Patent · US Expired

System and method for providing an additional cryptography layer for postage meter refills

US5812990A · kind A · utility

33Cited by
18References
13Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateDec 23, 1996
Grant dateSep 22, 1998
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 23, 2016

Classification

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

Abstract

A system and method is provided for refilling a postage metering system that includes a host coupled to a postal security device (PSD). A user enters a first request for postage refill which is transmitted to a meter server. The meter server transmits a request for a PSD audit to the postage metering system. PSD audit data is signed with a first secret key stored in the PSD to produce an audit message that includes a first signature and the PSD audit data. The audit message is transmitted to the meter server which transmits the first signature to a key management system which then verifies the first signature using a second secret key stored in the key management system. The PSD audit data is verified at the meter server which then constructs a second request for meter refill and transmits it to a meter recharging data center. The meter recharging data center generates a refill combination and transmits it to the meter server. The refill combination is transmitted from the meter server to the key management system for signature using the second secret key to produce a refill message that is transmitted to the meter server. The refill message includes a second signature and the refi…

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