Patent ID: 7526454

Claim:
A method of controlling postage meter funds transfer to a postage meter funds storage location in a postage meter, comprising the steps of: determining if a level of funds in the postage meter funds storage location is below a predetermined amount; determining, by a scheduling device, when a next idle period will begin based on date-based rules; determining, by the scheduling device, a period of time until the next idle period; if the period of time until the next idle period is greater than a predetermined length, as indicated in the date-based rules, then automatically requesting a transfer of funds to the postage meter funds storage location in the postage meter; and if the period of time until the next idle period is less than the predetermined length, as indicated in the date-based rules, then delaying automatically requesting the transfer of funds to the postage meter funds storage location in the postage meter until after the idle period.