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:
May. 16, 2000
Filed:
May. 19, 1997
Frank Reisinger, Oranienburg, DE;
Olaf Turner, Berlin, DE;
Francotyp-Postalia AG & Co., Birkenwerder, DE;
Abstract
An interchangeable postage calculating module and a corresponding method for data transmission to a basic device such as a postage meter machine or a scale, allow a high degree of flexibility in accommodating future changes in postage calculation formats and techniques. The interchangeable postage calculating module is fashioned as a postage fee and calculation module that the customer can replace or plug into the basic device, and contains an internal processing unit and a non-volatile memory for the calculating program and for postage fee schedule table data. The module is programmed to supply data for at least one carrier from the interchangeable postage calculating module for display modification in the basic device on the basis of user inputs with respect to service demands made on a carrier and for processing the supplied data in the basic device, to receive weight data and shipping data for a piece of mail, to calculate postage value on the basis of the postage fee schedule table data and calculating structure of the desired carrier in the interchangeable postage calculating module, and to supply data including the postage value of at least one carrier from the interchangeable postage calculating module for carrier-related processing of the supplied data in the basic device.