Postage metering system having multiple postage meter configuration capability

US6847952B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Pitney Bowes Inc. · US

Inventors

• David W. Beckstrom · Roxbury, US
• Donald T. Dolan · Ridgefield, US
• Joan T. Doutney · Sandy Hook, US
• Yakup J. Igval · Milford, US
• Sungwon Moh · Wilton, US
• Christina S. Park · Lausanne, CH
• Roger J. Ratzenberger, Jr. · Milford, US
• Richard P. Schoonmaker · Wilton, US
• James West · Stamford, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Nov 4, 2002
• Grant date: Jan 25, 2005
• Expiry date: May 29, 2023

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G07B2017/00322
• WIPO field: Control
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A postage metering system includes a base and a user interface mounted to the base. The user interface includes a micro controller, an internal socket for receiving an integrated circuit chip and a smart card reader interface connector for interfacing with an external smart card. The micro controller is configurable to address either the internal socket or the smart card reader interface connector to access postage metering functionality.