Kevin Hunter

US Patent:

56825170, Oct 28, 1997

Filed:

Jun 21, 1994

Appl. No.:

8/264125

Inventors:

Thomas A. D'Andrea - Middlebury CT
Kevin D. Hunter - Stratford CT

Assignee:

Pitney Bowes Inc. - Stamford CT

International Classification:

G06F 1216

US Classification:

395489

Abstract:

A method of transferring update data from a microcomputer to a memory device having a transportable non-volatile memory median requiring that the transportable non-volatile memory median is divided into a plurality of sectors. Update data is to be written to data sectors of the transportable non-volatile memory median in accordance with a sector map. One of the sectors to be updated is the directory sector and another one of the sectors to be updated is the file access table sector. The microcomputer is programmed to reserve a specified number of sectors as a recovery area wherein some of the sectors of the recovery area are reserved for the sector map and other sectors of the recovery area are reserved for storage of the update data. The microcomputer identifies if a sector map resides in the recovery area. If no sector map resides in the sector map area of the recovery area, the microcomputer proceeds to identify which of the sectors are to be updated and generating a sector map accordingly.

US Patent:

54931061, Feb 20, 1996

Filed:

Oct 24, 1994

Appl. No.:

8/328196

Inventors:

Kevin D. Hunter - Stratford CT

Assignee:

Pitney Bowes Inc. - Stamford CT

International Classification:

G06F 1700

US Classification:

235375

Abstract:

The improved user interface for a mail processing machine includes a barcode reader and an associated chart having barcodes which are readable by the barcode reader. The barcodes are respectively associated with commands, characters, and accounts such that messages may be constructed by reading selected barcodes from the chart for inputting commands and data into the mail processing machine. The barcode messages are converted into machine commands and data inputs for operation of the machine. Barcode information may also be supplied with batches of mail for ease of entry of pertinent control data for the batch.

US Patent:

55294103, Jun 25, 1996

Filed:

Oct 28, 1994

Appl. No.:

8/331303

Inventors:

Kevin D. Hunter - Stratford CT
Walter J. Kulpa - Trumbull CT

Assignee:

Pitney Bowes Inc. - Stamford CT

International Classification:

B41J 3352

US Classification:

400234

Abstract:

A method and apparatus for controlling tension on a sheet material in a reel-to-reel transport system. The sheet material is feed along a defined path from a supply reel to a take-up reel. A motor is operatively connected to the take-up reel for applying a torque to the take-up reel while a sensor is positioned to detect rotation of the supply reel. A microcontroller enables the motor with an initial PWM pwm. sub. o to create torque on the take-up reel and then incrementally increases the PWM. When the sensor indicates that the supply reel has moved, the current PWM is stored in memory as pwm. sub. i. This pwm. sub. i is subsequently used by the apparatus to determine a desired tension on the thermal ribbon.

US Patent:

55724299, Nov 5, 1996

Filed:

Dec 5, 1994

Appl. No.:

8/349576

Inventors:

Kevin D. Hunter - Stratford CT
Perry A. Pierce - Darien CT
Iiya Shnayder - Norwalk CT

International Classification:

G07B 1702

US Classification:

36446402

Abstract:

An improved electronic meter for accounting for funding and transaction information includes a micro control system for controlling the operation of the meter in response to an operation program. The micro control system utilizes a microprocessor in bus communication with a plurality of addressable memory units and input device in bus communication with the microprocessor. The meter has a first mode of operation for performing transactions and accounting for the transactions and a second mode of operation for accessing the accounting information in response to a first security code. At least one of the memory units has a plurality of accounting registers for storing the accounting information in predetermined categories. The meter has a third mode of operation for accessing the registers of the first memory and initializing the registers in response to the input of a second security code. The accounting information including a REINIT table for creating a selected number of records representative of the accounting information of the accounting register in the respective categories upon each initialization of the accounting registers.

