(19)
(11) EP 0 516 403 A3

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88) Date of publication A3:
13.10.1993 Bulletin 1993/41

(43) Date of publication A2:
02.12.1992 Bulletin 1992/49

(21) Application number: 92304809.4

(22) Date of filing: 28.05.1992
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)5: G07B 17/02
(84) Designated Contracting States:
CH DE FR GB LI

(30) Priority: 29.05.1991 GB 9111490

(71) Applicant: NEOPOST LIMITED
Romford, Essex RM1 2AR (GB)

(72) Inventor:
  • Abumehdi, Cyrus
    Harlow, Essex CM19 4PR (GB)

(74) Representative: Loughrey, Richard Vivian Patrick et al
HUGHES CLARK & CO 114-118 Southampton Row
London WC1B 5AA
London WC1B 5AA (GB)


(56) References cited: : 
   
       


    (54) Method of remote diagnostics for franking machines


    (57) A franking machine system is disclosed in which each franking machine (10₁-10n) includes a fault history memory (22) into which fault codes are written as each fault occurs. Periodically the accumulated fault codes in the memory (22) are read out and transmitted to a remote central fault analysis computer (24) to generate a prediction of faults likely to occur in each franking machine (10₁-10n). Where the franking machines (10₁-10n) periodically communicate with a remote re-setting computer (20) for re-setting credit in the franking machines (10₁-10n), the re-setting computer (20) includes storage means (23) to store the fault histories from each of the franking machines (10₁-10n) and each credit re-setting operation with a franking machine (10₁-10n) includes transmission to the re-setting computer (20) and writing into the storage means (23) thereof of the fault history of that franking machine (10₁-10n). The fault analysis computer (24) periodically communicates with the re-setting computer (20) to receive the fault histories stored therein of the franking machines (10₁-10n).






    Search report