(12)
`
`United States Patent
`Colfy et al.
`
`(10) Patent N0.:
`(45) Date of Patent:
`
`US 6,915,281 B2
`Jul. 5, 2005
`
`US006915281B2
`
`(54) SYSTEMS AND METHODS USINGA
`DIGITAL PEN FOR FUNDS ACCOUNTING
`DEVICES AND POSTAGE METERS
`
`6,548,768 B1
`6,570,104 B1
`6,573,887 B1
`
`4/2003 Pettersson et a1. ..... .. 178/18.01
`5/2003 Er’icson et a1. ......... .. 178/18.09
`6/2003 0 Donnell, Jr. .......... .. 345/179
`
`(75) Inventors: Jean-Hiram Co?'y, Norwalk, CT (US);
`Arthur J. Parkos, Southbury, CT (US);
`Robert A. Cordery, Danbury, CT (US)
`
`(73) Assignee: Pitney BOWes Inc., Stamford, CT (US)
`
`JP
`
`(Con?rmed)
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`2/2001
`2001-43000 A
`200143000 A * 20001
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`( * ) Notice:
`
`Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this
`patent is extended or adjusted under 35
`U.S.C. 154(b) by 48 days.
`
`(21) Appl, No; 10/065,336
`_
`(22) Filed:
`(65)
`
`Oct. 4, 2002
`Prior Publication Data
`
`Us 2004/0002926 A1 Jan~ 1: 2004
`R l t d U S A l_
`t_ D t
`_
`_
`e a e _
`‘_
`‘ pp lca Ion a a
`(60) ggggslonal apphcanon NO’ 60/319371’ ?led on Jun’ 30’
`'
`(51) Int CL?
`(52) U S C] iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii
`
`G061; 17/60
`/1_ 705/404
`
`.
`(58) Fleld of Search """"
`
`(56)
`
`’
`References Cited
`
`’
`
`705/18;705/44
`_
`01,404:
`’
`’
`
`’
`
`Us PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`3° 6: a1‘ """""""""" "
`2
`5,612,889 A * 3/1997 Pintsov et a1. ..
`
`0 e a .
`
`. . . . . . . . .
`
`. . . ..
`
`,
`
`,
`
`700/226
`
`Unknown Author, “Paper at the Cutting Edge:”, Oct. 2004,
`Financial Times, London 2d1 20041023w111.007 ed, p11.*
`Unknown Author, “Anoto, Subsidiary of C technologies,
`Initiates Collaboration with John Dickinson, UK’s Leading
`Producer of Stationary Products”, Apr. 23, 2001, Business
`Wire, 2 pages_*
`Anoto Advertising Booklet—“Uniting Handwriting with the
`Digital World , undated, 15 pages.
`Anoto Advertising Booklet—“Hey, Guess What those Nifty
`Swedes Have Dreamed Up Now to Revolutionize Digital
`Communication?!”, undated, 22 pages.
`“A Comparison of Anoto Technology with Other Releeant
`Systems,” Undated. 17 pages.
`Anoto functionality—World Wide Web pages from
`www.anotofunctionalitycom. Accessed Jan. 29, 2004. 7
`
`I ‘1'1
`'
`fC T h 1
`Ant s b 'd'
`iiaglii~
`n own
`0 o, u 51 1ary 0
`cc no ogies, n1 1a es
`Collaboration with John Dickinson, UK’s Leading Producer
`of Stationary Products, Apr. 23, 2001, Business Wire, 2
`pages‘
`
`Primary Examiner—John G. Weiss
`Assistant Examiner—Richard Woo
`(74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm—Angelo N. Chaclas; Charles
`R‘ Malandra’ George M‘ Macdonald
`
`_
`
`6,201,903 B1 * 3/2001 Wolff et a1. . . . . .
`
`. . . .. 382/317
`
`(57)
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`6,208,771 B1
`
`3/2001 Jared et a1. . . . . .
`
`. . . .. 382/306
`
`6,275,745 B1 * 8/2001 Critelli et a1. . . . . . .
