Electronic postage meter having separate funds charge registers and recredits funds register in predetermined amount when funds fall to predetermined level
US5187798A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 6, 1989 |
| Grant date | Feb 16, 1993 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 6, 2009 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG07B2017/00411
- WIPO fieldControl
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
In an electronic postage meter, two accounts are maintained in non-volatile memory. One account represents the funds available for the postage meter and the other is an account representing operational funds. The operational funds account is accessed and updated in meter trips. The other is accessed when operating funds reach a predetermined level. In a first embodiment, the first register is disposed in a low endurance non-volatile memory while the second register is disposed in a high endurance device which has lower retention capability. The non-volatile memory in which the first register is disposed may be maintained at power-down or power-savings condition during trip cycles and other system operations in order to protect the funds stored in the first register.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.