EP0811955A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Secure apparatus and method for printing value with a value printer
Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc
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Filing: 1997-06-06
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2017-06-06
Abstract
Abstract A system and method of printing value such as postage using a value meter (10) connectable to communicate with a host terminal (12) which includes a printer (24). The postage meter (10), sometimes referred to as a vault, includes a processor (14) and storage (16) and the host terminal includes a processor (22) and storage (30). The printer (24) is provided with a secure non-volatile random access storage (30) and a processor (28) and a key is stored in the non-volatile random access storage (30). The key is changed for every print cycle so that it is impossible to print unauthorized postage on the basis of possession of the key used to print the last postage. A change of key is effected by reading the key from the non-volatile random access storage (30) in the printer (24) and changing the key, such as by a pseudo-random number generator, to provide a second key. The second key is stored in the non-volatile random access storage (30) and then encrypted by an encryption scheme known to an authorized postage meter. The encrypted second key is transmitted to an authorized postage meter wherein it is decrypted pursuant to the decryption scheme known to the authorized postage meter. Print data may be securely transmitted to the host (12) and printer (24) by using the decrypted second key to convert the data to be printed. This is then sent to the printer where it is deconverted using the second key to recover the data to be printed.
Inventors
- 👤 Robert A. Cordery
- 👤 Thomas A. D'andrea
- 👤 Edward J. Naclerio
- 👤 Maria P. Parkos
- 👤 John H. Steinmetz
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 07:14
CPC Classifications
G; G07; G07B; G07B17/00; G07B17/00733; G07B17/00185; G07B17/00314; G07B17/00459; G07B17/00508; G07B2017/00322; G07B2017/0079; G07B2017/00806; G07B2017/00846; G07B2017/00854; G07B2017/0087; G07B2017/00919
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
182 words
In a value printing system comprising a value meter device (10) connectable to communicate with a host device (12) which includes a printer device (24) for printing value indicia pursuant to signals from said value meter device (10), said value meter device including a processor (14) and storage (16), and said host device (12) including a processor (22) and storage (30), a method comprising the steps of: providing in said printer device (24) a secure non-volatile random access storage (30) connected to a processor (28); storing a key in said printer device non-volatile random access storage (30); initiating a print cycle of said printer device (24) to print value indicia including print data transmitted by said value metering device (10) to said printing device (24) following mutual authentication of said key by said value meter device (10) and said printer device (24) and authentication of said print data by said printer device; printing said indicia including said print data and terminating said print cycle; and changing said key in said printer device non-volatile random access storage (30) before initiating another print cycle.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
95 words
A method according to Claim 1, wherein said changing of said key and said authentication includes the steps of: reading said key from said non-volatile random access storage (30) in said printer device (24); changing said key to provide a second key; storing said second key in said non-volatile random access storage (30) in said printer device (24); encrypting said second key by an encryption protocol known to an authorized value metering device; sending the encrypted second key to an authorized value metering device; and decrypting said second key in said authorized value metering device.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
64 words
A method according to Claim 2 including the steps of: using the decrypted second key to convert data to be printed; sending said data to be printed converted with said second key to said printer device (24); deconverting said converted data to be printed in said printer device (24) with said second key to recover the data to be printed; and printing said data.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method according to Claim 2 or 3, wherein said key is changed to said second key by a pseudo-random number generator in said printer device.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method according to Claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, wherein said processor (28) connected to said non-volatile random access storage (30) is provided in said printing device (24).
Claim 6
Independent Claim
38 words
A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said value printing system comprises a mailing system and said value meter device (10) comprises a postage meter and said printer device comprises a postage printer (24).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
108 words
A printing module (24) for use in a value printing system (10, 12) for controlling the printing of value indicia wherein said system includes a value metering device (10) having a data processor (14) and storage (16), and a terminal (12) associated with said printing module (24), and means (26) for removably connecting said terminal (12) to said value metering device (10) for data communication between said value metering device and said terminal and said printing module, said printing module (24) comprising a data controlled printing mechanism (32) having securely mounted therewith a data processor (28) and a non-volatile random access storage (30) having a key stored therein.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
A printing module according to Claim 7, wherein said data processor (28) and non-volatile random access storage (30) are integral with said printing mechanism (24).
