Patent ID: 6385597
Filing Date: 2002-05-07
Classification: G06K,G06Q,G07B,G07F

Abstract:
A method for exchanging data between a postage meter machine and a chip card, comprising the steps of:providing a postage meter machine with a chip card write/read unit and a non-volatile memory; providing a set of chip cards which are individually insertable into said chip card write/read unit, said chip cards being of different chip card types and each having a chip card number, said set of chip cards including a first chip card and a second chip card and a plurality of further chip cards; storing data in each of said chip cards in a dataset containing the data and the chip card number, for use in operating said postage meter machine; providing a protected memory area in said first chip card and storing protected data in said protected memory area; providing a control system in said postage meter machine which exchanges data with one of said chip cards in said set of chip cards inserted, as an inserted chip card, in said chip card write/read unit; storing a plurality of data exchange protocols, respectively for said different chip card types, in said control system and selecting one of said protocols for data exchange with the inserted chip card dependent on the chip card type of the inserted chip card; when said first chip card is inserted in said chip card write/read unit, loading said protected data into said non-volatile memory; requiring adherence to a manufacturer-specified sequence for insertion of said first chip card and said second chip card in said chip card write/read unit; and allowing insertion of said further chip cards in a selectable sequence defined by a user of said postage meter machine.