Pitney Bowes Inc.

Nanette Brown

Paul A Kovlakas

Victor Girardi

Sandra J Peterson

Michael Kelley

The invention is a method and system of capturing a destination address from a label print stream in a data processing system which is capable of supporting an object oriented programming environment. The method begins with the initiation of a print stream from a label application. A virtual driver is selected as the intended destination device of the print stream. The virtual driver directs the print stream to a print intercept automation server (PIAS). The PIAS causes the system to display on a monitor a print field selection. The system operator selects an envelope print field from the print intercept automation server. The envelope print field is a set of objects established in the object oriented environment and comprises a mailpiece OCX and an indicia printing control object. The print stream is then parsed to extract a set of address data defining a destination address from the print stream by the print automation server. The parsing routine comprises instructions which control parsing the print stream to identify address data resident in the print stream. The instructions further facilitate the compiling of an address list comprising the address data. The parsed address data is then applied to the selected envelope print field; and the envelope is then printed.

Method and system for capturing destination addresses from label data

The invention is a method and system for determining an address from a print stream. Address determination begins by initiating the print stream at a remote application. The print stream is transmitted through a graphical driver interface to a virtual driver where a system operator can select a data interface mode such as an eavesdrop mode and an intercept mode. The eavesdrop mode allows the virtual driver to pass the print stream through to the output device while producing a duplicate copy of the print stream for transmission to a server which is linked to an address parsing module for parsing the print stream. The intercept mode allows the virtual driver to pass the print stream directly to the server for parsing the print stream. The server will in turn pass the print stream to an output device such as a printer or monitor over transmission means. Parsing of the print stream to obtain address data is performed in accordance with instructions resident in the module. The address data is then placed into an address list or database. The selection of the address parsing module is further based upon the address characteristics required by the system user. The characteristics are defined by creating an address data profile comprised of tokens and wherein the tokens further define a characteristic of an address. The address parsing module can then be selected as based upon its particular address format which can be representative of a particular carrier.

Method and system of print stream address extraction

An electronic postage meter has non-volatile memories storing postage meter data under control of the CPU operating from a program in ROM. The data in non-volatile memory is organized into buffers of related data for ease of access. The memory is segmented and such segment has a corresponding bit in a bit map buffer which may be turned on or off in accordance with the good or bad status of the segment. The ROM stores initial entry into the non-volatile memory which is updated in the CPU's working memory in accordance with the data stored in the bit map buffer of the non-volatile memory.

EPM having an improvement in non-volatile memory organization

An electronic postage meter has two non-volatile memories for storing postage meter accounting data under control of a CPU operating under a program in ROM. An accounting data recovery routine is stored in ROM. Prior to updating critical information in the non-valatile memories, a recovery address which calls the recovery program is stored in NVM and cleared after a successful update. At each power-up of the meter, the non-volatile memory is checked to see if the address is present and if it is, the accounting data is done again from the start of the accounting cycle.

EPM having an improvement in accounting update security

An electronic postage meter has two non-volatile memory devices, each of a different technology, CMOS battery-backed RAM and E.sup.2 PROM. The E.sup.2 PROM technology allows a limited number of rewrites. In order to provide real-time accounting in such a non-volatile memory over the life of the meter, a trip data counter is stored in a circular data store in addition to a separate account of other postage accounting data, including printwheel setting information. The trip data counter is used for calculations of postage meter register data. The separate account is updated at predetermined intervals using the trip counter data if necessary for data recovery.

Growing community of inventors

Orange, CT, United States of America

Nanette Brown