System and method for retrieving postage credit contained within a portable memory over a computer network

A method for transferring a pecuniary value from a portable memory device coupled to a first general purpose processor-based system to a second general purpose processor-based system via a communication link, said first system and said second system being affiliated, wherein at least one of said first and second general purpose processor-based systems performs functions unrelated to the transfer and printing of the pecuniary value, said method comprising the steps of:

• temporarily coupling a portable memory device to said first processor-based system, said portable memory having stored therein said pecuniary value;
• obtaining, by said second processor-based system, via said communication link said pecuniary value from said portable memory;
• and
• printing, by said second system, an indicia having said pecuniary value.

A metering system comprising:

• a plurality of processor-based systems each having a capability of controlling printing of an indicia of value on a document;
• a network node in information communication with the processor systems via an information communication network;
• a refreshable memory device for dispensing monetary equivalent value coupled to the node;
• means, controlled by each of the processor systems, for requesting a predetermined amount of the monetary equivalent value from the node;
• means for the node decrementing the requested amount of monetary equivalent value from the memory device;
• and
• means for communicating the decremented amount of monetary equivalent value from the node to a requesting one of the processor systems for printing of the indicia of value on a document.

A method for transferring monetary equivalent value to a portable processor device having monetary equivalent value stored therein coupled to a first processor-based system from a second processor-based system via an information communication network, said method comprising the steps of:

• coupling a refreshable memory device for storing monetary equivalent value to said first system, wherein said first system is coupled to a plurality of associated processor-based systems forming a network system;
• establishing information communication between said first system and said second system via an information communication link;
• said first system requesting a predetermined amount of the monetary equivalent value from the second system;
• transferring said predetermined amount of monetary equivalent value from the second system to the refreshable memory device coupled to said first system via said communication link, said predetermined amount of monetary equivalent value being passed blindly by said first system from said second system to said refreshable memory device;
• and
• storing the transferred amount of monetary equivalent value within a register of said refreshable memory device.

A method for transferring monetary equivalent value from a portable processor device having monetary equivalent value stored therein coupled to a network node to a plurality of processor-based systems via an information communication network, said method comprising the steps of:

• coupling a refreshable memory device for dispensing monetary equivalent value to a network node;
• establishing information communication between the node and a select one of a plurality of processor-based systems via an information communication network;
• the select one of the plurality of systems requesting a predetermined amount of the monetary equivalent value from the node;
• the node decrementing the requested amount of monetary equivalent value from the memory device;
• communicating the decremented amount of monetary equivalent value from the node to the select one of the plurality of systems;
• and
• the select one of the plurality of processor-based systems printing an indicia of value on a document, the indicia of value having the decremented amount of monetary equivalent value.

A network node apparatus for transferring a monetary equivalent value from a portable processor device having monetary equivalent value stored therein coupled to the network node apparatus to a plurality of network nodes via an information communication network, said network node apparatus comprising:

• a processor-based system in information communication with a plurality of network nodes via an information communication network;
• a refreshable memory device for dispensing monetary equivalent value coupled to the processor-based system;
• means for a selected one of the plurality of nodes requesting a predetermined amount of the monetary equivalent value from the processor-based system, the requesting means also being suitable for receiving the requested amount of monetary equivalent value;
• means, executable on the processor-based system, for removing the requested amount of monetary equivalent value from the memory device;
• and
• means for communicating the removed amount of monetary equivalent value from the processor-based system to the requesting means.

A postage metering system for distributing and printing postage credit contained in a portable processor device through a private processor-based network system, said postage metering system comprising:

• a private processor-based network system, said network system comprising a plurality of general purpose computer systems in information communication with each other, said private system restricting information communication from processor-based systems not part of said plurality of systems;
• a portable processor device containing postage credit authorized by a postal agency;
• a host general purpose computer system of said plurality of systems for removably coupling the portable processor device thereto;
• means, executing on any particular one of the general purpose computer systems of said plurality of systems and jointly with the host system, for obtaining a portion of the postage credit contained within the portable processor device by the particular systems;
• means for queuing multiple ones of said plurality of systems seeking to obtain a portion of the postage credit contained within the portable processor device by the obtaining means;
• and
• means for printing a postage indicia representing the obtained postage credit at a location controlled by the one particular general purpose computer.