Patent ID: 7694010
Filing Date: 2010-04-06
Classification: G06F,G07B

Abstract:
1. A method for exchanging data between a first postal data processing unit of a postage metering system containing first status information about said first postal data processing unit and a second postal data processing unit of a remote postal data center containing second status information about said first postal data processing unit, comprising the steps of: exchanging postal-related data between said first postal data processing unit and said second postal data processing unit during transactions, said transactions including a first status-changing transaction which can be of two different types, and a second status-changing transaction following said first status-changing transaction, wherein said first or second postal data processing unit comprises a processor and a memory; only upon a successful completion of an entirety of said first status-changing transaction, revising said first status information and said second status information such that they match by revising said first status information by triggering a revision message in said second postal data processing unit and transmitting said revision message to said first postal data processing unit, and revising said second status information by triggering a confirmation message in said first data processing unit and transmitting said configuration message to said second data processing unit, said confirmation message confirming said revision of said first status information; only upon an unsuccessful completion of said entirety of said first status-changing transaction, setting said first status information and said second status information dependent on the type of said first status changing transaction, if said first status-changing transaction is not successfully completed due to a failure of a flawless confirmation message to be received at said postal second data processing unit; comparing said first status information and said second status information during said second status-changing transaction; and if an inconsistency exists, synchronizing said first status information and said second status information dependent on the type of said first status-changing transaction to reestablish conformity between said first status information and said second status information; and making a defensive recovery strategy and a progressive recovery strategy available to said first and second data processing units for reestablishing conformity between said first status information and said second status information after the unsuccessful completion of said first status-changing transaction, and selecting said recovery strategy dependent on the type of said first status-changing transaction; if said synchronization is initiated by said first postal data processing unit, setting said first status information in an unchanged fashion when employing said defensive recovery strategy and setting said first status information as if said first status-changing transaction were successfully completed when employing said progressive recovery strategy; and if said synchronization is initiated by said second postal data processing unit, setting said second status information in an unchanged fashion when employing said defensive recovery strategy and setting said second status information as if said first status-changing transaction were successfully completed when employing said progressive recovery strategy.