Pitney Bowes Inc.

John A Hurd

Wesley A Kirschner

Gary S Jacobson

G Thomas Athens

Roger J Ratzenberger, Jr

Robert A Cordery

Robert W Sisson

Maria P Parkos

Robert G Arsenault

Steven J Pauly

Walter J Baker

Mark A Scribe

Richard C Day, Jr

Frederick W Ryan, Jr

Jerome E Jackson

William F Bailey

Christopher D Smith

Sandra J Peterson

Joseph P Tokarski

Beth A Jennings

Craig J DeFillippo

Michael R Davis

Albert P Jacques

Thomas O Matthews

G Thomas Atthens

Thomas G Athens

Roger Jr Ratzenberger

Roger Ratzenberger

A method and system that allows for large amounts of data to be printed utilizing a small memory is provided. The complete image to be printed on the print medium is separated into different regions each having associated print data. The memory device, while being too small to store all of the print data for the full image, is capable of storing the print data associated with each region. The print data for each region is released from the print head controller to the memory device for printing in a timed fashion based on movement of the print medium. The print data for a subsequent region will not be passed to the memory until the print medium has moved a sufficient distance, thereby indicating that printing of the preceding region has been completed.

Method and system for printing multiple regions across a mail piece

Various methods for detecting the removal of a processing unit, such as a microprocessor or a microcontroller, form a printed circuit board in a secure printing system, such as a postage metering system are provided. The methods utilize one or more of a real time clock provided internal to the processing unit, a CMOS device provided on the printed circuit board external to the processing unit, and CMOS memory internal to the processing unit to detect the removal of the processing unit and therefore an attack.

Method for detecting the removal of a processing unit from a printed circuit board

A method includes receiving at a sub-program a request from an external entity the request comprising at least one parameter and a return address, utilizing the return address and an address list associated with the sub-program to authenticate the external entity, and processing the request if the external entity is authenticated.

Apparatus and method to limit access to selected sub-program in a software system

A method includes configuring a flash memory device including a first memory sector having a primary memory sector correspondence, a second memory sector having an alternate memory sector correspondence, and a third memory sector having a free memory sector correspondence, copying a portion of the primary memory sector to the free memory sector, erasing the primary memory sector, and changing a correspondence of each of the first memory sector, the second memory sector, and the third memory sector.

Method for manipulating state machine storage in a small memory space

A system and method for efficient uncorrectable error detection in flash memory is described. A microcontroller including a non-volatile flash memory utilizes an Error Correction Code (ECC) having a certain error detection and correction bit strength. The user data is first processed by a hash function and hash data is stored with the user data. Then, the user data and hash data are processed by the ECC system. In detection, the hash ensures that a relatively low bit-strength ECC system did not incorrectly manipulate the user data. Such a hash integrity check provides an efficient, robust detection of incorrectly corrected user data resulting from errors beyond the correction but strength of the ECC system utilized.

Systems and methods for efficient uncorrectable error detection in flash memory

A mailing machine that optimizes throughput by reducing the amount of time necessary for the PSD to generate the digital signature and indicium for each mail piece is provided. The debit operation performed by the PSD, i.e., adjusting the PSD registers, is separated into three different sections, a pre-debit operation, a perform debit operation, and a complete debit operation. In addition, the calculation of the digital signature can optionally be pre-computed, or, alternatively, computed in stages, i.e., partial signature calculation. Utilizing this granularity, the cryptographic operations associated with generating the digital signature can be shifted between the three debit operations such that the execution time of the time critical portion of the debit operation (perform debit) can be optimized to meet the performance requirements of the mailing machine in which the PSD is deployed.

Method and system for optimizing throughput of mailing machines

A method of printing a string of characters includes receiving a sequence of character data codes. Each character data code corresponds to a respective character to be printed in the string of characters. The method also includes transcoding the sequence of character data codes to generate a sequence of glyph codes. Each glyph code corresponds to a respective glyph. Each glyph corresponds to at least part of a respective character. At least some of the glyphs correspond to less than a complete character. The method further includes using the sequence of glyph codes to generate print image data and printing an image on the basis of the print image data.

System and method for using divided fonts to achieve proportional spacing

System and method for efficient uncorrectable error detection in flash memory

A method and system that protects against a replay attack in a closed system postage meter is provided. 'Freshness' data is included along with each indicium message sent from the meter to the printer, thereby enabling the printer to detect 'stale' indicium data, i.e., indicium data that was previously generated and is being replayed, and prohibit the printing of duplicate indicia. The freshness data includes a random nonce generated by the printer during initialization along with sequence data that the printer can verify against sequence data from the previous printed indicium. If in the current indicium message the nonce is different or the current sequence data is not greater than or equal to the sequence data from the previous printed indicium, indicating the current indicium data may have been previously generated and is a replay, the printer will not print the current indicium data.

Method and system for protection against replay of an indicium message in a closed system meter

In a value dispensing system, a system and method for securely loading and executing software in a secure device that does not include any non-volatile programmable memory is provided. A non-secure portion of the value dispensing system stores software for loading into the secure portion when needed. Commands being sent to the secure printer are monitored to determine if the secure has the necessary software to execute the command. If the secure device currently does not have the necessary software to execute the command, the command is delayed and the proper software is loaded from the non-secure portion to the RAM of the secure device. A signature associated with the software is verified to ensure the authenticity of the software. If the signature is verified, the command is passed to the secure device, and, utilizing the software in the RAM, the command is executed by the secure device.

Method for securely loading and executing software in a secure device that cannot retain software after a loss of power

A method and system for printing a 2D-barcode corresponding to a binary data array and a substrate imprinted with such barcode. The barcode has I first columns of modules and J rows of modules transverse to columns. Each module having a one-to-one correspondence with a bit in a data array and comprising X columns and Y rows of pixels. All pixels are unprinted if said corresponding data bits for a module is not asserted; and otherwise: for pixel columns P( ) through P(X&minus;H) and rows P( ) through P(Y&minus;V), where H is in the range 0 to X&minus;1 and V is in the range 0 to Y&minus;1, all pixels are printed; for first columns P(X&minus;H&plus;1) through P(X) and rows P( ) through P(Y&minus;V), all pixels are printed if a corresponding data bit for an adjacent module in the next module column is asserted; and for columns P(X&minus;H&plus;1) through P(X), rows P(Y&minus;V&plus;1) through P(Y) are not printed if a corresponding data bit for an adjacent or diagonally adjacent module in a next first is not asserted. H and V are not both equal to 0.

Apparatus and method for printing two-dimensional barcode and articles incorporating such barcode

Growing community of inventors

Torrington, CT, United States of America

John A Hurd