Patent ID: 6098058
Filing Date: 2000-08-01
Classification: G07B

Abstract:
A postage metering system comprising:a plurality of printing means operatively connected as part of a network and operating as client printing means on the network, the client printing means including processor, memory and storage means;a plurality of postal security devices (PSDs), more than one of the client printing means having a PSD coupled thereto, the PSD being local to the coupled client printing means functioning as a host to the PSD and remote to the other of the plurality of printing means, the PSD including unique identification, postal value storage means and digital signature means;means in the client printing means for functioning as a postage metering network wherein a client printing means requests evidence of postage payment from a remote PSD for concluding postage metering transactions; andmeans in each client printing means for determining which of the remote PSDs are available for metering transactions on the network.