Patent ID: 7840492

Claim:
A method for dispensing postage value in a value dispensing system comprising: obtaining a previously used uniquely identified reusable indicia that is deactivated and that includes a digital pen pattern; scanning the digital pen pattern on the uniquely identified reusable indicia using a scanner and a local processor operatively connected to the scanner; obtaining an identifier assigned to the indicia using the scan of the digital pen pattern; assigning a postage value amount to the indicia using the local processor; and electronically sending information associated with the indicia including the postage value amount to a remote central billing server for enabling the indicia, then sending the indicia to a third party using a carrier as part of a use transaction associated with the postage value amount, wherein, the reusable indicia is then reused in the postage value dispensing system after the use transaction associated with the postage value amount is completed by deactivating the reusable indicia and then reactivating the reusable indicia and assigning a second postage value amount to the reusable indicia.