Remote meter configuration

An electronic postage meter having a plurality of software features that may be enabled, the postage meter comprising:

• a) first register means for storing a first number representative of a current feature set;
• b) means, responsive to the content of the first register means, for selectively enabling the feature set represented by the content of the first register means;
• c) second register means for storing an entered second number representative of a desired new feature set;
• d) means for generating an internal configuration enable code that depends on at least one of the first and second numbers;
• e) means for entering an externally generated configuration enable code;
• f) means for comparing the internally generated configuration enable code with the entered configuration enable code;
• and
• g) means for placing the second number in the first register means when the internally generated and entered configuration enable codes are the same.

An electronic postage meter having a plurality of software features that may be enabled, the postage meter comprising:

• a) first register means for storing a first number representative of a current feature set;
• b) second register means for storing an entered second number representative of a desired new feature set;
• c) first means for entering an externally generated configuration enable code;
• and
• d) second means for:
• i) selectively enabling the current feature set represented by the content of the first register means in response to the content of the first register means;
• ii) generating an internal configuration enable code that depends on at least one of the first and second numbers;
• iii) comparing the internally generated configuration enable code with the entered configuration enable code;
• and
• iv) placing the second number in the first register means when the internally generated and entered configuration enable codes are the same.

An electronic postage meter having a number of software controllable features, comprising:

• a) a mode register having at least first and second modes;
• b) means, responsive to the state of the mode register, for inhibiting normal meter operations;
• c) a first MTN register for storing an old meter type number representative of a current feature set of the meter;
• d) means, responsive to the content of said first MTN register, for selectively enabling the current feature set represented by the content of the first MTN register when the mode register is in the first mode;
• e) means, responsive to a particular first data entry, for setting the mode register to the second mode;
• f) a second MTN register for storing a new meter type number representative of a desired new feature set;
• g) means, responsive to a second data entry representing the desired new feature set, for placing the new meter type number in the second MTN register;
• h) means for calculating an encrypted internally generated configuration request code whose value depends on the old and new meter type numbers;
• i) means for calculating an encrypted internally generated configuration enable code whose value depends in a different way than on the configuration request code old and new meter type numbers;
• j)means, responsive to a third data entry representing an externally generated configuration enable code, for comparing the internally generated and externally generated configuration enable codes;
• and
• k) validation means, responsive to a predetermined relationship between the internally generated and externally generated configuration enable codes for storing the new meter type number in the first MTN register, the validation means acting further to set the mode register to the first mode.

An electronic postage meter having a number of software controllable features, comprising:

• a) a mode register having at least first and second modes;
• b) a first MTN register for storing an old meter type number representative of a current feature set of the meter;
• c) a second MTN register for storing a new meter type number representative of a desired new feature set;
• and
• d) means for:
• i) allowing normal meter operations in response to the first mode of said mode register;
• ii) inhibiting normal meter operations and allowing reconfiguration of the meter in response to the second mode;
• iii) selectively enabling the current feature set represented by the content of the first MTN register, in response to the content of the first MTN register, when the mode register is in the first mode;
• iv) setting the mode register to the second mode in response to a particular first data entry;
• v) placing the new meter type number in the second MTN register in response to a second data entry representing the desired new feature set;
• vii) calculating an encrypted internally generated configuration enable code whose value depends in a different way on the old and new meter type numbers;
• viii) in response to a third data entry representing an externally generated configuration enable code, comparing the internally generated and the externally generated configuration enable codes;
• ix) storing the new meter type number in the first MTN register if the meter generated and computer generated configuration enable codes agree;
• and
• x) setting the mode register to the first mode if the meter generated and computer generated configuration enable codes agree.

An electronic postage meter having a plurality of software features, the postage meter comprising:

• a) first register means for storing a first number representative of a current feature set;
• b) means, responsive to the content of the first register means, for selectively enabling the feature set represented by the content of the first register means;
• c) second register means for storing an entered second number representative of a desired new feature set;
• d) means for generating an internal configuration enable code that depends on at least one of the first and second numbers;
• e) means for entering an externally generated configuration enable code;
• f) means for comparing the internally generated configuration enable code with the entered configuration enable code;
• and
• g) means for placing the second number in the first register means when the internally generated and entered configuration enable codes are the same.