Remote meter i/o configuration

Claim 3

The method of claim 1, wherein the step of entering a new I/O configuration number is provided by the steps of: k) calculating at the meter a meter generated I/O configuration request code; l) entering the meter generated I/O configuration request code into the data center computer; m) calculating at the data center computer a computer generated I/O configuration request code; and n) comparing at the date center computer the meter generated and computer generated I/O configuration request codes.

Claim 4

A postage meter, said postage meter capable of interfacing to an external device having software features that may be selectively enabled, the external device inquiring said postage meter to determine which software features are enabled, said postage meter comprising: a) first register means for storing a first number representative of a current external device feature set; b) means for communicating the current feature set represented by the content of the first register means to the external device; c) second register means for storing an entered second number representative of a desired new external device feature set; d) means for generating an external I/O configuration enable code that depends on at least one of the first and second numbers; e) means for entering an externally generated I/O configuration enable code, said externally generated I/O configuration enable code being generated at a remote data center; f) means for comparing the internally generated I/O configuration enable code with the entered externally generated I/O configuration enable code; and g) means for placing the second number in the first register means when the internally generated and entered externally generated I/O configuration enable codes are the same.

Claim 5

A postage meter, said postage meter capable of interfacing to an external device having software features that may be selectively enabled, the external device inquiring said postage meter to determine which software features are enabled, said postage meter comprising: a) first register means for storing a first number representative of a current external device feature set; b) means for communicating the current feature set represented by the content of the first register means to the external device; c) second register means for storing an entered second number representative of a desired new external device feature set; d) means for generating an external I/O configuration enable code that depends on at least one of the first and second numbers; e) means for entering an externally generated I/O configuration enable code, said externally generated I/O configuration enable code being generated at a remote data center; f) means for comparing the internally generated I/O configuration enable code with the entered externally generated I/O configuration enable code; and g) means for placing the second number in the first register means when the internally generated and entered externally generated I/O configuration enable codes are the same.

Claim 6

The meter of claim 3, and further comprising means for generating and displaying an I/O configuration request code that depends on at least one of the first and second numbers.

Claim 7

The meter of claim 3 wherein the I/O configuration enable codes are encrypted.

Claim 8

A postage meter, said postage meter capable of interfacing to an external device having software features that may be selectively enabled, the external device inquiring said postage meter to determine which software features are enabled, said postage meter comprising: a) first register means for storing a first number representative of a current external device feature set; b) means for communicating the current feature set represented by the content of the first register means to the external device; c) second register means for storing an entered second number representative of a desired new external device feature set; d) means for generating an internal I/O configuration enable code that depends on at least one of the first and second numbers; e) means for entering an externally generated I/O configuration enable code, said externally generated I/O configuration enable code being generated at a remote data center; f) means for comparing the internally generated I/O configuration enable code with the entered externally generated I/O configuration enable code; and g) means for placing the second number in the first register means when the internally generated and entered externally generated I/O configuration enable codes are the same, and wherein the I/O configuration enable codes depend on a current high security length value and a status code.

Claim 9

A postage meter, said postage meter capable of interfacing to an external device having software features that may be selectively enabled, the external device inquiring said postage meter to determine which software features are enabled, said postage meter comprising: a) first register means for storing a first number representative of a current external device feature set; b) means for communicating the current feature set represented by the content of the first register means to the external device; c) second register means for storing an entered second number representative of a desired new external device feature set; d) means for generating an internal I/O configuration enable code that depends on at least one of the first and second numbers; e) means for entering an externally generated I/O configuration enable code, said externally generated I/O configuration enable code being generated at a remote data center; f) means for comparing the internally generated I/O configuration enable code with the entered externally generated I/O configuration enable code; and g) means for placing the second number in the first register means when the internally generated and entered externally generated I/O configuration enable codes are the same, and wherein the I/O configuration enable codes depend on a current high security length value and a status code.

Claim 10

A postage meter, said postage meter capable of interfacing to an external device having software features that may be selectively enabled, the external device inquiring said postage meter to determine which software features are enabled comprising: a) first register means for storing a first number representative of a current external device feature set; b) second register means for storing an entered second number representative of a desired new external device feature set; c) first means for entering an externally generated I/O configuration enable code that depends on at least one of the first and second numbers, said externally generated code from a remote data center; d) second means at the meter for: i) generating an internal I/O configuration enable code; ii) comparing the internally generated I/O configuration enable code with the entered I/O configuration enable code; iii) placing the second number in the first register means when the internally generated and entered I/O configuration enable codes are the same; and iv) communicating the feature set represented by the content of said first register means to the external device.

Claim 11

A postage meter, said postage meter capable of interfacing to an external device having software features that may be selectively enabled, the external device inquiring said postage meter to determine which software features are enabled comprising: a) first register means for storing a first number representative of a current external device feature set; b) second register means for storing an entered second number representative of a desired new external device feature set; c) first means for entering an externally generated I/O configuration enable code that depends on at least one of the first and second numbers, said externally generated code from a remote data center; d) second means at the meter for: i) generating an internal I/O configuration enable code; ii) comparing the internally generated I/O configuration enable code with the entered I/O configuration enable code; iii) placing the second number in the first register means when the internally generated and entered I/O configuration enable codes are the same; and iv) communicating the feature set represented by the content of said first register means to the external device.

