US5682318A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
System and method for storing postage in a computer system
Assignee: Auctane Inc
•
Filing: 1996-04-19
•
Granted: 1997-10-28
•
Expires: 2016-04-19
Abstract
Abstract A system and method for printing a postage meter stamp, including a desired postage amount, onto a piece of mail. A desired amount of postage is entered into a general purpose storage device through a processor-based system. The user is then able to access this stored postage at the user's location through a complementary processor-based system. The processor-based system automatically calculates the required postage for a piece of mail based upon a set of parameters pertaining to the mail. Address information may also be printed onto an envelope along with the postage meter stamp through the use of a word processor program coupled to the present invention.
Inventors
- 👤 Salim G. Kara
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 20:10
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01G; G01G19/00; G01G19/002; G01G19/005; G01G19/40; G01G19/413; G01G19/414; G01G19/4148; G07; G07B; G07B17/00; G07B17/00016; G07B17/0008; G07B17/00185; G07B17/00362; G07B17/00459; G07B17/00508; G07B17/00733; G07B2017/00088; G07B2017/00096; G07B2017/00137; G07B2017/00153; G07B2017/00177; G07B17/00193; G07B2017/00201; G07B2017/00258; G07B2017/0037; G07B2017/00419; G07B17/00435; G07B2017/00443; G07B2017/00572; G07B2017/0058; G07B2017/00588; G07B2017/00596; G07B2017/00604; G07B2017/00935; G07B2017/00951
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 42
Claim 1
Independent Claim
133 words
A computer program product having a computer readable medium having computer program logic recorded thereon for printing a postage indicia with a desired amount of postage onto a piece of mail in a general purpose computer system having a general purpose storage means, the computer program product comprising: a computer readable storage medium; and a computer program stored in said storage medium comprising: postage means for storing postage data indicating a total amount of postage in the general purpose storage means, said general purpose storage means being directly accessible by said general purpose computer; and coupling means for coupling the general purpose computer system to a remote computer system, wherein the remote computer system can communicate with the postage means to increase the amount of postage stored in the general purpose storage means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
133 words
A computer program product having a computer readable medium having computer program logic recorded thereon for printing a postage indicia with a desired amount of postage onto a piece of mail in a general purpose computer system having a general purpose storage means, the computer program product comprising: a computer readable storage medium; and a computer program stored in said storage medium comprising: postage means for storing postage data indicating a total amount of postage in the general purpose storage means, said general purpose storage means being directly accessible by said general purpose computer; and coupling means for coupling the general purpose computer system to a remote computer system, wherein the remote computer system can communicate with the postage means to increase the amount of postage stored in the general purpose storage means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
52 words
The computer program product of claim 1, further comprising: means for automatically calculating a correct amount of postage for the piece of mail; and means for automatically deducting the correct amount of postage from the total amount of postage and storing a resulting amount of postage in the general purpose storage means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the computer program is stored in the general purpose storage means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the general purpose storage means is adapted to hold a word processing program.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the remote computer system is located at a post office.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the coupling means comprises a modem.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
The computer program product of claim 1, further comprising: preventing means for preventing unauthorized access to the postage data in the storage means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
43 words
The computer program product of claim 1, further comprising: means for formatting data to be sent to a printer coupled to the general purpose computer system, wherein the formatted data is operable to print the postage indicia indicating the correct amount of postage.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
The computer program product of claim 8, further comprising: means for printing address information onto the piece of mail.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
The computer program product of claim 8, further comprising: means for printing a message along with the postage indicia.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
102 words
A general purpose computer system for printing a postage meter stamp indicating a desired amount of postage onto a piece of mail, comprising: storage means for storing data, said storage means providing direct data access to said general purpose computer; an application program stored in the storage means, the application program comprising: postage means for storing data indicating an amount of postage in the storage means; and means for coupling the general purpose computer system to a remote computer system, wherein the remote computer system can communicate with the application program to increase the amount of postage stored in the storage means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
102 words
A general purpose computer system for printing a postage meter stamp indicating a desired amount of postage onto a piece of mail, comprising: storage means for storing data, said storage means providing direct data access to said general purpose computer; an application program stored in the storage means, the application program comprising: postage means for storing data indicating an amount of postage in the storage means; and means for coupling the general purpose computer system to a remote computer system, wherein the remote computer system can communicate with the application program to increase the amount of postage stored in the storage means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
53 words
The computer system of claim 11, wherein the application program further comprises: means for automatically calculating a correct amount of postage for the piece of mail; and means for automatically deducting the correct amount of postage from the total amount of postage and storing a resulting amount of postage in the storage means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
18 words
The computer system of claim 11, wherein the storing means is adapted to hold a word processing program.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
14 words
The computer system of claim 11, wherein the storage means comprises disk-based storage system.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
17 words
The computer system of claim 11, wherein the remote computer system is located at a post office.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
13 words
The computer system of claim 11, wherein the coupling means comprises a modem.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
