Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
C-682
~Y~l r.., FOR RECHARGING A PLURALITY OF POSTAGE METERS
BACKGROUND OF THE lNV~N'l'lON
The subject invention relates to a system for obtaining
recharge codes for one or more postage meters. More
particularly, it relates to a system for automatically
obtaining a recharge code for one or more meters selected
from a plurality of postage meters. The subject invention
further relates to embodiments which retransmit recharge
codes to such selected meters so that such selected meters
are automatically recharged.
Postage meters are devices which have found wide
application in many businesses. Such meters are used to
frank parcels and mail by printing indicia which are
equivalent to postage stamps. Clearly, it is therefore
essential that postage meters include a secure mechanism to
assure that the meter prints only postage for which the
postal service has been paid. E~ually clearly, the secure
mechanism must allow the postage meter to be recharged (or
reset) with additional funds. That is, a mechanism must be
provided which will allow the postage meter to print
additional postage if and only if an equivalent amount has
been paid to the postal service.
(Those skilled in the art will recognize that other
forms of value, e.g. tax stamps, may be dispensed by postage
meter-like devices. As used herein the term "postage meter"
contemplates such devices which include a secure,
rechargeable mechanism for controlled dispensing of value.)
Various schemes have been devised and implemented to
obtain the desired remote recharging based or. information
from a remote data processing center. Typical systems are
shown in U.S. Patent No.: 3,792,446, to McFiggans et al,
entitled REMOTE POSTAGE METER RESETTING METHOD: and in U.S.
Patent No.: 4,097,923, to Eckert, Jr. et al, entitled
POSTAGE METER CHARGING SYSTEM USING AN ADVANCED
MICROCOMPUTERIZED POSTAGE METER. These patents teach a data
processing center which is equipped with a programmed
digital computer and a voice answer-back unit to process
telephone calls from users of postage meters equipped with
either a combination lock such that the lock prohibits
recharging of the associated meter until it is unlocked; or
in the case of U.S. Patent No.: 4,097,923, having a working
memory which contains a seed number for generating postage
funding combinations to unlock the meter. The remote system
of the latter Patent includes the capability of adding
variable amounts of postage to the meter. U.S. Patent No.:
3,792,446, relates only to the addition of fixed increments
to the meter. Each of these systems is based on
transmission by a postage meter user of information
including, or derived from, the contents of the meter
ascending and descending registers, the meter serial number,
and account number to be debited for the amount of funds to
be recharged, and in the case of a variable recharge system,
the amount by which the meter is to be recharged. If the
data processing center includes a voice answer-back system
the operator may transmit the information as DTMF tones over
the telephone system or the operator may simply speak to a
second operator at the data processing center to transmit
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the information. In either case the data processing center
then provides an encrypted number which may be used to
recharge the meter, as is described in the above referenced
Patents.
As is well know to those skilled in the art the
ascending register of a postage meter is a large capacity
register which is incremented by the postage amount each
time the meter prints an indicia, and thus contains the
total amount of postage printed by the meter over its
lifetime. The descending register is decremented by the
amount of postage each time an indicia is printed and
incremented by the amount of funds each time the meter is
recharged. The meter, of course, cannot print postage in
excess of the amount of funds in the descending register.
The total of the ascending and the descending register is
equal to the total amount of funds with which the meter has
been charged in its lifetime. (Sometimes herein referred to
as the control sum.) Since the recharge code is generated
using a secure algorithm and is based on information which
includes the control sum and the serial number of the meter,
it is apparent that each recharge of the meter will require
a secure, unique recharge code.
Such recharging systems are marketed by Pitney Bowes
Inc, the assignee of the subject application, under the
Trademark "Postage-by-Phone", and are described more fully
in the above referenced Patents.
In the systems described above the recharge code is
entered into a postage meter, such as the Pitney Bowes model
6900 Electronic Meter, manually through a keypad by an
operator. Alternately, the information may be entered into
the Model 6900 Meter through a communications port which is
normally used for communication with a postal scale using a
proprietary Pitney Bowes communications protocol described
in U.S. Patent No.: 4,498,187 to Soderborg et al.
U.S. Patent No.: 3,255,493 to Simjian discloses a
system in which the meter communicates directly to a central
accounting station for accounting for each and all of the
meter operations, either on a real time basis or in batches.
