Meter selection for drop shipment mailing system

Abstract

An automated mailing system includes a scale having a weighing device, a keyboard for entering postage value determining data and an electronic postage meter selection code, a postage value determining processor and a programmable read only memory containing postal rate and zip to zone conversion data. A peripheral controller interface provides communication capability between the scale processor and a plurality of peripheral mailing devices including a series of electronic postage meters each of which is adapted to provide postage value denominations for mail originating from different postal zone distribution points. A data steering interface, which may be included within the peripheral controller interface, provides interconnection between the communications lines received from the scale system processor and the communication lines of the respective electronic postage meters. A code, entered through the keyboard, is transmitted serially to the peripheral controller interface and, in turn, to a selector latch decoder which provides selection signals to the data steering interface for directing the interface to establish communication links between the scale processor through the peripheral interface controller and a desired one of the electronic postage meters.