Francotyp-postalia Ag & Co.

Arndt Berthold

Andreas Wagner

Stephan Gunther

Ralf Kubatzki

Frank Reisinger

Harald Windel

Claus Freytag

Peter Rieckhoff

Enno Bischoff

Olav A Zarges

Marcus Hansel

In a method and terminal apparatus for automatic modem type recognition and adaptation thereto within a communication mode, a microprocessor in a control unit of the terminal apparatus, is programmed to enter into a communication mode with a remote central data station in order to enter into a modem preselect value setting mode. The control unit is programmed so that the communication mode is exited after an automatic setup of the communication and after the execution of the communication. For automatic modem type recognition, modem-specific transmission sequences are stored in a program memory or in a modem initialization memory contained in a non-volatile memory of the terminal apparatus and are transmitted successively to the associated modem in steps, and the modem transmits its modem-specific response (transmission sequence) back to the microprocessor. The microprocessor then executes, in steps, a comparison of the response signals with the stored response signals for automatic modem type recognition. The recognized modem type is stored in non-volatile fashion in a modem detect memory. The microprocessor is programmed to execute a step to skip the recognition procedure if corresponding information about the modem type has been stored in the modem detect memory. The terminal apparatus may be a postage meter machine.

Method and apparatus for automatically recognizing a modem type of a

A method for securing data and program code of an electronic postage meter machine against manipulation, having a microprocessor in a control unit of the postage meter machine for implementing steps for a start and initialization routine and following system routine with a possibility of entering into a communication mode with a remote data central, as well as further input steps in order to enter into a franking mode from which a branch is made back into the system routine after the implementation of an accounting and printing routine, includes conducting a start security check within the framework of a start and initialization routine which runs before a secure printing data call routine and the following system routine for determining the validity of a program code and/or of data in the predetermined memory location and of an appertaining MAC (message authentification code) that is present in the same storage medium. The check for valid program code and/or for validity of the data is implemented with a selected checksum method within an OTP (one time programmable) processor that internally receives the corresponding program parts. Transfer of the postage meter machine into the aforementioned system routine takes place given validity of the data or transfer of the postage meter machine into a first mode when the data are invalid, or when a specific manipulation criterion is met. Steps for preventing the franking or blocking of the postage meter machine and/or steps for preventing a further program execution or a program branch exiting the OTP processor within the framework of system routine the occur.

Method of improving the security of postage meter machines

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Berlin, Germany

Arndt Berthold