(19)
(11) EP 1 047 025 A3

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88) Date of publication A3:
20.12.2000 Bulletin 2000/51

(43) Date of publication A2:
25.10.2000 Bulletin 2000/43

(21) Application number: 00108083.7

(22) Date of filing: 25.04.2000
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)7: G07B 17/04, G07B 17/00
(84) Designated Contracting States:
AT BE CH CY DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LI LU MC NL PT SE
Designated Extension States:
AL LT LV MK RO SI

(30) Priority: 23.04.1999 US 299199

(71) Applicant: PITNEY BOWES INC.
Stamford, Connecticut 06926-0700 (US)

(72) Inventors:
  • Sansone, Ronald P.
    Weston, Connecticut 06883 (US)
  • Law, Robert A. Jr.
    Ridgefield, Connecticut 06877 (US)

(74) Representative: HOFFMANN - EITLE 
Patent- und Rechtsanwälte Arabellastrasse 4
81925 München
81925 München (DE)

   


(54) Method and apparatus for detecting misuse of postal indica


(57) A method for detecting misuse of postal indicia, and an apparatus for executing the method. The method includes the steps of storing a first information signal indicative of a postal indicia on a mail piece to be posted, sensing a postal indicia on a received mail piece for providing a second information signal indicative of the sensed postal indicia, retrieving the first information signal, and comparing the first information signal with the second information signal for providing a misuse signal if the first information signal is not the same as the second information signal.






Search report