System and method for providing controlled access to a funds dispensing device from external processors
AssigneePitney Bowes Inc.
InventorsSteven J. Brennan, Hafeesmon Chettiparambil, Sambasivam Thillaikumaran, Brian C. Hannigan
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Abstract
Systems and methods for providing controlled access to value dispensing devices are described and in certain examples, systems including those for providing controlled access to a postage meter from multiple programs executing on an external collocated processor are described.
Claims3
A mailing machine having an embedded processor and an embedded user interface, wherein the mailing machine is configured to allow user interface access from an external collocated processor executing a proxy server and at least one multi-purpose software application, the mailing machine comprising:
- the embedded processor including memory and instructions configured to perform the following:
- receiving an exclusive external postage meter capture request from a proxy server;
- determining if the embedded user interface is active;
- if the embedded user interface is active, returning a busy message;
- and
- if the embedded user interface is not active, processing the meter capture to provide and acknowledge the exclusive external access to the proxy server;
- determining if the exclusive external postage meter capture request requires lockout of the embedded user interface;
- if the exclusive external postage meter capture request requires lockout of the embedded user interface, then locking-out the embedded user interface and transfer exclusive user interface control of the mailing machine to the proxy server, and
- if the exclusive external postage meter capture request does not require lockout of the embedded user interface, then allowing simultaneous embedded user interface access and proxy server access.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.