Francotyp-postalia Ag & Co.

Francotyp-postalia Gmbh

Marcus Hansel

Peter Rieckhoff

Stephan Gunther

Ralf Kubatzki

Frank Reisinger

Harald Windel

Andreas Wagner

Claus Freytag

Enno Bischoff

Norbert Knoth

Olav A Zarges

Arndt Berthold

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

In a method for generating a print format that is printed onto a carrier in a postage meter machine, the print format being composed of picture elements in the fashion of an xy-matrix to which picture element data are allocated in a memory, a microprocessor controlling the generation of the print format accesses a number of picture element datafiles. Picture element data that define an image element or a text element of the print format are combined in each picture element datafile. Each picture element datafile also has an identification code allocated to it under which the appertaining image element or text element can be found. The microprocessor also accesses a control datafile that contains a number of sub-image datafiles that respectively contain sub-image data that define a sub-image of the print format. The microprocessor processes the sub-image datafiles of the print format to be printed and, when processing the sub-image datafiles, employs the sub-image data for generating the print format from the picture element data of at least one picture element datafile identified by the respective reference code. The microprocessor ends the generation of the print format after the processing the sub-image datafiles.

Method for generating a print format that is printed onto a carrier in a

In a method for improving the security of postage meter machines, the intent to conduct an authorized opening of the machine, such as for inspection or maintenance purposes, is first reported to a central data station, after the postage meter machine to be opened has established communication between the machine and the central data station. The postage meter machine has a code word stored therein, the presence of this code word being necessary for authorized operation of the machine. Following the request to open, the central data station transmits a new code word to the postage meter machine, which is also stored therein. Upon any opening of the postage meter machine, the current code word is automatically erased. If the opening is authorized, and thus a new code word is stored in the machine, this new code word is automatically substituted for the erased code word, so that operation of the machine can proceed in a normal fashion. If the opening is unauthorized, and thus there is no new code word to replace the erased code word, the machine is automatically placed in a first mode, which prevents operation of the machine.

Method for improving the security of postage meter machines

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Berlin, Germany

Marcus Hansel