`
`. . . .. 700/227
`
`A method and system for processing postage payments is
`
`- - - ~~ 700/222
`62857916 B1 * 9/2001 Kadaba ct a1~ - - - - - -
`361?
`*
`P1310531‘? a1‘
`12/2001 Hecht .3 a1. ........... .. 382/306
`5/2002 Kashiwagi et a1. .
`358/474
`1/2003 Fahraeus .................. .. 235/494
`
`e C I‘lVel‘
`
`.
`
`6,327,395 B1
`6,396,598 B1
`6,502,756 B1
`
`described. In one con?guration a digital pen is utilized to
`provide a mail piece identi?er. The data provided is utilized
`to account for postage and Venfy payment of postage‘
`
`~
`
`20 Claims, 5 Drawing Sheets
`
`Blackberry Exhibit 1047, pg. 1
`Blackberry v. Zipit
`IPR2014-01507
`
`

`
`US 6,915,281 B2
`Page 2
`
`US. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`*
`_
`
`2002/0057824
`2002/0107885
`
`* 5/2002 Andreasson .............. .. 382/101
`8/2002 Brooks et a1. ............ .. 707/505
`
`
`
`6,577,300 B2 272227232 5%
`
`
`
`
`
`............ .. 6/2003 P163011“ 6[ 8.1. Z588; $1636 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ -- 173845282
`
`7
`7
`6,609,653 B1
`6,627,870 B1
`6,681,045 B1
`2001/0055411
`2002/0035687
`
`/
`6° t """""""""" "
`/
`8/2003 Lapstun et a1. ........... .. 235/375
`9/2003 Lapstun et a1. ........... .. 250/221
`1/2004 Lapstun et a1.
`382/187
`12/2001 Black ....................... .. 282/124
`* 3/2002 Skantze .................... .. 713/168
`
`2002/0193975
`
`
`
`* 9/2002 O’Donnell’ Jr~ ~~~~~~~~~~ n 12/2002 Zimmerman ................. .. 703/6
`
`2003/0001020
`2003/0046256
`2OO3/O133629
`
`1/2003 Kardach ................... .. 235/494
`* 3/2003 Hugosson et a1. .
`707/1
`70003 S
`382/313
`aye“ """"""""""" "
`
`* cited by examiner
`
`Blackberry Exhibit 1047, pg. 2
`Blackberry v. Zipit
`IPR2014-01507
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 5, 2005
`
`Sheet 1 of 5
`
`US 6,915,281 B2
`
`mEm_2o_m
`
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`
`Blackberry Exhibit 1047, pg. 3
`Blackberry v. Zipit
`|PR2014-01507
`
`Blackberry Exhibit 1047, pg. 3
`Blackberry v. Zipit
`IPR2014-01507
`
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 5, 2005
`
`Sheet 2 of 5
`
`US 6,915,281 B2
`
`
`
`
`
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`
`Blackberry Exhibit 1047, pg. 4
`Blackberry v. Zipit
`|PR2014-01507
`
`Blackberry Exhibit 1047, pg. 4
`Blackberry v. Zipit
`IPR2014-01507
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 5,2005
`
`Sheet 3 of5
`
`US 6,915,281 B2
`
`FIG. 3
`
`320
`\‘ USER OBTANS
`0'6"“ PEN
`
`1'
`322
`\_ USER REGISTERS
`DEV'CE
`
`$
`324
`\_ usen HANDWRITES
`‘ND'C'A
`
`4'
`32s
`k‘ ussn RECEIVES
`A%EF‘T$|§gg/|gkoh'
`Jr
`328
`USER PLACES MAIL
`\ PlEsgglgAmAlL
`
`330
`
`‘
`END
`
`FIG. 4
`
`420
`\1 PA SCANS NRA
`AND MPID
`
`"
`422
`\_ PA VAUDATES
`ACCOUNT
`‘
`
`4 24
`k PA COMPUTES
`E-RECE‘PT
`
`‘
`426
`K. PA SENDS MPID
`TO AS
`
`4'
`42a
`L. PA RECEIVES
`E-RECEIPT FROM AS
`
`434
`\
`REJECT
`
`No
`
`43°
`
`YES
`
`432
`\ PROCESS MAIL
`
`END
`
`440
`
`Blackberry Exhibit 1047, pg. 5
`Blackberry v. Zipit
`IPR2014-01507
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 5,2005
`
`Sheet 4 of5
`
`US 6,915,281 B2
`
`FIG. 5
`
`g
`
`512
`
`_/
`AS OBTAINS
`REGISTRATION on
`
`t
`AS OBTAINS MAIL
`PIECE DATA
`
`514
`
`516
`/
`
`1'
`AS HESPONDS TO
`AUTHENTICATION
`CHALLENGE
`
`@9
`
`Blackberry Exhibit 1047, pg. 6
`Blackberry v. Zipit
`IPR2014-01507
`
`

`
`U.S. Patent
`
`Jul. 5, 2005
`
`Sheet 5 of 5
`
`US 6,915,281 B2
`
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`
`Blackberry Exhibit 1047, pg. 7
`Blackberry v. Zipit
`|PR2014-01507
`
`Blackberry Exhibit 1047, pg. 7
`Blackberry v. Zipit
`IPR2014-01507
`
`

`
`US 6,915,281 B2
`
`1
`SYSTEMS AND METHODS USING A
`DIGITAL PEN FOR FUNDS ACCOUNTING
