Postage metering network system with virtual meter mode

A postage metering system comprising:

• a plurality of general purpose computers (computers) operatively connected as part of a computer network and operating as client computers on the computer network, the client computers including processor, memory and storage means;
• a postal security device coupled directly to a local one of the client computers the postal security device including unique identification, postal value storage means and digital signature means;
• means in the client computers for functioning as a postage metering network wherein one of the client computers remote to the postal security device initiates a first request for first evidence of postage payment from the postal security device through the local one of the client computers for concluding postage metering transactions;
• and
• means in the local one of the client computers for connecting to a remote data center to obtain second evidence of postage payment from the remote data center.

A transaction evidencing system comprising:

• a plurality of general purpose computers (computers) operatively connected as part of a computer network and operating as client computers on the computer network, the client computers including processor, memory and storage means, and at least some of the client computers including transaction evidencing software that selectively runs on the client computers;
• a transaction security device coupled to a local one of the client computers;
• the transaction security device including unique identification, transaction evidencing storage means, digital signature means, and transaction accounting means;
• means in the client computers for functioning as a transaction evidencing network wherein one of the client computers remote to the transaction security device initiates a first request for first transaction evidence from the transaction security device through the local one of the client computers for concluding transaction evidencing transactions;
• and
• means in the local one of the client computers for connecting to a remote data center to obtain second transaction evidence from the remote data center, the local one of the client computers including:
• means for initiating a second request for transaction evidence to be printed by the local one of the client computers;
• means for receiving the first request for transaction evidence from said one of the remote client computers, the request including identification of the remote client computer;
• means for sending the first request to the transaction security device;
• means for receiving from the transaction security device the first transaction evidence including a digital signature corresponding to the first transaction evidence;
• means for sending the first transaction evidence to said one of the remote client computers in response to the first request;
• and
• means for printing the second transaction evidencing in response to the second request.

A method for postage metering, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a plurality of client modules on a network;
• coupling a local postage security device to a first one of said client modules and a remote postal security device to a second one of said client modules, the local and remote postal security devices including respectively first and second unique identification, postal value storage means and digital signature means;
• providing means for said first client module to communicate with a remote data center, the remote data center including third unique identification, third postal value storage means and third digital signature means;
• selectively requesting at said first client module one of a first evidence of postage payment from the local postal security device, a second evidence of postage payment from the remote postal security device and a third evidence of postage payment from the data center;
• and
• printing the selected one of the first, second and third evidences of postage payment on a mailpiece.