Patent ID: 6308165
Filing Date: 2001-10-23
Classification: G06Q,G07B

Abstract:
A method of generating postal indicia for a series of mail items, said postal indicia each including postage data and an authentication code; including the steps of:determining a period of time;storing a value relating to postage charges dispensed in said period of time;including said value in said postage data;storing a secret key;utilizing said secret key and first postage data relating to a first mail item to generate a first modified key relating specifically to said first mail item;utilizing said first modified key and said first postage data to generate a first authentication code;printing said first postage data and said first authentication code as a first postal indicium on said first mail item;utilizing said secret key and second postage data relating to a second mail item next succeeding the first mail item to generate a second modified key, different from said first modified key, relating specifically to said second mail item;utilizing said second modified key and said second postage data to generate a second authentication code; andprinting said second postage data and said second authentication code as a second postal indicium on said second mail itemwherein the step of utilizing the secret key and the first postage data to generate the first modified key includes the step of generating a first control code based on the first postage data and utilizing the secret key and the first control code to generate the first modified key andwherein the step of utilizing the secret key and the second postage data to generate the second modified key includes the step of generating a second control code based on the second postage data and utilizing the secret key and the second control code to generate the second modified key.