Interchangeable postage calculating module and method for data transmission

US6064991A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Francotyp-Postalia GmbH · DE

Inventors

• Frank Reisinger · Oranienburg, DE
• Olaf Turner · Berlin, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: May 19, 1997
• Grant date: May 16, 2000
• Expiry date: May 19, 2017

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G07B2017/00701
• WIPO field: Control
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

An interchangeable postage calculating module and a corresponding method for data transmission to a basic device such as a postage meter machine or a scale, allow a high degree of flexibility in accommodating future changes in postage calculation formats and techniques. The interchangeable postage calculating module is fashioned as a postage fee and calculation module that the customer can replace or plug into the basic device, and contains an internal processing unit and a non-volatile memory for the calculating program and for postage fee schedule table data. The module is programmed to supply data for at least one carrier from the interchangeable postage calculating module for display modification in the basic device on the basis of user inputs with respect to service demands made on a carrier and for processing the supplied data in the basic device, to receive weight data and shipping data for a piece of mail, to calculate postage value on the basis of the postage fee schedule table data and calculating structure of the desired carrier in the interchangeable postage calculating module, and to supply data including the postage value of at least one carrier from the interchangeab…