Abstract: A method and system that increases the throughput of a mailing machine by continuously computing indicia prior to and during mail processing is provided. The indicia generation process is divided into two distinct parts, cryptographic calculation and funds committal/printing. Indicium data are continuously computed, asynchronously with the printing of the indicia, and stored in a buffer until needed. This enables several indicium data to be computed and stored prior to processing of a mail piece by the mailing machine. Prior to printing an indicium on a mail piece, the funds for the indicium are accounted for by updating the registers of the mailing machine. Since a number of indicium data may be pre-computed prior to the start of processing the mail through the mailing machine, the throughput of the mailing machine can be increased.

Abstract: This invention utilizes several coordinating devices that together provide a more comprehensive set of diagnostics which support both on-site and remote diagnostics of the customers equipment. Sensor transitions and profile state execution information will be cross-referenced by a common time stamp. Thus, it will be possible to not only observe the response (sensor transition) to stimulus (motion profiles), but also cross-reference this data to the specific controlling profile state segment. This yields an additional "context" for specific types of errors. The foregoing level of diagnostics will be available on-site with the customers machine for manual processing by a skilled human, when necessary.