`DEVICES AND POSTAGE METERS
`
`CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED
`APPLICATIONS
`
`This application claims priority under 35 USC section
`119(e) from Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/319,
`371, ?led Jun. 30, 2002, entitled Systems and Methods
`Using a Digital Pen for Funds Accounting Devices and
`Postage Meters, Which is incorporated herein by reference in
`its entirety.
`
`BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
`
`The illustrative embodiments disclosed in the present
`application are useful in systems including those for pro
`viding funds accounting devices and more particularly are
`useful in systems including those for providing for account
`ing of postage and evidence of postage.
`Funds accounting, storing and dispensing systems are
`potential targets for fraud as they store funds. Certain funds
`systems are regulated and required to exhibit some level of
`security capability to attempt to prevent or dissuade fraudu
`lent activity and to provide some forensic evidence to assist
`in tracking any fraud that is perpetuated.
`For example, postage meters approved by the United
`States Postal Service (USPS) must exhibit certain security
`capabilities in order to be approved for use. Many postage
`meters in the United States provide funds accounting such
`that a source of funds is debited When postage is prepaid
`before being placed into the mail stream. Additionally, many
`postage meters provide proof of the postage payment in the
`form of printed indicia placed on the mail piece, typically on
`the upper right hand corner of an envelope. In a postage
`system that utiliZes prepaid funds such as the USPS, a
`postage meter may account for funds by providing an
`ascending register to track money spent, a descending reg
`ister to keep track of available funds and a piece count
`register to track total number of mail pieces franked. Certain
`other postal systems utiliZe post-paid postage Wherein a
`postage meter may incorporate credit accounting features.
`Certain mailing machines incorporate a funds-accounting
`device such as a vault or postal security device and an
`indicia-printing device into one mechanical enclosure hav
`ing some security features to deter tampering.
`Mailing machines including postage meters are commer
`cially available from Pitney BoWes Inc. of Stamford, Conn.
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`SUMMARY OF INVENTION
`The present application describes systems and methods
`for providing a postage veri?cation system.
`
`50
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
`
`FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of a postal service
`information system according to an illustrative embodiment
`of the present application.
`FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of a portion of a
`media for evidencing postage payment according to an
`illustrative embodiment of the present application.
`FIG. 3 is a How chart shoWing a process for registering a
`digital pen and authenticating a user according to another
`illustrative embodiment of the present application.
`FIG. 4 is a How chart shoWing a process for verifying
`payment of postage according to another illustrative
`embodiment of the present application.
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`2
`FIG. 5 is a How chart shoWing a process for providing
`information to a postal authority for verifying payment of
`postage according to another illustrative embodiment of the
`present application.
`FIG. 6 is a schematic representation of a portion of a
`media for evidencing postage payment according to another
`illustrative embodiment of the present application.
