Method for preventing fraudulent printing of a postage indicium displayed on a personal computer
US5988897A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 3, 1997 |
| Grant date | Nov 23, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 3, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG07B2017/00298
- WIPO fieldControl
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A method for printing an IBIP indicium in an IBIP open metering system includes the steps of obtaining a bit mapped image of a fixed graphic portion of the indicium and drawing a bit mapped image of a variable portion of the indicium using indicium data elements. Then it is determined whether the indicium is to be printed of displayed. If displayed, a bit mapped image of a representative bar code is generated; and a message that indicates the barcode is not valid for printing is applied to the bit mapped image of the representative bar code. The bit mapped image of the indicium can safely be displayed. Whenever an IBIP indicium is being displayed, the whole indicium is shown on the screen with a message, such as "NOT VALID FOR MAILING" superimposed over the PDF bar code area. This gives the user means to visually design the mailpiece with an IBIP indicia in its to-be-printed form but with a distinguishing characteristic that makes it impossible for a postal worker to mistake it for a valid IBIP indicium should it be copied by standard user interface functions and printed.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.