A similar system is disclosed in West German Patent
Application No.: DE 2,636,852, published February 23, 1978;
in which a data transmitting unit is employed to recharge~5
the postage meter over telephone or telegraph lines.
British Patent Application No.: 2,147,853, published
May 22, 1985, discloses a telephone integrated with a mail
franking device, which operates either SA telephone or as a
postage meter. The telephone keypad may be used to recharge
funds and accounting may be done either locally at the
device or in a central accounting unit.
Each of the above described devices requires a complex
sequence of operations to recharge a postage meter. U.S.
Patent No.: 4,812,992, to Storace et al, issued March 14,
1989, discloses a system which attempts to simplify the
recharging process. In Patent No.: 4,812,992, a novel
postage meter which includes a dedicated communications
port, which is preferable DTMF transmitter/receiver for
telephone communications, is connected over the telephone
network to a remote data processing center, such as a Pitney
Bowes "Postage-by Phone" center. Each meter has the
capability to initiate and complete a recharging transaction
with the data processing center whenever its funds (i.e.,the
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contents of its descending register) fall below a preset
limit.
While effective, the system of Patent No.: 4,812,992,
requires the design an implementation of a new meter and the
approval of that meter by the U.S. Postal Service.
Thus it is an object of the subject invention to
provide such a system which is compatible with existing
postage meters without the necessity of obtaining approval
from a postal service. It is a still further object of the
subject invention to provide a system which is capable of
obtaining a recharge code for a plurality of selected
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meters.
Other objects and advantages of the subject invention
will be apparent to those skilled in the art from
consideration of the attached drawings and of the detailed~0
description set forth below.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INV~N-llON
The above objects are achieved and the disadvantages of
the prior art are overcome in accordance with the subject
invention by means of a system for automatically obtaining a
recharge code for a selected postage meter from a remote
data processing center, where the data processing center
transmits the recharge code to the system in response to a
message from the system and debits the amount by which the
selected meter is to be recharged to an account. The system
includes a display, input apparatus for entry of data,
communication apparatus for communicating with the remote
data processing center, a memory for storing a data base of
information relating to a plurality of postage meters, and
control apparatus. The control apparatus controls the
display to display names for each of the plurality of
meters, and responds to data identifying one of the
plurality of meters as the selected meter, which data is
entered through the input apparatus, to access the data base
to obtain recharge information relating to recharging the
selected meter. The system further receives an access code
for the selected meter and forms a message, the message
including the meter recharge information and the access code
for the selected meter. The control apparatus then
transmits the message to the remote data processing center
and receives the recharge code from the remote data
processing center in response to the message.
In accordance with one aspect of the subject invention
the recharge information includes a unique identification
code for the selected meter.
In accordance with another aspect of the subject
invention the recharge information includes an account
number for an account against which the amount by which the
selected meter is recharged is debited.
In accordance with another aspect of the subject
invention the selected meter is connected to the system
through a second communications apparatus and the system
automatically transmits the recharge code to the selected
meter.
In accordance with yet another aspect of the subject
invention the system may obtain the access code from the
selected meter through said second communications apparatus.
In accordance with still yet another aspect of the
subject invention a plurality of postage meters is connected
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to such a system *or obtaining a recharge code through a
second communications means, the system including a data
base of information for recharging the connected postage
meters.
Thus it may be seen that the subject invention achieves
the above objects and advantageously overcomes the problems
of the prior art. Other objects and advantages of the
subject invention will be apparent from consideration of the
attached drawings and the description set forth below.
BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 shows a schematic block diagram of an
embodiment of the subject invention.
Figure 2 shows a schematic block diagram of another
embodiment of the subject invention wherein a plurality of
postage meters are connected to a system in accordance with
the subject invention.
Figures 3a-3n show a flow chart of the operation of the
systems of Figures 1 and 2.
DETAILS DESCRIPTION OF PP~k~ EMBOD I r~hr~ ~S OF THE SUBJECT
lNVk.. ~ lON
Figure 1 shows a schematic block diagrams of system 10
in accordance with the subject invention. System 10
includes microcomputer 12, which is preferable an IBM
PC/XT/AT, or other equivalent compatible commercially
available microcomputer, having at least 256K bytes of
random access memory (RAM). Conventional keyboard 14 is
provided for input of data by a system user and a convention
CRT display 16 is provided for display of data to a system
user. system 10 also includes two conventional 360K floppy
diskette drives for input and storage of system software and
data bases, as will be described below. System 10 also
includes a modem 22 for communications with remote data
processing center 30. Typically, modem 22 communicates with
data processing center 30 over the switched public telephone
network, but communication over leased lines is also within
the contemplation of the subject invention. Modem 22 will
operate at 300, 1200, or 2400 baud, and preferably will be a
commercially available modem manufactured by the Hayes
Corporation, or other commercially available compatible
equivalent.
Figure 2 shows a schematic block diagram of another
embodiment of the subject invention wherein a plurality of
commercially available electronic postage meters 40a, 40b,
such as the the Model 6900 Electronic Meter, marketed by the
assignee of the subject invention, are attached to system 10
through a corresponding plurality of network interfaces,
including interfaces 42a and 42b, and network controller 44
to microcomputer 12 of system lOa. Network controller 44
may be selected to support any of numerous commercially
available local area networks, but preferably will support a
wireless communications network such as a spread spectrum RF
wireless local area network operating in accordance with
Part 15 of the FCC regulations in the 902-928 Mhz. band. A
suitable network controller is available from O'Neill
Communications Inc of Princeton, New Jersey, and design of
network interfaces 42a and 42b is a routine task easily
accomplished once the network is specify by any digital
systems designer of more then ini ~1 competence. Further
details of the network are not believed necessary for an
understanding of the subject invention.
Figure 3a shows a flow chart representation of the
initial operation of system 10 or 10a, shown in Figure 1 or
2, respectively. At 100 the system displays a start up
screen requesting that the user input an identification code
and password. (In other embodiments of the subject
invention the password or both the password and
identification code may be optional.) At 102 the system
requests the user to input an identification code and at 104
requests input of a password. At 106 the system tests the
identification code and password to determine if the user is
recognized as an authorized system user. If either the
identification code or the password are not recognized then
at 108 the system displays an error message prompting the
user to try again and waits for the user response. At 110
the system tests the user response and if the user wishes to
retry loops through 102. If the user does not wish to
retry, the system exits. Preferably the system will allow
only a limited, predetermined number of attempts.
Assuming that both the identification code and the
password are recognized, than at 112 the system displays the
Main Menu and waits for user input. The Main Menu
identifies three functions which the user may access: Set Up
System, Obtain Account Balance, and Reset Meters. At 116
the system tests to determine if the user has requested the
Set Up routine. If so the system, at 118, goes to the Set
Up routine as will be described further below. Otherwise,
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at 120 the system tests to determine if the user has
requested the Balance, and if so, at 124, goes to the
Balance routine, as will be described further below.
Otherwise, at 126 the system tests to determine if the user
has requested the Reset routine, and if so at 128, goes to
the Reset Meters routine, as will be described further
below. If none of the listed functions has been requested
at 130 the system tests to determine if the user wishes to
quit the session, and if so exits. Otherwise, the system
returns to 112 to wait for a further, appropriate response
form the user.
Figures 3b and 3c show a flow chart representation of
the operation of system 10a in executing the Reset Meter
function.
At 134 system 10a displays a list of meters included in
the system data base, and waits for a user response. At 136
the response is tested t o determine if a Get Funds command
has been entered. If that command has been entered, then at
138 system 10a test to determine if a meter or meters has
been selected. If no meter has been selected system 10a
returns to 134 to await appropriate input. If at least one
meter has been selected then at 139 system 10a goes to the
Get Funds routine, as shown in Figure 3c, which will be
described further below. Otherwise, at 140, system 10a
tests the user response to determine if the user wishes to
quit, and if so returns to display the main menu at 112 in
Figure 3a. Otherwise, at 144 system 10a tests the user
response to determine if the user wishes to select a meter.
If the user response is not a meter selection system 10a
returns to 134 to await appropriate input.
---- 10 ----
If a meter has been selected, at 148 system 10a
determines if the selected meter is connected through
network controller 44. If the selected meter is not
connected then at 150 system 10a displays a request for
manual input of the access code and waits for input. If the
meter is connected then at 152 system 10a communicates with
the selected meter through network controller 44 to obtain
the access code directly from the selected meter. Once the
access code is obtained it is entered at 154 and at 156 a
request for the recharge amount is displayed and system 10a
waits.
The amount input is then tested at 158 to determine if
the amount is less then the maximum amount as stored in the
corresponding record in the system data base. If the amount
is greater then the maximum then at 160 an error message is
displayed and the system returns to 156. Otherwise, at 162
system 10a enters the amount. Then, at 164, system 10a
request confirmation of the meter selection. At 166 the
user response is tested, and if selection is confirmed, then
at 168 system 10a records the selection of that meter for
recharging. Otherwise, the meter is deselected; that is,
the selection of the meter is cancelled. In either event
system 10a returns to 134 to wait for further appropriate
input.
Returning to 139, if at least one meter is selected and
the user enters a Get Funds command, then at 172 system 10a
sets up mo~em 22 and establishes connection with remote data
processing 30. At 174 system 10a performs a conventional
test to assure that th~ connection is properly established.
If there is an error then at 176 an error message is displayed,
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and at 178 system 10a returns to display the meter lists
(134 in Figure 3b). Once satisfactory connection is
established then at 180 system 10a accesses the meter
database to obtain a unique identification code for a
selected meter, and an account number for an account against
which the recharge amount for that meter is to be debited.
This recharge information is combined with the access code
and the recharge amount for that meter to form a message,
and the message is sent to remote data processing center 30.
Data processing center 30 responds to the message to
generate a unique recharge code as a secure function of the
access code, meter identification, and recharge amount, and
debits the recharge amount to the identified account. Thus,
a secure recharge code is generated for that meter. (The
operation of data center 30 in generating a recharge code is
generally known, and further description is not believed
necessary to an understanding of the subject invention.)
Then, at 182, system 10a transmits the message formed
to data center 30 and waits for a response. At 184 system
10a tests for a communications error, e.g., a transmission
error or failure to respond, and if a correct response is
received saves the response at 186. Then, at 188 system 10a
tests to determine if there are messages to be formed for
other selected meters. If not system 10a returns to 180 to
form a message for the next selected meter.
Returning to 184, if a communications error is
detected, then at 190 system 10a tests to determine if
predetermined retry count is exceeded, and if not, returns
to 182 to retransmit the message to data center 30. If the
retry count is exceeded that at 192 system 10a determines if
~) nJ ~'? ~
there have been any previous successful communications with
data center 30 such taht recharge codes have been received.
If no recharge codes have been received then at 194 an error
message is displayed and, at 196 system lOa returns to
display the meter list (134 in Figure 3b).
If the test at 188 shows that there has been a correct
response to the last message, or the test at 192 shows that
recharge codes have been received, then at 198 system lOa
goes to the Reset Session Complete function, shown in Figure
3d. Then at 200 system lOa tests to determine if meters are
connected. If meters are connected then, at 202 system lOa
establishes communications with a selected meter and resets
that meter. Then, at 204 system lOa tests to determine if
the reset is successful. If there is an error then at 206
an error message is displayed and the reset results are
updated. Then, or if the reset test at 204 is passed, at
208 system lOa tests to determine if other selected meters
remain to be reset, and if so returns to 202 to reset the
next meter. After the last connected meter is reset, or if
no meters are connected, system lOa goes to 210 and test to
determine if a flag has been set indicating that the reset
information is to be saved, and if so at 211 saves this
information to a disk on disk drive 20. Then, or if the
flag is not set, at 212 system lOa displays the reset
results and waits for a user response. At 214 system lOa
tests the user response to determine if the user wishes a
receipt printed. If so, at 216 system lOa prints a reset
receipt and returns to 212. If the user response tested at
214 is not a request for a receipt then at 21~ the response
is tested to determine if the user wishes to quit. If not,
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system 10a returns to 212 to wait for appropriate input. If
the user wishes to quit then at 220 system lOa tests to
determine if a reset receipt has been printed. If no
receipt has been printed system 10a displays a print receipt
prompt, at 222, and waits for user input. Then at 224 the
user response is tested to determine if a receipt is
requested, and if so system lOa goes to 216 and continues as
described above. If the test to 20 shows that a receipt has
been printed, or the test to 24 shows that no receipt is
requested the reset session is completed and, at 226 system
10a returns to display the main menu (112 in Figure 3a).
System 10, shown in Figure 1 operates in substantially
the same manner to execute the Reset Meter function, except,
of course, that it need not be programmed to attempt direct
communication with a meter. Instead, in system 10 the
system user obtains the access code (or codes) from the
selected meter (or meters) and inputs that code to system
10; then obtains the corresponding recharge code for each
selected meter and enters that code through the meter
keyboard.
Other functions, described below, are substantially
identical in systems 10 and 10a, and are described with
respect to system 10.
At 230 in Figure 3e system 10 displays a list of
accounts and requests the user to salect the account or
accounts for which a balance is requested, and waits for
input. Then at 232 system 10 tests the user input to
determine if a Get Balance has been requested. If it has at
234 system 10 tests to determine if at least one account has
been selected, and if not returns to 230 to await
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2~
appropriate input. If one or more accounts have been
selected then system lo goes to the Get Balance function,
shown in Figure 3f, as will be described below.
If the user has not requested a Get Balance function
then at 238 the response is tested to determine if the user
wishes to quit, and if so, at 240 system 10 goes to display
the main menu (112 in Figure 3a). If the user does not wish
to quit then at 242 system 10 tests the response to
determine if an account has been selected, and if not
returns to 230.
If the user has selected an account, at 244 system 10
~5
request confirmation, and at 246 tests the user response.
If the account selection is confirmed system 10 records the
selection, otherwise the account is deselected. In either
event system 10 then returns to 230 to await further input.
Returning to 236 if the user has requested a Get
Balance function and at least one account has been selected
system 10 goes to the Get Balance function shown in Figure
3f, and at 252 sets up modem 22 and establishes connection
with data processing center 30. Then at 254 system 10 tests
to determine if the connection with data processing center
30 is ok. If there is an error then at 256 an error message
is displayed and at 258 system 10 goes to display the
account list (230 in Figure 3e).
If connection is satisfactorily established then at 260
system 10 accesses the data base and forms a message
requesting a balance for a selected account, and at 262
transmits the message to data processing center 30 and waits
for a reply at 264 system 10 tests for a communications
error, e.g., a transmission error or failure to reply. If a
satisfactory reply is received then at 266 the reply is
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saved, and at 268 system 10 test to determine if this is the
last message. If not system 10 returns to 260 to form a
message relating to the next selected account.
Returning to 264 if a communications error is detected
then at 270 system 10 test to determine if a predetermined
retry account is exceeded. If not it returns to 262 to
retransmit the message to data processing center 30. If the
retry account is exceeded then at 272 system 10 tests to
determine if any account balances have been successfully
received for other selected accounts. If no balances have
been received that at 274 an error message is displayed, and
at 276 system 10 goes to display the account list (230 in
Figure 3e).
If the test at 268 shows that there has been a
successful reply to the last message, or if the test at 272
shows that account balances have been received at 278 system
10 goes to the Balance Session Complete function, shown in
Figure 3g.
Turning to Figure 3g, at 280 the balance results are
displayed, and system 10 waits for user input. At 282 the
user response is tested to determine if a balance receipt is
requested and, if so at 284 a receipt is printed and system
10 returns to 280. Otherwise, at 286 system 10 tests to
determine if the user wish to quit and if not returns to 280
to wait for appropriate input. Otherwise, at 288 system 10
tests to determine if a balance receipt has been printed,
and if not at 290 displays a prompt asking if the user
wishes a balance receipt. At 292 the user response is
tested and if a receipt is requested the system 10 goes to
284 and continues as above.
-- 16 -
J.~rj
If the test at 288 shows that a balance receipt has
been printed, or the test at 292 shows the user does not
wish a receipt, at 294 the Obtain Account Balance function
is complete and system 10 goes to display the main menu (112
in Figure 3a).
Figure 3h is a flow chart representation of the
operation of system 10 in executing the Set Up System
function. At 300 system 10 displays a menu of set up
options and waits for input. Then at 302 system 10 tests
the input to determine if the user has selected the Maintain
15 Meter List function, and if so at 304 goes to that function.
Otherwise, at 286 system 10 tests to determine if the Assign
Operator function has been selected, and if so goes to that
function at 308. Otherwise, at 310 system 10 tests to
20 determine if the Set Program Parameters function has been
selected, and if so at 312 goes to that function. Otherwise
system 10 tests at 296 to determine if the Change Supervisor
Password function has been selected, and if so, at 316 goes
25 to that function. If no function has been selected at 318
system 10 tests to see if the user wishes to quit, and if
not, returns to 300 for further, appropriate input.