`
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION
`
`Postage meters may be characteriZed as operating in an
`open meter manner or a closed meter manner. A typical
`closed system postage meter includes a dedicated printer for
`printing evidence of postage used. A typical open system
`meter may utiliZe a general-purpose printer. Postal funds are
`often stored in a postal security device (PSD) that may
`employ a secure accounting vault.
`For example, a reference directed toWard a NetWork Open
`Metering System is described in US. Pat. No. 6,151,590,
`issued Nov. 21, 2000 and incorporated herein by reference.
`Areference directed toWard a Postage Metering System and
`Method for a Closed System NetWork is described in US.
`Pat. No. 6,081,795, issued Jun. 27, 2000 and incorporated
`herein by reference. A reference directed toWard a Postage
`Metering System and Method for Single Vault Dispensing
`Postage to a Plurality of Printers, is described in US. Pat.
`No. 6,202,057, issued Mar. 13,2001 and incorporated herein
`by reference. A reference directed toWard Hidden Informa
`tion on a Mail Piece for Authentication, is described in US.
`Pat. No. 6,390,377, issued May 21, 2002 and incorporated
`herein by reference.
`For example, a reference directed toWard a System and
`Method for Managing Multiple Users With Different Privi
`leges in an Open Metering System is described in US. Pat.
`No. 5,742,683, issued Apr. 21, 1998 and incorporated herein
`by reference. A reference directed toWard an Electronic
`Postage Meter System is described in US. Pat. No. 6,050,
`486, issued Apr. 18, 2000 and incorporated herein by ref
`erence. A reference directed toWard Multiple Registered
`Postage Meters is described in US. Pat. No. 6,061,670,
`issued May 9, 2000 and incorporated herein by reference.
`A reference directed toWard Recording and Input to a
`Programmable Stamp is described in commonly oWned,
`co-pending US. patent application Ser. No. 09/833,167,
`?led on Apr. 11, 2001 and incorporated herein by reference.
`A reference directed toWard A Mail Processing System
`With Unique Mailpiece AuthoriZation is described in US.
`Pat. No. 5,612,889, issued on Mar. 18, 1997 and incorpo
`rated herein by reference.
`Referring to FIG. 1, a ?rst illustrative embodiment
`describing a postage payment evidencing system is shoWn.
`Handheld processor 50 is a PDA including a docking
`cradle for access to a local computer or netWork.
`Alternatively, the docking connection is Wireless.
`There may be a desire to knoW the position of the pen 10
`that is acting as a meter. While GPS system 40 may provide
`some tracking information When the signal is available, the
`signal is not alWays available. The pen 10 could be tracked
`using an IP address located With a particular location.
`Furthermore, several cell phone 911 positioning systems are
`developed that could be used in identifying the position of
`a processor that is paired or otherWise linked to the pen 10.
`For example, cellular telephone 52 may be paired With pen
`10 using Bluetooth such that they are co-located. The
`cellular telephone could then be used to determine position
`by triangulation or other method such as a 911 positioning
`system.
`
`Blackberry Exhibit 1047, pg. 8
`Blackberry v. Zipit
`IPR2014-01507
`
`

`
`US 6,915,281 B2
`
`3
`In an alternative embodiment, a satellite system such as
`the GPS system is utilized as an alternative communications
`path.
`In this example, Wireless communications channels using
`Bluetooth are provided for communications links 22, 23 and
`24. One or more of the available cellular telephone com
`munications channels are utiliZed for connection 26.
`Furthermore, satellite communications systems such as GPS
`receivers and other satellite systems are utiliZed for connec
`tions 21 and 25.
`Cellular telephone 52 is connected to cellular operator
`system 42. The cellular telephone could simply provide a
`data link such as a GSM link. In an alternative, the cellular
`telephone could include additional processing capacity and
`be used to capture and/or manipulate data. Cellular operator
`42 has communications facilities and user account process
`ing and storage facilities 43. The cellular operator 42 sys
`tems are connected to the Internet 30 using T1 line 37.
`The telephone company 45 includes a user account data
`base 46 and a connection to the Internet 30 using T1 line 34.
