(19) |
 |
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(11) |
EP 0 690 417 A3 |
(12) |
EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
(88) |
Date of publication A3: |
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15.09.1999 Bulletin 1999/37 |
(43) |
Date of publication A2: |
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03.01.1996 Bulletin 1996/01 |
(22) |
Date of filing: 02.06.1995 |
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(84) |
Designated Contracting States: |
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DE FR GB |
(30) |
Priority: |
02.06.1994 US 252970
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(71) |
Applicant: NEOPOST INDUSTRIE |
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F-92220 Bagneux (FR) |
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(72) |
Inventors: |
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- Hillegass, Robert Leroy
San Leandro,
Californie 94577 (US)
- Weber, Jean Charles
San Francisco,
Californie 96117 (US)
- Abumehdi, Cyrus
Harlow,
Essex CM19 4PR (GB)
|
(74) |
Representative: Joly, Jean-Jacques et al |
|
Cabinet Beau de Loménie
158, rue de l'Université F-75340 Paris Cédex 07 F-75340 Paris Cédex 07 (FR) |
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(54) |
Postage meter having electronic access control security |
(57) A postage meter which can be accessed and reset electrically through use of a two-part
coded password sent by a postal employee to a meter manufacturer and an encrypted
security code sent by the meter manufacturer to the postal employee for use in putting
the postal meter in a reset mode for resetting postage registers in the meter. Enhanced
security is realized by the meter manufacturer validating the first part of the password
as identifying an authorized postal employee and/or post office station and the second
part as associated with a legitimate meter and then issuing the encrypted security
code to the postal employee for resetting the meter. The encrypted security code is
based on a variable amount of credit with which a register of the meter is to be reset
and the security code input to the meter is compared with a corresponding code generated
by the meter based on an input of the variable credit amount to ensure that the meter
is reset with an authorized credit amount.