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:
Oct. 23, 2001
Filed:
Feb. 27, 1998
Dennis Thomas Gilham, Stock, GB;
Neopost Limited, Essex, GB;
Abstract
Methods and apparatus for authentication of postage indicia are disclosed. A secret key is read from store and modified in dependence upon postage data to be printed in a postage indicium. The modified key is then utilized to generate an authentication code dependent upon the postage data to be printed. Authentication of the indicium is effected by reading the authentication code and postage data from the printed indicium and repeating the process of generating an authentication code. The generated authentication code is compared with the authentication code read from the indicium. A control code based on a value in an accounting register may be included in the indicium. The value may be a value of postage dispensed in a determined expired period.