`Additionally, telephone connections (not shoWn) connect to
`the sWitch.
`Corporate LAN 31 is connected to Laptop 51 utiliZing a
`netWork such as an Ethernet netWork connection 51.
`Additionally, laptop 51 is connected to a modem 53 for
`connection to the telephone company systems.
`Postal Authority 60 includes a connection to the Internet
`30 using a T1 line 36. Alternatively, the connections to the
`Postal Authority 60 could be over private lines or may be a
`Virtual Private NetWork. It is contemplated that all of the
`connections utiliZe appropriate security measures. Here, the
`Postal Authority is the USPS. USPS Veri?cation Server
`(USPSVS) 61 stores user data including biometric data
`BIODATA 62. The server 61 also stores mail piece Identi
`?ers (MPID) 63 and Return Address (RA) information 64
`that may be used to select a client ID. The server 61 also
`stores Unique ID data (UID) 65.
`Meter Data Center 70 may be operated by a Postal
`Authority or a third party. Here, Meter Data Center 70
`includes a data center 71 and authentication server 72. The
`servers are connected to a corporate LAN 32 that is prefer
`ably a production environment dedicated to servicing
`meters. Corporate LAN 32 is connected to the Internet 30
`using T1 line 35. Alternatively, the connections to the meter
`data center 70 could be over private lines or may be a Virtual
`Private NetWork. It is contemplated that all of the connec
`tions utiliZe appropriate security measures. Authentication
`Server (AS) 72 stores user data including biometric data
`BIODATA 73. The server 72 also stores mail piece Identi
`?ers (MPID) 74 and Return Address (RA) information 75
`that may be used to select a client ID. The server 72 also
`stores Unique ID data (UID) 76.
`Laptop 51 utiliZes a mobile Pentium 4 processor. The
`server processors are geographically and load balanced
`application servers using systems available from Sun Micro
`systems and the storage servers use multiple location redun
`dant backup systems.
`Additionally, other appropriate Wireless and Wired net
`Works and connections may be utiliZed. It is contemplated
`that other communications channels such as OC-3 lines or
`Wireless connections could be used in place of the T1 lines.
`Similarly, the other communications channels could be
`replaced With alternatives. As can be appreciated, various
`communication ?oWs may be utiliZed, some of Which Will be
`chattier than others. Laptop 51 could provide gateWay
`access to the TCP/IP Internet network.
`
`10
`
`15
`
`25
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`55
`
`65
`
`4
`Here, it is contemplated that different portable processors
`may be utiliZed in the system. Accordingly, the machines or
`user interface servers utiliZe the capabilities of the portable
`processor to determine What user interface logic to present
`to a user and Whether additional biometric information is
`available. Additionally, user preferences could be utiliZed to
`pre-con?gure the user interface and the user may be alloWed
`to store personal macros for each type of machine that is to
`be operated.
`Additional systems compliant With hardWare layer pro
`tocols such as the versions of the IEEE 802.11 are available
`as Well as systems such as Wi-Fi compliant systems. Typical
`Wired netWork interface cards (NIC) utiliZe the Ethernet
`protocol in Which each individual Ethernet card produced is
`assigned a unique address. An address issuing authority
`ensures that the addresses assigned to the various manufac
`turers are unique. BluetoothTM systems do not generally
`require user intervention to connect to the Personal Area
`NetWork access point.
`Pen 10 includes a processor 14, memory 12, ink 17, a
`camera or image sensor 15, a battery 16 and a Bluetooth
`transceiver 11. It also includes biometric sensors (not
`shoWn). In an alternative, the ink is machine detectable. In
`another embodiment, the ink is invisible.
`Wireless systems such as 802.11b sometimes utiliZe WEP
`encryption to encrypt packets as they are sent over the open
`airWays and subject to snooping. Such WEP techniques may
`not provide adequate protection of the underlying data.
`BluetoothTM utiliZes several layers of security. At a link
`level, remote/local device authentication is required before
`any communication can take place. This system may be
`subject to identity or pin attacks. At the Channel level, a link
`level connection occurs and then the devices need to authen
`ticate before an communications channel is established.
