EP1037171A2 - Postage value determining device and franking machine - Google Patents

Abstract

The postage cost calculation device has at least 2 operating modes, in each of which the postage cost is calculated by a microprocessor (5) using respective postal charge tables. The different tables hold a different number of postal rates and are addressed by different input data combinations. An Independent claim for a mail franking machine is also included.

Description

The invention relates to a postage determination device and a franking device with such a facility. A franking device usually exists from a franking machine having data processing and one Mail piece processing device, which a mail piece to be franked with provides a correct postmark including correct postage and the transport device for the mail item comprises. The mail piece processing facility also has a weighing device and a measuring device to determine the size (length, width and / or thickness) of the franking Poststückes on.

Furthermore, it is also possible to make further settings on the franking device or Postage determination device to make. For example, the type of shipment, the form of dispatch and the destination of dispatch are set in each case or entered. Every setting and every changeable input value form an entry date for determining the correct postage value.

Devices or franking systems with the aforementioned features are known and it is possible with such facilities to have a certain throughput of To reach mail items, i.e. that within a certain time a certain Number of mail pieces with the correct postage value for the mail pieces be provided.

Before a piece of mail can be provided with the correct postage value for it, the correct postage value must first be determined. Such means of Determination of the correct postage value is known and usually the correct postage values through an arithmetic operation in the data processing device using n input data and a fee table with y postage values determined. Weight and / or format are input data, that can change from mail item to mail item and these input values are determined using the weighing or format measuring devices described above. Entering the settings data - type of dispatch, type of dispatch, dispatch destination - is done manually or automatically via a setting terminal.

After the input data applicable to a piece of mail, i.e. all before made manual settings as well as those for each mail piece individually applicable settings or values have been determined, the applicable one correct postage value can be determined quickly so that it can be carried out as quickly as possible can be franked to the desired high throughput, for example 5000 stamped letters per hour. The determination of the correct postage values taking into account all mentioned and still possible Input variables take a certain amount of time. The one needed for this Time - the measurement and computer time of the EDP is decisive for this - can also be by increasing the list of fees of the carrier used (e.g. Deutsche Post AG) is complex and therefore often a large number of arithmetic operations required so that the correct postage value is determined. Has the facility via a slow data processing device (computer, computer), so the desired high throughput is due to the capacity of the data processing device not reached.

If the franking device is to nevertheless guarantee a high throughput, then the franking device could be used with a more modern or faster one Equipping or retrofitting data processing equipment, but this is complex and expensive. If a high throughput is also required relatively rarely, is such a retrofit with a faster data processing device in an unfavorable ratio to the respective benefit.

It is therefore the object of the invention to provide a device which is inexpensive Possibility to quickly determine postage values, high throughput to provide mail pieces and the disadvantages of previous franking devices avoids.

According to the invention, the goal is achieved with a device for determining postage values solved with the features of claim 1. Advantageous further developments are described in the subclaims.

According to the invention, a franking device with at least two operating modes suggested. In the first operating mode, the correct one is used in the usual way Postage value determined, using a first fee table using y postage values and a postage value is determined by a combination of n input data. Input data are weight, width, height, length, type of dispatch, type of dispatch, Shipping destination and other settings and sizes that the Determination of the correct postage value must be taken into account. Becomes a increased throughput is not desired, the device according to the invention can this mode of operation without problems even if they have a relatively slow data processing device because it has enough time has, from the n-input data mentioned, the correct postage value from the Determine fee table, this fee table being a large number of for example, includes more than 400 postage values. The device according to the invention however also has another, second operating mode. In this The second operating mode is a second fee table with x postage values used, the postage values by the combination of m input data are determined. This second fee table accordingly has n-x fewer postage values than the first table and is therefore simpler in structure than the first Fees table. The number of input data is also reduced to m, so that the Data processing device perform significantly fewer computing operations to determine the correct postage value. This means that the correct one Postage value can be determined faster than using the second fee table using the first fee table with n input data. So can also franked in the second operating mode faster than in the first operating mode and the desired high throughput can be achieved.

It is obvious that the activation of the second operating mode in particular makes sense in the case of bulk franking.

