Patent ID: 7792765

Claim:
A method for controlling the operation of an automated postage meter by a computing device, said method comprising the steps of: entering into the computing device parameters for imprinting postage on a first batch of mail to be run through the postage meter during a first job, said parameters including a class of mail, any text to be imprinted with the postage, a date, and an account number for whose benefit the first batch of mail will be imprinted; initializing the postage meter a first time by verifying that the postage meter can communicate with and is ready to accept commands from the computing device, obtaining a current postage rate, unparking print heads of the postage meter, starting a motor of the postage meter, starting a feeder of the postage meter, reading a meter value register to track the total postage applied, and resetting a meter batch register to count a number of pieces to be imprinted with postage; loading the first batch of mail for the first job into the feeder of the postage meter; running the first batch through the postage meter so as to be imprinted with postage, the date, and any text; entering into the computing device parameters for imprinting postage on a second batch of mail to be run through the postage meter during a second job while the first batch of mail is being run through the postage meter, said parameters including a selected class of mail, any text to be imprinted with the postage, a date, and an account number for whose benefit the second batch of mail will be imprinted; loading the second batch of mail for the second job into the meter feeder of the postage meter; and running the second batch of mail through the postage meter to be imprinted with the postage, the date, and any text, subsequent to completion of the first job, without initializing the postage meter a second time.