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. 13, 2001
Filed:
Dec. 15, 1998
Ludger Bornemann, Berlin, DE;
Stephan Guenther, Berlin, DE;
Wilfried Kopanski, Berlin, DE;
Olav A. Zarges, Berlin, DE;
Francotyp-Postalia AG & Co., Birkenwerder, DE;
Abstract
A postage meter machine with a chip card write/read unit has a controller allows an initialization of a number of chip cards by the user in order, in conjunction with suitably initialized chip cards, to simplify the function input and the administration of cost center data to be handled. A chip card number is stored in the chip card. For deriving chip cards that set a limited function scope, a table with a specific hierarchic structure can be produced upon employment of the keyboard and display and with the assistance of the microprocessor and the appertaining non-volatile memories within the postage meter machine in that the pre-stored structure is correspondingly modified. At least one of the number of application functions is allocated to the chip card number in the table. A tree structure in the hierarchy thereby arises for second chip cards derived from the first chip card and for successor cards, particularly specific function application cards.