EP 0493943 A2 19920708 - Postage meter monitoring and control.
Title (en)
Postage meter monitoring and control.
Title (de)
Überwachung und Steuerung von Frankiermaschinen.
Title (fr)
Surveillance et commande de machines à affranchir.
Publication
Application
Priority
GB 9028223 A 19901231
Abstract (en)
A method of monitoring use of postage meter (10) during a period of time is disclosed in which, at the start of the period, meter identification and accounting data is read from the meter and input to a control computer (24) and at the end of the period meter identification and updated accounting data is read from the meter and input to the control computer (24). A meter record relating to use of all meters monitored by the control computer is stored in the computer. Consecutive inputs to the computer of accounting data relating to the meter are compared and if the second of two inputs relates to accounting data at the end of a period, the second input is written to the meter record in the computer. Conveniently the data may be conveyed from the meter to the computer by means of portable memory device (22). The memory may carry a pseudo-random number from the computer which is compared with a pseudo-random number generated in the meter and if the comparison is successful permits operation of the meter for franking.
IPC 1-7
IPC 8 full level
G07B 17/00 (2006.01)
CPC (source: EP)
G07B 17/0008 (2013.01); G07B 2017/00169 (2013.01); G07B 2017/00177 (2013.01); G07B 2017/00919 (2013.01)
Designated contracting state (EPC)
CH DE FR GB LI
DOCDB simple family (publication)
EP 0493943 A2 19920708; EP 0493943 A3 19920729; EP 0493943 B1 19961002; DE 69122486 D1 19961107; DE 69122486 T2 19970206; GB 2251212 A 19920701; GB 2251212 B 19941005; GB 9028223 D0 19910213
DOCDB simple family (application)
EP 91311846 A 19911220; DE 69122486 T 19911220; GB 9028223 A 19901231