(19)

(11)

EP 1 224 631 A2

(12)

(88) Date of publication A3: 17.01.2002 (43) Date of publication: 24.07.2002 Bulletin 2002/30 (21) Application number: 00986795.3 (22) Date of filing: 18.10.2000

(51) International Patent Classification (IPC)7: G07B 17/00 (86) International application number: PCT/US0041/298 (87) International publication number: WO 0129/741 (26.04.2001 Gazette 2001/17)

(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: 18.10.1999 US 160040 P 18.10.1999 US 160038 P 20.10.1999 US 160491 P 20.10.1999 US 160708 P (71) Applicant: Stamps.Com Santa Monica, CA 90405 (US)	(72) Inventors: OGG, Craig, L. Long Beach, CA 90807 (US) LINGLE, Piers, C. Santa Monica, CA 90405 (US) BUSSELL, Keith, David Los Angeles, CA 90064 (US) (74) Representative: Müller, Wolfram Hubertus, Dipl.-Phys. et al PatentanwälteMaikowski & Ninnemann,Postfach 15 09 20 10671 Berlin 10671 Berlin (DE)