Postage printing system for printing both postal and non-postal documents
View Patent ↗A method for printing secure source images of the type that contain specific critical elements and non-secure images on a single printer includes determining the origin of an image (secure source or non-secure source). If the image to be printed is from the non-secure source, a determination is made if the image contains the specific critical elements of the type contained in secure source images. Printing of the image from the non-secure source is disabled if the image contains specific critical elements of the type contained in secure source images. Printing of the image from a non-secure source is enabled if the image does not contain specific critical elements of the type contained in the secure image. The determination if the non-secure source image contains the specific critical elements of the type contained in secure source images can be made after printing has commenced of the non-secure image.
1. A method for a printing system to print images from a secure source and a non-secure source using a single printer, said images from said secure source including a specific critical element, said method comprising:
determining by the printing system if an image to be printed is from a secure source or from a non-secure source;
if said image to be printed is from said non-secure source, determining by said printing system if said image contains said specific critical element;
disabling said printer from printing said image from said non-secure source if said image contains said specific critical element; and
enabling said printer to print said image from said non-secure source if said image does not contain said specific critical element.
2. The method as defined in claim 1 wherein said specific critical element comprises a bar code.
3. The method as defined in claim 2 wherein said bar code is contained in a postal indicium.
4. The method as defined in claim 3 wherein said bar code is a 2-D type bar code.
5. The method as defined in claim 4 wherein said bar code is a DataMatrix type bar code.
6. A postage printing system for printing images from a secure source and a non-secure source, said images from a secure source including a specific critical element, said system comprising:
a printing device;
means for determining if an image to be printed is from a secure source or from a non-secure source;
means for determining if said image contains said specific critical element; and
means for disabling printing of said image by said printing device if said image is from said non-secure source and said image contains said specific critical element.
7. The postage printing system as defined in claim 6 wherein said specific critical element comprises a bar code.
8. The postage printing system as defined in claim 7 wherein said bar code is contained in a postal indicium.
9. The postage printing system as defined in claim 7 wherein said printing device is connected to a computer system.
10. The postage printing system as defined in claim 9 wherein said computer system further comprises:
means for identifying a source of an image; and
means for detecting a bar code in said image.
11. A method for a printing system to print images from a secure source and from a non-secure source on a single printer, said images from said secure source including a specific critical element, said method comprising:
commencing, by said printer. printing of an image from said non-secure source;
during the printing of said image from said non-secure source, determining, by said printing system, if said image contains said specific critical element; and
disabling said printer from completing said printing of said image from said non-secure source if said image contains said specific critical element.
12. The method as defined in claim 11 wherein said specific critical element comprises a bar code.
13. The method as defined in claim 12 wherein said bar code is contained in a postal indicium.
14. The method as defined in claim 12 wherein said bar code is a 2-D bar code.