Patent ID: 7962423

Claim:
A method for providing virtual stamps to a storage device for use in evidencing payment of postage, said virtual stamps used to evidence payment of postage for any mail piece, said method comprising: establishing a communication between a data center and said storage device; determining that a refund of any unused virtual stamps previously stored in said storage device is required and processing said refund; receiving, at said data center, a request for a plurality of virtual stamps, at least two of said plurality of virtual stamps for a specified rate; determining, at said data center, that sufficient funds are available to pay for said requested plurality of virtual stamps; generating said plurality of virtual stamps at said data center; downloading said plurality of virtual stamps to said storage device via said communication; storing said plurality of virtual stamps along with information associated with each of said plurality of virtual stamps in said storage device, said associated information for each virtual stamp including an index number, an amount, an expiration date, and a status; and updating a state indicator in said storage device to include said plurality of stored virtual stamps.