Method and apparatus for locating and displaying historical information

Abstract

A system is provided for locating and displaying a most recently written record in an electronic postage meter to sequentially store accounting data associated with the transactions of the electronic postage meter. The meter includes a first non-volatile memory (NVM) and a second non-volatile memory (NVM). The system includes apparatus for locating an accurate piece count within the second NVM, for utilizing the accurate piece count within the second NVM to locate a written transaction in the first NVM, and means for providing an external message generated by a keyboard or the like. Accordingly, the written transaction represents the most recently written record in the postage meter. The system also includes a means for determining whether the record is accurate. Accordingly, check values are provided as part of the record in the first NVM. If the check value and a value corresponding to the written transaction agree, the record within the first NVM will be displayed to a user. If the values disagree, an error indication will be displayed to the user. A key sequence on a keyboard or the like within the electronic postage meter can be depressed to either display ascending or descending register information, as the case may be, depending upon which portion of the first NVM the user would like to access. This system can be utilized in a repetitive manner to access and display sequentially stored information within the first NVM and to verify the accuracy of the stored information.