Token generation process in an open metering system

A method of issuing digital tokens in a open system meter comprising the steps of:

• sending a request for digital tokens and predetermined postal information, including addressee information, from a host processor to a vault that is operatively coupled to the host processor;
• calculating in the vault in response to the request for tokens at least one digital token using the predetermined postal information;
• debiting postal funds in the vault;
• sending the digital token to the host processor;
• generating in the host processor a graphical image of the digital token and the predetermined postal information;
• and
• storing the graphical image of an indicia comprising the digital token and the predetermined postal information for subsequent printing of the indicia.

A method of issuing digital tokens in a PC meter on a network, comprising the steps of:

• sending a request for digital tokens and predetermined postal information, including addressee information, from a local PC to a vault operatively connected to a network server;
• generating in the vault in response to the request for tokens at least one digital token using the predetermined postal information;
• storing the digital token in NVM in the vault;
• sending the digital token to the local PC;
• storing the digital token and the predetermined postal information in a transaction record file in the local PC for subsequent generation and printing of an indicia.

A method of issuing a batch of digital tokens, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a mailing list file in a PC;
• extracting required postal information for each desired address in a mailing list
• sending a request for digital tokens and the required postal information, including addressee information, for desired ones of the addresses in the mailing list from the PC to a vault that is operatively coupled to the PC;
• calculating in response to each request for digital tokens at least one digital token in the vault using the predetermined postal information;
• storing each digital token in vault NVM in the vault;
• debiting postal funds in the vault NVM corresponding to the digital tokens calculated for each address;
• sending each digital token to the processor;
• and
• storing each digital token in an issued token file on the hard drive of the PC in a manner consistent with the order that each corresponding address is in the mailing list for subsequent generation and printing of an indicia.