System for entering a postage meter serial number into a nonvolatile memory from an external channel after assembly of the meter

Claim 1

An intercommmunication system for communication between a data center of the type that stores postage meter information and electronic postage meters each of which has a nonvolatile memory wherein the intercommunication system supplies information for the entering of a serial number into the nonvolatile memory upon completion of assembly of each meter, comprising: the data center having storage means for storing a chip number and a seed number for each nonvolatile memory to be used in assembly of the electronic postage meters; first communicating means for communicating the serial number and chip number of each of the assembled meters to said data center; data center receiving means for receiving the serial numbers and chip numbers; generating means located within the data center for generating seed numbers associated with said chip numbers; second communication means for communicating respective serial numbers and seed numbers to each of the electronic postage meters; electronic postage meter receiving means located in each postage meter for receiving information from said data center in accordance with its respective serial number and seed number; means for selectively entering the information from said data center into each electronic postage meter; means for indicating acceptance of the information by each of the electronic postage meters; means for writing the serial number in the nonvolatile memory upon acceptance of the information by each electronic postage meter; and means for preventing further writing into the nonvolatile memory where the serial number is written.

Claim 6

A method for entering a serial number into a nonvolatile memory of an electronic postage meter that is communicatingly connectable with a data center of the type that stores postage meter information and is communicatingly connectable with a plurality of postage meters, wherein the electronic postage meter is assembled within a case having the serial number assigned thereto, the serial number being entered upon completion of assembly of the electronic postage meter, comprising the steps of: generating chip numbers for entering into a plurality of nonvolatile memories, storing the chip numbers in the data center; entering one of said chip numbers into the nonvolatile memory to be used in assembly of the electronic postage meter; assembling the electronic postage meter having the serial number and including the nonvolatile memory with said one chip number; upon completion of the assembly, communicating the serial number and said one chip number to the data center; deriving reset information at the data center based upon the serial number and chip number in response to the communicating step; transmitting the reset information from the data center to the electronic postage meter; confirming the reset information is properly enterable into the nonvolatile memory; entering the serial number into the nonvolatile memory if the information received is properly enterable; and preventing further writing into the nonvolatile memory where the serial number is written.

Claim 7

A method for entering a serial number into a nonvolatile memory of an electronic postage meter that is communicatingly connectable with a data center of the type that stores postage meter information and is communicatingly connectable with a plurality of postage meters, wherein the electronic postage meter is assembled within a case having the serial number assigned thereto, the serial number being entered upon completion of assembly of the electronic postage meter, comprising the steps of: generating chip numbers for entering into a plurality of nonvolatile memories, storing the chip numbers in the data center; entering one of said chip numbers into the nonvolatile memory to be used in assembly of the electronic postage meter; assembling the electronic postage meter having the serial number and including the nonvolatile memory with said one chip number; upon completion of the assembly, communicating the serial number and said one chip number to the data center; deriving reset information at the data center based upon the serial number and chip number in response to the communicating step; transmitting the reset information from the data center to the electronic postage meter; confirming the reset information is properly enterable into the nonvolatile memory; entering the serial number into the nonvolatile memory if the information received is properly enterable; and preventing further writing into the nonvolatile memory where the serial number is written.