Postage meter machine with a data transmission device

A system for communicating between a data center and a postage meter machine, comprising:

• a postage meter machine having a processing unit;
• a data center located remote from said postage meter machine;
• a data transmission device connected to said processing unit and adapted for transmitting information between said processing unit and said data center via a telecommunication network;
• said data transmission device including a connection arrangement for making a communication connection to a telecommunication line of said telecommunication network;
• a monitoring device connected to said processing unit for monitoring a usage status of said telecommunication line and for providing usage status information to said processing unit;
• and
• said processing unit controlling a connection setup to said telecommunication network by said data transmission device dependent on said usage status information.

A method for controlling communication between a postage meter machine and a remote data center via a communication network having a telecommunication line shared by the postage meter machine and a further telecommunication device, said method comprising the steps of:

• providing a postage meter machine with a processing unit and a data transmission device connected to said processing unit, and transmitting information between said processing unit and a remote data center via a telecommunication network;
• including in said data transmission device a connection arrangement for making a communication connection to a telecommunication line of said telecommunication network;
• with a monitoring device connected to said processing unit, monitoring a usage status of said telecommunication line and providing usage status information to said processing unit;
• and
• controlling, via said processing unit, a connection setup to said telecommunication network by said data transmission device dependent on said usage status information.