Claim 12

The meter of claim 7 wherein the second means is further for generating and displaying an I/O configuration request code that depends on at least one of the first and second numbers.

Claim 13

The meter of claim 7 wherein the I/O configuration enable code is encrypted.

Claim 14

The meter of claim 7 wherein the second means is a programmed digital microprocessor.

Claim 15

A postage meter, said postage meter capable of interfacing to an external device having software features that may be selectively enabled, the external device inquiring said postage meter to determine which software features are enabled comprising: a) first register means for storing a first number representative of a current external device feature set; b) second register means for storing an entered second number representative of a desired new external device feature set; c) first means for entering an externally generated I/O configuration enable code that depends on at least one of the first and second numbers and wherein said I/O configuration enable code depends on a current high security length value and a status code, said externally generated code from a remote data center; d) second means at the meter for: i) generating an internal I/O configuration enable code; ii) comparing the internally generally I/O configuration enable code with the entered I/O configuration enable code; iii) placing the second number in the first register means when the internally generated and entered I/O configuration enable codes are the same; and iv) communicating the feature set represented by the content of said first register means to the external device.

Claim 16

A postage meter, said postage meter capable of interfacing to an external device having software features that may be selectively enabled, the external device inquiring said postage meter to determine which software features are enabled comprising: a) first register means for storing a first number representative of a current external device feature set; b) second register means for storing an entered second number representative of a desired new external device feature set; c) first means for entering an externally generated I/O configuration enable code that depends on at least one of the first and second numbers and wherein said I/O configuration enable code depends on a current high security length value and a status code, said externally generated code from a remote data center; d) second means at the meter for: i) generating an internal I/O configuration enable code; ii) comparing the internally generally I/O configuration enable code with the entered I/O configuration enable code; iii) placing the second number in the first register means when the internally generated and entered I/O configuration enable codes are the same; and iv) communicating the feature set represented by the content of said first register means to the external device.

Claim 17

A postage meter system, said postage meter capable of interfacing to an external device having software features that may be selectively enabled, the external device inquiring said postage meter to determine which software features are enabled, said postage meter comprising: a) a mode register having at least a first state and a second state; b) means, responsive to the state of the mode register, for controlling normal meter operations; c) a first register for storing an old I/O configuration number representative of a current external device feature set of the meter; d) means for communicating the feature set represented by the content of the first register to the external device; e) means, responsive to a particular first data entry, for setting the mode register to the second state; f) a second register for storing a new I/O configuration number representative of a desired new external device feature set; g) means, responsive to a second data entry representing the desired new feature set, for placing said new I/O configuration number in the second register; h) means for generating a meter generated configuration request code; i) means at a remote data center for calculating an encrypted internally generated configuration request code whose value depends on the new I/O configuration number and a second number; j) means for comparing said encrypted internally generated configuration request code and said meter generated configuration request code, and if they correlate, means for generating an externally generated I/O configuration enable code; k) means for calculating an encrypted internally generated I/O configuration enable code whose value depends in a different way on the I/O configuration number and the second number; l) means, responsive to a third data entry representing the externally generated I/O configuration enable code, for comparing the internally generated and externally generated I/O configuration enable codes; and m) validation means, responsive to a predetermined relationship between the internally generated and externally generated I/O configuration codes for storing the new I/O configuration number in the first register, the validation means acting further to set the mode register to the first state.

Claim 18

A postage meter system, said postage meter capable of interfacing to an external device having software features that may be selectively enabled, the external device inquiring said postage meter to determine which software features are enabled, said postage meter comprising: a) a mode register having at least a first state and a second state; b) means, responsive to the state of the mode register, for controlling normal meter operations; c) a first register for storing an old I/O configuration number representative of a current external device feature set of the meter; d) means for communicating the feature set represented by the content of the first register to the external device; e) means, responsive to a particular first data entry, for setting the mode register to the second state; f) a second register for storing a new I/O configuration number representative of a desired new external device feature set; g) means, responsive to a second data entry representing the desired new feature set, for placing said new I/O configuration number in the second register; h) means for generating a meter generated configuration request code; i) means at a remote data center for calculating an encrypted internally generated configuration request code whose value depends on the new I/O configuration number and a second number; j) means for comparing said encrypted internally generated configuration request code and said meter generated configuration request code, and if they correlate, means for generating an externally generated I/O configuration enable code; k) means for calculating an encrypted internally generated I/O configuration enable code whose value depends in a different way on the I/O configuration number and the second number; l) means, responsive to a third data entry representing the externally generated I/O configuration enable code, for comparing the internally generated and externally generated I/O configuration enable codes; and m) validation means, responsive to a predetermined relationship between the internally generated and externally generated I/O configuration codes for storing the new I/O configuration number in the first register, the validation means acting further to set the mode register to the first state.

Claim 19

The meter of claim 12, and further comprising: n) means for incrementing a CTID each time the validation means determines the existence of the predetermined relationship.

Claim 20

The meter of claim 13 wherein the encrypted configuration enable code is partially dependent upon the CTID.

Claim 21

The meter of claim 13 wherein the encrypted configuration request code is partially dependent upon the CTID.

Claim 22

The meter of claim 13 wherein the encrypted configuration request code is not dependent upon the CTID.