Horology: time measuring systems or devices – With calendar indicator
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-15
2001-04-10
Miska, Vit (Department: 2859)
Horology: time measuring systems or devices
With calendar indicator
C235S377000, C346S020000, C346S080000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06215735
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to postage meters. More particularly, this invention is directed to a postage meter having non-Gregorian calendar capability that adapts the postage meter to function using a non-Gregorian calendar.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
For countless millennia it has been an objective of people to mark the passage of time. To this end, various calendars or systems for reckoning dates have been developed which are based upon religious beliefs, astrological happenings, other factors, or some combination thereof. Examples of such calendars (Gregorian, Julian, Islamic, Judaic, Chinese, etc.) are well known and are employed around the world where different regions favor the usage of a particular calendar.
Oftentimes, it is not easy to reconcile dates between the various calendars as conversion algorithms may become very complex or impossible to implement. This problem is especially true for those calendars that exhibit random date reconciliation characteristics. For example, the Islamic (Hijri) calendar is based upon visual observance of lunar cycles. As a result, the beginning of a new month is linked to actual sightings of a crescent moon from a given locale. Therefore, because sightings are influenced by local weather conditions affecting visibility, actual sightings may not occur uniformly or exactly as anticipated. As a result, weather conditions and differences in the observer's location may even lead to differences between Islamic calendars from different regions.
The great diversity of calendars poses particular difficulties for any company desiring to globally market a product having a calendar based feature. To have the greatest chance of meeting the marketplace with success, the product must adapt to local customs of calendar usage so as to appeal to the intended customers. These difficulties are especially true for postage meters which rely heavily on accurate date tracking for accounting and inspection purposes.
A typical postage meter (one example of a value dispensing system) applies evidence of postage, commonly referred to as a postal indicia, to an envelope or other mailpiece and accounts for the value of the postage dispensed. As is well known, postage meters include an ascending register, that stores a running total of all postage dispensed by the meter, and a descending register, that holds the remaining amount of postage credited to the meter and that is reduced by the amount of postage dispensed during a transaction. The postage meter generally also includes a control sum register which provides a check upon the descending and ascending registers. The control sum register stores a running account of the total funds having been added into the meter over the life of the meter. In this manner, the control sum register must always correspond with the summed readings of the ascending and descending registers. That is, the control sum register is the total amount of postage ever put into the postage meter and is alterable only when adding funds to the meter. Using the ascending, descending and control sum registers, the dispensing of postal funds may be accurately tracked and recorded by a governing postal authority.
Furthermore, postage meters are heavily regulated by the governing postal authority which typically requires that the postage meters contain a secure real time clock for ensuring accurate date tracking. Generally, each postal authority requires that the postage meter print at least the following: (i) the current date or some other date within a fixed bandwidth around the current date; (ii) the postage meter serial number, (ii) the value of the postage dispensed as part of the postal indicia. In this manner, the postal authority may monitor the usage and operation of the postage meter. Typically, the postal authorities require that the printed date correspond to the actual date that the mailpiece is deposited with the postal authority for delivery. Dates may also be used by the postal authority for accounting and/or inspection purposes. For these reasons, the postage meter manufacturer typically enters the correct date into the postage meter prior to installation at a customer location. In this way, the date information is secured from tampering by the customer.
Thus, there is a need for a postage meter having an adaptable calendar system capable of supporting a variety of different types of calendars. Additionally, there is a need for a postage meter having the capability to reconcile minor variations in time that may result from calendar irregularities, such as those discussed above.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a cost effective means for reconciling dates among disparate calendars once the postage meter has been placed into service at a customers location.
In conventional fashion, this invention may be incorporated into a variety of postage printing systems, such as: a postage meter, a mailing machine, a postage evidencing device, and the like. Those skilled in the art will recognize that for the purposes of this application, postage printing systems further include: value dispensing systems, tax coupon printing systems, validation certificate issuing systems, and the like.
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a postage printing system includes a device to monitor the passage of a unit of time, a calendar profile, a system date and a control system. The calendar profile has parameterized data including day, month, year and leap year information so that dates may be reconciled. The control system is for advancing the system date depending upon the information contained with the calendar profile and the passage of a given amount of time.
In accordance with the present invention, there is also provided a method of manufacturing a postage printing system.
Therefore, it is now apparent that the present invention substantially overcomes the disadvantages associated with the prior art. Additional advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and obtained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5197042 (1993-03-01), Brookner et al.
patent: 5257196 (1993-10-01), Sansone
patent: 5654893 (1997-08-01), Vermesse
patent: 5881020 (1999-03-01), Kubatzki
English Kathleen M.
Kirschner Wesley A.
Chaclas Angelo N.
Melton Michael E.
Miska Vit
Pitney Bowes Inc.
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