Regulacje i polityka gospodarcza · 28.10.1996

Specifications for Information Based Indicia Program ``Host Systems''

Historically, postage meters have been mechanical and electromechanical devices that (1) maintain through mechanical or electronic ``registers'' (postal security devices) an account of all postage printed and the remaining balance of prepaid postage, and (2) print postage indicia that are accepted by the Postal Service as evidence of the prepayment of postage. Two proposed specifications have been published on these subjects, and are entitled ``Information Based Indicia Program (IBIP) Postal Security Device (PSD) Specification [Draft]'' and ``Information Based Indicia Program (IBIP) Indicium Specification [Draft].'' (See Federal Register notices Vol. 61, No. 128, Tuesday, July 2, 1996, and Vol. 61, No. 136, Monday, July 15, 1996.) The proposed IBIP Host System specification is another specification document intended to provide technical information relevant to the development and production of IBI products. The U.S. Postal Service is seeking comments on this specification. The Postal Service also seeks comments on intellectual property issues raised by the IBIP Host System specification if adopted in present form. If an intellectual property issue includes patents or patent applica