`Finally, there is optional BluetoothTM encryption of the data
`payload being transmitted.
`In this embodiment, appropriate security at several pro
`tocol layers is utiliZed including the application layer.
`The embodiments described herein may utiliZe biometric
`data for purposes such as authentication of a user. In this
`embodiment, the digital pen 10 is a digital pen available
`from Anoto, Inc. The pen 10 provides biometric data relating
`to the pen strokes used including hand speed, pen tip
`pressure and the inclination angle betWeen pen and paper.
`Such data is referred to herein as BIODATA. In alternative
`embodiments, the BIODATA may include other biometric
`data such as a retinal scan or ?ngerprint scan performed
`using an external processor such as laptop 51 that is
`co-located With the pen or by the pen 10. In certain embodi
`ments herein, the name and return address of a user is
`de?ned as Name and Return Address (NRA). The pen 10 is
`assigned a unique identi?cation code that is a unique serial
`number for the pen. In an alternative, the PUID is a
`BluetoothTM MAC code or other unique or group assigned
`code including a post office supplied meter identi?cation
`code. An electronic signature card (ESC) is de?ned in this
`embodiment as a secure hash of the UID, NRA and BIO
`DATA. An e-Receipt is de?ned as an electronic receipt that
`is a secure hash of the MPID and ESC.
`The system of this embodiment provides security by
`having biometrics data about the oWner/user sent to the AS
`in real time every time the pen is used, thereby reducing the
`possibility of fraud. It can also provide value added services
`such as email noti?cation to sender, tracking and proof of
`sender’s identify for non-repudiation and other purposes
`such as mail security.
`
`Blackberry Exhibit 1047, pg. 9
`Blackberry v. Zipit
`IPR2014-01507
`
`

`
`US 6,915,281 B2
`
`5
`Referring to FIG. 2, a schematic representation of a
`portion of a media for providing data used in accounting for
`postage is shoWn. In this embodiment, an envelope 270 has
`certain de?ned areas for data input that is used by a digital
`metering system 1 for postage accounting. Here, an enve
`lope 270 is a plain paper envelope that has preprinted on it
`embedded intelligence that can be read by the pen and sent
`to the Authentication Server 72 for further processing. In this
`illustrative embodiment, the intelligence is in the form of a
`pattern 218 that is either pre-printed on the envelope or
`printed by any laser printer capable of printing it.
`The pattern 218 is available from Anoto Inc. and is used
`such that the grid uniquely de?nes 2 dimensional portions of
`an enormous 2-dimensional map. Accordingly, the abstract
`grid location could be assigned many meanings including a
`map to a relative or absolute position on a media such as an
`envelope and also for a user selection such as a choice to use
`?rst class mail. The pattern portions are used in the data
`?elds 210, 212, 214, 216, 220 and 230 in order to alloW the
`pen processor or remote pen data processor to knoW Where
`on the pattern the pen is located. Alternatively the pattern
`218 may be printed on an adhesive back label that may be
`peeled off and applied to the mail piece as need be.
`For eXample, a user could place a mark using the digital
`pen 10 in boX 210 to select regular mail processing. The user
`Would then see the ink marking in the boX, and the digital
`pen processor 14 Would transmit that data to an eXternal
`processor to indicate the selection. That selection indication
`could also be used to launch an application program or
`portion of softWare code to process the image data associ
`ated With the pen strokes. Here, the user could similarly
`check boX 212 if the user desired ?rst class mail processing.
`The user could check boX 214 to indicate certi?ed mail
`processing and boX 216 to indicate registered mail process
`ing. The system could identify any class selection incom
`patibilities and notify the user. The user could then be
`alloWed to check a portion of the boX 217 to unselect a
`particular choice.
`The Return Address boX 230 alloWs a user to provide
`identi?cation information and also provide the function of a
`return address in letting the postal authority knoW Where to
`return undeliverable mail. The return address could be
`utiliZed With the biometric data. For eXample, a company
`may have an account linked to a return address that may be
`accessed by tWo or more users having a digital pen 10. Each
`user Would have identifying biometric information on ?le.