21 words
The computer system of claim 11, further comprising: preventing means for preventing unauthorized access to the data in the storage means.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
48 words
The computer system of claim 11, further comprising: means stored in the storage means for formatting data to be sent to a printer coupled to the general purpose computer system, wherein the formatted data is operable to print the postage meter stamp indicating the correct amount of postage.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
18 words
The computer system of claim 18, further comprising: means for printing address information onto the piece of mail.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
19 words
The computer system of claim 18, further comprising: means for printing a message along with the postage meter stamp.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
105 words
A general purpose computer system for printing postage indicia on mail, comprising: a central processing unit; storage means for storing data, said storage means being directly accessible by said general purpose computer; postage means stored in the storage means and executing on the central processing unit for storing postage data in the storage means representing a total amount of postage; and coupling means at least partially stored on the storage means for coupling the general purpose computer system to a post office, wherein the post office is adapted to communicate with the postage means to increase the amount of postage stored in the storage means.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
105 words
A general purpose computer system for printing postage indicia on mail, comprising: a central processing unit; storage means for storing data, said storage means being directly accessible by said general purpose computer; postage means stored in the storage means and executing on the central processing unit for storing postage data in the storage means representing a total amount of postage; and coupling means at least partially stored on the storage means for coupling the general purpose computer system to a post office, wherein the post office is adapted to communicate with the postage means to increase the amount of postage stored in the storage means.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
28 words
The general purpose computer of claim 21, wherein the postage means further comprises: means for verifying that the postage means is authorized to communicate with the post office.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
19 words
The general purpose computer of claim 21, further comprising: preventing means for preventing unauthorized access to the postage data.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
19 words
The general purpose computer of claim 21, wherein the storage means is adapted to hold a word processing program.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
16 words
The general purpose computer of claim 21, wherein the storage means comprises a disk-based storage system.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
14 words
The general purpose computer of claim 21, wherein the coupling means comprises a modem.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
47 words
The general purpose computer of claim 21, further comprising: means for automatically calculating a correct amount of postage for the mail; and means for automatically deducting the correct amount from the total amount, wherein the postage means stores a resulting amount of postage in the storage means.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
45 words
The general purpose computer of claim 27, further comprising: means for formatting print data to be sent to a printer coupled to the general purpose computer, wherein the print data is operable to print postage indicia on the mail with the correct amount of postage.
Claim 32
Independent Claim
93 words
A method of using a general purpose computer system to print a postage meter stamp indicating a desired amount of postage onto a piece of mail, comprising: storing data indicating an amount of postage in a general purpose storage means, said general purpose storage means providing direct data access to said general purpose computer system; and coupling the general purpose computer system to a remote computer system, wherein the remote computer system can communicate with the general purpose computer system to increase the amount of postage stored in the general purpose storage means.
Claim 33
Independent Claim
93 words
A method of using a general purpose computer system to print a postage meter stamp indicating a desired amount of postage onto a piece of mail, comprising: storing data indicating an amount of postage in a general purpose storage means, said general purpose storage means providing direct data access to said general purpose computer system; and coupling the general purpose computer system to a remote computer system, wherein the remote computer system can communicate with the general purpose computer system to increase the amount of postage stored in the general purpose storage means.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
49 words
The method of claim 29, further comprising the steps of: automatically calculating a correct amount of postage for the piece of mail; and automatically deducting the correct amount of postage from the total amount of postage and storing a resulting amount of postage in the general purpose storage means.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 29, wherein the general purpose storage means is adapted to hold a word processing program.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 29, wherein the general purpose storage means comprises a disk-based storage system.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 29, wherein the remote computer system is located at a post office.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 29, wherein the coupling step uses a modem.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 29, further comprising the step of: preventing unauthorized access to the data in the general purpose storage means.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method of claim 29, further comprising the step of: formatting data to be sent to a printer coupled to the general purpose computer system, wherein the formatted data is operable to print the postage meter stamp indicating the correct amount of postage.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 36, further comprising the step of: printing address information onto the piece of mail.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 36, further comprising the step of: printing a message along with the postage meter stamp.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4641347A
Cited
US4763271A
Cited
EP0137737A2
Cited
US4868757A
Cited
US4757537A
Cited
US4775246A
Cited
FR2580844A1
Cited
US4831555A
Cited
US4743747A
Cited
US4725718A
Cited
US4812994A
Cited
WO1988001818A1
Cited
US4900903A
Cited
US4802218A
Cited
US4900904A
Cited
US4864618A
Cited
US4800506A
Cited
US4908770A
Cited
US5200903A
Cited
US5111030A
Cited
US4901241A
Cited
US5065000A
Cited
US5091771A
Cited
US5025141A
Cited
GB2251210A
Cited
US5239168A
Cited
US5544246A
Cited
US5510992A
Cited
US5563395A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-10-27 | 2001-04-28 | 2001-10-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-10-27 | 2005-04-28 | 2005-10-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-10-27 | 2009-04-28 | 2009-10-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |