Technique for effectively generating multi-dimensional symbols representing postal information

Abstract

In a mailing system for franking a postage indicium serving as a proof of postage, postal data including the postage needs to be communicated through such an indicium. Illustratively, the postal data is categorized into (a) invariable postal data, e.g., a device ID identifying the mailing system, which is unaffected by a franking transaction, and (b) variable postal data, e.g., the postage, which may change from one franking transaction to another. To avoid latency of the franking operation, the invariable postal data is preset for initial printing of the postage indicium, and the variable postal data is determined and set for printing in real time. In printing the postage indicium the invariable postal data and the variable postal data are presented in that order in one or more symbols.

1 . Apparatus for processing a plurality of postal data elements, a first one of the plurality of postal data elements being a function of at least a second one of the plurality of postal data elements, the apparatus comprising: 
 a processor for arranging the plurality of postal data elements in an order where the second postal data element precedes the first postal data element; and    an output for providing a representation representing the plurality of postal data elements in the arranged order.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the representation includes at least one barcode.  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2  wherein the barcode is a 2-dimensional barcode.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the representation includes at least one data matrix symbol.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the second data element concerns a postage value, and the first data element concerns a descending register value.  
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the representation includes a bit map for a print image of at least one coded symbol representing the plurality of data elements.  
     
     
         7 . Apparatus for processing a plurality of postal data elements, the apparatus comprising: 
 a processor for arranging the plurality of postal data elements in an order such that each postal data element preceding a second postal data element is independent of the second postal data element; and    an output for providing a representation representing the plurality of postal data elements in the arranged order.    
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 7  wherein the representation includes at least one barcode.  
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8  wherein the barcode is a 2-dimensional barcode.  
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 7  wherein the representation includes at least one data matrix symbol.  
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 7  wherein one of the plurality of the data elements concerns a postage value.  
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 7  wherein the representation includes a bit map for a print image of at least one coded symbol representing the plurality of postal data elements.  
     
     
         13 . Apparatus for conducting a postage franking transaction to generate a representation representing data, the apparatus comprising: 
 a processor for identifying a first subset of the data which is unaffected by the postage franking transaction and a second subset of the data which is subject to change during the postage franking transaction; and    an output for providing a representation representing the first subset of the data and the second subset of the data, the representation being partitioned into a first part and a second part thereof, the first subset of the data and the second subset of the data being represented by the first part and the second part, respectively.    
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13  wherein the representation includes at least one coded symbol.  
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14  wherein the coded symbol includes a barcode.  
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15  wherein the barcode is a 2-dimensional barcode.  
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 14  wherein the coded symbol includes a data matrix symbol.  
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 13  wherein the representation includes a first coded symbol and a second coded symbol, the first part including at least part of the first coded symbol.  
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 18  wherein the second part includes at least part of the second coded symbol.  
     
     
         20 . Apparatus for conducting postage franking transaction, the apparatus comprising: 
 a processor for processing a plurality of data elements; and    an output for generating at least a first symbol and a second symbol representing the data elements, at least part of the first symbol representing a first subset of the data elements which is unaffected by the postage franking transaction, and at least part of the second symbol representing a second subset of the data elements which is subject to change during the postage franking transaction.    
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 20  wherein the first symbol is generated before the second symbol.  
     
     
         22 . The apparatus of  claim 20  wherein at least one of the first and second symbols includes a barcode.  
     
     
         23 . The apparatus of  claim 22  wherein the barcode is a 2-dimensional barcode.  
     
     
         24 . The apparatus of  claim 20  wherein at least one of the first and second symbols includes a data matrix symbol.  
     
     
         25 . The apparatus of  claim 20  wherein the output includes a printer.  
     
     
         26 . Apparatus for generating a postage indicium based on at least first data, the first data being a function of second data, the apparatus comprising: 
 a processor for determining at least one candidate for the first data based on a predicted version of the second data;    a comparator for comparing an actual version of the second data with the predicted version thereof; and    an output for generating the postage indicium based on the candidate for the first data when the actual version matches the predicted version.    
     
     
         27 . The apparatus of  claim 26  wherein the second data concerns a postage value.  
     
     
         28 . The apparatus of  claim 27  wherein the second data also concerns a mail class.  
     
     
         29 . The apparatus of  claim 26  wherein the predicted version of the second data is statistically determined.  
     
     
         30 . The apparatus of  claim 26  wherein the predicted version of the second data includes a postage value indicated in the last postage indicium generated by the apparatus.  
     
     
         31 . The apparatus of  claim 26  wherein the first data concerns a code for authenticating the postage indicium.  
     
     
         32 . The apparatus of  claim 31  wherein the code includes at least part of a digital signature.  
     
     
         33 . The apparatus of  claim 26  wherein the processor includes the comparator.  
     
     
         34 . Apparatus for creating a postage indicium representing a plurality of data elements, and at least one code for authenticating selected ones of the data elements, the apparatus comprising: 
 an interface for receiving a request for creating the postage indicium; and    a processor for performing computations to generate the code, selected ones of the computations being performed before the request is received, the code being generated based on results of the selected computations after the request is received.    
     
     
         35 . The apparatus of  claim 34  wherein the code includes a digital signature.  
     
     
         36 . The apparatus of  claim 35  wherein the selected computations include generation of a random number.  
     
     
         37 . The apparatus of  claim 36  wherein the selected computations include a computation based on a value of the random number.  
     
     
         38 . The apparatus of  claim 35  wherein the selected computations include a computation of a signature value r in accordance with a digital signature algorithm (DSA).  
     
     
         39 . The apparatus of  claim 35  wherein the selected computations include a computation based on a value of a private key in accordance with a cryptographic algorithm.  
     
     
         40 . Apparatus for printing a symbol representing data, the data being disposed in at least a first segment and a second segment in the symbol, the first segment being separated from the second segment by a delimiter, the apparatus comprising: 
 at least a first printhead and a second printhead for printing the first and second segments, respectively, the first printhead being separated from the second printhead by a gap, the size of the gap being a function of the size of the delimiter.    
     
     
         41 . The apparatus of  claim 40  wherein the symbol includes a data matrix symbol.  
     
     
         42 . The apparatus of  claim 41  wherein the data matrix symbol is formatted in a dark on light format.  
     
     
         43 . The apparatus of  claim 41  wherein the data matrix symbol is formatted in a light on dark format.  
     
     
         44 . The apparatus of  claim 41  wherein the data matrix symbol includes finder patterns, and the delimiter forms part of the finder patterns.  
     
     
         45 . The apparatus of  claim 40  wherein the symbol includes a barcode.  
     
     
         46 . A method for processing a plurality of postal data elements, a first one of the plurality of postal data elements being a function of at least a second one of the plurality of postal data elements, the method comprising: 
 arranging the plurality of postal data elements in an order where the second postal data element precedes the first postal data element; and    providing a representation representing the plurality of postal data elements in the arranged order.    
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 46  wherein the representation includes at least one barcode.  
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 47  wherein the barcode is a 2-dimensional barcode.  
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 46  wherein the representation includes at least one data matrix symbol.  
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 46  wherein the second data element concerns a postage value, and the first data element concerns a descending register value.  
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 46  wherein the representation includes a bit map for a print image of at least one coded symbol representing the plurality of data elements.  
     
     
         52 . A method for processing a plurality of postal data elements, the method comprising: 
 arranging the plurality of postal data elements in an order such that each postal data element preceding a second postal data element is independent of the second postal data element; and    providing a representation representing the plurality of postal data elements in the arranged order.    
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 52  wherein the representation includes at least one barcode.  
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 53  wherein the barcode is a 2-dimensional barcode.  
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 52  wherein the representation includes at least one data matrix symbol.  
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 52  wherein one of the plurality of the data elements concerns a postage value.  
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 52  wherein the representation includes a bit map for a print image of at least one coded symbol representing the plurality of postal data elements.  
     
     
         58 . A method for conducting a postage franking transaction to generate a representation representing data, the method comprising: 
 identifying a first subset of the data which is unaffected by the postage franking transaction and a second subset of the data which is subject to change during the postage franking transaction; and    providing a representation representing the first subset of the data and the second subset of the data, the representation being partitioned into a first part and a second part thereof, the first subset of the data and the second subset of the data being represented by the first part and the second part, respectively.    
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 58  wherein the representation includes at least one coded symbol.  
     
