Postage metering system and method for a stand-alone meter having virtual meter functionality

A transaction evidencing system comprising:

• a host processor including printing means coupled thereto;
• a transaction evidencing device coupled to the host processor, the transaction evidencing device including first unique identification, first value storage means and first digital signature means;
• means in the host processor for requesting and obtaining first transaction evidencing from the transaction evidencing device, said first transaction evidencing to be printed by the printing means;
• means in the host processor for requesting and obtaining second transaction evidencing from a remote data center, said second transaction evidencing to be printed by the printing means;
• wherein for each metering transaction to be printed by the printing means the host processor initiates the request for one of the first and second transaction evidencing.

A postage metering system comprising:

• a general purpose processor including means for communicating with a remote data center;
• a postal security device coupled to the general purpose processor, the postal security device including first unique identification, first postal value storage means and first digital signature means, the remote data center including second unique identification, second postal value storage means and second digital signature means;
• means in the general purpose processor for selectively requesting one of a first evidence of postage payment from the postal security device and a second evidence of postage payment from the remote data center;
• means for printing the selected one of the first and second evidences of postage payment on a mailpiece.

A method for postage metering wherein a postage meter has dual modes of operation as a stand-alone meter and as a virtual meter, the method comprising the steps of:

• coupling a postage security device to a general purpose processor, the postal security device including first unique identification, first postal value storage means and first digital signature means;
• providing means for the general purpose processor to communicate with a remote data center, the remote data center including second unique identification, second postal value storage means and second digital signature means;
• selectively requesting at the general purpose processor one of a first evidence of postage payment from the postal security device and a second evidence of postage payment from the remote data center;
• and
• printing the selected one of the first and second evidences of postage payment on a mailpiece.