Patent ID: 8078548

Claim:
A system for controlling postage usage, comprising: at least two postage evidencing meters, each meter having a processor and a communication module for providing a communication link between the at least two meters, wherein each of said at least two meters store at least one postage usage meter parameter that defines meter usage limits for restricting password authenticated users' usage of the respective meter storing the meter parameter, and wherein at least one postage evidencing meter of said at least two postage evidencing meters stores at least one postage usage user parameter for each user of a plurality of users, wherein each of said user parameters define meter usage limits for a particular user associated with the user parameter; wherein at least one user parameter for at least one said particular user of said plurality of users is exchanged between said meters via the communication link; and wherein the processor of the meter receiving said user parameter controls an ability of the particular user associated with the user parameter to evidence postage using the receiving meter in accordance with the received user parameter and at least one of the meter parameters stored by the receiving meter.