`Accordingly, the Return address could be used for account
`selection and the biometric data used for sub-account selec
`tion and authoriZation.
`The mail piece identi?cation boX 220 alloWs a user to
`provide a handWritten mail piece identi?cation code. In this
`embodiment, the mail piece identi?cation code is an alpha
`numeric code selected by the user. In alternative embodi
`ments other symbols may be utiliZed and the code may be
`entirely or partially provided by an external processor. For
`eXample, the envelopes can be pre-printed With a dashed
`outline font of a mail piece identi?er that the user Will trace.
`Accordingly, the mail piece identi?er can be pre-printed
`With a batch of numbers that are unique to the entire
`population or in groups that are unique to the user. When the
`batches are unique to a user or group of users, the digital pen
`can be used to distinguish the users or groups of users. In
`another alternative, the AS 70 may provide a unique mail
`piece ID to the user through a cellular telephone display or
`other display such as a display on the digital pen. The
`cellular telephone can be used to enhance security by having
`the AS 70 system require the input of a PIN before the MPID
`is sent.
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`As shoWn above, the user selects a class of service and
`thereby authoriZes the postal authority 60 to receive pay
`ment from a postage account such as an account With the
`trusted third party at the data center 70. The postal authority
`determines the correct postage based upon criteria such as
`Weight, dimensions and class of service. The postal authority
`then debits the funds from the user before processing the
`mailpiece and appropriate messages are transferred betWeen
`the postal authority 60 and the data center 70.
`In an alternative embodiment, a postal value ?eld boX 260
`is provided that also utiliZes the Anoto pattern 218. A user
`Will handWrite a postal value using the digital pen of system
`1. The system may then automatically debit the postal value
`Written With the pen from the user postal value vault because
`the pen can recogniZe that the user is Writing in the postal
`value boX 260. In another alternative, the postal value is only
`debited from the user account When the mailpiece is pro
`cessed by the postal authority.
`In another embodiment, the pattern is used to de?ne an
`envelope having a set of dimensions and a maXimum Weight.
`Accordingly, When the user ?lls in the envelope, the mail
`piece is rated and the postage deducted from the user postage
`account before being deposited With the postal service.
`In an alternative embodiment, another de?ned area for
`data input 260 is provided for entering a postage value. In
`such an embodiment, the pen 10 is used to Write the postage
`amount applied to a mail piece. The pen infrastructure
`determines the value Written and deducts the amount from
`the postage vault of the user. The postage vault may be
`located in the pen 10, in a co-located processor, or in a
`remote location in a remote vault processor. Postage vault
`systems are knoWn. Here, the pen uses the pattern 218 to
`recogniZe that the user is entering a postage amount. The pen
`10 recogniZes the postage amount and processes the account
`debit to account for postage that is metered by the pen 10.
`If the users account did not have suf?cient funds, an error
`condition can be communicated to the user by beeping
`sounds or other communication means and the mailpiece
`record can be invalidated.
`In another alternative, a mailpiece that is determined to be
`under-postage can be processed. In one alternative, each
`registered pen meter user has a pro?le that determines
`Whether the postal authority is authoriZed to charge the
`additional postage automatically and then continue to pro
`cess the mailpiece. In an alternative, the postal authority
`may send a message to the user requesting such authoriZa
`tion.
`In an alternative used to ensure that duplicate mailpiece
`identi?cation codes are not used, a timestamp and pen meter
`identi?er is appended to the Written mailpiece identi?cation.
`Here, the trusted third party (or the postal authority if a
`trusted third party is not used) knoWs if a user used the same
`mailpiece identi?cation on more than one envelope. The
`trusted third party could determine if tWo mailpieces With
`the same mailpiece id could be co-pending. If not, there is
`no ambiguity. If there is ambiguity, the postal authority
`could be informed of the duplication. Since the postal
`authority cannot read the additional time information from
`the face of the mailpiece, the postal authority can attempt to
`determine Whether the tWo mailpieces could possibly have
`overlapped. If so, the tWo mailpieces could be rejected, or
`they could be processed in the order received and the trusted
`third party could cancel the e-receipt according to the order
`in Which the mail pieces are received.