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
122 words
A printing module according to Claim 7 or 8, wherein said data processor (28) and non-volatile storage (30) of said printing module (24) have stored therein a number generating protocol which operates on said key to produce a second key and an encryption protocol which operates on said second key to encrypt said key, said printing module (24) responding to transfer of data thereto by said terminal (12) when said terminal is connected to a metering device (10) having a second key to said encryption protocol to conduct a print cycle, said data processor (28) and non-volatile storage (30) of said printing module (24) having also stored therein a protocol which changes said second key before another print cycle can be conducted.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
37 words
A printing module according to Claim 7, 8 or 9, wherein said printing module (24) is incapable of executing two successive print cycles in response to the input thereto of identical data to initiate said print cycles.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
119 words
A value printing system for controlling the printing of value indicia including a value metering module (10) having a data processor (14) and storage (16), a host terminal (12) having processing and storage capability, a connecting mechanism (26) for removable connecting said value metering module (10) to said host terminal (12) for data transfer therebetween, and a printing module (24) secured to said host terminal (12) for data communication therewith, said printing module (24) having a data controlled printing mechanism (32) including integrally therewith a data processor (28) and a non-volatile random access storage (30) having stored therein a key for initiating a print cycle and a protocol for changing said key before another print cycle can be conducted.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
116 words
A value printing system according to Claim 11, wherein said data processor (28) and non-volatile storage (30) of said printing module (24) have stored therein a number generating protocol for operating on a prime key stored in said non-volatile storage (30) to produce said changed key and an encryption protocol for operating on said changed key to encrypt said changed key, said printing module (24) being responsive to transfer of data thereto by said terminal (12) when said terminal is connected to a metering device (10) having a key to said encryption protocol to authenticate said changed key, said encryption protocol being arranged to change said changed key before yet another print cycle can be conducted.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
37 words
A value printing system according to Claim 11 or 12, wherein said printing module (24) is incapable of executing two successive print cycles in response to the input thereto of identical data to initiate said print cycles.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
41 words
A value printing system according to any one of Claims 11 to 13, wherein said value printing system (10, 12) comprises a mailing system and said value meter module comprises a postage meter and said printer module comprises a postage printer.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
206 words
In a value printing system for controlling the printing of value indicia including a value metering module (10) having a data processor (14) and storage (16), a host terminal (12) having processing and storage capability, a connecting mechanism (26) for removably connecting said value metering module (10) to said host terminal (12) for data transfer therebetweeen, and a printing module (24) secured to said host terminal (14) for data communication therewith, said printing module (24) having a data controlled printing mechanism (32), a method comprising the steps of: mounting integrally with said printing module (24) a data processor (28) and a non-volatile random access storage (30); storing a key in said non-volatile random access storage (30); performing a predetermined protocol on said key to obtain a different second key; encrypting said second key; communicating said encrypted second key to an authorized metering module; decrypting said second key in said metering module (10); authenticating said decryption in said metering module (10) to said printing module (24); conducting a printing cycle by said printing module (24) wherein data transferred to said printing module from said host terminal is printed; and performing a predetermined protocol on said key to obtain a different third key before conducting another printing cycle.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method according to Claim 15, wherein said printing module (24) is incapable of conducting two print cycles in response to input thereto of identical data to initiate said print cycles.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method according to Claim 15 or 16, wherein said protocol for obtaining said second key comprises pseudo-random generation of a number.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
50 words
A method according to any one of claims 15 to 17 including the steps of: installing a number unique to each printing module in said module at manufacture; and using said unique number in said pseudo-random number generation protocol so that such number generation is unique to each printing module.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
47 words
A method according to any one of claims 15 to 18 including the steps of: using said second key to encrypt data to be printed; transmitting said encrypted print data to said printing module (24); decrypting said print data in said printing module; and printing said data.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
66 words
A method according to any one of Claims 15 to 19 including the steps of: retrieving said key from said non-volatile random access storage (30) and performing said protocol on said retrieved key to obtain said second key; storing said second key in said non-volatile random access storage (30); and retrieving said second key from said non-volatile random access storage (30) to encrypt said second key.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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