System and method for wireless user interface for business machines
View Patent ↗A method and system for providing external user interfaces is described. In one configuration a co-located external processor and a business machine negotiate a communications connection. The co-located external processor then utilizes a server to determine a shared secret in order to pair a wireless connection with the business machine in order to act as the user interface for the business machine. In another configuration, the co-located external processor is connected to a remote data center that authenticates the user and provides the user interface code and secret pairing information to the co-located external processor. In another configuration, the co-located external processor performs data processing for providing a cryptographically processed print stream to a postage meter.
1. A method for enabling an external processor to be used as a user interface for a machine by using an authentication server comprising:
establishing a data connection between the external processor and the authentication server;
providing user account data to the authentication server;
providing authentication data to the authentication server;
receiving appropriate secret information and logic enabling data from the authentication server relating to the user account data and the authentication data;
using the appropriate secret information and logic enabling data to establish a wireless data and user interface control connection between the external processor and the machine wherein the external processor and the machine are co-located in the same proximate location.
2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:
obtaining machine identification data, wherein the machine identification data identifies one machine among a plurality of machines; and
using the machine identification data, the appropriate secret information and logic enabling data to establish a wireless data and user interface control connection between the external processor and the one machine wherein the external processor and the one machine are co-located.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein:
the authentication data comprises authentication data associated with the external processor.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein:
the authentication data comprises user biometric authentication data.
5. An external processing system for use as a user interface to a mailing machine comprising:
a processor;
memory connected to the processor, the memory storing a program for controlling the processor and storing user data;
a wireless communication system connected to the processor; and
the processor operative with the program operative for: establishing a connection with an authentication server;
sending user data and authentication data to the authentication server and a request for machine access data;
receiving machine access data from the authentication server in response to the user data and the authentication; and
establishing a wireless communication user interface link to the mailing machine using the machine access data.
6. The system of claim 5 , further comprising:
a secure postage vault connected to the processor; and wherein:
the processor is further operative for:
cryptographically signing the user data using the secure postage vault.
7. The system of claim 6 , wherein:
the machine access data includes a device authentication secret and a private data key.
8. The system of claim 5 , wherein:
the wireless communication system comprises a BLUETOOTH transceiver.
9. The system of claim 5 , further comprising:
a biometric data interface; and wherein:
the processor is further operative for: obtaining biometric data; and wherein,
the authentication data comprises the biometric data.
10. The system of claim 5 , wherein the authentication data comprises an identifier associated with the external processing system.
11. The system of claim 5 , further comprising:
establishing a wireless communication user interface link to a plurality of mailing machines using the machine access data; and
providing selection data to the user for the plurality of mailing machines.
12. The system of claim 5 further comprising:
a system for obtaining a machine identifier; and wherein:
the processor is further operative for:
obtaining a machine identifier; and wherein,
the authentication data comprises the machine identifier.
13. A method for using a co-located external user interface having a wireless interface for printing indicia for evidencing postage using a mailing machine having a wireless interface in the same proximate location as the external user interface comprising:
obtaining mailing machine access data;
establishing a secure wireless communications connection with the mailing machine using the machine access data;
obtaining a desired postage value;
facilitating the accounting of the desired postage value;
encrypting postage value data; and
sending the encrypted postage value data to the mailing machine.
14. The method of claim 13 further comprising:
receiving verification data confirming that the indicia was printed.