     
         60 . The method of  claim 59  wherein the coded symbol includes a barcode.  
     
     
         61 . The method of  claim 60  wherein the barcode is a 2-dimensional barcode.  
     
     
         62 . The method of  claim 59  wherein the coded symbol includes a data matrix symbol.  
     
     
         63 . The method of  claim 58  wherein the representation includes a first coded symbol and a second coded symbol, the first part including at least part of the first coded symbol.  
     
     
         64 . The method of  claim 63  wherein the second part includes at least part of the second coded symbol.  
     
     
         65 . A method for conducting postage franking transaction, the method comprising: 
 processing a plurality of data elements; and    generating at least a first symbol and a second symbol representing the data elements, at least part of the first symbol representing a first subset of the data elements which is unaffected by the postage franking transaction, and at least part of the second symbol representing a second subset of the data elements which is subject to change during the postage franking transaction.    
     
     
         66 . The method of  claim 65  wherein the first symbol is generated before the second symbol.  
     
     
         67 . The method of  claim 65  wherein at least one of the first and second symbols includes a barcode.  
     
     
         68 . The method of  claim 67  wherein the barcode is a 2-dimensional barcode.  
     
     
         69 . The method of  claim 65  wherein at least one of the first and second symbols includes a data matrix symbol.  
     
     
         70 . A method for generating a postage indicium based on at least first data, the first data being a function of second data, the method comprising: 
 determining at least one candidate for the first data based on a predicted version of the second data;    comparing an actual version of the second data with the predicted version thereof; and    generating the postage indicium based on the candidate for the first data when the actual version matches the predicted version.    
     
     
         71 . The method of  claim 70  wherein the second data concerns a postage value.  
     
     
         72 . The method of  claim 71  wherein the second data also concerns a mail class.  
     
     
         73 . The method of  claim 70  wherein the predicted version of the second data is statistically determined.  
     
     
         74 . The method of  claim 70  wherein the predicted version of the second data includes a postage value indicated in the last postage indicium generated by the method.  
     
     
         75 . The method of  claim 70  wherein the first data concerns a code for authenticating the postage indicium.  
     
     
         76 . The method of  claim 75  wherein the code includes at least part of a digital signature.  
     
     
         77 . A method for creating a postage indicium representing a plurality of data elements, and at least one code for authenticating selected ones of the data elements, the method comprising: 
 performing computations to generate the code, wherein selected ones of the computations being performed before a request for creating the postage indicium is received;    receiving the request; and    generating the code based on results of the selected computations after the request is received.    
     
     
         78 . The method of  claim 77  wherein the code includes a digital signature.  
     
     
         79 . The method of  claim 78  wherein the selected computations include generation of a random number.  
     
     
         80 . The method of  claim 79  wherein the selected computations include a computation based on a value of the random number.  
     
     
         81 . The method of  claim 78  wherein the selected computations include a computation of a signature value r in accordance with a DSA.  
     
     
         82 . The apparatus of  claim 78  wherein the selected computations include a computation based on a value of a private key in accordance with a cryptographic algorithm.  
     
     
         83 . A method for use in an apparatus for printing a symbol representing data, the data being disposed in at least a first segment and a second segment in the symbol, the first segment being separated from the second segment by a delimiter, the apparatus including at least a first printhead and a second printhead, the method comprising: 
 separating the first printhead from the second printhead by a gap, the size of the gap being a function of the size of the delimiter; and    printing the first and second segments using the first and second printheads, respectively.    
     
     
         84 . The method of  claim 83  wherein the symbol includes a data matrix symbol.  
     
     
         85 . The method of  claim 84  wherein the data matrix symbol is formatted in a dark on light format.  
     
     
         86 . The method of  claim 84  wherein the data matrix symbol is formatted in a light on dark format.  
     
     
         87 . The method of  claim 84  wherein the data matrix symbol includes finder patterns, and the delimiter forms part of the finder patterns.  
     
     
         88 . The method of  claim 83  wherein the symbol includes a barcode.