PC-based open metering system and method
US6157919A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 19, 1995 |
| Grant date | Dec 5, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 19, 2015 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG07B2017/00427
- WIPO fieldControl
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A transaction evidencing system includes a personal computer (PC) comprising a processor, memory and hard drive, with a plurality of non-metering application programs that selectively run on the PC. An unsecured printer is operatively coupled to the PC for printing in accordance with the non-metering application programs. A portable vault card that is removably coupled to the PC is programmed to generate tokens generation and perform transaction accounting. An application interface module in the PC, which interfaces with the non-metering application programs, issues a request for digital tokens in response to requests for indicia from a non-metering application program. A secure communications module in the PC, which securely communicates with the vault card when the vault card is coupled to the PC, sends the request for digital token to the vault card and receives a digital token generated by the vault card. An indicia bitmap generation module generates an indicia bitmap in the PC from the digital token and stores it in memory. The indicia bitmap is accessed by the non-metering application program when a print indicia operation is selected. A transaction capture module in the PC s…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.