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:
Mar. 21, 2000
Filed:
Jul. 14, 1997
Edward R Bass, Trumbull, CT (US);
Konstantin G Kodonas, Norwalk, CT (US);
Vincent R Weis, Sandy Hook, CT (US);
Pitney Bowes Inc., Stamford, CT (US);
Abstract
A postal scale system is updated, by telephone or other communication medium, by a remote service provider whenever postal rates or regulations are changed, without requiring shipment or replacement of IC chips. The system provides for remote updating of both application software and databases such as rates, zip codes and the like. By having direct communication between the provider and the postal scale, the invention permits relevant data, including scale model number, software version number and the like to be accessed by the provider, thus to update the service provider's database and to provide updates only to the correct systems. The inventive system further uses automated telephone billing, available as 1-900 service, thus to reduce expenses and errors associated with billing for update services.