Franking system with distributed metering
US8060445B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 30, 2006 |
| Grant date | Nov 15, 2011 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 27, 2027 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG07B2017/00967
- WIPO fieldControl
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
In a mail franking system including a central secure metering device (PSD 20) connected to a remote credit reloading server (26) and a plurality of local franking management modules (22-1 to 22-N) each including a local secure metering device (28-1 to 28-N) and connected to said central secure metering device via a user's local area network (LAN), there is provided a method wherein a franking session is opened, each of the local franking management modules books a predetermined franking value from a central secure metering device so as to perform secure frankings up to the limit of this value and at the end of session each of these modules transmits its consumed franking value to the central device which is then debited by an overall franking value equal to the sum of the franking values consumed by each of the local modules.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.