Otherwise, system 10 goes to display the main memo (112 in
30 Figure 3a).
Figure 3i shows a flow chart representation of the
operation of system 10 in executing the Maintain Meter List
function, which allows the system user to modify the data
base of recharge information for the plurality of meters
associated with the system. This data base will contain a
record for each meter associated with the system, and each
record will typically contain: an account number identifying
-- 17 -
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the account against which the recharge amount is to be
debited, a unique (for data center 30) meter identification
number, a meter name or number (not necessarily unique) by
which the meter is identified to the system user, the
maximum permitted recharge amount, and a default recharge
amount to be used if no amount is entered by the user.
At 330 system 10 displays options for meter list
10 maintenance and waits for user input.
At 332 system 10 tests to determine if the user has
requested a View/Modify Meter function, which allows the
user to modify an existing record. If so, at 334 system 10
goes to this function. Otherwise, at 336 system 10 tests to
determine if the user has requested a Add Meter function,
which allows a user to add a new meter to the data base, and
if so goes to this function at 338. Otherwise at 340 system
10 tests to determine if the user has requested a Delete
Meter function, which allows a user to delete a meter from
the data base. If so system 10 goes to this function at
342. If none of the above functions have been selected, at
346 system 10 tests to determine if the user wishes to quit.
If the user does not, system 10 returns to 330 for further,
appropriate input. Otherwise system 10 returns to display
the system set up menu (300 in Figure 3h).
Figure 3j shows a flow chart representation of the
operation of system 10 in executing the View/Modify Meter
List function. At 350 system 10 displays a list of meters
and waits for user input. At 352 the user input is tested
to determine if the user wishes to quit, and if so system 10
goes to display the maintain meter menu (330 in Figure 3i).
Otherwise, at 356 system 10 test to determine if a meter has
-- 18
,, ,g ~.~, r~
been selected, and if not returns to 350 to wait for
appropriate input. If a meter is selected, then at 358
system 10 displays the selected meter record and opens the
first field and waits for user input. The user may then
input data to modify the open field, e.g., change the
~i 1 recharge amount allowed for the selected meter. At
360 system 10 tests to see if the user wishes to cancel any
changes which may have been made and if so returns to 3S0 to
wait for appropriate input. Otherwise, at 362 system 10
tests to determine if the last field has been opened, and if
not returns to 358 to open the next field for modification.
If the last field has been opened then at 364 system 10
saves the selected record as modified and returns to 350 to
wait for further input.
Figure 3k shows a flow chart representation of the
operation of system 10 in executing the Add Meter function.
This function substantially parallels the View/Modify Meter
List function described above to add a new meter to the
existing list. At 370 system 10 displays a list of meters
and waits for user input. At 372 system 10 determines if
the meter list is full, that is if system 10 is capable of
handling additional meters. If so, at 376 an error message
is displayed, and at 378 system 10 goes to display the
maintain meter list (350 in Figure 3j). Otherwise, at 380
system 10 tests the user input to determine if the user
wishes to quit, and if so goes to 378 to return to display
the maintain meter list. If the user does not wish to quit
at 382 system 10 tests to determine if the user has selected
the position in the list where a meter is to be added. If
not system 10 returns to 370 to wait for appropriate input.
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Otherwise, at 384 an empty meter record is displayed and the
first field is opened and system 10 waits for user input to
complete the record field. Then at 386 system 10 tests to
determine if the user wishes to cancel the addition of a new
meter and if so returns to 370 to wait for further input.
Otherwise, at 387 system 10 tests to determine if the last
field has been completed and if not returns to 384 to open
the next field and wait for further user input. Once the
test at 387 determines that the last field has been
completed, then at 388 system 10 saves the new record and
returns to 370 to wait for further appropriate input.
Figure 31 shows a flow chart of the operation of system
10 in executing the Delete Meter function. At 390 system 10
displays a list of meters and waits for further input. At
392 system 10 test to determine if the meter list is empty
and if so, at 394 displays an error message and at 396 goes
to display the maintain meter list (330 in Figure 3i).
Otherwi~e, at 398 the user input is tested to determine if
the user wishes to ~uit, and if so system 10 goes to 396.
