Data processing: financial – business practice – management – or co – Business processing using cryptography – Postage metering system
Reexamination Certificate
1998-04-16
2001-05-08
Cangialosi, Salvatore (Department: 2732)
Data processing: financial, business practice, management, or co
Business processing using cryptography
Postage metering system
C705S060000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06230149
ABSTRACT:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
The following three commonly-owned copending applications, including this one, are being filed concurrently and the other two are incorporated by reference into this application:
C. Shah and D. T. Gilham, entitled “Method and Apparatus for Authentication of Postage Accounting Reports” (Attorney Docket 6969-117);
C. Shah and K. Robertson, entitled “Method and Apparatus for Authentication of Postage Accounting Data Files” (Attorney Docket 6969-118); and
C. Shah and K. Robertson, entitled “Method and Apparatus for a Modular Postage Accounting System” (Attorney Docket 6969-119).
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to a method and apparatus for authentication of postage accounting reports. More specifically, the present invention allows the authentication of reports generated from postage accounting data maintained in a general purpose computer.
Historically, postage meters have been dedicated, stand-alone devices, capable only of printing postage indicia on envelopes or labels (in the case of parcels), and resided at a user's site. As such, these devices could provide postage metering only for that particular site and required the user to physically transport the device to a post office for resetting (increasing the amount of postage contained in the meter). These were secure devices which contained mechanical (later, electronic digital) accounting registers that dispensed postage in isolation from other systems (computer and otherwise). An advance over this system was the ability to reset meters via codes communicated to the user. These codes were provided by either the manufacturer or the postal authority, once payment by the customer had been made.
In contrast, modern electronic meters are often capable of being reset directly by an authorized party, on-site (at the user's location) via a communications link. A system which performs meter resetting in this manner is known as a Computerized Meter Resetting System (or “CMRS”). The party having authority to reset the meter and charge the customer (usually the manufacturer or the postal authority) thus gains access to, and resets the meter. Mail accounting data, i.e., detailed accounting of postage expenditures (for example, reports of postage expended by different departments in a company) may be accumulated and read from the more sophisticated electronic meters, but at best the user must still download data in a batch mode or enter it manually into a general accounting system. Moreover, such systems provide no means for authenticating the postage accounting information with regard to the actual values held in the meter.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention, an apparatus and method are described for authentication of postage accounting reports. Postage accounting report data is authenticated by first assembling authentication mark data from the postage accounting report data and secure metering device (SMD). The system then encrypts the resultant information to form an authentication mark. A physical representation of that authentication mark is subsequently affixed to a postage accounting report, which is generated by the postage accounting report system. The postage accounting report may subsequently be authenticated by communicating the authentication mark to a responsible party (for example, a postal authority or manufacturer) for purposes of decrypting the authentication mark and authenticating the postage accounting report. The validity of the information in the report is thus verified, along with information as to the party originating the information, the computer system used and other data pertinent to identifying sources of fraudulent postage accounting data.
The present invention supports departmentalized accounting, centralization of remote postage accounting and identification of fraudulent reports. The presence of a valid authentication mark identifies a report as having been generated by the accounting program, which in turn confirms that it is based on authenticated data held in the system. A counterfeit can be detected by decrypting the authentication mark, as the authenticating details will be incorrect or missing if the report is fraudulent.
A further understanding of the nature and advantages of the present invention may be realized by reference to the remaining portions of the specification and the drawings.
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Gilham Dennis T.
Shah Chandrakant J.
Cangialosi Salvatore
Neopost Inc.
Townsend & Townsend & Crew LLP
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