Method and apparatus for automatically disabling a removable, portable vault of a postage metering
US5809485A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 11, 1996 |
| Grant date | Sep 15, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 11, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG07B2017/00322
- WIPO fieldControl
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A postage metering system includes a portable postage meter vault; structure for printing an indication of postage value; a postage meter terminal including apparatus for receiving the portable postage meter vault, a device for determining at times when the portable postage meter vault is inserted into the receiving means if the portable postage meter vault has been designated to be disabled from performing vault functions and a device for automatically disabling the portable postage meter vault from performing vault functions if the determination is made that the portable postage meter vault has been designated to be disabled from performing vault functions. A method for disabling a portable vault of a postage metering system includes the steps of: (A) inserting the portable vault into a terminal of the postage metering system; automatically determining via the terminal if the portable vault has been designated to be disabled from performing vault functions; and (C) at times when in step (B) it is determined that the portable vault has been designated to be disabled from performing vault functions automatically disabling the inserted portable vault from performing vault functions.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.