System and method for remote postage metering

A method for purchasing a desired amount of postage from a remote metering device, said method comprising the steps of:

• accepting mailing parameters specific to a preselected item of mail by a first processor-based system;
• creating a demand for a correct amount of postage at said first system, said demand comprising the substeps of:
• authorizing payment for said correct amount of postage;
• selecting ones of said mailing parameters;
• selecting unique data from said first system;
• and
• combining said selected mailing parameter, said unique data and said payment authorization;
• temporarily coupling said first system to a second processor-based system;
• transmitting said demand from said first system to said second system;
• creating a data packet at said second system, said data packet comprising data formatted as a function of said demand;
• transmitting said data packet from said second system to said first system;
• and
• printing said data packet as postage indicia at said first system, said postage indicia being acceptable by a postal system as authorized postage.

A system for obtaining a valuable indicia from a remote metering device under control of a processor-based system, said valuable indicia having a selected value and printable on a document, said purchasing system comprising:

• means for temporarily coupling said processor-based system to said remote metering device, said coupling means providing data communications between said processor-based system and said remote metering device;
• means, operating on said processor-based system, for demanding said valuable indicia, said demand comprising data indicating a desired amount of said indicia, said demand further comprising data indicating a method of payment for said valuable indicia, said demand being communicated via said coupling means;
• and
• means, operating on said processor-based system, for receiving an electronic representation of said desired amount of said valuable indicia from said remote metering device, said received electronic representation being communicated in response to said demand.

A postage metering apparatus for distributing predetermined amounts of postage indicia to select ones of a plurality of processor-based systems in temporary data communication with said postage metering apparatus in response to purchase demands by select ones of the plurality of processor-based systems, said postage metering apparatus comprising:

• means for accepting demands for predetermined amounts of postage from ones of said plurality of processor systems via a temporary data communication between said metering apparatus and a calling one of said processor systems;
• means for validating said demands to ensure said ones of said plurality of processor systems are eligible to receive said predetermined amounts of postage;
• means for determining a method of payment for said predetermined amount of postage;
• means for validating a determined payment method for a specific calling processor system;
• and
• means for transmitting an indicia of said predetermined amount of postage to a successfully validated calling one of said plurality of processor systems.

A system for acquiring and funding a correct postage indicia from a remote metering device, said system comprising:

• means for temporarily coupling a general purpose computer to said remote metering device;
• means, operable on said computer, for generating mailing parameters specific to a preselected item of mail;
• means for automatically calculating a correct amount of postage for said preselected item of mail as a function of said generated mailing parameters;
• means, operable on said computer, for creating a demand for postage indicia, said demand including selected ones of said mailing parameters in combination with selected unique data from said computer;
• means for transmitting said demand from said computer to said remote system for an indicia bearing a specific amount of postage;
• means, operable on said remote system, for determining a method of payment for a postage indicia bearing a specific amount of postage as demanded by one of said computers;
• means, operable on said remote system, for validating said demand as a demand eligible for a postage indicia of the amount demanded from said computer, said validating means also for validating said method of payment;
• means, operable on said remote system, for creating a data packet comprising data formatted as a function of said demand, said data packet operable for controlling the printing of a postage indicia at said temporarily connected computer;
• means for transmitting said data packet from said remote system to said computer over said temporary connection;
• and
• means, under control of said computer, for printing said data packet as a postage indicia, said printing means comprising a general purpose printing device, said postage indicia being acceptable by a postal system as authorized postage.