Technique for effective management of resource consumption

Details Technique for effective management of resource consumption Technique for effective management of resource consumption

2006-10-10

2006-10-10

Cheung, Mary D. (Department: 3621)

Data processing: financial, business practice, management, or co

For cost/price

Postage meter system

C705S060000

Reexamination Certificate

active

07120610

ABSTRACT:
In an arrangement for accounting for consumption of a resource, e.g., utilization of a postal service or utilities, a data center (503, 803) periodically communicates with multiple franking systems (100, 505-1, 505-2, 505-n) dispensing postage for the postal service utilization. The data center (503, 803) receives transaction records (301, 303, 305, 307, 309), where a transaction record (301, 303, 305, 307, 309) is associated with each transaction performed by the franking system (100, 505-1, 505-2, 505-n) in each period. Each record (301, 303, 305, 307, 309) includes at least the postage dispensed (305) in the associated franking transaction, and an ascending register value (307) indicating the cumulative postage dispensed. Using the received records (301, 303, 305, 307, 309), the data center (503, 803) assesses the charges during the period and causes assessed charges to be charged to an account associated with the franking system (100, 505-1, 505-2, 505-n). In addition, the data center (503, 803) forwards a copy of the received records (301, 303, 305, 307, 309) to another system (507, 550, 565, 850, 865) for storage, which may be used by the postal authority or utility to audit the charges.

REFERENCES:
patent: 3792446 (1974-02-01), McFiggins et al.
patent: 4069675 (1978-01-01), Adler et al.
patent: 4525786 (1985-06-01), Crowley et al.
patent: 4783748 (1988-11-01), Swarztrauber et al.
patent: 4811011 (1989-03-01), Sollinger
patent: 4833618 (1989-05-01), Verma et al.
patent: 5142566 (1992-08-01), Meschi
patent: 5173935 (1992-12-01), Meschi
patent: 5197095 (1993-03-01), Bonnet et al.
patent: 5224046 (1993-06-01), Kim et al.
patent: 5367464 (1994-11-01), Abumehdi et al.
patent: 5701250 (1997-12-01), Wilson
patent: 5715164 (1998-02-01), Liechti et al.
patent: 5819239 (1998-10-01), Berson et al.
patent: 5994892 (1999-11-01), Turino et al.
patent: 6010069 (2000-01-01), Debois
patent: 6064992 (2000-05-01), Herring
patent: 0048746 (1982-04-01), None
patent: 0 373 970 (1990-06-01), None
patent: 0 504 843 (1992-09-01), None
patent: 927963 (1999-07-01), None
patent: 2 251 210 (1992-07-01), None
patent: WO 98/57302 (1998-12-01), None
Derrick, “The Meter is Running”, Office Systems v11n9, pp. 32-40, ISSN: 8750-3441.
Japanese Patent Document No. JP 5-136903, English Translation of the Abstract attached.
“Information-Based Indicia Program (IBIP); Performance Criteria for Information-Based Indicia and Security Architecture for Closed IBI Postage Metering Systems” United States Postal Service, Jan. 12, 1999.

Affiliated with

Also associated with

Rating

Technique for effective management of resource consumption does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.

If you have personal experience with Technique for effective management of resource consumption, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Technique for effective management of resource consumption will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

Comments { 0 }

Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3664949