Abstract: In the system of the invention, a user provides inputs at a user interface (51). The user's inputs relate to the expected type of delivery (2, 3, 4, 5, 6). Alternatively, the system may already have information stored as to the type of delivery (2, 3, 4, 5, 6) to be used with particular correspondents. Based on the type of delivery (2, 3, 4, 5, 6), the system (50, 52, 53, 54, 55) determines for each item of correspondence, whether the delivery will be by physical delivery of a printed document (2, 3, 4), by fax (5) or by e-mail (6). The system (50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55) further determines for each item of correspondence, which is to be delivered by physical delivery a printed document (2, 3, 4), whether an envelope (10, 11) is required and if the address information is to be printed on the envelope or on a label (12) that is to be applied to the envelope.

Abstract: An improved system for providing early warning preemptive postal equipment replacement. Selected performance parameters the postal equipment are monitored and compared against predetermined operational boundaries. The system is capable of providing for variability in the performance parameters, wherein these parameters may be permitted to vary over time and usage of the equipment. The monitoring gives an indication of the overall system performance. If the system performance goes outside of operational boundaries, or changes significantly over time, replacement of the equipment can then be scheduled with minimal inconvenience to the customer.

Abstract: A postal security device has a secure housing within which are two or more accounting register sets. The accounting register sets are associated with distinct meter licenses. The postal security device can also store a single accounting register set, but is able to transfer the cryptographically signed register set to a nonsecure store such as the hard drive of a personal computer, the register set having been cryptographically signed. The register set may be retrieved from the nonsecure store and cryptographically authenticated, and restored to its location within the secure housing of postal security device. The postal security may provide service under more than one distinct meter license. The single meter license can also be associated with more than one postal security device, each with its own secure housing.

Abstract: A feeder/separator apparatus for separating and moving sheets from a stack of sheets is described. The feeder/separator includes an input area for positioning the stack of sheets; a first and second series of rollers for jointly feeding a sheet on the bottom of the stack into an area of the apparatus including a third and forth series of rollers and a first series of belts; a pre-separation brake adapted to act in a pivoting pattern only on the first series of belts to cause a first stage separation of the bottom sheet; a separation brake adapted to act in a linear pattern only on the fourth series of rollers to cause a second stage separation of the bottom sheet, the pre-separation and separation brakes permitting the bottom sheets to be separated from the stack; and a fifth series of rollers and a second series of belts both being adapted to feed the bottom sheets away from the feeder/separator apparatus in a sheet feed path.

Abstract: A tape feed for a postage meter which uses the envelope transport system of the postage meter to feed a tape from a tape receptacle into the path of the envelope feed system. The tape receptacle is pivotally mounted adjacent one of the belts of the envelope transport system. A solenoid is connected to the tape receptacle through a cam pin and cam slot arrangement for providing the pivotal movement. When the solenoid is energized, the tape receptacle is pivoted into a position wherein the belt extends into a slot in the receptacle and grips a tape to discharge a tape from the receptacle and feed it into the envelope transport system. When the solenoid is de-energized, the solenoid pivots the receptacle into a position wherein the tapes in the receptacle are out of contact with the belt. A sensor is provided to de-energize the solenoid when the belt moves the leading edge of the tape into gripping relationship by the envelope transport system.

Abstract: A PC (10) connected to a low-voltage electricity supply system (9) via a mains plug (11) and a mains socket outlet (12), into which the said plug is plugged, exchanges messages with other apparatuses via the said electricity supply system by means of signals whose frequency is between 1 MHz and 40 MHz. In order to suppress high-frequency interference signals which are generated by further apparatuses which are connected to the low-voltage electricity supply system (9) via mains plugs (11′) and further mains socket outlets (12′), arranged in local proximity to the said mains socket outlet (12), or which are produced by reflections of signals at open line ends, an adapter (1) is in each case interposed there, which adapter is plugged into the mains socket outlet (12′) and into which adapter the mains plug (11′) of the respective apparatus is plugged.

Abstract: A mechanism for freeing document jams in a machine that transports documents, the machine including a housing having an interior portion and a pivotable cover adapted to permit easy access to the interior portion of the machine housing, the cover pivoting from a closed and locked position to an open and locked position and being spring biased is described.

Abstract: A modular power supply. A plurality of power supply modules and a system control circuit for controlling the power supply modules are provided. Each power supply module has a power circuit coupled to a power input of the module for receiving an input power current and produces an output power current at a power output of the module. The power circuits each include at least one switching element for switching the input power current or the output power current of a module. The power circuits further include a control circuit input that is coupled directly to the respective said switching device. The system control circuit includes a control circuit output bus for connecting to the control circuit inputs of each of the power modules and provides a respective signal to each module for directly controlling the respective switching devices.

Abstract: A source signal (e.g. a speech sample) is processed or transmitted by a speech coder 1 and converted into a reception signal (coded speech signal). The source and reception signals are separately subjected to preprocessing 2 and psychoacoustic modelling 3. This is followed by a distance calculation 4, which assesses the similarity of the signals. Lastly, an MOS calculation is carried out in order to obtain a result comparable with human evaluation. According to the invention, in order to assess the transmission quality a spectral similarity value is determined which is based on calculation of the covariance of the spectra of the source signal and reception signal and division of the covariance by the standard deviations of the two said spectra. The method makes it possible to obtain an objective assessment (speech quality prediction) while taking the human auditory process into account.

