Pitney Bowes Inc.

Mark A Scribe

Robert A Cordery

Maria P Parkos

Brad L Davies

Frederick W Ryan, Jr

Sungwon R Moh

John H Steinmetz

John A Hurd

Roger J Ratzenberger, Jr

G Thomas Athens

Louis J Loglisci

Arno Muller

Joseph H Marzullo

Robert J Tolmie, Jr

Douglas A Clark

Andrew Zink

Eswaran C Nambudiri

Susan Mahmoodi

Edward J Naclario

Joel L Wald

Thomas G Athens

Roger Jr Ratzenberger

Roger Ratzenberger

Systems and methods for providing funds recovery for mailing machines including integrated circuits such as those used in postal security devices are described, and in certain configurations, systems and methods for recovering data such as postal funds records from a partially disabled single integrated circuit in a postal security device are described.

System and method for funds recovery from an integrated postal security device

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 print signal generation system for generating print bit map data corresponding to a desired image where the print bit map data is utilized by a digital printing device to print the desired image. The system includes region parameter data, a first data generation system and a second data generation system in operative communication with the first data generation system. The region parameter data includes region data defining a partitioning of the desired image into a plurality of regions and expansion data. The first data generation system generates transaction data associated with the desired image and using the transaction data in combination with the region parameter data to generate print instruction data. The second data generation system receives the print instruction data from the first data generation system and expands the print instruction data based upon the region parameter data to generate the print bit map data.

Print signal generation

A postage printing system includes a printer and a postage meter. The postage meter includes a controller for generating print information having a plurality of print data blocks necessary to print a postal indicia. The printer is located remotely from the postage meter and includes a controller and a printer for printing the postal indicia. The printer controller is in operative communication with the postage meter controller for receiving the plurality of print data blocks. The postage meter controller encrypts the plurality of print data blocks into a plurality of encrypted print data blocks, respectively, using a cypher block chaining encryption algorithm prior to transmitting the plurality of encrypted print data blocks to the printer controller where they are decrypted by the printer controller. Check numbers for each print data block and validation of the check numbers may be employed at the printer controller. Also, the printer controller may compare the validation rates of print data blocks containing significant data and those containing insignificant data for evidence of tampering.

Postage printing system including prevention of tampering with print

The apparatus comprises: a first module including a universal key; a second module including a unique identifier and a unique key wherein the unique key is derived from the unique identifier and the universal key and incorporated into the second module during manufacture of the second module. The second module is in communication with the first module. The apparatus further comprises a controller for performing the following subsequent to manufacture of the first module and the second module: initiating a communication session between the first module and the second module; transmitting the unique identifier from the second module to the first module; and deriving the unique key in the first module using the unique identifier and the universal key. A method for synchronization of cryptographic keys between modules of a distributed system and a method of manufacturing a postage evidencing system are also provided.

Synchronization of cryptographic keys between two modules of a

A postage evidencing system including a plurality of domains for partitioning a population of postage meters according to an operating characteristic, a data center, a postage meter in operative communication with the data center and a printer in operative communication with the postage meter. The postage meter is initialized to operate in a particular domain while the printer is capable of operating in each of the plurality of domains. To update or enable a domain in the printer, the postage meter transmits an indication of the particular domain to the data center. Then, the data center encrypts the indication and transmits the indication to the postage meter which in turn forwards the encrypted indication to the printer. The printer decrypts the encrypted indication and using the indication enables a respective domain in the printer corresponding to the particular domain of the postage meter. A method for updating domains in a postage evidencing system is also provided.

Updating domains in a postage evidencing system

A mail handling system includes a printhead for printing a postage indicium on a mailpiece; a transport mechanism that moves the mailpiece past the printhead during printing of the postage indicium; a postage meter including means for accounting for a value of postage associated with the postage indicium; an image generator in operative communication with the postage meter, the image generator producing a synchronous image data stream for use by the printhead in printing the postage indicium; a buffer which receives and stores the synchronous image data stream from the image generator; apparatus for switching the image generator between an ON status whereby the image generator produces the synchronous image data stream and an OFF status whereby the image generator does not produce the synchronous image data stream based upon the occurrence of a predetermined condition; structure for transferring the stored synchronous image data stream to the printhead in an asynchronous manner; and wherein the switching apparatus regulates within a predetermined range an amount of the synchronous image data stream stored in the buffer by switching the image generator between the ON status and the OFF status thereby effectively permitting the printhead to use the synchronous image data stream in an asynchronous manner.

Apparatus and method for ensuring good print quality in a mail handling

A document feeding system and method, such as an inserting apparatus and method, wherein marks read from control document or other documents are employed to control the operation of the system. The data read from the documents is stored in a buffer, and the direction of read-out of the buffer may be changed, for example under operator control, in order to adapt the system to control by a plurality of formats of the control marks.

Scanning method and apparatus for an inserter

An improvement to a modular inserter system that provides customized inserter machines which are configured by combining a plurality of modules, including a variety of module types, for example, feeder, folder and insertion modules, each module containing a microprocessor for controlling the module as part of the control system for the customized inserter machine. The improvement comprises a first upstream module of the inserter machine and a submodule feeder including structure for coupling the submodule feeder to the upstream end of the first upstream module. The submodule feeder performs operations of a feeder module under the control of the microprocessor of the first upstream module.

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Southbury, CT, United States of America

Mark A Scribe