Conveniently, the second fee schedule is at a time when this is plays no role in the throughput of mail items, e.g. before mass franking begins, based on the list of fees of the carrier used and the setting that does not change from post to post (e.g. Type of dispatch, form of dispatch and dispatch destination). This draws are characterized by the fact that they are e.g. only those possible Postage value variations are taken into account, which do not take into account the changing setting data can result. With such a simplified or "streamlined" fee table can be very short data processing times, as they usually only with very powerful data processing equipment would be possible for the correct postage calculation.

If necessary - Example 1 - the number of possible x ₁ postage value variations can be further restricted if only those input values which vary from mail item to mail item and which can actually result with the sensors used in the franking device are taken into account. For example, if the transporting weighing device used determines the weight values in a 10-gram grid (0, 10, 20 ... 250) and if the size measuring device only determines whether a piece of mail is larger than a certain size (e.g. longer than 125 mm or shorter), further automatic determinations of incoming data changing by mail piece to mail piece are no longer possible during mail piece processing. The simplified list of fees would therefore have a maximum of 52 possible postage values (per possible weight value: one each for "height greater than 125 mm" and for "height less than 125 mm"). It is obvious that the data processing device can calculate the correct postage from a fee list with a few x ₁ postage values considerably faster than if it has to process a fee table with several (hundred) y postage values.

The number of possible postage value variations can be further restricted - Example 2-, if only the input value ranges are taken into account that result from the settings that do not change from piece to piece. If, for example, the franking device is set to "domestic letter", see the (currently valid) fee table of Deutsche Post AG the weight ranges from "0-20,> 20-50,> 50-100 and> 100-1000 g as well as the two dimensional ranges "up to 23.5 x 12.5 cm" and "up to 35.3 x 25.0 cm". This allows a simplified Generate fee table, the maximum eight (x = 8; m = 2) possible Generate postage values (two dimensional ranges for each of the four weight ranges). It is obvious that for determining postage with such a postage table only relatively small data processing capacity is necessary.

If the two simplifications described above - Examples 1 and 2 - are combined, can be a further simplification - example 3 - of the fee tables to reach. The result is a simplified fee table with a maximum of Six possible postage values (one for each of the first three weight ranges for "height> than 125 mm" and for "height <than 125 mm", (the fourth weight range (Size 500 to 1000 g) can be omitted here because the weighing device used only works up to 250g).

This fee table could also be further simplified if necessary, so that - example 4 - postage values are not taken into account in the second fee table that exist more than once. The simplified one already described the second fee table with six postage values would then result in an even further one simplified fee table with up to three possible postage values (there are for Example for 2 only the values DM 1.10; DM 2.20 and DM 3.00. By the others three values must be doubles).

The simplified second fee table can - as in particular the described Examples can be seen - data processing technology as a table with n dimensions be executed, taking a dimension by an entry date is represented. In example 3 there are two dimensions, one is the weight, the other is the height. With every further date of receipt, which is from the computer must be processed, the dimension of the table increases, which is synonymous is with a longer computer time to determine the correct postage value from the multidimensional fee table. Experience has shown that it increases with everyone further dimension, the computing time required on average by at least that Factor 2.

The correct postage value is also included in the second, simplified fee table to determine inefficient data processing processors very quickly, which is especially true when the fee tables are as small as in the examples shown above. The examples for 2, 3 and 4 require classification measured values in the previously determined grid or in the determined class, e.g. in example to 3: "In which of the three weight classes belongs to the determined weight value? ". This is also not a computationally complex Operation (limit values can be stored in the same table, for example also include postage); however, one likes a larger table in individual cases (as in example 1) prefer a smaller one (as in examples 2 to 4), since the said class classification can then be omitted, so then, although not the table of fees with the least possible complexity is reached, nevertheless one higher throughput speed is achieved if the data processing device used this allows.

The achievable throughput gain depends on the franking device according to the invention when determining the postage value largely depends on how time-consuming the Dealing with the original fee table with y postage values.

The invention is based on an exemplary embodiment shown in the drawing explained in more detail. The figure shows a franking device 1 with a Device 2 for determining a postage value. This postage determination device 2 is with a mail piece processing device 3 and with a Franking machine 4 coupled.

