Data center for remote postage meter recharging system having physically secure encrypting apparatus and employing encrypted seed number signals

A data center for a remote postage meter recharging system, comprising:

• means for receiving resetting signal information;
• means coupled to said receiving means for processing said resetting information;
• means for storing encrypted signal information;
• and
• sealed unit means coupled to said resetting signal information processing means and to said means for storing encrypted signal information for processing received resetting signal information and stored encrypted signal information to generate a signal for use in resetting a remotely located postage meter, said sealed unit means including a first encrypter coupled to said means for processing said resetting information, and a decrypter coupled between said means for storing encrypted signal information and said first encrypter.

A data center for a remote postage meter recharging system, comprising:

• means for processing resetting signal information;
• means for storing encrypted signal information equivalent to signal information stored in a remotely located postage meter;
• and
• sealed unit means coupled to said resetting signal information processing means and to said means for storing encrypted signal information for generating a signal for use in resetting said remotely located postage meter, said sealed unit means including a first encrypter coupled to said means for processing said resetting signal information, a decrypter coupled between said means for storing encrypted signal information and said first encrypter, and a second encrypter coupled between said first encrypter and said means for storing encrypted signal information.

A data center for remote postage meter recharging systems, comprising:

• means for receiving resetting signal information;
• means coupled to said receiving means for processing said resetting signal information;
• means for storing encrypted signal information, said encrypted signal information being associated with a particular postage meter to be reset;
• sealed unit means coupled to said resetting information processing means and to said means for storing encrypted signal information for decrypting said encrypted signal information to generate signal information equivalent to signal information stored in said postage meter to be reset said sealed unit further including a circuit means coupled to said decrypting means for generating a signal for use in resetting said associated postage meter;
• and
• means, external to said sealed unit means and coupled thereto, adapted to receive said signal generated in said sealed unit for use in resetting a postage meter.