`In another embodiment, a unique identi?cation code
`could be generated at the data center 70 or postal authority
`
`Blackberry Exhibit 1047, pg. 10
`Blackberry v. Zipit
`IPR2014-01507
`
`

`
`US 6,915,281 B2
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`60 and communicated to the user so that the user could Write
`the code on the envelope.
`In an alternative embodiment, a digital pen using position
`sensors similar to those used in a graphics draWing tablet is
`utiliZed. In this alternative, the media is de?ned as a template
`based upon position. The template could be stenciled on to
`the media such as a label or envelope in order to aid the user
`in proper placement of the data. The processor that is
`processing the data input into the template could offer a user
`a template selection to choose from, each With its oWn data
`location template de?nition. In another alternative, the tem
`plate form identi?er is placed in machine or human readable
`form on the media. The digital pen is then used to read the
`form identi?er using a scanning technique or by the user
`tracing over the form number.
`In another alternative embodiment, other biometric data
`may be utiliZed. For example, the digital pen 10 may be
`paired With an external processor such as a PDA such that a
`shared secret is provided to the pen 10 and the PDA 50. In
`one alternative, the user does not type in a device PIN for
`pairing, but a central data system uses unique identi?ers
`such as MAC codes to pair devices. Thereafter, the PDA
`could also be used to capture biometric data related to a user.
`Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the system and method of
`this embodiment provides postage accounting and evidenc
`ing solutions. The digital pen 10 is used to handWrite the
`indicia on an envelope 270 that contains embedded intelli
`gence 218. This indicia consists of the handWritten name,
`NRA 230 and any tWelve randomly selected alphanumeric
`characters (MPID) 220 chosen by the sender (oWner/user) of
`the pen. The handWritten information provides BIODATA
`that may be used to authenticate the sender. This BIODATA
`is sent to the AS 72 along With the PUID. The authentication
`process consists of comparing a neWly computed Electronic
`Signature Card (ESC) With an ESC on ?le that Was obtained
`during meter registration. If a match is found a tuple
`consisting of MPID and e-Receipt is stored in the system for
`future use. By using the ESC the system knoWs that the
`sender is legitimate, and the e-Receipt means that the sender
`paid for the postage.
`The mail piece can noW be dropped off in a Postal Office
`Mail Box or at any USPS Post Of?ce location. When the
`mail piece is picked up, a postal employee can scan the NRA
`and the MPID data at the pickup point or at the post of?ce,
`45
`depending upon Whichever location is more convenient. The
`NRA is used by the USPSVS to perform a quick veri?cation
`to determine Whether the account eXists and is active. If the
`set of conditions are met the USPSVS 61 proceeds to
`compute an e-Receipt by hashing the MPID and the Elec
`tronic Signature Card that it has on ?le. To determine
`Whether this mail piece Was paid for the USPSVS 61
`challenges the AS 72 by sending it the MPID for veri?ca
`tion. The AS server 72 replies With the result of the challenge
`by using the MPID to retrieve the previously computed and
`stored e-Receipt along With any additional mail processing
`options such as registered mail or certi?ed mail. If the tWo
`receipts match then the mail piece is alloWed to proceed to
`its destination, otherWise it is returned to the sender. To
`complete this transaction the USPSVS 61 sends a transac
`tion status to the AS server 72. At this point the AS server
`72 can deactivate the particular e-Receipt and move to
`permanent storage for future use.
`The AS server 72 uses the PUID 76 of the printer (pen 10),
`the sender’s biometrics data (BIODATA) 73 and Mail Piece
`ID 74 to determine if the Electronic Signature card (ESC) on
`?le matches a neWly computed signature based on the data
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`received from the printer. The sender is then noti?ed about
`the transaction status. The information received is processed
`to compute and Electronic Receipt (e-Receipt) that this
`server 72 stores a long With the MPID 74 as tuple for faster
`retrieval later on. This server also receives Proof of Payment
`Requests (e-Receipt) from the USPS Veri?cation Server