The postage determination device has a microprocessor 5, first and second I / O interfaces 6 and 7, which are connected to the microprocessor 5, a storage device 8 designed as a non-volatile memory, which is also connected to the microprocessor 5, and a program memory 9, which is also connected to the microprocessor 5 and in which the Operating software of the postage determination device is stored.

The mail piece processing device 3 has a transport device 10, a this assigned weighing cell 11, a letter detection sensor S1 in the entrance area and a letter detection sensor S2 in the output area of the scale. The transport device 10 is via a driver 26 from the microprocessor controlled and the transport device 10 delivers 12 data via an encoder the microprocessor. The transport device also has a device 13 to determine the size of a mail item, for example to determine the Length, height and thickness of the goods to be transported and later franked Mail piece.

The weight of a piece of mail determined by the scale 11 as well as all the others Data determined via a piece of mail, which like via sensors S1 and S2 Data determined via the mail piece sizes (height / length / thickness) are also sent to transmit the microprocessor 5 via the connecting lines shown.

The franking machine 3 has a keyboard 14 as an input device - for operation and operating mode setting - and a display device 15, which with a control unit 16 are connected. The control unit 16 is with a Read-only memory (ROM) 17 and connected to a non-volatile memory 18. The control device 16, which is a microprocessor or micro-controller can contain, controls a printing unit 19, by means of which the franking a piece of mail is made. The franking machine 4 also contains one I / O interface 20, which with the second I / O interface 7 of the postage determination device 2 is connected.

The franking machine exchanges with the postage determining device via the I / O interfaces 2 data from. At least two variants are possible. Once there is a postage fee table in the memory 8 of the mail piece data processing device 3 stored and the microprocessor 5 determined this device the correct franking value (postage value) of a mail item to be franked and transmits this franking value to the franking machine 4. There it is Postage value processed further in the control data processing device 16 and the printer is controlled so that the correct postage value matches the corresponding one Mail piece is printed.

The second variant is that the mail piece data processing device 2 the input data determined in the mail piece processing device (size, Weight etc.) to the franking machine 4, and the franking machine 4 in turn determined in the control data processing device 16 under Use the postage-determining data the correct franking value.

In the first variant, it makes sense to use the one used to determine the postage value Charge table in the storage device 8 while in the second variant, the fee table in the storage device 18 of the Franking machine is saved.

A large number can be used to determine the correct postage value of a mail item of parameters can be used as input data. These are, for example Information about the item of mail itself, for example information as to whether it is is a letter, book, package, etc. Further input variables for the determination of the postage value are the weight and the size of the item of mail, namely its Length, height and / or width. Further input data are those that relate to the Obtain the destination of the item of mail, i.e. information such as Germany, Europe, worldwide etc. Finally, input variables are also relevant that relate to the type of dispatch, So registered letter, simple letter, registered letter with return receipt etc.

It is obvious that in cases where all of the above input data must be checked to determine the correct postage value, a variety of computing operations (data processing operations). Furthermore, the postage fee table available is very large and has a large number of entries, for example from n> 400 Determining the correct postage value must therefore depend on the input data a comparison is made with the postage values in the fee table, to determine the correct postage value. Such a "comprehensive" fee schedule can be stored in the storage device 8 or in the storage device 18 his.

The software for processing all input data using the respective Postage table is stored in memory 9, but this software can also be used the control data processing device 16 are sent so that there Postage can be determined.

As described, there is a very large number of possible input data consequently, the associated first postage value fee table is very large and a relatively long computing time is required for each determination of the correct postage value becomes. For example, the computing time with a particular processor can be under Application of the complete German postage value fee table (476 entries) 45 ms. This computing time may already be too long for one to allow a sufficiently high throughput of the franking machine.

