The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 25, 1995
Filed:
Aug. 23, 1993
Fran E Blackman, Fairfield, CT (US);
Jacqueline Collins, Bridgeport, CT (US);
Terrence M Doeberl, West Redding, CT (US);
Patrick J Donahue, Stratford, CT (US);
Tracy S Wilson, Bridgeport, CT (US);
Pitney Bowes Inc., Stamford, CT (US);
Abstract
A postage meter mailing machine includes an improved embedded user interface. The user interface is suitable for providing a user interface to the mailing machine and also a direct user interface to an external device in bus communication with the mailing machine. The mailing machine includes a programmable microcontroller for performing hard and soft system functions. The microcontroller includes non-volatile memories for storing data information and executable routine. The microcontroller is also in bus communication with a visual display and a plurality of soft keys. Stored in the non-volatile memory is a plurality of system screens for display on said visual display. Each of the screens has a menu field and a prompt field and contains descriptors for a plurality of screen fields. Also, stored in the non-volatile memory are a plurality of text strings, a plurality of graphic display run routines, a plurality of routines for enabling the soft keys and for identifying subsequent screens as a result of operator activation of one of the soft keys. The user interface is programmed to identify a first screen and a screen select routine to (i) get the screen identified from said screen region of said memory and display on said display, (ii) get the text strings identified by said screen descriptor of said identified screen from said text region and display said text string in respective areas of said menu field of said screen, and enable said respective soft key to said respective menu area, (iii) display dynamic information in the display window of said display window and execute graphic routine, (iv) await activation of a soft key and repeat for next screen till end. The microcontroller having polls the system to determine whether any external devices are interfaced to the mailing machine, if so, the screen is designated for control of said respective external devices are enabled.