Abstract: The invention relates to an automatic surveillance system whereby characteristic data are first determined from a section of a signal (an instantaneous video image) using an automatic image analysis. This data is then stored temporarily or permanently with a time tag, so that it can be compared statistically with certain other time references. This statistical comparison enables the inventive surveillance system to identify abnormal situations and to selectively bring them to the attention of the surveillance officer. The invention is characterized in that the system itself identifies which situations are abnormal and require closer examination. It is not necessary to specify in advance what constitutes abnormal in a given surveillance situation, since after a certain period of running, the system itself will have collected the data corresponding to a normal situation.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for protecting sensitive data against overflow in a stack, memory space reserved for part of a program. Said method comprises an operation which consists in assigning a stack to each program part, during which the most upstream stack relatively to the displacement direction of an indicator in a stack, is assigned a task for operating on said sensitive data. Preferably, said method comprises the execution of a single task operating on said sensitive data.

Abstract: A storage apparatus has a card-accommodating, vertically upright stack-storage cassette (1) and a card-input, -reading and control unit (3) arranged adjacent to the top cassette-border region (4). The stack-storage cassette (1) has a vertically running storage opening (5) arranged in a cassette side. The storage apparatus also has a lift unit (7) which can be displaced vertically in said opening (5) and has a lift housing (19a, 19b). The lift unit (7), for its part, has a depositing plate (9) for the cards, which comes to rest in the store interior (10). The lift unit can be removed in the lowermost region of the cassette (1), to be inserted into the cassette (1) at the top and, acting on the opening borders, to be displaced vertically, i.e. lowered, in each case preferably by the distance of a height over which a group of cards is deposited, in order for the cards to be deposited satisfactorily.

Abstract: Computer-based products such as postal security devices are manufactured as generic, nondescript units. Each has a unique identifier or embedded hardware serial number readable by data communications such as serial electrical communications. At customization time, a human-readable marking is placed on the device, along with a bar code indicative of the human-readable marking. A bar-code reader reads the bar code. The embedded hardware serial number is read. A record is made in a database indicative of the embedded hardware serial number and the bar code information. Software may then be selected based on the bar code information, and loaded into the device, typically within a cryptographically secure area within the device. At a later time the device may be retired from service and reprogrammed, in which case a new human-readable marking and bar code are affixed to the device. The embedded hardware serial number and new bar code information are read and appropriate new data records are created.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming a magnetic component on a printed circuit board. The printed circuit board has at least one inner layer including a trace that forms a winding of the magnetic component. Another winding of the magnetic component is formed by a length of wire that is disposed externally to the printed circuit board.

Abstract: A system for easy opening of sealed packages. The system comprises a tape dispensing apparatus, and a tape. The tape dispensing apparatus has a cutter therein. The tape is used for sealing a seam of a package. The tape is sized and shaped for being dispensed from the tape dispensing apparatus. The tape dispensed from the dispensing apparatus has a predetermined length cut by the cutter. The predetermined length of tape has a first side with a self-adhesive section for attaching the predetermined length of tape to the package. The predetermined length of tape also includes a non-adhesive section, and a ribbon disposed on the first side of the tape section. The predetermined length of tape has a tear strip defined by the ribbon, and non-adhesive section of the first side together. The tear strip extends longitudinally along the predetermined length of tape. The tear strip ends in a pull tab for pulling the tear strip open and opening the predetermined length of tape attached to the package.

Abstract: In connection with plesiochronous data transmission, data are input into an elastic memory on the basis of a first clock pulse and read out on the basis of a second clock pulse which runs asynchronously with the first. Stuff bits are inserted at the end of a data frame as needed. For this purpose, the phase difference between clock pulses within a data frame is first of all measured. This phase difference is then compared with a threshold and a certain number of stuff bits are correspondingly inserted. In accordance with the invention, a frequency difference existing between the clock pulses is measured and, depending upon in which of several specified segments it lies, a correspondingly predefined modulation curve is used as threshold. Preferably a numerically optimized curve with respect to jitter amplitudes is used for each segment.

Abstract: A transformer group in which a multitude of transformers are used to supply energy to a single load. The transformers are connected in series; in order to assist in providing a “flux equalizing” affect, the invention includes a flux equalizer circuit. The flux equalizer circuit provides a series of flux windings. Each flux winding is associated with a single transformer. The windings are arranged in parallel. In this manner, a balancing of the output of the transformers is obtained; the power output from each transformer is “sensed” by its associated flux winding which is “shared” with the other transformers via their own associated flux winding. Power is process then through the secondary windings, rectifiers, and output filters to a common load.

Abstract: A new packaging technology which improves the electrical and mechanical performance of the circuits using magnetic elements. High frequency current loops generate electromagnetic fields which are radiated or induce high frequency current in the rest of the circuit. To reduce the radiated field, these loops have been minimized by locating the high frequency switching components close to each other and very close to the magnetic elements. By separating the high frequency switching electronic components from the rest of the electronic components and locating them on the same multilayer PCB where the magnetic element is constructed, optimal results are obtained.

Abstract: The invention concerns a device comprising a belt with one side opposite unsprung support means and extending between an upstream roller and a downstream roller both suspended so that the object can be sandwiched between the unsprung support means and said belt side, the latter being wound around at least two other rollers whereof at least one is unsprung.