Since experience has shown that there are only certain parameters for mass franking change the items to be franked, for example only their weight (in Grams measured), length (measured in millimeters), height (greater or less than a certain height x) and thickness (measured in millimeters), everyone else Input data can be set to a certain value, so that by the Input operation and processing the non-changing data ones Postage values can be determined from the first postage value fee table, the only arise due to the changing input data can. Thus, a second "streamlined" postage value fee table from the "generated" first postage value fee table, the second fee table but has significantly fewer entries. This second fee table can be used with the same software as the first fee table, so that for processing with the second fee table is not necessarily a special one created software is necessary.

The time required to generate the second fee table is in the The order of magnitude of about 100 ms, which is hardly what the user of the franking device is perceived more if he stopped the adjustment of the does not change input data. Is the second fee table generated, this is also generated with a suitable identifier, for example a "flag" so that the postage determining device knows that the second fee table exists and that it can use it. For the It is using the same processing software of both fee tables expedient that the second fee table has the same structure as the first fee table, but at the same time significantly less Has entries so that considerably fewer comparison operations (arithmetic operations) are necessary to determine the correct postage value. The structure of a The fee table is essentially given by five fields, the first Field (key-mode) represents a preferred search pattern, the second field (mask mode) represents a bit mask, the third field (weight-ptr) a pointer (pointer) represents the accompanying weight table, the fourth field (cost-ptr) represents a pointer to the accompanying cost table, and the fifth field (program-ptr) represents a pointer to a connection function, so Postage surcharges can be calculated.

To determine the correct postage value using the second fee table as with the first fee table, the conditions of all postage values compared with the input data. However, since only a few fee values in of the second postage value table, there are only a few comparison or arithmetic operations necessary to get the correct postage value quickly to find. For example, the second fee table only has 10 to 20 Entries, a time of only about 4 - 6 ms is required for this, while still a while when using the first fee table (with 476 entries) of about 45 ms is required. So it is by using the second one Fee table possible, the necessary calculation time of the postage value to 1/10 reduce the time it takes to use the first fee table becomes.

Claims (16)

Device for determining a postage value in at least two operating modes, with a data processing device (5, 16) for determining a postage value in the first operating mode using a first fee table y postage values, where a postage value by a combination of n input data is determined with a second operating mode in which the data processing device a postage value using a second fee table with x postage values determined, a postage value by a combination of m input data is determined and x <y and m <n. Device according to claim 1,
in which postage values are determined faster in the second operating mode than in the first operating mode. Device according to claim 1 or 2,
whereby in the second operating mode only variable m input data are processed to determine a postage value. Device according to one of the preceding claims,
in which a first date of the n-possible input data is the weight of the mail piece, which is determined with a weighing device (11) of the franking device, at least two weight classes being provided and one weight class comprising a certain weight range and a weight class value being used as the input date. Device according to one of the preceding claims,
in which a second date of the n input data is a geometric measure for the size of a mail piece, which is determined by means of a suitable size determination device (13), at least two size classes being provided, a size class comprising a specific size range, and an arrival date a size class range value is formed. Device according to one of the preceding claims,
in which only the n input data in the second operating mode are taken into account, which are expected to change from mail item to mail item. Device according to one of the preceding claims,
in which the second fee table is generated by extracting postage values from the first fee table. Device according to one of the preceding claims,
in which the second fee table is only generated using the nm input data, which do not change in the second operating mode. Device according to one of the preceding claims,
in which the second fee table is only generated using the m input data, which do not change from item to item. Device according to one of the preceding claims,
where the second fee table contains only one-off postage values. Device according to one of the preceding claims,
in which the second fee table has the same structure as the first fee table. Device according to claim 11,
in which the structure consists essentially of five fields, the first field representing a primary search pattern, the second field representing a bit mask, the third field containing a pointer to a weight table, the fourth field containing a pointer to a cost table, and that fifth field contains a pointer to a flashing function, which can be used to calculate any surcharges. Device according to one of the preceding claims,
in which postage is determined using the second table only if a predetermined command or a predetermined command sequence has previously been entered into the device. Device according to one of the preceding claims,
in which, after the generation of the second table, a flag (indicator flag) is set which indicates that the second table has already been generated. Device according to one of the preceding claims,
in which the same processing software and / or the same processing software parts (modules) are used to determine a correct postage value when using the first and second fee tables. Franking device with a postage determination device according to one of the preceding claims.

Images