Abstract: A method of printing a string of characters includes receiving a sequence of character data codes. Each character data code corresponds to a respective character to be printed in the string of characters. The method also includes transcoding the sequence of character data codes to generate a sequence of glyph codes. Each glyph code corresponds to a respective glyph. Each glyph corresponds to at least part of a respective character. At least some of the glyphs correspond to less than a complete character. The method further includes using the sequence of glyph codes to generate print image data and printing an image on the basis of the print image data.

Abstract: A postage metering system includes a printer and a postage meter. The postage meter includes a micro controller for generating token data for use in printing a postal indicia where the token data includes an indicator of a token currency type. The printer is in communication with the postage meter and includes a micro controller, a memory and a print mechanism for printing the postal indicia on a mailpiece. The printer memory has stored therein indicia graphic data including an indicator of an indicia graphic currency type. The printer micro controller receives the token data from the postage meter and compares the token data indicator of the token currency type with the indicia graphic data indicator of the indicia graphic currency type prior to printing the postal indicia.

Abstract: In postage metering apparatus having printing structure, structure for selecting respective postage values to be printed, structure for requesting printing selected postage values, structure for accounting for each postage value requested to be printed, and structure for controlling operation of the printing structure, an improvement for preventing printing a postage value without accounting therefor, the improvement comprising: the requested postage values including respective zero postage values; the controlling structure including structure for counting each request for printing a zero postage value; and the controlling structure including structure for preventing operation of the printing structure in response to the counting structure counting a predetermined number of the zero postage values.

Abstract: A postage meter is disclosed which determines whether postage was printed while power to the meter was off, and if so accounts for such postage printing. The postage meter also determines whether such printing resulted from tampering, and if so records each instance of such tampering. When the number of instances exceeds a predetermined number, the meter prevents further normal operation thereof. The postage meter is provided structure and programming to accomplish the foregoing because it does not include a print device locking mechanism that locks the print devices when power to the meter is switched off. The postage meter determines print cycles of the postage meter occurring when power to the meter is switched off and whether the print devices were moved to a different postage value setting when the meter was off, and if so, the new setting of the print devices.

Abstract: An electronic postage meter has two non-volatile memories for storing postage meter accounting data under control of a CPU operating under a program in ROM. An accounting data recovery routine is stored in ROM. Prior to updating critical information in the non-valatile memories, a recovery address which calls the recovery program is stored in NVM and cleared after a successful update. At each power-up of the meter, the non-volatile memory is checked to see if the address is present and if it is, the accounting data is done again from the start of the accounting cycle.