Abstract: A mailing machine that provides for permanent postage is described. Postage may be purchased at one point of time at a then prevailing rate and used in the future at the same effective purchasing power even if a new more expensive rate schedule is in effect. The mailing machine provides for the accounting of such rate purchased postage using a Postal Security Device and may include multiple rate-table based accounts each associated with a particular postage rate table.

Abstract: A mailing machine that provides for permanent postage is described. Postage may be purchased at one point of time at a then prevailing rate and used in the future at the same effective purchasing power even if a new more expensive rate schedule is in effect. The mailing machine provides for the accounting of such rate purchased postage using a Postal Security Device and may include multiple rate-table based accounts each associated with a particular postage rate table.

Abstract: A value dispensing system includes: a printing mechanism for printing an indication of value; a microprocessor including a real time clock mechanism, the microprocessor initiating printing of the indication of value by the printing mechanism; a device for electrically connecting the value dispensing system to a primary power source and for utilizing power received from the primary power source to operate the microprocessor and the printing mechanism; a back-up power source which supplies backup power to the microprocessor to enable continued operation of the real time clock only when the value dispensing system has been disconnected from the primary power source; wherein the microprocessor is programmed to 1) disable operation of the printing mechanism upon a failure of the backup power source and in response to reconnection of the primary power source to the value dispensing system, 2) require resetting of the real time clock as a prerequisite for reenabling the operation of the printing mechanism subsequent

Abstract: A hardware module includes a character map, a font and control codes in accordance with an established national standard for printing characters, to supplement or replace similar information stored in a printer in accordance with another established standard. Connection of the module to the printer changes the personality of the printer, from a printer operating in accordance with one standard for printing one set of characters, such as printing simplified Chinese characters used in mainland China in accordance with a GuoBiao Standard, to a printer operating in accordance with a second standard for printing another set of characters, such as printing traditional Chinese characters in accordance with a Chinese National Standard.

Abstract: A sheet processing apparatus, which may be a mailing machine, inserter or similar system for producing mail pieces or may be a copier or printer or the like. The system includes a control mechanism for reducing the likelihood of jams as sheets are fed through a sheet handling apparatus included in the system. Preferably the control mechanism will include a neural network trained to response to a characteristic signal generated by a sheet feeder as a sheet is input to the apparatus. After training the network will produce a control signal output for controlling the processing rate of the apparatus to reduce the rate if there is a likelihood that the input sheet will jam. The network may also produce an outstacking signal for diverting sheets, in extreme cases, for corrective action. The drive current of a motor used to output the sheet from a sheet feeder is monitored to provide the characteristic signal which is sampled as an input to the network.

Abstract: A postage metering system includes a keyboard; a display; a device for receiving an external smart card; a print module for printing a postal indicia; an accounting module for accounting for the value of each postal indicia printed; a microprocessor including a clock chip which generates pulses on a periodic basis, at least one register having contents which are indicative of a real time, first structure for automatically updating the contents of the register based on the number of clock pulses generated, second structure for permitting resetting of the contents of the register by a user via the keyboard to indicate a new real time, third structure for detecting whether the external smart card has been inserted in the receiving means, for determining whether the inserted external smart card is a real time clock security card, and for inhibiting operation of the second structure such that a user cannot reset the contents of the register to be indicative of the new real time unless the third structure determine

Abstract: The postage system employs encryption techniques to verify that a user has printed postage. The postage at the time of printing is not accounted for by the meter. Accounting occurs at a time subsequent to the printing of postage. The user is provided with a postage validating device which provides an indication on the mailpiece of the validity of the imprint to identify the user and a user account number. Charges for the postage thus printed occur at a subsequent time. The imprint is read, preferably by scanning techniques, to determine validity, amount to be charged and an account number which is charged for the delivery.

Abstract: A postage meter accounting system is provided having a user terminal which interfaces with and controls an electronic postage meter. The user terminal is also connected to an integrated circuit card read-write unit for receiving user, administrator, service and/or program integrated circuit cards. The user terminal activates and permits use of the meter upon presentation of a valid user card, storages postage meter use information and transmits the postage meter use information to the user card for storage in a user card transaction table. The postage meter use information stored in the user terminal and in user card memory may be accessed for later reference on a user terminal display and/or printer. Preferably, an administrative computer is provided for periodically receiving all postage meter use information from the user cards or, alternatively, directly from the user terminal to generate one or more postage meter use accounting reports.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a system wherein a mailer is able to send large quantities or batches of mail. The mailer has a secure accounting unit similar to a postage meter in which postage value is placed by a central station which is also in communication with a remote resetting center for accounting for funds transferred to the accounting unit. The central station communicates with the mailing station in order to obtain data relative to the mail processing whenever the funds are to be transferred to the accounting unit. The central station may also serve to lock or unlock the mail processing at the mailing station. Receipts may also be provided for the funding transactions.

Abstract: A device applicable for processing batch mail which eliminates the need for on-site inspection. A mail sender purchases postage value and stores the amount purchased in the memory of the accounting device. The mail sender processes batches of mail and reduces the amount of purchased postage value in the memory to account for the mail processed.

Abstract: A nonvolatile memory bank of an electronic memory and retrieval system is partitioned into at least three memory blocks, each block capable of storing an accounting program. The accounting program data is stored in duplicate with one copy of the data in one memory block and a second copy of the data in a second memory block. The remaining memory blocks of the partitioned memory bank are held in reserve status. The integrity of the data is preserved by comparing one data copy with the other data copy. When a difference between the two data copies is detected, a determination is made as to which data copy is the correct data copy. The data in the memory block having the correct data is duplicated into a reserve memory block, forming a new set of data in a new memory block, which is then substituted for the memory block having the incorrect set of data.