Pitney Bowes Inc.

Robert K Chen

Winslow E Jackson

Paul H Kim

Daniel F Dlugos

Joseph L Gargiulo

Wojciech M Chrosny

Robert T Durst

An integrated circuit card includes a microprocessor, a memory and input and output devices. The card stores information regarding a parcel. The card is secured to the parcel and serves as a label. The card includes a liquid crystal display that displays a bar code. A similar integrated circuit card stores manifest data regarding a group of parcels. The card containing the manifest data is delivered to a carrier together with the group of parcels.

Integrated circuit package label and/or manifest system

A postage meter accounting system is provided having a user terminal which interfaces with and controls an electronic postage meter. The user terminal is also connected to an integrated circuit card read-write unit for receiving user, administrator, service and/or program integrated circuit cards. The user terminal activates and permits use of the meter upon presentation of a valid user card, storages postage meter use information and transmits the postage meter use information to the user card for storage in a user card transaction table. The postage meter use information stored in the user terminal and in user card memory may be accessed for later reference on a user terminal display and/or printer. Preferably, an administrative computer is provided for periodically receiving all postage meter use information from the user cards or, alternatively, directly from the user terminal to generate one or more postage meter use accounting reports. The administrator card permits access to and revision of user card memory, postage meter use information and owner-variable user terminal application program information. The service card permits access to and revision of administrator card memory and all user terminal application program information. Program cards facilitate application program loading and revision.

Postal charge accounting system

A postage meter recharging system is provided wherein an authorized value card center maintains a customer account of available postage funds. Upon confirmation of a meter access code the value card center debits the customer account and authorizes issuance of an integrated circuit value card bearing in memory a meter combination code and an appropriate amount of postage meter funds. The value card is inserted into the value card read-write unit of a postage meter terminal and, upon confirmation of the proper meter combination code, transfers at least a portion of the postage meter funds from the value card to the postage meter vault.

Growing community of inventors

Wilton, CT, United States of America

Robert K Chen