Patent · US Expired

Postage metering system

US5917924A · kind A · utility

36Cited by
8References
7Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateJan 30, 1997
Grant dateJun 29, 1999
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 30, 2017

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG07B2017/00838
  • WIPO fieldControl
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A postage meter system including a postage meter is provided with recognition means to recognise a personal characteristic. The recognition means is operated in an initial phase to read a personal characteristic of a person and generates and stores a personal code corresponding to that personal characteristic. In operation of the postage meter the recognition means generates an input code in respect of the personal characteristic of a potential user of the meter and compares the input code with previously stored personal codes. If the input code matches one of the previously stored codes the postage meter is enabled for operation to carry out postage transactions. Information including the personal code may be included in a printed franking impression on mail items which can then be checked by the postal authority.

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