus for authentication of postage accounting reports

US5778066A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• F.M.E. Corporation · US

Inventors

• Chandrakant J. Shah · Stockton, US
• Dennis T. Gilham · Brentwood, GB

Key dates

• Filing date: Nov 22, 1995
• Grant date: Jul 7, 1998
• Expiry date: Nov 22, 2015

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G07B2017/00967
• WIPO field: Control
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

Apparatus and method for authentication of postage accounting reports. Postage accounting report data is authenticated by first assembling authentication mark data from the postage accounting report data and encrypting the resultant information to form an authentication mark. A physical representation of that authentication mark is then affixed to a postage accounting report generated by a postage accounting report system. The postage accounting report may subsequently be authenticated by communicating the authentication mark to a responsible party (for example, a postal authority or manufacturer) for purposes of decrypting the authentication mark and authenticating the postage accounting report data using the decrypted information.