Abstract: A system and method for instantly printing PC postage before establishing a postage meter account. The method includes the steps of a meter vendor obtaining a first meter license from the Post for a first meter; loaning the use of a first meter licensed in the customer's zip code to a customer; requesting a second meter license for the customer; initializing the first meter for use by the customer; and transferring the first meter to the Customer's meter license when the second meter license is received. Alternatively, when the second meter license is received a second meter is assigned to the customer and the first meter is reassigned to the meter vendor.

Abstract: An apparatus for issuing money orders and similar instruments and for securing payment therefor is provided as a subsystem of an existing kiosk of a type including, but not limited to postal kiosks, informational kiosks, Automated Teller Machines (ATM), Point of Sale terminals (POS), vending machines and the like, or any combination thereof. Payment is secured by drawing funds directly from a customer's bank account; by drawing funds from a smart card, or by accepting currency through a bill acceptor. The apparatus further includes facilities for redeeming money orders and dispensing cash amounts corresponding thereto.

Abstract: A post production processing application receives and manipulates document print images, in particular to integrate postage printing and accounting into the document finishing, without the need for a specialized postage printing system. The post production processing application may run on a main frame, together with the application(s) that generate the document print images, or on some other computer platform. The post production processing application calculates postage for each document and interacts with a postage metering functionality to obtain digital tokens. Each token includes an encrypted cipher for use in validating applied postage indicia. The mail processing system uses the tokens to generate postage indicias, containing the ciphers, during the subsequent document printing and finishing processes. The meter functionality may reside in software (e.g.

Abstract: A postage metering capability is integrated in an automated teller machine. With minimal modification and using several components of the ATM to perform functions useful in dispensing of postage, the secured environment of an ATM is used to implement numerous postage metering functions. When used with a smart card, postage value is accounted for without reference to an internal vault of the apparatus or to a postal facility, by using a vault of the smart card. The smart card may be used to dispense postage by accessing a customer's postage account at a remote center to set into the internal vault a value to be dispensed, with communication secured in accordance with information provided by the smart card. Using such information, the customer's postage account may also be accessed to recharge the vault of the smart card, rather than the internal vault. Additionally, postage may be dispensed in accordance with value inputted directly by a customer, using cash, credit-, debit-, or money-cards.

Abstract: A Key Management System for generating, distributing and managing cryptographic keys used by an information transaction system that employs cryptographic means to produce evidence of information integrity. The system comprises a plurality of functionally distinct secure boxes operatively coupled to each other. Each of the secure boxes performs functions for key generation, key installation, key verification or validation of tokens. Computers, operatively coupled to the secure boxes, provide system control and facilitate communication among the secure boxes. A plurality of separate logical security domains provide domain processes for key generation, key installation, key verification and validation of tokens produced by the transaction evidencing device within the domain using the key management functions. A plurality of domain archives, corresponding respectively to each of the security domains, securely and reliably record key status records and master keys for each domain.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing transaction evidencing devices, such as digital postage meters, includes the steps of generating a master key in a logical security domain of a Key Management System; installing the master key into a digital postage meter; verifying the installation of the master key; and registering the master key to a logical security sub-domain in the Key Management System. The step of generating the master key further includes the steps of generating a domain; generating at least one sub-domain; installing the domain in secure boxes of the Key Management System; generating a master key and test token within the domain; and recording the master key in the domain archive. The step of installing the master key further includes the steps of installing the master key into a digital meter; and associating the master key with a unique device identifier.

Abstract: A system and method of fault tolerant key management of cryptographic keys includes a key distribution computer and primary and secondary key management computers coupled to the key distribution computer, Primary and secondary server computers are each coupled to the primary and secondary key management computers, One of the primary and secondary key management computers is operational at a time, The operational one of the primary and secondary key management computers writes key data received from the key distribution computer to an archive database in each of the primary and secondary server computers, The method includes the steps of requesting storage of key data by an operational one of the primary and secondary key management computers; monitoring the operational status of each of primary and secondary server computers; writing key data to an archive database in each of the primary and secondary servers that are operational; writing key data to a log file in an operational one of the primary and seconda

Abstract: A weighing scale capable of weighing articles in a rapid and accurate fashion. The tray of the scale is supported by at least one spring and becomes vertically displaced in proportion to the weight of an article placed thereon. A voice coil is used to bias the tray to its original position, and the weight of the article is determined by measuring the current in the voice coil.