Abstract: In a communications system, a host computer in a data center communicates with a multiplicity of electronic postage meters via telephone dial-up lines to conduct telemeter setting (TMS) transactions. Through the communications, the host computer may collect statistical data from each meter, and may impose a cumulative postage amount limit, a time limit and/or a piece limit on the meter. To ensure security and data integrity, the communicated data between the meters and the host computer is selectively encrypted and/or authenticated.

Abstract: A system for remotely resetting a postage meter, by adding a variable amount of postage, includes a computerized central facility or "host", in telephone communication with the meter, which host verifies the meter's identity and ascertains the availability of funds, then sends to the meter an authorizing, unique, one-time-only combination, independent of the value of postage requested, and having a predetermined relation to a unique, one-time-only combination that the meter has generated and retained. The meter then compares the combination that it has generated with the combination received from the host. If the relationship is correct, for example, if the combination is the same, the meter introduces the additional postage requested.

Abstract: Franking machine with an inkjet printer wherein the inkjet nozzles are offset in the travel direction (7) of the piece of mail (3) as well as transversely thereto. Due to the offsetting, the ink drop dots can be applied to a piece of mail (3) in partially overlapping fashion and adjoining one another without gaps. In a preferred embodiment, the inkjet nozzles (5) are arranged in equidistant columns ( . . . 1 to . . . 4) perpendicular to the travel direction (7) and in likewise equidistant rows oblique to the travel direction.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for releasing and for controlled storage of a desired predetermined value into a preset value memory storage of a postage metering machine. Initial values are transmitted in each case from a postage metering machine to a release apparatus. A first key code word is determined by a first algorithm module section from initial values and from values stored in a first memory storage associated with the postage metering machine. A second key code word is determined by a second algorithm module section from initial values and from values stored in a visually readable table associated with a second memory storage in the release apparatus. The second key word is transmitted from the release apparatus to the postage metering machine, where it is stored in a storage memory section and compared with the first key word in a locked section of memory.