Mail processing system with multiple work stations

Claim 1

A system for processing mail; said system comprises: a secure accounting means including a processor and a memory, said memory providing storage for postage information; means, in communication with said secure accounting means, for generating said postage information; means for transmitting said postage information to an unsecured accounting means; and means, in communication with said unsecured accounting means, for printing at least a portion of said postage information on mail pieces.

Claim 2

A system for processing mail; said system comprises: a secure accounting means including a processor and a memory, said memory providing storage for postage information; means, in communication with said secure accounting means, for generating said postage information; means for transmitting said postage information to an unsecured accounting means; and means, in communication with said unsecured accounting means, for printing at least a portion of said postage information on mail pieces.

Claim 4

A system for processing mail, said system comprising: a secure accounting means including: a first processor, means for inputting postage information to said processor, a non-volatile memory in communication with said process, and means for storing postage value in said non-volatile memory; at least one unsecure accounting means including: a second processor in communication with said first processor, and a memory in communication with said second processor; and at least one mail processing means including: a postage printing means in communication with said second processor, means for supplying mail pieces to said postage printing means, and means for actuating said printer to print postage information on said mail pieces.

Claim 5

A system for processing mail, said system comprising: a secure accounting means including: a first processor, means for inputting postage information to said processor, a non-volatile memory in communication with said process, and means for storing postage value in said non-volatile memory; at least one unsecure accounting means including: a second processor in communication with said first processor, and a memory in communication with said second processor; and at least one mail processing means including: a postage printing means in communication with said second processor, means for supplying mail pieces to said postage printing means, and means for actuating said printer to print postage information on said mail pieces.

Claim 8

A system for processing mail, said system comprising: a first secure accounting means including: a first porcessor, means for inputting postage information to said processor, a first non-volatile memory in communication with said processor, and means for storing postage value in said first non-volatile memory; a plurality of second accounting means in communication with said first secure accounting means each of second accounting means including: a second processor, a second non-volatile memory in communication with said second processor, and communIcation means between said second processor and said first processor whereby postage value can be transferred between said first and second memories; and a plurality of mail processing means each including: unsecured postage printing means in communication with one of said second processors, means for supplying mail pieces to said unsecured postage printing means, and means for actuating said unsecured postage printing means to print postage on said mail pieces, such that the postage printed on said mail pieces is communicated to said second processor that reduces the postage value stored in said second non-volatile memory.

Claim 9

A system for processing mail, said system comprising: a first secure accounting means including: a first porcessor, means for inputting postage information to said processor, a first non-volatile memory in communication with said processor, and means for storing postage value in said first non-volatile memory; a plurality of second accounting means in communication with said first secure accounting means each of second accounting means including: a second processor, a second non-volatile memory in communication with said second processor, and communIcation means between said second processor and said first processor whereby postage value can be transferred between said first and second memories; and a plurality of mail processing means each including: unsecured postage printing means in communication with one of said second processors, means for supplying mail pieces to said unsecured postage printing means, and means for actuating said unsecured postage printing means to print postage on said mail pieces, such that the postage printed on said mail pieces is communicated to said second processor that reduces the postage value stored in said second non-volatile memory.

Claim 13

A system for transmitting postage value comprising: a central station having a first processor and a first memory in communication with said first processor, said first memory having means for storing postage value therein; a user location having a secure accounting means including a second processor and a second memory in communication with said second processor, said second memory having descending register means for receiving and storing postage value and dispensing postage value upon command; a communication link between said central station and said user location, said user location having a plurality of means for applying postage to mail pieces; means for reducing the postage value stored in said descending register means in response to operation of said postage applying means; and means for transferring, through said communication link, information relative to the postage value applied by said postage applying means.

Claim 14

A system for transmitting postage value comprising: a central station having a first processor and a first memory in communication with said first processor, said first memory having means for storing postage value therein; a user location having a secure accounting means including a second processor and a second memory in communication with said second processor, said second memory having descending register means for receiving and storing postage value and dispensing postage value upon command; a communication link between said central station and said user location, said user location having a plurality of means for applying postage to mail pieces; means for reducing the postage value stored in said descending register means in response to operation of said postage applying means; and means for transferring, through said communication link, information relative to the postage value applied by said postage applying means.

Claim 19

A method of accounting for postage, said method comprising the steps of: storage postage value in a secure accounting means; generating postage information; printing said postage information upon a statement sheet; transmitting said postage information to a remote unsecure accounting means; and printing postage on mail pieces in accordance with said postage information in said unsecure accounting means and adjusting the stored postage value in response to the printed postage.

Claim 20

A method of accounting for postage, said method comprising the steps of: storage postage value in a secure accounting means; generating postage information; printing said postage information upon a statement sheet; transmitting said postage information to a remote unsecure accounting means; and printing postage on mail pieces in accordance with said postage information in said unsecure accounting means and adjusting the stored postage value in response to the printed postage.

Claim 21

A method for transmitting postage value, said method comprising the steps of: inputting postage value to a first memory in a secure accounting means; transferring at least a portion of the postage value to a second memory of an unsecured accounting means; applying postage to mail; and reducing the postage value stored in said second memory.

Claim 22

A method for transmitting postage value, said method comprising the steps of: inputting postage value to a first memory in a secure accounting means; transferring at least a portion of the postage value to a second memory of an unsecured accounting means; applying postage to mail; and reducing the postage value stored in said second memory.

Claim 24

A method for transmitting postage value, said method comprising the steps of: storing postage value in a secured accounting means, generating postage data; printing the postage data upon a statement; transmitting at least a portion of said postage value to a remote secure accounting means; printing postage on mail pieces; and reducing the postage value in the remote second accounting means in response to the printed postage.

Claim 25

A method for transmitting postage value, said method comprising the steps of: storing postage value in a secured accounting means, generating postage data; printing the postage data upon a statement; transmitting at least a portion of said postage value to a remote secure accounting means; printing postage on mail pieces; and reducing the postage value in the remote second accounting means in response to the printed postage.

Claim 26

A method of processing mail, said method comprising the steps of: inputting mailing information into a secure accounting means that is in communication with a plurality of unsecure accounting means, the mailing information including tasks to be performed by each os said unsecure accounting means; printing at least a portion of said mailing information on mail pieces in accordance with said tasks performed by said unsecure accounting means and determining the postage required by said tasks; keeping a running record in each unsecured accounting means of the postage required to print the postage on said mail pieces; and transmitting the final postage accumulated by each unsecure accounting means to said secure accounting means upon completion of a mail batch.

Claim 27

A method of processing mail, said method comprising the steps of: inputting mailing information into a secure accounting means that is in communication with a plurality of unsecure accounting means, the mailing information including tasks to be performed by each os said unsecure accounting means; printing at least a portion of said mailing information on mail pieces in accordance with said tasks performed by said unsecure accounting means and determining the postage required by said tasks; keeping a running record in each unsecured accounting means of the postage required to print the postage on said mail pieces; and transmitting the final postage accumulated by each unsecure accounting means to said secure accounting means upon completion of a mail batch.

Claim 28

A system for transmitting postage value comprising: a user location having a secure accounting means including a processor and a memory in communication with said processor, said memory having a descending register therein for receiving and storing postage value and for dispensing postagle value upon command, said user location having means for applying postage to mail pieces; and a plurality of inserters in communication with said processor.

Claim 29

A system for transmitting postage value comprising: a user location having a secure accounting means including a processor and a memory in communication with said processor, said memory having a descending register therein for receiving and storing postage value and for dispensing postagle value upon command, said user location having means for applying postage to mail pieces; and a plurality of inserters in communication with said processor.