Postage metering with accumulated postage
AssigneeStamps.com Inc.
InventorsMark Tsuie, Keith D. Bussell, JP Leon
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Systems and methods which provide metering of postage value using accumulated postage information are shown. Embodiments implement an accumulated postage register in a postage security device which is incremented each time a postage indicium is generated and which is reset when a postage value settlement operation is performed. Accumulated postage may be paid for using various accounts, including pre-funded or pre-paid accounts, credit accounts, debit accounts, and billing accounts. Accordingly, embodiments may be used with respect to a post-paid metering model, a pre-paid metering model, and combinations thereof.
Claims20
A method for metering postage value, by a computer system, said method comprising:
- outputting postage indicia by a postage security device prior to payment for said postage indicia;
- incrementing an accumulated postage register, of said postal security device, in response to said outputting of said postage indicia;
- and
- performing a postage value settlement operation that comprises:
- decrementing said accumulated postage register upon receiving a payment amount for said outputted postage indicia.
A system for metering postage value, said system comprising:
- a postage security device securely storing a plurality of postage registers therein, said plurality of postage registers include an accumulated postage value register;
- and
- postage control code operable with said postage security device to:
- output postage indicia prior to payment for said postage indicia;
- increment said accumulated postage register in response to outputting of said postage indicia;
- and
- perform a postage value settlement operation that comprises decrementing said accumulated postage register upon receiving a payment amount for said outputted postage indicia.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.