US Patent:

52436543, Sep 7, 1993

Filed:

Mar 18, 1991

Appl. No.:

7/670804

Inventors:

Kevin D. Hunter - Stratford CT

Assignee:

Pitney Bowes Inc. - Stamford CT

International Classification:

H04L 900

US Classification:

380 51

Abstract:

A metering system requires a user to provide periodic, accurate meter readings to a billing authority. The metering system includes a mechanism for dispensing postage or another accountable quantity, an accounting mechanism for updating and storing information regarding the amount of postage dispensed by the dispensing mechanism and an output mechanism for outputting the stored postage information. The system also includes a mechanism for storing a time deadline, a clock that provides a current date signal and a lock that disables the dispensing mechanism when the current date is not before the stored deadline. The system also includes a reset mechanism for extending the stored deadline. A user of the system reads the output of the system to obtain a current meter reading. The user then telephones the billing authority's data center, provides the current reading to the data center and receives back from the center an encrypted combination that reflects the reading provided by the user.

US Patent:

59208503, Jul 6, 1999

Filed:

Nov 4, 1994

Appl. No.:

8/334096

Inventors:

Kevin D. Hunter - Stratford CT
Arno Muller - Westport CT

Assignee:

Pitney Bowes Inc. - Stamford CT

International Classification:

G07B 1700

US Classification:

705405

Abstract:

A postage metering system is provided with a countdown time. The countdown timer issues a priority interrupt when the timer has timed out which interrupts the control system of the meter in such a manner as to hold the meter in reset preventing operation of the postage meter. The timer is reset to a fixed period upon each funds recharge after the meter has been placed in recharge mode but prior to exposure of the secure accounting memory to recharge information.

US Patent:

56804563, Oct 21, 1997

Filed:

Mar 31, 1995

Appl. No.:

8/415824

Inventors:

Walter J. Baker - Stratford CT
Feliks Bator - Easton CT
Robert A. Cordery - Danbury CT
Frank M. D'Ippolito - Derby CT
Kevin D. Hunter - Stratford CT
Kathryn V. Lawton - Branford CT
David K. Lee - Monroe CT
Louis J. Loglisci - Stamford CT
Steven J. Pauly - New Milford CT
Leon A. Pintsov - West Hartford CT
Ian A. Siveyer - Monroe CT

Assignee:

Pitney Bowes Inc. - Stamford CT

International Classification:

H04L 908
H04L 900
G06F 1700

US Classification:

380 21

Abstract:

A method of manufacturing transaction evidencing devices, such as digital postage meters, includes the steps of generating a master key in a logical security domain of a Key Management System; installing the master key into a digital postage meter; verifying the installation of the master key; and registering the master key to a logical security sub-domain in the Key Management System. The step of generating the master key further includes the steps of generating a domain; generating at least one sub-domain; installing the domain in secure boxes of the Key Management System; generating a master key and test token within the domain; and recording the master key in the domain archive. The step of installing the master key further includes the steps of installing the master key into a digital meter; and associating the master key with a unique device identifier. The step of registering the master key to a logical security sub-domain in the Key Management System further includes the steps of assigning a sub-domain to the digital meter; installing a postal identifier into the digital meter; associating the postal identifier to the unique device identifier; generating a registration token in the digital meter based on the postal identifier and the unique device identifier; generating registration tokens using the master key recorded in the archives; verifying that the registration tokens are identical; and recording the master key in the sub-domain.

US Patent:

55461123, Aug 13, 1996

Filed:

Oct 28, 1994

Appl. No.:

8/331259

Inventors:

Kevin D. Hunter - Stratford CT
Arno Muller - Westport CT

Assignee:

Pitney Bowes Inc. - Stamford CT

International Classification:

B41J 235

US Classification:

347171

Abstract:

In an electronic postage meter which has a thermal printer and a control system for causing the thermal printer to print a postage indicia, the thermal printer includes a linear array of thermal elements. The electronic postage meter control system is comprised of a print control circuit for producing lengthwise and serially, during a first mode of operation, a composite image having alphanumeric characters and graphic data. The image is divided into a plurality of widthwise sections. A first widthwise section has highly critical alphanumeric character information and graphic information. A second widthwise section of the image having less critical alphanumeric character information. The control system has a second mode of operation for producing serial test data coupled to the thermal elements such that the thermal print elements are selectively responsive to the serial test data for developing for each of the thermal elements an associated test signal during each second mode of operation. A comparison of each test signal for each of the thermal elements against an associated predetermined reference signal is performed in order to automatically generate an associated failure signal when a defective thermal element is detected during a second mode of operation.