Pitney Bowes Inc.

George T Monroe

Gary S Jacobson

Wesley A Kirschner

Steven J Pauly

Maria P Parkos

Brad L Davies

Walter J Baker

Robert W Sisson

Mark N Harris

Robert G Arsenault

Edward R Bass

Sung S Chang

Konstantin G Kodonas

Louis J Loglisci

Elaine B Cristiani

Sambasivam Thillaikumaran

Richard A Rudolph

Robert L Davis

Linda Dore

Michael LePore

Derek DeGennaro

Systems and methods that allow only a single PSD to be used for a customer regardless of the number of servers in the system are provided. This is accomplished by allowing each server to communicate with the other servers in the system, such that each server can determine which customer PSDs are coupled to each of the other servers. As requests are routed to a first server by the load balancer, if the first server does not have the specific customer's PSD installed, it can determine which server has that customer's PSD and forward the request to that second server. Once the request has been processed by the second server, the response is sent back to the first server that received the request for return to the customer.

Remote postage printing using efficient load balancing of postage requests

A network connectivity device that when coupled to a mail processing machine enables a cloud application running on a personal computer or other device to interface with and control the mail processing machine without requiring any software to be installed on the personal computer other than a web browser. The network connectivity device plugs into a standard USB port on the mail processing machine to allow wired or wireless connectivity to a network. There is no software or other code required to run on the personal computer other than a standard web browser running a hosted web application. The network connectivity device allows the mail processing machine to be found and addressed by the hosted web application. This allows a user to control operations of the mail processing machine, as well as giving the mail processing machine network connectivity for outside world communication activities.

System and method to enable external processing device running a cloud application to control a mail processing machine

Coprocessor systems for using a main microprocessor DMA channel to write to a port to control a coprocessor system are provided. In certain examples, coprocessor systems are described using a main CPU counter to trigger a DMA channel to perform a single byte transfer to a port used to control coprocessor command timing.

Main processor initiating command timing signal via DMA to coprocessor in order to synchronize execution of instructions

The present invention relates to a method of converting data stored in one or mores files from a first format to a second format. The files include one or more records, with each record including one or more fields of data. Each of the records is associated with a first data map corresponding to the first format and a second data map corresponding to the second format. The method converts each file, record by record, using the information from the first and second data maps associated with the selected record. A determination is made as to whether each field is present in the second format, and if so, the field data is copied to a new record at a field location for the field that is set forth in the second data map.

Method for updating and preserving data when performing a software upgrade

A method providing for programming reprogramming at least some software into flash memory of a postage machine or other mailing apparatus. The method calls for providing the software to be programmed into the flash memory in at least two builds, with one build providing kernel software that includes the functionality needed for programming/reprogramming (including functionality for linking to a personal computer by which the software to be programmed may be provided), and the other build providing non-kernel software, usually routines providing application-oriented functionality, and not essential to programming the flash memory. The first build, of the at least two builds, is written into sectors of the flash memory that are then locked. The system provides, in some applications, for writing the non-kernel software using a paging algorithm that writes several sectors worth of non-kernel software at a time. Once the programming of the kernel software is completed, at least part of the flash memory, the part hosting the non-kernel software, can be programmed or reprogrammed using the functionality provided by the kernel software. In some applications, three builds are provided, with a bare minimum of kernel software, including only a subset of flash programming utilities and routines providing for a basic serial I/O link for linking to a personal computer. In such an application, all of the operating system software, i.e. the software providing for system-level functionality of the mailing machine, is provided as a second, non-protected build, and a third build is provided including application software.

Method for providing for programming flash memory of a mailing apparatus

Mailing machine including a controller, a printer module including a connector, a print head controller for producing print data signals necessary to print a postal indicia on an envelope and a replaceable print head cartridge having a plurality of print elements which are selectively energizable in response to the print data signals. The print head cartridge is detachably mounted to the connector. The controller in operative communication with the printer module for: determining if a valid print head cartridge is installed; and if a valid print head cartridge is not installed, preventing the print data signals from reaching the connector.

Disabling a mailing machine when a print head is not installed

A configurable peripheral management system includes a peripheral management device which comprises a microprocessor for executing peripheral management instructions stored in a persistent memory for performing operations such as polling a peripheral device. The peripheral management device is coupled to a host computer over a serial line, through which new peripheral management instructions can be downloaded for storage in the persistent memory.

Configurable peripheral management system

Growing community of inventors

Seymour, CT, United States of America

George T Monroe