Patent ID: 6064991
Filing Date: 2000-05-16
Classification: G06Q,G07B,G07F

Abstract:
An interchangeable postage calculating module usable with at least one basic device, said interchangeable postage calculating module comprising:a housing;an internal processing unit contained in said housing;a non-volatile memory in said housing in communication with said internal processing unit;connection means adapted for releasable mechanical connection of said housing to said at least one basic device and for producing an electrical path for exchanging data between said internal processing unit and said at least one basic device; andsaid non-volatile memory containing a calculating program and postage fee schedule data in tabular form, and said internal processing unit and said non-volatile memory comprising, in combination, means for supplying data related to at least one shipping carrier to said basic device dependent on user inputs with regard to service demands for a carrier, means for receiving weight data and shipping data from said basic device for a piece of mail, means for calculating a postage fee for shipping said piece of mail using said postage fee schedule data and said data for at least one carrier, and means for supplying data, including said postage fee, for said at least one carrier to said basic device via said connection means.