Otherwise, at 400 the user input tests to determine if a
meter record has been selected for deletion, and if not
system 10 returns to 390 to wait for appropriate input. If
a record has been selected at 402 the record is displayed
and system 10 waits for user input. Then at 406 the input
is tested to see if the user wishes to cancel the deletion
and if so system 10 returns to 390 to wait for appropriate
input. Then at 408 the input is tested further to see if
the user confirms the deletion of the selected record and if
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not system 10 returns to 390. If the user confirms that
deletion then at 410 the selected record is deleted from the
meter list and system 10 returns to 490.
(Preferable a meter record is selected for a
modification or deletion by a highlighting it with a cursor
in a known conventional manner, and meter records are added
; ?~iately before or after a highlighted record.)
Returning to Figure 3h, if the Assign Operators
function is selected system 10 enters a routine which
functions in a manner substantially identical to the
Maintain Meter List function described above, the
significant difference being that the data base of system
operators comprises records associated with each operator,
and the records including an identification code field, and
a password field. As described above the system ~ser may
View/Modify Operators, Add Operators, or Delete Operators.
Further description of the Assign Operators function is not
believed necessary for an understanding of the subject
invention.
Figure 3m shows a flow chart representation of the
operation of system 10 in executing the Set Program
Parameters function. System 10 displays a list of program
parameters which the user may select or modify. Preferably
the list will include a flag which indicates whether or not
accounting information is to be saved, definition of the
communications port to be used, and the remote data center
telephone number. In other embodiments of the subject
invention program parameters may also identify whether a
printed record of recharge transactions and/or balance
request is always to be printed, never to be printed, or
~ ? 1 ~ ~ ? ~ji
printed at the user's options definition of an internal or
external modem or other parameters.
At 420 system 10 displays a list of program parameters
and waits for user input. At 422 system 10 determines if
the user has elected to Quit, and if so at 414 goes to
display the set up menu (300 in Figure 3h).
Otherwise, at 428 system 10 determines if the user has
selected the Save Accounting Information parameter. If the
user has selected this parameter at 430 system 10 opens the
save accounting information flag field displays a prompt and
waits for further input. At 432 system 10 tests the user
input to determine if the user has chosen to save accounting
information. If the user has, at 436 the flag is set,
otherwise at 438 the flag is reset, and system 10 returns to
420 to wait for further input.
If the user has not selected the Save Accounting
Information parameter, then at 442 system 10 tests to
determine if the Communications Port parameter is selected.
If it is, at 444 system 10 opens the communications port
selection field, displays a prompt and waits for further
input. Then at 446 the user input is tested to determine if
communications port COMl or COM2 has been selected, sets
COMl or COM2 at 448 or 450 respectively, and then returns to
420.
If the Communication Port parameter is not selected
system 10 tests at 454 to determine if the data center phone
number has been selected, and if not returns to 420. If it
has then at 456 system 10 opens the field for the Data
Center Phone Number parameter and waits for further input,
and at 458 it enters the input into the open field, then
returns to 420.
-- 22 --
~ J c~
Figure 3n shows a flow chart representation of the
operation of system 10 in executing the Change Supervisor
Password function. At 460 system 10 requests the user to
input the current supervisor password, and at 462 system 10
test the input to determine if the user wishes to quit, and
if so, at 464 goes to display the set up menu (300 in Figure
3h). Otherwise, at 466 the password is tested to determine
if it is correct, and if not at 468 an error message is
displayed and the system returns to ~60 to wait for correct
input of the supervisor password. If the current password
is correct then at 470 the user is prompted to enter the new~5
password and the system waits for input. Then at 472 the
user is prompted to re-enter the new password and the system
again waits for input. At 474 the first and second entrys
are compared and if they do not match an error message is
displayed at 476 and system 10 returns to 470. If the
entrys match then at 478 the supervisor password is updated,
and at 464 system 10 goes to display the system set up menu.
Those skilled in the art will recognize that in the
event of a fatal error condition (e.g. failure of
communications with data processing center 30) well know,
conventional escape, reset or time out functions are preferably
provided to prevent system 10 from permanently "locking-up".
The above detailed description and the attached
drawings have been provided by way of illustration only, and
othex embodiments of the subject invention will be apparent
to those skilled in art form consideration of the above
description and the attached drawings. Accordingly,
limitations on the subject invention are to be found only in
the claims set forth below.
