Technique for effective management of resource consumption

A system for assessing charges for consumptions of at least first and second different resources, the system comprising:

• a communication apparatus for communicating with at least first and second devices, the first device providing a first measure of consumption of the first resource, the second device providing a measure of consumption of the second, different resource, the first device and second device each having only a nonresettable ascending register and no descending register, the first and second resource providing funds for dispensing postage;
• a processor for determining first charges based on the first measure of consumption of the first resource, and second charges based on the second measure of consumption of the second, different resource;
• a transmitter for providing first information concerning the first charges and a first user account associated with the first device, and second information concerning the second charges and a second user account associated with the second device for settlement of the first and second charges;
• and
• a settlement center adapted to receive a request for funds transfer from a postage data center based on at least one record related to the consumption of the postal resources and to arrange for a transfer of corresponding user funds from a user account to postal authority account, and to notify said data center that the transfer had been made;
• wherein there is no prepayment of postage funds by a user of at least first and second devices and the user is billed based on the a measure of consumption provided by a respective one of the at least first or second devices.

A method for use in an apparatus for processing charges for consumption of postal resources the method comprising:

• forming at least one nonresettable record in memory of a postage dispensing device indicating a value of the postal resource consumed, wherein the memory only including a non-resettable ascending register and no descending register and the memory only including records of the postal resources consumed;
• electronically transmitting at least one of the records of the postal resources consumed to a data center for processing;
• electronically transmitting a request for payment of the consumed postal resources from the data center to a settlement center wherein a transfer of funds is effected between a user's account and a postal authority account;
• and
• electronically notifying the data center that the funds transfer is made;
• wherein there is no prepayment of postage funds by the user and the user is billed based on the value indicative of the consumption of postal resources provided by the memory.

A method for use in an arrangement for processing charges for consumptions of at least one resource, the consumptions being measured using a plurality of devices, each device being associated with a different user financial account, the arrangement including a first system for settlement of charges and a second system for storage of at least one nonresettable record from each device, the method comprising:

• forming the at least one nonresettable record from each device, each record including at least a measure of a consumption of the resource, wherein each device only including a non-resettable ascending register and no descending register;
• determining, for each device, charges for the consumption of the resource based on a subset of the records received from the device;
• and
• transmitting, for each device, the charges and information concerning the user financial account associated with the device to the first system for settlement of the charges, and for transmitting the at least one record associated with the device to the second system for storage and effecting a transfer of funds between the user financial account and a postal authority account;
• wherein there is no prepayment of postage funds by the user and the user is billed based on the measure of a consumption of the resource of a respective device.

A method for use in a system for assessing charges for consumptions of at least first and second different resources, the system including at least first and second devices, the first device providing a first nonresettable measure of consumption of the first resource, the second device providing a second nonresettable measure of consumption of the second, different resource, the method comprising:

• receiving from the first device the first nonresettable measure of consumption of the first resource, and from the second device the second nonresettable measure of consumption of the second, different resource, the first device and the second device each including only a non-resettable ascending register and no descending register;
• determining first charges based on the first measure of consumption of the first resource and second charges based on the second measure of consumption of the second, different resource;
• and
• providing first information concerning the first charges and a first user account associated with the first device, and second information concerning the second charges and a second user account associated with the second device for settlement of the first and second charges;
• wherein there is no prepayment of postage funds by the user and the user is billed based on the measure of a consumption of a respective one of the first device or second device.