Method for data input into a postage meter machine, arrangement for franking postal matter and for producing an advert mark respectively allocated to a cost allocation account

An apparatus for franking items comprising:

• a postage meter machine;
• chip card means, separate from said postage meter machine, for storing data relating to the operation of said postage meter machine;
• program memory means, contained in said postage meter machine, for storing operating programs which use operating data for operating said postage meter machine including performing franking;
• data memory means, contained in said postage meter machine, for storing said operating data;
• means for turning on said postage meter machine for the operation thereof;
• single chip card means reader means, contained in said postage meter machine, for reading said data relating to the operation of said postage meter machine from said chip card means;
• means for setting a time window following turn-on of said postage meter machine;
• and
• control means for controlling loading of data into said postage meter machine, within said time window and before performing franking, by establishing communication between said chip card means and said chip card means reader means, for transferring predetermined, selected data from said chip card means, and for modifying said operating data with said predetermined, selected data from said chip card means and for thereby generating new operating data and for storing said new operating data in said data memory means.

A method for entering data into a postage meter machine having a plurality of selectable printer functions, before initiation of a selected printer function, comprising the steps of:

• inserting a first integrated chip card into a chip card reader in said postage meter machine for automatically transferring data from said first integrated chip card into a memory of said postage meter machine within a time window following turn-on of said postage meter machine for modifying a most recently stored setting of said postage meter machine;
• displaying data identifying the loading of data from said first integrated chip card;
• removing said first integrated chip card from said chip card reader and inserting a second integrated chip card into said chip card reader containing data relating to a user of said postage meter machine and the selected printer function;
• and
• initiating said selected printer function contained on said second integrated chip card.